Podcasts about old testament scriptures

For those of us who are personally acquainted with the Savior who was born that first Christmas day, Christmas holds particular significance. However, we’ve romanticized the story of Christmas to the place that the manger scene and the people involved seem like actors in a play. We rarely stop to think that they were real people, in anything but a romantic setting. That's why I’d like to bring a little reality to the Christmas story. I want to talk about the most blessed woman who ever lived. And I want to focus on the heart of Mary. What was it about this lady that qualified her for this incredible privilege of bearing the Savior of the world? What was in her heart? Let me begin by pointing out that nowhere in Scripture are we given any indication that Mary is to be worshipped. If she were here, I think Mary would be the first to tell us that she was just a woman, a very simple young lady, chosen by God for a special purpose. But like all of the rest of mankind, she was born of Adam’s race—born according to man—and she inherited the same sin nature that all of us have. When I speak of Mary’s heart, I’m not elevating her to some divine place of sinless perfection. We'd have a hard time relating to her if that were true. But in fact, it is because Mary was just like us—a  regular lady—that we can look at her heart and can identify with her and learn from her. Try to erase all those images of Mary with a halo over her head, and see instead a lady with a wash bucket and children, a small, poor home, with few luxuries or conveniences, and a very special heart. Though Mary came from the line of David, she was a humble lady from a very small, insignificant town, Nazareth. We don’t know anything about her parents, except that they must have been godly people because Mary had a very good knowledge of Old Testament Scripture. We begin to get an idea of the heart of Mary when we think about Gabriel’s announcement to her that she had been chosen to bear the Messiah. Let’s look at that passage in Luke 1:28-38: Gabriel said to Mary: “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:28-38). Certainly, Scripture makes it clear time and again that Mary was then a virgin and remained a virgin until after the birth of Jesus. Not many people who will be celebrating Christmas this year really believe that Jesus was born of a virgin. Why is it so terribly important that we believe and accept that Mary was indeed a virgin until after Jesus’ birth? Because we know from Scripture that sin entered the world through the seed of man. Had Jesus been conceived through an earthly man’s seed, he could not have escaped the sin nature that is born into all of us. And if Jesus were not sinless, he could never become the sacrifice demanded by God’s righteousness. The virgin birth is not an optional theology. Your whole destiny—and mine—depends upon whether or not it is true. We are acceptable to God when we accept the redemption and forgiveness of our sins made possible because the perfect sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ, paid the debt for our sins. And Jesus Christ was perfect because there was no sin in him passed on to him by the seed of man. He was born of a virgin; the only man who has ever been born of the seed of a woman. That is critical. Can you imagine what Gabriel’s words meant to a little Jewish girl, probably only 15 or 16 years old, of the humblest means, who has heard all her life about David, his kingdom, his reign as King of Israel? And now, she is told her son is going to take David’s place and reign forever. I’m sure Mary had often heard the prophecies of the coming Messiah. But surely she never seriously thought she would be selected as his mother. Can you put yourselves in her shoes, and think of how you might have reacted? It was an incredible declaration requiring enormous faith on Mary’s part. Would you have accepted such a statement face value? How does Mary react? She asks a very simple question, not a question of doubt, not a challenge to the truth of the angel’s statement, but a question of curiosity and logic. To paraphrase she asked: “How can I have a baby, when I’ve never known a man? If you’re not going to use an earthly man for this, how are you going to do it?” To a simple, honest question, Gabriel gives a simple answer: The Holy Spirit will cause this child to be impregnated in your womb, Mary. Therefore, he will be the Son of God (Luke 1:35). Mary’s acceptance of this announcement is absolutely remarkable. Once Gabriel answers her simple question, in the same simple faith and openness, she accepts. Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word (Luke 1:38). Instead of plying Gabriel with hundreds of questions, instead of giving place to all the doubts and fears and insecurities that she must have felt at that time, Mary accepts. Let’s think of some of the normal, natural questions and objections that Mary could have legitimately raised at that point. She could have said: What will I tell my friends and relatives? No one will believe that I have not slept with some man. What will happen to my reputation? What will I tell Joseph? He probably won’t want to marry me now. And if Joseph doesn’t marry me, what will I do to support myself and this baby? I will be an outcast. Worse still, Gabriel, if Joseph so desires he could divorce me or he could have me stoned to death for adultery. Why don’t you, Gabriel, tell everyone else what you have told me? I would appreciate you doing that. Then maybe they will believe me. At least tell everyone in Nazareth, please. Wouldn’t you have asked some of these questions or made some other requests of Gabriel? I’m sure I would have. But not this Mary. Her immediate, unquestioning response is be it done to me according to your word. Now we’re beginning to see the heart of this special lady. An accepting heart. What is required of us in order to have an accepting heart? First, we must stay very simple, and by that I mean uncomplicated. Mary didn’t try to see exactly how everything was going to work out before she accepted. She didn’t let her imagination run wild with all the “what if’s” or “why’s”, as many of us tend to do. She kept it very simple. She accepted from God’s hand what he had asked of her. Do you keep your heart simple? Or do you waste emotions and time and effort in complicating issues? When you know what God wants you to do, do you get all tied up in knots, trying to see every possibility and make sure you know every step of the way before you do anything? You’ll save yourself a lot of grief if you can ask God to give you a simple heart, to help you learn how to un-complicate decisions and situations by simply accepting. Another thing required for an accepting heart is trust. Mary believed with unwavering faith. Can you appreciate the enormity of what she was asked to accept by faith? She was asked to believe that she would become pregnant without ever having relations with any man. And Mary believed. Why do you think Mary so readily believed what Gabriel told her? Do you think it’s possible to just have that kind of trust and faith without any preparation? Was she just born that way? I don’t think so. We know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We know from what Mary says later to Elizabeth, her cousin, that Mary knew the Word of God. She had established her faith in God’s Word, so when Gabriel brought this further Word of God to her, she was accustomed to trusting it, and it wasn’t difficult for her to trust it once more. May I say again what I know I’ve said time and again: You’re never going to be able to trust God until you spend consistent, quality and quantity time in his Word. If some great thing comes on you which requires a lot of trust and faith on your part, and you are unprepared because you don’t consistently saturate yourself with God’s Word, don’t be surprised to discover that your faith falters, and you fail the test. You won’t be able to muster up tons of faith on the spur of the moment if you don’t make trusting God a part of your everyday life. And that comes by knowing him through his Word. Are you in the midst of some testing now? Are you under some stress or pressure that requires faith on your part? I hope you’ve been staying in the Word of God, because that’s where that instant faith comes from at those unexpected times when you need it. You need to know the Word of God to have the kind of trust that Mary had. How marvelous it is that, as Paul says in Galatians 4:4: But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law. I pray that you have become a child of God through placing your trust in his Son, the One who was willing to come and be born of a woman so that you and I could be redeemed from the curse of the law and sin. If not, you can have that right now by confessing your sin and allowing that One born in a manger to cleanse you and give to you the full rights as his child. Until you have done that, you can never really understand what Christmas is all about.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (12/19/25), Hank starts a special series leading up to Christmas Day featuring his CHRISTMAS acronym, starting with the first two letters of the acronym: "C" and "H". Christ—the "C" in CHRISTMAS—is a title that comes from the Greek “Christos”, which is a rendering of the Hebrew word Messiah, meaning “anointed one.” As such, the Christ of Christmas is the long-awaited Messiah who fulfills all the types and shadows of the Old Testament Scriptures. So, to fully grasp the significance of the Anointed One's Messianic role, you have to drink deeply from the wellspring of Old Testament prophecy. Moving on to history—the “H” in CHRISTMAS—Hank explains that Jesus Christ stands at the very apex of human history. Therefore, he can say with certainty that Christmas is not about reveling in mythology, it is about celebrating events that are rooted in historical fact.

The way of Jesus is for organizations to nurture flourishing individuals and societies. But many of us have experienced the devastating effects of a toxic work environment. This is not the way God meant organizations to run. From the ancient Old Testament Scriptures and the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles, everything in life is meant for universal flourishing, or Shalom.Our guest is Dr. Justin Irving, Professor of Christian Leadership at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. His newest book is titled, Healthy Leadership for Thriving Organizations: Creating Contexts Where People Flourish (Baker Academic, 2024), In it, he provides theological foundations for healthy Christian leadership in for-profit corporations, nonprofits, and churches. He also provides insights from interviewing over 200 executive leaders.In our discussion, we discuss: * Leadership for human flourishing* Cultivating healthy teams* Delegation for the good of the people we lead and for the organization* What hinders good organizational communication* How to measure how healthy an organizational culture is* How to be sure that every aspect of an organization aligns with the organization's values and beliefsIn our conversation, we discussed the Good Place Operating System (GPOS), from The Good Place Institute, for which Bob Robinson is a Partner Consultant. The GPOS is a systematic approach to clearly stating a purpose and mission in a charter, to build all the systems in an organization to align with the charter, and then to measure success on business dashboards. If you'd like to explore implementing an operating system meant for kingdom purposes in which people are valued, communities flourish, and profits are made for these regenerative purposes, connect with Bob by emailing him at Bob.Robinson@goodplaceinstitute.com .Scroll down to learn more about Justin Irving.Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app:Thanks for listening!If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your friends. Your hosts are Dr. Bob Robinson and David Loughney. For further resources on reintegrating all of life with God's mission, go to re-integrate.org.Dr. Justin IrvingAfter serving for 20 years at Bethel Seminary in a variety of faculty and administrative roles, Dr. Justin Irving now serves as Professor of Leadership, Chair of the Department of Leadership and Discipleship, and Director of the Ed.D. program at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Check out his Purpose in Leadership blog. Dr. Irving is a member at Sojourn Church Midtown in Louisville, Kentucky. He is married to Tasha, and they have five children.Would you consider buying Dr. Irving's books from independent booksellers Byron and Beth Borger at Hearts & Minds Bookstore? They are eager to serve God's people with great books. Order online through their secure server or call 717-246-333. Mention that you heard about the book on the Reintegrate Podcast and get 20% off. Get full access to Bob Robinson's Substack at bobrobinsonre.substack.com/subscribe

Today's message looks at the words of John the Baptist from Matthew 11:2-3, "When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'" John although a deep believer came to a point where he had his doubts. Such big doubts that he had his own disciples travel 100 miles to ask Jesus that question. Matthew 11:4-5 "Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor."  These are words from the Old Testament's prophecies, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 35:5-6 "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy."  And Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor." Jesus quoted these verses about the prophecies of the Messiah to show that He was the Messiah, that He and the prophecies were one. John's disciples are still listening as Jesus goes on and says in Matthew 11:11-15 "Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist...For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear." Again, these words are quotes from Old Testament Scriptures found in Malachi 3:1, Malachi 4:45-6 and Isaiah 40:3 that tell about the one who will prepare the way for the coming Messiah.  These are words about John the Baptist. The Controversy: What kind of Messiah?      ⁃    Will he be prophetic, priestly or kingly?      ⁃    Will he be a Messiah of mercy or judgment?     ⁃    Would he suffer or reign?     ⁃    Will there be 2 Messiahs who come once or 1 Messiah who comes twice? The Biblical Evidence for Messiah:     ⁃    Birthplace Micah 5:2     ⁃    Lineage Isaiah 11:1      ⁃    Miracles Deuteronomy 18:15      ⁃    Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11     ⁃    Resurrection Isaiah 53:11 We close with Pastor's heartfelt encouragement to let the word of God speak to our hearts, to search the scriptures and find what Jesus the Messiah has to say to us. No matter who you are, think about this: If Jesus really is who He claimed to be, there is nothing more important than knowing Him and being known by Him. Jesus is different than what we expected…. But He is exactly what the Bible predicted! If God loved us so much He was willing to take on human flesh and fulfill everything spoken beforehand by the prophets, lay down His life on a cross, rise from the grave and announce forgiveness to all who believe, who would reject such an offer?  It's true He was different than what was expected, but He is exactly what was predicted and He's coming back!  Therefore, we need to know Him and be known by Him.   Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Learning to see the Grace of God in the Old Testament Scriptures in the Light which they were written so those Truth's can be applied to our lives.

Learning to see the Grace of God in the Old Testament Scriptures in the Light which they were written so those Truth's can be applied to our lives.

Today we begin the book of Hebrews, a book that emphasizes the superiority of Christ to all that has come before him. While the writer of the book of Hebrews remains unknown, we do know that this writer can quote the Old Testament Scriptures at length and is very polished in his ability to write and to reason. This letter is unique, as it has no greeting and seems to be directed specifically toward Jewish believers. In today's passage, the writer argues that Jesus is greater than the prophets who came before, as God has spoken to us directly by the Son and appointed him heir of all things. He is greater than angels, for everything has been made subject to him. Moreover, as one who has flesh and blood, he has reached out to help men, but has not done so for angels. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

The Pharisees regroup and come at Jesus with a third loaded question. This time they send a scribe (a lawyer of the law), and he asks Jesus, “What is the greatest of all the commandments?” Jesus' answers silences the Pharisees once again. Jesus' answer tells us that to Love God and to Love our neighbors is the greatest commandment, and that all of the Old Testament Scripture hangs of these two commandments.

1 Chronicles 22 commences with David's preparation for the building of the temple. Since David had been forbidden from building he could have left the task to Solomon. But no, he shows a wonderful spirit in totally throwing his energies into preparing for building the temple. David then charges his son with the responsibility of the task. Yahweh tells of Solomon's part in the building of that magnificent house. God outlines that Solomon would be a son of the promise, which was restated. But Solomon could not fulfill all the terms of the covenant since Solomon came to the throne while David is still living. Also, God's mercy departed from Solomon who in his later life strays from the ways of His God. Additionally, Solomon was not literally the Father's son. Brother Islip Collyer in his magnificent book - "Conviction and Conduct" on page 142 wrote of David's wonderful spirit as follows: "that David's plan to build the temple was inspired by pure zeal for Divine things and not with an idea of self-aggrandisement; for despite hisfrustrated intention he still thanked God for the mercies promised and started with zeal on such work as was permitted". Chapter 32 of Ezekiel contains a lament on Egypt, who is likened to a dragon (crocodile) lying in the Nile. The annual blessing that came from the deposit of rich alluvial sediment, due to rains falling in central Africa, would cease. This has happened ever since the completion of the Aswan high dam. The construction of that dam has been disastrous. Disease has increased and there has been a massive reduction of agriculture and fishing. These disasters have resulted in the once mighty Egyptian empire becoming a minor nation. Like many of the other nations Egypt would be brought low. Egypt is thus another testimony to the fact that: "the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men" Daniel 4:17. In Ephesians 3 the Apostle Paul outlines the 'mystery' (the Greek word simply means 'secret') that God always intended for the Gentiles to be included in the blessings of the gospel. From verses 14-22 we read of the Apostle's prayer for the believers' spiritual strength and growth. Notice that the love of God surpasses understanding and includes four dimensions - length, breadth, depth and height. This indicates that the love of the Father cannot be measured. Chapter 4 contains a plea for unity among the body of believers. In the truth there is a sevenfold unity (verses 4-6). This is essentially because God, our Father is one. Those verses cite several Old Testament Scriptures supporting this purpose - Psalm 68; Deuteronomy 30. The result is that the distribution of gifts is defined by the function they fulfil in promoting and producing a united body. Each believer has been called to a new life described in verses 17-32. Carefully read verses 20-24 which tell us how faithful believers in Christ live by modelling their lives on his. Also contemplate the need to replace old evil habits with positive beneficial behaviours as verses 25-32 teach us. The last three verses say that any failure to act in a way that reveals that we arethe children of the Almighty will grieve our loving Heavenly Father. The only way to overcome sin is by"replacement therapy".

The Old Testament Scriptures Luke 24: 25-27; Acts 28: 23-31 1. The Bible of Christ 2. The Bible of the apostles 3. The framework of the New Testament

1 Chronicles 22 commences with David's preparation for the building of the temple. Since David had been forbidden from building he could have left the task to Solomon. But no, he shows a wonderful spirit in totally throwing his energies into preparing for building the temple. David then charges his son with the responsibility of the task. Yahweh tells of Solomon's part in the building of that magnificent house. God outlines that Solomon would be a son of the promise, which was restated. But Solomon could not fulfill all the terms of the covenant since Solomon came to the throne while David is still living. Also, God's mercy departed from Solomon who in his later life strays from the ways of His God. Additionally, Solomon was not literally the Father's son. Brother Islip Collyer in his magnificent book - "Conviction and Conduct" on page 142 wrote of David's wonderful spirit as follows: "that David's plan to build the temple was inspired by pure zeal for Divine things and not with an idea of self-aggrandisement; for despite his frustrated intention he still thanked God for the mercies promised and started with zeal on such work as was permitted". Chapter 32 of Ezekiel contains a lament on Egypt, who is likened to a dragon (crocodile) lying in the Nile. The annual blessing that came from the deposit of rich alluvial sediment, due to rains falling in central Africa, would cease. This has happened ever since the completion of the Aswan high dam. The construction of that dam has been disastrous. Disease has increased and there has been a massive reduction of agriculture and fishing. These disasters have resulted in the once mighty Egyptian empire becoming a minor nation. Like many of the other nations Egypt would be brought low. Egypt is thus another testimony to the fact that: "the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men" Daniel 4:17. In Ephesians 3 the Apostle Paul outlines the 'mystery' (the Greek word simply means 'secret') that God always intended for the Gentiles to be included in the blessings of the gospel. From verses 14-22 we read of the Apostle's prayer for the believers' spiritual strength and growth. Notice that the love of God surpasses understanding and includes four dimensions - length, breadth, depth and height. This indicates that the love of the Father cannot be measured. Chapter 4 contains a plea for unity among the body of believers. In the truth there is a sevenfold unity (verses 4-6). This is essentially because God, our Father is one. Those verses cite several Old Testament Scriptures supporting this purpose - Psalm 68; Deuteronomy 30. The result is that the distribution of gifts is defined by the function they fulfil in promoting and producing a united body. Each believer has been called to a new life described in verses 17-32. Carefully read verses 20-24 which tell us how faithful believers in Christ live by modelling their lives on his. Also contemplate the need to replace old evil habits with positive beneficial behaviours as verses 25-32 teach us. The last three verses say that any failure to act in a way that reveals that we arethe children of the Almighty will grieve our loving Heavenly Father. The only way to overcome sin is by"replacement therapy".

Romans opens with a powerful introduction to Paul's identity, mission, and message. He calls himself a “slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.” In these opening verses, Paul reminds us that the gospel is not a new invention but God's eternal plan, promised long ago through the Old Testament Scriptures and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We see Jesus revealed as both fully man and fully God, the Son of David and the risen Son of God, who brings life and salvation to all who believe.Here are some things we'll learn from Romans 1:1–7:Why Paul begins by declaring himself a servant before anything else.How the gospel is promised in the Old Testament and fulfilled in JesusThe necessity for Jesus to be fully God and fully man.Why the resurrection is central to Jesus' identity and our hope.What it means to live “set apart” for the sake of God's name.How God's love calls us to belong to Christ and to live as saints in His presence.Support our mission and learn more atwww.alloflife.churchGive to the work of the gospel herewww.alloflife.churchcenter.com/giving

Episode Notes He ( Jesus ) explained or interpreted the Old Testament Scriptures to them. Probably he showed them that their notions of the Messiah were not according to the Scriptures. This tells us that what they expected is not what eventually happened in the reality of how it truly was. Further, they expected a temporal prince; they were perplexed because Jesus had not assumed the regal power, but had been put to death. ( Edited Comments From Barnes' New Testament Notes) Please visit our Outreach Web site! ~ Home Page. Introduction ~ About Us, Who We Are: Episode 1 How-To Be Saved: Episode 2 “End Times” and “Benediction” A “Barking Squirrel Production” Copyright: 2018 ~ All Rights Reserved Our Series: “Jesus Walks the Road to Emmaus”: 2025-0902 Episode: 37 Copyright: 2025 TAGS: #Gospel #Christ #Newbirth #Joy #Holiness This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

When God looks at us, He sees only two groups. What are they? Learn the answer and see how this key passage of Old Testament Scripture unlocks our understanding of important sections in the New Testament books of Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews.

Sunday, 7 September 2025   On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. Matthew 13:1   “And in that day, Jesus, having departed from the house, He sat by the sea” (CG).   In the previous verse, Chapter 12 finished with Jesus saying that whoever does the will of His Father in heaven is His brother and sister and mother. Chapter 13 now begins with, “And in that day.”   Such words as this will have various meanings based on the context. For example, the Lord may say, “In that day, I will rescue Israel.” Or we may read of the “Day of the Lord.” Such days actually reflect past or future events or extended periods of time. The same terminology is used in English as well.   However, there is no need to assume anything other than a literal rendering of the word here. Therefore, it is either referring to the previous verses or to something coming in the verses ahead. The most obvious and likely meaning is the day on which He had already been speaking. That this is likely is seen in the next words, where it says, “Jesus, having departed from the house.”   Jesus was specifically noted as being inside based on the words of Matthew 12:46 –   “While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.”   Noting His mother and brothers were outside means that He was inside. Now, having departed from that house, it next says, “He sat by the sea.”   This is the Sea of Galilee. The narrative is preparing to enter into more words from Jesus by introducing the location and circumstances.   Life application: Because Jesus was in a house, only a certain number of people could hear His words. That is clearly evidenced by the fact that His mother and brothers wanted to speak with Him. He was engaging the scribes and Pharisees in one setting. Even though His words are recorded now for all to know what went on in the house, at the time, what He said was not heard by the people.   However, Jesus' heading out and sitting by the sea is a purposeful decision to allow His coming words to be heard and considered by many more people. As you read the gospels, think about what is going on in the surrounding context.   Jesus walks in various locations at various times. If the name of the location is given, it is certain that particular information is being provided to understand a greater picture. It is as if His very movements are forming a picture for us to consider.   Likewise, when He says something, it is quite possible that His words are fulfilling other pictures from the Old Testament Scriptures. For example, Jesus said, “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33).   In that sentence, Jesus equates Himself to the manna given to Israel in the wilderness. That is explained more fully in the surrounding words. But Jesus also noted that He comes down from heaven. In Hebrew, the word yarad, to descend, is used. It is where the name Jordan, or in Hebrew yarden, is derived.   In studying the uses of yarden in the Old Testament, amazing pictures of Christ, the Descender, will be seen. The very topography of the land of Israel is noted in Scripture to tell us greater stories of Jesus, His work, and how it applies to His people.   But typology can be manipulated. It is easy to “make anything say anything” and claim that is what the Bible is saying. So be careful as you read the word and make conclusions about things you read. Also, be careful about how people present typology.   Something may sound right, but be completely wrong. There must be a reasonable connection to what is being said, and the typological representations must be consistently used. If they are properly searched out and presented, truly amazing stories of God's redemptive plans will shine through.   Consider what God is telling you, both on the surface and how it points to Jesus. This is what Jesus told us would be the case as we read this precious word –   “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39   Lord God, what an intricate and amazing word You have given us. There are many levels of information being conveyed to us all at the same time. Your word is a marvel and a delight for our minds to consider, wonder at, and rejoice in. Thank You for this precious word. Amen.  

Like an attorney in a courtroom, Paul responded to objections from religious Jews and presented his case against humanity. He proved the pervasiveness of sin with logic and the Old Testament Scriptures. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at Romans 3. Examine our lifeless condition without Christ and assess the situation for yourself. There is only one hope for a dead person, only one solution for sin: Jesus Christ!

Like a solicitor in a courtroom, Paul responded to objections from religious Jews and presented his case against humanity. He proved the pervasiveness of sin with logic and the Old Testament Scriptures. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at Romans 3. Examine our lifeless condition without Christ and assess the situation for yourself. There is only one hope for a dead person, only one solution for sin: Jesus Christ!

Like a solicitor in a courtroom, Paul responded to objections from religious Jews and presented his case against humanity. He proved the pervasiveness of sin with logic and the Old Testament Scriptures. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at Romans 3. Examine our lifeless condition without Christ and assess the situation for yourself. There is only one hope for a dead person, only one solution for sin: Jesus Christ!

Like an attorney in a courtroom, Paul responded to objections from religious Jews and presented his case against humanity. He proved the pervasiveness of sin with logic and the Old Testament Scriptures.Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at Romans 3. Examine our lifeless condition without Christ and assess the situation for yourself.There is only one hope for a dead person, only one solution for sin: Jesus Christ! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29

Like an attorney in a courtroom, Paul responded to objections from religious Jews and presented his case against humanity. He proved the pervasiveness of sin with logic and the Old Testament Scriptures. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at Romans 3. Examine our lifeless condition without Christ and assess the situation for yourself. There is only one hope for a dead person, only one solution for sin: Jesus Christ!

Like a solicitor in a courtroom, Paul responded to objections from religious Jews and presented his case against humanity. He proved the pervasiveness of sin with logic and the Old Testament Scriptures. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at Romans 3. Examine our lifeless condition without Christ and assess the situation for yourself. There is only one hope for a dead person, only one solution for sin: Jesus Christ!

Like a solicitor in a courtroom, Paul responded to objections from religious Jews and presented his case against humanity. He proved the pervasiveness of sin with logic and the Old Testament Scriptures. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at Romans 3. Examine our lifeless condition without Christ and assess the situation for yourself. There is only one hope for a dead person, only one solution for sin: Jesus Christ!

Like an attorney in a courtroom, Paul responded to objections from religious Jews and presented his case against humanity. He proved the pervasiveness of sin with logic and the Old Testament Scriptures.Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at Romans 3. Examine our lifeless condition without Christ and assess the situation for yourself.There is only one hope for a dead person, only one solution for sin: Jesus Christ! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29

Daily Dose of Hope August 26, 2025   Scripture – Luke 11:14-54   Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you today with humility.  You are holy, you are perfect, and I am painfully flawed.  Forgive me, Lord, for the way I fall short over and over again.  Forgive me for not being loving, patient, and kind.  Jesus, I want to follow your example.  I want to have a clean and pure heart.  How I need you.  Create in me a pure heart, Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.  I love you.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish up Luke 11.   Today's reading starts with Jesus healing a man possessed by a demon who makes him mute.  The healing leads the Pharisees to make some pretty serious misjudgments.  They were talking amongst themselves but Jesus knows their thoughts.  The Pharisees say that Jesus is healing through the power of Beelzebub, the Prince of Demons.  Jesus tells them that Satan won't drive himself out.  A divided Kingdom will not stand.    Why their resistance to belief?  Why are they so fiercely against Jesus?  Most likely because Jesus doesn't look, talk, or behave as they think a Messiah should.  He challenges their fundamental beliefs.  If we are honest, Jesus challenges some of our fundamental beliefs too.  The question is always:  Will we choose to believe or will we reject like the Pharisees?  Jesus says that whoever is not with him is against him.  There is no half-way with Jesus.    One other interesting tidbit about this part of the passage is at the end, when a woman from the crowd calls out, “Blessed is the mother who gave birth to you and nursed you.”  As a mom, I think this is kind of sweet, but Jesus clearly redirects her.  Blessedness doesn't come from biological connectedness.  Blessedness, according to Jesus, comes from obedience.  Mary was blessed but it was because she was obedient to God, not because her womb was somehow holy.   The people, including the religious leaders, continue to want signs and miracles.  Jesus calls them a wicked generation.  He knows that more miracles will not make them believe.  Afterall, he has already done incredibly ministry with all kinds of miracles of healing and abundance.  Jesus has already performed the miracles that the Old Testament spoke about – the blind see, the deaf hear, the oppressed are set free.  What kind of sign would it take for them to really believe?   He tells them that the only sign they would get would be the sign of Jonah.  Remember that Jonah avoided Ninevah by jumping on a ship and trying to hide from God.  He ended up being swallowed by a large fish and he stayed in the belly of that fish for three days before God allowed him to be spit up and see the light of day.  Thus, the sign of Jonah, for an unbelieving people, is a reference to Jesus' impending death, followed three days later by resurrection.  Will that make them believe?    Next, Jesus talks about the eyes being a lamp which lights the entire body.  The eyes are like the doorway to our souls.  When Jesus referred to “good” eyes, he meant eyes that not only see well but also perceive well. It is not only what we see, but how we perceive what we see that makes the difference between godliness and ungodliness, between light and darkness. Bad eyes lead to bad perception, but if our eyes are good, our whole person will be illuminated. If we are in a lighted room, we see things clearly. We can move around obstacles and locate whatever we're looking for. But walking in darkness results in stumbling and falling.   Our reading today closes with the woes to the Pharisees.  The Pharisees notice that Jesus doesn't do the ceremonial handwashing before the meal and they are surprised.  Jesus responds with some pretty harsh words.  Basically, who cares if the outside of your cup is clean if the inside is filled with filth?  The Pharisees and teachers of the law looked so good on the outside, doing all the right things, but their hearts were filled with greed, arrogance, and evil.  Then, Jesus begins a series of woes:   Verse 42 - Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.  They loved their religion more than they loved God and neighbor.  The Pharisees had a lot of religious busyness, a lot of stuff they did for God.  They were so careful to tithe 10% of their herb garden but they treated people poorly, they neglected the poor, they didn't care for their neighbor.  They didn't really love God.  They loved the idea of God.   Verse 43 - Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.  The most respected teachers and elders sat at the front of the synagogue facing the congregation. In fact, if you visit some old churches, they may have chairs on the platform for the elders, pastor, and other leaders of the church to sit. But is sitting up front wrong? No, it's sitting up front to be seen by others. The issue is their pride. The Pharisees loved receiving special honorary greetings in the marketplace too.   You see, if we are doing what we are doing for the wrong reason, if you are serving where you are serving for the wrong reason, then we are totally missing the point and woe to us.    Verse 44 - “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.” In Israel tombs were white-washed (they still are) and this wasn't just so they looked pretty.  Not at all.  This actually was done to prevent people from accidentally stepping on them and contracting ritual uncleanliness. Numbers 19 says if you touch a bone or grave, then you would be unclean for a week until you underwent a cleansing process. Jesus turns this upside down.  He says, you guys are totally missing it.  In fact, you are missing it so much that when people come in contact with the you, Pharisees, they get infected and unclean.  That's how dirty your hearts are.  Ouch!    Verse 45 - One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”  I picture Jesus kind of looking at him and thinking, duh?  But this is what he says, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.  These experts in the law would study the Old Testament Scriptures and develop guidelines for the people to follow.  Many of the rules that these experts would impose on the people were really burdensome.  The average poor Jew, someone who maybe worked in the fields, could not possibly carry out the Jewish law the way the experts in the law would say they should.    But the woes keep coming.  Verses 47-48, “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. Jesus is saying to the teachers of the law, “Your ancestors killed the prophets. And you think that if you had been there, you wouldn't have done that.  So you build these tombs to the prophets to make up for that.  And yet, the prophet of all prophets is right here before you and you have rejected him.”  And of course, he is referring to himself.  This is where we have to be so careful about judgement.  We have this tendency to think “Well, if I had been there, I wouldn't have done that.  I wouldn't have killed that prophet.  I wouldn't have persecuted that person.”  Friends, be careful.  That's kind of like saying, “We would never have called out Crucify Him.”  But we are weak people.  Recognizing the weakness and frailties of our heart is the first step.  We have to recognize that we are vulnerable and we are sinful.  We need the power and strength of Jesus in us to even have a chance to get our hearts right.  Let's finish the Scripture with verses 52-54, “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say. Jesus tells them, “You aren't helping people understand God's Word.  You are making it harder, more convoluted.”  I think this is a really fair warning to all of us who are teachers and preachers and leaders in the church – are we making the Bible easier to understand or harder?  This isn't just in what we say but also in what we do.   One thing I think God has taught me through this passage is that I need to humble myself and make sure my whole heart is right with God.  Think about it.  The Pharisees thought they were doing it all right.  They thought that what they were doing was what made them acceptable to God.  They thought they were being righteous gatekeepers.  And Jesus said, YOU ARE TOTALLY MISSING THE POINT!  Jesus saved his harshest words for the religious people and last time I checked, that's us. Y'all, it is so very easy to be religious, it is a lot harder to be loving.  It is so very easy to “do the stuff that appears to make us look like good Christians.”  It's a lot harder to do the stuff that actually makes us good Christians, to really, really love God and to really, really love others and to acknowledge that those two things can't be separated.    Jesus could care less about the outside.  He doesn't care about steeples.  He doesn't care about stain-glass windows.  He doesn't care about the façade we present to the world.  He doesn't care if I wear a nice dress and heels.  None of that matters to him.  He cares about our hearts.  He can see our hearts.  He knows us through and through.  He knows what we value.  He knows what we think about others.  He knows.  He doesn't just see the outside of us.  He sees us.  The Pharisees believed the lie that God sees as man sees.  They were wrong.  God sees with ex-ray vision the true nature of our soul.    And that sends me to the foot of the cross.  More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

The Gospel of John Week 4 Scripture: John 2:1-22, Genesis 1:10 & 12, Isaiah 62:5, Isaiah 25:6-9 Today's study starts with the story of a wedding at Cana in Galilee and the text opens with “On the third day.”  The first day is Sunday, the second day of the week is Monday and the third day is Tuesday.  The wedding is happening on a Tuesday. Why is the wedding on Tuesday? The answer is because of what we read in Genesis 1:10 and 12 where God declared everything as good, not once but twice on the third day of creation and the rabbis said the third day is an especially good day - what a great day for marriages! So orthodox Jewish people have set their wedding dates on Tuesdays going back to Biblical times. Mary, Jesus' mother is at this wedding, too. They are most likely into the 4th or more day of the wedding feast. (They typically lasted a week or longer). And they run out of refreshment and Mary lets Jesus know they have run out of wine. Mary then tells the servants to “do whatever He tells you.”  This is a word for us today - to do what Jesus tells us. We are to listen and obey. Pastor considers the questions: “Isn't this a rather frivolous miracle? Why would Jesus for His first miracle make 150 gallons of wine?”  Let's take a look at this miracle in light of what the Old Testament Scriptures say and what the Jewish people believe: God speaks of Himself as being married to His people. God calls Himself the groom and He gives Himself for His bride (the children of Israel). We reading Isaiah 62:5 "For as a young man marries a young woman, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." And the Bible talks of wedding feast banquets when Messiah comes. Isaiah 25:6-9 begins with:  “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare     a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—     the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy     the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;     he will swallow up death forever.” These are a sample of the verses Jewish people knew and now Jesus performs His first miracle at a wedding! This is not a frivolous miracle - this is Jesus saying: “I am the Bridegroom. I am the One who provides everything you need. I am the One who brings in the wedding feast!”  This miracle points to Jesus as the Messiah! It is a dramatic declaration of Jesus' identity and purpose and going forth Jesus will continually refer to Himself as the Bridegroom and to His people as those who get to be invited to the wedding feast. Pastor shares other great insight into:     1.    Why it's important that the jars where stone and not clay pottery     2.    The use of the word “signs”     3.    The 7 miracles shared in the Gospel of John and how they show Jesus' identity and demonstrate He is the Messiah.     4.    The recent archeological discoveries that go back to the 1st century. Next in our text we read the story of the Temple cleansing where Jesus overturns money changing tables at the Temple.  John is the only gospel that has this story at the beginning of Jesus ministry, the other gospels have it at the end of His ministry. Pastor shares the perspective of there being 2 temple cleansing: 1 at the beginning and.another at the end of Jesus' ministry. Other interesting points     ⁃    The temple was to be a house of prayer - not a market place     ⁃    Money changing was being done where worship was supposed to be happening     ⁃    Tyrian Stater - 1/2 shekel temple tax     ⁃    Pastor shares a detailed description of the Temple in Jesus' day and does a dating of events in conjunction with the building of the temple and Jesus' ministry     ⁃    Pastor suggests a book by Jack Finnegan, “Handbook of Biblical Chronology” Our reading today ends with John 2:20-21 where we read that Jesus knows what is in our hearts. He can see into our very souls. We cannot con Jesus. He is the Living God come to earth and we cannot fool Him.   Pastor ends today's class with a look at the Feasts of the Lord celebrated by the Jewish people and how the festivals point us to understanding their connection to who Jesus is: The Fulfillment of each festival. Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Saturday, 12 July 2025   But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” Matthew 11:24   “Moreover, I say to you that it will be sufferable – land Sodom – in Judgment Day than you” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that if the miracles done in Sodom had been done in Capernaum, it would have remained till that day. And more! He continues with, “Moreover, I say to you that it will be sufferable – land Sodom – in Judgment Day than you.”   The thought is the same as that of Tyre and Sidon in comparison to Chorazin and Bethsaida in verse 22. Just as the judgment of those two Jewish cities would be weightier than for the two wicked Gentile cities, so would the judgment of Capernaum be in comparison to that of Sodom.   The people of those cities would have been offended at such a thought. The judgment on Sodom because of their vile deeds was a key theme in their Scriptures. To be compared to Sodom, and then to be condemned as more deserving of judgment than it, would have been the highest form of offense.   Jews reading that today would still find it offensive. No wonder so many hear Jesus' words and find them offensive. Until one understands the reason, the pronouncement would seem intolerable. However, with greater revelation comes greater responsibility.   The city of Sodom may have been filled with sexual deviants who rejected the natural order for humanity, but they only had the general revelation of God to guide them. Capernaum had the full body of Old Testament Scriptures to instruct them.   In seeing Jesus' miracles and not making the connection of Him to being the fullest revelation of God ever made manifest, they were more worthy of condemnation than the perverted city of Sodom.   Life application: Imagine the guilt of those who have read the entire Bible, understood the evidence for the coming of Jesus, His fulfillment of the promises of God, His atoning death, internment, and resurrection, and then rejecting what they have read!   What more can God have done than what is recorded in Scripture to make it evident that He has fulfilled every promise concerning the restoration of life for those who believe? At some point, faith must be a part of the equation. Five days after Jesus ascended, some Jew may have arrived in Israel who had never heard of His coming.   He couldn't say, “Ok, God, please send Jesus back so I can verify what these men say is true.” Nor could he ask for a video recording of it all to make sure He really did what had been claimed. For that Jew, faith must now come into play.   The same is true with us. People who sit on YouTube all day watching videos from false teachers about their visions and divine revelations are using faith in believing what they are being told. Their faith is just misdirected.   Though not a video recording of Jesus' life, the Bible is a record of it nonetheless. It was carefully compiled over the centuries, slowly and methodically expressing God's ongoing hand in the plan of redemption. When that plan was fully expressed, the final word of Scripture, the word Amen at the end of Revelation 22:21, was penned.   Now, we have everything necessary to competently know what God has done. From there, we can decide if the evidence is sufficient for us to accept and believe. Assuredly, it is. There is no need to look for further evidence from God concerning visions, prophecies, and revelations on YouTube. The word has been sealed.   Trust what God has presented, accept the gospel message of Jesus Christ, and be saved. To reject what is penned there, due to the complete nature of the revelation expressed, means that the one who is rejecting it is worthy of great condemnation. Don't be such a person. Believe and be saved! Trust what God in Christ has done by believing the message found in the pages of the Holy Bible!   Heavenly Father, may we not neglect the truth of Your word, but read it, accept it, and apply it to our walk with You all the days of our lives. In it is found life, because in it we find Jesus. Thank You for what You have done in the sending of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Yes, thank You, O God. Amen.  

Ordained minister, Dr. Dennis Hall, discusses the attacks on the Bible by agnostics, atheists, and skeptics. He zeroes in on what some refer to as copycat theology. It's the idea that Christianity was copied from pagan myths. He reviews the history of this kind of false teaching. Dr. Hall uses some examples to demonstrate how a story that may have parallels to things that happened in the past does not necessarily make the story a falsehood. It is obvious that some skeptics are willing to distort and lie when it comes to descriptions of pagan gods. Dr. Hall spends time talking about why first century Jews would never stoop to worshiping pagan gods, believing pagan myths, bowing down to idols, and adopting the belief systems of the Gentile nations around them. It is pointed out that one of the things that makes the gospel story of Jesus Christ so compelling is that it fulfills everything that had been prophesies to Israel in the Old Testament Scriptures. Can be heard on all podcast search engines and seen on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/ArHJDtbmmBs.

Main Idea: “Don't be misled by relying on the works of the law for justification.”1. Because of the Holy Spirit's work2. Because of what the Old Testament Scriptures say

Corrected version of what has already be taught but greatly misunderstood. Most are mislead and most are confused. The hardest person to teach anything to, is to the one that things they know everything. Jesus didn't come to nulify the Old Testament Scriptures. He came to fulfill it. Of the three laws, which was not immutable?

1 Corinthians 2:2, "I resolved to know nothing while I was with you, except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." The world is full of distractions, and even within the church, countless voices clamor for attention. But Paul, that faithful minister of the gospel, had one great theme that eclipsed all others: Jesus Christ and Him crucified! This was not a passing interest or occasional emphasis--it was his constant, unwavering focus. If Paul had a "hobby-horse," it was Christ crucified. He rode it in every letter, proclaimed it in every sermon, and treasured it at all times. Paul had deep theological knowledge, an unmatched intellect, and a rich grasp of Old Testament Scriptures. Yet when he came to Corinth--a city dazzled by eloquence and puffed up with human wisdom--he deliberately laid aside every other topic. He determined, he resolved, to make the cross of Christ his singular subject. Why? Because the cross reveals both the vileness of human sin, and the marvelous grace of God in salvation. The cross . . . manifests the sinfulness of man, exalts the glory of God, and unveils the only way of redemption. To preach "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" is to proclaim the eternal plan of God, the willing sacrifice of the Son, and the effectual power of the Spirit in saving those for whom Jesus died. It is to declare that totally depraved and spiritually dead sinners, can be reconciled to the holy and righteous God, only through the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus. No philosophy or moral reform can accomplish this. Only the blood of the Lamb can cleanse and justify ungodly sinners. In a world of theological fads and spiritual shallowness, we need more men like Paul

On this memorial day weekend we have coincidentally come to Israel's military conquest of the Ancient Promised Land in Joshua (we didn't plan this overlap, it just happened!). We've mentioned time and time again how the conquest present in Joshua presents the crux of many peoples' objection to Christianity and we've finally made it there: why does the God of the Old Testament Scriptures seem so different from the Jesus Christ of the gospels? It's a big question and for those of you who may not wrestle with the concept of the Sun & Moon standing still, the account of the conquest of the land in these 2 chapters are perhaps more difficult to stomach. What are we to make of this manner of taking the Promised Land? Must it erode our trust in the God of these Scriptures who is Christ? How are we to wrap our minds around these accounts? Should we even bother? Is there anything helpful in these passages anyhow? We hope to consider all these questions and more with you on Sunday and I hope you find Joshua's insight especially encouraging even if you leave with these tensions unsolved.

This sermon explores how the Old Testament Scriptures prophetically reveal the identity, suffering, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as taught by Jesus himself to the disciples on the Emmaus road. By examining key passages like Psalm 110, Psalm 2, Deuteronomy 18, Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, and Daniel 7, the sermon demonstrates that Jesus is the promised King, Priest, and Prophet who suffered, died, and rose again according to God's divine plan. It emphasizes the importance of biblical literacy in understanding Christ's identity, validates God's promises through fulfilled prophecy, and calls listeners to respond with faith, obedience, and praise to the risen and exalted Savior.

Are we saved by faith or by works? After appealing to both his and the Galatian's personal testimony to prove the necessity of faith, the apostle Paul turns to the Old Testament Scriptures to prove his point. Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel is the prime example of a man justified by faith. Pastor Doug Horner preaches from Galatians 3:6-9 in a message titled, "By Faith, Abraham..."

Jesus' words and deeds are best interpreted in the light of the Old Testament Scripture. Thus, the fact that Jesus said at the temple, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (Jn 7:37), makes much more sense when read alongside Exodus 17, in which Yahweh provided life-giving water to the thirsty Israelites. On this program, Shane takes a deep dive into John 7-9 with the help of New Testament scholar Andreas Köstenberger. After discussing the rich Old Testament background that helps to illuminate John's meaning, the two also discuss whether the story of the woman caught in adultery is an authentic part of the Fourth Gospel or a later addition.SPECIAL OFFER — If you upgrade to a PAID subscription or make a GIFT of any size, we'll send you a downloadable PDF copy of Luke's Key Witness (shown below). When you subscribe, you'll get instant access to the book here (it's currently behind a paywall). If you choose the donation option, you'll receive the PDF via email. Click the image below for a preview. Thanks for your support!SHOW NOTESBooksSigns of the Messiah, Andreas J. KöstenbergerEncountering John, Andreas J. KöstenbergerA Theology of John's Gospel & Letters, Andreas J. KöstenbergerThe Jesus of the Gospels, Andreas J. KöstenbergerTruth Matters, Köstenberger, Bock & ChatrawCommentary on the NT Use of the OT, Carson, Beale & KöstenbergerEchoes of Exodus: Tracing the Theme of Redemption, Roberts & WilsonThe Angel of the Lord, Matt Foreman & Doug Van DornThe Lamb of God: Seeing Jesus in Exodus, Nancy GuthrieJesus in the Old Testament, Iain DuguidJourneys with Jesus, Dennis JohnsonThe Surprising Genius of Jesus, Peter J. WilliamsThe Jewish Gospels, Daniel BoyarinLuke's Key Witness, Shane RosenthalArticlesThe Date of John's Gospel: Are We Witnessing a Paradigm Shift? Shane RosenthalFinding Christ in All of Scripture, Shane RosenthalNew Life in the New Year: The Story of Exodus, Shane RosenthalAuthenticating the Fourth Gospel, Shane RosenthalScribes of the New Covenant, Shane RosenthalOn Faith & History, Shane RosenthalWater Into Wine? Shane RosenthalWhat's the Point of Jesus' Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus? Shane RosenthalA New Way of Reading Scripture, Shane RosenthalThe Identity of the Beloved Disciple, Shane RosenthalA New Argument for John's Identity, Shane RosenthalAudioThe Messiah's Redemptive Mission, Humble Skeptic #72The Angel of Yahweh, Humble Skeptic #70 with Foreman & Van DornThe Sinai Inscriptions, Humble Skeptic #71 with Michael S. Bar-RonDid The Exodus Ever Happen? Humble Skeptic #69 with David RohlJacob's Ladder, Humble Skeptic #63 with Richard Bauckham and othersBabylon, Humble Skeptic Episode #66 Decoding the Prophecies of Daniel, Humble Skeptic #68 Jewish Views of the Messiah, HS #38 with Daniel BoyarinStories of Jesus: Can We Trust Them? HS #61 with Peter J. WilliamsWhich John Wrote John? Humble Skeptic #50VideoLuke's Key Witness, Shane Rosenthal on The Alisa Childers Podcast Get full access to The Humble Skeptic at www.humbleskeptic.com/subscribe

I hope you had a blessed Resurrection Day! In honor of our Lord's resurrection, let's do a deep dive into some Old Testament Scriptures that I believe prophesied about the resurrection of Jesus.On the road to Emmaus, Jesus criticized people for not believing that the Scriptures prophesied about His own sufferings and glory that would follow. Jesus used the Scriptures to explain this to them. Could these have been some of the passages Jesus used?Sources Cited:Neofiti Genesis 3:15Scriptures Referenced:Luke 24:25-27Genesis 3:15Psalm 16:9-11Acts 2:24-32Psalm 22:12-18,21-22,30-31Hebrews 2:9-12Isaiah 53:9-12Psalm 110:1,7Hosea 6:1-2Jonah 1:17Matthew 12:39-401 Peter 1:10-12*** Please contribute to the Hurricane relief fund for A.M. Brewster ***We value your feedback!Have questions for Truthspresso? Contact us!

I hope you had a blessed Resurrection Day! In honor of our Lord's resurrection, let's do a deep dive into some Old Testament Scriptures that I believe prophesied about the resurrection of Jesus.On the road to Emmaus, Jesus criticized people for not believing that the Scriptures prophesied about His own sufferings and glory that would follow. Jesus used the Scriptures to explain this to them. Could these have been some of the passages Jesus used?Sources Cited:Neofiti Genesis 3:15Scriptures Referenced:Luke 24:25-27Genesis 3:15Psalm 16:9-11Acts 2:24-32Psalm 22:12-18,21-22,30-31Hebrews 2:9-12Isaiah 53:9-12Psalm 110:1,7Hosea 6:1-2Jonah 1:17Matthew 12:39-401 Peter 1:10-12*** Please contribute to the Hurricane relief fund for A.M. Brewster ***We value your feedback!Have questions for Truthspresso? Contact us!

In Ephesians 3 the Apostle Paul outlines the ‘mystery' (the Greek word simply means ‘secret') that God always intended for the Gentiles to be included in the blessings of the gospel. From verses 14-22 we read of the Apostle's prayer for the believers' spiritual strength and growth. Notice that the love of God surpasses understanding and includes four dimensions – length, breadth, depth and height. This indicates that the love of the Father cannot be measured. Chapter 4 contains a plea for unity among the body of believers. In the truth there is a sevenfold unity (verses 4-6). This is essentially because God, our Father is one. Those verses cite several Old Testament Scriptures supporting this purpose – Psalm 68; Deuteronomy 30. The result is that the distribution of gifts is defined by the function they fulfil in promoting and producing a united body. Each believer has been called to a new life described in verses 17-32. Carefully read verses 20-24 which tell us how faithful believers in Christ live by modelling their lives on his. Also contemplate the need to replace old evil habits with positive beneficial behaviours as verses 25-32 teach us. The last three verses say that any failure to act in a way that reveals that we are the children of the Almighty will grieve our loving Heavenly Father. The only way to overcome sin is by “replacement therapy”.

Jesus says of the Old Testament Scriptures that “they … bear witness about Me” (John 5:39). This is especially true of two central messianic prophecies, Isaiah 52:13–53:12 and Psalm 22, which feature prominently in Holy Week services. In Isaiah 52–53, we gain remarkable details about Jesus' crucifixion from a prophecy that was written more than 700 years before His death. In Psalm 22, the Holy Spirit inspired David, about 1,000 years before Jesus' birth, to record words that apply in part to David himself but above all to the Messiah. It would not be a stretch to say that Isaiah 52–53 is a biographical portrait of Jesus Christ, and Psalm 22 is autobiographical, since Jesus took the words of David on His own lips at His crucifixion. Or perhaps we should view it the other way around, with “David's Son, yet David's Lord” (LSB 451:1; cf. Matthew 22:41–46) lending the words to His ancestor. Either way, opening the Old Testament leads us straight to Jesus. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the April 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “The Suffering Servant” on Isaiah 52:13–53:12 and Psalm 22. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Opening the Old Testament” and will walk through ways that the Old Testament witnesses to Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy and peace, delivered through the holy Christian church. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

Jesus says of the Old Testament Scriptures that “they … bear witness about Me” (John 5:39). This is especially true of two central messianic prophecies, Isaiah 52:13–53:12 and Psalm 22, which feature prominently in Holy Week services. In Isaiah 52–53, we gain remarkable details about Jesus' crucifixion from a prophecy that was written more than 700 years before His death. In Psalm 22, the Holy Spirit inspired David, about 1,000 years before Jesus' birth, to record words that apply in part to David himself but above all to the Messiah. It would not be a stretch to say that Isaiah 52–53 is a biographical portrait of Jesus Christ, and Psalm 22 is autobiographical, since Jesus took the words of David on His own lips at His crucifixion. Or perhaps we should view it the other way around, with “David's Son, yet David's Lord” (LSB 451:1; cf. Matthew 22:41–46) lending the words to His ancestor. Either way, opening the Old Testament leads us straight to Jesus. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the April 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “The Suffering Servant” on Isaiah 52:13–53:12 and Psalm 22. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Opening the Old Testament” and will walk through ways that the Old Testament witnesses to Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy and peace, delivered through the holy Christian church. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

(Psalm 119:89) A person's character is only as good as their word. God's good name is connected to the innerancy of His Word. In this study we learn the principle of divine preservation and deepen our conviction in the trustworthiness of the Bible. (0976250327) ----more----  How Can I Know the Bible Is Right? Psalm 119 is the Psalm of the Scriptures. In fact, of the 176 verses in Psalm 119, all but two make a definite reference to the word of God in some way. It is a powerful Psalm, and right in the middle of it, we read these words: Psalm 119:89 says, "Forever, oh Lord, thy word is settled in heaven." What does it mean? It means the word of God never changes. So the question is, "Can I trust the Bible?" We've been talking about the fact that God gave His word, He revealed Himself in Scripture, and he inspired the very words of Scripture to be written down by men. He used men to convey his truth to men, but he did it in such a way that we hold in our hands the perfect word of the living God. Can you trust it? There are so many proofs that the word of God can be trusted.  Historical and Scientific Proofs of the Bible For example, there's historical proof. Think of all the fulfilled prophecy in scripture. Did you know that about 30% of your Bible is prophecy? Think of that. There's no real prophecy in any of the other what are referred to as holy books outside the Bible. All of these religions have their holy books, but read them carefully, and you'll find that one of the vastween them and scripture is that the word of the living God is full of very exact differences bet prophecies. Andcies have already been fulfilled exactly as scores of those specific prophe God said. It's an accurate book. The Bible lines up perfectly with proven historical records. As a matter of fact, even archeology has begun to prove the Bible's claims. For years, historians said there was no such group as the Hittites, for example, no such group as the Hittites that was given in scripture. That was a myth. And yet archeology has now proven the Bible's claims of a group known as the Hittite. It's proven the historical existence of David and a united kingdom (Israel). 100% of the time, after all the evidence was in the Bible, it was vindicated. Now, I'm not saying that to say that we vindicate the Bible with external things. Remember that we accept the word of God by faith. We come to God by faith that he can be trusted. I'm simply saying that the word of God is accurate in every way. Scientifically, for example, the Bible revealed truth beyond its years. Leviticus 17:11 talks about the life of the flesh being in the blood. We've only really discovered that in the last few hundred years - this use of blood. Job 26:7 tells us that the earth is suspended in space. Isaiah 40:22 that tells us the Earth is round. Luke 17 tells us that the earth revolves on its axis. Genesis 22:17 tells us that the stars are more than can be counted. Genesis 1 tells us that plants and animals reproduce after their own kind or species. Hebrews 1:2 tells us that there are other worlds or planets. Job 28 25 tells us the air has weight. Psalm 8:8 tells us the ocean has currents. I'm saying to you that the God of all truth can be trusted.  What is the Preservation of Scripture? And so we've come today to another thing that must be discussed when you're studying what the Bible says about the word of God. We've talked about revelation, we've talked about inspiration. Let's talk today about preservation. What does preservation mean? It literally means that God Almighty, who was powerful enough to give his word, is powerful enough to preserve his word to every generation. Now I wanna give you a number of scriptures that may help with this in your own mind.  Scriptural Evidence of Preservation Listen to the words of Psalm 12:6-7. "The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times." Now listen to this. "Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever." I hear people say I believe God may have given his word perfectly the first time, but after all of these years. Certainly it's been tainted by man, wait a minute. The same God who gave his word is powerful enough to preserve His word to every generation. That includes our generation. How about Psalm 33:11, "The council of the Lord standeth forever. The thoughts of his heart to all generations." We're in the all generations. How about Psalm 100:5? And by the way, for every verse I'm showing you today there are a dozen more just like it. I'm just giving you a little sample here. Psalm 100:5 says, "For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations." I want to remind you that the character of the word is tied to the character of the God of the Word. So if you want to agree that the Lord is good, if you want to agree that His mercy is everlasting, then you must agree that His truth endured to all generations. Psalm 105:8 says this, "He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations."  In other words, it's hyperbole. There's no end to God's truth. There's no end to his word to us.  God's Word Is Eternal I go back to Psalm 119, this great psalm of the scriptures. I told you it's full of the word of God. Listen to Psalm 119:152, "Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou has founded them," and here's the word that just keeps popping up over and over again, "forever." We believe that our God is the eternal God, and because of that, we believe that His word is the eternal word. Nothing and no one will ever change that. I remember reading the story years ago of a man who hated the word of God, and he made it his mission to stamp out as many copies of the scripture in his lifetime in his country as he possibly could. And so he spent great sums of money gathering copies of the word of God and burning them and destroying them. When he died, one of the Bible societies purchased his home and made it a center for Bible distribution in that part of the world. Don't tell me that God doesn't have a sense of humor. Men are gonna pass away. The ideas of men are going to pass away. The word the Lord stands forever. How about Isaiah 40:8, "The grass withereth. The flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand." You know the word forever. He is a forever God. Let's let the Lord Jesus speak to this. Go to the New Testament, Matthew 24:35. Listen to the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." If you come to the end of the New Testament and let Peter, one of the first disciples testify. He says in 1 Peter 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." All through scripture, you see the word of God being preserved. Examples of Preservation in Scripture For example, in Deuteronomy, the scroll of Moses was placed inside the Ark of the Covenant under the cherub's wings. What a beautiful picture In Joshua 24:26 Joshua's written additions to what God gave him to write down were placed in a safeguarded place. First Samuel 10:25, the words of Samuel were placed in the Holy of Holies. The Lord made sure that Moses had a handwritten copy of the scriptures given a second time. You remember that the priest were given the responsibility in Deuteronomy 17:18 to make copies of the scriptures, and later scribes were appointed for that job. That's what Ezra was with a scribe. Why would God take such care of preserving his word? Because he wanted us to have it Preservation. Is God extending his truth perfectly to every generation? We believe that those scribes took care of the Old Testament Scriptures. The apostles took care of the New Testament scriptures, but God took care of it all. And here's the amazing thing, did you know the Bible speaks more of preservation than it does inspiration? It's not a lesser doctrine. So if you're gonna believe that God gave his word, you have to also believe that God has preserved his word to every generation. Would you stop today and just thank God that you have the preserved word of the living God, perfectly given to us in our generation, just as God gave it and rejoice today that you're serving the God of eternal truth? Outro and Resources Repeating what other people have said about the Bible is not enough. We must know the biblical reason behind what we believe. We hope you will visit us at etj.bible to access our Library of Bible teaching resources, including book-by-book studies of Scripture. You'll also find studies to watch, listen to, or read. We are so grateful for those who pray for us, who share the biblical content, and for those who invest to help us advance this ministry worldwide. Again, thank you for listening and we hope you'll join us next time on Enjoying the Journey. 

Daily Dose of Hope March 26, 2025 Day 4 of Week 25   Scripture:  Job 37-39; Psalm 103: Revelation 21   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Tonight is Recharge night so please come and join us at 6:30pm in the Garage for community, worship, fellowship, and study.37-39.    The Old Testament Scripture is Job 37-39.  The first chapter is the continuation of Elihu's response.  Then, we hear from the Lord.  He speaks directly to Job.  God basically asserts his authority.  He speaks of how he is creator and knows everything about the world.  He asks Job if he was there when the ocean was created, when the morning was spoken into being...  Basically, he is asking Job, who are you to question me???  God is sovereign, he is in control, and Job is not.  These are questions not meant for Job to actually answer, but to humble him.  I'm not sure what I think about this yet.  More tomorrow.   The New Testament passage is Revelation 21.  John's final vision is that the redemption of creation is now complete. The old earth and creation, that which was broken and sinful, has passed away and a new earth has come. Finally. this is what we have been waiting for. God's people reside in this new earth.   There is no more populace simply mechanically following the ways of the world. There is passion. God's people dwell with the Almighty himself, his glory fully revealed. And now, there will be no more tears, suffering, or loss. All is new, all is healed, and all is redeemed.   Then, there is a description of God's Holy City. Please be sure to read through this beautiful vision. This city is a place of perfect worship, where humanity is not seeking achievement but rather exists to worship God in the presence of God. God's Kingdom is fully revealed and it is incredible.   I have a seminary professor who used to tell us that our lives, as believers, are intended to be a preview to the world of the perfect world to come. So very convicting! If someone were to look at your life, what might they deduce about God's perfect world to come?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

"All Saved the Same Way" • Acts 15:1-19 - Brother Jonah Lowrance. Brother Jonah explains the dispute within the early churches regarding what place the Old Testament Law has in the salvation, how the dispute was properly handled, and that the Apostles and elders concluded that God's people are not saved by the Law. Based on the blessing of the Holy Ghost, the words of Jesus, and the Old Testament Scriptures, they come to the conclusion that all are saved in the same way by "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ."

The greatest turning point in human history occurs in Romans 3:21 with two simple words: "But now." After three chapters of bad news about our sinful condition, Paul reveals God's solution through justification by faith in Christ.• All people, both Jews and Gentiles, stand condemned under sin• Paul quotes extensively from Old Testament Scripture to prove universal sinfulness• The law cannot save us; it only reveals our inability to meet God's standard• Justification comes through faith in Christ, not through our own efforts• Justification is a point-in-time event, not a process we grow into• We are completely justified the moment we trust Christ• Christians stand fully righteous before God, clothed in Christ's righteousness• Our response to justification should include rejoicing, daily remembrance, and sharing with othersIf you don't know Christ Jesus, you too can stand before the Father justified by coming to Him today. Let that justification intersect with your life today!

The author of Hebrews continues to reference Old Testament Scripture to make a defense for the superiority of Christ over all things. The earthly tabernacle is but a shadow of the heavens, where Christ serves as great high priest. He has made a superior sacrifice, shedding His own blood rather than that of goats, bulls, or rams. He oversees a new covenant, where the law is written on the hearts and minds of those who trust in Him. Men and women of faith who came before Him were waiting for the promise of His coming. In Him, we haven't come to Mt Sinai, but Mount Zion, where Christ intercedes on our behalf. Hebrews 10 - 1:15 . Hebrews 11 - 8:02 . Hebrews 12 - 16:13 . Hebrews 13 - 21:58 . Psalm 28 - 26:18 . Psalm 29 - 27:51 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Now that we've completed the book of Leviticus, we're jumping into the book of Hebrews, a book that emphasizes Jesus' role as a better great high priest and a better Sabbath. While the writer of the book of Hebrews remains unknown, we do know that this writer can quote the Old Testament Scriptures at length and is very polished in his ability to write and to reason. This letter is unique, as it has no greeting and seems to be directed specifically toward Jewish believers. In today's passage, the writer argues that Jesus is greater than angels, greater than Moses, a better rest than the Sabbath day, and a better high priest.Hebrews 1 - 1:13 . Hebrews 2 - 3:54 . Hebrews 3 - 8:05 . Hebrews 4 - 11:03 . Hebrews 5 - 14:25 . Psalm 24 - 17:00 . Psalm 25 - 18:32 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Daily Dose of Hope March 3, 2025 Day 2 of Week 49     Scripture:  Ezra 7-10; Psalm 97; Revelation 4   Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.   For our Old Testament Scripture, we head back to the book of Ezra.  In chapters 7 and 8, we read about Ezra returning to Jerusalem.  The king of Persia has given him and any Jews who want to return permission to do so.  But it's quite a journey.  Ezra records all that come with him.    One interesting thing about Ezra is that he was a leader who invested in his people. He didn't just tell the people what to do, he actually taught the people Scripture and how to interpret it. Thus, as we move into chapters 9 and 10, the people are now recognizing that what is going on among them is wrong. They see how the Jewish people are out of alignment with God's law and they decide to bring their concerns to Ezra.   What's the issue? Well, the people of God have been intermarrying with all the pagan nations and cultures around them. They have given their daughters in marriage to Canaanites and Hittites. They have accepted Moabite and Amorite men as husbands for their daughters. God asked them to be a holy, set-apart people and they have done anything but. There are certainly instances in the Old Testament when Jewish people have married foreigners(think Ruth the Moabite) and things have turned out well. But in those cases, the foreign spouse became dedicated to the one true God. In other instances, when things didn't turn out so well (think Solomon and all his wives), it was because the spouses remained pagan and brought their pagan gods into the home. It is hard to be holy and set apart when Pagan influences are at your kitchen table and in your bedroom.   As believers in Jesus, we are also to be set apart people. That doesn't mean we isolate ourselves from the world, but rather we live differently. Our values are different than the world's values. Our lifestyle should be different from the world's lifestyle. When it comes to marriage, the New Testament also implores believers to marry other believers. It isn't a command but it makes sense. When a person of one worldview covenants with the person of a totally different worldview, it can be really, really hard. When one spouse is committed to Jesus and the other isn't, there will be value clashes.   Think about your own relationships, maybe your marriage. How might your pray for those closest to you in regard to faith? We know that God isn't done with anyone yet. What relationship is heavy on your heart right now? Take a moment and pray.   Back to the Scripture - the people truly loved and respected Ezra and when they see how distraught he is, they also become distraught. Ezra really doesn't have to force the people to acknowledge their wrongdoing. They know their guilt before God is significant. They have intermarried with people who worship other gods. They have broken God's law and they know it. Now what is to be done?   Ezra as the leader guides the people but doesn't force them into any specific solution. It is the people themselves who decide that the foreign wives and their children should be banned from their fellowship. This is a hard one for me. Presumably, some of these are innocents. It wasn't their fault that their father decided to marry a foreign woman. And yet, they would be sent away. Sin always has consequences.   I think that is a hard lesson for us. Sin always has consequences. Sometimes, the consequences are more severe than others. In our case, we can receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ and be reconciled to God but that doesn't remove the consequences for ourselves and others. Sin always has consequences.   Now we head to our New Testament reading in Revelation. We've moved from the concerns of the churches to the heavenly realm in chapter 4. John describes heaven's throne room with God on the throne. Human words fail John at this moment and he can only describe God as having the appearance of jasper and ruby. I've tried to envision this. Jasper is a beautiful stone that can be either a deep red or dark green. Ruby is obviously a brilliant red. So God, in John's vision, includes the flashing radiance of reds and greens. Take a moment, close your eyes, and try to imagine what John is seeing.   The main throne is surrounded by twenty-four other thrones occupied by twenty-four elders. Scholars have debated for years as to who these elders might be but it probably isn't all that relevant. What is relevant is the majesty of it all. From that central throne, there are flashes of lightning and the sounds of thunder. There are seven blazing lamps around the throne, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. What is most interesting to me are the four creatures who surround the throne. They seem to serve as guardians of some kind. They are covered with eyes and they each have six wings. They are similar to the fantastic beings described in Ezekiel (chapters 1 and 10). And these beings never stop praising God. All the time, never-ending praise: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come.”   When the four creatures give praise, the twenty-four elders do as well, falling down and worshiping God. Think of it–praise to God all the time; continuous, nonstop worship and praise. In heaven, God is being worshiped constantly without breaks or pauses. Why? Because he is God. Because he is creator, because he is sustainer, because he is Savior and Lord of all. Ceaseless praise.   How much time do we spend praising God in our lives on earth? Be honest. What's your praise level? How might we begin to worship and praise God on a continuous (or at least daily) basis? How might this change how we view God? How might this change how we view the world?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?’ Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25–27 NLT) Did Jesus exist before the nativity in Bethlehem? Was there a Christ before Christmas? The answer is yes. Jesus’ arrival in Bethlehem is when the incarnation took place. The incarnation is when God became a man. But that’s not when Jesus came into being. Jesus, being God, has always been and He always will be. He is eternal because He is God. Understanding that opens up Scripture to us in a whole new way. The Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament covers events that occurred before Jesus’ birth. The New Testament covers events surrounding His birth and after. It’s similar to the way we divide history. The Old Testament is BC (before Christ); the New Testament is AD (anno Domini), which is Latin for “in the year of the Lord.” Casual readers of the Bible may assume that Jesus is a New Testament figure, an AD man. But that’s not the case. Remember, He’s eternal, so there’s no such period as BC because nothing existed before Christ. John 1:1–2 says, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God” (NLT). And in Colossians 1:17, the apostle Paul writes of Christ, “He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together” (NLT). Not only has Christ existed forever, He is also the central figure of Scripture. Not just the New Testament, but the Old Testament as well. That’s the theme for our devotions this month: Jesus in the Old Testament. You can’t fully appreciate God’s amazing plan of salvation until you connect the dots between the Old Testament passages that anticipate Christ’s coming and the New Testament passages that detail His saving work. Luke 24 tells the story of two followers of Christ who were walking to the village of Emmaus three days after Jesus’ crucifixion, just as news of His resurrection was starting to spread. They were sad and confused. Jesus appeared to them, but God kept them from recognizing Him at first. Jesus’ words to them—“You foolish people!”—may seem harsh. But Jesus wanted them to understand that it wasn’t the time for mourning or confusion. The Messiah was alive! God’s plan of salvation had been accomplished! Death had been conquered! Centuries of prophecy and promises had been fulfilled! Verse 27 says, “Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (NLT). These men likely were no strangers to Old Testament Scripture. But they had failed to make some very important connections. Not only were Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection all part of God’s prophetic plan, but so was just about everything else He did. The evidence was there, in the words of Scripture, for anyone who searched for it. Jesus helped His followers recognize the clues they had missed. We are never alone in life. That’s the message we see from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus has always been there. He appeared to Abraham and Jacob, among others. He was never far from the minds of the Old Testament prophets. And to those who are His disciples, He says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT). Reflection question: What does the Old Testament reveal about God and His plan of salvation? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesus was born as the Savior King in fulfillment of numerous prophecies and promises found in the Old Testament Scriptures. His birth was marked by several significant aspects that revealed his identity as the long-awaited Messiah and Savior of the world: This King was affirmed by divine announcements, visits from dignitaries, declarations by angels, and the purpose of his birth to save humanity from sin. His birth in Bethlehem marked the beginning of God's redemptive plan, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe in him.

Jesus was born as the Savior King in fulfillment of numerous prophecies and promises found in the Old Testament Scriptures. His birth was marked by several significant aspects that revealed his identity as the long-awaited Messiah and Savior of the world: This King was affirmed by divine announcements, visits from dignitaries, declarations by angels, and the purpose of his birth to save humanity from sin. His birth in Bethlehem marked the beginning of God's redemptive plan, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe in him.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (12/19/24), Hank starts a special series leading up to Christmas Day featuring his CHRISTMAS acronym, starting with the first two letters of the acronym: "C" and "H". Christ—the "C" in CHRISTMAS—is a title that comes from the Greek “Christos”, which is a rendering of the Hebrew word Messiah, meaning “anointed one.” As such, the Christ of Christmas is the long-awaited Messiah who fulfills all the types and shadows of the Old Testament Scriptures. So, to fully grasp the significance of the Anointed One's Messianic role, you have to drink deeply from the wellspring of Old Testament prophecy. Moving on to history—the “H” in CHRISTMAS—Hank explains that Jesus Christ stands at the very apex of human history. Therefore, he can say with certainty that Christmas is not about reveling in mythology, it is about celebrating events that are rooted in historical fact.