Podcasts about prophet zechariah

On this episode of Rightly Dividing, we start with the prophet Hosea, and work our way down the line, in order, to read the writings of a fascinating group of men known as ‘The Twelve'. One main thing they all have in common is that they all prophesy concerning the end times of Jacob's trouble, with a focus on the events of the great Tribulation. Jesus says in Hebrews “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”, and this is the sum and substance that make up the writings of these amazing Minor Prophets.ON THIS EPISODE: We take a look at the Prophet Zechariah, and he is perhaps the biggest and most powerful of the 12 Minor Prophets we've been studying these past number of weeks. Zechariah has so much to say it's doubtful we will get even half of it in during our study tonight, and all of it pertains to the Second Advent. Zechariah makes some astonishing connections to the book of Revelation and we will spend much of our time this evening cross-referencing his prophecies. PLEASE NOTE: this is the fifth installment in our look at the book of Zechariah.

ON THIS EPISODE: We take a look at the Prophet Zechariah, and he is perhaps the biggest and most powerful of the 12 Minor Prophets we've been studying these past number of weeks. Zechariah has so much to say it's doubtful we will get even half of it in during our study tonight, and all of it pertains to the Second Advent. Zechariah makes some astonishing connections to the book of Revelation and we will spend much of our time this evening cross-referencing his prophecies. PLEASE NOTE: this is the fourth installment in our look at the book of Zechariah.

ON THIS EPISODE: We take a look at the Prophet Zechariah, and he is perhaps the biggest and most powerful of the 12 Minor Prophets we've been studying these past number of weeks. Zechariah has so much to say it's doubtful we will get even half of it in during our study tonight, and all of it pertains to the Second Advent. Zechariah makes some astonishing connections to the book of Revelation and we will spend much of our time this evening cross-referencing his prophecies. PLEASE NOTE: this is the third installment in our look at the book of Zechariah.

ON THIS EPISODE: We take a look at the Prophet Zechariah, and he is perhaps the biggest and most powerful of the 12 Minor Prophets we've been studying these past number of weeks. Zechariah has so much to say it's doubtful we will get even half of it in during our study tonight, and all of it pertains to the Second Advent. Zechariah makes some astonishing connections to the book of Revelation and we will spend much of our time this evening cross-referencing his prophecies. PLEASE NOTE: this is the second installment in our look at the book of Zechariah.

ON THIS EPISODE: We take a look at the Prophet Zechariah, and he is perhaps the biggest and most powerful of the 12 Minor Prophets we've been studying these past number of weeks. Zechariah has so much to say it's doubtful we will get even half of it in during our study tonight, and all of it pertains to the Second Advent. Zechariah makes some astonishing connections to the book of Revelation and we will spend much of our time this evening cross-referencing his prophecies.

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:Behold, the dwelling of God is with mankind. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God.Revelation 21:3 Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia. Jubilate (Psalm 100)Alleluia. To us a child is born: O come, let us adore him. Alleluia.Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *serve the Lord with gladnessand come before his presence with a song.Know this: The Lord himself is God; *he himself has made us, and we are his;we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.Enter his gates with thanksgiving;go into his courts with praise; *give thanks to him and call upon his Name.For the Lord is good;his mercy is everlasting; *and his faithfulness endures from age to age.Alleluia. To us a child is born: O come, let us adore him. Alleluia. The PsalterPsalm 2Quare fremuerunt gentes?BCP p. 586Why are the nations in an uproar? *Why do the peoples mutter empty threats?2Why do the kings of the earth rise up in revolt,and the princes plot together, *against the Lord and against his Anointed?3“Let us break their yoke,” they say; *“let us cast off their bonds from us.”4He whose throne is in heaven is laughing; *the Lord has them in derision.5Then he speaks to them in his wrath, *and his rage fills them with terror.6“I myself have set my king *upon my holy hill of Zion.”7Let me announce the decree of the Lord: *he said to me, “You are my Son;this day have I begotten you.8Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance *and the ends of the earth for your possession.9You shall crush them with an iron rod *and shatter them like a piece of pottery.”10And now, you kings, be wise; *be warned, you rulers of the earth.11Submit to the Lord with fear, *and with trembling bow before him;12Lest he be angry and you perish; *for his wrath is quickly kindled.13Happy are they all *who take refuge in him! Psalm 85Benedixisti, DomineBCP p. 708You have been gracious to your land, O Lord, *you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.2You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *and blotted out all their sins.3You have withdrawn all your fury *and turned yourself from your wrathful indignation.4Restore us then, O God our Savior; *let your anger depart from us.5Will you be displeased with us for ever? *will you prolong your anger from age to age?6Will you not give us life again, *that your people may rejoice in you?7Show us your mercy, O Lord, *and grant us your salvation.8I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *for he is speaking peace to his faithful peopleand to those who turn their hearts to him.9Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *that his glory may dwell in our land.10Mercy and truth have met together; *righteousness and peace have kissed each other.11Truth shall spring up from the earth, *and righteousness shall look down from heaven.12The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *and our land will yield its increase.13Righteousness shall go before him, *and peace shall be a pathway for his feet. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsZech. 2:10-13A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah.Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”  Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Te Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you;You are the Lord: we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting. 1 John 4:7-16A Reading from the First Letter of John.Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.  By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. John 3:31-36A Reading from the Gospel According to John.He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus Dominus DeusBlessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And also with you.Let us pray.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Suffrages AV. Show us your mercy, O Lord;R. And grant us your salvation.V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; R. Let your people sing with joy.V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;R. For only in you can we live in safety. V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.V. Let your way be known upon earth;R. Your saving health among all nations.V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.   The CollectsCollect of the DayO God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

"Fr. Mike continues discussing the call of Nehemiah and how we should approach the work the Lord calls us to do. He explains why all work is divine participation in God's Kingdom on earth and encourages us to remember our service to God and to others, keeping our focus on serving and loving in the realm of our influence. Today's readings are Nehemiah 3, Zechariah 14, and Proverbs 20:23-26." For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike introduces the book of Nehemiah and takes us through Nehemiah's exemplary response to the call of God as he does what God asks simply because he asks. He also encourages us to pray for our enemies and explains the need to refrain from vengeance in our interactions with others, especially when we are provoked by their actions. Today's readings are Nehemiah 1-2, Zechariah 12-13, and Proverbs 20:20-22. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike discusses God's instruction to the people of Israel not to marry women from foreign lands. He explains why God would provide this instruction and how Ezra reacted when he discovered that many prominent Israelites had not obeyed it. He also identifies the prophecies of Palm Sunday and the thirty pieces of silver found in Zechariah. Today's readings are Ezra 9-10, Zechariah 9-11, and Proverbs 20:16-19. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike encourages us not to be discouraged about the small things happening in our lives, because just as we see through Zechariah's visions, God takes small things and turns them into great triumphs. He also touches on the dedication of Israel to rebuild the temple, and the connection between the crowing of Joshua and the crowning of Christ the King. Today's readings are Ezra 5-6, Zechariah 4-6, and Proverbs 20:8-11. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

The Prophet Zechariah was given a prophecy from God concerning the possible war with Iran, Iraq and even Syria. It's closing in as you listen to this episode. Be aware it will shake you to your core. Satan is already here. ✅ Visit: https://www.solaceradio.org/

Five Hundred years before Christ was born the Prophet Zechariah gives us four incredible pictures of what he would do.

A Sermon for Trinity Sunday St. John 3:1-17 by William Klock Knock!  Knock!  Knock!  Someone was at the door.  Peter—or maybe it was John or James—got up to see who it was.  It had been a long day.  Everywhere Jesus went the crowds followed.  Some were full of questions, but most of all they were full of problems.  And they brought them all to Jesus.  The blind, the deaf, the sick, the dying, the demon-possessed.  This isn't how the world is supposed to be, full of tears.  Everyone knew it then.  Everyone knows it now.  And everyone then and now hoped for a day when somehow it will all be set to rights.  And so the people flocked to Jesus, because wherever he went, there was a little pocket of the world as it should be, the world as God had made it, the world set to rights.  Wherever Jesus went, there was a little pocket of God's future brought into the present.  A little pocket of the world where the tears are wiped away. Knock!  Knock!  Knock!  There it was again.  They'd found a quiet place to spend the night away from the crowds, but someone had found it.  Peter was getting himself ready to tell whoever-it-was to go away, so image his surprise when he opened the door and saw Nicodemus standing there.  They'd never met, but everyone knew who Nicodemus was.  He was a rich man, he was one of the leaders of the Pharisees, but more than that, he was a member of the Sanhedrin—the ruling council of the Jews.  And here he was at the door of the house where Jesus was staying, standing there with a couple of his servants, politely asking to speak with the rabbi now that the crowds were gone. Nicodemus had seen what Jesus was doing.  Nicodemus had heard what Jesus was preaching.  Nicodemus had watched from the edge of the crowds and listened in the temple court.  In Jesus he saw the hopes of Israel being fulfilled.  He saw that little pocket of God's future following wherever Jesus went.  He believed—he just wasn't sure what exactly it was that he was believing.  Have you ever had that happen?  You see God at work.  It's obvious.  But it's not what you expected.  So you believe, but you don't really understand.  That's where Nicodemus was.  He wasn't one of the simple people who just needed some physical manifestation of the kingdom—like the blind and the deaf and the sick.  He knew the scriptures.  He knew how the God of Israel was supposed to fulfil his prophecies.  And Jesus was fulfilling them, but not in the ways anyone expected.  So the great theologian had come, not to be healed, but to ask how all this can be.  “We know that you're a teacher who's come from God,” Nicodemus said to Jesus, “Nobody can do the signs that you're doing, unless God is with him.” You can hear the unspoken question implicit in Nicodemus' affirmation.  It's the theologian's equivalent of “Lord, I believe.  Help my unbelief.”  It was like this for everyone.  The disciples saw, they heard, they believed, but whenever Jesus pressed them with questions, ninety per cent of the time they gave the wrong answer.  Peter knew with certainty that Jesus was the Messiah, the son of the living God.  But when push came to shove, he drew his sword and was ready to bring God's kingdom with violence.  Even the disciples were full of all the wrong ideas the Jews had about the Messiah and the coming of the kingdom.  Nicodemus was in the same boat.  It's just that he knew he was missing something and here he was to get it sorted out.  But Jesus doesn't give him the answer he wanted, because even if Jesus explained it all, even if Jesus connected all the dots for Nicodemus, that's wouldn't solve the problem.  Nicodemus would still need something more.  And this is where Jesus answers his implicit question with those familiar words, “Let me tell you the solemn truth.  Unless someone has been born from above, he won't be able to see God's kingdom.” It wasn't just Nicodemus struggling with all this.  Think of all our Gospel lessons during Easter- and Ascensiontide, those lessons where Jesus tells his disciples that as good as it is for him to be with them, he's going to have to leave so that something better can happen.  And they don't understand.  They're confused.  If Jesus leaves, that little pocket of the kingdom that follows him wherever he goes, it will be gone with him.  They didn't understand either.  They, too, had to be born from above in order to see—in order to be part of—the kingdom.  In order to themselves become little pockets of God's future in the present.  And, of course, that's what we saw last Sunday as we remembered Pentecost.  The God of Israel sent his Spirit to indwell his people—they were born from above—and suddenly it all made sense and Peter preached that Pentecost sermon that would have been impossible for him to preach just the day before and from there they went out to make God's kingdom known to the world. This is, incidentally, why we have this story of Nicodemus' visit to Jesus as our Gospel lesson today.  Trinity Sunday didn't come along until the high Middle Ages.  Long before today was Trinity Sunday, it was the Sunday after Pentecost and today's Gospel was assigned to explain the Pentecost events we read about last Sunday.  When Trinity Sunday came along no one changed the lesson, because here we see the Trinity revealed in the exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus as the Son reveals that the Father must send the Spirit to create, to give life to a renewed people. So Nicodemus knew the story.  He knew the God of Israel.  But he knew there was more to it.  He knew the world is not as it should be and he knew that that the people of Israel were failing at what God had called them to be.  And he knew the Lord's promises to set the world and Israel to rights.  He saw the Lord's promises being fulfilled in Jesus and he'd heard Jesus talking about this new work, this new exodus, this new deliverance of the people—this exodus even greater than the one that defined them when the Lord delivered them from Pharaoh.  And Jesus warned about a judgement soon to come on those who refused to repent of their old ways and to get in line with the Lord's plans.  It didn't fit into the expectations of the people of Israel and especially not into what the Pharisees expected, but there had to be something to it, because the Lord was so clearly with Jesus. Again, Jesus picks up on the question implied in Nicodemus' statement.  He says, “The central truth you're missing, Nicodemus, is that you've got to be born from above to see the kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus understood so much.  If anyone wanted to see God's will done and his kingdom come on earth as in heaven it was the Pharisees.  That's what they lived for.  And Nicodemus saw it in Jesus, but he struggled to reconcile his expectations with what Jesus was saying.  And Jesus says that what he's missing—what all of Israel is missing—is this new birth, this being born from above, this being born again.  And it's important to understand that as much as Jesus is saying, “You, Nicodemus, must be born again—which is how the ears of modern Christians have been trained to hear this in individualistic terms—Jesus' stress is on Israel, on the whole people.  In verse 7 he says, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.'”  When he says “You must be born again,” that's plural, it's “you all must be born again”.  Israel as a people had been born the first time when they passed through the waters of the Red Sea and Jesus is saying that now Israel had to be born a second time.  This is why John was out in the wilderness baptizing in the Jordan, but that wasn't all.  Israel had been baptised in water before and it wasn't enough.  Now they needed to be baptised in both water and the Spirit.  Israel was always supposed to be a pocket of God's future in the present—so that the nations could see and know the goodness of God.  And Jesus is saying that it's the Spirit who will finally make the people what God had called them to be.  As Jesus had said over and over in various ways, he, Jesus, was sent by the Father, but that it would be the Spirit—the “Helper”—who would come after, who would testify to them about this truth and then that through them, this Spirit would testify to the rest of Israel and even to the nations…fulfilling the prophets, effectively creating a new Israel, and through this new people, fulfilling the mission the Lord had given to them from the beginning: to fill the world with the knowledge of him as the waters cover the sea and to testify to the nations in such a way that the nations would flock to the God of Israel to give him glory. But Nicodemus didn't get it.  Neither did Jesus' disciples.  Because the Spirit had not yet come to testify about Jesus.  So Nicodemus asked Jesus, “How can I be born again?  I know you're not talking about returning to my mother's womb, but what do you mean?  A person is only born once.”  And as he answers Nicodemus, this is where Jesus switches from saying things like “Unless one is born again” to “Unless you—all of you—are born again”.  Because it's not so much about one person being born again or even about a whole bunch of individuals being born again.  It's about Israel as a people being born again so that she could be put back on track to fulfil her mission—the one given to Abraham two thousand years before.  And this idea of birth would have resonated particularly with someone like Nicodemus, because to be a Jew was all about being born as part of Abraham's family.  Other things like circumcision and the sabbath and what you ate (or didn't eat) were important and especially so for the Pharisees, but those things were important because they identified you as part of Abraham's family.  They also drew a clear boundary between those who were in the family and all the uncircumcised, unclean gentiles who were most definitely not. What Jesus is saying now is that being born into Abraham's family in the way the Jews had been thinking about it all this time wasn't enough.  In fact, it never had been enough.  And Nicodemus should have known this.  For two millennia people were being born into Abraham's family and God's kingdom still hadn't come.  For two millennia people were born into Abraham's family and still the Gentiles hadn't experienced the Lord's blessing through them, at least not on the large scale envisioned in the Scriptures.  Just the opposite.  The Prophet Zechariah had spoken of a day when the Gentiles would be grabbing hold of Jews by their coattails saying, “Take us with you, because we hear that God is with you!”  Instead, because of the way most of Abraham's children were living, the nations mocked them and taunted them saying, “Where's your God?”  It takes more than being born of the flesh of Abraham.  It even takes more than being born of water, as Israel had been in the Red Sea.  And as a man devoted to the law, to torah, Nicodemus should have understood this.  The Pharisees were all about exhorting their fellow Jews to be better keepers of the law, but it wasn't working.  They of all people should have been looking forward to the day when the law would no longer be written on tablets of stone, but engraved on the very hearts of the people by the Holy Spirit. So Jesus says to Nicodemus, “I'm telling you the solemn truth.  Unless you're born of water and the Spirit you cannot enter God's kingdom.  Flesh is born from flesh, but spirit is born from spirit.”  Israel needs something more than a biological inheritance.  What does Jesus mean, though, when he talks about being born of water and the Spirit?  This is was what John the Baptist was preaching about.  God was about to lead his people in a new exodus.  As Israel had been led through the waters of the Red Sea to become a covenant family, so John was calling people to pass through the waters of the Jordan—a step of repentance and faith—and into a new covenant.  They all needed that baptism of repentance.  They needed to turn aside from their own misguided expectations of the kingdom and of the Messiah and from their failures to be faithful to the Lord and his covenant.  But remember what John promised.  When people asked if he was the Messiah he said that he was only the forerunner.  John said, “I baptise you with water, but he will plunge you into the Holy Spirit.”  And that's just what Jesus does.  As we recalled last week on Pentecost, Jesus takes those who have repented, who have turned aside from every false lord, from every false god, from every false source of security, from every false way in order to take hold of him in faith by passing through the waters of baptism and he plunges us into the Holy Spirit.  And it's the Spirit who does the work of transforming us.  It's the Spirit who regenerates us.  It's the Spirit who causes us to be born again as he takes our old dead wood and unites it to the life of Jesus, causing us to bear fruit—making us the pocket of God's future in the present.  Through the Spirit we're born again, born from above. The last few months I've been reading Ed Sanders' books on the relationship between the New Testament and Second Temple Judaism.  Sanders was a brilliant scholar and full of deep insights.  His work has had a profound impact on how we understand the New Testament.  But he wasn't a Christian.  He described himself as a “secular Mainline Protestant”.  And it shows.  As brilliant as his insights into Jesus and Paul are, as fascinating as he is to read, it's all spiritually dry as dust.  There's no doxology to any of it.  Sanders even refused to weigh in on whether or not Christianity is superior to Judaism.  And so it was like a breath of fresh air when I finished Sanders' “Paul and Palestinian Judaism” and picked up Tom Wright's new book of Romans and it was full of the same sorts of brilliant and deep insights—many of them ideas that started with Sanders back in the 1970s—but Bp. Wright's work is overflowing with doxology and gospel joy.  That's the difference that Jesus and the Spirit make in us. Think of your baptism as something like Israel at the Red Sea.  There was the parted water and God calling Israel to pass through to freedom and new life on the other side.  There was no receiving the law in Egypt; they had to cross to the other side of the sea to find covenant, to find relationship with the Lord.  And so we stand at the waters of baptism today.  In them Jesus gives his promise: Repent, turn aside from every false way, trust me, follow me in faith and you will find forgiveness of sins and new life through the Spirit.  To pass through the waters of baptism is to take hold of Jesus' promise and to be born again of water and the Spirit—and to be made part of this new covenant people ready and equipped to live and to proclaim his kingdom. But, again, this didn't fit what Nicodemus knew.  “How can this be so?” he asks.  And Jesus asks a bit incredulously, “How can you not know this?  You're one of the teachers of Israel!”  Nicodemus knew the story.  He understood how Israel had so miserably failed in her mission.  As a Pharisee he was abundantly aware of this problem.  Jesus tells Nicodemus: God has heard your cries and is visiting his people and he's doing it in me.  I'm the son of man, the one spoken of by Daniel all those years ago.  I can tell you reliably the things of heaven because I'm the one who has come down from heaven. At this point, I think, Nicodemus starts to connect the dots as much as anyone could in those days before the Spirit was sent.  He started to understand, because now Jesus really starts to correct what was wrong with Israel's thinking about herself, about what it meant to be God's people, and about what it would mean for the Lord to come to deliver them.  Jesus reminds Nicodemus of an event from Israel's time in the wilderness.  The Israelites grumbled against Moses—which was ultimately grumbling against the Lord—and so he sent poisonous snakes into the camp.  They bit people and many of those who were bit died.  But the Lord also gave Moses the remedy.  He told Moses to cast a snake out of bronze and to mount it on a pole.  Anyone who would look up to the bronze snake would be healed. And now Jesus says, “Just as Moses lifted up that snake in the wilderness, in the same way the son of man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him may share in the life of God's new age.”  Jesus is pointing to his own crucifixion.  As the snake was the affliction of the people lifted up for them to look at, so Jesus would take the affliction of Israel on himself—he would suffer the punishment for their sins—and be lifted up on the cross.  He would be lifted up for everyone to look upon—to see the horror and the gravity of their sin, to see that the wages of sin is death.  But they would also see Jesus taking it all on himself and in that, the horror and ugliness of his being raised up would become an act by which he is ultimately glorified.  In the cross we see the love of God made manifest in Jesus.  And Jesus says in the familiar words we all know, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Jesus corrects the central error in the thinking of Israel in his day.  They were hoping and praying for the day when the Lord would come, not just to vindicate his people, but to judge their enemies—to rain down fire and brimstone on the Romans and all the other gentiles.  But instead Jesus tells Nicodemus that he's come not to condemn, but to save all who will look to him.  All.  The Jews thought the Lord, when he came, would vindicate them for their faithfulness, but Jesus says to Nicodemus, even the most righteous of you need this new birth, this salvation if you want to know God's vindication.  And it's not just for you.  The Jews looked forward to the condemnation he would bring, but Jesus says he's come not to condemn, but to save.  And this is where the part about being born again of water and the Spirit comes into play.  Being born of water and the Spirit supersedes biology and genealogy.  In Jesus God opens his arms to welcome Jew and Gentile alike.  It was the Jews first, because if the Lord is faithful—and he is—he had to first fulfil his promises to his own people, but most importantly, in that act of faithfulness, the nations would take note of the God of Israel.  In Jesus, the nations would see that the God of Israel is not like the puny, selfish, fickle, and powerless gods they have known, and they would then flock to this God who is truly good and faithful.  This is what God's future looks like, not just Israel set to rights and everyone else set on fire.  God's future is for everyone who sees Jesus and his people wiping away the tears and forgiving sin, who believes, and who becomes part of it—whether born of Abraham by the flesh or born of Abraham by faith—all born in God's Spirit. Abraham's family is integral to the story and the plan, but Jesus reminds us that genes and DNA were never really what made anyone part of Abraham's family; it was about faith.  It was faith for Abraham himself and it was faith in God's promises for all who followed after: for Isaac and Jacob, for Joseph and Moses and Joshua, for gentiles like Rahab and Ruth, and even for the great kings like David and Solomon.  And God's promise was that through his covenant people, through these people who knew him in faith and were reconciled to him by faith, he would bless the nations.  It happened here and there in the Old Testament.  Rahab and Ruth are two of many small-scale testimonies to that, but here we finally see the Lord's promise coming to full fruit.  It's what we celebrated last week on Pentecost as Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on these men of Israel gathered from around the world.  They had heard Peter preach about Jesus and what he'd come to do.  They rallied to Jesus in faith and in response Jesus poured his Spirit into them.  Finally, through Jesus, Israel became the source of blessing she was intended to be—not by flesh, but by the Spirit—as these men and women took the good news to the nations: Jesus is Lord.  He has conquered sin and death.  In him is the forgiveness of sin, in him is life, in him God has returned to his creation as King.  And in him—the Incarnate Word—God makes himself known.  In Jesus, God Incarnate, we have the restoration and fellowship with our Creator that he has been working towards ever since the day we rebelled and were cast out of his presence.  In Jesus, God's kingdom—his new creation—has been inaugurated, in us and through us in the world.  Brothers and Sisters, we are that people the God of Israel was working to create and to make new all those millennia.  Jesus and the Spirit have finally made us that pocket of God's future in the present, the pocket where the world is set to rights and where the tears are wiped away, the pocket shows the world the faithfulness and goodness of God.  May we be that people—God's future in the present, the heralds of his new creation—may we be faithful in being this Spirit-renewed gospel people who make known God's glory to the world. Let us pray: Almighty God we praise you this morning for the grace you have shown us.  Even as we rebelled against you, our good Creator, you were setting in motion our redemption: Father sending, calling, electing; Son speaking, coming, dying, rising; and Spirit uniting, renewing, regenerating, empowering.  In the redemption of the world we see the glory of the Trinity and the majesty of the Unity and in gratitude we fall before you with the angels to sing, “Holy, holy, holy Lord God almighty.”  By your grace, keep us strong in faith, O Lord, but keep us also faithful in our witness and our ministry to make your redeeming love known to the world.  We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns together with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.  Amen.

The Seventh Wednesday of EasterSupport Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_________________EasterChrist has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. ~ Hebrews 9:24 ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Christ our PassoverPascha Nostrum - BCP p. 83Alleluia.Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *death no longer has dominion over him.The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *but the life he lives, he lives to God.So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, *the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by a man came death, *by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, *so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia. Psalm 105: Part IConfitemini DominoGive thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *make known his deeds among the peoples.Sing to him, sing praises to him, *and speak of all his marvelous works.Glory in his holy Name; *let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.Search for the Lord and his strength; *continually seek his face.Remember the marvels he has done, *his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,O offspring of Abraham his servant, *O children of Jacob his chosen.He is the Lord our God; *his judgments prevail in all the world.He has always been mindful of his covenant, *the promise he made for a thousand generations:The covenant he made with Abraham, *the oath that he swore to Isaac,Which he established as a statute for Jacob, *an everlasting covenant for Israel,Saying, “To you will I give the land of Canaan *to be your allotted inheritance.”When they were few in number, *of little account, and sojourners in the land,Wandering from nation to nation *and from one kingdom to another,He let no one oppress them *and rebuked kings for their sake,Saying, “Do not touch my anointed *and do my prophets no harm.”Then he called for a famine in the land *and destroyed the supply of bread.He sent a man before them, *Joseph, who was sold as a slave.They bruised his feet in fetters; *his neck they put in an iron collar.Until his prediction came to pass, *the word of the Lord tested him.The king sent and released him; *the ruler of the peoples set him free.He set him as a master over his household, *as a ruler over all his possessions,To instruct his princes according to his will *and to teach his elders wisdom. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsZech. 4:1-14A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah.The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep. He said to me, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." He said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'" Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. "These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth." Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?" And a second time I said to him, "What are these two branches of the olive trees, which pour out the oil through the two golden pipes?" He said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. 21. You are GodTe Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you;You are the Lord; we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory,the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us freeyou did not shun the Virgin's womb.You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people,bought with the price of your own blood,and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Eph. 4:17-32A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians.Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. That is not the way you learned Christ! For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. 16. The Song of ZechariahBenedictus Dominus Deus - Luke 1: 68-79Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old,that he would save us from our enemies, *from the hands of all who hate us.He promised to show mercy to our fathers *and to remember his holy covenant.This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *to set us free from the hands of our enemies,Free to worship him without fear, *holy and righteous in his sightall the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,To give his people knowledge of salvation *by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God *the dawn from on high shall break upon us,To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesShow us your mercy, O Lord;And grant us your salvation.Clothe your ministers with righteousness;Let your people sing with joy.Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care;And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. Seventh Sunday of EasterO God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceLord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.For MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionLet us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia. Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.Ephesians 3:20,21

Hap Stephenson shares Tuesday's devotional podcast from Bible Fellowship Church. 

Dr. Reed Lessing of Concordia University – St. Paul, MN The Concordia Commentary on Zechariah The Concordia Commentary on Isaiah 40-55 The Concordia Commentary on Isaiah 56-66 The Concordia Commentary on Jonah The post 0601. The Prophet Zechariah and Lent – Dr. Reed Lessing, 2/29/24 first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Order of Divine Service I, p.136  Lutheran Worship Hymn “God Himself Is Present” LW 206, TLH 4 Readings:  Deut 10:12-21, 1 Cor 1:4-9, Matthew 22:34-46 Hymn of the Day: “Thee Lord, Our God, We Praise”  (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #56) Sermon Communion Hymns: “How Precious Is the Book Divine” LW 332, TLH 285 Hymn “You Will I Love, My Strength” LW 375 “God Brought Me to This Time and Place” LW 456 “O Savior Precious Savior” LW 282, TLH 352 --Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: https://85j442.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Trinity-Eighteen-Divine-Service-for-Online-10-8-2023.pdf https://vimeo.com/870052902?share=copy Picture: The Luther Bible 1534: Zechariah 1 – The Prophet Zechariah, #341

Fr. Mike continues discussing the call of Nehemiah and how we should approach the work the Lord calls us to do. He explains why all work is divine participation in God's Kingdom on earth and encourages us to remember our service to God and to others, keeping our focus on serving and loving in the realm of our influence. Today's readings are Nehemiah 3, Zechariah 14, and Proverbs 20:23-26. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike introduces the book of Nehemiah and takes us through Nehemiah's exemplary response to the call of God as he does what God asks simply because he asks. He also encourages us to pray for our enemies and explains the need to refrain from vengeance in our interactions with others, especially when we are provoked by their actions. Today's readings are Nehemiah 1-2, Zechariah 12-13, and Proverbs 20:20-22. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike discusses God's instruction to the people of Israel not to marry women from foreign lands. He explains why God would provide this instruction and how Ezra reacted when he discovered that many prominent Israelites had not obeyed it. He also identifies the prophecies of Palm Sunday and the thirty pieces of silver found in Zechariah. Today's readings are Ezra 9-10, Zechariah 9-11, and Proverbs 20:16-19. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike encourages us not to be discouraged about the small things happening in our lives, because just as we see through Zechariah's visions, God takes small things and turns them into great triumphs. He also touches on the dedication of Israel to rebuild the temple, and the connection between the crowing of Joshua and the crowning of Christ the King. Today's readings are Ezra 5-6, Zechariah 4-6, and Proverbs 20:8-11. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike continues to take us through the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, and the importance of moving on from the past to see what God is doing in our lives right now. He also gives some context on the Samaritans and what was happening across Jerusalem, post return. Today's readings are Ezra 3-4, Zechariah 1-3, and Proverbs 20:4-7. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Against the pain, chaos, and suffering life can inflict we can be left wondering, “Why believe?” Like the Israelites mourning bygone days and the beauty of a city they will never see, we can find ourselves hopeless. But the Prophet Zechariah's message to the Israelites, and to us, is to renew our trust in God and discover faith again. “Waiting for you is like waiting for rain in this drought, useless and disappointing.” - A Cinderella StoryLike Israel we are left asking: How and why we can continue to have faith? What is faith?Mental affirmation is only the beginning of Faith, It ends with obedient action, or “Enacted Loyalty” - Salvation by Allegiance by Matthew Bates“Faith is the substance, or reality, of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen.” - Heb 11:1Allegiance communicates who & what we are loyal to and obey.Zechariah directs the people of Israel toward a Spirit-empowered Faith“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” -James 4:7-8God's promise is consistent that when his people repent and turn toward Him, He is faithful to draw near to them. Bible Project Resource: https://bibleproject.com/view-resource/246/Zechariah 3 & 4 offer us a vision of (1) the why of our faith and (2) the how of our faith.Zechariah 3: Vision about High Priest, JoshuaRole of High Priest:Act as representative and mediatorResponsible for enforcing the covenant & directing the hearts of the people.Jesus is our new High Priest; Jesus is WHY we can have faith “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” - 1 Peter 1:3Doubt isn't decreased faith, its matured faithStudies have shown that for every 1 negative experience, you need 3 positive ones. Give God the chance to give you 3 positive moments. Faith begins with engaging your mind and ends with actions. Zechariah 4: Vision about Governor, Zerubbabel“Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit Says the Lord” - Zech 4:6God is the source of Zerubbabel's authority and power. “Only if his Spirit governs every detail can service be glorifying to him.” -Scholar Joyce G. BaldwinSpirit Empowerment is HOW we have faith.“Obedience is about living in the present as if the future has already arrived. It's not blind faith you're doing it because you can point back to the resurrection of the risen Jesus.” - Theologian Tim MackeyFaith is a leap but it's not blind.“...real biblical faith is not a general positive mindset or a blind optimism but is directed toward a defined object—and it is the trustworthiness of the object that sources and fixes faith's genuineness. So if we want to grow in faith, we should study and contemplate God's extraordinary reliability.” -Author Matthew BatesSPIRITUAL PRACTICEEncourage your soul with stories of FAITHPosture yourself to receive Love God & Love your Neighbor “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:30 BE THE MOST INTERESTED PERSON IN THE ROOM!

God Almighty says to each and everyone of us, “Return to me and I will return to you.” Easier said than done, right? You see, the world, the culture and yes, even Satan, pull us back into their darkness. How do we fight it? The book of Zechariah will show us. Let's dig in… We don't have a choice about what troubles come our way. However, we can choose to have a relationship with Jesus… If you want a true relationship with Jesus, pray this prayer humbly and wholeheartedly… “Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. Please forgive me. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and my life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. I surrender my whole life to you and I will follow you for the rest of my life. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen.” Or visit: https://seekthegospeltruth.com/how-to-invite-jesus-into-your-heart/ Great Christian Book Picks that make Great Gifts! Check out the Bookstore: https://seekthegospeltruth.com/recommended-christian-books/  Best Study Bibles — another Great Gift Idea! https://seekthegospeltruth.com/best-study-bibles-for-beginners/ (A Christianbook Affiliate) Free ebook to help reach your Catholic friends & relatives: https://seekthegospeltruth.com/catholic-mission-field-in-our-backyards/ Follow me… Twitter: https://twitter.com/giselleaguiar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/truthofthegoodnews/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/ Telegram: https://t.me/seekingthegospeltruth Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/giselleaguiar/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giselleaguiar.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCndkPVgXT_r80ASK2cipxzw  Soli Deo Gloria — To God Alone Be the Glory! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/seek-the-truth/message

Excerpts of today's Spirited Daily Star Devotion Audio Podcast dubbed - THE FOUNDATION & THE FINISHING (VOL-2) ✨✨✨⭐⭐⭐✨✨⭐⭐✨✨⭐. Today's Daily Star Devotional scripture is taken from Zechariah 4 : 5-20 kjv. From today's daily star devotion scripture, God's prophetic word via Prophet Zechariah to Zerrubbabel was that as his hands had laid the foundation, he was also going to finish it. It was going to be so by God's Spirit taking over & lifting him to another standard of completion & accomplishment. By strength shall no man prevail so always daily & yearly start things and dealings with God as your foundation and you shall finish & complete successfully always. Daily Psalm's Quote : For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. - (Psalm18 :29 kjv). Daily Proverb's Quote: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3 :5-6 kjv). Daily Jesus's Quote: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. - (Matthew 7 : 24 kjv). ✨✨✨⭐⭐⭐✨✨⭐⭐✨✨⭐. # Daily Star devotion: with Jesus Christ, everyday, you are a Star⭐. #You are a Living Star✨. #You are a Glorious Star

Four Horsemen, Four Horns, and Four Craftsmen | The First and Second Visions of the Prophet Zechariah

Four Horsemen, Four Horns, and Four Craftsmen | The First and Second Visions of the Prophet Zechariah

by Paul D. Bramsen (Author) All the episodes are about 15 minutes. "Even if a log soaks a long time in the water, it will never become a crocodile" (Wolof Proverb) ...nor will being RELIGIOUS make a person RIGHTEOUS. The Way of Righteousness is an English translation of one hundred 15-minute radio programs first written in the Wolof language for the Muslims of Senegal, West Africa. With Islam's perspective of God, man, sin, and salvation in mind, The Way of Righteousness chronologically presents the key stories and central message of God's prophets according to the Bible. All one-hundred programs are interconnected, yet each stands alone - challenging the listener to consider God's righteous way of salvation. This book has a two-fold purpose: 1.) READING BY ENGLISH-SPEAKING MUSLIMS AND ALL TRUE SEEKERS; 2.) TRANSLATION INTO OTHER LANGUAGES FOR RADIO BROADCAST. Currently, The Way of Righteousness is being (or has been) translated into more than twenty languages. About P. D. Bramsen Paul D. Bramsen has spent much of his life in Senegal, a majority-Muslim nation on the edge of the Sahara. His writings flow from a passion for the Scriptures and from thousands of dialogues with Muslim neighbors ad contacts in Senegal and around the world. Bramsen is the author of the 100-episode radio series THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, the book ONE GOD ONE MESSAGE, the booklet YOUR STORY, and the illustrated book KING OF GLORY. Working with a small team over a period of nearly four years, his most recent project has been to see the KING of GLORY book turned into a movie. http://king-of-glory.com Paul is president of ROCK International (Relief, Opportunity, and Care for Kids / Resources of Crucial Knowledge). http://rockintl.org He and his wife are based in South Carolina. one-god-one-message.com

Zechariah is an unusual book filled with strange dreams and visions that highlight Israel's historical failures, emphasizes covenant renewal and covenant obedience, and ultimately foreshadows the coming of the Messiah. In our text, Pastor Joey looks at a beautiful Scripture that speaks of both Christ's triumphal entry recorded in all of the Gospels AND the future millennial and eternal reign of Christ! We discover a call to rejoice, to be hopeful, and to be confident as believers. That confidence is not ourselves, but in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. The text shouts of the doctrine of eternal security for all believers! This is the twelve message from the "God In The Ruins" series from the Minor Prophets and was delivered on Sunday, November 13, 2022.

Fr. Mike continues discussing the call of Nehemiah and how we should approach the work the Lord calls us to do. He explains why all work is divine participation in God's Kingdom on earth and encourages us to remember our service to God and to others, keeping our focus on serving and loving in the realm of our influence. Today's readings are Nehemiah 3, Zechariah 14, and Proverbs 20:23-26. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike introduces the book of Nehemiah and takes us through Nehemiah's exemplary response to the call of God as he does what God asks simply because he asks. He also encourages us to pray for our enemies and explains the need to refrain from vengeance in our interactions with others, especially when we are provoked by their actions. Today's readings are Nehemiah 1-2, Zechariah 12-13, and Proverbs 20:20-22. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike discusses God's instruction to the people of Israel not to marry women from foreign lands. He explains why God would provide this instruction and how Ezra reacted when he discovered that many prominent Israelites had not obeyed it. He also identifies the prophecies of Palm Sunday and the thirty pieces of silver found in Zechariah. Today's readings are Ezra 9-10, Zechariah 9-11, and Proverbs 20:16-19. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike encourages us not to be discouraged about the small things happening in our lives, because just as we see through Zechariah's visions, God takes small things and turns them into great triumphs. He also touches on the dedication of Israel to rebuild the temple, and the connection between the crowing of Joshua and the crowning of Christ the King. Today's readings are Ezra 5-6, Zechariah 4-6, and Proverbs 20:8-11. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike continues to take us through the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, and the importance of moving on from the past to see what God is doing in our lives right now. He also gives some context on the Samaritans and what was happening across Jerusalem, post return. Today's readings are Ezra 3-4, Zechariah 1-3, and Proverbs 20:4-7. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

“Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" This is the final bowl judgment of God's great wrath that is poured out at the very end of the Seven-year Tribulation. When the seventh bowl is emptied out, the throne and the temple of heaven unite in saying, "It is done!" The mystery of God is finished! The souls under the altar must no longer ask, "How long?" This announcement reminds us of Christ's words on the cross, "It is finished!" When the new heavens and earth are ushered in, God will again say, "It is done!" (Rev. 21:6) Notice this bowl is poured into the air. The devil is "the prince of the power of the air," so perhaps this seventh bowl has a special effect on his dominion (Eph. 2:2). But the immediate result is a devastating earthquake that affects the cities of the nations. Satan's entire system is now about to be judged by God: his religious system (the harlot, Rev. 17), his political and economic system (Babylon, Rev. 18), and his military system (the armies, Rev. 19). The "great city" (Rev. 16:19) is no doubt Jerusalem (see Rev. 11:8). The Prophet Zechariah prophesied an earthquake that would change the topography of Jerusalem (Zech. 14:4). But the key idea here is that Babylon would fall (see Jer. 50-51). "The beast's" great economic system, which dominated the people of the world, would be completely destroyed by God. Added to the earthquake will be a hailstorm with hailstones of tremendous weight. (A talent of silver weighs about 125 pounds!) This judgment is like the seventh plague in Egypt (Ex. 9:22-26). Just as Pharaoh and the Egyptian leaders did not repent, so the earth-dwellers will not repent; in fact, they will blaspheme God! No wonder the hail comes, for blasphemers are supposed to be stoned to death (Lev. 24:16). Reviewing these three chapters, we see the encouragement they give to suffering Christians through the ages of church history. The sealed 144,000 will arrive on Mount Zion and praise God (Rev. 14:1-5). The martyrs will also be in glory, praising God (Rev. 15:1-4). John's message is clear: it is possible to be victorious over "the beast" and be an overcomer! Movements of armies, confederations of nations, and worldwide opposition to God cannot hinder the Lord from fulfilling His Word and achieving His purposes. Men think they are free to do as they please, but in reality, they are accomplishing the plans and purposes of God! Every generation of Christians has been able to identify with the events in Revelation 14-16. There has always been a "beast" to oppress God's people and a false prophet to try to lead them astray. We have always been on the verge of an "Armageddon" as the nations wage war. But in the last days, these events will accelerate and intensify, and the Bible's prophecies will be ultimately fulfilled. I believe the church will not be on the scene at that time, but both Jewish and Gentile believers will be living who will have to endure Antichrist's rule. Tomorrow I will share how these last bowls of God's judgments, especially the great heat and the great earthquake, will literally prepare the earth for the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ! The Tribulation will end with a loud voice from heaven saying, “It is done!” Today my friend, we are about to hear the voice from heaven saying, “Come up here!” Jesus Christ may return at any time, and it behooves us to keep our lives clean, to watch, and to be faithful. God bless!

The Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle(Zech. 14:3).

God gives the Prophet Zechariah 8 visions in one night. We read about the first 4 yesterday. They are prophetic visions that mirror John's visions in the Book of Revelation. Let's dig in… Keep reading in my blog where there are links to dig deeper with other Bible studies and videos… https://giselleaguiar.com/2022/05/04/zechariah-4-6-epic-judgment-on-the-world-and-a-prophecy-of-king-jesus/ Bible Prophecy Links: https://giselleaguiar.com/bible-prophecy-links/ Breaking News of the Last Days: https://giselleaguiar.com/urgent-the-latest-news-you-need-to-know-because-these-are-the-last-days/ If you want to reap all the benefits of salvation including the 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven then… Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit. Pray this prayer humbly and wholeheartedly… “Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. Please forgive me. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and my life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. I surrender my whole life to you and I will follow you for the rest of my life. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen.” Or visit: https://giselleaguiar.com/how-to-invite-jesus-into-your-heart/ This is a daily podcast, published each evening. Subscribe so can get to know Jesus. And please share this with your friends. Soli Deo Gloria — To God Alone Be the Glory! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/seek-the-truth/message

https://endtimesmystery.com/ What Can Modern America Learn From Ancient Israel? Bible Scholar Explains Orlando, FL, March 21, 2022 ― Christians believe that on Good Friday, Jesus died in place of the sinful believers who put their trust in his salvation, and rose from the dead on Easter — a preview of what's to come on the Day of the Lord. The end-time prophecies in the Bible apply to all nations of the world. But do they have anything specific to say about the U.S.A.? In his book, What the Bible Has to Say About the U.S.A.: The Old Testament Speaks to Americans Today, Bible scholar and veteran Christian author David S. Heeren takes readers on a fascinating exploration into the book of Hosea, where he draws striking parallels between ancient Israel and modern America. Heeren details the cultural characteristics that the two nations share during their periods of decline, centuries after their initial settlements, namely: Money vs. Morality, Lawlessness, Humanism (the deification of humanity), Liberalism, Globalism, Life vs. Convenience, New Age (and other religions that Heeren calls “hostile to Christianity”), God's love (the book's most important chapter), Cunning Commerce, Sexual License and Environmentalism. Heeren compels readers to ponder questions such as, Are we headed for a crisis even worse than COVID? Will moral deterioration result in upheaval that could impact all levels of American society? What can Christians do to prevent a total collapse? And how should we prepare for whatever lies ahead? “He (God) no more wants to see American civilization crumble than He desired the collapse of ancient Israel,” Heeren explained. “So we should not ignore prophetic details that seem relevant to our imperiled nation. Reproduction of conditions could result in repetition of consequences.” In the book's final chapter, Heeren brings the discussion full circle, with a description of a great spiritual revival — as prophetic as some of the Bible's end-time texts that anticipate the very same thing. “Prophet Zechariah said one-third of all human beings will rise into heaven on earth's final day,” Heeren added. “According to recent estimations by evangelists Billy Graham and D. James Kennedy, the number 33 percent is way too high. That number, according to Kennedy and Graham and others, probably right now is less than 10 percent. Talk about revival!” Author David S. Heeren is an award-winning journalist and author of 18 books. A personal prayer identical to that of Isaiah (Is. 6:8) led him to change his career emphasis from sports writing to Christian writing in 2007. Since that time, he has published nine books with Christian themes, five of which deal with biblical end-time prophecy. His book, The High Sign, which identifies the most likely sign of Jesus' Second Coming, received a double-four-star (perfect) rating from the Online Book Club — the highest rating awarded by the club. Heeren was recently approved for inclusion in Who's Who. His upcoming Christian novel, Year of Our Lord, has been praised by literary critic David Dickerson as “by far the most exciting in the In His Steps series.” To learn more, please visit: www.endtimesmystery.com. What the Bible Has to Say About the U.S.A.: The Old Testament Speaks to Americans Today Publisher: URLink Print & Media, LLC ISBN-10: ‎ 1647537061 ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1647537067 Available from Amazon.com and BN.com Are we headed for a crisis worse than COVID? What can Christians do to prevent a total collapse? In seeking answers to these and other important questions, Bible scholar David S. Heeren turned to the Old Testament book of Hosea, which described ancient Israel as a land bearing many resemblances to America today. Heeren shares his profound insights in his book, What the Bible Has to Say About the U.S.A.: The Old Testament Speaks to Americans Today.

Palm Sunday signifies the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and begins Holy Week. Pastor Taylor shares a message about the how 500 years earlier, the Prophet Zechariah sent a warning to God's people - which was also a message of hope.

Many may be surprised to discover that the terrifying so-called apocalyptic horsemen of John's Book of Revelation are actually first shown to the Prophet Zechariah.In this episode we will explore these important four and see what truths we can take from their ancient appearance and how that knowledge can be useful in modernity. It's time to Feast on the Word of God!Those wishing more on this topic are invited to explore the author's greater Gospel Feast Series available in hard copy or eReader.

Welcome to our much requested Season 4 on the enigmatic Book of the Prophet Zechariah! The Book of Zechariah has been called "one of the most mysterious books of the Old Testament." Great rabbis have said that only the Messiah will be able to explain the depth of this book to humanity. In this season of the Gospel Feast Podcast, author and historian Reed Simonsen will add his take on this amazing books. Listeners to previous seasons know that this will be rewarding feast indeed!Those wishing more on this topic are invited to explore the author's greater Gospel Feast Series available in hard copy or eReader.Special thanks to composer and podcast listener Darien Ethington for our closing piano logo.

“And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.” As John looked at the scene in heaven he saw two things “before the throne”. First were seven lamps of fire. Unlike the lampstands mentioned in Revelation 1:12-13, these were outdoor torches, giving off not the soft, gentle light of an indoor lamp, but the fierce, blazing light of a fiery torch. John identifies them as “the seven Spirits of God”. This phrase describes the Holy Spirit in all His fullness. Isaiah saw the Holy Spirit upon the Messiah in Isaiah 11:2: “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” The Prophet Zechariah was told this about the Holy Spirit in Zechariah 4:6: “So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.” The sevenfold representation of the Holy Spirit in Isaiah speaks of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, reverence, and deity; in Zechariah of power; in Revelation 1:4 of grace and peace. “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne”. But here the Seven Spirits before the throne speak of fiery judgment. Remember Gideon in Judges 7:16-20 when he attacks the enemy with torches? Torches are also identified with war in Nahum 2:3-4. John's vision depicts God as ready to make war on sinful, rebellious mankind and the Holy Spirit as His war torch. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter of those who love Christ but He will be the Consumer of those who reject Him. Also in front of God's throne “was something like a sea of glass like crystal.” This sea is metaphorical, since there is no sea in heaven (Rev. 21:1). What John saw at the base of the throne was a vast pavement of glass, shining brilliantly like sparkling crystal. Exodus 24:10 records a similar scene when Moses, Aaron, and the elders of Israel "saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself". Heaven is not a shadowy world of mists and indistinct apparitions. It is a world of dazzlingly brilliant light, refracting and shining as through jewels and crystal in a manner beyond our ability to describe or imagine (Rev. 21:10-11, 18). A pure crystal sea symbolizes God's holiness and righteousness of God. The mingled fire speaks of His holy judgment. The crystal "firmament" in Ezekiel's vision also comes to mind (Ezek. 1:22); it was the foundation for God's throne. We shall meet this "sea of glass" again in Revelation 15 where it is connected with Israel's victory over Egypt. This sea is before the throne of God and is another indication that the emphasis is not on mercy but on judgment. When we think about this sea represents the holiness of God we should remember it is “the pure in heart that will see God” (Matthew 5:8). Also in Hebrews 12:14 we are exhorted to: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:” Heaven is only a prepared place for those who are prepared to go there! God bless!

Welcome to the Refuge Young Adults teaching podcast! We are currently in a study through The Minor Prophets : "Minor Leagues" on Thursday nights. Todays teaching takes us into the exciting book of Zechariah . Grab your bible, something to take notes with, and we pray you're encouraged!    refugesoc.com Follow us on Instagram : @refuge_soc   Music by Jonathan Ogden » https://jonathanogden.co.uk

In Zechariah 3, God gave a vision to Prophet Zechariah about the future restoration of Isreal and at a time when the Jews will receive Jesus as THE BRANCH and in that vision, one of the prophetic declaration was "I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day" but what does that vision mean for the New Covenant believer? Joshua - the high priest and a type of the believer, was clothed in filthy clothes which represents sin consciousness for the believer, and the Accuser was accusing him - the same way the enemy puts negative thoughts in our minds to make us think they are our thoughts - but in today's message, I will share with you what happens in the spiritual realm whilst those accusations are going on. Jesus rebukes Satan on your behalf! yes - that is right but He did not stop there - He donned on you His own robe of righteousness. Beloved, if you have made Jesus, your LORD and SAVIOUR, God wants you to know this truth and for you to allow it to sink into your heart: But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor 6:11). It has ALREADY happened once and for all. Allow your heart to grip this truth: You have been JUSTIFIED - It is just as iF you have never sinned. Starting at 8:00AM UK time on live.thelightshouse.org. Will I see you there? Replay on Facebook & YouTube later - you don't want to miss this message! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-lights-house/message

The Revelation of Jesus the Messiah Revelation 1:1-8 by William Klock The book of Revelation has, I think it can very safely be said, produced more useless commentaries than any other book of the Bible.  Every generation churns out books, almost all of which are quickly and mercifully forgotten.  That said, our generation has turned writing and preaching nonsense about Revelation into an art form, but no generation in Church history has been immune.  In the last few years I've been invited to pick through the libraries of several retiring clergymen and have found a number of “gems”.  A book from the 70s about computerised credit systems and how they were connected to the “mark of the beast”, one outlining how Khrushchev is the antichrist—and another doing the same for Henry Kissinger, and yet another for Saddam Hussein.  Oops.  And one little book titled “88 reasons Why the Rapture will be in 1988”.  Oops again.  That author went on to pen another tract titled “89 reasons Why the Rapture will be in 1989.”  And there were some more recent—but already past-their-expiry-date—books about blood moons heralding the end.  And, of course, more recently there are so-called “Bible prophecy” folks finding the current pandemic in Revelation.  I had a phone call from a woman, nearly hysterical, who was convinced mRNA vaccines are the mark of the beast, that they'll mess with your genes, erase your soul, and leave you eternally damned.  Revelation is for far too many people, at best, a book of doom and gloom, picked apart and explained and expounded by pessimists, and all too commonly at worst, a fertile ground for kooks and outlandish prognostications.  G. K. Chesterton quite accurately wrote, “Though St. John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creatures so wild as one of his own commentators.”[1]  These sorts of things end up undermining faith in God's word and faith in God's church.  And, Brothers and Sisters, if there's anything you take away from these forthcoming sermons on Revelation, I hope it's the opposite: that Revelation reveals the faithfulness of God in Jesus and is meant to strengthen our faith, enliven our hope, and embolden our mission. Now, part of the problem is that Revelation is a notoriously difficult book.  It wasn't meant to be.  The Christians to whom it was written, it's safe to say, had no trouble understanding what it was that the Spirit was communicating to them through the pen of St. John.  It has become difficult for us thanks to our distance from the original context.  And because of this difficulty—and because all of you have, over the years been exposed to so many different ways of approaching Revelation, some better and some worse than others—I think it's important to talk about these approaches.  That's not something I normally do when I'm preaching, but bear with me this morning as I swap my surplice for an academic gown and play professor rather than pastor for a few minutes. There are four basic approaches to Revelation.  And, of course, within each of those approaches you'll find plenty of variation, but this is just an outline so that we can have some interpretive bearings. The first approach is what we'll call the “Futurist”.  I put it first because you may or may not be familiar with the other three, but I guarantee that everyone here has been exposed to this one.  While it's not the dominant view historically, it is the dominant view today in North American Evangelical circles and it's also the one that gets all the popular attention, because it's the one that purports to tell the future.  This is the approach behind the sensationalist best-sellers and Bible prophecy teachers on TV.  Simply put, this approach to Revelation sees most, if not all, of the book's events as taking place in the future.  This was the dominant view of the Church in the Second Century and well into the Third.  We don't have many details of how they parsed everything out, because this view pretty quickly fell out of favour.  In part that was because the “future” came and events didn't happen as these folks had thought they would.  (When “88 reasons Jesus is Coming Back in 188” didn't pan out, they were smart enough not to write another tract on why he would come back in 189!)  Like our own era, it did produce some sensationalist and goofy predictions, but unlike our era, when those predictions failed this approach to Revelation simply fell out of favour.  But it also fell out of favour because, in the Third Century a new approach to interpreting the Bible arose that gave allegory primacy of place.  Futurist interpretations pop up here and there in Church history, but usually amongst weird or cultic sects.  That's exactly what happened in the 19th Century.  That century was a breeding ground for odd, new approaches to biblical interpretation and numerous cults like the Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists, which put a lot of emphasis on weird eschatology.  The Plymouth Brethren, generally orthodox despite some odd beliefs, developed their own system—something now called “Dispensationalism”—but due to a number of factors, it didn't die out like so many others.  It was there in relative obscurity for almost a century when three things happened: First, in 1909, a guy named C. I. Scofield published the first modern study Bible and incorporated Dispensationalism into its notes.  The Scofield Reference Bible quickly became wildly popular.  Second, in 1906, the Pentecostal movement began  and quickly latched onto Dispensationalism's claim that the “last days” were about to begin as an explanation for why the Spirit had suddenly returned miraculous gifts to the Church.  And, third, in the heat of the Modernist-Fundamentalist controversies of the early 20th Century, Dispensationalists' claim—a dubious one, but that didn't matter much—it's claim to be a consistently literal means of interpreting the Bible became very popular.  And within a couple of decades this odd, obscure, and very recent approach to the Bible became the dominant view amongst many Evangelicals—even to the point that anyone who doesn't hold to it has often been viewed with suspicion or accused of being a “liberal”.  This is the school of interpretation behind the vast majority of “end times” and “Bible prophecy” literature since World War II.  But as prominent as it is, it's not the only evangelical approach.  It took hold in many of the new Evangelical churches and denominations, but the older Evangelical traditions—Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterian and Reformed, and some Reformed Baptists—already had confessions of faith and established theological traditions that are at odds with Dispensationalism and especially its key defining feature, which is that it maintains a distinction between Israel and the Church.  Dispensationalists claim that when the Bible speaks of Israel, it refers and can only ever refer to ethnic Jews, and that the Church is a specifically gentile body.  Dispensationalism not only divides the people of God into two distinct groups, denying the continuity between the old and new covenants, but it also teaches that God essentially has two plans of salvation.  The Church is for gentiles and he's got another plan for the Jews.  The entire Dispensational approach to Revelation is uniquely built around this belief, which makes it distinct from all other approaches.  For this reason classical, confessional Protestants have rejected Dispensationalism.  In the last few decades, I think mainly as a protest against Dispensationalism, there has been a movement to revive a more historical Futurist reading of Revelation.  It's produced a number of very good, serious commentaries, but hasn't gained much traction at the popular level.  The general problem with most Futurist approaches to Revelation, Dispensational or otherwise, is that they leave the book largely irrelevant to the people to whom John wrote it in the First Century.  It also ignores the overwhelmingly imminent and urgent nature of John's message.  And that's not to mention that this approach has an utterly abysmal track record of ever getting anything right.   The second approach is one we'll call the “Idealist” approach.  This approach, in one form or another, has dominated the Church's approach to Revelation from the Third or Fourth Century until the Seventeenth or Eighteenth and continues to dominate both Roman and many confessional Protestant circles.  It began as the Church Fathers placed emphasis on interpreting the biblical text allegorically instead of literally.  There have often been elements of this approach that have been Futurist, but the trend has been towards flattening the biblical narrative into sort of universal and timeless truths.  There have been some positives that have come out of this approach and it's often been seen as the best way to let Revelation speak both to the original audience and to people today, but it falls short in that it largely ignores the original context and, as I said, in that it flattens out and often fails to account for the big biblical narrative. Third is what we'll call the “Historicist” approach.  This is often combined with various Futurist approaches and understands Revelation to be describing the history of the Church from beginning to end, so for example, while the seven churches addressed by John in Chapters 2 and 3 were real churches in Asia Minor, they represent progressively the Church from Acts up to the return of Jesus.  The rest of the book plays out the same way.  The major problem with this approach is that it accounts only for the church in the West and that every generation that uses it finds itself at the very end and has to massage the details to make them fit the new timeline.  Every few years it has to be scrapped and reconstructed.  Like the Futurist approach, this may appeal to people today, but it leaves the book largely meaningless to the original audience and simply ignores most of global Christianity in its artificially constructed timeline. The fourth and last approach is what's usually called the “Preterist” approach—“preter” meaning “something past”.  This approach has been around since at least the Eighteenth Century.  It understands most or all of Revelation to be describing events which took place in the First Century, typically centring around the fall of Jerusalem in a.d. 70 and reads Revelation in close connection with the apocalyptic teaching of Jesus.  Again, there are plenty of variations, but most Preterists hold that at least the last few chapters of the book remain in our future.  There is an heretical variant of Preterism holding that all of the events of Revelation have already taken place, but this isn't very common.  The common criticism of Preterism is that while it makes a great deal of sense of the book for Christians in the First Century, it doesn't leave much for us today.  This is, however, the approach that I'll be taking here and I think it makes the best sense of the book within the context of the bigger biblical narrative.  I think this approach does the best job of reading Revelation as First Century Jews would have done with their deep grasp of the Old Testament and I think it takes account of what Revelation actually is—something we'll get to shortly.  It's also really the only approach that takes seriously the language of imminence we see both here in Revelation and in the apocalyptic teachings of Jesus.  When John says “soon” and when Jesus says “before this generation passes”, Preterists believe they really meant “soon” and “before this generation passes”!  I think, too, that Preterist and some Idealist approaches are commended by their optimism.  They see the Church, commissioned by Jesus and empowered by the Spirit, actually succeeding in the mission we've been given, rather than whisked—or “raptured”—away just as everything turns for the worst. So, off with the academic gown and back on with the surplice, let's look at the first Chapter and St. John's introduction.  Revelation 1:1-8. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.  Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.   John to the seven churches that are in Asia:  Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.  To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.   “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”   This is the revelation—in John's language it's the apokalypsis, an unveiling, making something known.  Specifically, it's the revelation of Jesus the Messiah.  John writes that God gave this revelation to Jesus to reveal to his servants—to his Church.  What does that mean?  Well, first, we know that these early Christians were struggling.  These were people who had heard the good news about Jesus, that he had died and risen and that he is Lord.  Some of them may even have witnessed those events first-hand.  And they believed.  In Jesus, the God of Israel was fulfilling his promises.  In Jesus, the God of Israel was making all things new.  In Jesus, the God of Israel had defeated sin and death and inaugurated new creation.  They saw the promises fulfilled.  They saw and experienced first-hand the transformation brought by Jesus and the Spirit in the Church.  And yet they struggled.  The good news was spreading.  Little churches were springing up all over the world.  But they faced opposition, persecution, and sometimes even martyrdom.  They proclaimed: “Jesus is Lord”.  And they believed it.  They saw the evidence first hand.  But Caesar's claim to lordship was only growing stronger and his cult was spreading fast—and Christians were facing pressure to acknowledge him.  Great temples were being built in some of these cities.  And back in Jerusalem, as much as Jesus had denounced the unbelief of his own people, as much as he had pronounced judgement on them, they too were violently persecuting the Church.  What did it mean?  What was God's plan?  Was their hope misplaced?  Was Jesus really Lord? In those desperate days, God spoke to his Church.  Now, consider that in the days of the old covenant, the temple has been the place where earth and heaven met, the place where men and women went to meet God—often to pray and to wait for his revelation.  But now there's a new covenant.  Now we meet God in Jesus the Messiah.  He is the new temple.  He is the one in whom earth and heaven, God and man have been brought together.  God gives his word to Jesus and we come to him to receive it.  There's some deep covenantal truth in this first verse. God's revelation in Jesus is delivered by an angel to John.  It's the angel who comes to him and acts as a kind of tour guide and expositor of the things he sees.  Briefly, who is John?  This has been debated since the Second Century and I don't know that the question will ever have any ultimate resolution this side of the New Jerusalem.  The majority view has always been that the John who wrote Revelation is the same John who wrote the Gospel and the three epistles that bear that same name.  That's John the Son of Zebedee or John the Apostle and Evangelist.  There may have been another well-known figure in the early Church known as John the Presbyter or Elder.  Some have said that he may be the author.  Some who don't want to commit refer to St. John the Divine—the namesake of the parish down the hill on Fifth Street—who was maybe one of these two or maybe a third person.  At the end of the day I don't think it really makes much of a difference and I'm happy with the evidence for John the Apostle—the author of the Gospel and epistles—also being the author of Revelation.  He describes himself as the one “who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw” and I think that certainly sounds like the man who was Jesus' close friend and who wrote the Gospel.  That he could introduce himself to these churches as simple “John”, not “John This” or “John That”, I think also points to his being the well-known John the Apostle. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy,” John writes.  He's not talking about reading Revelation as if it's some kind of talisman—just pick something at random and read it and you'll be blessed.  Again, he's addressing these churches where it will be read aloud to the congregation—where God will reveal himself in Jesus through the reading of his word—and in that these people full of question and maybe even fears and doubts, will be blessed.  The word of God will strengthen their faith, their hope, and their joy.  It will prepare them for the difficult days to come.  And it will remind them of the faithfulness of God. Brothers and Sisters, this is true about God's word in general.  Read the Bible and be blessed as God reveals himself through his word to you.  But I encourage you to let God speak to you this week through the uniqueness of Revelation and to be blessed as your faith, hope, and joy are strengthened.  It takes about forty-five minutes to an hour to read the whole book and I guarantee that there are plenty of things you'll do this week that take longer that won't leave you as blessed as God's word will.  As John writes, Jesus loves us, he has freed us from our sin by the shedding of his own blood, he has made us priests to God his Father.  And even after all of that, if we're left wondering or left troubled by our situation, come to him and be reassured.  John writes at the outset to these churches: “Jesus is coming with the clouds…every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes on earth will wail on account of him.”  John draws on the language of the Prophet Zechariah (12:10-14) to say that Jesus will vindicate the faith of his people.  As the Father has revealed his faithfulness to do what he has promised and as he had done so in Jesus, Jesus himself will be faithful to do what he has promised and to finish what he has begun.  Have faith.  Read his word—his self-revelation—and have even greater faith. And the last line there in verse 8 points us to the ultimate purpose of everything that has happened and everything that will happen.  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”  Jesus has come so that the world will know the Lord God, the one who is both the source and the goal of all of history.  That's what “Alpha and Omega” is getting at.  The first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet.  Rebellious humanity has rejected and forgotten him, but Jesus has come to make him known—in judgement on those who persist in their rebellion and for salvation to those who believe.  For he is the Almighty, the pantokrator, the Lord of hosts, whose dominion encompasses the cosmos. So clearly Revelation is important.  But as I said, it's not an easy book to understand.  What can we do that will help us understand beyond just being careful and prayerful as we read?  Brothers and Sisters, in these first verses John tells us just what kind of a book this is and that's a good starting point.  First, it's a letter.  And not just any letter.  Like the epistles, it's a letter written to a specific, real, historical people.  In the case of Revelation, it was written to a cluster of seven churches in Asia Minor—Western Turkey.  It was God's Spirit-inspired word directly to them and only indirectly to us.  That means it had to make sense to them.  When we don't understand something, we often make the mistake of reading it through our present situation and cultural lens, but we can't do that with the Bible.  Before we can start talking about how a text relates to us, we first have to ask what it meant to the people to whom it was originally addressed. Second, John writes that this is a prophecy.  And as we read it, we see that John not only writes in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets, but that he is constantly drawing on those prophets and their language and imagery.  This is, I think, the biggest obstacle we face in understanding the book.  John's readers were steeped in the Old Testament (and in a certain way of reading it) that very, very few people are today.  The average Christian, at best, knows the Old Testament only as disconnected Bible stories and struggles to string them together into a full narrative.  Many know familiar passages from the Prophets, but don't know anything of the context or history those prophets were addressing—and then just assume that the prophets speak directly to us or to current events.  In contrast, for the early Christians the Old Testament was their culture and many knew large sections by heart.  We're not nearly so steeped in the scriptures and so we miss the connections and we misunderstand—or we try to understand them through categories that we do know and make a mess of things.  We read about weird astronomical happenings and instead of looking back to the use of such imagery in the prophets, we look to literal events in our own day—like the “blood moons” fiasco of a few years ago.  We hear about weird grasshoppers or scorpions and instead of looking to the Old Testament, we try to see how their descriptions fit with modern military hardware and interpret them as tanks and helicopters. Third, and this follows closely on the last point, we need to read Revelation with the big narrative of God and his people constantly in mind.  Getting back to my earlier example, an interpretation that divides the people of God in two rather than stressing the unity and continuity of the people of God between the old and new covenants, can't be right because it simply doesn't fit the narrative.  Of course, this assumes we've got a good grasp of that big story—which is why I so often put the stress I do on exactly that. Finally, Brothers and Sisters, as we read Revelation we need to keep our eyes on Jesus.  He is the central figure through whom the Father reveals himself and his faithfulness.  In his death and resurrection he has accomplished the purpose of God.  In him we see not only the love of Jesus, but also the love of the Father for sinners.  The Father gave his Son and that Son gave himself for the sake of his rebellious creatures.  He is the firstborn of the dead.  He is the king.  And there's an obvious promise there as we look around us and see that the work of his kingdom has yet to be fulfilled.  The God who has proved himself to be faithful has more work to do and in that we can find faith and hope.  In that we find reason to worship the King both for what he has done and for what we know he will do.  Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again. Let's pray: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [1] Orthodoxy (Hendrickson, 2006), 13.

Fr. Mike continues discussing the call of Nehemiah and how we should approach the work the Lord calls us to do. He explains why all work is divine participation in God's Kingdom on earth and encourages us to remember our service to God and to others, keeping our focus on serving and loving in the realm of our influence. Today's readings are Nehemiah 3, Zechariah 14, and Proverbs 20:23-26. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike introduces the book of Nehemiah and takes us through Nehemiah's exemplary response to the call of God as he does what God asks simply because he asks. He also encourages us to pray for our enemies and explains the need to refrain from vengeance in our interactions with others, especially when we are provoked by their actions. Today's readings are Nehemiah 1-2, Zechariah 12-13, and Proverbs 20:20-22. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike discusses God's instruction to the people of Israel not to marry women from foreign lands. He explains why God would provide this instruction and how Ezra reacted when he discovered that many prominent Israelites had not obeyed it. He also identifies the prophecies of Palm Sunday and the thirty pieces of silver found in Zechariah. Today's readings are Ezra 9-10, Zechariah 9-11, and Proverbs 20:16-19. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Series: Fear Not Speaker: Pastor Nick Date: June 20, 2021 Synopsis: Today we're continuing our Fear Not series and we're looking at the little known figure of the Prophet Zechariah. We hope you'll join us and engage for our 3rd Discussion Church - where we pause the sermon to engage in conversation about what we're learning. For folks who are joining us online - Pastor Nick will facilitate an online discussion group as the in person folks dialogue at their tables. If you are interested in learning more about Conoy BIC Church or the Brethren in Christ please check out the information on our website: www.conoychurch.org. Intro Music: Inspire And Motivate by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Outro Music: Inspiring Beat by Alex Menco | https://alexmenco.net Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Lesson presented at The Crossings Church Collinsville in Collinsville, IL – a non-denominational church that meets Sunday mornings at 2002 Mall Street, Collinsville, IL just outside of St. Louis. For more like this, visit the sermons page at https://crossingscollinsville.com/ The post Wes Woodell – For Your Prophet: Zechariah appeared first on The Crossings Church Collinsville.

God's love provides us grace, and mercy, and the Holy Spirit promises to guide us into truth eliminating the lies and the distractions that abound within this world!  The Prophet Zechariah is clear on the reckoning  and the promises  of God's resolution to create a world that will know Jesus for oneself, and that while Judah and Jerusalem  missed knowing Jesus the first time,  they will not miss knowing Jesus the second time! 

The Prophet Zechariah tells us that our filth will be removed and we will get clean robes

Download Amos 1-2 We are in the Exile Stream starting the book of Amos. Yes, he's famous! We are reading from The Message this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord of Heaven: It is numbing to see how bad and profane and sinful and willful people can be. May we be agents who operate against such darkness and call sinners to you.  Amen. Amos' prophecy is right around 750 B.C.  Isaiah is beginning his writings right on the heels of Amos. Amos was young as Jonah was in his twilight years - Amos could well have heard first hand of Jonah's revival in Nineveh that shook the known world.   Amos was among the earlier of the 17 OT prophets. He was a contemporary of Elisha, but young to have met Elijah.  Hosea was younger than Amos and would have continued upon Amos' departure.  Micah was also younger than Amos and would have some right after (as with Isaiah). For some historical perspective, the very first stones are being laid in a new area that would be called "Rome" following Romulus' celebration of their first military victory. [ There is about 30 years until the Northern Kingdom of Israel would be terrorized and cleaned OUT by Assyria, ] The Ionian Greeks founded the city of Naples on the Gulf of Naples about as Amos starts writing. Uzziah was king in Judah and Jeroboam II was king of Israel. For what it's worth, II Chronicles 26 is a contemporary chapter with Amos. It is of the years when King Uzziah was 'going askew". Amos 1 - 2: The word commences two years before "the BIG earthquake". It was terribly traumatizing for all in the land as it was talked about still, 200 years later, by the Prophet Zechariah as he compared the Amos 1:1 earthquake to the earth's final judgment which became mentioned by John in Revelation 16:18. Amos is reading 'the dirty lowdown' about and to the whole region: Syria, Gaza, Phoenicia, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, and Israel.  Amos uses the same literative tactic employed in Proverbs 30: "there are three things, actually four..."   This adds intrigue as Amos drops the gavel on the rabble-rousing attitude of the leaders and people in the whole region east of the Mediterranean Sea that scholars call "The Levant" [luh-VAUNT] Damascus in Syria will be burned and busted, Gaza of the Philistines will be burned, devoured, cut off and killed.  Tyre will be burned flat as will Edom with her cities, along with the Ammonites as the Ammonite King and princes get exiled. Fire will consume Moab as God sees to it that the entire Royal family dies. Judah and Israel are none the less guilty.  They were given a covenant before God. They knew better and disobeyed with robust disgust!  So guess what... you guessed right --> Judah will be burned to the ground (much later than Israel, however) The judgment against Israel in much more "at hand" so it is detailed and stinging. Israel is oppressing its own people, prostitution is rampant, along with drunkenness, the Prophets are shunned.  Israel is slapping God in the face and doubly-arrogant about it.  So God is on the verge of crushing them. It will be a bludgeoning like they've never known - and they will not recover from it.

Zechariah (all), Malachi (all) - The last two prophets to the remnant of Judah before 400 years of silence

Pastor Bob Maas teaches on the Prophet Zechariah in the Babylonian Exile, and how one of the Prophet's dreams foretold of the coming of Jesus to take away our sins.

In the time of the Prophet Zechariah, God promises to return to His people if they return to Him.

In the time of the Prophet Zechariah, God promises to return to His people if they return to Him.

In this ROL Chapel session we read from Zechariah 1. This is were the Prophet Zechariah speaks to the people of Israel, the Hebrew nation, a word from God to return to Him. I found the passage necessary for both the believe and the unbeliever; in that, we all need to return to God and turn from our sinful ways. As followers of Jesus we are call to live righteously in and through Jesus. In doing this we everyday must make the decision return to God and repent. The life of a follower of Jesus is a life of daily repentance and living in faith. The unbeliever is being sought out by the LORD for His glory; that they may turn to Him, repent and follow Him. That through Jesus they can be washed clean, be sealed with Holy Spirit and be reconciled to God. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/JeffMesker/support

He was among those who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity, following the decree of Cyrus in 538 BC. With the Prophet Haggai (December 16) he began to prophesy in Jerusalem in 520, to encourage the Jews to return to their task of rebuilding the Temple, which they had given up in discouragement. His prophetic ministry is described both in the Book of Ezra and in the Old Testament book that bears his name. His prophecies, in addition to speaking to the situation in which he lived, are replete with prophecies of the coming, and second coming, of Christ. His name means "The Lord is renowned." Sozomen's Ecclesiastical History reports that under the Emperor Honorius, Zacharias' holy relics were discovered by divine revelation in Palestine, and were found to be incorrupt.

He was among those who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity, following the decree of Cyrus in 538 BC. With the Prophet Haggai (December 16) he began to prophesy in Jerusalem in 520, to encourage the Jews to return to their task of rebuilding the Temple, which they had given up in discouragement. His prophetic ministry is described both in the Book of Ezra and in the Old Testament book that bears his name. His prophecies, in addition to speaking to the situation in which he lived, are replete with prophecies of the coming, and second coming, of Christ. His name means "The Lord is renowned." Sozomen's Ecclesiastical History reports that under the Emperor Honorius, Zacharias' holy relics were discovered by divine revelation in Palestine, and were found to be incorrupt.

God calls Zechariah to be His prophet while Israel is captive in Babylon. God is angry with Israel, and calls on them to return to Him. Zechariah gives a call to repentance. Will the people return to God? Or will they follow their hearts away from God as their fathers did when God’s prophets called them back?   This sermon was delivered on Sunday January 5, 2020.

12.01.19.The Unexpected Prophet Zechariah.Unexpected Savior Series by Mark Thompson

Zechariah 11.  From the Series, "The Prophet Zechariah."

ZechariahSunday July 28, 2019 - 9:00amCharles ArsenaultPastor continues the “By Faith” series. Today’s subject is the Prophet Zechariah.

Audio sermon recorded live from King's Way Christian Fellowship, Wantirna, Melbourne, Australia. A family bible based non-denominational church preaching Jesus Christ. Visit www.kingswaychristianfellowship.com

Jesus Christ is a Central and revered figure in the Islamic faith. A fundamental pillar of Islam involves the fundamental belief in all of God’s Prophets and Messengers, that He has sent down to relay His Message to humanity. Anyone who does not believe in any of God’s Messengers or Prophets is considered a disbeliever in Islam. Muslims hold all Prophets of God in high esteem, including Jesus peace be upon him. Muslims love and admire Jesus peace be upon him and will not speak the name of Jesus, or Isa in Arabic, without respectfully adding the words ‘peace be upon him’ following the reference. Aside from Christianity, Islam is the only other religion that requires followers to believe in Jesus Christ. God’s last and final Prophet, Muhammad narrated, ‘He who bears witness that there is no true god except Allah, alone having no partner with Him, that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger, that 'Isa (Jesus) is His slave and Messenger, and he (Jesus) is His Word which He communicated to Maryam (Mary) and His spirit which He sent to her, that Jannah (Paradise) is true and Hell is true; Allah will make him enter Jannah accepting whatever deeds he accomplished.’ Jesus Christ is mentioned over 25 times in the Holy Quran. The mother of Jesus is Mary (Mariam in Arabic). She was a very pious and righteous woman. According to the Quran, she is the holiest and greatest of all women that ever lived. Mary has the great honor to be the only female mentioned by name in the Holy Quran and even has a whole Chapter named after her. "And [mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds" (Quran 3:42) The mother of Mary, Hannah, was at one time a barren woman who longed for a child. She made a vow to God that if He gifted her with a child, then she would consecrate him to His service in the Holiest of all Temples, the Temple of Solomon, to be a scholar or a priest. God answered her prayers and gifted her with a girl child. Hannah was saddened at the child’s gender, as usually only male children were given in service. Following her promise to God, she instructed that Mary is raised at the Temple. Her Uncle Zechariah, who was a Prophet of God raised her. As Mary got older, Prophet Zechariah would visit her in her chamber at the Temple, where only he had access, and he would observe that she feasted on the best of foods and cold drinks. He would ask who had delivered these feasts when no one else had keys to the chamber. She then would respond, ‘Allah!’ She was blessed by miracles from God, even before the birth of Jesus Christ. According to the Quran, Angel Gabriel walked into Mary’s chamber. Terrified that someone had come to harm her or to remove her chastity, she cried out, ‘I seek refused from Allah!’ Angel Gabriel responded, ‘I am not an enemy, I am Allah’s servant and a messenger who came to deliver glad tidings to you, that Allah would bestow upon you a child.’ She replied, ‘How can I have a child if I don’t have a husband, and no man has touched me?’ Angel Gabriel then responded: “Allah creates what He Wills. If He decrees a thing, He says unto it only: Be! and it is.” (Quran 3:47) Jesus’ real name is Esau (Hebrew) or Yeheshua (Classical). The Christians of the West gave the Latin name, Jesus,. The letter ‘J’ does not exist in Aramaic, so Jesus himself would not recognize the name, Jesus. Mary gave birth to Jesus in the valley of Bethlehem, away from the people, after which she then returned. The Quran confirms that Jesus was born of a virgin woman. When they saw her with her newborn child Jesus, they said: "…O Mary, you have certainly done a strange thing. O sister of Aaron, your father, was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste" (Quran 19:27-28) Mary didn’t speak but pointed at her child. "So she pointed to him. They said, ‘How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?’ [Jesus] said, ‘Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me Prayer and Zakah as long as I remain alive and [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born, and the day I will die, and the day I am raised alive’" (Quran 29-33) The Quran references the miracles that Jesus performed by the power and will of God, even in his infancy, when he spoke in the cradle to defend his mother’s chastity and innocence. The word Messiah is the title of Jesus. The word Messiah comes from the Arabic and Hebrew word mesaha, which means to rub, to massage, to anoint. In religious context, the word translates to mean ‘the one that has been anointed.’ It was common to appoint or anoint a King or Judge of Israel on the head with oil when taking office, as a sign of his inauguration. In the law of previous nations, they would rub a person’s head with special water when they converted to their religion. This practice lives on today, in the form of a Baptist ritual. Prophet Jesus was anointed as the next Prophet by his cousin, John the Baptist, the preceding Prophet. Jesus peace be upon him is called by four noble titles: The Messiah, the Messenger of Allah, A Word from Allah, and A Spirit from Allah. Muslim’s belief and understanding of Prophet Jesus stands in accordance with God’s final Book, the Holy Quran, and narrations of God’s last Prophet, Muhammad peace be upon him. Jesus Christ was a mere prophet of God; whose mission was to confirm the Torah which was revealed before him. He did not come bearing a new law, but only abrogated some laws to make life easier for the Children of Israel—the nation that lived before us. Jesus was sent to teach the same general Message, which was taught by all the previous prophets of God; that we must worship and follow the One God and shun every false god. God created Jesus Christ without a human father, just as Prophet Adam peace be upon him was born without either a human father or mother; Allah just said Be, and it Was. Declining to call Jesus the son of God is not done to belittle or insult Jesus; instead, it is done to Glorify and Magnify God. Allah is the One and Only, and He is far above having a child or a partner in His divinity. One should realize that Jesus never claimed to be the son of God, let alone God Himself. Through a careful study of the Bible, one would conclude that Jesus never called himself a god or God’s son. Nowhere does it state in the Bible that Jesus proclaimed himself as God. Instead, others made that proclamation after Jesus’ departure. Jesus, peace be upon him, only preached the teachings he received from God the Almighty. Prophet Jesus was only a servant and slave of God. He is not the son of God in the sense he was the begotten Son of God, instead; he is—metaphorically -the son of God in the sense that all righteous people are the sons of God. Yet this title is not to be taken literally as many Christians have done in error. There are many individuals labeled ‘sons of God’ in the Bible including Prophet Jacob, Solomon, and Adam peace be upon them as this was a common saying amongst the children of Israel. As Jesus Christ grew into adulthood, he began to travel and preach God’s Message throughout the land of Palestine to the children of Israel. He taught the scripture that God sent to him, known as the Injeel, which translates to mean ‘Good News’ or ‘Gospel’; confirming the truth of previous Holy Books of God. "And [I have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me"(Quran 3:50) To reinforce his Message, God granted Prophet Jesus peace be upon him the ability to perform miracles; such as fashioning birds from clay, then blowing into them to turn them into real birds—healing lepers and the blind, and even resurrecting the dead, all by the will and power of God the Almighty. Never did Prophet Jesus peace be upon him take credit for performing the miracles by himself, without the power of God. According to the Bible, many verses show that Jesus never took credit nor stated that he could perform miracles on his own: ‘…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth’ (Matthew 28:18) ‘I can of mine own self do nothing …’ (John 5:30) ‘…I with the Finger of God cast out devils…’ (Luke 11:20) Prophet Jesus peace be upon him preached and stressed that no deity is worthy of worship except the One true God; and only through Him (the One true God, Allah, which is the unique name of God) can one obtain salvation in the hereafter. Prophet Jesus peace be upon him attracted an inner circle of devoted followers who listened to his teachings with humility; a ring known as the disciples. Jesus Christ peace be upon him preached the same general Message as the Messengers and Prophets before him. According to the Bible, ‘One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ “The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one’ (Mark12:28-29) Never did Prophet Jesus, nor any other Prophet, preach that God is part of a Trinity. Because the Children of Israel had gone astray from the straight path of God, Allah, the Glorious, sent them their final Prophet, Jesus Christ, to remind them that this is their last chance to fulfill God’s commandments. When Jesus Christ continued to preach God’s Message, commanding them to do certain things and to avoid certain things, instead of believing him and following him, they got frustrated by him; turning their backs on him and rejecting him, plotting against him. According to the new testament, a group of hypocritical and self-serving men of the Children of Israelites plotted against Prophet Jesus peace be upon him. They complained to the Roman authorities, who were pagan idol worshipers who had political power at the time; this because the children of Israel were only a minority. The Children of Israel complained that Prophet Jesus peace be upon him was preaching something new, and they provoked the Romans to rise against him; making the Roman governor believe that the call of Jesus Christ conveyed direct threats against the Roman power. His people claimed that Jesus Christ was an agitator speaking against the emperor which was not true. The Roman governor issued an order that Prophet Jesus peace be upon him is arrested, then crucified by hanging him on a cross and starving him; a common form of shame killing.    According to the Christian narrative, which Muslims do not believe, the Roman authorities found Jesus Christ, arrested him, then put him on the Roman cross—where he died. They eventually buried him, only to see him resurrected and returned from the dead. He announced to everyone he was the son of God. However, in reality, according to the Holy Quran, God states: "And [for] their saying (in boast), ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.’ And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise." (Quran 4:157-158) So according to the Holy Quran, they neither killed nor crucified Prophet Jesus peace be upon him; rather, God placed a resemblance of Prophet Jesus peace be upon him on another person to make him like Prophet Jesus. The Christians were differing amongst themselves as to the truth of the matter, as they themselves were in doubt and had no certainty what happened. In all actuality, God rescued His Prophet by raising Prophet Jesus’ soul and body up to Himself. The Israelites and the Roman authorities never could harm him, crucify him or kill him; this version of events was only an assumption. According to some Islamic scholars, God punished Judas, the traitor by casting him in a resemblance to Prophet Jesus peace be upon him. So, they crucified him instead, assuming it was Jesus Christ. According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ returned to his followers. Whereas Christians believe that he returned from the dead, Muslims believe that he never died. His followers were terrified at his reappearance, as they thought he had been crucified. Then Prophet Jesus said: ‘Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have’ (Luke 24:39) Jesus Christ then asked for food, so he could eat before them like a human being would, not a spirit or a ghost. After he proved his existence, he told them God had willed him to leave; and that in his absence they should preach and teach his Message and be faithful to God. He promised them finally that another would come after him. Whereas Christians believe that Prophet Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit in the context of this statement, Muslims believe that his words referenced the Prophet, Muhammad peace be upon him. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is mentioned and prophesied in Scriptures of all major world religions. In the Old Testament, God the Almighty speaks to prophet Moses: ‘’I will raise up for them (the Israelites) a Prophet like you from among their brethren (the Israelites); I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them (the Israelites) everything I command him.’ (Deuteronomy 18:18) This verse is referencing Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, who came after Prophet Moses and after Prophet Jesus peace be upon them. Prophet Muhammad is also mentioned by name in Song of Solomon Verse 5:16 in Hebrew. The Hebrew word used there is ‘Muhammuddim.’ The letters ‘im’ in the end indicates a plural variation of a term that translates to mean respect majesty and grandeur. Without the 'im’ suffix, the name would be ‘Muhamud’; translated to mean ‘the praised one’ or ‘altogether lovely’ in the Authorized Version of the Bible. Gospel of John 16:12-14 Jesus Christ states: ‘I have much more to say to you, more than you can now them bear.’ God did not find it fit for mankind to receive the whole Message of Islam (the way of life of submitting fully to God) at that point, as they would not have been able to bear the Message in its entirety. So, Jesus Christ says: ‘But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me…” (Gospel of John 16:12-14) This Spirit of truth is none other than God’s last and final messenger of mankind, meant to be followed until the last day. Prophet Muhammad, who came after Jesus Christ, preached the same general Message as Prophet Jesus and every other Messenger and Prophet before him. After the departure of Prophet Jesus, controversies sparked amongst his followers. They questioned whether the person who returned was really Jesus Christ. A severe split erupted in the Christian faith, revealing a broad spectrum of opinions regarding Prophet Jesus and his role in the world.  Prophet Jesus was a mighty messenger of God, but he was only a mortal human being. He was born from a mother; he ate and drank; he would sleep and use the bathroom; he suffered pain and emotions. This differentiates him from God the Almighty, as God need not eat, sleep, or drink. He was only a servant and slave of God. The Trinity—the father, the son, and the holy spirit—and the concept that Jesus died for our sins is firmly rejected in Islam. “O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So, believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, ‘Three’; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs”    (Quran 4:171) God makes it clear in the Quran that the act of ascribing a son to Him, angers him. Ascribing a son to God is beneath the Almighty. God states: “And they say: ‘The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or offspring or children)’ Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing. Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins. That they ascribe a son (or offspring or children) to the Most Beneficent (Allah). But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Beneficent that He should beget a son” (Quran 88-92) According to the Holy Koran, the one that calls God part of the Trinity is a disbeliever who will face a painful punishment. The Quran states: "They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the third of three’ And there is no god except one God. And if they do not desist from what they are saying, there will surely afflict the disbelievers among them a painful punishment" (Quran 5:73) The Quran then says: "The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look at how they are deluded" (Quran 5:75) It’s important to mention that Prophet Jesus peace be upon him did not come down with a new Law, nor did he come out to abolish the Old Testament (Torah); instead he came to affirm, teach and preach the previous law, the law of Moses. According to the Holy Koran and the Bible, the Children of Israel were veering away from the laws and disobeying the commandments of God. Prophet Jesus’ mission was to confirm the Torah that was previously sent, to render certain things lawful to facilitate life for the Children of Israel and to proclaim and re-affirm the belief in One God. Prophet Jesus peace be upon him was the last in a long line of Messengers sent to the Jewish people. Prophet Jesus peace be upon him and the Book he came down with, the Injeel (Gospel), was not meant for non-Israelites. According to the Bible, Jesus states: ‘I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of Israelites’ (Matthew: 15-24) In another verse, 'These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel' (Mathew 10:5-6) So, my dear Christian brother and sister, why are you spreading the Gospel to those for whom it was never meant? Jesus states he was sent ‘only to the Children of Israel’ and not for everyone else. God has sent another Book after the Gospel—his final Book, the Holy Quran—and his last and final Messenger--Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him — which is meant for our nation, the latest nation to exist on earth until the end of time. Christians believe that every child is born with the taint of the original sin committed by our parents, Prophet Adam and Eve peace be upon them; a sin committed when disobeying our Creator and eating from the forbidden tree. According to Islam, the notion of the original sin is inconsistent with the concept detailing justice of the Almighty, the All-Merciful, the All-Loving How can God, the All-Just, make an innocent child responsible for or to bear the guilt of a sin committed by a distant ancestor? It is not just for one soul to carry the burden of another, and there is no justice to be found in one person being punished for saving another when they never committed the sin themselves. Islam teaches that everyone is responsible and will be held accountable for their own actions and that everyone is accountable for their own salvation. Salvation only comes from the act of Believing in the One God and following His commandments. Christians believe that since all men are born in this sinful state, it is necessary that a Christian believes in the atonement; the idea that Jesus Christ died for our sins. However, nowhere in the Bible did Jesus explicitly state that he would die to save mankind from sin. According to the Holy Quran and the Bible itself, one can receive forgiveness of sins from God solely through sincere repentance sought directly from God. If God, the Almighty, wished and willed to forgive humanity, then he certainly could have done so without the need of sacrificing Jesus Christ, his supposedly ‘begotten son.’ The idea that all one has to do to attain salvation is to simply believe Jesus Christ died for their sins, without the need of any worship nor the need to follow the Holy Law because Jesus Christ fulfilled it for them, was never preached by Jesus Christ himself—nor is it even in the Bible. Muslims believe that Jesus is still alive and that he will return to this world in the last days before the Day of Judgement. Muslims believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Muslims believe that Jesus Christ will return and preach the true Oneness of God as he has always done, and; he will not preach the trinity. Jesus Christ will prove to the Jews that he never was crucified and will prove to the Christians that they were wrong to ascribe him as divine. Imam Mahdi will be alive at the time of his return, also the time of the Battle of the Great Armageddon that Christians also predict. Muslims will fight on the side of Prophet Jesus peace be upon him, who will be their leader. According to the Holy Quran, God will ask Prophet Jesus peace be upon him on the day of Judgement: "…O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?’ He will say, ‘Exalted, are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. I said not to them except what You commanded me - to worship Allah, my Lord, and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness. If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” (Quran 5:116-118) Muslims are the true followers of Jesus Christ, following what Jesus Christ preached and taught. To my dear Christian brothers and sisters, it’s imperative you research and learn the real Message of Jesus Christ. God, the Almighty has distinguished man above His other creations, by providing him the gift of reason. One would not be considered a rational being if he or she believed in faith without using their intellect, without investigating, rationalizing, analyzing, examining, pondering, and reflecting over what he or she believes and just blindly following their Church and pastor. To my dear Christian brother or sister, take the time to research and think for yourself.

In the second part of his life, the prophet Zechariah had profound visions and encounters regarding the Messiah. In this episode, we discuss prophecy and his profound revelations. Zechariah 9-14 www.messagetokings.com

The Prophet Zechariah shows that the Messiah would be non other than the God of Israel in human flesh! Get our iOS app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shalomshalom-radio/id1446894948?mt=8 Get our Android app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.AppInstitute.u3c05

During the resettlement, God sent another prophet to Israel. His name is Zechariah and he brings great encouragement, vision and revelation to Israel. In this episode, we cover the early prophecies of Zechariah. Zechariah 1-8 www.messagetokings.com

The Prophet Zechariah Chapters 7 - 8: The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion by Shawn Ozbun

The Prophet Zechariah shines light on the future of the church. He sees an angel heading to measure Zion, which is Jerusalem. Even though she looked defeated, he points to her future hope. He said at evening time it shall be light.

The Prophet Zechariah Chapters 5 - 6: A Vision of a Flying Scroll or Missles? by Shawn Ozbun

The Prophet Zechariah Chapters 3 - 4: Vision of the High Priest & Two Witnessess of Revelation? by Shawn Ozbun

The Prophet Zechariah Chapters 1 - 2: A Call to Return to the Lord by Shawn Ozbun

Your Soul Mark 8 ~ Pastor Bill Randles http://www.believersingrace.com Pastor Bill Randles is a Pastor, Bible Teacher and the author of 6 books. Through his books, he has addressed issues in the church such as False prophecy, The Toronto Blessing and The Apostolic Reformation. Join us as Pastor Bill Randles takes us to the scriptures to show us that these events have a prophetic significance and point to the long prophesied "Day of the Lord" for all nations. Pastor Bill Randles was born in 1959 and has served Believers in Grace Fellowship, a non-denominational church in Marion, Iowa, since 1982. He and his wife started the church ministry in their living room. Pastor Bill and his wife, Kristin, live in Marion, Iowa. They have six children: two daughters, Dara and Anna, and four sons, Samuel, Marcus, Ian and Ezra. Their daughters are both married. Dara, the eldest has seven children, and Anna has six. (Their secret plan is to take over the world... shhhhhh!) Pastor Bill Randles also keeps a blog on various topics and studies at www.billrandles.wordpress.com BILL RANDLES BOOKS: Born From Above: An Exposition of John Chapter 3 A Sword on the Land God Remembers: The Visions and Words of the Prophet Zechariah Creation, Fall and the Hope of Redemption: A Commentary on Genesis 1-11 SEE ALL OF PASTOR BILL’S BOOKS

The Devastation of Sin - Part 2 2 Samuel 11-12 ~ Matthew Fanning http://www.believersingrace.com Pastor Bill Randles is a Pastor, Bible Teacher and the author of 6 books. Through his books, he has addressed issues in the church such as False prophecy, The Toronto Blessing and The Apostolic Reformation. Join us as Pastor Bill Randles takes us to the scriptures to show us that these events have a prophetic significance and point to the long prophesied "Day of the Lord" for all nations. Pastor Bill Randles was born in 1959 and has served Believers in Grace Fellowship, a non-denominational church in Marion, Iowa, since 1982. He and his wife started the church ministry in their living room. Pastor Bill and his wife, Kristin, live in Marion, Iowa. They have six children: two daughters, Dara and Anna, and four sons, Samuel, Marcus, Ian and Ezra. Their daughters are both married. Dara, the eldest has seven children, and Anna has six. (Their secret plan is to take over the world... shhhhhh!) Pastor Bill Randles also keeps a blog on various topics and studies at www.billrandles.wordpress.com BILL RANDLES BOOKS: Born From Above: An Exposition of John Chapter 3 A Sword on the Land God Remembers: The Visions and Words of the Prophet Zechariah Creation, Fall and the Hope of Redemption: A Commentary on Genesis 1-11 SEE ALL OF PASTOR BILL’S BOOKS

The Failure of the Levites Judges 17-18 ~ Pastor Bill Randles http://www.believersingrace.com Pastor Bill Randles is a Pastor, Bible Teacher and the author of 6 books. Through his books, he has addressed issues in the church such as False prophecy, The Toronto Blessing and The Apostolic Reformation. Join us as Pastor Bill Randles takes us to the scriptures to show us that these events have a prophetic significance and point to the long prophesied "Day of the Lord" for all nations. Pastor Bill Randles was born in 1959 and has served Believers in Grace Fellowship, a non-denominational church in Marion, Iowa, since 1982. He and his wife started the church ministry in their living room. Pastor Bill and his wife, Kristin, live in Marion, Iowa. They have six children: two daughters, Dara and Anna, and four sons, Samuel, Marcus, Ian and Ezra. Their daughters are both married. Dara, the eldest has seven children, and Anna has six. (Their secret plan is to take over the world... shhhhhh!) Pastor Bill Randles also keeps a blog on various topics and studies at www.billrandles.wordpress.com BILL RANDLES BOOKS: Born From Above: An Exposition of John Chapter 3 A Sword on the Land God Remembers: The Visions and Words of the Prophet Zechariah Creation, Fall and the Hope of Redemption: A Commentary on Genesis 1-11 SEE ALL OF PASTOR BILL’S BOOKS

The Devastation of Sin 2 Samuel 11 ~ Matt Fanning ----------------------------------- http://www.believersingrace.com Pastor Bill Randles is a Pastor, Bible Teacher and the author of 6 books. Through his books, he has addressed issues in the church such as False prophecy, The Toronto Blessing and The Apostolic Reformation. Join us as Pastor Bill Randles takes us to the scriptures to show us that these events have a prophetic significance and point to the long prophesied "Day of the Lord" for all nations. Pastor Bill Randles was born in 1959 and has served Believers in Grace Fellowship, a non-denominational church in Marion, Iowa, since 1982. He and his wife started the church ministry in their living room. Pastor Bill and his wife, Kristin, live in Marion, Iowa. They have six children: two daughters, Dara and Anna, and four sons, Samuel, Marcus, Ian and Ezra. Their daughters are both married. Dara, the eldest has seven children, and Anna has six. (Their secret plan is to take over the world... shhhhhh!) Pastor Bill Randles also keeps a blog on various topics and studies at www.billrandles.wordpress.com BILL RANDLES BOOKS: Born From Above: An Exposition of John Chapter 3 A Sword on the Land God Remembers: The Visions and Words of the Prophet Zechariah Creation, Fall and the Hope of Redemption: A Commentary on Genesis 1-11 SEE ALL OF PASTOR BILL’S BOOKS

Triumphant Death of Samson Judges 16 ~ Pastor Bill Randles http://www.believersingrace.com Pastor Bill Randles is a Pastor, Bible Teacher and the author of 6 books. Through his books, he has addressed issues in the church such as False prophecy, The Toronto Blessing and The Apostolic Reformation. Join us as Pastor Bill Randles takes us to the scriptures to show us that these events have a prophetic significance and point to the long prophesied "Day of the Lord" for all nations. Pastor Bill Randles was born in 1959 and has served Believers in Grace Fellowship, a non-denominational church in Marion, Iowa, since 1982. He and his wife started the church ministry in their living room. Pastor Bill and his wife, Kristin, live in Marion, Iowa. They have six children: two daughters, Dara and Anna, and four sons, Samuel, Marcus, Ian and Ezra. Their daughters are both married. Dara, the eldest has seven children, and Anna has six. (Their secret plan is to take over the world... shhhhhh!) Pastor Bill Randles also keeps a blog on various topics and studies at www.billrandles.wordpress.com BILL RANDLES BOOKS: Born From Above: An Exposition of John Chapter 3: https://amzn.to/2kE6TrH A Sword on the Land: https://amzn.to/2J3O6AF God Remembers: The Visions and Words of the Prophet Zechariah: https://amzn.to/2H6OnRq Creation, Fall and the Hope of Redemption: A Commentary on Genesis 1-11: https://amzn.to/2JgWrEm SEE ALL: https://amzn.to/2xvTWt1

God of Truth and Mercy Psalm 85 ~ Pastor Bill Randles http://www.believersingrace.com Pastor Bill Randles is a Pastor, Bible Teacher and the author of 6 books. Through his books, he has addressed issues in the church such as False prophecy, The Toronto Blessing and The Apostolic Reformation. Join us as Pastor Bill Randles takes us to the scriptures to show us that these events have a prophetic significance and point to the long prophesied "Day of the Lord" for all nations. Pastor Bill Randles was born in 1959 and has served Believers in Grace Fellowship, a non-denominational church in Marion, Iowa, since 1982. He and his wife started the church ministry in their living room. Pastor Bill and his wife, Kristin, live in Marion, Iowa. They have six children: two daughters, Dara and Anna, and four sons, Samuel, Marcus, Ian and Ezra. Their daughters are both married. Dara, the eldest has seven children, and Anna has six. (Their secret plan is to take over the world... shhhhhh!) Pastor Bill Randles also keeps a blog on various topics and studies at www.billrandles.wordpress.com BILL RANDLES BOOKS: Born From Above: An Exposition of John Chapter 3: https://amzn.to/2kE6TrH A Sword on the Land: https://amzn.to/2J3O6AF God Remembers: The Visions and Words of the Prophet Zechariah: https://amzn.to/2H6OnRq Creation, Fall and the Hope of Redemption: A Commentary on Genesis 1-11: https://amzn.to/2JgWrEm SEE ALL: https://amzn.to/2xvTWt1

Samson: God’s Holy Warrior Judges 15-16 ~ Pastor Bill Randles http://www.believersingrace.com Pastor Bill Randles is a Pastor, Bible Teacher and the author of 6 books. Through his books, he has addressed issues in the church such as False prophecy, The Toronto Blessing and The Apostolic Reformation. Join us as Pastor Bill Randles takes us to the scriptures to show us that these events have a prophetic significance and point to the long prophesied "Day of the Lord" for all nations. Pastor Bill Randles was born in 1959 and has served Believers in Grace Fellowship, a non-denominational church in Marion, Iowa, since 1982. He and his wife started the church ministry in their living room. Pastor Bill and his wife, Kristin, live in Marion, Iowa. They have six children: two daughters, Dara and Anna, and four sons, Samuel, Marcus, Ian and Ezra. Their daughters are both married. Dara, the eldest has seven children, and Anna has six. (Their secret plan is to take over the world... shhhhhh!) Pastor Bill Randles also keeps a blog on various topics and studies at www.billrandles.wordpress.com BILL RANDLES BOOKS: Born From Above: An Exposition of John Chapter 3: https://amzn.to/2kE6TrH A Sword on the Land: https://amzn.to/2J3O6AF God Remembers: The Visions and Words of the Prophet Zechariah: https://amzn.to/2H6OnRq Creation, Fall and the Hope of Redemption: A Commentary on Genesis 1-11: https://amzn.to/2JgWrEm SEE ALL: https://amzn.to/2xvTWt1

Prophecy: Psalm 1 & Psalm 2 Pastor Bill Randles http://www.believersingrace.com Pastor Bill Randles is a Pastor, Bible Teacher and the author of 6 books. Through his books, he has addressed issues in the church such as False prophecy, The Toronto Blessing and The Apostolic Reformation. Join us as Pastor Bill Randles takes us to the scriptures to show us that these events have a prophetic significance and point to the long prophesied "Day of the Lord" for all nations. Pastor Bill Randles was born in 1959 and has served Believers in Grace Fellowship, a non-denominational church in Marion, Iowa, since 1982. He and his wife started the church ministry in their living room. Pastor Bill and his wife, Kristin, live in Marion, Iowa. They have six children: two daughters, Dara and Anna, and four sons, Samuel, Marcus, Ian and Ezra. Their daughters are both married. Dara, the eldest has seven children, and Anna has six. (Their secret plan is to take over the world... shhhhhh!) Pastor Bill Randles also keeps a blog on various topics and studies at www.billrandles.wordpress.com BILL RANDLES BOOKS: Born From Above: An Exposition of John Chapter 3: https://amzn.to/2kE6TrH A Sword on the Land: https://amzn.to/2J3O6AF God Remembers: The Visions and Words of the Prophet Zechariah: https://amzn.to/2H6OnRq Creation, Fall and the Hope of Redemption: A Commentary on Genesis 1-11: https://amzn.to/2JgWrEm SEE ALL: https://amzn.to/2xvTWt1

Samson: The Mighty Bridegroom Judges 14 ~ Pastor Bill Randles http://www.believersingrace.com Pastor Bill Randles is a Pastor, Bible Teacher and the author of 6 books. Through his books, he has addressed issues in the church such as False prophecy, The Toronto Blessing and The Apostolic Reformation. Join us as Pastor Bill Randles takes us to the scriptures to show us that these events have a prophetic significance and point to the long prophesied "Day of the Lord" for all nations. Pastor Bill Randles was born in 1959 and has served Believers in Grace Fellowship, a non-denominational church in Marion, Iowa, since 1982. He and his wife started the church ministry in their living room. Pastor Bill and his wife, Kristin, live in Marion, Iowa. They have six children: two daughters, Dara and Anna, and four sons, Samuel, Marcus, Ian and Ezra. Their daughters are both married. Dara, the eldest has seven children, and Anna has six. (Their secret plan is to take over the world... shhhhhh!) Pastor Bill Randles also keeps a blog on various topics and studies at www.billrandles.wordpress.com BILL RANDLES BOOKS: Born From Above: An Exposition of John Chapter 3: https://amzn.to/2kE6TrH A Sword on the Land: https://amzn.to/2J3O6AF God Remembers: The Visions and Words of the Prophet Zechariah: https://amzn.to/2H6OnRq Creation, Fall and the Hope of Redemption: A Commentary on Genesis 1-11: https://amzn.to/2JgWrEm SEE ALL: https://amzn.to/2xvTWt1

Fr. Edward Looney reflects on the Prophet Zechariah's prophecy of Jesus' Crucifixion. During this Year of Mercy we gaze upon the icon of God's Mercy, which is a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness. At this mid-way point in the Year of Mercy, how are we doing with living this year? Fr. Edward leads the congregation in an examining their commitment to the Year of Mercy.

The Prophet Zechariah.    Continuing Fr Robbie Low’s series of talks on the Minor Prophets of the old Testament.  9 … Continue reading →