Podcasts about Sadducees

Acts 23:6-10 6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a […]

We're going to continue in our exploration of the gospel of Luke this Sunday. We'll be reading ch 20:27-40.It's an odd little encounter that Jesus has with a group of Sadducees. Because the Sadducees don't believe in an afterlife at all, they pose a riddle that is supposed to show the absurdity of the concept.They learn the first lesson they needed to learn…never argue religion with Jesus. He dismantles their proposition very simply…how does he do it…how does he indicate to them that they aren't starting from the right premise?Is there anything about what he says about relationships in the afterlife that bothers you? Do you think that Jesus was setting out to describe in detail how life will be after this life, or is there a deeper point you think he's making?The hope of an afterlife is actually a very meaningful influence on this present life, isn't it? I would say that the hope of an afterlife will revolutionize our present life. What are some of the positive ways an eternal hope can have on present life…and what could be some negative ways? How can we, as followers of Christ who have a hope of resurrection and redemption maintain the positive influence of that hope, and not succumb to the negative tendencies?I look forward to exploring this passage together on Sunday!Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Pastor Bryan preaches through Matthew 22:15-46, where the Pharisees and the Sadducees go on the offensive (with the first three questions) and try to trap Jesus in his words through his responses. When Jesus ends the questioning with his own (the fourth question), these leaders realize they will never win in a face-to-face confrontation with Christ. Come hear how the subtle yet powerful message within these passages show how to lose an argument with God (and those he sends in our life to tell the truth) and, yet actually win if we can accept the so-called "defeat". And, conversely, how once beaten we can really destroy ourselves through prideful defiance.

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 14 1 Samuel 14 (Listen) Jonathan Defeats the Philistines 14 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave1 at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men, 3 including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 Within the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba. 6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.” 7 And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish.2 Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,' then we will go up, for the LORD has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.” 11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12 And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.” 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. 14 And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre3 of land. 15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.4 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there.5 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people6 of Israel. 19 Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven. Saul's Rash Vow 24 And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food. 25 Now when all the people7 came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. 28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.'” And the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.” 31 They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint. 32 The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.”8 34 And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. 36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For as the LORD lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41 Therefore Saul said, “O LORD God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.”9 And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” 44 And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. Saul Fights Israel's Enemies 47 When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. 48 And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. 49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. 50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself. Footnotes [1] 14:2 Or under the pomegranate [tree] [2] 14:7 Septuagint Do all that your mind inclines to [3] 14:14 Hebrew a yoke [4] 14:15 Or became a panic from God [5] 14:16 Septuagint; Hebrew they went here and there [6] 14:18 Hebrew; Septuagint “Bring the ephod.” For at that time he wore the ephod before the people [7] 14:25 Hebrew land [8] 14:33 Septuagint; Hebrew this day [9] 14:41 Vulgate and Septuagint; Hebrew Therefore Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Give Thummim.” (ESV) New Testament: Acts 4:32–6:7 Acts 4:32–6:7 (Listen) They Had Everything in Common 32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. Ananias and Sapphira 5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you1 sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. Many Signs and Wonders Done 12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. The Apostles Arrested and Freed 17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. Seven Chosen to Serve 6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists2 arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers,3 pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. Footnotes [1] 5:8 The Greek for you is plural here [2] 6:1 That is, Greek-speaking Jews [3] 6:3 Or brothers and sisters (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 119:33–40 Psalm 119:33–40 (Listen) He 33   Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;    and I will keep it to the end.134   Give me understanding, that I may keep your law    and observe it with my whole heart.35   Lead me in the path of your commandments,    for I delight in it.36   Incline my heart to your testimonies,    and not to selfish gain!37   Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;    and give me life in your ways.38   Confirm to your servant your promise,    that you may be feared.39   Turn away the reproach that I dread,    for your rules are good.40   Behold, I long for your precepts;    in your righteousness give me life! Footnotes [1] 119:33 Or keep it as my reward (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 15:29–30 Proverbs 15:29–30 (Listen) 29   The LORD is far from the wicked,    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.30   The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,    and good news refreshes1 the bones. Footnotes [1] 15:30 Hebrew makes fat (ESV)

We tend to be very "cliquish". Perhaps it is due to insecurities and rivalries, or maybe it is just a human social phenomenon. It is not a spiritual trait, though, as Jesus didn't model that in His interactions. We see him frequently interacting with Pharisees, Sadducees, teachers of the law, scribes, tax collectors, prostitutes, and other "sinners". He interacts with the common folk, the fishermen and the farmers, the politicians, the religious leaders, and even pagan government officials. Jesus was not cliquish. Even among his inner circles, we see Jesus did not just hang with people who liked what he liked or spoke the way he spoke. The disciples were a motley crew of people, from all political, national, and ideological persuasions. YT: https://youtu.be/0MmjENkhj70 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/pedro-gelabert/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pedro-gelabert/support

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 11–13 1 Samuel 11–13 (Listen) Saul Defeats the Ammonites 11 Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud. 5 Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. 8 When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation.'” When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” 11 And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. The Kingdom Is Renewed 12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” 14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. Samuel's Farewell Address 12 And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. 3 Here I am; testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me1 and I will restore it to you.” 4 They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.” 5 And he said to them, “The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.” 6 And Samuel said to the people, “The LORD is witness,2 who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous deeds of the LORD that he performed for you and for your fathers. 8 When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them,3 then your fathers cried out to the LORD and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. 9 But they forgot the LORD their God. And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor,4 and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them. 10 And they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.' 11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal and Barak5 and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety. 12 And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the LORD your God was your king. 13 And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the LORD has set a king over you. 14 If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well. 15 But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king.6 16 Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king.” 18 So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” 20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” Saul Fights the Philistines 13 Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel,7 2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. 3 Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4 And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal. 5 And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, 7 and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. Saul's Unlawful Sacrifice 8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.' So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince8 over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” 15 And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal9 to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. 16 And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people who were present with them stayed in Geba of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 And raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual; 18 another company turned toward Beth-horon; and another company turned toward the border that looks down on the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19 Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.” 20 But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle,10 21 and the charge was two-thirds of a shekel11 for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel12 for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads.13 22 So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash. Footnotes [1] 12:3 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks Testify against me [2] 12:6 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks is witness [3] 12:8 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks and the Egyptians oppressed them [4] 12:9 Septuagint the army of Jabin king of Hazor [5] 12:11 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew Bedan [6] 12:15 Septuagint; Hebrew fathers [7] 13:1 Hebrew Saul was one year old when he became king, and he reigned two years over Israel; some Greek manuscripts give Saul's age when he began to reign as thirty years [8] 13:14 Or leader [9] 13:15 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks The rest of the people . . . from Gilgal [10] 13:20 Septuagint; Hebrew plowshare [11] 13:21 Hebrew was a pim [12] 13:21 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [13] 13:21 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain (ESV) New Testament: Acts 3–4:31 Acts 3–4:31 (Listen) The Lame Beggar Healed 3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.1 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico 11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant2 Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus3 has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. 17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” Peter and John Before the Council 4 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. 5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus4 is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.5 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men6 by which we must be saved.” 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. The Believers Pray for Boldness 23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,7 said by the Holy Spirit,   “‘Why did the Gentiles rage,    and the peoples plot in vain?26   The kings of the earth set themselves,    and the rulers were gathered together,    against the Lord and against his Anointed'8— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Footnotes [1] 3:1 That is, 3 p.m. [2] 3:13 Or child; also verse 26 [3] 3:16 Greek him [4] 4:11 Greek This one [5] 4:11 Greek the head of the corner [6] 4:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women [7] 4:25 Or child; also verses 27, 30 [8] 4:26 Or Christ (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 119:25–32 Psalm 119:25–32 (Listen) Daleth 25   My soul clings to the dust;    give me life according to your word!26   When I told of my ways, you answered me;    teach me your statutes!27   Make me understand the way of your precepts,    and I will meditate on your wondrous works.28   My soul melts away for sorrow;    strengthen me according to your word!29   Put false ways far from me    and graciously teach me your law!30   I have chosen the way of faithfulness;    I set your rules before me.31   I cling to your testimonies, O LORD;    let me not be put to shame!32   I will run in the way of your commandments    when you enlarge my heart!1 Footnotes [1] 119:32 Or for you set my heart free (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 15:27–28 Proverbs 15:27–28 (Listen) 27   Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,    but he who hates bribes will live.28   The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,    but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. (ESV)

23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 23:2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 23:3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 23:4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? 23:5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 23:7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 23:9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. 23:10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. 23:12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 23:13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. 23:14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. 23:15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. 23:16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. 23:17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. 23:18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. 23:19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

Nuclear Exchange with Russia?  (Audio) David Eells - 5/8/22   Ready to Begin: "I Come to Avenge and Fulfill All"Excerpt from Dumitru Duduman's PropheciesNovember 21, 1994 "Awaken, my people", says the voice of the Lord. "Be passive no longer. Draw closer today more than ever, for the day of my vengeance is ready to begin". "I will shake the earth from its foundation (earthquakes?), and I will require punishment of all those that say they do my will, yet through what they do, they blaspheme my name. I will punish prophets, preachers, singers, and all those that do a work yet do it for their own glory. I will judge and punish the entire world. Only those that today sit at my feet in meekness, weeping, and worshiping me, asking for my help, will rejoice in the protection of the arm of the Lord on that day. "Forsake every evil thought, all the empty words, all covetousness, pride, and hypocrisy, because in whatever you are doing, it is not you doing it, but I, the Lord. Where are my clean gifts that I have poured among you: speaking in tongues, prophecy, and other gifts that were given unto you? Where is my power?" says the Lord. "Change your hearts, my people, today, for the days are numbered until I will begin to avenge. My eye sees in the light as well as in the darkness, my people. There is nowhere you can hide from the eye of God. Liars, imposters, those that are covetous, and all those that have only a form of Godliness, but deny the power of God, I will judge them, and then I will judge the whole world. I will shake it from its foundations. In many places there will be massacres. Those that today worship me with faithfulness will be the only ones protected on that day. The horn is ready to sound for the start of the battle. The days are numbered until you will hear the sound, when the armies of heaven will begin the battle against the inhabitants of earth. No army in the world will be able to stand against the armies of heaven, and the army of hell will not be able to raise its head against the Lord's army. Yet those that worshiped me in spirit and in truth I will protect, for I am God. Everything you see around you will be no more. Everything will be destroyed and burn in fire. Do not be passive. Draw close to me, for I come to avenge and fulfill all that was said in the past.", says the Lord. An Angry Bear AwakensExcerpt from Dumitru Duduman's PropheciesApril 1997 I knelt by my bed to pray, as I do every night before going to sleep. After finishing my prayer, I opened my eyes, but I was no longer in my room. Instead, I found myself in a forest. I looked around, and to my right I saw a man dressed in white who pointed his finger and said, "See and remember". It took me a while to find what he was pointing at. It was a small bear who seemed half dead lying on the ground. As I continued to watch this bear, it began to breathe deeper. With every passing minute it seemed to revive itself, and, as I watched, it also became angrier. It then began to grow. Soon it was larger than the forest floor, and as it grew larger, it continued to become angrier. It then began to paw the ground, so that when its paw would hit the ground, the earth would shudder. The bear continued to devastate all that stood in its path until it came upon some men with sticks trying to fend it off. (Don't pay any attention to the lies, they have won this war in Ukraine but the DS needs a bigger war that hurts the US. They have taken down the Nazi's, the bio-labs, the tunnels and dungeons with the captive children, and the evidence of DS crimes, etc.)  By this time the bear had grown so large that it simply crushed the men underfoot and continued its rampage. I was stunned by what I saw and asked the man standing beside me, "What does this mean?" "At first they thought the great bear was dead,”  the man said. (If you listen to MSM.) "As it will begin to stir once again, they will consider it harmless. Suddenly, it will grow strong once more with purpose and violence. (They have made tremendous advances in weaponry.) God will blind the eyes of those that continue to trample on the sacrifice of Christ's blood, until the day the bear will strike swiftly. This day will catch them unprepared, and it will be just as you saw". The man then said, "Tell my people the days are numbered and the sentence has been passed. If they will seek My face and walk in righteousness before Me, I will open their eyes that they may see the danger approach. If they only look to the approaching danger, they, too, will be caught up and trampled underfoot. Only in righteousness will they find safety". Suddenly, I was once again by myself in my room, on my knees, with sweat covering my face.   Russian Nuclear Exchange with U.S. Garrett Crawford - 4/29/22   I dreamed that everyone was stocking up on food at a grocery store late at night. (Insiders are warning to have at least 3 to 6 months of food stored up. As far as believers go, we know that God shall supply our every need according to His riches in Glory.) I saw many people rushing at the last minute to get prepared. There was a general sense of uncertainty in the air. Many who had been expecting an event to happen were already prepared. (And it may be that these will have to help those around them and miracles will happen.) For some reason Sylvester Stallone was in the dream and he was getting prepared too, but he had lost heart and his courage had left him. He was not mentally or spiritually prepared. (Sylvester plays the part of a strong warrior, so to speak, but it appears even they will lose heart through the things coming.)  I told him he could stay with me as I had been preparing for this for sometime. (The most important way to prepare is spiritually for the Word says, “Righteousness delivereth from death.”)  As we were leaving the store, I noticed many people's cars had been stolen from the parking lot while they were buying supplies. People came out to find their cars were gone, they were in disbelief. Sylvester and I thought that my car had been stolen too but we eventually found it. (Having their cars stolen out of the parking lot represents that rest and peace will be taken from the lives of many.) We were somewhere talking and he could not understand why I was happy and not scared. He felt he had so much more to live for on this Earth and he was upset that it was all being taken from him. (Many lives will be turned upside down in order to get their attention and cause them to seek the Lord once He has destroyed all their worldly idols.) I, on the other hand, had no love for the world and the things in it, I could literally feel nothing because this Earth had no hold on me. I felt freer than any man alive. (John 12:25 He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.) Around this time, I had a flashback to the beginning of the day. It was light outside and the sun was out. I was walking through the parking lot of the grocery store and the Word of Lord came to me saying, "At this time the wise will shine brighter than the sun and will instruct many.”  (The Man-child reformers will be anointed with the wisdom of Jesus and will instruct many in the way of righteousness.) The next thing I knew, the scene changed and I was at my dad's house in Bethel. (Representing the Father's "House of Bread”. Those feeding on the Bread from Heaven, Jesus Christ, the Word of the Lord, will be in the rest.) I was all alone with my dogs and cat. (The elect among all the factious dogs and those who were in rebellion to God and His Word will return to the Father's house.) I remember watching the war in Ukraine taking place over my dad's house, like an open vision, but it was something tangible that I was actually experiencing. (Like the death angel that passed over the houses of the Israelites, this “war” and its fall-out will pass over the elect of God.)  I saw that America had been assisting Ukraine. I even saw America launching attacks to aid Ukraine, but there was a grave mistake made and an American missile had been launched accidentally and it hit a Russian target. (Will this be accidental or on purpose? The D.S. has been provoking the nuclear option and would love to escalate this conflict to continue to deflect away from the declass of all their evil crimes that are coming to light and to depopulate and to try to derail the 2022 midterm elections so that they can hold on to power. Also it was admitted that the U.S. helped the Ukrainians sink the Russian flagship Moskva and it was an American missile. No one would admit this unless they wanted the Russians to retaliate.) This ‘accident' caused the whole world to stop. Everyone wondered what Russia would do, but no one expected that Russia would retaliate against America. (Putin has come out publicly and warned that any attack on Russia by NATO or U.S. and Western forces during this Ukraine conflict would be reciprocated, presumably against the D.S.) Then I watched what appeared to be a large missile silo open and a projectile came out and was fired at America. The missile hit America inside her borders and everyone was in a state of shock. No one actually believed Russia would retaliate but they did and with fierce wrath. (Putin and Russia has been fighting the D.S. and they would know who this missile is coming from and would pick their targets.) The weapon they used made 7 waves of fire blast throughout America like fiery shockwaves. The sound of the weapon was like a siren. Every blast was accompanied by the most ominous siren sound; seven blasts and seven sirens. (This seems to be a multiple warhead missile. Also could seven blasts announce the approach of the seven trumps of the Tribulation?)  After the last blast I looked outside and America was on fire. (I asked and he said, "It could have been multiple warheads".) It was just 1 missile launch from each side and after Russia struck with their missile they did not continue. It was like an eye for an eye. I felt in the dream that America was playing a dangerous game with Russia that backfired.) (Even though the military has moved interceptor missiles to the coast in the night, they evidently didn't intercept this. Their missiles have multiple warheads that spread out to different areas and are considered by many to be unstoppable due to its evasive maneuvers.) Everyone in America was in complete disbelief. I heard a man say, "I can't believe they did it, I can't believe they actually attacked us!”. After the blasts I surveyed the damage and my dad's house was still standing. Both my dogs were in the house with me and survived. I opened the front door (Jesus) and my cat was there. (Many of the rebellious who are God's elect will return to the Father's House of Bread.) He had survived the carnage even though he had been outside of the house. Then I woke up. Let's pray and ask mercy of the Lord on this.   Rev 6:2  And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer. 3 And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come. 4  And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.   CONFIRMED: "U.S. and Allies Preparing for Russian Use of Nuclear Weapons" Hal Turner - 4/30/22 Link to Article   Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland today publicly stated "If Moscow uses nuclear weapons, it will never recover from the consequences." She then went on to confirm: "Since the beginning of this conflict, we have already understood that the threats posed by Putin must be taken seriously. That's why the U.S. and our allies are preparing for this development," Nuland said.  These astonishing remarks by the U.S. Undersecretary of State come just one day after the top TV New Network in the Russian Federation, a network called Rossiya-1, broadcast to the entire nation of Russia the map shown in the link above.  The map shows that a single Russian "SARMAT" Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, when launched from Kaliningrad, would vaporize Berlin, Germany in 106 seconds, Paris, France in 200 seconds, and London, England, in 202 seconds after launch!   All three cities would be hit from a single Russian SARMAT missile launch!! From launch to impact, even the most distant city, London, would only have about 3 1/2 MINUTES of radar warning . . . not even enough time to ask the Prime Minister for permission to shoot back, and certainly not enough time to warn the general public even to take shelter. The Populations of those cities are as follows: Berlin, Germany: 3.645 million (2019) Paris, France: 2.161 million (2019) London, England: 8.982 million (2019) Almost no one in any of those cities would survive. The initial multi-blast shockwaves (~30,000 P.S.I.) and thermal radiation (the heat from the bright, white, flash) would vaporize everything within 1.5 miles (2.4km) of each blast. Absolutely nothing would survive.    USA / NATO Gearing up for Counterattack Against Russian Forces in July or August,  with High Risk of Escalated Retaliatory Strikes by Russia  Monday, May 02, 2022 by: Mike Adams   (Natural News) Based on facts that have now been made public, it is clear that the USA and NATO are gearing up for a massive military counterattack against Russian forces in Ukraine. Based on the idea that it takes a few months to build up logistics, hardware and personnel, the likely timeline for this counterattack appears to be around the July / August time frame. Keep in mind that the overarching context of all this is the plan to cancel the 2022 mid-terms by placing America into a world war before November, accompanied by a domestic police state / martial law response that now includes an actual Ministry of Truth run by Homeland Security (DHS). (An obvious communist attack on free speech and the constitution.) Some of the information supporting the coming counterattack includes the recent revelation that military pilot cadets from Ukraine were secretly moved to the United States in March in order to undergo intensive F-16 fighter pilot training in preparation for deployment against Russia. We understand that Ukrainian military teams are undergoing similar training in artillery and tank command as well. Seasoned military observers would correctly point out that you can't train an effective F-16 fighter pilot in just a few months (nor a tank commander, etc.), yet this only speaks to the desperation of USA / NATO / Ukrainian efforts to try to throw almost anything at the Russians in an effort to stop the seemingly unstoppable, grinding advancement of Russian forces across southern Ukraine. (Reminds us of the men who went out with sticks against the bear.) In addition to the above, it's also clear that USA / NATO forces are planning to cobble together a false flag operation in Ukraine — likely involving chemical weapons (and/or nukes) — in order to trigger the internal justification to deploy US troops directly against Russian forces in Ukraine. Congressman Adam Kinzinger has introduced a “Ukraine War Resolution” that specifies this exact escalation plan, in fact. The timing of the chemical false flag will likely be sometime in June, allowing the US media to whip up outrage and anti-Russia hatred — as the media's primary job these days is to teach hatred and intolerance to the gullible sheeple — to the point where the American people are screaming for World War III. Falling in line with the engineered outrage, US Senators and House members will call for a declaration of war against Russia, and that will be echoed by the criminal cabal running the fake White House Oval Office sound stage from which fake president Biden declares whatever current state of confusion he is expressing on that particular day. By July or August, it seems, we will be in a full-blown World War III against Russia, with US troops and weapons deployed in Ukraine, facing off against the far better-equipped Russian forces which have very short supply lines back to Russia, compared to the extremely long supply lines from the USA to Western Ukraine (which involves crossing the Atlantic and all of Western Europe, then somehow navigating Ukraine's blown up railroads and destroyed bridges while under heavy fire from Russian air power and missiles). America will very likely attempt to strike infrastructure targets inside Russia As the counterattack against Russia gets under way, it is very likely that US and NATO forces will unleash attempted missile strikes, drone strikes or bombing runs targeting infrastructure installations in Russia. The primary objective will be to cut off Russia's domestic supply of fuel, steel, ammunition, etc. But this move would clearly cross the line in Russia's mind, forcing Russia to realize that this western war is an existential threat against the very survival of Russia as a nation. This realization is only exacerbated by admissions from US high-level Pentagon officials that they are deliberately trying to weaken Russia and destroy Russia's ability to ever wage war again. Thus, Russia will quickly reach the conclusion that it will need to escalate its retaliatory strikes to something more than mere cruise missiles and artillery. Although we can't read Putin's mind, it seems likely that he has already realized that sooner or later, he needs to take out the USA's supply chain in order to stop the flow of weapons (and military training) to Ukraine from the United States. (At the moment it appears that all the hardware reaching the Ukraine is being destroyed.) Interestingly, the USA is now threatening China with economic sanctions if China supplies weapons to Russia. So according to the USA, only Ukraine can be augmented with weapons, but never Russia. Why Russia will likely prefer an EMP retaliatory strike against the USA and NATO nations Russia has vastly superior ICBM systems such as the new SARMAT-2 missile with up to 15 MIRVs and hypersonic glide vehicle capability (HGV). This means Russia has the ability to launch a single ICBM that can achieve nuclear strikes on 15 U.S. cities all at once, with little to no risk of interdiction by US defensive forces. However, an open-air nuclear strike in the northern hemisphere would contaminate the entire hemisphere with radioactive fallout. From Russia's point of view, a “safer” option is to detonate a high-altitude EMP weapon that destroys the US power grid and plunges the United States into chaos and collapse. This sort of EMP strike would utterly disable America's military supply chain while achieving something on the order of 90% civilian casualties within 1-2 years, according to previous government analysis reports. Surely Russia knows that America's power grid is not yet hardened against EMP, and that America's financial system, food stamps, communications, fuel deliveries and nearly everything else depends on the power grid functioning. Thus, an EMP strike is the most efficient way for Russia to disable America and possibly collapse the nation during a time of war. Once you realize this, you also realize that EMP weapons might also be used against NATO nations such as the United Kingdom. An EMP strike against London — or Paris, or Berlin — would plunge the entire nation into darkness and collapse. Thus, we believe that EMP weapons will be the first strike weapon preferred by Russia in retaliation against NATO and US forces striking infrastructure targets inside Russia (should that occur). We pray this never takes place, but it looks like Biden and his insane handlers are deliberately pushing the United States into this scenario... (Or maybe it's supposed to look like this in a fake WW3 scenario. Remember I have said that the Alliance plans a fake WW3 but the DS wants to turn it into a real WW3 and they are professional at this.) (In the original article here was a speculative timeline of the escalation of a real war. The bad thing about time lines and speculation is that when one domino falls the rest are all fallen.)  Remember: The (DS?) Pentagon is run by generals who hate the American flag and everything America stands for. Do you think the forces they control are going to be ready to fight for America and win World War III? Not by a long shot. The lib-tards all hate America and want to see it fail. Say what you want about Putin, but Putin doesn't hate Russia. He's not trying to dismantle the Russian culture. And he's not a sissy pants soy boy, either. Unlike Biden, Putin is a cognitive genius, and he is right now out-maneuvering the incompetent, almost mentally retarded US “President” and his entire regime of America-hating lunatics and sociopaths.   The Significance of the Number 68 Sent by Deb Horton on 4/19/22 Excerpt from What Does it Mean: More and more scholars estimate that the possibility of the outbreak of World War III is increasing, and have even concluded that this could lead to a nuclear war.  The situation is moving in the direction of global disaster.  Putin cannot tolerate failure, and Biden is unwilling to give up, which could compel Russia to use nuclear weapons. There's a grim mathematical problem popular in cyberspace: In American rendering, the sum of every two digits of the starting dates of World War I (07/28/1914), World War II (09/01/1939) and the Russia-Ukraine conflict (02/24/2022) are the same. World War I: 7+28+1914=1949 and 19+49=68 World War II: 9+1+1939=1949 and 19+49=68 Russia-Ukraine Conflict: 2+24+2022= 2048 and 20+48=68  (Since WW1 and WW2 adds up to 68 and then Russia/Ukraine war adds up to 68 could this means that this is the beginning of WW3?) This is just a great coincidence, but it serves as a reminder to compare the dangerous evolution of the Russian-Ukraine conflict with the two worst wars in human history. (There are no coincidences with a sovereign God.) Looking back, tragedies often come from five sources: War, famine, economic crisis, pandemic, and climate disaster. In spring 2022, people didn't expect that they would be experiencing these five aspects in an unprecedented convergence. (The world may be on the eve of its most dangerous moment.) Psalm 68 begins "Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; Let them also that hate him flee before him." (At this particular time 5/5/22, the Russians have pretty well conquered Ukraine. They have destroyed the weapons that the D.S. had sent to defend Ukraine. There isn't much left of the ground war.  A loose nuke could come from a desperate D.S. hitting Russia to provoke the Russians into WW3…) (Operation Disclosure note: Wed. May 4 - Orange Man (President Trump): Russia wanted (the Russia/Ukraine War) to finish by May 6. Well 2 days ahead. May the Fourth [a play on words] (Force be with you). Same Day Nazi's in WW2 Surrendered. We are on a Loop. [meaning: History repeats] White Hats are in control. (We hope so)) Bill's Dream below of multiple Nuke strikes on America could be a confirmation of Garretts revelation above. Bill's nuke dream could be about what cities could be retaliated upon.  If Russia is hit, Putin knows the average American is not his enemy, the DS has always been his enemy. When he retaliates I believe it would be against the sin cities which are also the crime strongholds, DS strongholds, Democratic Strongholds. Thats why we saw in Bills dream below them getting nuked. I asked the Lord should we tell God's people to get out of these cities and got a YES. Here is a teaching we gave on this years ago: Flee the Sin Cities? (1)   Flee the Sin Cities? (2)   Bride Protected as the Wicked are Nuked Bill Steenland - 4/23/22 (David's notes in red) I dreamed I was in my kitchen preparing dinner. (Representing the preparation of the spiritual food to feed God's elect.) I was suddenly translated to a place in the mountains. (This represents the choosing of the Bride by bringing Her to Mt. Zion which is a place of safety from the Beast?) Although I was incredibly surprised about the miracle, I knew why the Lord had done it. I had a horrible feeling and immediately started searching the skies. I said to myself, “Oh my God! This is it and it must have started!”  There was a light orange flash way way off in the distance. (The people to be judged will be spiritually far from Zion and the presence of God.)  I saw the top of a mushroom cloud. The Lord was letting me know nuclear weapons were going off in a distance that I couldn't physically see. (I asked if we should pray this down by faith and got a "NO.” When I forwarded this dream to Eve, she cast lots asking the Lord if we can pray this down? And she received 3 Tails for “NO”. Father has changed His mind before through repentance and a cry for mercy. Eze 3:21  Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and thou hast delivered thy soul. I asked the Lord, “Are we going to have a nuclear war? And got a “NO.” In Garretts dream it was “one and done” meaning it was not a war but a single missile exchange with possibly multiple warheads. Has God planned to chasten the U.S. in spite of their silly thousand years of peace on a wicked nation?) I asked, "Is this the D.S. cities being destroyed?" And got “Yes”.)   As in a nuclear attack there will be desolation, waste, and astonishment as the Lord said in Eze 35:2-4  Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir (The leadership of the Edomites who are Esau's seed who persecuted and betrayed their brother Israel.), and prophesy against it, 3  and say unto it, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, O mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will make thee a desolation and an astonishment.  4  I will lay thy cities [or congregations] waste, and thou shalt be desolate; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.)  Little mushroom clouds appeared in the background and stuck in the sky as if it was some computer program that pinned the location of the blasts in the distance. As I moved around the symbols would stay in their places. There were many many of these nukes going off.  I continued to walk up this hill to an abandoned house with no windows or doors. It was made of concrete and looked like the place the Lord was sending me to hide. (Representing the refuge that God has prepared for His people to be hidden in the Rock. Their freedom to come and go is unhindered by doors.) The house had a bunch of silver everywhere. (The Lord will supply for the financial and physical needs of His people in the times ahead. Some say ultimately silver will be more valuable than gold.) I thought I could barter using them, so I started to break them apart and put them in a backpack. It struck me odd that whoever was there previously didn't see the value in the silver. (Because escaping is overwhelmingly more important.) Then I looked out of the little concrete building and there was a massive food processing plant nearby. I remember almost laughing because the Lord had put me right next to a food processing plant. I thought, “Oh wow! That's that! Thank you God!” (Food and money will be plentiful among the Bride as the Lord spoke. Isa 61:5-8  And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers.  6  But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.  7  Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them.  8  For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery [the factions have stolen from their brethren] with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth (God will re-pay), and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.) I asked, "Will this devastation come after the redistribution of wealth planned in the GCR ?” And received a “Yes.”  Eve asked for a confirming word for this and received, Psa.81:5 (in context 5-7) He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, Where I heard a language that I knew not. 6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: His hands were freed from the basket. 7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah As the dream changed I was still in the house but was talking to a woman dressed in camouflage. (The Bride is hidden in the "secret place of the Most High.") She was explaining to me where we were in the mountains. She told me the state the mountain range and the roadway. I can't remember what it was but I knew it was somewhat iconic, well known and popular for mountain travel. There was a Native American word she told me and I remember thinking, "I need to look that up and find the meaning." but I cannot remember the name. I knew more people were coming; some of them good and some of them bad. (Many will come and be saved in the revival.) Then I woke up.  Eve asked for a word by faith at random for Bill's dream and received: Eze.21:28-32  And thou, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning the children of Ammon, and concerning their reproach; and say thou, A sword, a sword is drawn, for the slaughter it is furbished, to cause it to devour, that it may be as lightning; (I asked is this representing a swift taking down of those who factioned against their own kinsman?  And got “Yes.” This could be so called Americans against Americans and so called Christians against their brothers.) 29 while they see for thee false visions, while they divine lies unto thee, to lay thee upon the necks of the wicked that are deadly wounded, whose day is come in the time of the iniquity of the end. 30 Cause it to return into its sheath. In the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy birth, will I judge thee. 31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee; I will blow upon thee with the fire of my wrath; and I will deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, skilfull to destroy. 32 Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I, Jehovah, have spoken it.    Five Major U.S. Cities Nuked Richard Swanson Author of the book Spare Your People In 1971, I saw, in a dream, limited nuclear war in America. (Or one missile with multiple warheads) I beheld two or three short successive orange-colored flashes of light off in the distance towards the north. These flashes, which produced a strobe-light effect, literally lit up the nighttime sky.  As they occurred I could briefly see the outline of some mountains from beyond which the flashes came.  The next morning - in the dream - as I was walking through a field of swamp grass, I heard a news report over a transistor radio which was attached to a corner pole of a lean-to. The news report said: "Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Denver and San Francisco have been struck by thermonuclear warheads”. (D.S. strongholds) By the time the broadcast said "Denver" I was in the Spirit. I was standing beside Jesus. I then realized it was Jesus Who was giving the news report, and what I was hearing over the transistor radio was the Word of God. As He spoke, His words could be heard throughout eternity.  As Jesus said "Denver," He pointed there, and as He did, the Holy Spirit showed me, though it was not quite dawn, exactly where Denver was. It was still night in San Francisco, yet the Holy Spirit showed me where that city was too. I then looked back toward the East Coast. The sun had already risen there and through some cirrocumulus clouds, I could see the Florida area. I suddenly realized I was up in the heavens looking down.  I also knew that during this limited nuclear attack I would be in Florida, very close to the Alabama border. Several years later I discovered that this part of Florida is indeed swampland, just as in the dream God's Protection from Weapons of Mass Destruction David Eells There is a place of safety in Christ for our body as well as our soul. Observe the following verses: Psa.91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust. 3 For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover thee with his pinions, And under his wings shalt thou take refuge: His is a truth shield and a buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked. 9 For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. 11 For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under foot. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, And show him my salvation. An examination of verses 1 and 9 will bring us to the conclusion that God is our Secret Place. Psa.91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty... 9 For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation;.  We must be "hidden with Christ in God”. 1 Jn 2:24 says "As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father". In other words we must believe what Jesus and the Apostles gave to us in the beginning, in order to be in the secret place .  The traditions of men will not save. Paul said in (2 Ti 4:18) The Lord will deliver me from every evil work.  He also said that Jesus bore the curse so that we would be blessed (Gal.3:13,14). He also said, we were delivered out of the power of darkness (Col.1:13). Do you believe it? Then in that point you are hidden in Christ. Also the walk of the rebellious will not save. 1 Joh 2:5,6 ...Hereby we know that we are in him: he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. An important key to entering the secret place is seen here in Psa. 91:2  I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust.  Verse 9 says, For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; (Notice! If we say he is our refuge, He becomes our habitation.)  Rom.10:10 says ,for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Confess is the Greek word homo-logeo, which means to "speak the same as". We must say what God says. To not say what God says is not to confess him before men. Mt.10:32-33 says ,Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven. To deny what the Lord says before men is to not be justified before the Father in that point. Rom.3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified (accounted righteous) in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment. You must be called righteous by God through your confession or you will not escape judgment. Notice! In Psa. 91 confession brought protection to the body. Here is a good example of this confession in a dream given to Anette Rich in February 1994: I did not want to get up, but the Spirit of the Lord would not let me stay in bed, and urged me to get up and write down this dream: There was an order given that everyone was to register. All people with degrees and knowledge had to declare these facts. We then had to be sure our homes were airtight around the doors and windows. Then we had to go rally at an open air stadium. There were many, many people. All of a sudden I started to say, "Make it short. Make it short". Others joined in and this saying became a throng. I needed to get out of there, and started to make comments such as, "I am God's child, the air is purified around me. The angels of the Lord are around me. The Blood of Jesus saves me."  I had other people around me and many behind me, some I knew, others I did not. Birds fell straight out of the sky, dead. People fell dead and many were getting weak as we marched straight on. I kept repeating the above sayings. Here and there someone said, "I can't do it anymore!" I kept walking and said, "That is not a worthy statement of a child of God! Repeat what I say"... and then I would repeat the above and other scriptures. I was urged from within to keep my eyes straight ahead and not upon death. I urged others to do the same. There was a white film over everything and it was coming down. It covered trees and was almost illuminative. It also felt like it was giving health, strength, and light, and helped us to walk ahead. I can think of several times in the past that I have been told by a parent that they could not come to the assembly because one or more or their children had measles, chicken pox, or mumps. I have told these parents to bring their children because no one in the assembly would catch the disease. I have never been disappointed after making a bold confession of faith in God! When one of my own 5 children caught one of these diseases, unrelated to the above instances, we would always rebuke it and command it to go in Jesus' name and it would. My children have never had more that a very light case of these diseases and most have never had them at all. We are promised protection from the deadly pestilence in Psa. 91:3,5,6 For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. The Hebrew word pestilence here means an epidemic disease. However in verse 10 the word plague which we would normally equate with pestilence is not at all restricted to an epidemic. The Hebrew word plague just means a blow, or to smite. Verse 10 says, "There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent". Notice in this verse that if we are in the Secret Place, we are not under the plagues or judgments of God.  This is witnessed also in Exo. 12:13  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. In this text the blood of the lamb (Jesus) delivers us from all plagues. The judgments that God brought upon Egypt were all called plagues in Exo 9:14, 11:1. There were conditions for this wonderful benefit. Notice verses 9,10  Eat not of it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roast with fire; its head with its legs and with the inwards thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. In other words we should partake of all of the lamb, who is Jesus, the Word. That includes all of His head, which is His mind, doctrine, and thinking. That includes all of His legs, which is His walk. For to be in Him we must walk as He walked (I Joh 2:3-6).  Heb 10:26 says  For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. You should see here that the sacrifice will not protect those walking in rebellion, only those in ignorance or failure. When David sinned with Bathsheba the Lord "put away his sin" when he repented "but the sword did not depart from his house". In other words the sacrifice would not protect him from the penalty of his sin. All of the Lamb also includes all of His inwards, which is the inner man of the heart who is filled with His Spirit in Eph. 3:16,17. To sum this up, for the Christian to receive deliverance from the plagues, he should believe in this doctrine, walk as a Biblical disciple, and receive God's Spirit, and not a religious Spirit as in 2 Co. 11:4. Another main condition, which is closely related to the last, is in Exo. 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side-posts and on the lintel, upon the houses wherein they shall eat it. First you should see that the Israelites were the ones who applied the blood. I Joh. 1:7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. The light here is the word of God. So the blood cleanses us through walking (by partaking of the legs of the Lamb) in the Word. 2Co. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, (Word) beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. You see, the cleansing of the blood is applied through the Word. In John 2:1-11, Jesus did his first "sign". He had the servants (representing ministers) fill the 6 (Representing man's number) clay (Representing man's nature) pots (or vessels) with water (Representing the Word in Eph. 5:26). Then He turned it into wine (representing the blood of Jesus in Mat.26:27,28).  Why is it that many of God's people do not escape the plagues of this world? Rebellion and unbelief against the light of the Word! Hosea 4:6 says My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: (the Word) because thou hast rejected knowledge, (the Word) I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children. We are in a battle for our lives against the principalities and powers in Eph.6:12, and most of God's people refuse to put on the armor of God in verses 13-17. Notice the armor must be put on by you, by faith in the Word of God. Otherwise the forces of darkness will take you out!! The Devil is a good lawyer, he knows the Word, which gives him his rights. Know the Word so you can stand on your rights, the blood of the Lamb. Vision given to Dumitru Duduman that describes our rights in Christ and how the blood is applied: Oregon, May 7, 1993. It was getting dark. Then suddenly it turned pitch black! It was as if the whole world had gone dark at that moment (We are on the verge of this darkness-- Tribulation). All the people were in a frenzy! They became disoriented, and some were even screaming. After some time we heard the sound of an army approaching. Soon we saw them coming out of the black mist. All were dressed in black except one. That one seemed to be their leader. He was dressed in a red robe with a thick black belt over his waist. On his head he had a sign. As I looked, I saw that in his hand he held the same kind of sharp spear as everyone else in his army. "I am Lucifer!" he exclaimed. "I am the king of this world! I have come to make war against the Christians!”  It looked as though all the Christians were huddled together in one big group. Some began to cry when they heard this. Others began to tremble, while some just stood without saying anything. Lucifer continued to speak. "All of those that want to fight against my army and think they can be victorious, go to the right. Those that fear me, go to the left". Only about a quarter of the group stepped to the right. All the others went to the left. Then Lucifer ordered his army, "Destroy those on the right!" The army began to advance and quickly surrounded the Christians on the right. As they began to close in on us, a powerful light appeared and encircled us. Then an angel of the Lord spoke. "Take out your swords and fight. Defend yourselves and be victorious over the enemy". "What swords?" a man in the group asked. "The Word of the Lord is your sword", the angel answered. When we understood what the angel meant, we began to quote verses from the Bible.  Then suddenly as if we were one voice, we began to sing a song. Our voices thundered so loudly that the dark army began to retreat in fear. They did not have the courage to come against us anymore.  Lucifer, filled with rage, turned to those on the left. "You who all of your life have been trying to please two masters, because you could not stand against me, I have the power to destroy you". He then ordered his army to attack. It was a total massacre. The ones on the left could not defend themselves. One by one they all fell. This killing seemed to go on for a long time. After a while we could actually smell the stench of the dead. Someone asked, "Why could they not be protected also?"  The angel answered, "Because all of their lives they have been lukewarm. Because of their hypocrisy the true church has been blasphemed. They have brought disrespect to the Word of God. They were not clean”.  As we continued to look, we saw the sun coming over the horizon. The black clouds began to break up. Then they disappeared. Only one cloud was left, on which Lucifer and his army stood. Lucifer looked at me shaking his fists and said, "I will destroy you even if I have to throw my spear at you from here!" Then that cloud disappeared, too. As I looked around, I began to see faces that I recognized among our group. I saw a pastor from Belflower, another from Indiana, one from Michigan, as well as many of my American friends. The first thought that came to my mind as I awoke was that this had been the last fight of the devil against the church. If we remain faithful, we will be victorious. Another condition is seen in Exo. 12:22,23 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For Jehovah will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, Jehovah will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. As a Christian you should see here that you must abide in your house, which is Jesus, the Word. If you abide in Jesus, you abide in fruit and eternal life as in Joh 15:1-8, I Jn.5:11. The destroyer cannot come past the blood on the door posts to smite you. As you can see, all of these conditions are actually one. Walk by faith in the Lord as your Savior in all things and grow in the light of His Word to know your rights. The devil is a good lawyer, He knows his rights. If you add to or subtract from the Word with your own thinking, he can afflict you as said in Rev.22:18,19. Another condition is seen in Exo. 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. The unleavened bread here is purity in doctrine or the Word. Jesus said in Mat. 16:11 to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (the religious leaders of today too). In verse 12 they understood the leaven was their teaching.  Also Paul exhorted us in I Co. 5:6-8 to keep the feast of unleavened bread by casting out the leaven of malice and wickedness. Here He said the unleavened bread was sincerity and truth. Back in Exo 12:15 we see that there should be no leaven in our house (or body) for seven days. The seventh day was the day of ceasing from our works to enter the rest. So keep the truth in your house until you cease from your works and rest in Christ or you will be "cut off" from Israel. The Lord spoke to me when I was writing an article for our website. He gave me a long list of miracles He was going to perform in order to save some of His people because He said, "they are not under the curse". One thing He said was that He was going to translate (not to heaven) some of His people right out of the middle of nuclear blasts in order to preserve them. I can assure you that these are not Christians in the secret place who do not believe this is their covenant right. Jesus said "be it unto you according to your faith" and "as you have believed so shall it be unto you". Remember, He could not do many mighty works because of their unbelief. Preserved Through a Nuke: Gaylene Wolmack I would like to share with you a quick vision the Lord gave me about a year ago. I was reading about the coming bombing of the U.S. and as I sat down in my rocker to look out my big picture window to reflect about this with the Lord, all of a sudden a laughter came forth from way down inside. I asked the Lord what was so funny about the U.S. being bombed. He then showed me a quick vision of Phoenix being bombed (I perceived it didn't matter what city) and in the midst of that there were people walking around just fine. I then saw the enemy watching via satellite and was horrified to see people walking around in the midst of what I perceived to be a nuclear bombing. The Lord is our High Tower and our Refuge and our Fortress! Jer 18:7,8 says "At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it; if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. This is also what we see in Joel 2:12,13. Gods people in America must repent. The nation exists only for our sake. At what time the people of God become bad for America and America becomes bad for the people of God there must be a separation. Egypt must fall and Israel must come out!  Gods people are in bondage to an evil Babylonish religious system that has more affinity for the world than the kingdom as in Rev 18:45. There must be judgment on the system to bring them out as in Jer 50:3-12. If there is no spiritual separation, which is sanctification or holiness, there must be physical separation by the judgment of the wicked. Without ten righteous in Sodom, it is doomed as in Gen 18:32. (Isa 26:9,10)...For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal wrongfully, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. Favor given to the unrepentant destroys them.  Judgment is also God's mercy. Angels took Lot's family by the hand and led them out of Sodom. He "escaped" to a "little city" of refuge called Zoar.  (Heb 2:3) How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? (Luk 1:36) But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass... . (Rom 2:3) And reckonest thou this, o man, who judges them that practice such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? The "little city” Lot escaped to reminds me of the "little white church" that escaped the holocaust and the invading army in "Tremble Ye Women”?  Disciples of Christ who are living the crucified life will escape the coming judgment. One method God will use is to protect a few cities from the destroyer as Goshen was protected when Egypt was destroyed in Exo. 8:21-24.  The Flies here symbolize demons for Satan is lord of the flies in Exo.14:29,30 / 11:4-7 / 12:23.  Cities of refuge were provided to protect the manslayer, who killed someone "unwittingly" (not with their own knowledge or wisdom) from the "avenger of blood” in Num 35:11,12 / Josh 20 / Deu 19. The avenger of blood was usually a relative or close friend of the deceased. A disciple of Christ is one who by the wisdom of Christ puts to death his old man (manslayer), and is therefore not guilty. The avenger, the wicked, is a relative and friend of the old man. They are both born of flesh.  The avengers of this world hate and seek to put to death those who have put to death self. Satan and his army are coming to avenge the blood of the old man. (For Example: Pharaoh's army, Assyrian army, Mat 24:8-14, or Dumitru's dreams "The Black Bird" and "The Black Army") Spiritually speaking if you are caught outside the city of refuge the avenger of blood may put you to death (Num 35:26-28 / Ex 12:22 / Gen 19:21 / 2Kings 18:13 / 19:30-34 / Jn 15:4-6). After the death of the high priest in Num 35: 28, who is Christ, has been manifest in our life by the crucified life in 1Co 2:2 / Exo 12:5-9 / Php 3:10-15, we may go where God wills and be safe (Num 15:28 / Jn 7:30 / Lk 4:29,30 / Acts 12:11 / Psa 91). Some will not die for we have come to the end of the sixth day (Mat 16:28-17:2 For him who has ears).  The wicked in the U.S. are also manslayers for they have put to death their spiritual man. They are guilty and they will die for they did it wittingly (following their own wisdom). God is an avenger (Rom 12:19 / Exo 11:4 / 12:12,29) against those who don't walk in and out under the blood (Exo 12:7 - Deu 28:6,19 /1Jn 1:7) and eat all the flesh of the Lamb (Exo 12:8, Joh 1:29 6:53, Jesus is the word made flesh) (Exo 12:10 / 16:19,4 / Jn 6:32-35)  Though it is in the Word some do not accept divine healing and protection. 1 Pe 2:24 / Luk 10:19 Jesus said "be it unto you according to your faith".) Our faith must be in unleavened bread, which means according to the Word in teaching - Mat 16:6,11,12, in attitude - Luk 12:1, in actions -1 Co 5:6-8). To eat the unleavened bread is to consume the pure Word till it becomes a part of you as food does. The traditions of men have no power to bear the fruit of Christ (Mat 13:23). They add to, and take away from the word and are cursed (Rev 22:18,19).   Select LanguageAfrikaansAlbanianAmharicArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanCebuanoChichewaChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CorsicanCroatianCzechDanishDutchEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchFrisianGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHawaiianHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKinyarwandaKoreanKurdish (Kurmanji)KyrgyzLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianLuxembourgishMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianOdia (Oriya)PashtoPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSamoanScots GaelicSerbianSesothoShonaSindhiSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSundaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTatarTeluguThaiTurkishTurkmenUkrainianUrduUyghurUzbekVietnameseWelshXhosaYiddishYorubaZulu Powered by Translate Printer-friendly version

The Sadducees are next in line to challenge our Lord, this time concerning the bodily resurrection. Once we know the biblical background, we can understand their fantastical story and its cynical challenge. Then we must hear our Lord's profound answer, clarifying error and confirming truth, before we too are faced with the striking effect of his wisdom and truth.

In Week Three of WIND + FIRE, Pastor Lee Cummings returns with a powerful word called Power, Persecution, and Counter-Cultural Living that you do not want to miss. Sermon Highlights Acts 4:1-22 (ESV) “And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. 5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.” How to become a counter-cultural people: I. It requires seeing life through a different lens II. It requires a radically different response III. It requires a willingness to suffer in the short-term What is counter-cultural? A culture in which the values expressed and promoted are in potential or actual opposition to those of the dominant culture, sometimes amounting to a wholesale rejection of that culture A Kingdom of God focus will agitate the world around you, because you are both confronting it's brokenness and demonstrating a superior way

Who or what are the wolves seeking to devour the church? Who are our dangerous liaisons? Today we begin a ten part series with Dr. Rocky Ramsey called DANGEROUS LIAISONS. And this is part one covering the subject of liberalism within and outside of the church. How are today's liberals like the Sadducees of old? Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://bit.ly/3b3Igjh MORE: https://bit.ly/corryton

Rev. AJ Espinosa, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Irvine, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 4:1-22. When the Sanhedrin finds out about the preaching of Peter and John in the temple, they have the two apostles arrested. The Sadducees, having great power and influence, are particularly disturbed not only by the preaching of the resurrection, but particularly by the preaching that the resurrection is found only in Jesus. The Holy Spirit takes their questioning as yet another opportunity for Peter to proclaim the Gospel: only Jesus' name brings salvation to sinners. The Sanhedrin was astonished at the boldness of these two men, along with their lack of formal training or education. However, they knew they could do nothing against these men, for the forty-year-old beggar had been healed in front of everyone. The Sanhedrin ordered Peter and John to stop preaching in Jesus' name, but the apostles put the charge back to the Sanhedrin and called upon them to judge the matters according to the sight of God. “To the End of the Earth” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Acts. In his second volume, St. Luke records all the things that Jesus continued to do through the ministry of His Church. By the end of the book, the proclamation of the Lord's Word that began in Jerusalem grows all the way to Rome. By God's grace, even now, that same Word is proclaimed to us.

3 Easter First Psalm: Psalm 26; Psalm 28 Psalm 26 (Listen) I Will Bless the Lord Of David. 26   Vindicate me, O LORD,    for I have walked in my integrity,    and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.2   Prove me, O LORD, and try me;    test my heart and my mind.13   For your steadfast love is before my eyes,    and I walk in your faithfulness. 4   I do not sit with men of falsehood,    nor do I consort with hypocrites.5   I hate the assembly of evildoers,    and I will not sit with the wicked. 6   I wash my hands in innocence    and go around your altar, O LORD,7   proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,    and telling all your wondrous deeds. 8   O LORD, I love the habitation of your house    and the place where your glory dwells.9   Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,    nor my life with bloodthirsty men,10   in whose hands are evil devices,    and whose right hands are full of bribes. 11   But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;    redeem me, and be gracious to me.12   My foot stands on level ground;    in the great assembly I will bless the LORD. Footnotes [1] 26:2 Hebrew test my kidneys and my heart (ESV) Psalm 28 (Listen) The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield Of David. 28   To you, O LORD, I call;    my rock, be not deaf to me,  lest, if you be silent to me,    I become like those who go down to the pit.2   Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,    when I cry to you for help,  when I lift up my hands    toward your most holy sanctuary.1 3   Do not drag me off with the wicked,    with the workers of evil,  who speak peace with their neighbors    while evil is in their hearts.4   Give to them according to their work    and according to the evil of their deeds;  give to them according to the work of their hands;    render them their due reward.5   Because they do not regard the works of the LORD    or the work of his hands,  he will tear them down and build them up no more. 6   Blessed be the LORD!    For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.7   The LORD is my strength and my shield;    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;  my heart exults,    and with my song I give thanks to him. 8   The LORD is the strength of his people;2    he is the saving refuge of his anointed.9   Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!    Be their shepherd and carry them forever. Footnotes [1] 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary [2] 28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts is their strength (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 36; Psalm 39 Psalm 36 (Listen) How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD. 36   Transgression speaks to the wicked    deep in his heart;1  there is no fear of God    before his eyes.2   For he flatters himself in his own eyes    that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.3   The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;    he has ceased to act wisely and do good.4   He plots trouble while on his bed;    he sets himself in a way that is not good;    he does not reject evil. 5   Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,    your faithfulness to the clouds.6   Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;    your judgments are like the great deep;    man and beast you save, O LORD. 7   How precious is your steadfast love, O God!    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.8   They feast on the abundance of your house,    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.9   For with you is the fountain of life;    in your light do we see light. 10   Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,    and your righteousness to the upright of heart!11   Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.12   There the evildoers lie fallen;    they are thrust down, unable to rise. Footnotes [1] 36:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, Jerome (compare Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts in my heart (ESV) Psalm 39 (Listen) What Is the Measure of My Days? To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. 39   I said, “I will guard my ways,    that I may not sin with my tongue;  I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,    so long as the wicked are in my presence.”2   I was mute and silent;    I held my peace to no avail,  and my distress grew worse.3     My heart became hot within me.  As I mused, the fire burned;    then I spoke with my tongue: 4   “O LORD, make me know my end    and what is the measure of my days;    let me know how fleeting I am!5   Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,    and my lifetime is as nothing before you.  Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah6     Surely a man goes about as a shadow!  Surely for nothing1 they are in turmoil;    man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! 7   “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?    My hope is in you.8   Deliver me from all my transgressions.    Do not make me the scorn of the fool!9   I am mute; I do not open my mouth,    for it is you who have done it.10   Remove your stroke from me;    I am spent by the hostility of your hand.11   When you discipline a man    with rebukes for sin,  you consume like a moth what is dear to him;    surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah 12   “Hear my prayer, O LORD,    and give ear to my cry;    hold not your peace at my tears!  For I am a sojourner with you,    a guest, like all my fathers.13   Look away from me, that I may smile again,    before I depart and am no more!” Footnotes [1] 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath (ESV) Old Testament: Exodus 19:1–16 Exodus 19:1–16 (Listen) Israel at Mount Sinai 19 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” 7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD. 9 And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD, 10 the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;1 whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” 16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Footnotes [1] 19:13 That is, shot with an arrow (ESV) New Testament: Colossians 1:1–14 Colossians 1:1–14 (Listen) Greeting 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brothers1 in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. Thanksgiving and Prayer 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.2 He is a faithful minister of Christ on your3 behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks4 to the Father, who has qualified you5 to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Footnotes [1] 1:2 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters [2] 1:7 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word sundoulos, see Preface [3] 1:7 Some manuscripts our [4] 1:12 Or patience, with joy giving thanks [5] 1:12 Some manuscripts us (ESV) Gospel: Matthew 3:7–12 Matthew 3:7–12 (Listen) 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (ESV)

Series: All!Scripture: Matthew 13:1-17Acts 2:37-38, 3:19, 8:22, 20:21, 26:20Title: What is Repentance?Heavy credit: David Platt and Douglas Sean O'Donnell (See below for bibliography)Summary of chapter: “John the Baptist begins his ministry and baptizes Jesus. The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus and God declares that he is pleased with his Son.” (Outline Bible)Bottom Line: Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of living. Entering the Kingdom of God requires repentance of sins.Story: CWP letter, finger prints and my trip to the Goose Creek police department on a Friday afternoon. (3:58)“Lord, keep me close and keep me clean.” -Dr. Bill Bennett, pastor and professorDiscussion questions for group and personal study:Note: We encourage you to use our sermons and discussion questions to gather with some friends and talk about the passage together. Pray and ask God to guide you. He is faithful. Questions? Email us at info@GraceToday.netFind our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastGoal: The goal isn't to ask every question. The goal is to encourage people to engage the scriptures together.1. Why is it significant that John's first command had to do with repentance?2. What is the difference between regretful confession and true repentance?3. How are some church attenders similar to the Jews who counted on family heritage for salvation?4. How would you counsel someone who professes Christ but shows no marks of repentance?5. How did the arrival of the kingdom point to the nearness of both salvation and damnation?6. How would you explain to a non-Christian that a"hellfire and damnation" sermon expresses love?7. Explain why John's baptism and Christian baptism appear to exclude infants.8. How are all three members of the Trinity present in Matthew 3:15-17?9. Why was Jesus baptized if He had no sin?10. What is the difference between resolving to be good before salvation In resolving to be obey God after salvation?Scripture:“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' ” John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”” Matthew‬ ‭3:1-7, 9-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://matthew.bible/matthew-3-17Opening:"…Additionally, the ancestry was important to demonstrate that Matthew's Gospel did not pertain to a mythical character or hero. To the Jew, the ancestry testified to historical reality.Several years ago a friend of mine, a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators, worked among a people who had never heard the gospel in their language. The people could not write or read, so all their communication was oral. The missionary's first task was to learn the language of the tribe. Then she had to change that oral language into written form and teach the people to read and write it. It was a laborious task that took many years. Only after all that was accomplished could she undertake the task of translating the Bible into this language. She began with the Gospel of Matthew. To expedite the project she skipped the genealogy to get to the meat and substance of the story of Christ, and then she sent her translation work off to be printed by a publisher in a distant city. She waited months for the first copies of Matthew to arrive at the compound, and when the trucks came in with the Bibles, or, at least, the Gospel of Matthew, the people were much more interested in the trucks than they were in the translation. After having spent ten years on the project, she was crushed when she saw that the people didn't care at all.Nevertheless, she persevered in her task, and in the second edition of Matthew she included the genealogy. When that arrived the missionary explained the genealogy to the tribal chief, and he said, "Are you trying to say that this Jesus you've been telling us about for ten years was a real person?" She replied, "Yes, of course." He said, "I thought you were telling us a story about some mythical character."Once he understood that this Christ was real in space and time, the chief came to Christ, and shortly thereafter the whole tribe came to Christ.”—Douglas Sean O'DonnellOutline based largely on David Platt and Douglas Sean O'DonnellI. The ministry of the Baptist: Prepare the Way (aka Tell the World)A. The manProphesying boldlyLiving simplyBaptizing openlyServing humblyB. The message (What we do and Why)Repent…How?What is repentance?It is changing your mind in such a way that you change your actions; 180 degree about-faceIt's necessary to believe and follow Jesus Christ and enter into his KingdomRepentance involves confession (admission of sin)Repentance involves contrition (sorry over sin)Repentance involves conversion (turn from sin)…for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near (which means that the King has come near as well)Repentance is for everyoneSee Acts for other sermons and thoughts on repentance including:Acts 2:37-38 “They were cut to the heart…what shall we do? Repent and be baptized”Acts 3:19 “Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out”Acts 8:22 “Repent of this wickedness and pray…that he may forgive you”Acts 20:21 “they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”Acts 26:20 “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance but heir deeds”See the 7 churches of Revelation 2-3 as wellC. The methodThe baptism of JewsRenounce your dependence on selfRely on mercy of GodThe baptism of JesusThe Son obeysThe Spirit anointsThe Father speaksII. The ministry of the Church today: Tell the WorldA. Repent and be baptized.B. Resolve to proclaim this good news yourself. (Bearing fruit…leading others)ConclusionThis is what we want to be known for. Loving our neighbors so well we're willing to risk rejection to show and tell them about the mercy and grace of God found in and through Jesus Christ.Let's do this and lead others to do the same!PrayOther notes:Why do people get baptized?Because the Bible says to.Because they see others who trust Christ do this.To go public with their faith.To testify to what Jesus Christ did for usTo testify to what Jesus Christ did in themIn our country, this is no big deal. They will likely not be threatened or abandoned because of this.In other countries, they would do this a great personal threat to their literal lives.Why do it then? Because they have come and seen who Jesus is and what he's done. God has opened their eyes to see clearly. And they have believed what they have seen as more evidence that all God has said is trustworthy.What about you?What do I want you to know? The gospelWhat do I want you to do? Believe and receive the gospel and live accordingly. It's more than a game-changer. It's true life-change. Transformational.At the end I will invite you to do what many in this room have already done. To consider who Jesus is and what he's done and then responding as you see fit.My hope is that by believing you'll find true and abundant life in his name. At the very least, I hope it will lead to more conversations about this for you in the near future.We're going to look at this through the eyes of a couple of women who witness stuff before anyone else does. Just walking through these 10 verses as if we were these ladies. They are not telling us what they believe happened. They are telling us what they saw and heard. We have it recorded reliably in the thousands of biblical texts/transcripts. Over 25,000 partial and/or complete. Overwhelming evidence.References/Bibliography:“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O'Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes“Matthew” by RC Sproul“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“the Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)Outline Bible, D WillmingtonNIV Study Bible (NIVSB)ESV Study BibleESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)

Acts 22:30 — 23:11 preached by Pastor Jon Needham Big Ideas 1. Living in all good conscience Paul narrowly escaped an unlawful beating, but he was far from being out of trouble. Wanting to know more about the accusations that were brought against Paul, the Roman tribune called together a meeting with the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Paul begins his address by declaring that he had lived his “life before God in all good conscience up to this day” (Acts 23:1). While Paul's good conscience did not protect him from false accusations and brutal treatment, it did give him the confidence to trust that, whatever man may say about him, he was innocent before God. 2. Paul's apology Like Jesus when he was unlawfully arrested, Paul was punched in the mouth. This act of aggression violated the law, and Paul called it out. Paul apparently did not know that the High Priest had ordered that punch. Speaking against the High Priest was a violation of the Law, and, when it was brought to Paul's attention, he owned his mistake. This humble action powerfully demonstrated that Paul was not opposed to the Law of Moses, but deeply committed to it (Exodus 22:28)! 3. A little diversion The Pharisees and Sadducees both opposed Jesus, but for different reasons. The same was true about their view of Paul. But Paul knew that these groups disagreed vehemently over the issue of resurrection. The Pharisees believed in it, while the Sadducees did not. In what appears to be a stroke of brilliance, Paul ignites a heated debate between these two groups, making their disagreement the focus. As a result, Paul once again escapes. Study Questions 1. Dealing with false accusations can be devastating. However, a good, clean conscience before God is a blessing that can anchor us when we are falsely accused. How is your conscience before God? Are there any areas of unconfessed or unrepented sin in your life? What would need to happen for you to have a clean conscience? 2. Apologizing to someone can be the most difficult and humiliating experience, especially when that person has hurt you, as was the case with Paul. Yet, being hurt or offended does not negate our responsibility to apologize when we have sinned against someone else. Are there any people in your life to whom you need to apologize? 3. Jesus told us that, among wolves, we must be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). Many people find this instruction to be confusing, but, in this text, Paul becomes an example of this for us. What can you learn from the way Paul evaded trouble in this text? How was he wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove?

THE THESIS: The entire Covid response was planned in advance of the “pandemic” and we need no further proof than Blackrock conspiring with the so-called Federal Reserve to conjure $3.5 trillion digits they pretend are dollars to illegally pay off their cronies and screw the taxpayers.  THE SCRIPTURE & SCRIPTURAL RESOURCES:  Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira 5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. The Apostles Heal Many 12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. The Apostles Persecuted 17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. 25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.  THE NEWS & COMMENT: [AUDIO] -  Jenn Psaki lays out a bowl of decaying word salad when asked by a reporter what the Figuread is doing about inflation  Blackrock was planning their wealth redistribution moves The Party shoved down our throats during the so called “pandemic” far ahead of the Covid Flu. As with everything else in the Great Reset, it was planned in advance and they used brutal lies and PsyOps to install it.  The Going Direct reset, from September of 2020 Now, watch the world's food supplies and entire food supply chain. . . Destruction of Food Begins in Shanghai with Fences Installed to Keep People Locked Down The AP, of course, pretends this is all a battle against a flu: Shanghai erects metal barriers in fight against COVID-19 Even the BBC is covering this: Shanghai: Green fences baffle locked down residents See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE THESIS: Sorry, but, this is all scripted. From the conjuring of $3.5 trillion in fake, retail banking “money” Blackrock told the fed to perform 4 months before the alleged pandemic--and then hid under Covid to illegally invest it--to the constriction of American farming capabilities, The Party is showing unbridled arrogance and contempt for us. This means, of course, God is going to topple them.  THE SCRIPTURE & SCRIPTURAL RESOURCES:  Haggai 2:22 22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira 5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. The Apostles Heal Many 12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. The Apostles Persecuted 17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. 25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.  THE NEWS & COMMENT: Blackrock was planning their wealth redistribution moves The Party shoved down our throats during the so called “pandemic” far ahead of the Covid Flu. As with everything else in the Great Reset, it was planned in advance and they used brutal lies and PsyOps to install it.  The Going Direct reset, from September of 2020 Now, watch the world's food supplies and entire food supply chain. . . Destruction of Food Begins in Shanghai with Fences Installed to Keep People Locked Down The AP, of course, pretends this is all a battle against a flu: Shanghai erects metal barriers in fight against COVID-19 Even the BBC is covering this: Shanghai: Green fences baffle locked down residents See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confronted by the jealousy of the high priests and the Sadducees, the Apostles continue to remain steadfast in their proclamation of the Good News of Jesus.  April 27, 2022 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

Matthew 23 – 1:12 . Matthew 24 – 8:14 . Matthew 25 – 15:48 . Psalm 69 – 23:16 . There are aspects of tension, excitement, and confusion as Jesus continues to teach in Jerusalem following his triumphal entry. The Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and other experts of the law have already tested him with their inquisitions, but he didn't fumble with answers in the slightest. On the contrary, his answers left the crowd in awe and wonder at his wisdom and judgment. Today, Jesus returns the favor by declaring seven woes upon the hypocrites who elevate themselves but weigh down others. Later, the disciples have questions about the future, and Jesus calls them to faithfulness and expectancy while waiting for His return.:::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Rahn, Eric Williamson, and the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Whoever lives the truth comes to the light." A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 5:17-26 The Sadducees are jealous and take the Apostles and put them in jail. A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 3:16-21 Light came into the world but, people preferred darkness to light... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/catholicismiscool/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/catholicismiscool/support

Morning: 2 Samuel 15–16 2 Samuel 15–16 (Listen) Absalom's Conspiracy 15 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” 5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 7 And at the end of four1 years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the LORD will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to2 the LORD.'” 9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!'” 11 With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited guests, and they went in their innocence and knew nothing. 12 And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for3 Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing. David Flees Jerusalem 13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 And the king's servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” 16 So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house. 18 And all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the LORD show4 steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” 22 And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness. 24 And Abiathar came up, and behold, Zadok came also with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,' behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Go back5 to the city in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there. 30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. 31 And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” 32 While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,' then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king's house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, and by them you shall send to me everything you hear.” 37 So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem. David and Ziba 16 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3 And the king said, “And where is your master's son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.'” 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.” Shimei Curses David 5 When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 8 The LORD has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.” 9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,' who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?'” 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me,6 and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today.” 13 So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. 14 And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan.7 And there he refreshed himself. Absalom Enters Jerusalem 15 Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, for whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.” 20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom. Footnotes [1] 15:7 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew forty [2] 15:8 Or will serve [3] 15:12 Or sent [4] 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks may the Lord show [5] 15:27 Septuagint The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Look, go back [6] 16:12 Septuagint, Vulgate will look upon my affliction [7] 16:14 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks at the Jordan (ESV) Evening: Luke 20:27–47 Luke 20:27–47 (Listen) Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection 27 There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, 28 and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man1 must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons2 of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” 39 Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For they no longer dared to ask him any question. Whose Son Is the Christ? 41 But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David's son? 42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms,   “‘The Lord said to my Lord,  “Sit at my right hand,43     until I make your enemies your footstool.”' 44 David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?” Beware of the Scribes 45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” Footnotes [1] 20:28 Greek his brother [2] 20:36 Greek huioi; see Preface (ESV)

Acts 4:1-22 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. 1. Sometimes God will use “bad news” to get the “good news” out.(Acts 4:1-4) 2. Believers can live with confidence that God will help us to be courageous witnesses in times of trouble.(Acts 4:5-22) Challenge: God has called us to be faithful and bold witnesses of the gospel for Him. He will guide us and strengthen us through the Holy Spirit. His desire is that we become willing witnesses in the spread of the gospel even when we face persecution. Are you relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to help you be bold and courageous in your witness for Jesus? Supporting Texts:Luke 21:12-19, 2 Timothy 3:10-17, Matthew 5:10-12

Hey everyone. It's really been a week with the fire here in Flagstaff and all that coexists with such an event. However it snowed and the fire is much less at the fire front of my thoughts so I can concentrate on the real meat and potatoes of my life. Lol. This is pretty much a free fall from stress and bullshit ( which actually never ends btw). Love each of you. STAY ALIVE YOU MATTER! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dawn-sherine/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dawn-sherine/support

April 24, 2022 -- "Set Free" Pastor Kevin Kritzer, Sermon Text Acts 5:12-32: 12 The people saw the apostles perform many miracles and do amazing things. The believers had a common faith in Jesus as they met on Solomon's Porch. 13 None of the other people dared to join them, although everyone spoke highly of them. 14 More men and women than ever began to believe in the Lord. 15 As a result, people carried their sick into the streets. They placed them on stretchers and cots so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some sick people as he went by. 16 Crowds from the cities around Jerusalem would gather. They would bring their sick and those who were troubled by evil spirits, and each person was cured. 17 The chief priest and the whole party of the Sadducees who were with him were extremely jealous. So they took action 18 by arresting the apostles and putting them in the city jail. 19 But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison. 20 The angel told them, “Stand in the temple courtyard, and tell the people everything about life ⌞in Christ⌟.” 21 Early in the morning, after they had listened to the angel, the apostles went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priest and those who were with him called together the Jewish council, that is, all the leaders of Israel. They also sent men to the prison to get the apostles. 22 When the temple guards arrived at the prison, they didn't find the apostles. The guards came back and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors. However, when we opened the doors, we found no one inside.” 24 When the officer of the temple guards and the chief priests heard this, they were puzzled about what could have happened. 25 Then someone told them, “The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courtyard. They're teaching the people.” 26 Then the officer of the temple guards went with some of his men to bring back the apostles without using force. After all, the officer and his guards were afraid that the people would stone them to death for using force. 27 When they brought back the apostles, they made them stand in front of the council. The chief priest questioned them. 28 He said, “We gave you strict orders not to mention Jesus' name when you teach. Yet, you've filled Jerusalem with your teachings. You want to take revenge on us for putting that man to death.” 29 Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 You murdered Jesus by hanging him on a cross. But the God of our ancestors brought him back to life. 31 God used his power to give Jesus the honored position—the one next to him on the heavenly throne as leader and savior. He did this to lead the people of Israel to him, to change the way they think and act, and to forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” http://www.bethanylutheran.org http://www.facebook.com/Bethany.Long.Beach www.youtube.com/c/BethanyLutheranLongBeach

View the bulletin for Sunday April 24, 20228:00 a.m. - Worship with Communion9:15 a.m. - Bible Study and Sunday School10:30 a.m. - Worship with CommunionAll are welcomeView our current COVID-19 ProtocolsDOWNLOAD ORDER FORM: Easter LiliesArchive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”First Reading – Acts 5:12–20 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” Epistle Reading – Revelation 1:4–18 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.” I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twentieth chapter On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Jesus' answer to an off-track, hypothetical question from the Sadducees will give us reasons to worship God and live for him today!Reading Plan: Old Testament - Judges 20-21New Testament - Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:18-27, Luke 20:27-40Visit https://www.revivalfromthebible.com/ for more information.

Easter 2022 Sermon: He is Risen Indeed! Luke 24:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:14,16-19 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that the Resurrection of Jesus is essential to Christianity. Without it, our faith is in vain. The resurrection of Jesus is essential to Christianity. Either it happened or it didn't. There is no third option. If it didn't happen, our faith is in vain. As Paul in 1 Cor. 15 says “we are to be pitied more than all men.” But if it did happen and we accept that reality, our sins are forgiven and we too will enjoy eternal life in resurrected bodies. The evidence for the resurrection is very strong. Throughout the centuries several alternatives have been suggested. Even on cursory examination, they all fall short. Jesus rose from the dead. There is no other plausible explanation for the historical and eyewitness testimony. Even beyond that, there is the testimony of believers over the centuries who give powerful evidence in the life changing power of the resurrection in their own lives (see Phil. 3:7-11). To accept the resurrection of Jesus as fact is a game changer. It resolves the problem of sin and our alienation from God and it provides for us the opportunity to experience for ourselves resurrection and eternal life with Jesus. Questions for Discussion: 1. How would you respond if someone suggested that all religions are alike? 2. Have you noticed in others even non-Christians the universal longing to worship something and for some kind of future panacea? 3. Discuss the difference between being saved by faith and being saved by grace. 4. Why would anyone be attracted to a religion that had no vision of an afterlife? ie. The Sadducees in Jesus' day. 5. Have you heard of any other alternative explanations for the resurrection? What were they and what is your response? 6. Discuss the 3 major evidences of the resurrection. Which ones do you most identify with?

Old Testament: Joshua 5–7 Joshua 5–7 (Listen) The New Generation Circumcised 5 As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel. 2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.1 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. 5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD; the LORD swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. 9 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal2 to this day. First Passover in Canaan 10 While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. 11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. The Commander of the Lord's Army 13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped3 and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. The Fall of Jericho 6 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2 And the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat,4 and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” 6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.” 7 And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD.” 8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. 9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. 10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” 11 So he caused the ark of the LORD to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. 12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days. 15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. 16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city. 17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction.5 Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. 18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. 19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD.” 20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. 21 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword. 22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute's house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” 23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. 24 And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 26 Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, “Cursed before the LORD be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho.   “At the cost of his firstborn shall he    lay its foundation,  and at the cost of his youngest son    shall he set up its gates.” 27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land. Israel Defeated at Ai 7 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel. 2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, 5 and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water. 6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?” The Sin of Achan 10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. 12 Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction.6 I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. 13 Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the LORD, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.” 14 In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the LORD takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the LORD takes shall come near by households. And the household that the LORD takes shall come near man by man. 15 And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.'” 16 So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken. 17 And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. 18 And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise7 to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels,8 then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” 22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. 23 And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the LORD. 24 And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.9 Footnotes [1] 5:3 Gibeath-haaraloth means the hill of the foreskins [2] 5:9 Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew for to roll [3] 5:14 Or and paid homage [4] 6:5 Hebrew under itself; also verse 20 [5] 6:17 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verses 18, 21 [6] 7:12 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction) [7] 7:19 Or and make confession [8] 7:21 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [9] 7:26 Achor means trouble (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 99 Psalm 99 (Listen) The Lord Our God Is Holy 99   The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!    He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!2   The LORD is great in Zion;    he is exalted over all the peoples.3   Let them praise your great and awesome name!    Holy is he!4   The King in his might loves justice.1    You have established equity;  you have executed justice    and righteousness in Jacob.5   Exalt the LORD our God;    worship at his footstool!    Holy is he! 6   Moses and Aaron were among his priests,    Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.    They called to the LORD, and he answered them.7   In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;    they kept his testimonies    and the statute that he gave them. 8   O LORD our God, you answered them;    you were a forgiving God to them,    but an avenger of their wrongdoings.9   Exalt the LORD our God,    and worship at his holy mountain;    for the LORD our God is holy! Footnotes [1] 99:4 Or The might of the King loves justice (ESV) New Testament: Acts 23 Acts 23 (Listen) 23 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God's high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'” 6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” A Plot to Kill Paul 12 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.” 16 Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” 19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. 21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” 22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.” Paul Sent to Felix the Governor 23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.1 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect: 26 “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.” 31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. 33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium. Footnotes [1] 23:23 That is, 9 p.m. (ESV)