Podcasts about see psalms

Matthew 21 Matthew 21:5 – This is quoted from Zechariah 9:9. See Psalms 24:7-10. The picture is of the Lord coming into His city as a king…

Who bows down to idols anymore? Sadly enough, most of the world does. They devote their lives to serving futility, endeavors of no consequence that cannot help a person in times of trouble.

CD 1667 Jesus is MY Healer, Helper, and Holder(Story about my grandpa)My oh my how things change when we make things personal and take truth for ourselves personally. You can ask a lot of people if they have heard of Jesus? But what is vital is who they personally know Jesus as to them! It's one thing to call Jesus: “Healer, Helper & Holder” but oh how it changes when you put “MY” before it!*Text Matthew 1:18-21 (KJV) .Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus : for he shall save his people from their sins.#1 Healer*Text Matthew 1:21 (KJV)  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus : for he shall save his people from their sins.Note “he (Jesus ) shall save his people from their sins” #4982 (sode'-zo)to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be made whole.Q. How?A. By acknowledging and confessing our sins:*Read Psalms 32:1-5 (KJV) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.Note “ I acknowledge my sin unto thee” = I made up my mind that I would acknowledge.Note “I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord” = to use the hands to praise the Lord in confession.*See Psalms 103:1-5 (KJV)  Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.Note “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases”, come into agreement with God's Word praise Him for “forgiveness” and “healing” spirit, soul, and body!                                                                                        #2 Helper *Read Psalm 115:11 (KJV) Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.*Read Hebrews 13:6 (KJV) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.Note “The Lord is my helper” #998 (bo-ay-thos') a succorer: - helper.Q. How will the Lord be my helper? Remember HeSupport the show

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In this week's study, I continue with Chapter 19 verses 4 thru 6. Before I get into the study, I talk about Klaus Schwab and his stepping down as the head honcho of the WEF. I also discuss their Young Leadership program and who graduated from their program. Who will be amazed!Chapter 19 continues and concludes the final period of events, which is called the bowl period. After the bowl introduction in chapters 12-15, the bowl events began in chapter 16, where we saw all seven bowl events described. However as explained there, chapter 16 was not the conclusion of the bowls. Rather, the description of the bowl period continued into chapters 17 and 18 where the bowl interlude was presented.Here in chapter 19, the bowls continue with a resumption of the seventh bowl event. That is, chapter 19 picks up where we left off at the end of chapter 16. The sixth bowl event in Rev 16:12-16 described nations gathering at Armageddon to make war against Yahweh, and then the seventh bowl event began in Rev 16:17-21 with an enormous earthquake and hailstorm. However, it curiously never mentioned the outcome of the war. That glaring deficiency is resolved here in chapter 19.This chapter describes the conclusion of Yahweh's wrath on earth, and it must be considered part of the seventh bowl because Rev 15:1 stated that Yahweh's wrath would be finished in the bowls.4.   And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts = See the notes on Rev. 4:4, 6-7. As representatives of the church, and as interested in its welfare, they are now introduced as rejoicing in its final triumph, and in the destruction of its last foe Fell down = Prostrated themselves - the usual posture of worship.And worshipped Yahweh that sat on the throne – Rev. 4:2-3, 10. That is, they now adored him for what he had done in delivering the church from all its persecutions and causing it to triumph in the world. Saying, Amen = The word here is expressive of approval of what Yahweh had done; or of their solemn assent to all that had occurred in the destruction of the great enemy of the church.Alleluia = The repetition of this word so many times shows the intenseness of the joy of heaven in view of the final triumph of the church.5.  And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, =  A voice seemed to come from the very midst of the throne. It is not said by whom this voice was uttered.Praise our Yahweh = The Yahweh that we worship. See Psalms 134: All ye his servants = All in heaven and earth; all have occasion for thankfulness.And ye that fear him = That reverence and obey him. The fear of the Lord is a common expression in the Scriptures to denote true piety.Both small and great = All of every class and condition - poor and rich - young and old; those of humble and those of exalted rank. Compare Psa.148:7-13. Psa. 115:136.  many waters = Contrast the “many waters” on which the whore sitteth (Rev. 17:1). This verse is the hearty response to the stirring call, “Alleluia! Praise our Yahweh” (verses 4, 5).the Lord Yahweh omnipotent = Greek, “the Omnipotent.” pan-tok-rat'-ore; From ‘pas' (All, any, every, the whole) and ‘krat-os' (vigor, great); the all ruling, that is, Yahweh (as absolute and universal sovereign): - Almighty, Omnipotent.reigneth = literally, “reigned”: therefore reigneth once for all. His reign is a fact already established. Babylon, the harlot, was one great obstacle to His reign being recognized.Have any questions? Feel free to email me at keitner@netzero.net

This episode shares with the believers the necessary life style Almighty calls for in the race of Mankind. " I look up to the mountains-does my help come from there? My help come from the Lord who made the Heaven and the earth. " See Psalms 121 verses 1,2 Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation.

The book of Psalms begins with several verses that are very similar to the first verse in Psalm 112. “ Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3). Matter of fact it also ends almost the same way this psalm does. You quickly get the idea that the whole book of Psalms is about the contrast between the blessed man who walks uprightly, is honored and endures forever, and the wicked person whose life is meaningless and will one day perish. Not only is a person who fears the LORD blessed, their family is blessed and people around them are blessed (vv. 1-2). But also under the old covenant, material wealth was one of the evidences of the Lord's blessing on His people as they moved into the Promised Land (Deut. 7:12ff; 28:1-14). This explains why the apostles were shocked when Jesus said that it was difficult for rich people to enter God's kingdom (Matt. 19:16-30). If rich people could not be saved, then who could? To Job's three friends, the fact that Job had lost everything was proof that God was punishing him for his sins. It was faulty logic, but they held to it tenaciously. The person described in this psalm was righteous before the Lord (vv. 3, 4, 6, 9) and did not acquire his wealth in some unlawful manner. He was generous in his use of the wealth the Lord gave him, sharing it with the poor and lending it freely without interest (Deut. 23:19-20). He was certainly not miserly or covetous, and he was obedient to the Lord's admonition to care for the poor and needy (Ex. 23:11; Lev. 25:35-38; Deut. 15:7, 11). When the Apostle Paul quoted verse 9 in 2 Corinthians 9:9, he used this person as an example for believers today to follow. (See also Prov. 11:24.) The word "horn" in verse 9 is an image of power and dignity (75:5; 132:17; Luke 1:69). Because of this man's generosity, the Lord allowed him to be lifted up, or exalted with honor in the eyes of his peers. As you see this man's faith in the Lord and love for those in need, you cannot help but think of the promise in Matthew 6:33. In verses 6-8, the psalmist goes on to point out that a believing heart is a steadfast heart, one that is not easily shaken by bad news or difficult circumstances. The person described was confident that the Lord could handle any problem that might come to him. A double-minded person has no stability (Psalms 119:113; James 1:8; 4:8) and therefore, no ability to face the demands of life. (See Psalms 57:7; 108:1; and Isa. 26:3.) Believers with a confident heart and a clear conscience have nothing to fear when they receive bad news because they know the Lord is in control. If there is darkness around them, they wait for the Lord to send the light (v. 4). This is what encouraged Joseph during thirteen years of waiting and suffering in Egypt. "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord" (Psalm 27:14). In verses 9-10, we are reminded that God rewards the “delight” of the righteous (v. 1) but ignores the “desires” of the wicked (v. 10). Those who walk with the Lord and live godly lives are opposed and hated by the wicked, because the good works of the godly are like a “light in the darkness” that reveal the evil in the world (Matt. 5:14-16; Eph. 5:1-14). The fact that the wicked oppose the godly is a good sign that the godly are living as they should. Actually, in Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus said we should “rejoice and be exceedingly glad” when this happens to us. God bless!

Psalm 91 is about the “secret place” of fellowship, worship and communion with the LORD. Interestingly, it is written by an anonymous writer. Remember when Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray that He told them in Matthew 6:6 “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”   The most important part of a believer's life is the part that only God sees. The "hidden life" of communion and worship is symbolized in the Old Testament by the Holy of Holies in the Jewish sanctuary (Ex. 25:18-22; Heb. 10:19-25). Only the High Priest was allowed to go into this “Most Holy Place” once a year with the blood of the proper sacrifice to make atonement for the sins of the people. In the Holy of Holies was the ark of the covenant that was covered by the Mercy Seat. Over the Mercy Seat were two cherubim angels facing each other with their wings almost touching in the middle. This was the dwelling place of the God in the midst of His people.   Over and over again, Scripture reminds us that God is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). He hides us that He might help us and then send us back to serve Him in the struggles of life. (See Psalms 27:5; 31:19-20; 32:7; 73:27-28; 94:22; 142:5; Deut. 32:37.) The author of this Psalm made sure that his dwelling place was his Lord (vv. 1, 9, 10). The safest place in the world is a shadow, if it is the shadow of the Almighty.   Through Jesus Christ we find safety and satisfaction under the wings of the cherubim in the Holy of Holies (Psalms 36:7-8; 57:1; 61:4; 63:2, 6-7). Jesus pictured salvation by describing chicks hiding under the wings of the mother hen (Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34), and the psalmist pictured communion as believers resting under the wings of the cherubim in the tabernacle.   Four different names of God are used in the first two verses that encourage us to trust Him. He is the Most High God (Elyon; vv. 1, 9), a name found first in Genesis 14:18-20. He is higher than the kings of the earth and the false gods of the nations. He is also the Almighty (Shaddai), the all-sufficient God who is adequate for every situation (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11). He is LORD (vv. 2, 9, 14), Jehovah, the Great I AM, the personal and the covenant-making God who is faithful to His promises. He is God (Elohim, v. 2), the powerful creator God whose greatness and glory surpass anything we can imagine.   Remember Psalm 9:10, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”  God's many names reflect His character and His attributes and when you intimately acquainted with them you will have no problem with putting your trust in Him.   This is the God who invites us to fellowship with Him in the Holy of Holies! This hidden life of worship and communion makes possible the public life of obedience and service. This God shelters us beneath the wings of the cherubim, but He also gives us the spiritual armor we need (v. 4; Eph. 6:10-18). His truth and faithfulness protect us as we claim His promises and obey Him.   In verse 4, “His truth is our shield and buckler”. The shield is the large shield that covers the whole person. (See Gen. 15:1; Deut. 33:29; 2 Sam. 22:3.) Some translations give "bulwark" or "rampart" instead of "buckler." The Hebrew word means "to go around" and would describe a mound of earth around a fortress. But the message is clear: those who abide in the Lord are safe when they are doing His will. God's servants are immortal until their work is done (Romans 8:28-39).   My friend, do you have a “secret place” where you worship, commune, and fellowship with your LORD in His Word and prayer?   God bless!

For the next few days, we will be meditating and looking at Psalm 69. From the title we learn that is another of David's Psalms. Again, he wrote it to the “Chief Musician” who was to sing it to the tune of “The Lilies”. Maybe that was a popular tune in those days. This psalm has long been considered Davidic even though there is nothing in David's life which resembles the things he says. We must remember that David was not only a poet but that he was also a prophet. That is the key to this psalm. From beginning to end it points forward to Christ. This is not about David, but about great David's greater Son, Jesus Christ.  As I was reading this Psalm in preparation for our chat today, I couldn't help but think of the Ethiopian eunuch on his way back home from Jerusalem reading about a man suffering in Isaiah 53. When Philip the evangelist heard him reading this, he joined him and asked this question: "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth." So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:30-35). When you read Psalm 69 you might ask the same question: “Who is David the prophet speaking about, himself or some other man?” And again, the answer would be: “Some other Man named Jesus!” As we study this Psalm, we will see that it is both a Messianic Psalm, and a imprecatory Psalm. After Psalms 22 and 110, it also has the distinction of being the most frequently quoted psalm in the New Testament. Over the years as I have read this Psalm, I noticed that the Psalmist is speaking of a person who is in a time of deep distress and I wrote these words over the top of it in my Bible: “dishonor” (vv. 7, 19), “distress” (v. 17), “despair” (v. 20), “desolation” (v. 25). Also, throughout the Psalm I saw the Psalmist crying out these words and wrote them over it too: “Save me” (v. 1), “Deliver me” (v. 14), “Hear me” (v. 16), “Redeem me” (v. 18), “Ransom me” (v. 18), and “Revive me” (v. 32). David begins by asking for deliverance for his own sake (vv. 1-5) and describes his dangerous situation with the metaphor of a drowning man. (See Psalms 18:4-6; 30:1; 32:6; 42:7; 88:7, 17; 130:1-2.) His cries to God show how desperate the situation was. He had prayed to the Lord, but the Lord had not yet answered (v. 3), and he wanted an answer now! (v. 17). Though David was not sinless (v. 5), he was innocent of the charges his enemies were making, and yet he was being treated as though he were guilty (v. 4). This reminds us of our Savior, who was sinless yet treated like a transgressor (Isa. 53:5-6, 9, 12). (See also Psalms 35:11-19; 38:19; 109:3; 119:78, 86, 161.) Jesus quoted verse 4, “they hated Me without a cause”, in the upper room discourse (John 15:25). Referring to verses 1-2, Amy Carmichael wrote, "Our waters are shallow because His were deep." How true! Maybe today you feel like you are drowning in the waters of trouble and turmoil in your life. You can make this Psalm your prayer, and cry out to the Lord and be assured He will hear your cry! Remember Psalm 34:6, “This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.” God bless!

Psalm 55 is another of the “Maschil Psalms”. Or what is also called here a “Contemplation of David. There seems little doubt that David wrote this psalm when Absalom's rebellion was coming to a head in Jerusalem. As a Maschil Psalm, it was written for instruction. It was as much a sermon as a song. One of my favorite verses in the entire book of Psalms is found in this chapter in verse 22: “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” This is another one of the Psalms that David wrote when he was fleeing for his life because his son Absalom had stolen the hearts of the people and turned them against his father. You can read the history and circumstances of this Psalm in 2 Samuel 15-16. It's likely that this psalm was written early in Absalom's rebellion, when David was still in Jerusalem (vv. 9-11), and the revolt was gathering momentum. If so, then the "friend" of verses 12-14 and 20-21 had to be David's counselor Ahithophel who had sided with Absalom. If this psalm was David's prayer while still in Jerusalem, then his prayer in 2 Samuel 15:31 is simply a repetition of verse 9. Psalm 55 reveals four possible approaches to handling the painful problems and battles of life.  In verses 1-5, David's first response to this overwhelming problem is the same that we often have. He looked within at his own feelings. David opened with a plea that he often made to the Lord, that He would not hide His face from his supplications. "Don't ignore my prayer!" (See Psalms 10:1; 13:1; 27:9; 44:24; 69:17; 143:7.) David knew that his own negligence as a father had turned Absalom against his father, the Lord, and the nation. He also knew that the revolt was part of the discipline that Nathan the prophet promised because of David's adultery and the murder of Uriah (2 Sam. 12:9-12).   What David heard and saw in the city distressed him greatly (vv. 2, 17), and he realized that his own life was in danger. The opposition was bringing trouble upon him the way soldiers fling stones at the enemy or roll down rocks upon them (v. 3). But David's concern was for the safety of his people and the future of the Lord's promises to his own dynasty (2 Sam. 7). He felt like everything was falling apart and there was no hope. It's natural to look at our feelings and express our fears, but that isn't the way to solve the problems.  Next in verses 6-8, David begins to look beyond for a safe refuge. When we find ourselves in the midst of trouble, our first thought is, "How can I get out of this?" But the dedicated believer needs to ask, "What can I get out of this?" David had learned some strategic lessons while hiding in the wilderness from Saul, but in his later years, he had some more important lessons to learn. The human heart longs for a safe and peaceful refuge, far from the problems and burdens of life. Doves can fly long distances and they seek for safe refuges in the high rocks (Jer. 48:28). But we don't need wings like a dove so we can fly away from the storm. We need wings like an eagle so we can fly above the storm (Isa. 40:30-31). More than once, David had prayed that the Lord would "hide him," and He answered his prayers (Psalms 17:8; 27:5; 64:2). David did flee Jerusalem (2 Sam. 15:14-37) and lodged in the wilderness across the Jordan River at Mahanaim.  If we have been tempted to give up, to run away from our problems, then this is the Psalm for us. Most of us have been where David was in this Psalm, hard pressed by circumstances that are partly our own fault, but which have passed beyond our control. The only thing to do is to fling ourselves into the arms of God, as David did at the close of this Psalm. “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you…” (v. 22).  God bless!

“To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock: Do not be silent to me, Lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications When I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary." Today we will begin looking at Psalm 28. From the title we know that David wrote this Psalm, and it appears that once again, David found himself in difficulty and cried out to the Lord for help. We don't know what caused the problem, but it involved wicked people and workers of iniquity, and deceptive people who pretended to be David's friends but were working for his ruin. The period leading up to Absalom's rebellion would fit this description. But regardless of the background, this psalm teaches us some important lessons about prayer, praise and patience. Remember we said that there is a connection between Psalms 26, 27, and 28. In all three of the Psalms we see how David desired to worship the Lord in His sanctuary. David had a heart to worship despite the problems and trials that he was facing. He desired to know and sense the presence of the LORD. But sometimes it must have felt to David that God was silent! Where was God when he needed Him the most? Do you ever feel that way? David had prayed fervently about his dangerous situation, but the Lord hadn't answered him. (See Psalms 13:1; 35:22; 39:12; 40:17; 69:3; 83:1; 109:1; 119:82.) It has often been said that "God's delays are not God's denials," and David was learning that important lesson. In verse 1, he "called" on the Lord, and in verse 2, he "cried out" to Him in desperation, but the Lord didn't answer. Do you ever feel like you finally got through one mess and you no sooner went around the corner and there was even a bigger problem staring you in the face! I couldn't help but remember the story of Job. Job was the wealthiest, most popular, most successful, and even called, the “man that was the greatest of all the people of the East”(Job 1:3). But on a day, Job was given the news that all his wealth was lost. Even before he can begin to deal with that news, another servant comes with the news that a windstorm destroyed the house where all his children were having a feast and they all were tragically killed. Then, if that was not enough, he lost his health as painful boils covered his whole body. Just when you need your family and friends the most, they seem to turn against you. Job's wife comes with the advice, to “curse God and die”. His four best friends finally show up and begin telling him that he deserves all these calamities because he is a big hypocrite. At first Job seems to respond well as he falls to the ground to worship and says, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:20-21). But later Job gets discouraged and says, “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes" (Job 3:25-26). And later he says: "Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble”(Job 14:1). Well, that is how David felt and maybe you are having the same experience in your life, and you wonder where God is. He appears to be silent and not answering your prayers. But David prayed anyway and “cried out” to the LORD and so should we! God has a reason for the silence in our lives! Life is definitely full of trouble but we should trust Him anyway! God bless!

David had a heart of worship and loved the place of worship for the nation of Israel which is the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was where the “Glory of God” dwelt in the “Holy of Holies”, where the “Ark of the Covenant” was housed. Only the High Priest was allowed to enter the most holy place, but the people were allowed to worship in the outer courtyard, as close to it as they could. But not all who gathered to worship at the sanctuary were sincere in their walk or their worship, and some of them were openly disobedient and spread lies about the king. The enemies who were slandering David are described in verses 4-5 and 9-10. They were deceitful, hypocritical, and wicked evildoers, sinners who schemed to rob others and even accepted bribes (Ex. 25:8; Amos 5:12), murdering those who stood in their way. David the king was a godly man, but not every judge and official in the government was walking with the Lord. Perhaps all of this occurred at the time when Absalom was trying to seize the throne by spreading lies about his father (see 2 Sam. 14-15). David would see these deceitful men at the tabernacle altar, bringing their offerings, and it deeply grieved him. (See Psalms 119:28, 115, 136, 150, 158.) Throughout the history of both Israel and the church, there was a "congregation of evildoers" (v. 5; 50:16-21) along with the congregation of true worshipers (v. 12), the tares among the wheat (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-41), and wolves in sheep's clothing (Matt. 7:15, Acts 20:26-31). It was this situation that led to the writing of this psalm. In it, David makes three requests of the Lord. He asked the Lord to “vindicate” him (v. 1), to “examine” him (v. 2), and to “redeem” him (v. 11). As I read this prayer of David making his plea for God's help, I couldn't help but remember a parallel passage in Psalm 1:1. In Psalm 1 the psalmist proclaimed a blessing on the man who does not “walk” in the counsel of the ungodly, who does not “stand” in the path of sinners, and who does not “sit”with the scornful. Did you notice that twice David mentions his “walk in integrity” (vv. 1, 11). He said he did not “sit with the idolatrous mortals and hypocrites” (v. 4). And that he was also “standing in an even place”. One translation says, “stands on level ground”. I wrote in my Bible above this verse that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. When we stand there, we are admitting that we are all sinners, no one is better than someone else and we all need mercy and grace! When David said that he “walked in his integrity” this was not an expression of self-righteousness (see Luke 18:9-14), but rather the honest testimony of a real man of God. The words translated "examine" and "try" refer to the testing of metals to determine their true value and also to remove the dross (12:6; 17:3). "Heart and mind" is "kidneys and heart" in the original, the kidneys being the seat of the emotions and the heart the place of moral decision. (See Psalm 139:23, Phil. 4:7 and Rev. 2:23.) David's life was motivated and controlled by God's love and truth (faithfulness; see Psalm 6:4; 25:5-7, 10; 40:10; 57:3; Ex. 34:6). When David was confronted with his sin of adultery and murder by the prophet Nathan, he repented with a broken heart (Psalm 51). When King Saul was confronted with his sin of disobedience, he made excuses and blamed others for his failure (1 Samuel 15). See the difference? As we seek to be true worshippers, we should also ask the Lord to “vindicate”us (to defend us), to “examine us”, and to “redeem” us. Jesus is our Redeemer, Who alone paid the price for our sin and sets us free from the guilt and penalty of them. And then like David, we can say, “I have trusted in the LORD, I shall not slip” (v. 1). God bless!

Psalm 18 is a wonderful Psalm of David. In verses 1-3, David begins this Psalm with an expression of his devotion and love for Jehovah! In verse 1, David expressed his love “I will love you…”. In verse 2, he expressed his faith, “in whom I will trust”. And in verse 3, he expressed his hope, “so shall I be saved…”. After expressing his devotion, David described his distress (vv. 4-6). He pictured himself as a man who had been hemmed in on every side, caught in a trap, bound with cords, and thrown into the water to drown. (See Psalms 88:16-18; 69:2, 15; 124:4; Job 22:11.) So what did David do, and how did he respond to his distress? He said, “In my distress, I called upon the LORD, and cried out to my God.” David turned to Jehovah, his great and awesome God to help him in his distress! Do you feel like you are about to drown, and you are going under for the last time? David said that when he cried, that the “Lord heard his voice from his temple in heaven and his cry came before Him, even to His ears.” David wrote about this again in Psalm 65:2, “O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come.” My friend, please believe that the Lord will hear your cry and plea for help today because He will!!!! In verses 7-19, David describes how the Lord answered and his great God began to act on his behalf. The great deliverance (vv. 7-19) God sent is depicted as a storm. The Lord had been longsuffering with King Saul, but now His anger arose and began to shake things, like an earthquake and an erupting volcano (vv. 7-8; Ex. 15:8; Deut. 32:22). God came down in a storm, like a warrior in a chariot, carried along swiftly by a cherub. (See Gen. 3:24; Ex. 25:18; 2 Kings 19:15; Ezek. 1, 10). He was accompanied by darkness, rain, wind, hail (a rare thing in the Holy Land), thunder, and lightning (His arrows, v. 14; see 77:17, 144:6). All because David called on the Lord! (v. 6). At just the right time, God reached down and delivered David (vv. 16-19). Like Moses, he was drawn out of the water (Ex. 2:10). The enemy fell in defeat, but David stood firm, supported by the Lord (23:4). He was now king of Israel. Ten years of exile were ended, his life had been spared, and his ministry lay before him. Read these verses of God's deliverance and be encouraged today: Psalm 18:7-19 – “Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters And thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire. The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O LORD, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.” My friend, God delights in you and is waiting for you to call upon Him for help! God bless!

This is one of five Psalms identified as "prayers" (Psalms 17, 86, 90, 102, 142). The title is also used in Habakkuk 3:1 and Psalm 72:20. Since most of the Psalms contain prayers to the Lord, we can only wonder why these five were singled out for this special title. Except for 90, written by Moses, they describe the writer in dangerous situations and crying out to God for deliverance. Only 17, 86, and 142 are attributed to David, and they were probably written during the years when Saul pursued him. There are at least a dozen words for prayer in the Hebrew language, and this one (tepilla) can also mean "to intervene." Perhaps the title also told the temple musicians what melody to use when using these psalms in public worship. In this prayer, David deals with three pressing concerns and makes three major requests to the Lord. Each section opens with David addressing the Lord. “Hear a just cause, O LORD…” (v. 1); “I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God…” (v. 6); “Arise, O LORD…” (v. 13) In this prayer David is crying out to the Lord for Vindication (vv. 1-5), for Protection (vv. 6-12), and for Rescue or Deliverance (vv. 13-15). In verses 1 through 5 David is asking the Lord for Vindication. “You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing”. The psalm begins and ends with David speaking of “a just cause” and "righteousness"(vv. 1 and 15), because David wants God to examine him and vindicate him before his enemies. He saw God as a righteous judge who would give him a fair trial. King Saul and his leaders believed and circulated all kinds of lies about David, but the Lord and David knew the truth. David asked God to hear his plea, examine his life, and declare his integrity by giving him victory over the forces of Saul. Then everybody would know that God was with David, and that he was the man God has chosen to be Israel's king. God knew that David's prayer was sincere and that his life, though not sinless, was blameless. David was a man of integrity whose cause was a righteous one. During those ten years of exile, God had proved David's heart, visited and examined him, and tested him the way gold and silver are tested and refined in the crucible ("tested by fire"). (See Psalms 26:2; 66:10; 81:7; 95:9; 139:23-24). Remember what Job said: “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). No matter what Saul and his men had said about him, David was able to affirm to the Lord that he had not spoken evil of the king. In fact, on at least two occasions, David could have slain Saul, but he refused to lay hands on God's chosen and anointed leader (1 Sam. 24, 26). Saul would have killed David (v. 9, "deadly enemies"), but David obeyed the Word of the Lord and kept himself from violence. Though he was a fugitive in the wilderness, David walked on the paths of the Lord and obeyed God's law. David's declaration of righteousness was not evidence of pride or hypocrisy but of faithfulness to the Lord in difficult situations. You find similar language in Psalm 18:19-28. David had a good conscience toward God. My friend, when we have a good and clean conscience toward God and others, we can be assured that our prayers will be answered! “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:21-22) God bless!

“I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.” Today, we want to think about how we have “good counsel” from the Lord as we fellowship and spend time with Him! As I was reading verses 7-9, I couldn't help but think of a passage in the New Testament found in Philippians 4. The Apostle Paul was in prison in Rome writing this letter to the saints in the church at Philippi. Paul was rejoicing and he was content because he believed that God was good and very present wherever or in whatever circumstance he was in. Read this passage and see how much it relates to the same thing that David was writing about in Psalm 16. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:4-13) Both David and Paul had learned to be content and satisfied in Christ alone! They both knew that the Lord was their “good counselor” and would always be present to guide them. Even the Lord Jesus Christ Himself would spend the night in prayer with His Father seeking His will and direction to know which disciples to chose to follow Him and later become the witnesses of His death, burial and resurrection to the world. “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles” (Luke 6:12-13). David's personal fellowship with the Lord was his greatest joy. This was when God instructed and counseled David and told him what to do and how to do it. David even went to "night school" to learn the will of God. (See Psalms 17:3; 42:8; 63:6; 77:2, 6.) "Night" is plural, suggesting "dark nights" or "night after night" learning from God. The word "instruct" carries with it the idea of discipline and chastening, for David learned many lessons when God's loving hand chastened him (Heb. 12:1-12). The Lord at his right hand suggests God as his advocate and defender. (See Ps. 73:23; 109:31; 110:5; 121:5; 1 John 2:2; Acts 2:33; 5:31.) With the Lord as his guide and guard, he had nothing to fear; he would not be moved (Ps. 10:6; 15:5). The future is your friend when Jesus is your Lord. My friend, Jesus is our “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Today He will give you “good counsel” through His Word and the Holy Spirit if you will trust and obey Him! God bless!

In the earth today we see a great struggle for POWER. We hear the rich and powerful talk about the great reset leading the blind into position to worship the Antichrist. Everybody wants to have not just power but in the words of Tim the tool man: "MORE POWER"! We must have prayer with praise to have God's POWER! Your prayer level with PRAISE determines your POWER level! Let's look at the absolute truth this morning and see God and Jesus then His church (in that order) is the source of ALL POWER:*Text: Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.*Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.Then the Lord gave His POWER - AUTHORITY to us that go in faith and praise:*Luke 10:17-19 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. [18] And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. [19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.*Psalms 148:14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, The praise of all his saints; Even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.Note: To raise a horn signifies strength, so we can see PRIASE from us to the Lord brings Power from the Lord to us. See: *Psalms 18:1-3 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.*Psalms 75:4-10 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: And to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: Lift not up your horn on high: Speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; It is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: But the dregs thereof, All the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; But the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.*Psalms 89:15-18 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: And in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: And in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the LORD is our defence; And the Holy One of Israel is our King.Close with: *Hebrews 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.*Revelation 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:Closing Illustration:One morning Marion Gilbert opened her door and was surprised to see a small dog she had never seen before with her paper in its mouth. Delighted with his “delivery service,” she gave him some treats. The next morning she was horrified to see the same dog sitting in front of her door, wagging his tail, surrounded by eight newspapers. She spent the rest of that morning returning the papers to their owners.

LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah I trust that you had the opportunity to read 2 Samuel 12 through 18. In these chapters you read the story and the events behind the writing of this prayer of David. This prayer in Psalm 3 begins very abruptly with "Lord." This is how Peter began his prayer when he got his eyes off Jesus and began sinking into the sea. Matthew 14:30, “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” David didn't have time to go through a long liturgy, for his own life was at stake and so was the future of the kingdom. David knew that God is a "very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Absalom had taken a long time to build up his support for taking over the kingdom and the number increased day by day (2 Sam. 15:12-13; 16:7-8; 17:11; 18:7). Absalom was handsome, smooth-spoken, and a gifted liar who knew how to please the people and steal their hearts (2 Sam. 15:1-6). British statesman James Callaghan said, "A lie can be halfway around the world before the truth has got its boots on." There's something in the heart of mankind that enjoys feeding on lies. Not only were David's enemies increasing but the news was getting worse. People were saying, "The king is beyond help." (See Psalms 31:13; 38:19; 41:4-9; 55:18; 56:2; 69:4 and 71:10-11.) The word "help" in the Hebrew (yeshua) is translated "save" in verse 7 and "salvation" in verse 8 and gives us the names "Jesus" (Matt. 1:21) and "Joshua." It's used 136 times in the Psalms. Why had God permitted this dangerous and disgraceful uprising? It was part of David's chastening because of his sins of adultery and murder. One of the saddest chapters in the Bible is 2 Samuel 12, where we read about David and his affair with Bathsheba. When he found out she was pregnant he tried to cover it up by bringing her husband Uriah home from the battle front hoping he would have relations with his wife. But when Uriah refused to spend any time with her, David had him killed. God in his grace forgave David when he confessed his sins (2 Sam. 12:13-14; Psalm 32 and 51), but God in his government allowed David to reap the bitter consequences of those sins. He experienced painful family problems (2 Sam. 12-14), including the death of the son Bathsheba bore him, the rape of his daughter Tamar, by her half-brother Amnon. Then Absalom, Tamar's full brother, murdered Amnon in retaliation and had to flee the kingdom for three years. When Absalom was allowed to come back, he begins stealing the hearts of the men of Israel and two years later lead an insurrection against his own father David. The consequence of sin is always very high! Over the years as a pastor, I have watched many families broken apart as a result of the sin of adultery. It affects everyone! Thank the Lord for His forgiveness, and also for His grace that He gives us to deal with the consequences! When we cry out in our brokenness like David, we can be assured that the LORD will hear us!! God bless!

We're taking a break from our current series to start our yearly "Summer of Psalms" series to commemorate the season of sunshine we're in! This Sunday we're taking a look at Psalms 34, asking the questions "What is good?" and "Is God good?"

Though it's been a challenging week, I'm here by the grace of God!I'm here to share with you that I count all my loss as gain because through my losses, I've gotten to know my Heavenly Father and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ like I never have before. (See Philippians 3:7-8)As I have, still do today and will continue to do so, trusting in and relying confidently on the Lord with ALL of my heart and leaning not on my own understanding. In all my ways i submit/surrender to him and he will make my paths straight! (See Proverbs 3:5-6)I trust in the Lord and no one who expectantly trusts and waits for the Lord will be ashamed but those who turn away from what is right and deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed (humiliated, embarrassed) (See Psalms 25:3)Following the Lord won't be easy but don't give up, your faith is worth the fight! He fights for you and you must only believe, surrender, and confess! He will ease your burden, give you rest, and teach you with his humble and gentle heart as you find this rest for your souls (mind, will, emotions)(See Mathew 11:28-29)God works ALL things for your good as you choose to love him and for His glory as he gives you his purpose for you to carry out! (See Romans 8:28) His mercy triumphs judgment ! Breaking your silence, is breaking your chains, freedom you have in Jesus name !AwakeOSleeperAmen! 

Who Is Your Battle Buddy? When it comes to your family... you're just too close to know the difference between your desires and the Word of God. But don't let that stress you out. Have your word checked by a battle buddy. Let them confirm the revelation you received and remove the distractions from God's will. You don't have to carry this weight alone, we'll confirm your prophetic word. Show Notes: When you have such a big heart, it's hard to be objective. You need a different perspective to bring clarity. This episode encourages you to confide in a spiritually mature friend so you can rest knowing they have your back with close matters. In the spirit I feel your stress about your current situation. Let it go! God is sending you someone to help carry the weight. It's God's will for you to have a friend to trust in. What You Will Learn Confirmation Through Others Your battle buddy will pick up what God has been saying to you. You can chill knowing that you hear God. Confirmation Through Signs You asked for one! It may look like a phone call or a text message. You will know. Confirmation Through Fruit Are you walking in blessing? It's a good sign that God is confirming the direction you're going in. Take Your Study Further - Read This Book Today's Prophet (E-book) Scriptures That Give You Eyes to See Psalms 37:23-24 (NKJV) The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;For the Lord upholds him with His hand. Proverbs 20:24 (NKJV) A man's steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way? Isaiah 48:17 (NKJV) Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. Join Our Community! https://www.apostolic-network.com Sponsor the NextGen Prophets Podcast Take this message further. Be responsible for raising the Next Generation of Prophets Get Your Free E-book and Course Here https://www.nextgenprophets.org/ Watch Our Free Prophetic Teachings on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/ToachMinistries Get Your Prophetic Word Confirmed Speak to a wing man: 760 466 7257 Get Connected With Apostles Craig and Colette Toach Submit Your Question to the Apostles: ToachMinistries.com Follow the NextGen Prophets Facebook: NextGen Prophets Follow the NextGen Prophets Instagram: NextGen Prophets Instagram

Who Is Your Battle Buddy? When it comes to your family... you're just too close to know the difference between your desires and the Word of God. But don't let that stress you out. Have your word checked by a battle buddy. Let them confirm the revelation you received and remove the distractions from God's will. You don't have to carry this weight alone, we'll confirm your prophetic word. Show Notes: When you have such a big heart, it's hard to be objective. You need a different perspective to bring clarity. This episode encourages you to confide in a spiritually mature friend so you can rest knowing they have your back with close matters. In the spirit I feel your stress about your current situation. Let it go! God is sending you someone to help carry the weight. It's God's will for you to have a friend to trust in. What You Will Learn Confirmation Through Others Your battle buddy will pick up what God has been saying to you. You can chill knowing that you hear God. Confirmation Through Signs You asked for one! It may look like a phone call or a text message. You will know. Confirmation Through Fruit Are you walking in blessing? It's a good sign that God is confirming the direction you're going in. Take Your Study Further - Read This Book Today's Prophet (E-book) Scriptures That Give You Eyes to See Psalms 37:23-24 (NKJV) The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;For the Lord upholds him with His hand. Proverbs 20:24 (NKJV) A man's steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way? Isaiah 48:17 (NKJV) Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. Join Our Community! https://www.apostolic-network.com Sponsor the NextGen Prophets Podcast Take this message further. Be responsible for raising the Next Generation of Prophets Get Your Free E-book and Course Here https://www.nextgenprophets.org/ Watch Our Free Prophetic Teachings on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/ToachMinistries Get Your Prophetic Word Confirmed Speak to a wing man: 760 466 7257 Get Connected With Apostles Craig and Colette Toach Submit Your Question to the Apostles: ToachMinistries.com Follow the NextGen Prophets Facebook: NextGen Prophets Follow the NextGen Prophets Instagram: NextGen Prophets Instagram

The feelings of frustration are a common experience we can encounter daily. These feelings don't have dominate your life! There are many scriptures that will help us NIP it in the bud! See (Psalms 37:5-8).

No child of God sins to that degree as to make himself incapable of forgiveness. See Psalms 32:1, Psalms 86:5, Mark 11:25

Let's grab hold of the victorious life! We don't need to rely on the world for its answers or spend our lives desperately trying to get rich and be happy. Life can be difficult, but we have the ultimate answer, the rescue, and all hope in God. Steve discusses three steps to living the victorious life.  Life is difficult sometimes, but we have the ultimate advantage in our lives: God. How do we grab hold of the victorious living God offers us?  (See Psalms 37:3-6).     Step 1: Trust in God  Trust is having confidence in God. You must demonstrate that trust.  Take your mind off your problem, and do something good to show God you trust Him with your problem. Trust cures worry. Then “pasture” yourself by chewing on God's Word. Keep calm. Stay steady. Don't get distracted.      Step 2: Delight in the Lord  Expect happiness, contentment, and joy from God. Redirect your emotions toward God (instead of toward yourself), expecting a return. “…and he will give you the desires of your heart.”    Step 3: Commit Your Way to the Lord.   Go for broke. Give everything. No matter what the circumstances! Then God will clear the clouds from your life, and the sun will shine Website https://revieusnowpodcast.com  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pastorstevegray  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pastorstevegray  Twitter https://twitter.com/pastorstevegray  YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/PastorSteveGray/playlists

Let me tell you a true story…. I went down, down, down, into what felt like falling into a dark and narrow well. I couldn't stop myself and the walls were beyond my reach. It was like plunging into a void with no bottom. The longer I fell, the hotter it got. Suddenly, the fall into the well turned into a cavern that spread into an unending distance in every direction. I descended even further into the deep darkness and suffocating heat. I saw the gates of hell. It was an entranceway, but it was more sinister than anything I ever imagined. The gates looked so hideous that no one would ever dare to touch it. The creatures portrayed on the gates seemed to move with my approach. Guarding the gate were dreadful demon creatures with many heads and tails. They were there to forbid anyone from getting too close to the gates or from leaving them once someone entered them. As I approached the gateway, I could see on the other side the masses of human beings in a place of fire like a volcano of molten rock. The wails and screams coming from the people were overpowering. I felt all strength leave my limbs as I approached the excruciating heat. The people kept screaming out my name and telling me not to enter the gates, but I couldn't stop myself. An unseen evil power forced me forward through the barrier. People were burning up without dying. Fiery worms were crawling in and out of their never-dying bodies, and the stench of rotten burning flesh was nauseating! I kept vomiting, I didn't know what the ghoulish goo coming out of me was, but each time I threw up I writhed in excruciating pain, and then I hurled again. It never stopped. Ominous words above the gate were etched in hideous stones that glowed darkly with the reflection of hellish fire. The words leaped in giant relief, and a strange and utterly offensive substance oozed from each letter to the ground. I just glanced without reading, but the words read themselves to me and seared my mind like a branding iron. ALL WHO ENTER HERE WILL SUFFER THE FIRES OF HADES AND A FURTHER SECOND DEATH IN THE LAKE OF FIRE FOREVER AND EVER. YOU ARE ENTERING THE GARBAGE HEAP OF ALL REALMS, THE PLACE OF THE DEAD, THOSE DEAD TO GOD AND TO HIS SON. YOU ARE ABANDONED. NO PRAYERS ARE HEARD, AND THERE IS NO ESCAPE. I looked closer at the people as I passed through the pernicious gates. My eyesight was failing, and it got so black before me that I could no longer see my extremities. The only light I could see was a momentary glance as the fire burned me and the ghoulish worms ate me up. I could see people in the distance in suffering and torment that was unfathomable. I could hear their blood curdling screams of pain. Oh, the horrors! I could not communicate with them even as I screamed in pain. I felt the horrendous pain shoot through me over and over in never ending crescendos of hate, loneliness, and hopelessness. In all my life upon the earth, I never felt a chill darken my soul like this place of torment. I never felt the utter despair of eternal torment like I felt at that moment. All hope was gone. I would never see my family or friends, and I was hopelessly lost forever with no way out! Oh God, if only I could warn my family. If only I could tell my friends that there is heaven to gain and a very real hell to shun! Momentarily, I glanced up and saw the wretched beggar Lazarus that used to sit by my gate and beg for my help. I had so much in life, but I squandered my chance for deliverance by denying God and His commandments. Yet, what is this I see? Lazarus is seated next to somebody up there. Who is that? Suddenly, I knew! It is father Abraham! Maybe he will have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue! I am tormented in these flames! I called desperately with all the strength I had, but no one answered. I could see them, and they looked happy. They were not in torment! Lazarus had on the most beautiful clothes I ever saw. “Father Abraham, please send Lazarus to me! Please send Lazarus to me!” I cried and screamed. No help came…. But then, there was a small window opened to me to where Abraham and Lazarus were… 19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:19-31 NKJV) That was not a parable. Parables were always stated in generalities and personal names were not used when telling them. Lazarus and that rich man were real people. The story was about two men in the area where Jesus was preaching. Jesus saw what happened to them after death in the unseen realm. Yes, I took creative license with the story and retold it with my own descriptions. Notice that it is still based on the Scriptural teaching about Hades, and then the final resting place of hell and death, the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, the place of eternal punishment. (See Revelation 20:10-15, 21:8.) Hades is a temporary holding cell until the final judgment, and the lake of fire is the eternal abode of the damned. Make no mistake about it, those in Hades will receive their final judgment and be thrown into the lake of fire. Once in Hades, it's bye-bye for eternity. Eternity has no end, just like it has no beginning. It is a horror beyond all horrors. Nothing can be compared on earth, regardless of the tragedy, to eternity in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. I hear people all the time talk about the hell they went through. Others say they are going through hell. It's NOTHING compared to eternal separation in the place of eternal torment. Waiting until you die and are in hell's flames and torment for eternity are not the place to try to get out of hell! It would be too late to get out! There is no redo! Once a person dies it is judgement time! (Hebrews 9:27) Let me say it again in a slightly different way. There is an immediate judgment for each person that dies, and they are ushered into heaven in God's presence, or they are incarcerated in Hades. Hades is not the end for them. Something worse is coming that is called the Second Death or the eternal lake of fire and brimstone. People will be finally judged for their lives upon the earth and the records will reveal what they did against God and show that they rejected God's gift in Jesus. The way to get out of going to a devil's hell is by repentance if you are backslid or if you have never received Jesus as Lord and Savior. It all begins with repentance. Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 NKJV) Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19 NKJV) The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:30, 31 NKJV) Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. (Acts 8:22 NKJV) As a side note, this was addressed to Simon (Bar Jesus) who had already converted to the Lord. Acts 8:22 was addressed to a “born-again” and water-baptized Christian believer. Simon had allowed wickedness back into his heart and he needed to repent. Let's get it correctly in our thinking. Initial repentance of sin is a part of believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing Him as Lord (Romans 10:9). After that, if a Christian sins, we still have access to the eternal blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (See 1 John 1:7-10, 2:1, 2.) Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30 NKJV) …But declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:20 Yes, there is a heaven to gain by receiving what Jesus did for us through His sacrifice and by living for Him according to His Word and His moral guidelines. There is also a hell to shun. You do not want to perish and go there! God wants all people to repent so they don't perish! (2nd Peter 3:9, Luke 13:3, 5) Choose life (Jesus) so that you and your seed may live! Don't choose the curse, darkness, and eternal death brought on by rebellion to the Lord and His Word! (Deuteronomy 30:19,20; John 3:16) That is the ONLY way you get out of going to a devil's hell! Some may be thinking, “Oh but that is narrow thinking and way too exclusive. Don't you think that in God's mercy He provided many ways to get to Him?” Absolutely not! Jesus stated about Himself that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one can come to God except through Him! (John 14:6) Read it and adjust your thinking to the truth. There are not hundreds of ways but ONLY one way to the Father, and His name is Jesus. Yes, it's a very narrow way. Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13, 14 NKJV) It is so narrow that few there are that find it when you compare the broad way of the world of sin and darkness. Sadly, most human beings on the planet will go to hell, but you can be very happy and full of joy with the good news I am sharing with you today. You can avoid hell and gain God and all He provided through Jesus. Then, you can tell others about it if you are still alive on this earth. That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9, 10 NKJV) After you do that, then there are everyday matters to live the Christian life. You must become obedient to God's Word and His MORAL commandments in Scripture. Making Jesus your Lord means that you submit to His Word and obey His moral commandments. Too many miss that part about living in obedience to the Word. 7 Those who keep on doing good and are looking for His greatness and honor will receive life that lasts forever. 8 Those who love only themselves and do not obey the truth, but do what is wrong, will be punished by God. His anger will be on them. (Romans 2:7, 8 NLV) The same verses in another translation: He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness... NLT And one more for the road: …praise, honor, and immortality to those who continue in doing good and seek eternal life; but to those who are rebellious, and reject the truth, and follow iniquity, will come indignation and wrath… NMB That is not Paul's teaching on salvation by works, but it is teaching about good works (obedience to God's commandments) and doing what is right according to God's truth- His Word (not YOUR truth) AFTER you receive Jesus as your Lord. That is probably one of the most misunderstood New Testament teachings. No, you didn't receive Jesus via good works. We received God's gift in Christ as the sacrifice for our sins, but there is more to it than that concerning eternal life. We must lay hold of eternal life so that it doesn't get away from us. (1st Timothy 6:12) Here's the issue. You stay saved by doing what is right according to the covenant AFTER your first encounter with Jesus as Lord and Savior. You don't receive Jesus and then live like a sinner every day. That would nullify in your life your initial reception of His salvation. It is a devilish idea that if you practice sin as a Christian that grace will cover your sin and you will still go to heaven WITHOUT repentance. Practicing sin without repentance and cleansing from that sin by the blood of Jesus will keep a person from inheriting the kingdom of God. Now the deeds of the flesh are clear: sexual immorality, impurity, indecency, idolatry, witchcraft, hostility, strife, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, just as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit God's kingdom. (Galatians 5:19-21 TLV) The New English Translation (NET) states the last sentence like this: “Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!” I found at least 12 other translations that use the word practice besides the NET, and some use the words indulge, continue, and live that way. That is the correct way that last sentence should be translated. If you have fallen for any of these things as a Christian, IF you repent, then you can still go to heaven or inherit the kingdom of God. These verses warn Christians that practicing or making a lifestyle out of any of these sins will cause a person to be left out of the kingdom of God. There will be no welcoming committee in heaven for the Christian that practices sin without repentance. Paul taught that, but it is not the only place he mentions that truth. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. (1st Corinthians 6:9-10 NET) I've heard the Biblically ignorant state, “That was speaking to the unrighteous, and in Christ Jesus I am righteous. So, that refers to the world and not to me.” Wrong! The context of these verses is Paul correcting Christians for defrauding fellow believers, and then it is followed by an exhortation commanding believers to flee from sexual immorality. The unrighteous in 1st Corinthians 6:9-10 is referring to the unrepentant Christian that has yielded to sin and continues to practice it. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. (1st John 1:9 NET) John is speaking to fellow believers and what to do if we sin. After we confess our sins to the Lord, He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all UNRIGHTOEUSNESS. Wait, but I thought that we were the righteousness of God in Christ! Why be cleansed from all UN-righteousness? It's really simple. The righteousness that a Christian has in Christ, that righteousness they received upon their salvation, is conditional and not automatic. Our right standing with God is always conditional. The Christian's position in that righteousness will be negatively impacted by unrighteous behavior, lawlessness, or sin. The person that sins must receive forgiveness and cleansing from that which is against righteousness. It is a dangerous place to remain in sin because it connects a person with the unrighteous. Paul warns that if a person stays there and continues to practice that sin, whatever it may be, they are going to be rejected from the kingdom (rule and reign) of God. That means that the practitioner of lawlessness (not subject and obedient to God's law or commandments of a moral nature) will hear the terrible words of rejection from the lips of the Lord in Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” In case you have any question about what practicing lawlessness means: Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness. (1st John 3:4) Get straightened out with the following verses from any heretical mindset. It will work IF you will receive the Word of God on the subject. And because lawlessness (sin is lawlessness – 1st John 3:4) will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12, 13 NKJV) Only those that serve the Lord and obey His Word to the end will be saved. Note the condition. He who endures to the end shall be saved. Salvation is conditional. Enduring to the end means that when the end comes, you will not be practicing sin or lawlessness. That should be clear enough, but there are many more verses, so I will give you a few more. But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end… For we have become partakers of Christ IF we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end… (Hebrews 3:6, 14 NKJV) We are His house IF (it's conditional) we hold fast to the end! Wishy-washy Christians that die in their sins are left out of this equation. The unrepentant Christian is left out. The other conditional statement in verse 14 about salvation is as clear as the first one in verse 6. We are partakers of Christ IF we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. In other words, and so that there are no mistakes in interpretation, it is not only how we began our life in Christ when we first believed, but it is how we wind up at the end of our lives (“to the end”). That is the moment of judgment, either to an eternal separation from God, or to an eternal bliss in the presence of the Lord. Again, note the conditional statements concerning our salvation.  Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, IF you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (1st Corinthians 15:1, 2 NIV) You are saved by the gospel only IF you hold firmly to that Word. If you don't, then your believing is in vain! I feel sorry for those that continue to espouse a damnable once-saved-always-saved heretical theology! Salvation in Christ is conditional! It always has been conditional and always will be. The next few verses will overturn the devilish thinking that that one can practice sin without responsibility or consequences. Let me set up the next verse by asking the question, “Is Jesus the author of eternal salvation for everybody?” …He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:9 NKJV) Nobody gets eternal salvation except those that obey Jesus! Here is another statement on the subject from the lips of Jesus: Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV) You can't practice lawlessness and expect to hear, “Welcome to heaven and have a glorious eternity!” Be very cautious with these verses. They are no-nonsense. Even if you confessed His Lordship, and even had a part in supernatural ministry, but then reneged on your faith and practiced wickedness without repentance, you will hear the terrible words from the Master, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!” Do we see an immediate example of that in the Gospels? Yes, we see that happening to Judas Iscariot. He was sent and anointed by Jesus as an apostle, ministered supernaturally (Matthew 10:1-8), but he betrayed Jesus and was lost for eternity because he never repented and turned from his wickedness and committed suicide. (See Matthew 26:14-16; 27:3-5) Matthew 27:3 says that when Judas saw what he had done and realized he was condemned that he was remorseful for his sin. Being remorseful or feeling bad over your sin may be a part of repentance, but real repentance turns away from wickedness, turns back to God, and seeks His forgiveness and cleansing from it. I wrote that last part of the sentence in bold and italics to emphasize what real repentance does.  Look at the awful things king David did in the Bathsheba incident (Second Samuel chapters 11 and 12). He committed premeditated murder, theft, adultery, treachery, covetousness, lying, and probably a host of other sins. Talk about being guilty, David messed up in ways that many have never done, and yet he was forgiven and restored. See Psalms 51 for David's prayer of repentance and petitioning God for forgiveness and cleansing. It reminds us of 1 John 1:8-10! Most likely John had Psalms 51 in mind when writing 1 John 1:9. David's restoration and forgiveness were so complete that he married Bathsheba. God blessed the union because Bathsheba was the mother of king Solomon, the very blood line from where Messiah came! Wow! No matter what sins you committed, there can be complete and total forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration. David and Bathsheba are great examples of that truth. They are a demonstration of the great love, compassion, and grace of God! Now, compare that to king Saul and how he was confronted on a few occasions for his sins (ex. 1st Samuel 26). There was no real repentance. He only had remorse and the sorrow as the world feels when they do something wrong. He wound up visiting a medium (1st Samuel 28), never repenting of sins, and he died by falling on his own sword (1st Samuel 31).  Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2nd Corinthians 7:9-10 NKJV) Feelings of sorrow like the world has only leads to death. That is what happened to Saul and Judas Iscariot. Godly sorrow that leads to a real repentance is what works. That is what David had! Here is an important instruction about those that truly know the Lord. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. (1st John 2:3-5 NKJV) Keeping or obeying His commandments is at the center of knowing the Lord when you are a Christian. A Christian that lives in a consistent breaking or violation of God's commandments does not know the Lord. I am speaking about those commandments in Scripture that reveal living moral or righteous life before God. I am not referring to any commandment in Scripture exclusively given to Israel or commanded concerning the Levitical priesthood, Temple worship, animal sacrifice, feasts and festivals, and other ceremonial type commandments. Do you know what I am referring to? If you have not been taught about the clear distinction in the Bible between moral and ceremonial commandments, you must be taught it correctly. Here is my Scriptural contribution on this important subject. It's a free 62-page PDF document. Get it here: Did the Grace of God Cancel Biblical Commandments? Paul, when writing to the Corinthian church, stated it like this: Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God's commandments is everything. (1st Corinthians 7:19 ISV) The true follower of Jesus is described in Revelation 14:12 (NET) in this way: This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints—those who obey God's commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus. There you also have the true definition of a “saint”. It's not one canonized by the Catholic church. A saint is the one that is steadfast and enduring in their obedience to God's commandments and holds to their faith in Jesus. No canonization is needed! Once you make up your mind to be a follower of Jesus for the rest of your life, the next thing is to be baptized in water as evidence of your glorious decision for the Lord. (Acts 2:38; 1st Peter 3:21 NET) Then, you MUST find a church that never closed their doors for the Covid tyrannical nonsense and refused to open the door to the spirit of antichrist. If possible, you should be a part of a church that NEVER caved to the Covid mess. (Hebrews 10:26) The only way I would ever go to a church that bowed their knee to the Covid mess would be IF the pastor publicly repents for yielding to the devil!  Here are my non-sanctioned advertisements for two churches in my immediate surroundings that I truly admire and love for their stand on the Word. In about 5 counties in Southwest Florida, only two churches (out of over 400) never closed, masked, gelled, social distanced, and have completely refused the death jabs (so called vaccines). You can watch these powerful ministries every week online. These are hero churches. All the rest that closed their doors are weak, cowardly, capitulating churches that you can learn NOTHING from them except caving to evil government demands. Unless they repent, avoid them like the plague because they will cave again! Don't be fooled because many are online speaking naturally without the power of the Holy Spirit. Many were closed for months and have reopened to find out that their congregations are a fraction of what they were. Get involved with powerful non-caving and non-compromising churches here: The River Church International https://www.revival.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/rodneyhowardbrowne/videos Note: This church closed for 8 weeks at the very beginning of the Covid lockdowns in 2020, not because of fearing a 99.9% survivable disease, but because the pastor refused to cave to local authorities when ordered to close the church, and he was arrested. The lying news media smeared the pastor and the church mercilessly. The church phone lines, email, Facebook page, etc., received about 100 thousand death threats from crazed idiots. The church opened back up eight weeks later with a solid plan to protect its members from the demon-possessed crazies. The church began to grow exponentially, and it has not stopped! The Foundation Church https://www.foundationchurchfl.com/ The pastor of the foundation church has 2 Sunday services, and three Bible-based/facts-based/political podcasts weekly. You can get straightened out with the pastor's well documented programs: The Tom Laipply Podcasts. I watch them on Rumble, but you can also get them through his podcast website here: https://tomlaipply.com/ https://rumble.com/c/tomlaipply Other ways to connect: https://tv.gab.com/channel/tomlaipply/ We are at a very big crossroad in America. We must form our own parallel society, band together, and refuse to comply with the totalitarian and communist government mandates at every level. Christians and true conservatives (no RINO's need apply) that feel led to do so must run for local government offices and get elected. That is one powerful way to remove demon inspired nut jobs in government that believe its OK to murder the unborn in a mother's womb, believe in open borders, a weak military, vaccine mandates and masking, woke-ness, LGBTQ agendas, and have surrendered to totalitarianism and communism! It is time to rise in defense of America and to fight for our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Our constitutional republic has been sidelined under the Biden regime, and we must take it back! We must defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic! Leave all social, oligarchy-controlled, and demonic media TODAY! Get on Gab, Frank Speech, Rumble, and on other conservative social media. Stop listening to the lying communist news media (including all alphabet news media: ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, CBS, etc.) and hook into many non-traditional and conservative news sources. Frankly, with the exception of Tucker Carlson and a few other true conservatives, FOX has also become unwatchable.  Get out of big, woke, ungodly mobile carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc. and get into Patriot Mobile which supports, according to their website, “First Amendment Religious Freedom and Freedom of Speech, Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms, Sanctity of Life and the needs of our Veterans and First Responders”. Quit buying from businesses that support the lying Biden regime, CDC, the garden gnome with family ties to Gollum-"Antonio Fauccino", CRT, Antifa, Liberal, Communist, BLM, and LBGTQ (etc.) agendas. Buy American and buy local as much as possible. Support your local farmers by buying their products. Don't give a single penny to those that hate Christians and conservative agendas and concerns. You may not be able to do all that overnight, but you can start right now and have much accomplished within the next few days! Don't be fooled by the liars in government, big pharma, the CDC, fake news MSM and take their death jab! Get well informed here: nojabforme.info! I used to give my own investigation and sources but this website has over 400 links to source material. No need to reinvent the wheel! Go to that website. When you see all the vaccine mandates and passports around the world, the restriction on travel, buying, selling, working, etc., does it not shake you up that we are seeing the very beginnings of a system of antichrist global control being pushed upon the world's population? 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. (Revelation 13:16-18 NASB) I am not saying that it is the mark of the beast. I am saying that at least it is a preparation stage for the future mark to be revealed. If we take a stand against this tyranny, Satan will be exposed and have to back off the full global control through his mark preparation strategy. The so-called pandemic is really a planned global false medical emergency to control the masses and bring them under a globalist-elitist control and subservience. The good news is the world is beginning to resist very strongly and boldly, and Satan's plan is being restrained. It is not his time yet for global control. It was a test, and the world (including most Christians and churches) bowed to a lie, proving that the planet is almost ready for the antichrist and his mark. The church, with the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, and the rest of the planet's population that refuses the tyranny being unleashed in the name of a false pandemic, are the earth's last line of defense. The Church by the power of God is standing in the way of Satan's antichrist agenda, unless we cave! (See 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-12 New International Version- NIV.) If we yield our ground to the enemy, it is all over for the world. The church can advance and take back territory lost by yielding to the enemy when they closed their doors in 2020 and 2021. If we stand as the Body of Christ, we can turn this globalist mess around and restore freedom around us. That is, UNTIL we are done with our mission on planet earth. Once the Lord says the mission is over, a great resurrection of the godly dead and a physical transformation of those alive will occur, and all the ones separated unto the Lord Jesus (saints) will be caught up to meet Him in the air and be with Him forever! (See 1st Thessalonians 4:16-18 NIV, 1st Corinthians 15:50-53.) By "our mission", I mean that we fulfill the words of Jesus in Mark 16:15-19, Matthew 28:18-20, and also in the following verses of Scripture. 12 And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will become cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:12-14 NASB) Listen to the following podcast about the connection between faith and forgiveness taught by Jesus in Mark 11:22-26. Often, people have stuff in the way of receiving from the Lord, and unforgiveness is one BIG hindrance that must be removed for faith to work! Be mightily blessed with the teaching of God's Word!

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.NABRE

A great deal of religion will be being practiced at this time, but it will be faults religion. People worship the works of their own hands, which could well include the buildings they construct, the machines they make, and the cities they build, as well as their idols. Here are dead sinners worshiping dead gods. See Psalms 115

God, come to me quickly! You are my help and deliverer. Lord, do not delay!(See Psalms 70:6)NABRE

In peace I will lie down and fall asleep, for you alone, Lord, make me secure.(See Psalms 4:9)NABRE

CD#1377 12/20/20 Sun. A.M.      “LEARNING Contentment” Isa. 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.5th part of our JOY Journey with Jesus! Today the Holy Spirit desires to teach us how to cultivate contentment so we will NOT manufacture misery! A contented spirit is NOT bound by circumstances! Decree: By Jesus I am free!Text: *Phil. 4:10-13 – V.11 “WANT” = “A FALLING SHORT” – learned in all circumstance learned contentment!                                       #1 SOURCE   *Read Hebrews 1:8-9 – Jesus was anointed with gladness (to jump for joy) above His fellows! *Read John 3:29 – to have “Jesus JOY” we must “STAND & HEAR”! Read John 15:11 & 17:13 –2nd witness “Jesus JOY” comes from His Words abiding in you! (John 10:27 – my sheep HEAR My Voice)                                     #2 SATED    *Read 1 Tim. 6:5-12 – note V.6 you can be godly with “CONTENTMENT”- See Col. 3:16 – “LET” the Word of Christ dwell in you richly!                                     #3 SURENESS          *Read Pro. 30:5 or Judges 9:15 See Psalms 19:7 close with Isa. 55:11-12–Word then “JOY”!Illustration: Dr. A. T. Schofield's eldest daughter was a great horsewoman but being thrown when rough-riding got a depressed fracture of the skull upon which no surgeon would operate, and of which, after some years of great suffering, she died. "When my daughter had been ill a fortnight, her nurse came to me and said she thought I would like to know that she had become a Christian. `Why, what were you when you came?' `I was an atheist, Doctor.' `I suppose your pa­tient has been speaking to you?' `No, she never said a word, but she is the only absolutely contented girl I ever met, and I couldn't understand it, so I asked for her secret, and now I'm a Christian.

The Lord supports all who are falling down and raises up all those who are bowed down.(See Psalms 145:14)NABRE

Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who can stand in his holy place?He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, and who desires not was is vain.(See Psalms 24)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

He rescued me because he loves me.(See Psalms 18:20)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

The Lord is my strength and my shield, in who my heart trusts.(See Psalms 28:7)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

Those who sow in tears will reap with cries of joy.(See Psalms 126:5)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. The Lord redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.(See Psalms 34)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked, nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night.(See Psalms 1:1)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.(See Psalms 55)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name.(See Psalms 23: 1&3)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. The Lord redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.(See Psalms 34)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name.(See Psalms 23)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

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The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. By them your servant is warned; obeying them brings much reward.(See Psalms 19: 8 and 12)(NABRE, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

Do not forget the works of the Lord!(Psalms 78:3)(NABRE, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

The reason God HAS to allow bad things to happen is because His Word was released in the earth. His Word is spiritual law in Heaven and on the earth. (See Psalms 119:89-91; Matthew 5:17-19; 1Peter 1:23-25.) God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from a certain tree because disobedience would cause death on every level to invade the planet (Genesis 2:14, 15). They disobeyed and the curse came to steal, kill, and destroy.  God reiterated this truth when He stated, “If you disobey Me, the curse will come on you.” (See Deuteronomy 28:15.) It was true with Adam, it was a fact during the days of Moses and Jesus, and it is true today. Obedience brings blessing, and disobedience opens the door to the curse. The only thing that can cancel that trajectory into the curse is repentance, confession of sin before the Lord, forgiveness, and cleansing from all unrighteousness (Luke 13:3; 1 John 1:8-10, 2:1), and then taking a stand on redemption from the curse (Gal. 3:13). People don’t understand that their choices in life have everything to do with whether they have life or death, or blessing or cursing. (See Deut. 30:15-20; Galatians 6:7, 8; Proverbs 18:20, 21; Romans 1:21-32; Gal. 5:19-23.) We will look further into the legalities of WHY people can either position themselves for blessing or for the curse. The sooner we learn these truths, the better we will lay hold on our redemption in Christ. We discuss these things and more in this podcast. I can’t begin to tell you how important this subject is for every single believer. Don’t miss this powerful teaching! Hey, please listen to the previous 5 messages or you will hear about the house without first pouring the foundation. Then, be one that sends this Word and blesses others. Forward to your family, friends, or acquaintances.   Be mightily blessed!