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Follow us on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube (manhood neat podcast) Reach out to us manhood.neat@gmail.com or Insta and X @manhoodneat Bourbon Review: Jim Beam Black 7 years. Show Notes: Topic: God's Righteousness and Atonement   Divine righteousness refers first and foremost to the perfection and uprightness of the divine nature. For God to be righteous principally means that God measures up to Himself and is always all that He ought to be as God. While righteousness usually implies conformity to a standard, God simply is the righteousness or justice by which He is righteous and just. This is not so much conformity as it is identity. We might even say that in willing His own being as His highest good, God gives Himself His due. This is the original and uncreated justice of divine self-love. Righteousness is not a state of being God acquires through long practice or exercise. Rather, righteousness denotes the essence of God. Psalm 119: 137-144 Hebrews 10:19-39 Deuteronomy 32:3-4   Talk about righteousness vs Justice and their intersection (both with God and with each other)   Break down Agustine's comments (we will take this segment by segment and discuss, focus on Justice and atonement, and hope in our salvation):   The passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the hope of glory and a lesson in patience.   What may not the hearts of believers promise themselves as the gift of God's grace, when for their sake God's only Son, co-eternal with the Father, was not content only to be born as man from human stock but even died at the hands of the men he had created?   It is a great thing that we are promised by the Lord, but far greater is what has already been done for us, and which we now commemorate. Where were the sinners, what were they, when Christ died for them?   When Christ has already given us the gift of his death, who is to doubt that he will give the saints the gift of his own life? Why does our human frailty hesitate to believe that mankind will one day live with God?   Who is Christ if not the Word of God: in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God?   This Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us. He had no power of himself to die for us: he had to take from us our mortal flesh. This was the way in which, though immortal, he was able to die; the way in which he chose to give life to mortal men: he would first share with us, and then enable us to share with him. Of ourselves we had no power to live, nor did he of himself have the power to die.   In other words, he performed the most wonderful exchange with us. Through us, he died; through him, we shall live.   The death of the Lord our God should not be a cause of shame for us; rather, it should be our greatest hope, our greatest glory. In taking upon himself the death that he found in us, he has most faithfully promised to give us life in him, such as we cannot have of ourselves.   He loved us so much that, sinless himself, he suffered for us sinners the punishment we deserved for our sins. How then can he fail to give us the reward we deserve for our righteousness, for he is the source of righteousness? How can he, whose promises are true, fail to reward the saints when he bore the punishment of sinners, though without sin himself?   Brethren, let us then fearlessly acknowledge, and even openly proclaim, that Christ was crucified for us; let us confess it, not in fear but in joy, not in shame but in glory.   The apostle Paul saw Christ, and extolled his claim to glory. He had many great and inspired things to say about Christ, but he did not say that he boasted in Christ's wonderful works: in creating the world, since he was God with the Father, or in ruling the world, though he was also a man like us. Rather, he said: Let me not boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You are called by God to be effective in your mission and in your purpose. This Word today will not fail to embarrass your opposition, empower you in your call, and manifest the victory of God in your life—God with us! This message was recorded live at the Apostolic Global Church in Pensacola, Florida. For more information about the ministries of Doctors Christian and Robin Harfouche, visit https://globalrevival.com.

Return of the Man-Child (2)  (audio)  David Eells – 3/12/25  I'm going to talk to you today about spearheading the Man-child ministry.  The Lord showed me many years ago that history repeats (Ecclesiastes 1:9) and the events in the Gospels and Book of Acts will be repeated in our day, except the cast of characters will be multiplied many times over, with corporate bodies replacing the individuals of Jesus' day. As time goes on, there is a geometric effect from people passing on to people, and everybody walks in the steps of someone. These are the people about whom we read in the Gospels. The corporate bodies of people in our day have walked in the steps of those New Testament individuals, whether it be Jesus or Judas.   Nations have become empires in our day from the same geometric effect. We recently discussed the lineage of Jesus Christ, which, for some strange reason, was given as the lineage of Joseph, even though we know that Joseph had no physical or genetic connection to Jesus Christ. But he did have a spiritual connection, which was the most important one in the New Testament. Joseph had a gift from God to impart words, actions and examples for the child Jesus to imitate as He was growing up. (Luk.2:52) And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. And He was filled with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32).  I'd like to point out a few more things from Matthew 1. We read, And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ (Mat.1:16). The lineage given is the family tree of Joseph, but the interesting thing is that “Jacob begat Joseph.” That sounds very familiar. This is referring to Joseph the husband of Mary, but we know that in the Old Testament Jacob also begat Joseph (Genesis 30:22-24). And Jacob was Israel (Genesis 32:28), now he is a corporate body of people. And it's very interesting that Israel brought forth Joseph, who was a Man-child of the Old Testament.   Jesus' earthly father, Joseph, was two things to Jesus: He was a “head” to Jesus, the head of his family, the father Jesus was to submit to while He grew up in that earthly body as a young child. But Joseph also represents the spiritual fathers of these days who are being used to raise up the Man-child. Again, it has nothing to do with bloodline; it has everything to do with the Word spoken and taught and the emphasis on walking the holy life, etc. Joseph also received the revelation from God of the coming Man-child.   He received that revelation from God when it was sent to him through an angel. (Mat.1:18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. (19) And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. (20) But when he thought on these things, behold, an 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 Spirit. (21) And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins.   Joseph of the New Testament got this revelation of the coming Man-child and the Joseph of the Old Testament was a part of the Man-child. In fact, you might even say he was the head of the Man-child. Joseph in the New Testament is also the head of the Man-child. In a way, he is the head of Jesus, but he is also a spearhead of the Man-child. (Mat.1:22) Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us. Jesus was “God with them” in the Gospels and the Book of Acts, and He is “God with us” today as well because He left an individual body in order to come back in a corporate body, that He might be “God with us” and in us. He was also the reformer of the Church in His day and today we desperately need the same thing.  The prophet Joel spoke about two times in history when there would be a great reformation. Those are in the “former rain” and the “latter rain” (Joel 2:23), in which God would restore all things that had been stolen from His people (Joel 2:25). Over the last 2000 years, by fake teachers, fake leaders and the devil himself, God's people have been robbed and plundered. So God is coming once again in a reformer ministry called the Man-child of Revelation 12.   (Mat.1:24) And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; (25) and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS. Jesus warned us what was going to happen when the events of Revelation 12 come to pass. He said that He would be again like a little baby born to a woman and that the “woman” was those disciples, His Church (John 16:21). Today the “woman” is His Church again. (Rev.12:1) And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.   The Church doesn't look much like this, but there is a body in the Church that we call the Bride. All through the Old Testament, the Bride was not the Church but was chosen from out of the Church. There were also the virgins, the friends of the Bridegroom and other attendees of the ceremony, and those who were invited to the ceremony, besides the Bride. She is not the whole Church, as you'll understand if you read the Book of Esther, Psalm 45 or the Song of Solomon.   The point is that this “woman” to whom He's referring is those who are manifesting the fruit of Christ, just like Mary represents in our Matthew text study. She was a virgin and a bride in the midst of a larger church. Joseph was the head of the Man-child, who was being raised up in the midst of the virgin bride, who was also in the midst of the larger church, and she will bring forth the Man-child. That's similar to King David's position in the midst of Jerusalem, which the Book of Revelation tells us is the Bride (Revelation 21:9-10), but Jerusalem was not all of Israel. It was just the part of Israel that was the leadership. So there's a hierarchy consisting of the Man-child, the Bride, and the people of God. Here we see the woman “arrayed with the sun,” having been clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ and the moon under her feet.   This shows her authority is over the moon, and the moon represents a reflection of the light of the Son. The 12 stars around her head, I believe, is the doctrine of the 12 Apostles in her mind, the renewed Mind of Christ. (Rev.12:2) And she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered. (3) And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. (4) And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child.   (5) And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. (6) And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they (the Man-child) may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days. This is the revelation that we're looking at as the type and sign. The letter always comes first; the Spirit comes afterwards. There is more than one fulfillment of prophecy. In Jesus was the letter-fulfillment of prophecy. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 7 that His birth to the virgin Mary was a sign, or an owth, which means “a sign of something to come,” which is what we read about in Revelation 12 and in our end-time, the corporate body fulfillment of what we are reading about in this text.  I'd like to point out something else to you, so that you understand how this is an end-time revelation. Jesus came in the body of the Son of David, as we have seen. That was because He was the offspring of David, naturally speaking. God used the DNA of Mary to bring forth the Son of David and the Son of God dwelt in the Son of Man, the Son of God being the spiritual man and the Son of Man being the human part of Jesus. But the Son of David is coming once again in our day. First, I'd like to prove that to you and then I want to share a revelation with you.   (Jer.30:4) And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. (5) For thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. (6) Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child: wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins (The Man-child Jesus is being birthed in a company of men today to do this.), as a woman in travail (This is the woman Church in travail with the Man-child.), and all faces are turned into paleness? (Jer.30:7) Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. Most of you recognize “the time of Jacob's trouble” as an end-time revelation of Jacob entering into trouble in our day – Jacob being Israel and also representing, spiritually, the Church.   We remember Jacob's trouble, when he was in travail coming into the Promised Land and was being threatened by his brother Esau, who had already said that he would kill him (Genesis 27:41), and who was leading a beast army out to meet him (Genesis 32:6). And we remember how God preserved Jacob through that time of trouble, showing him favor and deliverance.  That's what is about to happen with the whole Church. (Jer.30:7) … It is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (8) And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck (meaning the Beast), and will burst thy bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bondman (The words “no more” tell us that its fulfillment is very close to the end-time.); (Jer.30:9) but they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. This was a long time after David, so He's not talking about David, physically. This was about 440 years after David had died, so it's not referring to a past but to a future “David.” Nor is it talking about Jesus, Who was also a fulfillment of this as the Son of David; this is talking about David in the end-time, the “time of Jacob's trouble.”   (Jer.30:10) Therefore fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity … (20) Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me (As it was before, the Lord is once again raising up the Israel of God, as it is called in the New Testament. That is the Church; it's those who are circumcised in heart, not in flesh.); and I will punish all that oppress them. (Jer.30:21) And their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them (The Man-child is birthed out of the midst of the Bride.); and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is he that hath had boldness to approach unto me? saith the Lord. In other words, the Man-child is in the position of authority in the Church and over the enemies of the Church, like David was. David not only fought the battles of the Lord against the enemies of the Church, but he was the leadership of the Church. He was the leadership in the Bride, the Man-child in the midst of the Bride.  So we see that Mary had a Son. That Son was raised up to be her Head. He led her into the wilderness, where He multiplied the fishes and the loaves, and so it will be in the end times also, as we just read in Revelation 12. The Bride brought forth the Man-child, but the Man-child led her through the wilderness as a corporate body. (Jer.30:22) And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. (23) Behold, the tempest of the Lord, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, a sweeping tempest (Yes, and a great storm is about to be raised upon the earth. You will want to have true leadership and the true anointing of the Holy Spirit, even the Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit.): it shall burst upon the head of the wicked. (Jer.30:24) The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it. This is an understanding that has been given to us for the latter days. (Jer.31:1) At that time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. That's all the families, from the Old Testament to the New Testament.  Who is Israel in the New Testament? In the New Testament, if you are not born again, you are not Israel. You have been broken off the olive tree. The Church was grafted into the olive tree which, as God said in Romans 11:26, was all Israel. God will be the God of all the families of Israel, which can only be fulfilled in the end times. (Jer.31:2) Thus saith the Lord, The people that were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. That's what God has planned for in the wilderness, to cause His people to enter into His rest, trusting in His promises.   In the New Testament, this rest is called sabbatismos. (Heb.4:9) There remaineth therefore a sabbath (Greek: sabbatismos) rest for the people of God. That word means “a continual rest,” not one day a week. The only thing that remains in the New Testament of the Sabbath rest is that continual rest. The apostles went into the synagogues on the Sabbath as evangelists to teach the Jews what Jesus had brought in the New Testament. The New Testament Sabbath rest is every day of the week, all the time, because you believe the promises of God. You cease from your works; you enter into His rest. The Man-child is going to bring the revelation of the true Gospel and the true Sabbath rest of God to God's people.  I said all that to say this: I want to share with you a revelation that was given to us. Now you don't base anything on modern-day revelations, dreams, visions or prophecies; you base everything on what the Scripture says. But these things do come to confirm what is written in the Word and sometimes to explain so that you are able to put verses together to explain what is happening. There's a revelation on our website called Spearheading the Manchild Ministry. I'm going to share part of it with you here because I feel that it's very important concerning what we've discovered about a type in the Bible. You might call it a snapshot in the midst of a panoramic view, a snapshot of Joseph being the head of the Man-child as someone who spearheaded the Man-child's ministry by raising-up Jesus and bringing Him into this position as an earthly guide to His humanity. Jesus also had the Father and the Holy Spirit, Who were guiding Him to receive wonderful revelations of Who He really was in this earth and Whom He manifested. He was growing both as the Son of God and the Son of Man.  The Man-child that we know is coming upon the scene now is also both son of man and son of God. The members of the Man-child have a body and therefore must be submissive to parents and authority, but they also each have a spiritual man who is taught of the Lord. We noticed that between the time of the conception of Jesus and His ministry in Matthew 1 and 2, many dreams came forth. I guarantee that's a sign for our day that the same thing is going to happen. The dream and the prophecy I am sharing with you now is a fulfillment of that. It's saying that the same thing is going to happen in our day between the time of the conception of the Man-child and when He starts His earthly ministry. There were five dreams in Matthew 1 and 2 that were to fulfill guidance and protection, and wisdom and provision to the Lord. We know that God is building the Man-child ministry to spread His truths to multitudes of babies about to come looking for answers when this nation is brought into severe chastening.   I share this revelation for your edification and preparation, not to give any credit to myself. The Lord did not choose the wise and the noble and the mighty (1 Corinthians 2:26) because He wanted His power to be made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). I have always told people that's the reason I'm qualified, not because I'm a great speaker (I'm not) or very intelligent (I'm not), or that I went to Bible school (I didn't) or anything, but only because God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong (1Co.2:27).  Some of these things appear to be glorifying me, but I tell you that God is only using me as a type and shadow of a larger body of people. He's using me because my name is David, because I believe in the Man-child ministry and because I have faith that I will, by the grace of God, have a part in this ministry. There's nothing to brag about; it's not us, it is Christ in us (Colossians 1:27).   The Jesus about Whom Matthew speaks is coming again. (Hos.6:2) After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. (3) And let us know, let us follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. Jesus is coming on the morning of the third day, as the latter rain anointing that comes, first of all, upon the Man-child, so that Jesus would live in this Man-child and do His works to be a reformer to the Church. The Lord is coming to shepherd His flock. Most people don't know that. The following is a prophecy given to me by a prophet named Philip, who shared this vision with me. My comments are in parentheses.  The Phoenix Vision: I have prayed for three days now for the holy Father's will in this matter of sharing the vision that I received during a meeting with David as the speaker in Phoenix. (I've often thought about why Phoenix was chosen for this vision. Well, the Phoenix bird as a legend, which I think was a very spiritual thing, aside from its pagan background, is a type of resurrection life. The Phoenix, after its life cycle, flies to Heliopolis, which means “city of the sun,” or to me, “city of the Son,” and creates a nest. Sitting on the nest, it bursts into flames and burns up, leaving nothing but ashes and an egg, which hatches a new bird out of the ashes as a type of resurrection life. So, Phoenix is the place of resurrection life and it was no accident that the prophecy he sent forth occurred in Phoenix.)  I am permitted to share the following: As I prayed with David at the start of the meeting (I led everyone in a prayer before the teaching and Philip was among the people there), I saw the room change into a stadium filled with people and David was at the podium shouting through a microphone that was in the shape of a shofar. He wore a silver yarmulke that glowed as he spoke and from above came a white-golden light pouring down from the sky as a beam of glory, growing brighter with each outpouring. From David's clothing came the same glory, lights pouring through the tzit-tzit on his garment, flowing like fingers through the people. The lights touched the forehead and were grabbed by the right hand of people who became pregnant and began shouting as they were covered in glory. This is the vision that I had at the meeting. The holy Father says that David would know its meaning, if not now, very soon.   Months after that meeting, Philip contacted me again and after he received this: The Holy Father is forming this ministry into His image to spearhead the Man-child ministry birthing and delivery to the world. Amen! He has given this to me in a mighty vision that ran in succession for three nights, along with some other things that I can't say just yet.  Here is the interpretation of the dream. What he's describing here is the corporate body of the spearhead of the Man-child Ministry. It's not just referring to me. He just used me because my name is David. It's not to glorify me; it's to tell you what is about to happen here, that God is raising up a spearhead like He did Joseph in bringing the Man-child ministry to fruition. The full interpretation is given on our website. I had already received a previous prophecy that I would be teaching in stadiums. I thought this might be spiritual because of the rows of people and how a stadium is built. The Word is passed on from person-to-person as each tier speaks to greater and greater circles of people in a geometric progression, like a stadium is built.   In other words, you speak from the middle, and it goes out and reaches the first circle, then the next circle in ever-increasing numbers, and this is how our ministry has been. I speak to a certain circle of people, and they go and speak to a certain circle of people, and I hear back from their children, their relatives, etc. It's just radiating out. Praise God! I've been contacted by many who have told us that they are using our broadcasts, MP3 audios or videos for their home Bible study groups. Also, multitudes are copying our materials and passing them out, so it just enters a larger and larger circle. This has been happening for some time now, but not to the degree that it's about to happen. It will soon happen in a much greater way, as the Lord has shown us.  My microphone resembling a shofar is significant because a shofar turns inaudible breath, which is the same Hebrew word for “spirit,” into the audible voice of the Spirit or the Word, which warns God's people and destroys the enemy, as in Gideon's battle. We are all called to this ministry of being a vessel through whom the pure Word of the Spirit will flow. The people being touched on the forehead by the light from Heaven are those who humbly receive the Word and so receive the renewed mind of Christ. These are grabbing the light with the right hand, which represents those who act on the Word and so have the renewed works of Christ.   The left hand represents the works of the flesh, and the mark of the beast in the forehead represents having the mind of the Beast, which is the opposite of those. So these people became pregnant with the seed of Christ through the Word, which is what recreates in us the life of Christ. Jesus was the Sower who sowed the seed and the seed that He sowed was the Word of God. It went into hearts and brought forth fruit 30-, 60- and 100-fold. Jesus told us, For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother (Mat.12:50). When this seed bears fruit in the womb of the heart and mind, and is eventually birthed to the world, they will be seen as the image of Christ.  What about the tzitzit? We're told, But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings (The “wings” are the same as the tzitzit, the fringe on our garment.); and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall (Mal.4:2). (3) And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make, saith the Lord of hosts. The Man-child Ministry is coming to bring not only judgment upon the wicked but resurrection life to the saved people of God. (Mal.4:4) Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances. (5) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. Notice, this speaks of Moses and Elijah, which the Man-child brings into fruition. The Man-child raises up the corporate body of the Two Witnesses.   The disciples were Jesus' witnesses and they went forth two-by-two. They're a type of the corporate body of Two Witnesses, as Moses and Elijah symbolize. Before the Day of the Lord, the Man-child will raise up the Two Witnesses. (Mal.4:6) And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. The Jews believed that the “sun of righteousness” would be the Messiah, Who would have the power to heal whoever touched the tzitzit, or fringes, of His garment. They did not know that this would be repeated in the end-time through Christ in the Man-child company. A light from Heaven poured through the tzitzit of Jesus' tallit (prayer shawl) to heal the sick, just as it will spiritually through the end-time Man-child. Praise God!   The fulfillment of the Phoenix vision is the spearheading of the Man-child ministry. If we're talking about the physical Man-child Jesus, He was born in a physical body of the virgin Mary. But I believe that the Man-child is going to be born over a period of time because we're talking about a very large body of people being born out of the virgin Church. It could happen over a period of time, with the spearhead being born first. Just like Joseph was a type of the Man-child who was born to Israel, Jesus was a type of the end-time Man-child who was born to the virgin Mary of Israel.  Here's another confirmation. The following revelation I'm sharing with you concerning the Man-child's “head” coming forth first is to bring the Word to the world. I'm convinced that in these days, there's a Joseph, or a spearhead, of the Man-child that's coming forth first to bring the revelation of the Man-child to the Man-child Company, and this whole body, including the head, will have this end-time ministry. That's what I have been trying to explain to you through Matthew 1 and I hope we've been somewhat successful. This revelation was given through Leisa Miller in May of 2007. I will interpret (in parentheses) as we go along.   I dreamed that a lot of people and I were on top of a mountain. (I believe that the mountain represents the Kingdom of God, His people, His Church, worldwide.) I could see that some of us were looking at a small but active version of the mountain. Looking at this smaller version, I could see the whole shape of the mountain. (Why see a large mountain and then a smaller version of it? They were seeing a local microcosm, meaning in Greek, “small world.” In other words, we see the Church locally, but there is a Church that's worldwide. She was only seeing in her experience a small part, a small representation or scaled-down version of the Kingdom of God worldwide, the portion of the body of Christ that she was familiar with as part of the worldwide body. Leisa is part of UBM, which will have a part in this movement.)   There was an image in the mountain. The whole of the mountain had the shape of a woman who was pregnant. I could see that she was birthing her child. The mountain would shake and we could feel it. On the smaller version, we could see rocks give way to form the new development of the child being born. It was very detailed. (She saw the microcosm as the woman Church in her fellowship experience began to bring forth the first-fruits Man-child company at the same time as it happened worldwide.) The head and shoulders were out but the water had only begun to break. (This is the head of the Man-child body being born. Could this have been happening for some time? I believe so. It won't be finished until it is finished, but it could have been happening for some time. The head or spearhead of the Man-child ministry will be born first in the microcosm seen by Leisa, as well as in other microcosms.)   Suddenly there was a very hard shaking. (Who knows what this could be. But we have had this revelation given to us many times before, that when the Man-child begins His ministry, something catastrophic is going to happen in the world.) We could see on the little version, water began to flow out. (In the beginning of the coming time of judgment, the head will bring forth the water of the Word. We noticed that Joseph's words were the only seed that brought forth Jesus, the Son of God, the spiritual man, the true Man-child. It had nothing to do with any physical seed because he was not Jesus' physical father, but he did have something to do with that spiritual seed, which the Bible tells us is the Word of God. So Joseph raised Him up as a father would.) The detail of the child became more distinct, and we could hear the water rushing all around us, until it carried us away from the spot where we were standing. (Could this be akin to bringing the Church into the wilderness? It could be.) But each of us could still see one another and somehow we could also see that the whole world was flooding with this water. (Why? Because all she saw was the microcosm. The same thing was happening simultaneously all over the world. The head being born was breaking the water and the water was going forth.)  (What the Man-child lives on in the womb is the water, the Word of God. We have to be born of water and of Spirit, don't we? The Bible tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Mat.2:5) And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet, (6) And thou, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah, For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel. And “Bethlehem” means “House of bread,” or “House of food.” Jesus is born in, and is a product of, the Word of God. He is, as John said, the Word made flesh (John 1:14), and “Moses” means “drawn from the waters.” Moses was the man-child in his day. He was a product of the waters of the washing of the Word of God. So the head comes first and it teaches the body. With the breaking-forth of the head of the first-fruits in the microcosm, a great flood of the Word will go forth over the whole earth. This Word is being prepared by books, radio, television, video, Internet, etc. The Lord will use every available method to get this Word out.)   (This move of the Spirit will also carry disciples with the message all over the world. Notice that when the water broke, it carried them all away, just as it was in Jesus' day when He was the Man-child. He sent disciples with the same Word, the same anointing, the same mantle that He had, and they went all over the world. They were called “Christians” because they walked in the power and the anointing of Jesus Christ. This is about to happen once again in our day. A great reformer movement will go forth, but not necessarily a popular one. It will be popular with the people who love God and know Him, but it won't be popular with the status quo or the Pharisees and Sadducees, as we will see shortly.)   We were under the water, but we could breathe. (Abiding in the Word is natural for those who live by the Spirit, which in Hebrew is also the word “breath.”) We saw others caught in this water who could not breathe and were dying. (The Word brings death to the carnal man and his spirit, or breath.) But the water was so abundant that I could not tell which way was up unless I was near an object on the ground that could identify direction. (Beholding the reward of the wicked, as in Psalm 91:8, and the corruption of the earth lets us know what is under our feet and what is the way to Heaven. The earthly will swallow the flood going forth from the dragon's mouth, as in Revelation 12:15, and the heavenly will swallow the flood that goes forth from the Man-child, as Revelation 12:14 says.)   Some of us found ourselves inside a large building under the water. It seemed to be a large farm building where tools, farm equipment, and seed were kept. (For we are God's fellow-workers: ye are God's husbandry (Greek: “tilled land”), God's building (1Co.3:9). It's interesting that this farm and building were under the water. It's a part of God's work, God's building. You are God's husbandry, His tilled land. (1Co.3:10) According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon. (11) For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Jesus in the Man-child is about to lay the foundation of God's building and once again plant the seed of the Word over the world. It's a very spiritual revelation that Leisa had there.)   We knew that there were people who were now above the water and were angry at us and wanted to kill us. (The righteous lived beneath the waters. They were baptized in the Word of God which had put to death their flesh. They could no longer die because the spiritual man received life and sustenance from the water of the Word of God. It is a product of the Word of God. But to the carnal man the Word of God is death, so for those to whom the water is death, they will hate the righteous even more because of the increase of truth and fruit in them. Abiding in the water of the Word is a place of protection to them.)  Amen! I believe that both of these revelations have to do with what we're looking at here in the Book of Matthew.  Let's return to where we left off in (Mat.2:1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, (2) Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (3) And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Remember those from Leisa's vision who were above the water, not dwelling in the water, not baptized in the water of the Word of God? They are troubled. We can see why Herod might be troubled, but “all Jerusalem with him”? Today, religious people are enjoying their life in the world, their leaders are enjoying their life in the world, and they really don't want the Messiah to come and upset their apple cart.   If you don't believe that, just read the Bible. What kind of a reception did Jesus get? The overwhelming majority of people were anti-Christ. Their leaders were anti-Christ. They had already set up their stage of playing church through their religion and didn't need Jesus to come along and upset them. They were already set in their ways and wanted no reformation whatsoever. Jesus was a reformer and that's what He came for, so we can understand why “all Jerusalem” was troubled. (Mat.2:4) And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. (5) And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet … Why would they tell Herod, whom they knew was anti-Christ, where Jesus would be born? It seems as if they were on the side of the Beast here and throughout the New Testament we see that.   The leadership of the natural people of God, the status quo, was always on the side of the Beast, all the way through the Scriptures. Herod, representing the Beast kingdom, had ambitions to be the king and did not want any competition from this new upstart King coming on the scene. However, Jesus' Kingdom was not of this world (Joh.18:36). He came to be the King over the spiritual, born-again man and to lead God's people to the ways of righteousness and restoration. But Herod and the priests did not want anything to change and so it will be in our day. We have a wonderful reformation ministry coming that will spread over the whole world, bringing the true Word of God and the true Gospel to the whole world, yet it will be fiercely resisted by these people and they will attempt to quash it.   Throughout history, it has been that when God raised up a Man-child or a reformer or a prophet, they were fiercely resisted and hated by the religious leaders and people who wanted to live in the flesh. A person is comfortable living in the flesh and does not want the spirit man to be the ruler and the leader and the guide in their life. They will fight against it as they have throughout history. Nothing is going to change. (Ecc.1:9) That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. The Lord is continuing to repeat history.   What we're reading in the Book of Matthew will be fulfilled on a much larger scale, meaning the cast of characters has been multiplied. Herod represents a much bigger body of people in authority over God's people, a worldly body of people that is a Beast kingdom over God's people. Jesus also represents a much larger body of people, the Man-child ministry. The Pharisees and the Sadducees – the Sanhedrin, if you will – represent a larger corporate body called the False Prophet. The Sanhedrin was the False Prophet in Jesus' day; they were the ones who crucified the Christ, the ones who sided with the Beast against God's people, the ones who sided with the Beast against the disciples of Christ; and they were the ones who sided with the Beast against the Two Witnesses, etc. So history is about to repeat on a much larger scale, as it has throughout the Bible, and we're fortunate enough to read Matthew as not only history, but a very accurate prophecy.   All of the Gospels and the Book of Acts, even though they recount history, are speaking a prophecy because the Bible says, “That which hath been is that which shall be.” Anything that happens today has already happened earlier, but on a smaller scale. Praise be to God! He is opening our eyes here to understand this and to have much prophecy opened to us in these latter days. I've shared with you how the Gospels, which were Jesus' 3½- year ministry, represent the first 3½ years of the Tribulation and how the Book of Acts represents the second 3½ years and the 40 years between Jesus' ministry and the 70 A.D. destruction of the Harlot by the Beast. 40 is the number of tribulation, as can be seen in type when Moses took the children of Israel through 40 years in the wilderness. 

March 11, 2025 Today's Reading: Romans 10:8b-13Daily Lectionary: Genesis 7:11-8:12; Mark 3:20-35“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” (Romans 10:8b)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. St. Paul quotes Deuteronomy 30:14 to remind us of our proximity to the Word of God. “It is not in heaven,” Moses writes. “Neither is it beyond the sea.” Though it is indeed a heavenly Word and a foreign Word, that does not make it inaccessible. “The word is very near you.” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).How did this Word get so close? St. Paul gives a parenthetical remark: “‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim).” The Word comes near by proclamation. The heavenly, foreign Word of God comes to us on earth from preachers sent by God to every nation. The prophets of old brought the Word of God near to His people of old, and now His Word is brought to every nation by the apostolic ministry of the Church.But the center of it all is Jesus Christ. He is the Word made flesh (John 1), the one to whom the prophets pointed and the one who sends out His chosen apostles and their successors. In Christ, the Word has come very near to humanity by joining Himself with our humanity. No matter where He went or what He did, it was always accompanied by a Word. When someone speaks, his words usually land in the ear, but with this Word, it's different. “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,” writes St. Paul as Moses had written before him. This Word lands not only in the ear but also in the mouth because this is the Word made flesh. “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink” (John 6:55). Since you can't eat a word (even a Word made flesh) like other bread, Jesus gives us bread along with this word: “Take, eat, this is my body.” In the Sacrament, He puts His Word in our mouths. And since this is no ordinary food, it does not travel to the stomach only to be expelled; it travels to our hearts and plants a new creation. From a new heart, then, comes new words from our own mouths. He puts His Word in our mouths to speak sanctified words of our very own. The Word is near you, very near indeed.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord, open now my heart to hear, And through Your Word to me draw near; Let me Your word e'er pure retain; Let me Your child and heir remain. (LSB 908:1)-Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

This Word emphasizes the church's role as the pillar and foundation of truth, calling believers to defend and declare that truth by ensuring leaders are chosen carefully and uphold sound doctrine. It stresses that the church is not a platform for personal gain or status but exists to glorify Jesus Christ through intentional, reverent behavior and structure.

Color: Green Old Testament: Isaiah 55:10–13 Psalm: Psalm 84; antiphon: v. 4 Epistle: Hebrews 4:9–13 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 11:19—12:9 Gospel: Luke 8:4–15 Introit: Psalm 44:1–2, 7–8; antiphon: vv. 23, 25a, 26a Gradual: Psalm 83:18, 13 Tract: Psalm 60:1–2, 5 Scripture Alone   The Sower sows the seed of His Word (Luke 8:4–15). This Word is living and powerful (Heb. 4:9–13) to conceive new life in those who hear it. But the planting of Christ is attacked by the devil, the world, and the flesh. Satan snatches the Word away from hard hearts. The riches and pleasures of this life choke off faith. Shallow and emotional belief withers in time of temptation and trouble. But see how Christ bears this attack for us! Christ's cross was planted in the hard and rocky soil of Golgotha. A crown of thorns was placed upon His head. Satan and His demons hellishly hounded and devoured Him. Yet, through His dying and rising again, He destroyed these enemies of ours. Jesus is Himself the Seed which fell to the ground and died in order that it might sprout forth to new life and produce much grain. In Him, the weak are strong (2 Cor. 11:19–12:9). He is the Word of the Father which does not return void (Is. 55:10–13) but yields a harvest hundredfold. Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Be an Image of Jesus (audio) David Eells 2/19/25 (Note: I have been concentrating my teachings for months in the area of sanctification, or Christ in you, to prepare you for your high calling of God. As the Lord has led, some are being prepared to be in the Man-child body, some in the Bride body, some in the virgin body, and some will just get their toe in the door. I want the best for you. Concentrate on your holiness and be ready to meet and recognize the Lord in the anointed Man-child as we head towards the wilderness.) Let's start with Paul's exhortation to the Corinthians in (1Co.15:1) Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received (So he's definitely talking to Christians here.), wherein also ye stand, (2) by which also ye are saved (The Greek word there is sózó and it is grammatically in the active voice; this should correctly read “being saved.”), if ye hold fast… Well, that's a condition: “ye are being saved, if.” You are being saved if, and only if, you hold fast the Word. That means all those churches out there preaching unconditional eternal security, or ultimate reconciliation, or any other such doctrine, have cut all the “ifs” out of their Bibles. That also means they've been lying to you. (1Co.15:1) Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, (2) by which also ye are being saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. Sadly, there are people who believe, and are Christians, but they don't “hold fast” to the Word and so they end up believing in vain. It's important what you believe about the Word. It's important that you believe only what “thus saith the Lord,” because these are the Words of eternal life (John 6:68). And there's only one “Seed” according to Galatians 3:16, which is Christ, the Word, the Seed of the Scriptures that can recreate in you the living, true Christ, which God considers to be your “fruit.” The Parable of the Sower explains how very important it is that we “hold fast” the original Word which the first disciples preached (1John 2:7,24,3:11; 2 John 1:6), otherwise, you're just wasting your time. Many people have “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:4) because the men that are leading them don't hold fast to the Word. There's only one Word that will bring forth the fruit of Christ, and that is the Seed, which is Jesus Christ, the Sower. That's the Seed which brought forth, in one out of the four types of people, thirty-, sixty-, and a hundred-fold fruit of Jesus Christ. Now if we want to know what the “fruit” looks like, we look at Jesus. If we say that we abide in Him, we must walk as He walked (1 John 2:6) because He is our demonstration of what our Father wants. We can't look to our modern-day preachers; many of whom are all fallen-away from the Truth. So we are told in (Heb.10:23) let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised. We have to be those “that endureth to the end” to be saved according to Jesus in Matthew 10:22. Colossians somewhat repeats this in (Col.1:21) And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works (Obviously, again he's speaking to Christians.), (22) yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death… “Reconciled” is the word apokatallasso and it means “to exchange completely.” This exchange includes Jesus' righteousness for our sins, His blessing for our curse, His health for our sickness, His provision for our lack, etc., etc. Gal.3:13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. And Abraham was said to be blessed in all things. And we are responsible for making this exchange by our positive confessions of these blessings. We are also the ministers of this reconciliation to ourselves and others. For instance, our confession in (Gal.2:20) … it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me… brings this truth into the physical realm. We cause the reconciliation, the exchange, to come to pass and we do that by our faith and our confession, since we see in (Jas.2:17) … faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. When we have faith, we walk it and talk it out; in other words, our actions agree with our faith. That's what causes the reconciliation to continue. We understand that the exchange, of course, is the life of Christ for our life, because “fruit” is according to (Col.1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory. Fruit is the 30-, 60-, and 100-fold fruit of the Word sown in the heart, as the Parable of the Sower shows us, and by our faith we consider it done. Jesus said in (Mar.11:24) … All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them. Believing here is manifested in our words and feet. When we believe we have received something, we can confess it with confidence, and that agrees with (Col.1:22) yet now (That is the Greek word nuni and it means “at this instant; immediately.”) hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: (23) if so be that ye continue in the faith… Not just any faith will bring the reconciliation to pass, only lasting faith in the Gospel, faith in the true Word and the true Promises will cause us to bring forth fruit. Religions have fallen far short of this and that's the reason they're not producing people who walk in the steps of Jesus. They only produce people who are (2Ti.3:5) holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. From these also turn away. The apostle certainly knew what was going to happen, and so he said to turn away from them and hold fast to the Word. (Col.1:23) If so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel (“Hope” is the Greek word elpis meaning a “firm expectation or confidence in what is sure.”) which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister. We are not to be “moved away” from the original Good News because the salvation of our soul, the reconciliation, is not the beginning of our faith, it's a product of the end of our faith according to 1 Peter 1:9. (Gal.3:16) Now (This word “now” is not in the original text. It was added by the translators.) to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. So the promises were spoken to Abraham and his One Seed. The promises were not spoken to us outside of Christ; they were spoken to us as we abide in the One seed of Christ. (17) Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul (“Disannul” is how the KJV and the ASV translated the Greek word akuroó that actually means “I annul, make of no effect, cancel, invalidate.”), so as to make the promise of no effect. So, the promise to Abraham and to Jesus are still in effect. It's the Law that's not still in effect. (18) For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. (19) What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions (You see, the main Covenant was the promise to Abraham. Then the Law was added afterward “because of transgressions.”), till the seed (Jesus) should come to whom the promise hath been made; [and it was] ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. According to this the Old Testament Law is over; it has vanished. It was meant as a temporary measure to help keep people from parábasis, from “transgressing, overstepping, deviating” beyond the boundaries set by God. The Law was in effect only until “the seed,” Who is Christ, “should come to whom the promise hath been made.” It's simply a type and a shadow, as the Bible clearly says, of the greater things which are to come and the greater Covenant, which took its place. (Heb.8:13) In that he saith, A new covenant he hath made the first old. But that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away. 2Co 3:14 but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ.  Well, if the promise was to Abraham and to Christ His Seed, how do we appropriate this blessing? We have to be “in Christ”. If you're not in Christ, you don't have the covenant blessing. Let's look some more at what it means to be “in Christ” so the promises can be ours. (1Jn.5:10) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him… The word “witness” here is the same word as “testimony” in both the Hebrew and the Greek. In the Greek New Testament, “witness” is from the word marturia, meaning “witness, evidence, testimony, reputation.” In the Old Testament, the two tables of “testimony” is the same word as “witness” (Exo 31:18). Moses the man-child brought the two witnesses to the people of God in (Deu 9:11) and they broke them in (Exodus 32:19). Those tables of testimony were the written Word of God; His testimony. Jesus also brought us the two witnesses; His disciples who went out two by two. The Bible says in (Joh.7:38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. (39) But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet [given]; because Jesus was not yet glorified. There's the “witness” or “testimony”: It's the Spirit of the Word that all believers should receive in (Rom.8:9 But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.) Meaning, if you do not have the born again Spirit of Christ you are not saved. But the Holy Spirit empowers you to walk in the Spirit. And notice, we must believe on Him “as the Scripture hath said,” not adding to, or taking away, from it. (1Jn.5:10) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. Notice that if the preachers are changing any part of the witness, the testimony, concerning the Son, concerning the Word of what He came to do, concerning His sacrifice, concerning the provision that He left us as heirs, if they're changing any of this, then they're making God a liar. And you can tell they're making God a liar because they're not turning-out people that look like Jesus Christ. And since they're not turning out people that look like Jesus Christ, they're not sowing the right seed. It's their seed, not God's Seed. God's Seed is His Witness, His Testimony that He bore concerning His Son (1 John 5:9). (1Jn.5:11) And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life (Yes, He did, but He adds a condition to that gift.), and this life is in his Son. He didn't put the gift of eternal life in your hand. Eternal life is in Christ; that's where He put the gift. (Gal.3:16) … To Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed … which is Christ. The promise was made to Christ, not to us. It is only to us if we abide in His Son. The Bible says, (1Co.15:22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Life comes from abiding in Jesus Christ. I've had people say to me, “God's given me eternal life, David, and He can't take it back. I have unconditional eternal security.” No, people who say that are deceived because God did not do that. He gave eternal life to Christ, so if you don't abide in Christ through repentance and faith, you don't have it. That's one reason why people fall away; they think all they need to do is shake a preacher's hand and “accept” Jesus, and they've received everything. No, you have to continue to abide in Christ. If you're in Christ, you will be doing what Christ does. We are called the “Body of Christ.” Who lives in the Body of Christ? He does! Now, it's a word of faith, I understand, but so many people who call themselves “Christian” don't abide in Christ. They don't abide in His Body, respecting His Word, doing His works, thinking His thoughts, doing His deeds, appropriating His blessings, and so on. “God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in His Son,” therefore, we have to abide in His Son to have it. (1Jn.5:12) He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. And in (2Jn.1:9) Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not (“Abide” is the Greek word menó and it's also translated “remain, stay, wait, endure, continue, live.”) (2Jn.1:9) Whosoever goeth onward (I.e., continues to walk with the Lord) and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God… You can get saved and you can have a born-again spirit, but then you can walk on believing some other word than the teaching of Christ or His apostles, and then you don't have God. You've lost Him. Go back, get into the Word of God for yourself, and once again confirm what He says so you know what to believe. There are over 40,000 denominations today and they can't all be right. Only the Word of God is God. (Jn 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Again in (2Jn.1:9) Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching (We abide in the teaching so we can have God in us.), the same hath both the Father and the Son. (10) If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into [your] house, and give him no greeting: (11) for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works. You better pay attention to this if you don't want to put yourself under the same curse that those “evil works” have brought on them. So in Christ is the only place you can claim the gift of eternal life, because your eternal life IS Jesus Christ. It's His nature in you: That is eternal life. (1Jn.2:4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar… Only those who keep His Word know Him. Obviously this is a progression of receiving His life as we learn His Word but we must stay on the road. It's true that people make all kinds of excuses for not keeping His commandments, and the doctrine of “unconditional eternal security” is one of the main excuses. It teaches that you can't be lost, even though you don't keep His commandments, but if you were keeping His commandments, you would not be in a dead church that teaches lies in the first place. You wouldn't be in a dead church that doesn't have the power of God and isn't filled with the Holy Spirit and His gifts. (1Jn.2:4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; (5) but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him (Listen carefully.): (6) he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. We have to believe exactly what God said, the Witness that God gave, concerning His Son. We don't have to believe anything else. Anybody who teaches anything else, we're not to receive from them. Now, didn't Jesus say the exact same thing here? (Joh.15:1) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit (Notice that you can get in Him to begin with, but what He's watching for is to see if you're going to bear His fruit.) (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh it away… We're watching this happen even now with the faction movement that's going on around the world. He is snatching rebellious people out of the body. It says in (Mat.13:41) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things (Not in the Greek) that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity. God turns them over to faction, they become offended over nothing and then, suddenly, they're gone. Then they are gathered “in bundles to burn them,” just like He said He'd do with the tares at the end of time in (Matthew 13:30). Then (Mat.13:43) … shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father… (Joh.15:2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away… And this is a “falling-away”. If you were in Him and then you're out of Him, that's a falling-away. The “fruit” that is ultimately left is the fruit of Christ. Remember, the fruit was the fruit of the Seed that Jesus, the Sower, sowed into hearts in Mathew 13, while the other three out of four fell away. The fruit is not you going out and saving another 30, 60, or 100 souls, as some teach. That's ridiculous, it's plain that the “fruit” is the fruit of the Seed that Jesus sowed, which is the Word of God in us. The most important thing you can do is put the Word of God in your heart. If you don't do that, you're going to fall away. You have to feed the spiritual man, Who is Jesus Christ in you. You have to feed Him, and He only lives and grows on the Word of God and the breath of the Holy Spirit. Again, (Joh.15:2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away… The Greek word kathairó translated there as “taketh it away” means “pruned (purged); eliminating what is fruitless by purifying.” Of course, pruning can be painful, but if you're sapping the strength that comes through the vine of Jesus Christ by getting into too many other things, it's like burying your talent in the earth (Matthew 25:25). If you're doing that, He's going to cut some things off from you. Some people have idols and those idols are sapping their strength. Notice that all through the Bible, God judged people's idols (Deu 31:16-17; Judges 10:6-7; 1 Kings 11:9-11; etc.) Be careful not to make an idol of your wife, your husband, your mom, your dad, any of your family, or your church, or your preacher, or your job, or even some hobby. Whatever it may be, don't put them before God and His Word. Anything that you make an idol can be cut off because it is sapping your strength that belongs only to the Son. (Joh.15:2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he pruneth it (Some versions say “taketh it away.”): and every branch that beareth fruit, he pruneth (This is also translated “cleanseth.”) it that it may bear more fruit. You don't want to lose a husband or wife because you've made a god out of them and they're ruling your life and your time. Of course, we have rules in the Scriptures. The head of the woman is the man and the head of the man is Christ (1 Corinthians 11:2-16). That's obeying Christ. That's abiding in Christ. But you don't want to make a god out of your spouse to the point where everything revolves around them. You have a relationship with the Lord, and the most important thing for you to do is to obey His Word or else you don't abide in Him, just as we saw. And you can obey His Word when you walk by faith and you have the good confession, which brings reconciliation. We are ministers of this reconciliation. (2Co.5:17) Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. (18) But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech [you] on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. We make this exchange happen in ourselves as we “trust and obey for there is no other way”. First comes the born-again Spirit of Jesus Christ and then, as you obey that Spirit, the born again Soul (i.e., mind, will, emotions) of Jesus Christ, and if you've obeyed in your soul, you will have a new body. And when we preach the Gospel to other people, we make this exchange of our life for His, happen in them. They repent of the old man and the new man begins to come forth. So He prunes His people to help them bear more fruit. If you waste your time by not bearing fruit, you are thrown out, “spewed” out, rejected from the body of Christ (Revelation 3:16). You have fallen away. (Joh.15:3) Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. The Word cleans you up. The Word transforms you by the “renewing of your mind.” (Rom.12:2) And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. What are you transformed into? Christ. The Word creates (Col.1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory. You're coming into His Image. He's recreating the body of Christ in the earth, and the true body of Christ does not look like many modern Christians today so that's not yet the body of Christ. In Hosea 5:7 they are called “strange children” because they do not look like the Father. (2Co.6:17) Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you. Back to (Joh.15:4) Abide in me (If you don't abide in Christ through faith in the promises, you're cast forth as a branch.), and I in you… How do you put Jesus in you? First, you accept that He took away your sins and nailed them to the cross. Then you accept by faith that Christ lives in you. 2Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. Then you begin to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind with the Word.” You put Jesus in you through the Word because He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). He is the manna that came down out of heaven that gives life to the world (John 6:51). This Word is the Manna. Eat the Word. If you want to bear fruit quickly, eat more of the Word as you repent of your old life. There has to be a reconciliation, an exchange. You have to lose your life to gain your life, as Jesus said (Matthew 16:25). That's a most ignored condition. If you want more of Jesus' life, then there has to be less of your life because they occupy the same territory. (2Co.4:16) Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. (Joh.15:4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself… That just makes good sense. If it's not connected to the trunk or the vine, a branch is not going to receive the life-giving sap of Jesus to bear fruit; it's going to die. If you don't stay connected to the Lord because you're refusing to bear the fruit and act on the Word, well, you're broken off. You might be sitting on a pew, but it won't make any difference; you're still broken off. (Joh.15:4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. (5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. Do you want to bear even more fruit? Then put the Word of God in your heart and abide in Him by keeping His commandments. You can keep His commandments because God will give you grace for faith. Do you believe the reconciliation? It happened at the Cross. He gave all of His Son for all of our old life. (Rom.6:11) Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. This will empower you to forsake sin. (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof. If you believe it's done, God will empower you to bear fruit, “for apart from me ye can do nothing.” If we don't abide in Him, we can do nothing. (Joh.15:6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch… So, even though he was in you to begin with, you may not have abided in Him and here you are cast forth as a branch. Some people say that if a person falls away, then he never was saved in the first place. We're seeing that's not true because this whole text is saying that's a lie. (Joh.15:6) If a man abide not (meaning does not continue to stay) in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you (There it is two more times again.), ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Do you know a lot of people who don't get any of their prayers answered? What's the problem? They are not abiding and eating the Word. In other words, if this happens, your will is changed to His will. Your will is in agreement with God and His Word. (Amo.3:3) Shall two walk together, except they have agreed? We read the Scriptures in order to come into agreement with Him, so that everything we ask is according to His Will and, therefore, we receive it. He wants us to bear fruit like this. “Ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” People who come into agreement with God are people with power! These are people whose prayer has power to deliver, to save, to provide. If you don't have enough power, maybe you should spend more time putting His Word in you, because faith comes through hearing and hearing by the Word (Rom.10:17). Spend more time putting the Word in you. There's an uncertainty when you don't know God's Will. It's hard to have faith if you don't know something is God's Will, but you'll become convinced what God's Will is by reading about Jesus and His disciples. You'll see it's obvious that God's Will is to save, to heal, to deliver, and to provide for His people. When you put the Word in you, according to the Parable of the Sower, you can bear the fruit of Jesus Christ, 30-, 60-, and 100-fold. He said, “Ask whatsoever you will” and “believe you have received” (Mark 11:24). What happens when you put the Word in your mind is that it changes your will. (Php.2:13) … it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. The Contemporary English Version says, “God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him.” That's how you get set free. (Joh.8:36) If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. He gives you His Will, and when you have His Will, you're free, because everything you want to do is what He wants to do, and He gets what He wants. So freedom comes from putting the Word in you, abiding in Him, and Him abiding in you. This really is Good News! (Joh.15:8) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples… Notice that a “disciple,” a mathétés, is “a learner and a follower.” If you can't learn from Jesus and you can't follow Him and you're all caught-up in an idolatrous institution, with an idolatrous leader in the Nicolaitan error, who thinks he's the head of the church, then you're not going to bear fruit and you're not going to be a disciple. Preachers are not to make disciples of themselves; they're to make disciples of Jesus. They're to point you to the Word, to show you how you should be a disciple, a learner and a follower, of Jesus. Praise the Lord! Everything we need is in Christ. (Eph.1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ… Notice! Every spiritual blessing has already been given to us in Christ. A spiritual blessing can also be a physical blessing. It's a spiritual blessing: a blessing from the Spirit and in the Spirit. God wants you to have all of your needs met. (Php.4:19) And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. He wants your needs met: spiritual, physical, and emotional. And as you see, if you abide in Him and put the Word in your heart, you can ask whatever you want and it will be done because what you want is what He wants. Well, since every spiritual blessing is in the “heavenly [places],” where are the “heavenly [places]”? They are “in Christ.” Note again it says, “He hath (That's past tense.) blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places],” which is in Christ. When you abide in Christ, you have every spiritual blessing and you have your needs met. God has put all of your provision there. You must go there to get it, and ask in faith. The flesh wants to live and walk outside of Christ and think outside of Christ, and then men wonder why in the world God does not do for them these things that He says in His Word He will do. It's because these things are in the heavenly places. You can't “walk on the earth,” spiritually speaking, and “walk in heavenly places” at the same time. Either you're walking worldly and earthly, or you're walking heavenly. If you're in Christ, you're walking in heavenly places because He is the heavenly place. And when you abide in Him, you can have what you need, because that's where it's provided. It's not provided outside of Him. He hasn't given it to you. Remember, (Gal.3:16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. So those people who say that if God gives you a gift, He can't take it back, they don't understand that He doesn't have to take it back, because when you step out of Him, you lose it. Who moved? You're abiding in Him, first of all, through your faith in the reconciliation, and second of all, through your actions since faith without works is dead (James 2:17,20,26). If you walk by faith in Him, you have all these promises, because that's abiding in Him, too. Then you have all of these promises; they're yours. However, if you're in willful rebellion, know that the only promise you have is this: (Heb.10:26) For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. There's your promise. If you're walking outside of Him, the promise you have is that God's going to whip you. That's His promise. Again, in (Eph.1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ: (4) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love. You see, you weren't an after-thought at all. He had you in Mind before Adam ever fell. Did He know Adam was going to fall? Yes, but He chose you in Him, meaning that He knew you needed a Savior, and He provided that Savior before Adam ever fell. Why did God go on with the process? He did that because fallen people who are saved have a great appreciation for God and they know what's wrong with walking according to the world. They've tried it, they failed, and they understand that God has provided better. God doesn't want ignorant people; He wants people who are trying, and let me tell you, the “fall” is a training (Genesis Chapter 3). Yes, He knew about the “fall.” We're not in plan B, we're still in plan A. God doesn't make plan B's. (Eph.1:4) Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be (He wants us to be something.) holy and without blemish before him in love. The reason we abide in Him is to have His holiness and to be without blemish, and if you put the Word in you, the Word will empower you to walk “holy and without blemish before him in love.” If you starve your spiritual man, you will spiritually die. He needs the Word of God to be fed. He's created out of the Word of God.

Paul is in Ephesus teaching and proclaiming the Word of God. This Word of God that Paul is sowing into the hearts of people comes to them in seed form. That seed began to grow and release its power to the extent that it was pushing out the unrighteous practices and behaviors that the believers had considered acceptable in their lives. It moved them to confess and repent of their deeds and as a result, the Word of God continued to increase mightily and prevail in the area.

January 2, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: The Second CommandmentDaily Lectionary: Isaiah 62:1-12; Luke 2:1-20“For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.” (Isaiah 62:1)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In today's Old Testament lesson, the prophet writes, “For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet” (Isaiah 62:1). This Word of God was spoken at a time in Israel's history when life had been devalued, when God's Word had been ignored, and when it would have been much easier to simply be silent and let evil have free course instead of speaking out. But, in complete contrast to the culture of his day, Isaiah spoke God's Word. He proclaimed a message of life and a promise of deliverance, even as the destruction of his nation and the judgment of God knocked at the door.In the safety of our sanctuaries, we can talk about the sanctity of human life, but how are we to respond when faced with a world that devalues life and ignores God's word? The answer to this question is found in today's reading. Isaiah said, “For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.” In these words, Isaiah calls us as the Church to announce the truth of God's Word and the salvation He came to bring. You see, even in a world gripped by death and the delusions of the devil, the call of Jesus Christ remains: “Go make disciples of all nations,” and, my friends, we can only speak the Word of God when we have first listened to it.We cannot give what we do not have, and listening to God's voice is the only thing that can properly prepare us to speak. Our message cannot come from a political agenda or a radio show; it cannot come from a generic moral imperative or from a social gospel or theology of glory. Our message of life can only come from the Word of God because only when we have truly listened to God do we clearly understand that it's our sin that is under judgment, that it is for our transgressions that Christ suffered and died, and that it is for our salvation and our eternal life with God that Jesus was raised from the dead. The demands of God's Law are for me! And the Word of God's judgment is for me! And the promise of grace is God's promise to me! And once I have listened to the Word in this way, I can then listen to someone else whose broken and sinful life is equally sacred to God.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord, help me to listen to your word of Law and Gospel so that I can speak it to others.-Rev. Thomas Eggold, pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

December 15, 2024 Today's Reading: Luke 7:18-28, 29-35Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30:27-31:9; Revelation 3:1-22…And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Luke 7:23)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It's easy to overlook just how hard it is for most people to come out and say what they're feeling. I hurt. I doubt. I'm dying here. We can bury an awful lot before it finally bubbles over into some kind of truth. “Are you the one who is to come, or should I look for another?”John is in prison, doubting and trying to find the words because Jesus is the one who's supposed to give sight to the blind, make the lame walk, cleanse the lepers, and free the prisoners… and John's in prison, wondering where his help is. He did what he was supposed to. A voice cried in the wilderness to prepare the way of the LORD, but John's still in prison. Is this not the guy? Is any of this stuff even real? More than a prophet, John still struggles. But we're afraid to. I don't know how long it took John to finally send his disciples for an answer to his doubt or how often you grasp for the right words and come up short, but I know why it's happening. Things don't look like they're supposed to here. You're not the only one struggling for the right words.Jesus pierces through what we mean to say and speaks peace—not just with signs and wonders but with the sure and certain word and promise of God. The poor have Good News preached to them. This can endure the poor still being poor, even when some of the blind can't see yet and not all the lame can walk. John isn't called to find comfort in the signs themselves but in the word and promises of God. Jesus saves sinners. He bears the cross for those struggling and doubting and dying. Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me. Not by how He saves. Or who. Or what it looks like while He does it. You're allowed to struggle with it. The poor need the Good News preached to them because they need Good News.  Doubt isn't good, but if we cannot by our own reason or strength believe in this stuff, then this is something that has to be answered. So Christ sends preachers. Even John's doubt in prison prepares the way of the Lord to answer it. This Word of the Lord unites our voices and gives us the words we can't quite find. The Good News preached to you. God became everything we wish we weren't. Lowly. Sinful. Alone. Afraid. Dead. And in doing so, He saved you.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.-Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

“I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.” These words, inked by an apostle, were not intended to be screened onto a powerlifter's muscle-shirt. This Word is about facing bull-and-bear markets in confidence with Christ.

Faith comes from hearing theWord of God1. This Word is powerful2. The Word is Christ 3. This Word is the sword of the Holy Spirit

November 4, 2024 Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-9Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 5:1-19; Matthew 22:23-46“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. How will you know God? Just look around and see the world struggling to know God, or to find God, or to experience God, or to figure God out. We can see some looking for God by climbing a mountain to meet a spiritual guru or trying to find Him through some sort of spiritual practice such as yoga (which is not truly “spiritual” at all since it's the practice of body and mind and movement techniques), or to locate God by some sort of worldly government or movement, or even by trying to expand the brain spiritually with the use of drugs. It goes on and on. You can probably think of several other ways our generation tries to locate God. How will you know God? Moses says: “Hear, O Israel …” It's by hearing. It's through your ears. What goes into ears, of course, are words. You will know God by hearing His words spoken into your ears. Take the words Moses tells us, and cherish them, memorize them (“these words … shall be on your heart”). Write them down. Speak them to one another. Keep them in your conversation. Speak them with your children when you're going down the road.  In the way the world sees things, we have a strange God. A God comprehended by high-order thinking, a rigidly disciplined lifestyle, or deeply-felt spiritual yearnings—that God our world would accept. But a God comprehended and held onto by hearing His words and holding on to those words in faith—that God is foolishness to our world.But God comes by hearing. The word to hear is the Gospel, the Word of Christ. This Word forgives sins. It declares you righteous. It cleanses the conscience. It creates faith. As Paul tells us, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?... So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:14, 17).In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous; Bright with Thine own holiness, Glorious now, we press toward glory, And our lives our hopes confess. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send! Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end! (LSB 578:3)-Rev. Warren Graff, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NMAudio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Spend time reading and meditating on God's Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House. 

John 1: 1, 14, 29, 33-34, 44-49 In the book of Genesis, God said "In the beginning" when creating the earth. John's gospel also begins with these words, "In the beginning was the Word." This Word, which was present at the start of creation, came in human form as Jesus. He existed with the Father from the outset and still does. Just as God commanded and created the world, Jesus, possessing the same authority, shared truth, guidance, and comfort with people. Although Jesus had a human nature, He is more than human; as John states, He is the Light, the Word, the Lamb of God, the One, the Son of God, and the Messiah. Additionally, John explains how Philip became an apostle. Jesus saw Philip first and recognized that he needed a Savior and guide. Jesus noted Philip's sincerity, honesty, and directness before revealing Himself as Rabbi, Son of God, and The King of Israel. This recognition transformed Philip into an apostle. Jesus sows a seed within us which enables us to see Him for who He truly is. We are encouraged to come to Him with all our questions, doubts, and uncertainties, as He appreciates our honesty.

In the seventh stanza of Psalm 119, we ask God to remember the Word that gave us hope. This Word is the promise of the Gospel that gives life and comfort in affliction. Even as the insolent deride us, the Word of God teaches us the good that we love and the evil that we hate. Knowing that God remembers His Word, we remember His name and treasure His promises.  Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 119:49-56.  "God's Word Is Our Great Heritage” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through Psalm 119. As this longest Psalm takes us through an acrostic journey through the Hebrew alphabet, our God teaches us to find joy, refuge, strength, and life in His Word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 

A new MP3 sermon from Gainesville Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Primacy of God and This Word Subtitle: Final Sermons Speaker: Pastor Jack Lash Broadcaster: Gainesville Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 8/11/2024 Bible: Romans 11:36; Deuteronomy 32:45-47 Length: 40 min.

August 8, 2024 Today's Reading: Catechism: How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 24:1-22; 1 Corinthians 1:26-2:16How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things? Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.” (Small Catechism)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Did your mother ever say to you, “Eat something, and you'll feel better”? Often, eating does make us feel better when we're down. Eating can give us pleasure. But the opposite can also be true. For those who struggle with overeating, eating can bring guilt and shame. Either way you look at it, eating can do something. However, when it comes to the Sacrament of the Altar, obviously, eating is part of it, but it's not the main thing. It's not what does great things.You can go to the Lord's Table, receive His Body and Blood under the bread and wine, and feel great! There are times that I've gone to Communion and I return to the pew feeling such peace. That's wonderful. But there are other times when I've received the Sacrament and still felt guilty and unworthy because of the weight of my sin. It's not really about what you do or what you feel. In his explanation of the Sacrament of the Altar in the Small Catechism, Dr. Luther points you to the words of Christ Himself: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”Every time that the Lord's Supper is celebrated, the pastor speaks the very words that Jesus spoke when He instituted this most holy meal. These aren't magic words, but they are powerful words. They are the words of Jesus for you. You hear Christ's words also during the distribution. As you receive the cup, the pastor or maybe an elder in the church usually says, “The blood of Christ shed for you.” Then you eat and drink.Eating and drinking are part of the Sacrament, sure. After all, Jesus instituted His Supper for us Christians to eat and drink. But our actions never bring about God's grace and forgiveness. God does it all. Jesus accomplished your salvation on the cross. Faith grabs hold of this amazing Gift of forgiveness offered to you in the Supper. Faith clings to those sweet words of Jesus, trusting His promise and resting in the peace of sin forgiven. And even faith is a Gift of God worked by His Holy Spirit. To God be the glory! Great things He has done and still does for you! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We eat this bread and drink this cup, Your precious Word believing That Your true body and Your blood Our lips are here receiving. This Word remains forever true, All things are possible with you, For you are Lord Almighty. (LSB 622:4)-Rev. Joel Fritsche, director of Vicarage and Deaconess Internships and assistant professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. LouisAudio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.The Lutheran Confessions play a vital role in the church—both centuries ago, and today. But, do they apply to the daily life of a layperson? Pastor Andy Wright offers a resounding “yes” in his book, Faithfully Formed. He quotes, summarizes, and synthesizes key teachings from the Confessions, revealing their relevance in the daily lives of ordinary people.

This Word from Prophet Shyju Mathew will bring renewal of strength to your spirit and bones to recover all! Find the complete message in the Word section on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shyju Mathew⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ app, titled "Season Shift Breakthrough". Subscribe to Prophetess Tiny Mathew's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel for prophetic teachings from His heart to yours. Sign up to join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠TSM Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ensure you don't miss the latest posts. Our Prayer Journal App '⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pray Now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠' is now available for download on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Android⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ devices that has tools you need for a consistent and fruitful prayer life. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Revive Nations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on the upcoming meetings. Visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jesus Lovers Creation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Store to grab merchandise of products that inspire your journey with Jesus! Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Revive Nations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access blogs and many more resources. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Revive Nations Kids⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for videos and resources to help you keep your little ones engaged and growing in God! To partner with us, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Revive Nations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. FOLLOW US ON: Revive Nations: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shyju Mathew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tiny Mathew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads

In Zechariah's sixth vision, he sees an enormous scroll with writing on both sides. This Word from God convicts the people of their sin and goes out over all the whole earth; no one will escape the Law's condemnation. Only in Christ will the curse be removed. In Zechariah's seventh vision, he sees a basket with a heavy leaden lid, holding in a woman named “Wickedness.” This provides a picture of the folly of idolatry. False gods are nothing more than tiny statues, easily contained. By carrying the basket away, the LORD shows that He will put an end to the idolatrous iniquity of His people and restore them to the true worship of Himself.  Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zechariah 5:1-11.  "The Post-Exilic Prophets” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Through the preaching of these faithful men, the LORD sent His Word to His people who returned home after their exile in Babylon. Not only did the LORD encourage His people in the work of rebuilding the temple, but even more than that, He pointed them forward to the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises in the coming kingdom of our true King and great High Priest, Jesus Christ.

Focolare Word of Life — June 2024“The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.” (Mk 4:26-27)The kingdom of God is at the heart of Jesus' message. In fact, in his Gospel, Mark wants to announce this good news. He describes it in a parable Jesus used, in which he compared the kingdom of God to a seed that, once cast into the ground, releases its life force and bears fruit. But what is the kingdom of God for us today? What does it have to do with our personal and collective history? How can it resolve the constant sense we might have of being suspended between expectations and disappointments? If it has already been sown, why don't we see its fruits of peace, security and happiness?“The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.”This Word of Life conveys to us that Jesus had total confidence in God's plan for humanity. Chiara Lubich wrote: “Since Jesus came into the world and was victorious over it, his kingdom is already present here on earth and its fulfilment at the end of history is already assured. The Church is the community of those who believe in his kingdom and is, in fact, its foundation.”[1] And to all who welcome his kingdom, God entrusts the task of preparing the ground to receive this gift and to maintain hope in his love. “(...) The fact is that no amount of human effort, no exercise in self denial, no intellectual study or research will give you the right to enter the kingdom of God. It is God himself who comes to meet you, who reveals himself with his light and who touches you with his grace. There is no merit on your part that you can boast of, or rely on, that will entitle you to such a gift from God. The kingdom is offered to you free of charge.”[2]“The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.”This parable speaks of scattering the seed. In other words, not holding on to it, but confidently sowing it over a large area. “Night and day” means that the kingdom grows silently, even in the darkness of night. And every day we can ask our Father: “Your kingdom come.” The farmer doesn't have to constantly check on the seed to see if it is growing. He needs to wait patiently for nature to take its course. This Word of Life helps us to understand that the seed we scatter is love and we should trust that it will bear fruit in its own time. It teaches us the art of patiently waiting for what can grow on its own, without being anxious about the result. It sets us free to welcome each neighbor in the present moment, valuing his or her potential, while respecting the time it takes them to grow. “A month before his wedding, our son phoned us in a state of alarm because his girlfriend had started using drugs again. He asked our advice about what he should do. It wasn't easy to know what to say. We could have taken advantage of the situation and persuaded him to leave her, but that didn't seem right. And so we suggested he listen to what his own heart was telling him (...).   “A long silence followed, then he said, ‘I think I can love her more.' After the wedding they managed to find an excellent rehabilitation center with outpatient support. Fourteen long months passed during which she managed to keep her commitment to ‘no more drugs.' “It will be a long road for everyone, but the evangelical love we try to have between the two of us as a couple - even though there are times when we are reduced to tears - gives us the strength to love our son in this delicate situation. Perhaps our love will also help him understand how to love his wife, too.”Prepared by Letizia Magri and the Word of Life team[1] Chiara Lubich, Word of Life, August 1983.[2] Chiara Lubich, Word of Life, October 1979.

Thank you Mothers! This Word came from our very own Sis. Parks and our pastor's wife, Sis. Kathleen Knowles on Mother's Day 2024. 5/12/2024

The Word is Our New DNA (audio) David Eells – 4/14/24 Is God your Father? If so you have His DNA. Jesus is the Word made flesh as we must be. His Word manifested in you to the extent you are ruled by it is His DNA. Scientists say, “DNA contains the instructions necessary for life.” Sound familiar? Our Fathers Word is His spiritual DNA. Below are Notes by Deb Horton of an article which reports that science has finally acknowledged that words have physical power. After removing all the New Age gobbledygook, the article acknowledges that Russian scientists have discovered that spoken words alone can and do reprogram DNA. So, the tongue conquers the curse or the tongue can bring the curse. Key points quoted from the article, which is translated from German, so the terminology will sound a little strange in English (Deborah's comments in parentheses) (David's in red): DNA can be influenced and reprogrammed by words and frequencies WITHOUT cutting out and replacing single genes. (Father didn't use this method of man.) The Russian linguists found that the genetic code, especially in the apparently useless 90% (which has been (falsely) called "junk DNA"), follows the same rules as all our human languages...(and that) human languages ... are a reflection of our inherent DNA. (So changing our Words changes our DNA. At Babel languages were confused which separated people by DNA.) One can simply use words and sentences of the human language ... to influence genetic information! This, too, was experimentally proven! Living DNA substance (in living tissue, not in vitro) will always react to language-modulated laser rays and even to radio waves, if the proper frequencies are being used. This finally and scientifically explains why affirmations ... (can) repair genetic defects. (Changing our affirmations to agree with the Word changes our DNA.) ...our body is programmable by language, words and thought. This has now been scientifically proven and explained....The individual person must work on the inner processes (i.e., casting down every thought and imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God) and maturity in order to establish a conscious communication with the DNA. The Russian scientists also found out that our (fallen Adamic) DNA can cause disturbing patterns ....Stress, worries or a hyperactive intellect prevent (or) distort the communication (and) make it useless. (Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.) An ordered group consciousness creates order in its whole surroundings! When a great number of people get together very closely, potentials of violence also dissolve. (Who can be closer than the true church? We are a “chosen generation”) Researchers think that if humans with full individuality would regain group consciousness (We are one in Christ if we abide in Him.), they would have a god-like power to create, alter and shape things on Earth! (That would be when two or more of you agree on the Words of Christ it shall be done by our Father. One will chase a thousand and two ten thousand.) AND humanity is collectively moving toward such a group consciousness of the new kind. (This part is new age nonsense. Little do they know that the beginning of such a movement in our time will be the corporate Man-child Body of believers and then the corporate Bride body who follows them.) They said that when "healers" were photographed during healing sessions, they appeared as fields of light. (The Word said, He was the Light that lighteth every man.) The Neuroscience Behind Our Words OPINION Posted August 8th, 2019 | Category: BRM Capability, Business Relationship Management Research, Professional Development | Contributed by Lindsey Horton     Sticks and Stones “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” This phrase is reminiscent of childhood recess when we didn't want others to know how hurtful their words truly were. However, the belief that physical injury is more painful than psychological or emotional injury is not necessarily true. Scientific studies actually show that positive and negative words not only affect us on a deep psychological level, but they have a significant impact on the outcome of our lives.     Words Can Hurt Me In their neuroscience experiment, “Do Words Hurt?”, Maria Richter and collaborating scientists monitored subjects' brain responses to auditory and imagined negative words. During this process, they discovered painful or negative words increase Implicit Processing (IMP) within the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sACC). Put frankly, their study proved that negative words release stress and anxiety-inducing hormones in subjects. Additionally, a study found increased levels of anxiety in children associated with higher rates of negative self-talk. According to the study's abstract. (Speak the promises to your children to put faith in them.) “These results suggest negative self-talk plays a role in the generation or maintenance of anxiety in normal children.” Ultimately, negative words, whether spoken, heard, or thought, not only cause situational stress, but also contribute to long-term anxiety. (And health problems.) Naturally, the recognition that holding negative thoughts in our mind is enough to induce stress and anxiety hormones begs the question, “What effect do positive thoughts have?” In their jointly written book, Words Can Change Your Brain, Dr. Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist at Thomas Jefferson University, and Mark Robert Waldman, a communications expert state, “a single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.” Furthermore, according to these two experts in their field, exercising positive thoughts can quite literally change one's reality. “By holding a positive and optimistic [word] in your mind, you stimulate frontal lobe activity. This area includes specific language centers that connect directly to the motor cortex responsible for moving you into action. And as our research has shown, the longer you concentrate on positive words, the more you begin to affect other areas of the brain.”     ~Newburg, Waldman Over time, given sustained positive thought, functions in the parietal lobe start to change. Consequently, this changes our perception of the self and those around us. (For instance Rejection is passed on to spouses and children when one is critical and judgmental of them.) Essentially, holding a positive view of ourselves helps train our brain to see the good in others. Thus, by exercising consistent positive thoughts and speech, we not only change our self-perception, but how we perceive the world around us. Ultimately, this grants us the ability to shape our reality and change the world for the better. Evidently, as humans, our thought patterns directly shape our perception of the world and those around us. Our thoughts become our words, and therefore our language. This holds true for humans individually, as well as organizationally. A strong company culture is one derived from a shared positive language based on organizational core values. As BRMs, we know that relationships lie at the core of our role, and that language shapes our human interactions. So, how can we make a shift in the language we use in our daily work lives to reduce the negative associations with traditional “corporate lingo”? (This is true of a business or Church or individuals.)     David's Teaching When we concentrate on the Good News of the promises our DNA is changed. This happens when we think those words, hear them, or speak them. Rom 1:16-17  For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  17  For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith. Faith has a positive effect in turning our DNA into His. That puts the power of creation in our minds and mouth. Jesus gave us the inheritance of His DNA. He is called the “Father of Eternity”. Isa. 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Everlasting Father is also translated “Father of Eternity.”) The seed He sows makes us eternal for we receive His DNA. In the parable of the sower in Mat. 13, Jesus sowed the seed of His Word in the hearts of men. In some places in the larger text the word seed is translated from “sperma”. So, we see that it is His life's blood that He is sowing in us and He is our spiritual Father. Since this is true, we have inherited His DNA. We see in that text how many fall short of this regeneration through distractions and polutions of the seed of the Word, Jesus' DNA. Mat 13:19-25  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.  20  And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it;  21  yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.  22  And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  23  And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  24  Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed (Greek: Sperma) in his field:  25  but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. What scientists have discovered is being changed by the man-made plague is the DNA by creating an extra helix. This is creating trans-humans. Part beast and part human are like the mixed multitude who came out of Egypt with the Jews. The people who stay this way are definitely lukewarm members of the Beast body to be spewed out of Christ's body. Those who believe the Gospel will be delivered as their beastly flesh is being crucified. Through faith in God's Word we are delivered from this curse and that is what the positive affirmation in Gal. 3:13 tells us. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. So, in effect, He exchanged our cursed life for His blessed life through us affirming His Word / DNA. This exchange is called reconciliation, translated from the Greek word, “Katallasso”. In context, this means the exchange of Christ's life (DNA) for ours. Col. 1:21-23  And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, 22 yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him (with Jesus' DNA): 23 if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister. This reconciliation is made possible when we like Paul believe and confess the promise that we don't live anymore Christ lives in us. Gal. 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me (Jesus' DNA): and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. So, since it is Christ living in us, we have His DNA.  Paul explains how enlightened saints exchange their DNA for the Lord's through thinking, believing and speaking 2Co. 3:18  But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory (Jesus' DNA), even as from the Lord the Spirit. When we partake of the bread and wine at the Lord's supper, we, by faith, are partaking of His body and blood and we have His life in ourselves, which incorporates His DNA. Since Jesus is the “Word made flesh”, when we spiritually digest His Word, so that it becomes a part of our thinking and speech, we are partaking of His DNA.  Joh. 6:53-57 Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life (Jesus' DNA) in yourselves. 54 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath (His DNA) eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me. (Notice, eating His flesh and drinking His blood gives us His life, which incorporates His DNA.) The life of the flesh is in the blood of Jesus and His body.  Lev. 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood (Jesus' DNA); and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life (Jesus' DNA). When we were born of the flesh of our fallen parents, our DNA was corrupt and became more so as we grew in sin. When we partake of Christ's DNA through faith we begin to reverse this process. This begins with a born again spirit and continues to take over the soul through our obedience to the truth. We were told that the Lord would return in these last days as the latter rain on this morning of the third day. Hos. 6:1-3 Come, and let us return unto Jehovah; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up (Jesus' DNA) and we shall live (Jesus' DNA) before him. 3 And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. (He will on the morning of the third thousand year day from the advent of Jesus. We were promised in these last days, when the former and latter rain of the Spirit of God is poured out, there will be a restoration of all the years of degeneration. Joel 2:23-26 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month.  24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you (Representing the curse which Jesus bore). 26 And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of Jehovah your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be put to shame. We had a wonderful dream that Tiannah shared with us about restored DNA. In the dream she visited us (She is coming now) and said that, “David looked so very young. ...His skin was completely clear, no wrinkles or blemishes and everything was physically perfect…I turned and looked to my other side and I saw Vanessa Weeks …she too, looked so young and ageless, with perfect skin. Her skin was more beautiful than any skin I have ever seen…Eve also looked so young and ageless. There were no wrinkles or anything, and her skin was just pure.”  The angels also told us about our DNA restoration when David asked, “What does the coming restoration involve personally? 30 years younger?” The angel Jeruel said, “Restoration on a DNA cellular level. Faith and power will be imputed to receive healing and restoration. It will be complete restoration not partial. The first fruits are first. They will be the trail blazers. There will be a mighty supernatural outpouring of spiritual restoration; of closeness to God through His Holy Spirit.” When we look in the mirror, and by faith see Jesus' reflection, we are expecting His DNA to be manifested in our bodies.  So, it's ours NOW by faith and we know that there is coming a wonderful manifestation of Christ in us. But we need to believe it now and when we realize this, it can go a long way towards overcoming the temptations to act on the symptoms of sickness that we experience. God is preparing us to be immune to the judgments of this world by filling us with His promises and renewing our minds with His Word (Jesus' DNA). (Rom. 12:2) And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Jesus told us in, (Luk. 21:25) And there shall be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows. You can see the “roaring of the sea and the billows” as being the anger of the nations against one another, because the Bible tells us in Revelation 17:15 that the “waters” represent peoples, nations, and tongues.  Obviously, the things that nations are exporting around the world, such as terrorism and anarchy and so on, are making a lot of people fearful. (26) Men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.  What is this “expectation”? Depopulation by war, disease, famine, The approach of Planet X/Nibiru will be seen. It's also in general, believing in the curse. It's believing these things are all a threat to you, and seeing in your imagination all the terrible things that could happen to you because of them. That's why we're told to cast down vain imaginations. The devil prepares us to fail through our fallen imaginations.  Again, people aren't dying because of the curse. The Lord bore the curse. Gal 3:13  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  They're dying because of unbelief in the sacrifice and fear, which looses the curse. Faith in the promises binds the curse. In every instance where you're put into a position of being threatened, remember that the devil and his army, his angels, see in both the spirit realm and in the physical realm. They coordinate their attacks on you to coincide with the things that you see with your eyes or the things you hear with your ears or, especially, the imaginations in your mind about the things that could happen. They will pounce on you so that you are struck, suddenly, with this temptation to fear.  You know, we think in pictures and the devil will take you over with those pictures. He will put fear in you exactly as this verse is talking about here. You need to stop immediately and make war on him when he attacks you with these things or he will just take you away, and then you will be at the mercy of the judgments that are around you. We've seen from the Scriptures, very plainly, that Jesus bore the whole curse upon Himself when He was upon the Cross (Galatians 3:13). We've also seen in, (Rom.10:10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  We need to confess Psalm 91 in the midst of the trouble, when there's an opportunity for us to give the devil authority to take us away, the Gospel is the power of God to save the one who believes it (Romans 1:16). In the midst of the trouble, you make your confession because faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Whenever your actions are totally contrary to faith, the devil takes that as his authority. Jesus told us, (Mat.18:18) Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  So, the devil is going to make war on the saints with the judgments that are coming upon the world. And most people don't know that those judgments are coming upon the world, not to hurt the saints, but to deliver the saints, because these judgments are going to separate the wheat from the tares. They will be a Passover of those with the blood, Jesus' DNA, to destroy the wicked as it was with the Egyptians. I want to share with you a revelation from Dimitru Duduman that fits exactly what we're talking about here. This vision was given to Dimitru in May of 1993 when he was living in Oregon. It describes our rights in Christ and how the Blood of Jesus' DNA is applied through casting down fear and doubt and speaking the promise, which is, of course, our Sword of the Spirit.  He said, “It was getting dark. Then, suddenly, it turned pitch black. It's interesting that we can look around us right now and see that it's starting to get dark. People are mentioning to me that they're seeing many things that they've never seen before. They're seeing Christians, lukewarm Christians, turn toward darkness, and governments that have been taken over by the beast. He said, It was as if the whole world had gone dark at that moment. We are on the verge of that darkness coming. It will be great tribulation and we need to be ready for it. We need to not waste our time and dilute or corrupt the Word as Jesus' DNA. We need to have our armor on.  Dumitru went on to say, All the people were in a frenzy. They became disoriented, and some were even screaming. That sounds exactly like the verse we just read in Luke 21. These are the recorded symptoms of the effects on the minds of those experiencing Planet X. He said, After some time, we heard the sound of an army approaching. This is talking about the devil's army, multitudes of demon spirits that make war on the saints and also inhabit men, who physically make war on the saints. We call that body the “beast.”  He said, Soon, we saw them coming out of the black mist. All were dressed in black, except for one. That one seemed to be their leader. He was dressed in a red robe with a thick, black belt over his waist. On his head, he had a sign. As I looked, I saw that in his hand, he held the same kind of sharp spear as everyone else in his army. He exclaimed, “I am Lucifer, I am the king of this world. I've come to make war against the Christians.” This war is about to start. The darkness is covering the earth.  It looked as though all the Christians were huddled together in one big group. Some began to cry when they heard this. Others began to tremble, while some just stood, without saying anything. What is this that's already happening to God's people in this revelation? It's Satan's warfare against them. They're crying, they're trembling, they're fearful because of the threat they can see. What is the devil's army? It's those spirits that attack your mind, spirits such as fear and doubt and grief and condemnation and lust and hatred and unforgiveness and rejection and addictions of different kinds and occultic things and thefts and lying and on and on… Everybody has trials with these spirits making war against them as the spirits seek to bring them under their control to destroy them.  Praise the Lord that we've been delivered of this by Jesus Christ! All the promises that are given to us in the Word of God are what we can use as our Sword to set each other free. Well, when they saw Satan's army coming in great force, many people trembled and were fearful, but some didn't do anything because they weren't moved by what they saw.  Lucifer continued to speak. “All of those that want to fight against my army, and think they can be victorious, go to the right…” Obviously, that's where Jesus put the sheep; on His right. If you're not convinced that you can be victorious against Satan's army, it's because you don't have enough of the Word of God in your mind to really do warfare with him. We have to have on that “helmet of salvation” which protects our mind in the battle (Ephesians 6:17). We have to have the knowledge of the fact that we are protected, we are delivered, it is finished, Jesus has overcome the world, and the only thing left is for us to enter into those works that were finished from the foundation of the world (Hebrews chapters 3 and 4).  How do we do that? We enter into those works by faith. Everything that Jesus did, the body of Christ is going to do. Joh 14:12-13  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father.  13  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Jesus had victory, He knew he could conquer Satan. Satan trembled before Him, because Jesus knew Who He was. He was a Son of God. He is the only begotten Son of God, in Whom we, too, are sons through rebirth. Jesus said, (Joh. 20:21) … Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. If you know who you are, and you know what God says about you, the devil trembles before you, but he can convince a lot of people who justify themselves and are not really believers of the Word of God.  So the devil said, “All of those that want to fight against my army, and think they can be victorious, go to the right, and those that fear me, go to the left.” Why does God permit this war? He is permitting this war to separate the sheep from the goats. In these end times, the Lord says that He is going to spew the lukewarm out of his mouth (Revelation 3:16). He's not going to have any fence riders; you're going to be in either one camp or the other. This warfare of the devil against the Church is going to bring the separation, and notice what he says next. Only about a quarter of the group stepped to the right. That means three-quarters of what were called “Christians” in this revelation were no threat to the devil, and he was going to conquer them.  All the others went to the left. That was three-quarters of them went to the left because of fear. Those of them who knew they would be victorious over Satan were only a quarter of the Christians, and I don't think that is really a stretch at all. Even today, there are very few people that are actually chasing Satan, and the rest are all being chased by him, which is exactly what the Bible tells us. (Luk. 11:21) When the strong [man] (Satan) fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: (22) but when a stronger than he (Jesus) shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. (23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. So to those who know the truth Satan is a wimp. To those who don't know it he is their lord. Then, Lucifer ordered his army, “Destroy those on the right.” The army began to advance and quickly surround the Christians on the right. (Remember that's the smaller group, the one-quarter who are not afraid.) And as they began to close in on us, a powerful light appeared, and encircled us. Then, the angel of the Lord spoke, “Take out your Swords and fight! Defend yourselves! Be victorious over the enemy.” “What swords?” a man in the group asked. “The Word of the Lord is your Sword,” the angel answered. Yes, take out your Sword and fight and be victorious over the enemy. The devil can do nothing against it; there is no weapon that he can use to defend against your Sword, which is the Word of God in your heart, the DNA of Jesus. It is the true Word of God. It cannot be denied. It will fulfill the purpose that God sent it for, but we have to use our sword. Luk 1:37  For no word from God shall be void of power. Here is a word just below this one that gives power over the enemy. Luk 1:67-75 ASV  And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,  68  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,  69  And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David  70  (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),  71  Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;  72  To show mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;  73  The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father,  74  To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,  75  In holiness and righteousness before him all our days. You may have all the knowledge that you need but you won't be able to even hear it in the midst of this emotion of fear that has come upon you. So stop and make war. The devil can't stand before you if you use your Sword. You don't necessarily have to quote the Word of God to conquer the devil, but you do have to agree with the Word of God to conquer the devil. You have to know what the Word of God says in order to speak in agreement with the Word of God, so if you're not sure about what the Scriptures say, you need to spend more time in the Word.)  Let's continue with Dumitru's revelation. When we understood what the angel meant, we began to quote verses from the Bible. Then, suddenly, as if we were one voice, we began to sing a song. (That's the thing about songs; they bring people into one accord, and there's power in agreement. Jesus promised us, (Mat. 18:19) Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.  What happens when there are more than two or three of you in agreement? (Deu. 32:30) How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had delivered them up? One will chase a thousand and two will chase ten thousand; that's multiplied power, so it's a blessing for us to be in agreement with each other and with the Word of God. That's why God has given us His Word. Of course, it does no good if you're in agreement with a lot of apostates because no matter how large a group they might be, you still will have no power.  The devil is going to show us this in Dumitru's revelation. He's going to conquer these people. The devil wants to make war, and he wants to take out the people who are a threat to him. He'd like to take out their physical life and he'd like to take out their spiritual life, because they're doing him damage. He will make war on you but he's not able to do anything that God doesn't permit him to do. You see, God permits the devil to come try us in order to build our faith. Faith is like a muscle. If your faith isn't tried, it's not going to get stronger. We go through things to try our faith, and in the process, we also learn how to quickly pull out our Sword and use it to conquer the enemy.)  Back to Dimitru: So the smaller group began to quote verses from the Bible and they began to sing a song. Our voices thundered so loudly that the dark army began to retreat. (These are the people on the right. These are the sheep with Jesus' DNA.) The enemy did not have the courage to come against us anymore. Lucifer, filled with rage, turned to those on the left. (Those on the left are the three-quarters majority of the Christians.) “You, who all of your life have been trying to please two masters, because you could not stand against me, I have the power to destroy you.” That is true. He's been given that power to destroy people who are in unbelief and, in these end times, we have very little time left to learn to walk in the Kingdom of God.  Satan's going to be cast down. He knows he has a short time left (Revelation 12:9,12). He's going to fight furiously. He and his army and the people whom they inhabit are going to come against us with great fury, but we have a weapon that they can't resist. The problem is that far too many of God's people don't use that weapon; they don't use the promises of the Word of God. The Word is our Sword and the demons cannot stand up to that. We see here that those people who, all their life, tried to serve two masters, had no protection. They tried to serve both self and the Lord; they were double-minded (James 1:7-8). They were found to be lukewarm and there was no protection for these people (Revelation 3:16).  We need to get our armor on, we need to be on fire for God, and we need to learn to fight. (Eph. 6:10) Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].  (13) Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Jesus' DNA. In this revelation, when Lucifer said, “I have the power to destroy you,” who gave him that power? The back slidden Church did. They are the ones who have been given authority on earth to bind or to loose, and here they have loosed Satan because of their unbelief, their double-mindedness, and their lukewarmness.) He then ordered his army to attack. It was a total massacre. The ones on the left could not defend themselves. (Could you imagine that three-quarters of Christianity could not defend themselves right now? It seems fairly obvious. “Many are called but few are chosen.”  One by one, they all fell. This killing seemed to go on for a long time (I believe that this killing is not just physical, but spiritual, because many of these people are going to lose their eternal life like the faction who lost both.), and after a while, we could actually smell the stench of the dead. “Why could they not be protected also?” someone asked. The angel answered, “Because all their lives, they have been lukewarm. Because of their hypocrisy, the true church has been blasphemed.” (Speaking, of course, of the quarter who went to the right, the sheep. They have been blasphemed. They have been accused by the world because of the hypocrisy of the false church, the three-quarters of the people who went to the left.) “They have brought disrespect to the Word of God.” (It's true; today we see people just scoff at the Word of God. Even “Christians” scoff at the Word of God.  In the midst of a trial, you may share the Word of God with them but they'll choose to cling to the idol, the stronghold in their mind. They'll choose their idol instead of (2Co. 10:5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Satan has been able to set-up a stronghold in their mind because they're worshiping false gods. They have a false Jesus, as Paul said. (2Co. 11:4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with [him]. That false Jesus can't save you because he's not the Word of God.  The true Jesus is the Word of God; the true Jesus is our Sword. He can save. He will save all those who respect Him. All through the Old Testament, God warns us about the danger of worshiping idols, like religions and their preachers. It's sad that so many Christians today worship a Jesus that does not exist. Their “Jesus” is nothing more than demons (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:17; 1 Corinthians 10:20) that they have set up as their idols and they will not save. Satan does not cast out Satan, as Jesus told the Pharisees. (Mat. 12:26) … Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: (26) and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?  If you are following, worshiping, and putting your faith in a false Jesus, he will not save you. “Anti-Christ” means not only “against Christ,” but also “in the place of Christ.” The devil likes to replace the real Jesus with a false Jesus because that way, when you put your trust in him, he will fail you. And this is what's going to happen in the days to come, according to Dimitru's dream. Three-quarters of the church is going to have their false “Jesus” fail them.  God explained to me that He does not answer when you trust in a false Jesus because then you would be giving credit to your false Jesus, and other people would trust in him too. When that happens, and when their false Jesus fails to save them, people blame God. They complain, “But I believed!” No, they didn't believe because their faith was in a false Jesus who couldn't save. Satan will never cast out Satan.  The angel went on to say of those who were killed by Lucifer's army, “They were not clean.” You have no authority to swing the Sword unless you're “clean,” unless your conscience is not condemning you. (1Jn. 3:21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; (22) and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.  The devil conquers those people who are walking in sin and rebellion and defilement. Even though they intellectually know all about faith and how it works, they're not able to use faith. It takes faith to swing the Sword. If you are unholy, the devil will pick that point of uncleanness to jump on you and condemn you so that you can't have faith. You will have fear instead. This is faith in reverse and an invitation to Satan to take you down. You can give-in to the temptations of fear and doubt that the devil fires at you in the midst of the fiery trial, or you can fight. Be sure to confess your sins so that the devil can't use condemnation against you. 1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Then you can swing your Sword with bold faith and you will win. 1Jn 3:21-22  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;  22  and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. 2Ti. 1:7 For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.  The word translated as “discipline” comes from the Greek sóphrón meaning “of sound mind; self-controlled; balanced.” Any fear that comes against you is from the devil; it's not from God. Jesus told us that we should fear only God (Matthew 10:28). The fear of the Lord is good, because every child should fear that their father will spank them if they're going in the wrong direction. In that way, we should always fear God, but the Lord isn't going to lead you by fear all the time, and if you feel that way, you're probably being moved by the devil.  Scripture tells us, (Rom.8:15) For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Since God's method of leading His children is not fear, whenever fear comes upon you, you need to make war against it immediately. You need to stop whatever you're doing and cast down the thoughts that the devil is putting in your mind. Cast down those pictures that the devil is putting in your mind, and make war against that spirit, because otherwise he will conquer you.  Back to Dimitru: As we continued to look, we saw the sun coming over the horizon. I think that represents the coming of the Lord. The black clouds began to break up, then they disappeared. Only one was left, the one on which Lucifer and his army stood. Lucifer looked at me, shaking his fist, and said, “I will destroy you, even if I have to throw my spear at you from here.” Then that cloud disappeared. …The first thought that came to my mind as I awoke was that this had been the last fight of the devil against the church. If we remain faithful, we will be victorious. Yes! Amen.  So get ready, saints! Put on your armor, because this battle, the last war against the Church, is coming at us right now. (Rev. 13:1) … And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy. (7) And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. The “beast” that's warring with the saints here is made up of all the fleshly vessels whom this army from the pit is going to inhabit.  This awesome revelation from Dimitru shows us very clearly that if you don't walk holy before God, your faith is going to fail you. (1Jn. 3:19) Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him (You have to have this assurance in your heart if you're going to do battle with the devil. He knows everything about you.): (20) because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. If you're condemned by what you know about yourself, just think what God knows about you (Psalm 139:1-24). However, if you're walking with the Lord by faith, it's only the things that you know about, but don't do, that He holds against you. It's not the things that you don't know. (Jas. 4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.  Of course, if you're walking in rebellion against the Lord then your sins are not covered. (Heb. 10:26) For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. In that case, you have no assurance in your heart, so the first time you get into trouble and you try to swing your Sword, the devil's going to jump on you like a mad dog. He's going to remind you of all of your sins and then you're not going to have any faith. (1Jn. 3:21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; (22) and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.  You know, we all have people who depend upon us: friends, relatives, people for whom we've prayed, children who are our responsibility. Scripture says, (Rom. 14:7) For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. The Lord wants to use us to save others and the day is coming when God is going to need you as a vessel of honor in the midst of many people. He is going to need you to save, to deliver, to bring the Gospel, and so on.  Now, more than ever before in history, we need to repent and be sanctified. We need to walk holy before the Lord. The Bible says, (Rom. 6:11) Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. You see, the Lord has already delivered us by faith, and He uses our faith to manifestly deliver us. He uses the Word of God in our mouth (Jesus' DNA), which is our confession, to manifestly deliver us and others from the power of sin.  God is the One (Col. 1:13) who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. It happened at the Cross, and we need to confess it, but we won't be able to confess it in the midst of the fiery trial if we're walking in willful disobedience. We won't have any faith to swing our Swords. (Psa. 91:7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; [But] it shall not come nigh thee.  He's talking about the person who is not afraid, the person who is in the secret place of the Most High because of their faith. He's talking about the person who is confessing that faith, the faith of Psalm 91. When He says, “A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand,” do you suppose that some of those are Christians? Yes, I guarantee at least some of these people are what we call “Christians,” and it's sad. The Lord cries when this happens, and we do, too. A multitude of people, obviously, are not prepared for what's about to come, but God can use your witness to them. You can share the true Gospel with many people who don't know the true, full Gospel. Other people have rejected the full Gospel and they are not prepared to swing their Sword at all. Pray for them. Remember that someone in the revelation had to ask, “What swords?” Before you go to battle, you ought to know what your Sword is, you ought to know how to swing it, and you ought to be experienced in using it, because (Rom. 1:17) … the righteous shall live by faith. We don't have any choice. The devil's not going to ask us if we want to make war with him; he's already making war with us. The people who are abiding in the secret place of the Most High, which is Jesus Christ, are full of Jesus' DNA and are ready to swing the Sword. They have repented of and confessed their sins, therefore they can be bold in their faith.  I've heard people say, usually from among the non-Spirit-filled groups, that Psalm 91 is for the Millennium or something silly like that, as if it's not true for us right now. Well, if you believe that, you have no Sword. You're going to be in the three-quarters group that goes to the left and is whipped by Satan in the end times. If you don't believe in the full Gospel and the power of the Spirit of God, how can you escape?  If you don't believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the promises of the Word of God, how can you escape? How can you escape “the pestilence that walketh in darkness” or “the destruction that wasteth at noonday”? Do you know enough of the Word of God, having Jesus' DNA, to know that it's your right to escape these things? If you don't, you're not going to escape.  Jesus said, (Mat.9:29) … According to your faith be it done unto you, and (Mat.8:13) … As thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. Jesus saw the faith. (Mat.9:2) And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven. (3) And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. (4) And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? (5) For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk? (6) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go up unto thy house. (7) And he arose, and departed to his house. (8) But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority unto men.  He had the authority to administer the blessing when He saw the faith. The faith He saw was in actions, it wasn't just words, it wasn't just theology in somebody's head. He saw the actions, (Rom. 10:10) for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Get prepared, saints. The war is coming. It's not going to wait on you. It's not going to wait on me. It's coming. It will be on time.  If, as Joshua and Caleb, you don't believe the bad report but speak in agreement with the Word of God (Numbers 14:6-8), you will be like those people who did not worry about the giants. (Num. 14:9) Only rebel not against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land (This is speaking of the giants in the Promised Land.); for they are bread for us: their defense is removed from over them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. You'll be among those people who make it through the wilderness. You'll be among those people who enter into the Promised Land in your body. That's what they did.  (Num.14:30) Surely ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware that I would make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. The rest did not; they died out there in that wilderness because of their murmuring, their complaining, and their unbelief (Numbers 14:28-32).  They were constantly being tried by the devil. They constantly heard his horror stories in their head about what would happen to them because they couldn't see any water or other supply around them. The devil was constantly making war in their minds and he was beating them up badly. We're going to the same place. The Lord calls it the “wilderness” but it's also called the “Tribulation.” That's where war is going to be made on the saints, and that's where a separation is going to be made.  That's where a separation of the hot from the lukewarm and the cold, the sheep from the goats, and the wheat from the tares, is going to be made. (Psa.91:7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; [But] it shall not (Let me repeat that in case you missed what it says, it shall not. And here it is again, just to be sure you read it correctly, it shall not come nigh thee.)  What makes the difference between those who are taken out and those who remain? Well, it's something that we shouldn't leave out. (Heb. 4:1) Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. The Lord is telling us to fear that we're not appropriating all the promises of God, all of the Word of God, because God created this DNA to be our defense. (2) For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us… Not just “good tidings” but awesome tidings! There are promises for any problem, and there are even promises that cover everything, such as (Mar. 11:24) Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them.  So, if you can't remember one that fits your particular problem, Jesus gave us those “catch-all” promises you can use. (Heb. 4:2) For indeed we have had good tidings (That's the Gospel, the Good News.) preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard.  It does you no good to go to Sunday school; it does you no good to read your Bible unless you're going to exercise faith in what you're reading, and it doesn't matter if your church is in agreement or not. Don't leave out one promise as your promise; take each promise as if it's been made personally to you because any promise you leave out is a Sword you're not using and its part of the DNA. That's “sitting” on your Sword. (Heb.4:3) For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  The works of God have already been finished. Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). As soon as God spoke it, it was so. He spoke the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). He ordained a Savior before Adam ever fell. The whole plan was spoken into existence and nothing could stop it. It was so, just because God said it, and everything that we see now that's coming to pass, is coming to pass because God said it. “The works were finished from the foundation of the world.”  Whose works do you want to enter into? You can enter into God's works through faith in His promises. You can be a vessel of honor. You can be a vessel who is in that one-quarter of Christians that knows they can conquer Satan. Or, you can be in the three-quarters of Christians that are lukewarm, that have their idolatrous religion but no Sword. They don't believe in the full Gospel, which you're going to need to make it through what's coming upon the earth. They don't believe in the in-filling of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of the gifts (Romans 11:29,12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11,27-29; 1 Corinthians 14:1) so they're not empowered to walk as He walked with His DNA where they need to go.  You know, when we enter into His rest, we enter into a rest from our enemies because they're dead; Jesus gave us total victory over them. Jesus said, (Mat.28:18) … All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. That doesn't leave any authority for the devil. Then He turned to His disciples and He delegated that authority to them. (Mat.18:18) Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (19) Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. (Joh.20:21) Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  Jesus had authority, and He spoke it, and the devils trembled. That same Jesus lives in you. To the extent that you humble yourself to the Word of God, and you believe the Word, and you're becoming the Word made flesh, to that extent Jesus' DNA lives in you. All you have to do is cooperate with Him. (Amo.3:3) Shall two walk together, except they have agreed? If you want that same Jesus to live in you, to conquer your enemies, to speak out of you, to swing the Sword and to do the works, then you have to come into agreement with Him. When you read the Word of God, repent, change your mind and believe what it says. We have to agree with it so that we don't restrain it from coming out of us.  If you're uncomfortable confessing anything that's in the Word of God, if you're uncomfortable repeating it, this is how you know you've been taken captive by false religion and false doctrine. If some of the Word of God is not comfortable in your mouth, then naturally you're not going to let it flow out of you, for how “shall two walk together, except they have agreed?” God warned His people about bringing forth “strange children” that don't look like their Father (Hosea 5:7).  The problem is with us, it's not with God. Being a Christian is being very peculiar, very contrary, to the world. They're total opposites. If you want to please the world, you can't be a Christian. If you don't want to be sanctified from the ways of the world, you can't be a Christian. You can call yourself a “Christian,” but you can't be one, because “Christian” means “Christ-like” and they crucified Him. We have to be willing to lose our life in order to gain our life (Luke 17:33). We have to be willing to be seen as different, even “peculiar.” (1Pe. 2:9 KJV) But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Jesus said there are just two men in the earth: Christ and anti-Christ (Matthew 24:40-41). There are only two corporate bodies in this earth. There's not going to be anyone left in the middle because God calls that being “lukewarm.” (Rev. 3:16) So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. You have to make up your mind. Are you going to lose your life in order to gain your life? (2Co. 4:16) Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. As you lose ground to the old man of self, you give ground to the spiritual man, (Col. 1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Jesus is not going to have any trouble with this warfare that's coming, and Jesus in you by His DNA is not going to have any trouble, either, but how “Shall two walk together, except they have agreed?” We have to come into agreement with Him. We have to read the Word, and when we read the Word, we have to decide, “I don't care what some man says; I agree with what this says.” Then it becomes comfortable for you to speak all of the Word of God, but there are so many people, so many who can't do that. They may read the Word of God, but instead of coming into agreement, they deliberately jump over anything that makes them uncomfortable. They've been taken captive and they need to repent.  When you read the Word of God, as the Lord told me many years ago, “Don't eat like a hog; eat like a cow.” Cows are ruminants. That means a cow chews its food, then brings it back up and chews it again, brings it back up and chews it again. With a hog, it just goes right in one end and right out the other end. It doesn't even get digested. This Word has to be a part of us. We must meditate on it. (Psa.1:2) But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And on his law doth he meditate day and night. We want to be disciples of Jesus. We want to learn to walk in His steps. When that Word just comes flowing out of you like a river of living water, look out devil! There isn't anything he can do against that.  Jesus told His disciples, (Joh. 14:12) Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. And, (Joh. 7:38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. (39) But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet [given]; because Jesus was not yet glorified. He also said in (Joh. 6:63) It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.  When your words agree with His words, your words are His Spirit. The Lord recreates in us His Spirit by His Words, and we're able to recreate Jesus by speaking His words. We're supposed to sow the same seed that He sowed, that His disciples sowed, that His apostles sowed because He is the Father of eternity. We're supposed to sow the Word of God. Never depart from the Word of God. God's people must learn that religion crumbles in the face of adversity. Religion is no defense against what's coming. Satan laughs at it. The leaders of it in Jesus day were from beneath and of their father the devil. Throughout history, the merely religious have crumbled before the advances of the devil. There is no defense but the Word of God. No helmet, no sword, no shield, but the Word of God. Use Psalm 91 like a Helmet, Sword, and Shield because it's a defense. It's called “The Soldier's Psalm” because so many soldiers have been saved by claiming it. You are a soldier for the Lord, so don't let anybody talk you out of Psalm 91. It's saved many lives and it's for today. It's a part of the blessings of God for the faithful.  The demons administer the curse of sin and death. (Luk. 10:17) And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name. (Wouldn't it be great if all Christians learned that lesson?) (18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from the heaven. He was talking about exactly what they were doing. He and His disciples were casting Satan down. (19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. (20) Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.  Some people think Jesus used “over all the power of the enemy” a little too loosely but no, He means exactly what He says, and we have to learn to exercise this authority. “Authority” is “the right to use God's power or restrain the devil's power.” I'd rather have that kind of authority than personal fleshly power. In fact, you can even have authority to use the devil's power.  The apostle Paul did that several times (1 Corinthians 5:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:18-20). He turned people over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh so that the spirit would be saved in the day of the Lord. He used the devil's power, and the devil couldn't resist him. The devil had to do what Paul told him to do. It's the same today. Jesus said, “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth … Go ye, therefore…” He delegated that authority to His disciples to go and to use His power. You have the authority to use God's power. That's what the Word is all about.  You can be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2), but someone whose mind is not renewed is not trustworthy. If they had power, they would do foolish things. However, when we repent and we accept the Word of God as our Word, our thought, our belief, that puts us in agreement with Jesus. When we're in agreement with Jesus, then we can walk together and Jesus can do works through us. (Mat. 11:29) Take my yoke (That's the Greek word zugos derived from zygós and it's “something that unites or joins two elements to work together as one unit.”) upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. “Take my yoke,”  Jesus said to yoke yourself to Him. And so He says in, (Luk. 10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. Nothing shall hurt you. Oh, praise God! Believe that! Meditate on that! Rejoice in that!

 CHRIST, THE LIFE AND LIGHT OF MEN John 1:1-5 The Gospel of John has been well called "the Gospel of Eternity," for it is the Gospel of God. John was a specially prepared vessel for this very honorable ministry. He had been from his youth a beloved apostle. "His head had rested on the Lord's breast, he had stood beside the Cross, had witnessed the Ascension, had cherished till her death the Mother of the Lord, had seen the Jewish dispensation closed and the Holy City overthrown, and to him the beatific visions of the Apocalypse had been granted" (Alford Plummer). The great purpose of this Gospel is very fittingly expressed in chapter John 20:31. "These have been written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life in His Name." All the keywords of his Gospel are found in this verse. The opening words of this chapter are among the most profound ever penned by the hand of man. They reveal a three-fold relationship of the Lord Jesus Christ in His: 1. RELATIONSHIP TO GOD He is called the Word, the "Logos." Christ Himself is the uttered speech and thought of God. He is the visible expression of the invisible God. "For the life which was with the Father was manifested unto us" (1 John 1:2). This Word was in the beginning. "The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His ways...I was daily His delight" (Pro. 8:22-30). The Word was with God. Yes, more, the Word was God. Man's finite mind cannot grasp the mystery of the Trinity, but the devout believer can bow and adore. That He who was in the form of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God, should make Himself of no reputation, taking upon Him the form of a servant, and dying on a Cross for the sin of the world, is a mystery of grace that can only be fathomed by the mystery of the Trinity. 2. RELATIONSHIP TO CREATION "All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3). Paul taught the same doctrine, "God... created all things by Jesus Christ" (Eph. 3:9) It pleased God to bring the old creation into being through the instrumentality of His Son; it has also pleased Him that the new   creation should be "in Christ Jesus." By Him He made the worlds (Heb. 1:2), and by Him He seeks also to redeem this world lost in sin. He by whom God made all things has also made peace by the Blood of His Cross. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Word of God holds the same position towards the new creation as He did to the old. "Without Him was not anything made." Without Him God did nothing, so without Him we can do nothing. All things were created by Him and for Him, and by Him all things consist or hold together. He is the center and support of all, as well as the Maker. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev. 4:11). If all things were created for His pleasure, surely He shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied. 3. RELATIONSHIP TO MEN "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." Why is the Life spoken of as the light of men, and not of creation? He has made the Light of the material universe, but He is the Light of men. Man is something distinct from and superior to other created things. He is a personality that needs the Divine Personality to meet his every want. "In Him was life." The source of life was in Him, and God, in giving us His Son hath given to us eternal life (1 John 5:11). The life manifested in Christ Jesus is the true light which should lighten every man coming into the world. I am come that they might have life. Christ as the Word of God is that living bread which came down from Heaven, that a man may eat and not die. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Then observe- 1) What this light is – "The life was the light." 2) Where this light shines – "The light shineth in darkness." Christ as the Light did not shine on the darkness of the world, but in the darkness. He was made flesh, and dwelt among us. His own words are, "I am come a light into the world" (John 12:46). The purpose of the light is to overcome the darkness. The center of this darkness is the human heart. The God who commanded light to shine out of darkness is He who hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of God (2 Cor. 4:6). 3) The effect of its shining – "The darkness comprehended it not." Two words are used in the Revised Version-one in the text and the other in the margin- which if taken separately bring out the twofold result of this   shining of the true light. (1) The darkness apprehended it not. The darkness of willful unbelief remained unconscious of the dawning of this new day – "they knew not the time of their visitation" (Luke 19:42-44). (2) The darkness overcame it not. Thank God, that in the case of many the darkness of sin and fear was not able to overcome or resist the bright shining of His truth. No matter how dense the darkness is, it cannot in any way overcome the purity or purpose of the light. The light shines on, but men may condemn themselves by loving the darkness rather than the light (John 3:19).

Jesus comes to the disciples in order to give them a Word. This Word turns fear into peace and doubt into faith. Christ continues to deliver this same Word to us through proclamation and the sacraments.

Glory be to God! Welcome everyone to Episode #775, Season 8. **

Old Testament: Isaiah 55:10–13 Psalm: Psalm 84; antiphon: v. 4 Epistle: Hebrews 4:9–13 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 11:19—12:9 Gospel: Luke 8:4–15 Introit: Psalm 44:1–2, 7–8; antiphon: vv. 23, 25a, 26a Gradual: Psalm 83:18, 13 Tract: Psalm 60:1–2, 5 Scripture Alone   The Sower sows the seed of His Word (Luke 8:4–15). This Word is living and powerful (Heb. 4:9–13) to conceive new life in those who hear it. But the planting of Christ is attacked by the devil, the world, and the flesh. Satan snatches the Word away from hard hearts. The riches and pleasures of this life choke off faith. Shallow and emotional belief withers in time of temptation and trouble. But see how Christ bears this attack for us! Christ's cross was planted in the hard and rocky soil of Golgotha. A crown of thorns was placed upon His head. Satan and His demons hellishly hounded and devoured Him. Yet, through His dying and rising again, He destroyed these enemies of ours. Jesus is Himself the Seed which fell to the ground and died in order that it might sprout forth to new life and produce much grain. In Him, the weak are strong (2 Cor. 11:19–12:9). He is the Word of the Father which does not return void (Is. 55:10–13) but yields a harvest hundredfold.

January 8, 2024 Today's Reading: Genesis 1:1-5Daily Lectionary:Ezekiel 2:1-3:11; Romans 1:18-32In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Word and Light. These are the first things to be present in all of Creation. God utters these words: “Let there be light,” and then there is. With just a few words and a couple days, all things in the universe, every last atom, rock, plant, animal, planet, and element, came into being, and this light showers over it all from day one.  And even here, in the very beginning, before humanity is even created, we see our Lord Jesus present. The evangelist John shows us this plainly as he begins his Gospel in this very same way, with Word and Light. John says that this Word, through which all things were made, is the Christ, and that He is the light of the world. Christ scatters the darkness, so that in the light, there is no darkness at all. At the very foundations of this world, our Lord Jesus is already delivering His gifts to you: His undying light and love-filled Word. All good things come to you through the Word of God that spoke all that we know into existence. This Word guides and sustains you, bringing the gifts of forgiveness, faith, life, and salvation to you. The light of Christ dispels the darkness. In this light, we see Christ more clearly. In this Word, God's promises are delivered directly to our ears. Even in our suffering on earth, where we may feel blind, as if we cannot see the light of Christ, or feel deaf to the words God speaks to us, the Word and Light of God remain present with you. This same Lord, who created all things in the beginning, comes to you today through Word and Sacrament, providing you through His love that has been present since even before He uttered the words: “Let there be light.”  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Of the Father's Love Begotten, ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore. (LSB 384:1)-Vicar Benjamin Heinz is vicar at Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, MO.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.The Lutheran Reader's Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God's Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.

The power of God will keep you in perfect health, divine strength, and total victory in middle of your circumstance. This Word today will break off you every ceiling of limitation and unlock in your life a greater experience of His miraculous power! This message was recorded live at the Apostolic Global Church in Pensacola, Florida. For more information about the ministries of Doctors Christian and Robin Harfouche, visit https://globalrevival.com. Give Online: https://glb.re/3u16EgY --- Begin your spiritual education with IMI today. Scholarships Available: https://glb.re/3QzktMI Learn More: https://glb.re/3QxfgVz --- Connect With Us +Doctor Christian Harfouche Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianHarfoucheMinistries/ +Doctor Christian Harfouche Twitter: https://twitter.com/drharfouche/ +Doctor Christian Harfouche Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harfouche_/

Web Description: The feasts are a divine time in which we can break through into things that are available to us. And I believe that Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, this year is one of those times. As we celebrate these days of Sukkot, let us finish them with a drive of spirit that says we will walk with God, we will obey His Word, and we will love Him with all our hearts and souls. We are able to do this because His provision and equipping has enabled us.   Show Notes: In the previous podcast we discussed how the Feast of Tabernacles is a time to celebrate the preparation God has for us in this life, just as Israel observed the feast as a remembrance of their preparation in the wilderness. A major aspect of that preparation was the Lord commanding His people to love Him with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their might. He also told them, “This commandment is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.” God was not commanding them to do something that He was not also enabling them to do.   Now apply this to yourself as a believer in Christ today. John reminds us that we do not have a new commandment. It is the same commandment we have heard from the beginning. We know that we are to love the Lord with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves but obeying that sometimes seems too difficult or out of reach. We need this realization that if God tells us to do something He also equips us and enables us to do it.   Therefore, we cannot continue making excuses for not loving God and observing His commandments to us, especially in these days in which we live. There is an urgency on this age to obey God, just as He spoke to Israel. So as you continue to celebrate this great Feast of Tabernacles, I encourage you to reach in with an even greater faith that God will enable you to love Him with all your heart in order to please Him and be capable of performing the works that He has prepared for us.   Key Verses:   •       Deuteronomy 30:5–8. “God will circumcise your heart … to love the LORD your God with all your heart.” •       Deuteronomy 30:9–14. “This commandment … is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.” •       Deuteronomy 30:15–20. “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live.” •       2 John 1:4–6. “This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning.” •       Leviticus 19:18. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” •       Romans 10:6–8. “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART.” •       Deuteronomy 6:4–13. “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” •       Jeremiah 31:33. “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it.”   Quotes:   •       “God doesn't command you to do something that He doesn't also equip you and enable you to do.” •       “We can do this. He's putting it in our heart. He's putting the words of faith in our mouth that we may speak them into existence.” •       “This promise comes not because you say, “I'm saved,” and you go on and live your life in some other way. It comes because we literally live a life in which we love the Lord our God with all of our heart, and we obey His voice.”   Takeaways:   1.    This is not out of reach for us. We can do this. We can come into the reality of loving the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul. This Word is near us. It is in our mouths and our hearts that we may observe it. 2.    There are Words that He has commanded us. There are the Words that He has put upon our hearts. And we have to stop saying, “This is too difficult for us.” It is not too difficult. God has made it possible. 3.    This idea of loving God with all our hearts and observing His statutes and His instructions to us really is life or death, prosperity or adversity. I am ready to celebrate this Feast of Tabernacles in such a way that we come out of it living in days of life and prosperity, and we walk away from the age of death and adversity.    

Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (Mt. 22:21) Jesus has entered Jerusalem and people have acclaimed that he is the ‘Son of David'. This is a royal title that Matthew's Gospel attributes to the Christ who has come to announce that the Kingdom of God is eminent. In this context, a unique dialogue takes place between Jesus and a group of people who question him. Some are Herodians and others are Pharisees, two groups that held differing views with respect to the power of the Roman emperor. They ask him whether or not he judges it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor and thus force him to take sides for or against Caesar and, therefore, create the basis to make possible accusations against him. But Jesus answers with another question about the image stamped on the coinage of the time. Since it is that of Caesar's, he replies: Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. But what is due to the emperor, Caesar, and what is due to God? Jesus recalls the primacy of God: for just as the image of the emperor was stamped on the Roman coins, so the image of God is stamped on every human being. The rabbinic tradition itself affirms that every person is created in the likeness of God,[i] just as Caesar's image was imprinted on coinage. So, it is logical that Jesus' statement holds true and gives us the answer to the question that was asked of him. Therefore, it is to God alone that we can give ourselves completely. To him alone we belong and in him we find freedom and dignity. No human power can claim the same allegiance. ‘If there is anyone who knows God and can help us give him his rightful place, it is Jesus. For him ... to love meant doing the Father's will with all his mind, heart, energy and life. He gave himself entirely to the plan his Father had for him. The Gospel shows us that his focus was always upon the Father .... He asks the same of us: to love means to do the will of the Father, without half measures, but with our whole being. We are asked to do this wholly and completely because we cannot give God anything less than everything.[ii] Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. Often we are faced with dilemmas or difficult choices that threaten to make us slip into the temptation of finding an easy way out. Jesus too was tested when faced with two ideological solutions but for him it was clear: the priority was the coming of the kingdom of God and the primacy of love. This Word of Life makes us ask if our hearts are won over by fame, making rapid progress in our careers, or other attractions the world has to offer. Do we give things their rightful place with God? Jesus' answer is an invitation for us to a serious and thorough discernment of values and what we place as a priority in our lives. Deep in our consciences we can discern a voice that is sometimes overpowered by other voices but, nevertheless, if we fine tune ourselves to His voice it will be recognizable. It is the voice that urges us to tirelessly seek ways of creating fraternity. It's the voice that always encourages us to renew this choice, even at the cost of going against the tide of current opinion. This is fundamental if we wish to build the foundations of genuine dialogue with others and try to find together adequate answers to the complexity of life. This does not mean we shirk personal responsibility towards society but that we offer ourselves in selfless service for the common good. During the time Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned and eventually executed for civil resistance towards Nazism, he wrote to his fiancée, ‘I do not mean the faith that flees the world, but the faith that endures in the world and loves and remains faithful to the earth, despite all the tribulations it brings us. Our marriage must be a “yes” to God's earth, it must strengthen our courage to work and create something on earth. I fear that Christians who dare to stand with only one foot on earth will have only one foot in heaven too.'[iii] Edited by Letizia Magri and the Word of Life team.[i] Cf Gen 1:26[ii] Chiara Lubich, Word of Life, Oct 2002[iii] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Maria von Wedemeyer, ‘Lettera alla Fidanzata' Brescia 1992

IntroductionWelcome back to Good Distinctions! Before we begin, I want to invite you to consider contributing financially to Good Distinctions. Good distinctions are the spice of life, and Teresa and I are enjoying producing content, finding good distinctions, igniting conversation, and inviting you all to do likewise! In order to continue, we need your help. Consider becoming a paid subscriber and show your support for as little as $5/month by clicking subscribe at gooddistinctions.comIn today's episode, we will take a quick walk through the Nicene Creed to examine what Catholics believe! Of course, the Catechism of the Catholic Church does a much better job than I will do here. And there are books that provide an even deeper dive. My goal here is to provide a 30,000 foot view of the Nicene Creed, the Symbol of Faith. The Creed has been referred to from ancient times as a Symbolon. The Greek word Symbolon means to “throw together” - the Creeds, as Symbols of Faith - draw the followers of Christ together in like belief. Scott Hahn, in his book on the Creed, refers to the recitation of the Nicene Creed at Holy Mass during the Liturgy of the Word as analogous to receiving Holy Communion during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In our public recitation of belief, we identify ourselves boldly as Christians in union with those around us and all those who have come before. The Niceno-Constantinopolitan CreedThe Nicene Creed, technically called the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, is professed every Sunday at Mass in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. In the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church and in our separated Orthodox brethren, this same Creed is professed in its original formulation.The only difference between the Creed of the East and West is the later addition of the phrase “and the Son” to the paragraph on the procession of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, this disagreement has caused great difficulty and division between Eastern and Western Christianity.The Nicene Creed arose from the first two ecumenical councils of the Church. The first ecumenical council is the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. and the second is the Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D. This Creed is ancient and it has preserved the faithful from a variety of heresies for over 1,600 years. To understand it is to understand what we believe as Catholics.Walking through the CreedLet's take a quick walk through the Creed and try to understand it a bit more in depth. Of course, each word in the phrase is packed with meaning and endless depth. Truly, the reality of our Faith is that we are diving into the mysteries of an infinite God. So, there is always more to learn.Paragraph 1 – God the FatherI believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.We believe in one God in three Persons. We do not believe in three gods. Our one God is not only our king and Lord, He is our Heavenly Father. We are His adopted son or daughter through Baptism. He created everything that we can see, but He also created all the things that we cannot see. For example, we believe in the angels, in our own souls, and in demons. God is Lord over all of it and has all might. Even though He is tremendously powerful, our God and Father draws us into a relationship with Him and invites us to share eternal blessedness in another invisible reality: Heaven.Paragraph 2 – The Lord JesusI believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven,The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity is the Word of God, the Son of God. This Word of God, Jesus Christ, proceeds from the Father. He was “born” and “begotten” but not made. This is a mystery that is very difficult to understand. Much ink has been spilled in theology on how Jesus can be both God and man. In other words, Jesus is fully God and He is eternal, just as the Father is eternal. This paragraph emphasizes that there is one God but the Father is nonetheless distinct as a Person from the Person of the Son. Though distinct Persons, these Persons share in the one metaphysical “substance” of the Godhead. This is what the word “consubstantial” means - the Son being of one substance with the Father. In others, the Person of the Son and the Person of the Father share in the one, same Divine Nature. The Council Fathers went to great lengths to combat the Arian heresy which claimed that Jesus was created and was not truly God. We believe that Jesus is fully God and fully man. As the Word of God, He has existed forever and will always exist. He proceeds from the Father as God from God and Light from Light, true God from true God. I will go into more detail on this in the fifth paragraph on the Holy Spirit.There is also the realization that it is through the Word of God that all things were made. God reveals to us in Genesis God speaks in order to create. He says, “Let there be light.” And there was light. Jesus Christ, the Word of God, was sent on a mission by the Father to come down from heaven in order to redeem humanity and offer us salvation.Paragraph 3 – The Incarnation and The Virgin Maryand by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.By the free choice of Mary, our Mother, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God took on flesh. Jesus Christ, the uncreated Word through which all things were made, condescended to share in our humanity. The almighty God emptied Himself and took on the form of a slave, to use the language of St. Paul.In the Latin Rite, there is a tradition of bowing during this paragraph in honor of the Incarnation. During the Liturgies for Christmas and the Feast of the Annunciation, we kneel down during this phrase when we recite the Creed. In the Roman Missal of 1962 and before, this practice of kneeling happens at every single Mass during the Last Gospel when the phrase “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” from John chapter 1 is uttered. If you have attended the Latin Mass, then you will be familiar with hearing the words “et Verbum caro factum est” and genuflecting.  The Incarnation is literally the “enfleshment” of Jesus; it is what we celebrate at Christmas. This paragraph marks one of the most important moments in human history. Our God became one of us.Paragraph 4 – The Paschal MysteryFor our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven  and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.This paragraph is directly connected to the previous. Jesus became man in order to accomplish the work of our salvation. It was for each of us that Jesus was crucified. The Council Fathers include “under Pontius Pilate” to show that this was an historical reality. It really happened. So too, Jesus truly rose from the dead on the third day after being buried.Forty days after rising from the dead, He lifted Himself up into Heaven in a mysterious fashion and He now reigns in Heaven as King at the right hand of the Father. We believe that He will come again in glory. This is what we call the Second Coming. At the second coming of Christ, we will all be judged; everything we have done will be laid bare and true justice will be accomplished. This second coming will result in the passing away of the old Heaven and the old Earth and the establishing of Jesus' everlasting kingdom.Paragraph 5 – The Holy SpiritI believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.We believe in one God in three Persons. The third Person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit, who we also rightly call Lord and the giver of life. God breathed life into the first man, after all. This holy breath of God is the Spirit which gives life and sustains life. He is glorified and loved as God, along with the Father and the Son. We believe that the Holy Spirit, before the Incarnation as well as after, inspired the prophets.The Trinity is the mystery of God, as He is. It is difficult to wrap our minds around this mystery in any meaningful way. Our metaphors are usually material, like a three-leaf clover or the states of water as ice, liquid, or vapor, and because they are material, they always fall short. God is spiritual, not material. The best explanation I have heard of the Blessed Trinity is from St. Augustine's Analogy of the Mind. I will try my best to offer a simplified version. Though, it is far from simple. And remember, this is an analogy. In our own minds, we have intellect and will. We know things and act freely. When we learn or know things, we have a procession of the intellect. When we act freely upon ourselves or the world, we have a procession of the will. If we analogously apply this understanding to the “mind of God,” we see a procession of the intellect and a procession of the will. God is perfect and so these processions must be infinite and perfect. The procession of the intellect, within the mind of God, is God the Father's perfect knowledge of Himself. This perfect image of Himself is the Son. The Son, in return, perfectly loves the Father. God is love. Therefore, the procession of His will is perfect love which proceeds as the love shared between the Father and the Son. This is the Holy Spirit. However, we must understand that He does not proceed in time, as He is as eternal as the Father and the Son. Paragraph 6 – The ChurchI believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.The Church of Jesus Christ is His Mystical Body. Before being an institution of human beings, the Church is divinely constituted. In other words, the Church was begun by the action of the Holy Trinity, is sustained by the Holy Trinity, and is ordered towards the Holy Trinity. Therefore the Church is holy, even if the human beings who compromise it are not always holy. The Church is one because Christ is one. She is also one in her teaching, preaching, governance, and means of sanctification. The Church is catholic because the Church is “universal.” Catholic means universal - the Greek is kata holon which means “according to the whole.” And the Church is apostolic because Christ founded it upon the Apostles and apostolic teaching and continued in governance and preaching by their successors. We enter into this Church through the one Baptism of Christ, by which we are cleansed of original sin, are grafted into Christ, and become adopted sons and daughters of God.We believe that when Christ comes again, we will be reunited with our bodies in a glorified way, similar to Christ's resurrected Body. We do not know exactly what this will look like. And we look forward to the life of the world to come which is eternal blessedness in the company of the angels and the saints in constant praise and love of God. We will want for nothing and all suffering will be no more.Paragraph 7 - AmenAmen.And finally… amen! Amen means “yes,” “so be it,” and “I believe.” It is the only ending to the Creed that we can offer as human beings. God has revealed all He is and all that He has done for us, and our confident and faithful “Amen” is the response of our heart. We should also keep in mind that the Creed does not exist apart from the Sacred Liturgy. The entire Liturgy of the Word, and especially the Creed, is preparing us for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In the Second Century, St. Justin Martyr writes in his Apologia that after the prayers of thanksgiving and consecration were finished by the priest, all responded by saying “Amen.” This is not simply a word found at the end of a conversation. It is not like saying, “Ok. Goodbye, God,” after a prayer is finished. St. Paul writes, “Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?” So, it would seem that the word Amen packs a punch. But what does it mean?Amen is a Hebrew word which means “so be it.” St. Augustine translated it as “it is true (Latin: verum est).” In  a tract explaining the Mass from the Middle Ages, we read, “Amen is a ratification by the people of what has been spoken, and it may be interpreted in our language as if they all said: May it so be done as the priest has prayed (Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907).”It is custom in most of the Rites of the Catholic Church, both East and West, to say “Amen” after receiving Holy Communion. In the Missale Romanum of 1962, the priest says, “Corpus Domini Nostri Iesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam, Amen (May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto life everlasting. Amen).” So, even though the communicant does not say “Amen” like in the Missale Romanum of 1970, the priest has said “Amen” for them. The language of “Amen” seems to be like a contract. When two people enter into an agreement with one another, they may mark it with a handshake and say, “so be it” or “I agree.” Is that what is happening at Mass? Certainly, what we are entering into at Mass is far more important, meaningful, lasting, and beautiful. Perhaps more than a contract, the “Amen” shows us that the language of the Mass is that of a covenant. A contract can be broken. A covenant cannot be broken.When we approach our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, we are approaching the Bridegroom as the Bride. We are uttering our wedding vows to the King of Heaven each time we receive Holy Communion. We are saying, “I do” when we say “Amen.” The meaning of the word is very close to this understanding. We are using the language of marriage to show that we are accepting the Bridegroom into our body and soul to remain with us always. As husband and wife become one flesh in marriage, the communicant and our Lord become one in the Eucharist. “Communion” means “one with.” We are becoming more closely joined to the Lord in reception of Holy Communion. Every time we say “Amen” we should clearly state what we are doing. We are giving our assent of Faith. We are not saying “Okay” or “Sure”, we are saying “so be it.” Do we know what we are saying “yes” to? Do we know what we are entering into? Our “yes” to God cannot be half-hearted or wishy-washy. It must be sure and resolute, by His grace. Our Lord Jesus is a strong proponent of authenticity and resolution. We hear in the Book of Revelation: “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth (Rev. 3:16).” And in the Gospel of St. Matthew: “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes' or ‘No'; anything more than this comes from evil (Mt. 5:37).” Let our Amen mean Amen. ConclusionI hope this brief reflection has been a help to you. Ideally, we will all continue to grow in our knowledge, love, and service of the Lord until the glorious day when we will see Him face to face in Paradise, God willing. Having the right belief on matters of doctrine is not a matter of triumphalism that we should lord over others. In humility and gratitude, we should accept this ancient formulation and symbolon and allow Jesus to enter us ever more fully into the heart and mind of the Church. If you have enjoyed this episode and feel that it has been a help to you, please share it on your own personal social media. And more importantly than that, please consider sharing Good Distinctions with 2-3 people at church or at work in person this week. The sort of topics that we are dealing with are universally applicable and should be of benefit to anyone and everyone. Also, if you are listening to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, please follow the show and leave a rating and review, that tells the algorithm that more people should listen to Good Distinctions. On YouTube, the best thing you can do is subscribe to the channel, like the episode, and leave a comment. If you are listening natively on Substack and you use Notes, please consider restacking this episode, liking it, or sharing it on your social media. Just a note on Substack - if you have not subscribed at gooddistinctions.com, please consider doing so. Besides the weekly video and audio episodes, we will be releasing quite a bit more written content (short Scripture reflections, commentaries on current events, or little reflections on various topics). You won't want to miss out on that. And as I said at the top of the show, if you believe in what Teresa and I are doing here at Good Distinctions, please consider becoming a paid subscriber for as little as $5/month to support our mission. We believe that good distinctions are the spice of life, of course. But our mission is this: to seek out the best distinctions, to reignite good conversations, and inspire others to do the same. Thanks for listening, reading, and watching. Good Distinctions are the Spice of Life! To end today, please join me in praying through the Nicene Creed. The Nicene CreedI believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Get full access to Good Distinctions at www.gooddistinctions.com/subscribe

FOCOLARE WORD OF LIFE – August 2023“Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” (Mt 15:28)Jesus is heading for the Gentile cities of Tyre and Sidon. He along with his disciples are looking for a place to get away and rest in solitude and prayer when a nameless woman shows up. The disciples tell Jesus to send her away. She doesn't let the fact that she is not an Israelite deter her, nor the fact that she is a woman, nor even the fact that the Master seems to ignore her. She is a mother, desperate for her daughter who is being "tormented by a demon." She approaches Jesus and firmly insists on a personal meeting with him. She prostrates herself before the Master and insists even more tenaciously for his help. Jesus responds: "It is not good to take food from the table and throw it to the dogs." The woman accepts the apparent refusal; she understands that her world is not part of Jesus' primary mission. She realizes that her God is not a grace-dispensing machine, but a Father who asks for honesty in the relationship with him, in which she acknowledges her spiritual poverty. Seemingly aware of that, the woman looks Jesus in the eye, and admits: “That is true, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.” Now she has Jesus' attention, and he is moved by her humility. The very loudness of her crying out, expresses the strength of her faith: "Lord! Son of David!"Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wishHer great faith is clear when she presented herself to Jesus. She approached and recognized Him as Lord. She prostrated herself before Him and asked for mercy. She remained unshaken in her conviction that even the impossible is possible for Jesus. She responded to his apparent refusal with the impeccable common sense of a mother whose strength is love and trust: “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table” (. . .) “and from that instant her daughter was healed.” This Word of Life is like a photograph of a lived faith at work in a human being. It also portrays the difficult journey of the first Christian community, which the Gospel of Matthew addresses, as it begins to open itself to the non-Jewish world that seeks and already cherishes such great faith.Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wishLike this woman of great faith who came to Jesus in a time of need, our faith might suffer because of an unforeseen event that upsets our plans; a serious illness, or a prolonged painful situation. We could also add, the lack of peace in the world, injustices, our ailing planet, as well as family and social conflicts. One of our weak spots might be a lack of perseverance and complete trust. God allows our faith to go through difficult and sometimes absurd situations, so that it can be refined and so that we can know how to abandon ourselves to him, believing that His love is far beyond our plans, our wishes, and our expectations. This was the case with Saliba, who had to leave his elderly parents behind in his hometown of Homs, Syria. His father's glass-cutting shop had been demolished during the war. Like other young people, Saliba thought he would have to seek new opportunities elsewhere. At the age of 22 he stubbornly continued to contribute what he could to the needy people in his town. He opened a convenience store where his fellow-citizens could find cheese, yogurt, and his mother's homemade butter. He sold beans, oils, spices, and coffee. He is slowly rebuilding and already has an electrical generator and refrigerator. On the days that his shop is closed, he distributes food to needy families.Edited by Victoria Gómez and the Word of Life team.

You are God's workmanship, but He is not finished with you yet. This Word is carrying the Faith necessary for you to believe about yourself what He has called you—someone who never settles and refuses to stop short of receiving His perfect will. This message was recorded live at the Apostolic Global Church in Pensacola, Florida. For more information about the ministries of Doctors Christian and Robin Harfouche, visit https://globalrevival.com. Give Online: https://glb.re/44xtXfV --- Begin your spiritual education with IMI today. Scholarships Available: https://glb.re/44J5JPy Learn More: https://glb.re/3DieJzA --- Connect With Us +Doctor Christian Harfouche Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianHarfoucheMinistries/ +Doctor Christian Harfouche Twitter: https://twitter.com/drharfouche/ +Doctor Christian Harfouche Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harfouche_/

In Matthew 7:13-27, we read some of the most compelling and sobering verses of Holy Scripture, that set forth the sacred criteria upon which genuine Salvation is held – and which put a death knell to Lucifer's counterfeit which presents a form of godliness – but that holds no power within it to provide the “new birth” regeneration miracle that alone leads to Eternal Life with the Father in Heaven.This Word of Eternal Life Truth needs to be heralded more urgently now than it has ever been; for as the Prophetic precursors that the Lord has set forth by His Word converge with dramatic confirmation that we have reached the last minutes of the Last Days – including the undeniable fact that the Days of Noah revisitation is upon us - and the super advanced technological innovations that will enable the Antichrist to wield his global control during the Tribulation Period are being readied as we speak,  it becomes more than certain that time is of the essence!Therefore, in this Study we will be addressing the Scriptural understanding of genuine and Saving Faith and how a man or woman can be certain that they have truly entered into Salvation's Blood Covenant with the Messiah of the world – Lord Jesus the Christ!Support the showVisit our website: https://agapelightministries.com/

Focolare Word of Life - July 2023“I promise you that whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of these lowly ones because he is a disciple will not want for his reward.” (Mt 10:42)The evangelist Matthew is a highly educated Christian scribe; he is thoroughly familiar with the promises of the God of Israel and for him Jesus' words and actions are their fulfilment. Therefore, in his Gospel he presents Jesus' teaching in the form of five great discourses, as if he is a new Moses. This Word of Life concludes the ‘missionary discourse' which begins with the choosing of the twelve apostles and explains what their preaching will involve. Jesus also speaks of the misunderstandings and persecutions they will encounter, which will require of them both credible witness and radical choices. But there is more: Jesus reveals that the sending of the disciples has its roots in the mission he himself received from the Father. This is a belief that was found in the Old Testament: God himself is present and engaged in his messenger. Therefore, through the witness of Jesus and those he sends, the very love of God reaches every person.“I promise you that whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of these lowly ones because he is a disciple will not want for his reward.”In addition to the specific mission of the apostles, the pastors and the prophets, Jesus announces that every Christian can be his disciple, as well as being a recipient and bearer of the same mission. As disciples, all of us can witness that God is near. It is the entire Christian community is sent to all of humanity because he is the Father of all. We have received attention, care, forgiveness, and trust from God through the actions of our brothers and sisters. We can give something to others so that they can experience the Father's tenderness, as Jesus did during his mission. This is the root of the belief that, in the Father, there is the guarantee that so-called ‘little things' can change the world. Even if this is only a glass of cold water. ‘It doesn't matter whether we can give much or little. What matters is how we give, how much love we put into even a small gesture that shows awareness of another person. Sometimes it is enough to offer them a glass of fresh water ... a simple gesture that is great in God's eyes if it is done in his name, that is, out of love. ... This month's Word of Life may help us to rediscover the value of everything we do: from work in the house or at the place where we work dealing with paperwork, schoolwork or with the responsibilities we have in the civil, political, and religious fields. Everything can be transformed into attentive and caring service. Love will give us a new sense of awareness to other's needs so we can serve them with creativity and generosity. As a result of this new way of thinking there will be consequences. The gifts we give will circulate because love calls for love. Joy will multiply because there is more joy in giving than in receiving.“I promise you that whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of these lowly ones because he is a disciple will not want for his reward.”What Jesus asks of us is very demanding: he is asking us not to stop the flow of God's love. He asks us to reach out with open hearts to every man and woman and offer concrete service, overcoming our prejudices and judgments. He wants our active, creative, and responsible cooperation for the common good, starting from the small things of every day, but at the same time he will not fail to reward us. He will always be at our side, to take care of us and accompany us in this mission. ‘... I left my job in the Philippines and went to Australia to be with my family ... I found a job as a cleaner at a construction site. I had to take care of the dining rooms, locker rooms, offices and canteen that were used by more than 500 workers. It was a completely different job from the one I had before as an engineer ... Out of love for others, I made sure that the dining rooms were always clean and tidy. However, there are people who do not care about cleanliness .... I have not lost patience because it is an opportunity for me to love Jesus in each person I meet. Gradually, these people began to clean up after lunch and then over time we became friends and I began to gain trust and respect from them, ... I have seen that love is contagious and that anything that is done out of love remains.'Edited by Letizia Magri and the Word of Life Team

Only God is repeating God's Name. The highest version of you is the only one that can remember to take the Name. When you're hearing the Name within, you're being your highest Self. So sit up higher. Look higher. What do you hear? This is (Y)our Silence. Only (Y)our Silence will save you. And you don't have to silence your thoughts to hear It. You don't have to silence me to hear It. You don't have to silence your children, your husband, your wife to hear It. You are It. Say that- "I Am it.I Am That. I'm the One, that serves the One,appearing as the all.When I'm chanting the Name, my highest GoOD is happening.  It is being done and It is done.  I Love you, I Am you, nik Support the show▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings__________________________________________Today's Quotes:    "...the Christian Bible says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) This Word is the inner Sound. It has also been called the Logos, Shabd, Tao, Soundstream, Naam, or the Celestial Music. Master Ching Hai says, "It vibrates within all life and sustains the whole universe. This inner Melody can heal all wounds, fulfill all desires, and quench all worldly thirst. It is all powerful and all love. It is because we are made of this Sound that contact with it brings peace and contentment to our hearts. After listening to this Sound, our whole being changes and our entire outlook on life is greatly altered for the better."-http://www.Godsdirectcontact.eu "The mind is just what you are imagining awareness to be. Hence awareness of awareness and awareness of the mind are the same thing."-PJS @Peterstoughton via IG "Meditation pauses the story in your mind long enough for you to remember that your mind is always telling you a story."-@HeyCoryAllen via IG "WhatDo Sad people have inCommon?It seemsThey have all built a shrineTo the pastAnd often go thereAnd do a strange wail andWorship.What is the beginning of Happiness?It is to stop beingSo religiousLike That."-Hafiz“Turning to the gathering, Ma quoted a bhajan: ‘Parama divya, parama gopya, mantra Ram-naam.' (Deeply divine, precious secret, the mantra Ram-naam.) She went on to explain that Maharaj ji used to say, ‘Raam-naam mein itni shakti hai ki vidhi ka likha anka bhi mit jaataa hai.' (Such is the power in the name of Ram that even what has been predetermined in our destiny can be rewritten!)”-Sri Siddhi Ma: The Story of Neem Karoli Baba's Spiritual Legacy by Jaya Prasada“Two syllables, the name of Ram, no one wants to take! Even the impossible becomes possible with the name of Ram. This was the summum bonum of Maharajji.:-Sri Siddhi Ma: The Story of Neem Karoli Baba's Spiritual Legacy by Jaya Prasada“Just take Ram's name and all desires will be fulfilled.” He had created this entire situation to teach me that!”-Miracle of Love: Stories about Neem Karoli Baba by Ram Dass (related by Dada)"His WillHis WayMy Faith"-Satya Sai Baba  “Shirdi Sai Baba has said that Namasmarana, or the constant inward repetition of the Name, is actually God remembering Himself within us. The power of the presence of God is carried in the Name: Beginning with simple repetition, gradually but inevitably, the Divine power which is hidden in it, is disclosed and takes on the character of a ceaseless uplifting of the heart, which persists through the distractions of the surface life.” -Chants of a Lifetime: Searching for a Heart of Gold by Krishna DasSupport the show

Every prophetic Word from God is for a specific season. This Word was given to Sharon in early morning prayer and will confirm what the Holy Spirit is saying to His church in these end time days.  

Episode 280 Taking You Back To 4/28/2015 – Same full show as last week's Best Moments…but a different portion of it…last Week was Matt Barber from Hot Wachula's…but this week it's ME! Back in 2015…and still to this date in 2023…I have an issue with “THIS WORD” that marketing geniuses use to describe “cheese” in a certain physical state. I am not going to tell you what that word or state is, because it would blow up the whole bit for this coming Friday…however, if you are a fan of the show for the past 8 years, then you probably know where I am going with this…and as I mentioned a few seconds ago, it's still a word that is used today…it's still as wrong as it was when it was first introduced and it's still a word that is widely used by celebrities, restaurants, marketing teams, influencers and everyday ham and eggers like me and you…but the problem is…IT'S WRONG!! Not sure what I am driving at? Be sure to download the show this coming Friday and check it out…THEN…let me know if I am right or not! I will give you a heads up on that right now…I AM RIGHT!! Ready to make a “BEST OF” show all your own?? Email Jon Solberg and let him know what you would like to hear on a future episode! As always, thank you for listening! *Don't forget to RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON YOU PODCAST APP* Want to hear more from this episode??? Click the link below to hear the full show Original Air Date: 4/28/2015 Original Full Show Link:  CLICK HERE This episode is brought to you by The butcher Shoppe…Home of the NEVER crossbred 100% Australian Wylarah 9+ Wagyu brisket, wagyu beef (American and Japanese), dry aged steaks, wild game and MUCH more!!  Call to order today: (850) 458-8782 and ask for Kevin!  Mention The BBQ Central Show for 10% off your entire order!!

Rev. Jason Schockman, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 2:3-11. How do we know that we know God? St. John assures us through the Word of God. As Christians, we keep God's Word. This is far more than obedience; this is cherishing and guarding all that God has spoken to us, both His commandments and His promises. Through this Word, God gives to us His love and His life so that we truly abide in Him. This Word is what God has spoken from the beginning, yet it is new in the One who is from the beginning, Jesus. To walk in Him is to walk in light and love the brothers. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. As St. John rejoiced to be the disciple loved by Jesus, so he writes his epistles to give us the same joy when we know that we are the beloved of God. God's love for us in Jesus shapes our lives as Christians in all that we believe, say, and do.

After Eric Chahi created Another World / Out of This World, cinematic platformers were all the rage, including elsewhere in Delphine Software.  As Chahi basked in the glory of his newly released masterpiece, Paul Cuisset was working on a game of his own, and one that would define his career almost the same way that Out of This Word became Chahi's claim to fame.  Cuisset's game was, of course, Flasback.  Learn how the game was created and whether you should still play it today, despite being over 30 years old! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today?  Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

This Word of God is for those of His true people who are facing His dark providences. Those providences are His testing, His training, and are often His chastening for their own sin. But to His fearful children in the midst of that chastening He affirms His love and His sustaining grace.

This Word of God is for those of His true people who are facing His dark providences. Those providences are His testing, His training, and are often His chastening for their own sin. But to His fearful children in the midst of that chastening He affirms His love and His sustaining grace.

This Word of God is for those of His true people who are facing His dark providences. Those providences are His testing, His training, and are often His chastening for their own sin. But to His fearful children in the midst of that chastening He affirms His love and His sustaining grace.

This week we had the honor and privilege to hear from our very own Senior Pastor Christina Gard. This Word that she brought is on time and for the people of The Church. WE NEED YOU. Pastor Christina brings into context the story of Ruth and Naomi in the book of Ruth and what it looks like to stick close to the people that may be pushing us away. Who are you sticking close to that says they don't need you to? Who in your life is in need that seems to not need anything on the surface but deep down is crying out for help? Let's be a discerning people of God that is present in our friendships and relationships so that we can be Jesus to them. Be sure to share with family and friends as well as stay tuned for a new podcast every week.

Jeff Zrebiec joins Tony Lombardi from Russell Street Report and the two cover a wide range of topics including Jeff's days on the Orioles beat; a nostalgic look at Super Bowls 35 and 47; the contract status of Lamar Jackson; the challenging offseason ahead; the Ravens next offensive coordinator and more. This Word on the Street has been brought to you by Caesar's Maryland. Download the Caesars app today using Caesars promo code RUSSELLPICS which will provide Maryland bettors with a $1,500 first bet for the Super Bowl or any other game this week. Any losses will be met with an immediate refund via a bet credit. AND even if you bet less than $100 on your first wager, you'll still receive $100 in bet credit!

Manifesting the DNA of Jesus (Audio) David Eells - 1/22/23 Because of the trials of sickness that so many are experiencing currently, literally around the world, I would like to talk more on Jesus' DNA. (The Chem-trail program has been heavily spraying this most recent plague on everyone. There is no other explanation as to why so many are so sick all at once.) We have spoken to people in other parts of the world where they are experiencing wide spread infection.  The Cure is given us in many verses we have studied and it is that we have inherited Jesus' DNA. He is called the father of eternity. Isa. 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Everlasting Father is also translated “Father of Eternity.”) In the parable of the sower in Mat. 13, Jesus sowed the seed of His Word in the hearts of men. In some places in the larger text the word seed is translated from “sperma”. So, we see that it is His life that He is sowing in us and He is our spiritual Father. Since this is true, we have inherited His DNA. What scientists have discovered is being changed by the vaccine plague is the DNA by creating an extra helix. This is creating trans-humans. The people who stay this way are definitely members of the Beast body. Those who believe the Gospel can be delivered. Through faith in God's Word we are delivered from this curse and that is what Gal. 3:13 tells us. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. So, in effect, He exchanged our cursed life for His blessed life. This exchange is called reconciliation, translated from the word, “Katallasso”. In context, this means the exchange of Christ's life for ours. Col. 1:21-23  And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, 22 yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: 23 if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister. This reconciliation is pointed out when Paul says that we don't live anymore Christ lives in us. Gal. 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. So, since it is Christ living in us, we have His DNA.  Paul explains how enlightened saints exchange their DNA for the Lord's through faith. 2Co. 3:18  But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. When we partake of the bread and wine at the Lord's supper, we, by faith, are partaking of His body and blood and we have His life in ourselves, which incorporates His DNA. Since Jesus is the “Word made flesh”, when we spiritually digest His Word, we are partaking of His DNA.  Joh. 6:53-57 Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. 54 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me. (Notice, eating His flesh and drinking His blood gives us His life, which incorporates His DNA.) The life of the flesh is in the blood of Jesus and His body.  Lev. 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life. When we were born of the flesh of our fallen parents, our DNA was corrupt and became more so as we grew in sin. When we partake of Christ's DNA through faith we begin to reverse this process. This begins with a born again spirit and continues to take over the soul through our obedience to the truth. We were told that the Lord would return in these last days as the latter rain on this morning of the third day. Hos. 6:1-3 Come, and let us return unto Jehovah; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. 3 And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. We were promised in these last days, when the former and latter rain of the Spirit of God is poured out, there will be a restoration of all the years of degeneration. Joel 2:23-26 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month.  24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of Jehovah your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be put to shame. We just had a wonderful dream that Tiannah shared with us about restored DNA. In the dream she visited us and said that, “David looked so very young. ...His skin was completely clear, no wrinkles or blemishes and everything was physically perfect…I turned and looked to my other side and I saw Vanessa Weeks …she too, looked so young and ageless, with perfect skin. Her skin was more beautiful than any skin I have ever seen…Eve also looked so young and ageless. There were no wrinkles or anything, and her skin was just pure.”  The angels also told us about our DNA restoration when David asked, “What does the coming restoration involve personally? 30 years younger?” The angel Jeruel said, “Restoration on a DNA cellular level. Faith and power will be imputed to receive healing and restoration. It will be complete restoration not partial. The first fruits are first. They will be the trail blazers. There will be a mighty supernatural outpouring of spiritual restoration; of closeness to God through His Holy Spirit.” When we look in the mirror, and by faith see Jesus' reflection, we are expecting His DNA to be manifested in our bodies.  So, it's ours NOW by faith and we know that there is coming a wonderful manifestation of Christ in us. But we need to believe it now and when we realize this, it can go a long way towards overcoming the temptations to act on the symptoms of sickness that we experience. God is preparing us to be immune to the judgments of this world by filling us with His promises and renewing our minds with His Word. (Rom. 12:2) And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Jesus told us in, (Luk. 21:25) And there shall be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows. You can see the “roaring of the sea and the billows” as being the anger of the nations against one another, because the Bible tells us in Revelation 17:15 that the “waters” represent peoples, nations, and tongues.  Obviously, the things that nations are exporting around the world, such as terrorism and anarchy and so on, are making a lot of people fearful. (Luk.21:26) Men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. The King James translation says, “Men's hearts failing them for fear,” but the numeric pattern and the Greek both show that “fainting” is a much better interpretation. “Men fainting for fear, and for expectation…”  What is this “expectation”? It's believing in the curse. It's believing these things are all a threat to you, and seeing in your imagination all the terrible things that could happen to you because of them. That's why we're told to cast down imaginations. The devil prepares us to fail through our imaginations.  Again, people aren't dying because of the curse. The Lord took care of that. They're dying because of unbelief and fear, which looses the curse. Faith in the promises binds the curse. In every instance where you're put into a position of being threatened, remember that the devil and his army, his angels, see in both the spirit realm and in the physical realm. They coordinate their attacks on you to coincide with the things that you see with your eyes or the things you hear with your ears or, especially, the imaginations in your mind about the things that could happen. They will pounce on you so that you are struck, suddenly, with this temptation to fear.  You know, we think in pictures and the devil will take you over with those pictures. He will put fear in you exactly as this verse is talking about here. You need to stop immediately and make war on him when he attacks you with these things or he will just take you away, and then you will be at the mercy of the judgments that are around you. We've seen from the Scriptures, very plainly, that Jesus bore the whole curse upon Himself when He was upon the Cross (Galatians 3:13). We've also seen in, (Rom.10:10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  You need to confess Psalm 91 in midst of the trouble, when there's an opportunity for you to give the devil authority to take you away, the Gospel is the power of God to save the one who believes it (Romans 1:16). In the midst of the trouble, you make your confession because faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Whenever your actions are totally contrary to faith, the devil takes that as his authority. Jesus told us, (Mat.18:18) Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  So, the devil is going to make war on the saints with the judgments that are coming upon the world. And most people don't know that those judgments are coming upon the world, not to hurt the saints, but to deliver the saints, because these judgments are going to separate the wheat from the tares.  I want to share with you a revelation from Dimitru Duduman that fits exactly what we're talking about here. This vision was given to Dimitru in May of 1993 when he was living in Oregon. It describes our rights in Christ and how the Blood is applied through casting down fear and doubt and speaking the promise, which is, of course, our Sword of the Spirit.  He said, “It was getting dark. Then, suddenly, it turned pitch black. It's interesting that we can look around us right now and see that it's starting to get dark. People are mentioning to me that they're seeing many things that they've never seen before. They're seeing Christians, lukewarm Christians, turn toward darkness, and governments that have been taken over by the beast. It was as if the whole world had gone dark at that moment. I think we're on the verge of that darkness coming. It will be great tribulation and we need to be ready for it. We need to not waste our time. We need to have our armor on.  Dumitru went on to say, All the people were in a frenzy. They became disoriented, and some were even screaming. That sounds exactly like the verse we just read in Luke 21. After some time, we heard the sound of an army approaching. This is talking about the devil's army, multitudes of demon spirits that make war on the saints and also inhabit men, who physically make war on the saints. We call them the “beast.”  Soon, we saw them coming out of the black mist. All were dressed in black, except for one. That one seemed to be their leader. He was dressed in a red robe with a thick, black belt over his waist. On his head, he had a sign. As I looked, I saw that in his hand, he held the same kind of sharp spear as everyone else in his army. “I am Lucifer,” he exclaimed. “I am the king of this world. I've come to make war against the Christians.” This war is about to start. The darkness is covering the earth, and this war is about to start.  It looked as though all the Christians were huddled together in one big group. Some began to cry when they heard this. Others began to tremble, while some just stood, without saying anything. What is this that's already happening to God's people in this revelation? It's Satan's warfare against them. They're crying, they're trembling, they're fearful because of the threat they can see. What is the devil's army? It's those spirits that attack your mind, spirits such as fear and doubt and grief and condemnation and lust and hatred and unforgiveness and rejection and addictions of different kinds and occultic things and thefts and lying and on and on… Everybody has trials with these spirits making war against them as the spirits seek to bring them into their realm.  Praise the Lord that we've been delivered of this by Jesus Christ! All the promises that are given to us in the Word of God are what we can use as our Sword to set each other free. Well, when they saw Satan's army coming in great force, many people trembled and were fearful, but some didn't do anything because they weren't moved by what they saw.  Lucifer continued to speak. “All of those that want to fight against my army, and think they can be victorious, go to the right…” Obviously, that's where the sheep go; they go to the right. If you're not convinced that you can be victorious against Satan's army, it's because you don't have enough of the Word of God in your mind to really do warfare with him. We have to have on that “helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17). We have to have the knowledge of the fact that we are protected, we are delivered, it is finished, Jesus has overcome the world, and the only thing left is for us to enter into those works that were finished from the foundation of the world (Hebrews chapters 3 and 4).  How do we do that? We enter into those works by faith. Everything that Jesus did, the body of Christ is going to do (John 14:12). He had victory, He knew he could conquer Satan. Satan trembled before Him, because Jesus knew Who He was. He was a Son of God. He is the only begotten Son of God, in Whom we, too, are sons. Jesus said, (Joh. 20:21) … Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. If you know who you are, and you know what God says about you, the devil trembles before you, but he can convince a lot of people who justify themselves and are not really believers of the Word of God.  So the devil said, “All of those that want to fight against my army, and think they can be victorious, go to the right, and those that fear me, go to the left.” Why does God permit this war? He is permitting this war to separate the sheep from the goats. In these end times, the Lord says that He is going to spew the lukewarm out of his mouth (Revelation 3:16). He's not going to have any fence riders; you're going to be in either one camp or the other. This warfare of the devil against the Church is going to bring the separation, and notice what he says next. Only about a quarter of the group stepped to the right. That means three-quarters of what were called “Christians” in this revelation were no threat to the devil, and he was going to conquer them.  All the others went to the left. That was three-quarters of them who went to the left because of fear. Those of them who thought they would be victorious over Satan were only a quarter of the Christians, and I don't think that is really a stretch at all. Even today, there are very few people that are actually chasing Satan, and the rest are all being chased by him, which is exactly what the Bible tells us. (Luk. 11:21) When the strong [man] fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: (22) but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. (23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.  Then, Lucifer ordered his army, “Destroy those on the right.” The army began to advance and quickly surround the Christians on the right. (Remember that's the smaller group, the one-quarter.) And as they began to close in on us, a powerful light appeared, and encircled us. Then, the angel of the Lord spoke, “Take out your Swords and fight! Defend yourselves! Be victorious over the enemy.” “What swords?” a man in the group asked. “The Word of the Lord is your Sword,” the angel answered. Yes, take out your Sword and fight and be victorious over the enemy. The devil can do nothing against it; there is no weapon that he can use to defend against your Sword, which is the Word of God. It is the true Word of God. It cannot be denied. It will fulfill the purpose that God sent it for (Luke 1:37), but we have to use it.  You can give-in to the temptations of fear and doubt that the devil fires at you in the midst of the fiery trial, or you can fight. Be sure to confess your sins (1 John 3:21) so that the devil can't use condemnation against you, because then you can swing your Sword with bold faith and you will win. (2Ti. 1:7) For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.  The word translated as “discipline” comes from the Greek sóphrón meaning “of sound mind; self-controlled; balanced.” Any fear that comes against you is from the devil; it's not from God. Jesus told us that we should fear only God (Matthew 10:28). The fear of the Lord is good, because every child should fear that their father will spank them if they're going in the wrong direction. In that way, we should always fear God, but the Lord isn't going to lead you by fear all the time, and if you feel that way, you're probably being moved by the devil.  Scripture tells us, (Rom.8:15) For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Since God's method of leading His children is not fear, whenever fear comes upon you, you need to make war against it immediately. You need to stop whatever you're doing and cast down the thoughts that the devil is putting in your mind. Cast down those pictures that the devil is putting in your mind, and make war against that spirit, because otherwise he will conquer you.  You may have all the knowledge that you need but you won't be able to even hear it in the midst of this emotion of fear that has come upon you. So stop and make war. The devil can't stand before you if you use your Sword. You don't necessarily have to quote the Word of God to conquer the devil, but you do have to agree with the Word of God to conquer the devil. You have to know what the Word of God says in order to speak in agreement with the Word of God, so if you're not sure about what the Scriptures say, you need to spend more time in the Word.)  Let me go on with Dumitru Duduman's revelation here. When we understood what the angel meant, we began to quote verses from the Bible. Then, suddenly, as if we were one voice, we began to sing a song. (That's the thing about songs; they bring people into one accord, and there's power in agreement. Jesus promised us, (Mat. 18:19) Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.  What happens when there are more than two or three of you in agreement? (Deu. 32:30) How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had delivered them up? One will chase a thousand and two will chase ten thousand; that's multiplied power, so it's a blessing for us to be in agreement with each other and with the Word of God. That's why God has given us His Word. Of course, it does no good if you're in agreement with a lot of apostates because no matter how large a group they might be, you still will have no power.  The devil is going to show us this in Dumitru's revelation. He's going to conquer these people. The devil wants to make war, and he wants to take out the people who are a threat to him. He'd like to take out their physical life and he'd like to take out their spiritual life, because they're doing him damage. He will make war on you but he's not able to do anything that God doesn't permit him to do. You see, God permits the devil to come try us in order to build our faith. Faith is like a muscle. If your faith isn't tried, it's not going to get stronger. We go through things to try our faith, and in the process, we also learn how to quickly pull out our Sword and use it to conquer the enemy.)  Back to Dimitru: So the smaller group began to quote verses from the Bible and they began to sing a song. Our voices thundered so loudly that the dark army began to retreat. (These are the people on the right. These are the sheep.) They did not have the courage to come against us anymore. Lucifer, filled with rage, turned to those on the left. (Those on the left are the three-quarters majority of the Christians.) “You, who all of your life have been trying to please two masters, because you could not stand against me, I have the power to destroy you.” That is true. He's been given that power to destroy people who are in unbelief and, in these end times, we have very little time left to learn to walk in the Kingdom of God.  Satan's going to be cast down. He knows he has a short time left (Revelation 12:9,12). He's going to fight furiously. He and his army and the people whom they inhabit are going to come against us with great fury, but we have a weapon that they can't resist. The problem is that far too many of God's people don't use that weapon; they don't use the promises of the Word of God. The Word is our Sword and the demons cannot stand up to that. We see here that those people who, all their life, tried to serve two masters, had no protection. They tried to serve both self and the Lord; they were double-minded (James 1:7-8). They were found to be lukewarm and there was no protection for these people (Revelation 3:16).  Saints, I'll just let you know right now that you need to get your armor on, you need to be on fire for God, and you need to learn to fight. (Eph. 6:10) Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].  (13) Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.   In this revelation, when Lucifer said, “I have the power to destroy you,” who gave him that power? They did. They are the ones who have authority on earth to bind or to loose, and here they have loosed Satan because of their unbelief, their double-mindedness, and their lukewarmness.) He then ordered his army to attack. It was a total massacre. The ones on the left could not defend themselves. (Could you imagine that three-quarters of Christianity could not defend themselves right now? I can. It seems fairly obvious.)  One by one, they all fell. This killing seemed to go on for a long time (I believe that this killing is not just physical, but spiritual, because many of these people are going to lose their eternal life.), and after a while, we could actually smell the stench of the dead. “Why could they not be protected also?” someone asked. The angel answered, “Because all their lives, they have been lukewarm. Because of their hypocrisy, the true church has been blasphemed.” (That's speaking, of course, of the quarter who went to the right, the sheep. They had been blasphemed. They had been accused by the world because of the hypocrisy of the false church, the three-quarters of the people who went to the left.) “They have brought disrespect to the Word of God.” (It's true; today we see people just scoff at the Word of God. Even Christians scoff at the Word of God.  In the midst of a trial, you may share the Word of God with them but they'll choose to cling to the idol, the stronghold in their mind. They'll choose their idol instead of (2Co. 10:5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Satan has been able to set-up a stronghold in their mind because they're worshiping false gods. They have a false Jesus, as Paul said. (2Co. 11:4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with [him]. That false Jesus can't save you because he's not the Word of God.  The true Jesus is the Word of God; the true Jesus is our Sword. He can save. He will save all those who respect Him. All through the Old Testament, God warns us about the danger of worshiping idols, and it's sad that so many Christians today worship a Jesus that does not exist. Their “Jesus” is nothing more than demons (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:17; 1 Corinthians 10:20) that they have set up as their idols and they will not save. Satan does not cast out Satan, as Jesus told the Pharisees. (Mat. 12:26) … Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: (26) and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?  If you are following, worshiping, and putting your faith in a false Jesus, he will not save you. “Anti-Christ” means not only “against Christ,” but also “in the place of Christ.” The devil likes to replace the real Jesus with a false Jesus because that way, when you put your trust in him, he will fail you. And this is what's going to happen in the days to come, according to Dimitru's dream. Three-quarters of the church is going to have their “Jesus” fail them.  God does not answer when you trust in your false Jesus because then you would be giving credit to your false Jesus, and other people would trust in this false Jesus, too. When that happens, when their false Jesus fails to save them, people accuse God. They complain, “But I believed!” No, they didn't believe because their faith was in a false Jesus who couldn't save. Satan will never cast out Satan.  The angel went on to say of those who were killed by Lucifer's army, “They were not clean.” You have no authority to swing the Sword unless you're “clean,” unless your conscience is not condemning you. (1Jn. 3:21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; (22) and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.  The devil conquers those people who are walking in sin and rebellion and defilement. Even though they intellectually know all about faith and how it works, they're not able to use faith. It takes faith to swing the Sword. If you are unholy, the devil will pick that point of uncleanness to jump on you and condemn you so that you can't have faith.  Back to Dimitru: As we continued to look, we saw the sun coming over the horizon. I think that represents the coming of the Lord. The black clouds began to break up, then they disappeared. Only one was left, the one on which Lucifer and his army stood. Lucifer looked at me, shaking his fist, and said, “I will destroy you, even if I have to throw my spear at you from here.” Then that cloud disappeared.  As I looked around, I began to see faces that I recognized from among our group. I saw a pastor from Bellflower, another from Indiana, one from Michigan, as well as many of my American friends. The first thought that came to my mind as I awoke was that this had been the last fight of the devil against the church. If we remain faithful, we will be victorious. Yes! Amen.  So get ready, saints! Put on your armor, because this battle, the last war against the Church, is coming at us right now. (Rev. 13:1) … And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy. (7) And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. The “beast” that's warring with the saints here is made up of all the fleshly vessels whom this army from the pit is going to inhabit.  This awesome revelation from Dimitru Duduman shows us very clearly that if you don't walk holy before God, your faith is going to fail you. (1Jn. 3:19) Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him (You have to have this assurance in your heart if you're going to do battle with the devil. He knows everything about you.): (20) because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. If you're condemned by what you know about yourself, just think what God knows about you (Psalm 139:1-24). However, if you're walking with the Lord by faith, it's only the things that you know about, but don't do, that He holds against you. It's not the things that you don't know. (Jas. 4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.  Of course, if you're walking in rebellion against the Lord then your sins are not covered. (Heb. 10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. In that case, you have no assurance in your heart, so the first time you get into trouble and you try to swing your Sword, the devil's going to jump on you like a mad dog. He's going to remind you of all of your sins and then you're not going to have any faith. (1Jn. 3:21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; (22) and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.  You know, we all have people who depend upon us: friends, relatives, people for whom we've prayed, children who are our responsibility. Scripture says, (Rom. 14:7) For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. The Lord wants to use us to save others and the day is coming when God is going to need you as a vessel of honor in the midst of many people. He is going to need you to save, to deliver, to bring the Gospel, and so on.  Now, more than ever before in history, we need to repent and be sanctified. We need to walk holy before the Lord. The Bible says, (Rom. 6:11) Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. You see, the Lord has already delivered us by faith, and He uses our faith to manifestly deliver us. He uses the Word of God in our mouth, which is our confession, to manifestly deliver us from the power of sin.  God is the One (Col. 1:13) who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. It happened at the Cross, and we need to confess it, but we won't be able to confess it in the midst of the fiery trial if we're walking in willful disobedience. We won't have any faith to swing our Swords. (Psa. 91:7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; [But] it shall not come nigh thee.  He's talking about the person who is not afraid, the person who is in the secret place of the Most High because of their faith. He's talking about the person who is confessing that faith, the faith of Psalm 91. When He says, “A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand,” do you suppose that some of those are Christians? Yes, I guarantee at least some of these people are what we call “Christians,” and it's sad. The Lord cries when this happens, and we do, too. A multitude of people, obviously, are not prepared for what's about to come, but God can use your witness to them. You can share the true Gospel with many people who don't know the true, full Gospel. Other people have rejected the full Gospel and they are not prepared to swing their Sword at all.  Remember that someone in the revelation had to ask, “What swords?” Before you go to battle, you ought to know what your Sword is, you ought to know how to swing it, and you ought to be experienced in using it, because (Rom. 1:17) … the righteous shall live by faith. We don't have any choice. The devil's not going to ask us if we want to make war with him; he's already making war with us. The people who are abiding in the secret place of the Most High, which is Jesus Christ, are ready to swing the Sword. They have repented of and confessed their sins, therefore they can be bold in their faith.  I've heard people say, usually from among the non-Spirit-filled groups, that Psalm 91 is for the Millennium or something silly like that, as if it's not true for us right now. Well, if you believe that, you have no Sword. You're going to be in the three-quarters group that goes to the left and is whipped by Satan in the end times. If you don't believe in the full Gospel and the power of the Spirit of God, how can you escape?  If you don't believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the promises of the Word of God, how can you escape? How can you escape “the pestilence that walketh in darkness” or “the destruction that wasteth at noonday”? Do you know enough of the Word of God to know that it's your right to escape these things? If you don't, you're not going to escape.  Jesus said, (Mat.9:29) … According to your faith be it done unto you, and (Mat.8:13) … As thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. Jesus saw the faith. (Mat.9:2) And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven. (3) And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. (4) And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? (5) For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk? (6) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go up unto thy house. (7) And he arose, and departed to his house. (8) But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority unto men.  He had the authority to administer the blessing when He saw the faith. The faith He saw was in actions, it wasn't just words, it wasn't just theology in somebody's head. He saw the actions, (Rom. 10:10) for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Get prepared, saints. The war is coming. It's not going to wait on you. It's not going to wait on me. It's coming. It will be on time.  If, as Joshua and Caleb, you don't believe the bad report but speak in agreement with the Word of God (Numbers 14:6-8), you will be like those people who did not worry about the giants. (Num. 14:9) Only rebel not against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land (This is speaking of the giants in the Promised Land.); for they are bread for us: their defense is removed from over them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. You'll be among those people who make it through the wilderness. You'll be among those people who enter into the Promised Land in your body. That's what they did. (Num.14:30) Surely ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware that I would make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. The rest did not; they died out there in that wilderness because of their murmuring, their complaining, and their unbelief (Numbers 14:28-32).  They were constantly being tried by the devil. They constantly heard his horror stories in their head about what would happen to them because they couldn't see any water or other supply around them. The devil was constantly making war in their minds and he was beating them up badly. We're going to the same place. The Lord calls it the “wilderness” but it's also called the “Tribulation.” That's where war is going to be made on the saints, and that's where a separation is going to be made.  That's where a separation of the hot from the lukewarm and the cold, the sheep from the goats, and the wheat from the tares, is going to be made. (Psa.91:7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; [But] it shall not (Let me repeat that in case you missed what it says, it shall not. And here it is again, just to be sure you read it correctly, it shall not come nigh thee.)  What makes the difference between those who are taken out and those who remain? Well, it's something that we shouldn't leave out. (Heb. 4:1) Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. The Lord is telling us to fear that we're not appropriating all the promises of God, all of the Word of God, because God created this to be our defense. (2) For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us… Not just “good tidings” but awesome tidings! There are promises for any problem, and there are even promises that cover everything, such as (Mar. 11:24) Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them.  So, if you can't remember one that fits your particular problem, Jesus gave us those “catch-all” promises you can use. (Heb. 4:2) For indeed we have had good tidings (That's the Gospel, the Good News.) preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard.  It does you no good to go to Sunday school; it does you no good to read your Bible unless you're going to exercise faith in what you're reading, and it doesn't matter if your church is in agreement or not. Don't leave out one promise as your promise; take each promise as if it's been made personally to you because any promise you leave out is a Sword you're not using. That's “sitting” on your Sword. (Heb.4:3) For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  The works of God have already been finished. Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). As soon as God spoke it, it was so. He spoke the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). He ordained a Savior before Adam ever fell. The whole plan was spoken into existence and nothing could stop it. It was so just because God said it, and everything that we see now that's coming to pass, is coming to pass because God said it. “The works were finished from the foundation of the world.”  Whose works do you want to enter into? You can enter into God's works through faith in His promises. You can be a vessel of honor. You can be a vessel who is in that one-quarter of Christians that conquers Satan, that knows they can conquer Satan. Or, you can be in the three-quarters of Christians that are lukewarm, that have their idolatrous religion but no Sword. They don't believe in the full Gospel, which you're going to need to make it through what's coming upon the earth. They don't believe in the in-filling of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of the gifts (Romans 11:29,12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11,27-29; 1 Corinthians 14:1) so they're not empowered to walk where they need to go.  You know, when we enter into His rest, we enter into a rest from our enemies because they're dead; Jesus gave us total victory over them. Jesus said, (Mat.28:18) … All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. That doesn't leave anything for the devil, folks. Then He turned to His disciples and He delegated that authority to them. (Mat.18:18) Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (19) Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. (Joh.20:21) Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  Jesus had authority, and He spoke it, and the devils trembled. That same Jesus lives in you. To the extent that you humble yourself to the Word of God, and you believe the Word, and you're becoming the Word made flesh, to that extent Jesus lives in you. All you have to do is cooperate with Him. (Amo.3:3) Shall two walk together, except they have agreed? If you want that same Jesus to live in you, to conquer your enemies, to speak out of you, to swing the Sword and to do the works, then you have to come into agreement with Him. When you read the Word of God, repent, change your mind and believe what it says. We have to agree with it so that we don't restrain it from coming out of us.  If you're uncomfortable confessing anything that's in the Word of God, if you're uncomfortable repeating it, this is how you know you've been taken captive by false religion and false doctrine. If some of the Word of God is not comfortable in your mouth, then naturally you're not going to let it flow out of you, but how “shall two walk together, except they have agreed?” God warned His people about bringing forth “strange children” that don't look like their Father (Hosea 5:7).  The problem is with us, it's not with God. Being a Christian is being very unlike, very contrary, to the world. They're total opposites. If you want to please the world, you can't be a Christian. If you don't want to be sanctified from the ways of the world, you can't be a Christian. You can call yourself a “Christian,” but you can't be one, because “Christian” means “Christ-like.” We have to be willing to lose our life in order to gain our life (Luke 17:33). We have to be willing to be seen as different, even “peculiar.” (1Pe. 2:9 KJV) But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Jesus said there are just two men in the earth: Christ and anti-Christ (Matthew 24:40-41). There are only two corporate bodies in this earth. There's not going to be anyone left in the middle because God calls that being “lukewarm.” (Rev. 3:16) So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. You have to make up your mind. Are you going to lose your life in order to gain your life? (2Co. 4:16) Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. As you lose ground to the old man of self, you give ground to the spiritual man, (Col. 1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Jesus is not going to have any trouble with this warfare that's coming, and Jesus in you is not going to have any trouble, either, with this warfare that's coming, but how “Shall two walk together, except they have agreed?” We have to come into agreement with Him. We have to read the Word, and when we read the Word, we have to decide, “I don't care what some man says; I agree with what this says.” Then it becomes comfortable for you to speak all of the Word of God, but there are so many people, so many who can't do that. They may read the Word of God, but instead of coming into agreement, they deliberately jump over anything that makes them uncomfortable. They've been taken captive and they need to repent.  When you read the Word of God, as the Lord told me many years ago, “Don't eat like a hog; eat like a cow.” Cows are ruminants. That means a cow chews its food, then brings it back up and chews it again, brings it back up and chews it again. With a hog, it just goes right in one end and right out the other end. It doesn't even get digested. This Word has to be a part of us. We must meditate on it. (Psa.1:2) But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And on his law doth he meditate day and night. We want to be disciples of Jesus. We want to learn to walk in His steps. When that Word just comes flowing out of you like a river of living water, look out devil! There isn't anything he can do against that.  Jesus told His disciples, (Joh. 14:12) Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. And, (Joh. 7:38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. (39) But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet [given]; because Jesus was not yet glorified. He also said, (Joh. 6:63) It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.  When your words agree with His words, your words are His Spirit. The Lord recreates in us His Spirit by His Words, and we're able to recreate Jesus by speaking His words. We're supposed to sow the same seed that He sowed, that His disciples sowed, that His apostles sowed. We're supposed to sow the Word of God. Never depart from the Word of God. God's people must learn that religion crumbles in the face of adversity. Religion is no defense against what's coming.  Throughout history, the merely religious have crumbled before the advances of the devil. There is no defense but the Word of God. No helmet, no sword, no shield, but the Word of God. Use Psalm 91 like a Helmet, Sword, and Shield because it's a defense. It's called “The Soldier's Psalm” because so many of soldiers have been saved by claiming it. You are a soldier for the Lord, so don't let anybody talk you out of Psalm 91. It's saved many lives and it's for today. It's a part of the blessings of God for the faithful.  The demons administer the curse of sin and death. (Luk. 10:17) And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name. (Wouldn't it be great if all Christians learned that lesson?) (18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from the heaven. He was talking about exactly what they were doing. He and His disciples were casting him down. (19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. (20) Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.  Some people think Jesus used “over all the power of the enemy” a little too loosely but no, He means exactly what He says, and we have to learn to exercise this authority. “Authority” is “the right to use God's power or restrain the devil's power.” I'd rather have that kind of authority than personal fleshly power. In fact, you can even have authority to use the devil's power.  The apostle Paul did that several times (1 Corinthians 5:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:18-20). He turned people over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that the spirit would be saved in the day of the Lord. He used the devil's power, and the devil couldn't resist him. The devil had to do what Paul told him to do. It's the same today. Jesus said, “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth … Go ye, therefore…” He delegated that authority to His disciples to go and to use His power. You have the authority to use God's power. That's what the Word is all about.  You can be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2), but someone whose mind is not renewed is not trustworthy. If they had power, they would do foolish things. However, when we repent and we accept the Word of God as our Word, our thought, our belief, that puts us in agreement with Jesus. When we're in agreement with Jesus, then we can walk together and Jesus can do works through us. (Mat. 11:29) Take my yoke (That's the Greek word zugos derived from zygós and it's “something that unites or joins two elements to work together as one unit.”) upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. “Take my yoke,”  Jesus said to yoke yourself to Him. And so He says in, (Luk. 10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. Nothing shall hurt you. Oh, praise God! Believe that! Meditate on that! Rejoice in that!   Be Immune from Plagues and Pestilences  With so many different plagues or pestilences spreading around, what can we do to protect ourselves and our families by God's power?  1) If you haven't done so already, ask Jesus to Give you His born-again Spirit so that you are entitled to the benefits of the Kingdom:  (Joh. 3:3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (Eze. 18:31) Cast away from you all your transgressions, wherein ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  (Eze. 36:26) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.    2) Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit for His supernatural power over the curse:  (Act. 1:8) But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  (Act. 2:4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  (Mar. 16:17) And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons (Demons can also be spirits of infirmity or sickness, as in the Bible.); they shall speak with new tongues.  (Act. 19:2) And he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given. … (6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.  (Act. 4:31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.  (Act. 13:52) And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.  (Eph. 5:18) And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit.    3) Repent and confess any sin so you can have faith to be healed:  (1Jn. 1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jn. 3:20) Because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. (21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; (22) and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.  (Heb. 10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. (28) A man that hath set at nought Moses' law dieth without compassion on [the word of] two or three witnesses.  (Jas. 5:16) Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.    4) Believe God's promises concerning sicknesses:  (1Pe. 2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.  (Psa. 103:3) 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.  (Mar. 11:23) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. (24) Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.  (Jas. 5:14) Is any among you sick? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (15) and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him. (16) Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.  (Mat. 18:19) Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.  (Mar. 16:17) And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; (18) they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Gal. 3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 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Christmas – The Word Comes to Be With Us Has anyone ever experienced that no one does what you say? Linger with that image for a moment. Because it is important in understanding the greatness of the mystery we celebrate today. Two thousand years ago Caesar sat on his throne. He considered himself the ruler of the world. He styled himself not merely a man . . . but divine. At the same time, Herod in Jerusalem sat on a throne. He considered himself a king. He positioned himself as the heir to David. Both men understood something. The mighty get to say things to the people and they (the people) have to do these things. Worldly things begin with orders of words. The words are backed up by military powers. The Word Leaves His Glory to Come to Us as an Infant On Christmas two thousand years ago, lay an infant in a manger. He has no earthly power . . . He has no earthly wealth. Yet, He too is a King. This infant is a curious King. He is not a king of words. He is the Word. Yet, He comes to us as an infant. Infant: it comes from the Latin root which means . . . incapable of speaking. Amazing. The Eternal Word comes to us as an infant. The Word made flesh is incapable of speaking these earthly words. Hear more within the Homily. Throughout history, before the Nativity, God spoke through the prophets. God's word was indirect. Now, the Eternal Word will come to eventually speak to us directly. But for now . . . during this Mystery, He is incapable of speaking. Hear more within the Homily. Have you ever experienced times when you cannot find the right words? Times when you could not express yourself. If only we could find the right words! Today, at Christmas, God only has One Word. This Word says everything we need to know. The Word is not a book. The Word is a person to be met. Hear about the greatness of The Word and what the day means for mankind. Christmas – The Word Comes to Be With Us. He comes to be with us all. The Lord leaves His Glory so that He can Come to Us! Listen to the Meditation Media.

Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” - John 11: 43, 44 This Word is the continuation of what was spoken last Sunday that every setback that you have been experiencing in your life, God is going to use that to set you up for some bigger miracles & breakthroughs. “God is able to turn your Setbacks into Set ups to experience the next level of miracle that will propel you further more towards your destiny.”

Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” - John 11: 43, 44 This Word is the continuation of what was spoken last Sunday that every setback that you have been experiencing in your life, God is going to use that to set you up for some bigger miracles & breakthroughs. “God is able to turn your Setbacks into Set ups to experience the next level of miracle that will propel you further more towards your destiny.”

This is the Word of the Lord! It's not that often that I Gove you a "Word" but I have one for you today. This Word is laced with instruction and it is time sensitive. Don't miss it! Email hello@proverbs31boss.com to learn about the Bloodline Breaker Blueprint.