Podcasts about urim

Deuteronomy 33 records Moses' message and blessings for each of the 12 tribes and contains wise words of instruction and warning. These words speaks of events to be seen in the latter days that are specific for each tribe. Verses 2-5 are prophetic and is in the Hebrew text in the future tense. Compare Habakuk chapter 3. Seir is the territory of Edom and relates to the time described in Isaiah 63:1-6. Mount Paran is in the south, in the Negev, and we are being presented with the March of the rainbowed angel of Revelation 10. Verse 3 prophetically relates to the same events described in Psalm 68. Of Reuben Moses tells of an increasing in numbers for that tribe. Verse 7 speaks of Judah. We know that this tribe was to be the progenitor of our Lord Jesus Christ – as Micah 5:2 declares. An interesting exercise is to compare Jacob's last day prophecies in Genesis 49 with those of Moses in this chapter. Contemplate the description of Judah's king in verses 8-12 of Genesis 49. Verses 8-11 of Deuteronomy 33:8-11 tell of blessings upon Levi for that tribe's faithfulness to their God at the time of the incident of the golden calf. This, too, was a mirror of their zeal for the LORD at the time of Israel's corrupting of themselves at Baal Peor – Phinehas led the tribe by his example then. The Urim and Thummim relate to the righteous divine judgments in which Yahweh aided and directed the outcome. Phinehas put his love of the LORD above natural family ties and as a result he was promised a priesthood in the kingdom age – Malachi 2 verses 4-7. For his and his tribe's faithfulness the Levites were entrusted with the responsibility to teach Israel the testimonies of their Sovereign. Benjamin's blessing relates to the proximity of his tribe's habitat being on the border of Judah and sharing of the metropolis of the kingdom age – Jerusalem. Verses 14-18 contain the longest of the blessings, which were upon Joseph, the head of the one whose life marked him as separate from his brothers. Joseph may well be the greatest type of Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. Joseph is blessed with the double inheritance as his father elevated him to the position of the firstborn son. Likewise though Adam was the firstborn son of God, Luke 3:38, our Lord was given the place of the firstborn as Is prophesied in Psalm 89 verses 26-29. Verse 16 describes the blessing of knowing Yahweh our God in the revelation that was made to Moses by the angel who abode in the bush – Exodus 3:13-18 compare with Acts 7:30-34. The reference to the ten thousands from this tribe is an allusion to Psalm 68:13-21. Verses 18-21 speak of Zebulon, meaning dwelling, being blessed with an inheritance by the Mediterranean Sea and the treasures of the sand may relate to the extensive gas fields found adjacent to this region. The worshippers arriving at this haven by ship will come from there to worship the King in Jerusalem – the mountain of the LORD as Psalm 48 reveals. Verses 20-21 tell of Gad's troop being the protectors of the Promised Land. Verse 22 shows Dan to be the vindicator – the exactor of vengeance upon Yahweh's foes. Verse 23 outlines how Naphtali will carry the burdens of the blessings that will be brought to the nation from the abundance of the Gentiles – Isaiah 60 verses 9-11 reveals this. The lake mentioned is the Dead Sea in southern Israel. and this tribe may accompany the worshippers on their way to the house of prayer for all nations. Verses 24-25 speak of Asher, whose name means “blessed”, or “happy” being blessed with abundance. The mineral wealth in this tribal allotment is enormous. The mineral deposits in the Dead Sea region are among the largest know deposits on earth. Verses 26-29 enumerate the boundless blessings to the nation. The greatest of these blessings is to have the the Eternal God as our Father and be supported day by day in His caring, but mighty, arms. With Him we experience incomparable blessings throughout our live. And we live in this blessed assurance. Chapter 34 of Deuteronomy is not written by Moses as it speaks of his death and the physical condition of his body at the time he is laid to sleep. From the top of Mount Pisgah Moses views the Promised Land. He saw it through eyes that were enhanced and allowing him to see the entire land – this was not physically possible from that location. He rests awaiting the time that the angel will raise him from his sleep so that he also inherit the home of his constant yearnings. He dies as a vigorous man of 120 years in age. His natural vitality was strong and his eyesight undimmed. Israel mourned his decease for a month. And Joshua succeeded Moses as leader of the LORD's people – by the Almighty's divine appointment and with the blessing of Moses. No like prophet ever arose Isaiah 6 tells of Isaiah's calling to be a prophet of Yahweh and his being appointed to that role. He is called as a youth and he protests his unsuitability of carrying out a challenging mission to a rebellious and unheeding nation. In fact the message that he is taking to the nation of Judah would produce an increase in their hostility. As well as his claim to be but a youth we have evidences of that work lasting for 89 years. The prophet begins his service in the year of the great earthquake when king Uzziah died – BC 796. That king had usurped the office of the High Priest and the LORD struck him with leprosy as he was attempting to offer the incense. Uzziah is driven from the Temple as one of the region's greatest earthquakes of all time is unleashed. In contrast with that event the prophet beholds Yahweh of armies enthroned in His Temple. This glorious vision of the king-priest Messiah is symbolic of our Lord Jesus Christ's kingdom reign at his second advent. Matthew tells us this in chapter 13 verses 10-17. The purpose of parables, we are told, was to bewilder the shallow and the sceptical; but to enlighten the hearers who are seeking enlightenment. Verses 9-10 of Isaiah's sixth chapter are cited. At the shaking of the Temple from the great earthquake Isaiah himself physically trembled at this display of raw power from the Almighty. The prophet declares his own unworthiness to even behold this vision, let alone be asked to be his representative. The seraphim appear to be a combination of the cherubic figures of Ezekiel and the flashing of burning fire from the symbolic creatures which Isaiah saw. The Hebrew word derives from a word meaning burning ones. A coal of fire from the smoking incense altar is placed on the prophet's tongue and he is told that there is no need for fears as his iniquity is taken away by God whose Word has purged his sins. The necessary preparation for Isaiah to proclaim the LORD's message. Isaiah is thus commissioned as a prophet of Yahweh and on behalf of his Sovereign he would take the message placed into his mouth by divine inspiration to the nation of Israel. Sadly that generation of Israelites was largely uneffected. Likewise Messiah's message failed to effect the majority of people in his age. So our Lord Jesus spoke in parables. The Apostle John speaks of this in John 12verses 32-33 when our Lord Jesus prophesied his own lifting up in crucifixion. Paul tells us that this was a great stumbling stone for the Jews as we read in  1 Corinthians 1:23. In Colossians 3 verses 1-4 tells us that since we have through the act of baptism been raised in him to a new life our thoughts and actions should be in harmony with this. And so from verses 5-9 all those past behaviours are to find no place among believers. Our new self is being renewed every day through our growth in understanding what it means to be “in Christ”. From verses 12-17 the focus of the believer's mind and actions is to centre on living with (and as) Christ. From verses 18 to the chapter's end he addresses the different groups within Christian households and advises on proper behaviour. Chapter 4 continues with instructions for masters and servants – such an important topic as five sixths of the Roman world were slaves. Verses 2-4 is a request to those at Colossae to pray for Paul's preaching. Verse 5 tells that their speech and behaviour must be sincere at all times – “seasoned with salt”. Verses 7-17 conclude with final greetings. Verse 18 tells us that the letter was written by Paul in his own handwriting.

These Spokenwords are from my personal bible study time, " Following the leading of the Spirit", taken from Teachings – Living Word Media taught by Chris Segun Onayinka. This is just a tiny pieces of a series. Thank you sir for the teaching. The Holy Spirit, Our Inward Witness: The Gentle Guide WithinRomans 8:14 — “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”The Spirit of God is our guide.He leads us through visions, through prophecy, through dreams...But also, He leads us through the inward witness.Sometimes we neglect this inward witness because it doesn't feel as supernatural as a vision or a dream.But if we would listen carefully to the leading of the Spirit through His inward witness…We would always know what to do.The inward witness is the response of our born-again human spirit.It can endorse, reject, acknowledge, or agree with a person, a fact, a situation.It is not a vision. It is not a voice. It's not instinct.It is the Spirit of God… within you.Acts 20:22 — Apostle Paul said:“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.”That was the inward witness—an impression, a direction—not explained by facts, not confirmed by sight, but strong enough to move him forward in faith.Romans 8:16 says:“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”So don't say, “Something told me,” or “I just felt in my heart…”That's not something—that's the Spirit of God bearing witness in you.The inward witness isn't always facts.It's often a reaction to facts.It's not about feelings, yet it often feels like something.It's not sought, yet it responds.It's not loud, yet it speaks clearly to the spirit.Think of it like this:It`s like knowing not to take that decision, but you don`t know yet the reasonIt`s like all of a sudden, you feeling a strong nudge to pray, but you don`t know why yet.It is that strong impression within your heart not to drive at that hour, or to take that business deal.It's a nudge. A quiet press, An impression, A KnowingA green light or a red flag that shows up in your spirit before your mind understands it.As believers in Christ...We are not led by Urim and Thummim.We are not led by casting lots.Exodus 28:30 says:“Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord…”In the Old Testament, God's guidance was external.Today, it is internal.The Spirit of God now dwells in our hearts—just as Urim and Thummim were placed over Aaron's heart.These were shadows...The Spirit is the fulfillment.There is the spectacular leading of the Spirit—visions, dreams, prophetic words.And then there is the non-spectacular—the inward witness.It may not be a loud voice.Often, it's just an impression.It's not emotional, though it feels close to emotion.It's not dramatic, but it's deeply spiritual.The more time you spend in God's Word, the easier it becomes to distinguish your emotions from the inward witness of the Spirit.So what is this inward witness?It is not loud.It is not spectacular.But it is consistent.It's that deep inner knowing... that gentle nod or nudge from within.And the more we walk with God,The more clearly we hear Him.The more we listen,The more we learn to trust that witness.Because God doesn't want to hide His will from us—He wants to lead us.He always has.In the Old Covenant, He gave Urim and Thummim.But now… in the New Covenant…He has placed His Spirit inside your heart.Not just to comfort you.But to lead you.So don't wait for signs in the sky.Don't be addicted to the spectacular.Learn to discern the impression, a nug, a quite press, a nudging within your heart.The inward witness.The Spirit of God… guiding His children from the inside out. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/sanchii/equilibrium

05/04/2025 Rev. Paul Bang Nehemiah 7:5-73     5 Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it: 6 These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town. 7 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 8 the sons of Parosh, 2,172. 9 The sons of Shephatiah, 372. 10 The sons of Arah, 652. 11 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818. 12 The sons of Elam, 1,254. 13 The sons of Zattu, 845. 14 The sons of Zaccai, 760. 15 The sons of Binnui, 648. 16 The sons of Bebai, 628. 17 The sons of Azgad, 2,322. 18 The sons of Adonikam, 667. 19 The sons of Bigvai, 2,067. 20 The sons of Adin, 655. 21 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. 22 The sons of Hashum, 328. 23 The sons of Bezai, 324. 24 The sons of Hariph, 112. 25 The sons of Gibeon, 95. 26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188. 27 The men of Anathoth, 128. 28 The men of Beth-azmaveth, 42. 29 The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. 30 The men of Ramah and Geba, 621. 31 The men of Michmas, 122. 32 The men of Bethel and Ai, 123. 33 The men of the other Nebo, 52. 34 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. 35 The sons of Harim, 320. 36 The sons of Jericho, 345. 37 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721. 38 The sons of Senaah, 3,930. 39 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, namely the house of Jeshua, 973. 40 The sons of Immer, 1,052. 41 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 42 The sons of Harim, 1,017. 43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel of the sons of Hodevah, 74. 44 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 148. 45 The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138. 46 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, 48 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai, 49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, 50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, 51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, 52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim, 53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 56 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha. 57 The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida, 58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 59 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon. 60 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392. 61 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers' houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642. 63 Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). 64 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise. 66 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. And they had 245 singers, male and female. 68 Their horses were 736, their mules 245, 69 their camels 435, and their donkeys 6,720. 70 Now some of the heads of fathers' houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests' garments and 500 minas of silver. 71 And some of the heads of fathers' houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. 72 And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priests' garments. 73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns. And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns.

Peculiar story of Abraham; Ur to Haran; Hebrew language - written to be read; Latin; Covetousness = idolatry; Family lineage; Name changes; Graft and corruption; Moneychangers; Sacrifice; "Leaven"; Cain and Abel; Altar purposes; Atheists?; Terah the organizer; Alexander the great; Genghis Kahn; Patterns of government; God's way; Gen 17:1; aleph-nun-yod; "walk" = hey+tav+hey-lamad-kof; Jacob walking in the spirit/faith; Covenant with God; Living by faith; Following false Christs; Welfare snares; Minutemen for each other; Choosing your way; "Perfect" offerings; Deut 18:13; Caring for neighbor; Deut 25:15; Dreams; Lk 6:4 Perfect as his master; Laying down your life; Learning to be Israel; Covenant = beit-resh-yod-tav+yod; Spirit and Truth; Daily ministration; Gen 17:4 Explaining to Abram; +hey+mem = Abraham (Father of many nations); "Kings"; Gen 17:7 Establishing the covenant; "Canaan" those following Nimrod; "Samad" destroyer?; "Give" nun-tav-nun - continuous; Repentance; "Seed" vav-lamad-zayin-resh yod kof; aleph-tav = relationship between God and man in faith; Possessing the land; Circumcision; Lev 10:16; of the heart; Knowing what to believe; Moving in Spirit; Divine spark; "token" of the covenant; Sarai to Sarah; Barak - biet-resh-kof = Blessing; Getting back to the light; Sarah model; Understanding bible meaning; "Thummim"; Tav-mem(+yod)-mem faith; Completeness; Abraham's laugh; Knowing by fruits; Physical token; Abraham's new societal structure; Ex 28:30; Double faith; "Urim" light and fire; Awakening; Gathering in tens, hundreds and thousands; What is your corruption?; "Perfect"; Bondage of Egypt; Discovering the solution; Being fruitful; Draw near to God.

For today’s installment of our 40 Days Meditation series, our brother Martin Steinbereithner provides commentary on Lev 8:1-29; 9:22-24. Listen below, download here, or search for Words from the Brothers on your favourite podcasting app. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread. And assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded to be done.” And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band. And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded Moses. Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him. And Moses brought Aaron’s sons and clothed them with coats and tied sashes around their waists and bound caps on them, as the Lord commanded Moses. Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. And he killed it, and Moses took the blood, and with his finger put it on the horns of the altar around it and purified the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it to make atonement for it. And he took all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses burned them on the altar. But the bull and its skin and its flesh and its dung he burned up with fire outside the camp, as the Lord commanded Moses. Then he presented the ram of the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. And he killed it, and Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar. He cut the ram into pieces, and Moses burned the head and the pieces and the fat. He washed the entrails and the legs with water, and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering for the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. Then he presented the other ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. Then he presented Aaron’s sons, and Moses put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar. Then he took the fat and the fat tail and all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat and the right thigh, and out of the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord he took one unleavened loaf and one loaf of bread with oil and one wafer and placed them on the pieces of fat and on the right thigh. And he put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons and waved them as a wave offering before the Lord. Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. And Moses took the breast and waved it for a wave offering before the Lord. It was Moses’ portion of the ram of ordination, as the Lord commanded Moses. Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. Lev 8:1-29; 9:22-24

Harav Yussie Zakutinsky Shlita

Numbers 27 is a significant chapter in the Book of Numbers, containing two key events: the appeal of the daughters of Zelophehad for inheritance rights and the appointment of Joshua as Moses' successor. The Daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27:1-11) The chapter begins with the case of Zelophehad's daughters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—who approach Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of Israel. Their father, Zelophehad, had died in the wilderness without sons, and under the existing inheritance laws, his family line would have lost its portion of land. The daughters argue that their father should not be penalized simply because he had no male heirs. Moses brings their case before the Lord, and God affirms their request, establishing a new precedent in Israelite law. God commands that if a man dies without a son, his inheritance should pass to his daughters. If there are no daughters, it should go to his brothers, then to his father's brothers, and finally to the nearest relative. This ruling ensures that family inheritances remain within the tribe, setting an important legal precedent for Israel. Joshua Appointed as Moses' Successor (Numbers 27:12-23) The second part of the chapter deals with Moses' impending death. God tells Moses to ascend Mount Abarim and view the Promised Land, which he will not enter due to his previous disobedience at Meribah (Numbers 20:8-12). Aware that Israel will need a strong leader, Moses requests that God appoint a new leader to guide and protect the people. God instructs Moses to lay hands on Joshua, son of Nun, a man filled with the Spirit. Moses is to publicly commission Joshua before Eleazar the priest and the congregation, signifying the transfer of authority. However, unlike Moses, who spoke directly with God, Joshua will seek divine guidance through Eleazar, who will use the Urim to determine God's will. Themes and Significance 1.Justice and Fairness in Inheritance: The story of Zelophehad's daughters highlights God's concern for justice and equity. It also marks an early instance of legal rights for women in biblical history. 2.Leadership Transition: The appointment of Joshua underscores the importance of orderly succession in leadership. Moses, though a great leader, acknowledges the need for a successor, emphasizing humility and obedience to God's will. 3.Obedience to God's Commands: The chapter reinforces the importance of obedience, as Moses is reminded of the consequences of his previous actions at Meribah. Numbers 27 serves as a pivotal chapter in Israel's journey, setting legal precedents and preparing for a new era of leadership under Joshua.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

Abstract: James Lucas has made a passionate response to the negative review I offered for his and Jonathan Neville's book By Means of Urim & Thummim. Though we agree on many important issues, there are some troubling gaps that readers of their book need to understand. Some of these issues may be illustrated in the […] The post Honorable Intentions with an Unreliable Methodology: Lucas's Response Underscores the Problems first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: Two recent reviews of By Means of the Urim & Thummim: Restoring Translation to the Restoration by Jeff Lindsay and Brant Gardner seriously misrepresent the book's argument. Perhaps most significantly, they largely sidestep the book's central thesis that the statements by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery that the Book of Mormon was translated from […] The post Joseph and Oliver Told the Truth about the Translation: A Response to Brant Gardner's and Jeff Lindsay's Reviews first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: James Lucas had the opportunity to respond to the review of the book that he and Jonathan Neville wrote, By Means of the Urim & Thummim. He elected not to really respond to the issues I brought up but rather summarized his essential points. That doesn't leave much to respond to. However, there is […] The post Responding to a Non-Responsive Response first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 19 | Tetzaveh, by Rav Eli Weber What is the meaning of the clothes of the Cohanim? What are the Urim and Tumim? Why does HaShem want to be among us?

Pastor Randy Solomon continues our study of The Priestly Garments with a dive into the Urim and Thummim from Exodus 28: 30.  Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play the service: This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store. If you want to know more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/salvation.

In this thought-provoking episode, we dive deep into the complex transition from Joshua's leadership to the chaotic era of the Judges, exploring the Israelites' troubling struggles in fully conquering the Promised Land. While Joshua's death triggers a historical shift, the tribes' failure to oust the Canaanites sets the stage for the eventual decline of faith and obedience. From mysterious tools like the Urim and Thummim used to communicate with God, to the dark tale of Adoni-Bezek's brutal fate, this episode uncovers the raw, often uncomfortable truths behind ancient warfare, divine judgment, and Israel's internal fractures. Tune in to discover how disobedience led to the slow blending of cultures and the Israelites' failure to honor God's commands, paving the way for the rise of Israel's troubled future.    If you'd like to support "The History of the Bible" podcast, visit our Patreon Page at https://patreon.com/TheHistoryoftheBible. Your feedback is valuable to us! Share your thoughts and insights via our feedback form at https://forms.gle/AtzUReJ8gLuFYPaP8. Let us know how our podcast has impacted you or someone you know by filling out our impact form at https://forms.gle/jr4EdGsqCaFk4qZm8. If you have concerns about any information presented, please inform us via our correction form at https://forms.gle/PiMMkPnJFaa4j5p37.   #Joshua, #Israelites, #Judges, #PromisedLand, #BiblicalHistory, #Canaanites, #UrimAndThummim, #BiblicalWarfare, #DivineJudgment, #AncientIsrael, #FaithAndObedience, #AdoniBezek, #BiblicalConquest, #TribalLeadership, #Covenants, #IsraeliteStruggles, #BiblicalArchaeology, #OldTestament, #IsraeliteHistory, #CulturalBlending, #DivineRetribution, #HistoricalBattles, #SpiritualLessons

Section 12 - Historical Background: Joseph Knight, a successful farmer living in Fayette, New York, was a loyal friend and former employer of Joseph Smith. Knowing Joseph Smith was translating the gold plates while in Harmony, Pennsylvania, Knight brought down a wagon of supplies to help Joseph and Emma. While there, he asked for a personal revelation, probably through the Urim and Thummim. Recap: The Lord confirms His divinity. Those who labor in His vineyard will be blessed and find salvation. Joseph Knight is counselled to be humble, loving, faithful and charitable.  Section 13 – Historical Background: While translating the plates, Joseph and Oliver were impressed with the subject of baptism which was frequently discussed in the record. Wondering what to do about their own baptism, they asked upon the Lord. As a result, a Heavenly manifestation opened before them as John the Baptist appeared and conferred the Aaronic priesthood upon Joseph and Oliver. Having this new authority, Joseph and Oliver baptized one another. Recap: John the Baptist confers the Aaronic Priesthood upon Joseph and Oliver, giving them authority to baptize into Christ's church. Sections 14-16 – Historical Background: After receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood from Peter, James and John, believed to have occurred in early June, 1829, the persecution in Harmony became severe. Joseph was instructed by the Lord to flee with Emma to Fayette, New York where the Whitmer family offered to share their small and modest home with them. Three of the Whitmer sons, David, John and Peter Jr, asked for personal revelations from Joseph. Recap: The Lord declares the divinity of these blessings, coming from God and not from Joseph. Counsel given to labor in the vineyard, keep God's commandments and preach repentance. All were asked to endure to the end. Unfortunately, Peter was the only one who remained loyal to the Lord. Section 17 – Historical Background: During the translation of the plates, it was learned that the Lord would establish the truthfulness of the record by three witnesses (see 2 Nephi 27:12 and Ether 5:4). Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris all desired to be given the privilege of seeing the Gold Plates. Joseph inquired of the Lord concerning this, through the Urim and Thummim. Recap: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris are promised that if they have adequate faith, they will be allowed to not only see the Gold Plates, but also the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, and the Liahona. They are commanded to use this witness to testify to the world of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and its translation by the gift and power of God.

Exodus 28 describes the clothing of the priests and of the High priest. The clothing of Aaron and his four sons was, verse 2, for glory and for beauty since they were the LORD's representatives. These garments were skilfully embroidered by Aholiab, whose name means “from the Father's tent”. John Thomas wrote about these clothes one and a half centuries ago saying, that what the High Priest wore on his person spoke of the inwrought character of the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 4 describes the clothing common to all five men – a white turban; a linen robe; a golden coloured sash; and a coat of linen of checkered work appearance woven throughout with threads of blue, purple, scarlet and gold. The scarlet spoke of his lowly sin prone human condition. The blue talked of him being motivated, as the Father's only begotten Son, by the Word of God which permeated his thinking. The purple, being a mixture of red and blue, represents royalty. The gold was a token of tried and precious faith. The High Priest had two additional items attached to these garments – in the centre of his turban was a golden plate, which carried the engraved inscription, “Holiness to Yahweh” – speaking of the purpose of the High Priest's life. The second item was a golden breastplate with 12 compartments each one containing a rare and precious gemstone. And upon each of the gemstones was an engraving of each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The breastplate covered Aaron's heart. We sing a hymn that says, “the name of all the saints he bares, engraven on his heart”. (see verse 29). These, likewise, were a reminder of the High Priest's role in representing his people when he approached his God. Verses 15-22 tell of the type of stones (compare the picture presented in Revelation 21); and how they were arranged. The breastplate was attached to two golden rings – one on each shoulder – and tied in place by a blue line lace. This blue lace spoke of the heavenly calling. Verse 30 tells us that the Urim and Thummim were placed within the breastplate; presumably in the back of it for the front was filled with glistening gemstones. Urim means “lights” and Thummim (“fires”, or “perfections”). The Urim spoke of the perfection that was to be found in all of these 12 stones together – every member of the ecclesia of God is an essential part. The Thummim were placed in the back of the breastplate. These may have been a white stone, signifying acceptance (see Revelation 2 verses 17,; 3 verse 12); and a black stone for an unfavourable judgment. (As an aside, which doesn't relate to the clothing of the High Priest, the following Is submitted. The lot from the ephod is spoken of in the first book of Samuel several times. In the New Testament decisions by means of the casting of lots is referred to on a few occasions in the Acts of the Apostles – including for the replacement of Judas Iscariot in chapter 1). On the hem, or fringe (Hebrew “wing”, or “extremity”) of Aaron's robe was an embroidery of blue, purple and scarlet. And dangling from the bottom of that garment were alternating golden bells and pomegranates. The pomegranate speaks of the ecclesia: a multitude (of seeds), united in the blood of Christ, by the blood of the Covenant (the red juice) in One (fruit). And the bell of the gospel message, which when heard would tell of the Lord's life and its significance in gaining the victory over sin, saving the world, and having righteousness and eternal life gained by faithful believers. These were there, so the record says of the High Priest, “that he die not”. Later Leviticus tells of the High Priest elect being struck dead by God. Paul in writing to the Romans comments on the significance of the bell(Romans 10 verses14-18). Exodus 40 finishes by repeating that these clothes were “for glory and beauty”.

Section 10: Historical background: (Note: Chronologically, this section should follow section 3) Because of the lost manuscript of the Book of Lehi, Moroni had taken from Joseph the Gold Plates and the Urim and Thummim in July, 1828. Finally, in September, 1828, they were returned to Joseph after nearly 3 months of sorrow and repentance. Recap: Joseph is reprimanded by Moroni for allowing these sacred records to come into the hands of wicked men. Joseph is commanded not to retranslate the Book of Lehi, but, in order to thwart the evil design of Satan, he is to translate in its place the plates of Nephi, which is another record of Lehi and his family provided by the Lord who knew in advance the evil plan of the adversary. Section 11 – Historical Background: While Joseph and Oliver were working on the translation, brother Hyrum sought to receive council from Joseph regarding his desire to travel as a missionary to spread the message of the restored Gospel. Recap: Hyrum is commended for his desire to preach, but is counselled to wait a little while longer until he has learned more of the doctrine, for the Book of Mormon translation to be completed, and to be strengthened in his surety of the doctrine. He is told to patiently wait, and then is promised to be given the Spirit and power of God unto the convincing of the truth to others.  

Revelation given to Joseph Smith through the Urim and Thummim to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey about Salvation, the Spirit testifies of truth, and Christ. Here is a link to the text: Doctrine and Covenants 6

Discussing Dr. D. Todd Harrison's Teachings on Doctrine and Covenants 2; Joseph Smith History 1:27-65 Dr. D. Todd Harrison's lecture discusses Joseph Smith's First Vision and subsequent experiences leading to the restoration of the gospel. The lecture focuses on Joseph Smith—History 1:27-65, detailing the visitations of the angel Moroni, the revelation of the gold plates, and the acquisition of the Urim and Thummim. Harrison emphasizes the importance of these events in establishing the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants as additional testaments of Jesus Christ. He connects these historical accounts to the restoration of the priesthood and the ongoing work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The lecture concludes with a testimony of the living Christ and a call to action for viewers to learn more about the gospel. Dr. D. Todd Harrison is the most followed religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the leading social media platform-Facebook. With more than 1.4 million followers, he is one of the top 10 most followed Christian leaders as well. As an Ambassador and Witness of Jesus Christ, it is estimated that he has now testified of Jesus to more than 100,000,000 people around the world. Thousands have become baptized members of the Church, and many have and are currently serving as full-time missionaries.

Join our Patreon site (TSAR.website) to get some fantastic extra content and to support the podcast. To rent fantastic space and take advantage of the "penthouse suite" in Central Park East building on the Orem/Provo border, email thescripturesarereal@gmail.com. We are grateful for their support of the podcast.In this episode Gerrit Dirkmaat and Kerry explore the translation of the Book of Mormon. They analyze the sources from which we can learn anything, and teach how to evaluate them. They help us think through what it means to be a seer, the nature of having seer stones like the Urim and Thummim, and what we know about Joseph's translation. They help us see things from the point of view of people from Joseph's time, place, and culture, and help us understand the divinely aided translation of this sacred book. We are grateful for our generous donors who make the podcast possible. We are also grateful to Launchpad Consulting Studios for producing the podcast and to Rich Nicholls, who composed and plays the music for the podcast.

Historical Background: After the translation of 116 foolscap pages of the Gold Plates (known as the Book of Lehi), Martin Harris pleads with Joseph to allow him to take the manuscript to Palmyra to convince his family of the genuineness of this divine project. After tireless pleadings from Martin and through Joseph, the Lord finally consents, but Harris was reckless with the document and it was lost. Immediately, in July, 1828, Moroni appears and reprimands Joseph and takes the Urim and Thummim and the Gold Plates, not to be returned until Joseph is filled with repentance. In September, 1828, Moroni returns the Urim and Thummim and the Gold Plates to a very humble Joseph, who resumes the translation. Recap: Joseph is reprimanded for fearing man more than God, and is counselled that the works of God cannot be frustrated by men. Joseph's father receives a blessing through revelation outlining the marvelous work about to come forth and the need for the faithful to commit to serving the Lord. Guilt-ridden Martin Harris also asks for a blessing through revelation, hoping he can be one of the three witnesses to the Gold Plates. He is granted his desire, predicated upon his sincere repentance.

Leviticus 8 details the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests, fulfilling God's instructions given earlier in Exodus. This chapter provides a step-by-step account of the ordination ceremony conducted by Moses in accordance with divine commands. Summary of Leviticus 8: 1.Preparation for Ordination (Verses 1–4) God commands Moses to gather Aaron and his sons, the sacred garments, anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread at the entrance of the Tabernacle. The entire assembly of Israel is brought together to witness the solemn event. 2.Aaron and His Sons Are Washed and Clothed (Verses 5–9) Moses washes Aaron and his sons with water, symbolizing purification. He then dresses Aaron in the priestly garments, including the tunic, robe, ephod, breastplate, and turban, placing the Urim and Thummim inside the breastplate. 3.Anointing of the Tabernacle and Priests (Verses 10–13) Moses anoints the Tabernacle and all its furnishings with oil, consecrating them for sacred use. He pours anointing oil on Aaron's head, signifying his holy dedication to God. Aaron's sons are clothed in their priestly garments. 4.Sacrificial Offerings (Verses 14–29) •Sin Offering: A bull is sacrificed, and its blood is applied to the altar, purifying it. •Burnt Offering: A ram is offered entirely to God as a sign of total dedication. •Ordination Offering: Another ram's blood is applied to Aaron's and his sons' right ear, thumb, and big toe, symbolizing obedience, service, and a holy walk before God. Parts of the ram and unleavened bread are waved as a wave offering before God. 5.Consecration and Eating of the Offering (Verses 30–36) The anointing oil and blood are sprinkled on Aaron, his sons, and their garments to consecrate them. They are commanded to stay at the entrance of the Tabernacle for seven days, eating the ordination meal and observing all God's commands. Key Themes and Lessons from Leviticus 8: •Obedience to God's Commands: Every detail of the ordination process was carried out precisely as instructed by God, emphasizing the importance of obedience in worship and service. •Holiness and Consecration: The washing, anointing, and sacrifices highlight the need for spiritual purity and dedication when serving in God's presence. •Symbolism of Sacrifice: The different sacrifices represent atonement, devotion, and the sanctification required for ministry. •Leadership and Accountability: Aaron and his sons were set apart for their sacred duties in full view of the community, underscoring the public nature of spiritual leadership. Application for Today: Leviticus 8 serves as a reminder of the seriousness of spiritual leadership and the need for purity, dedication, and obedience in serving God. It foreshadows Christ's ultimate priesthood and the calling of all believers to live as a holy priesthood in service to God (1 Peter 2:9).Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

(7:15) Bible Study: Hebrews 1:1-6 What is repentance? Father explains. (25:45) Break 1 (28:50) Letters: Father talks about the teaching of cremation on the Church and scattering ashes, what does Jesus mean when he says the apostles will be judging the tribes of Israel? Father answers these and many more questions. Write to him at simon@relevantradio.com (35:26) Break 2 (36:02) Word of the Day: Ministering Angels (38:53) Phones: Rosemary - Can I go to the Latin Mass (SSPV) for a funeral Susan - how were Urim and Thummim used in Bible? what is difference between that and divination Tony - what does the church think about gene therapy? John - do we place too high an importance on the Bible?

Northwest Bible Church – Jan. 12, 2025 – Joshua – Alan Conner Josh. 15 Inheritance by Lot Intro  A.  JUDAH'S ALLOTMENT (15:1-63). 1. General borders (Joshua 15:1-12).    South (1-4);  East (5a);  North (5b-11); West (12).   2. Review of Caleb taking his portion (Joshua 15:13-20). 3. Judah's cities listed (Joshua 15:21-62).   4. The failure to capture the Jebusites in Jerusalem (Joshua 15:63).   B. GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY IN THE ALLOTMENT (15:1a). 1. The lot controls the division of the land (Joshua 15:1a).    Numb. 26:55 2. God controls the lot.   Prov. 16:33   3. The parallel with our inheritance. a. Our heavenly portion is called an “inheritance”.  1 Pet. 1:3-4 b. The LOT determined our inheritance in heaven.  Eph. 1:11  c. The LOT determined the gift of our faith.   2 Pet. 1:1  4. The role of the high priest and the picture of Christ.  Josh. 14:1-2 a.  The high priest would make atonement.   Heb. 2:17 b. The high priest had charge of the Urim and Thummim.  Jn. 15:16, 19 Conclusion Things to Ponder:  What do the lots tell us about God?   Why was the use of the lot important in determining Israel's inheritance in the land?   Since our heavenly inheritance and faith are due to the sovereignty of God, how should we respond?

Exodus 28: The Priestly Garments Exodus 28 details God's instructions to Moses for the making of the priestly garments. These garments were designed for Aaron and his sons, who were chosen to serve as priests in the tabernacle. The chapter underscores the sacred role of the priesthood and emphasizes the importance of holiness, beauty, and divine order in worship. Below is a breakdown of the chapter: 1. Appointment of Aaron and His Sons (Verses 1-5) God commands Moses to consecrate Aaron and his sons (Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar) as priests to serve Him. Skilled craftsmen, filled with wisdom and understanding, are to make sacred garments for them. These garments were meant to: •Set the priests apart for their holy duties. •Reflect the glory and beauty of God. The materials used included gold, blue, purple, scarlet yarns, and fine linen, signifying wealth, royalty, and purity. 2. The Ephod (Verses 6-14) The ephod, a ceremonial vest, was one of the key garments: •Made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarns and fine twisted linen. •Designed with two shoulder pieces to fasten it. •Two onyx stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were placed on the shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. •Gold chains attached the ephod to other parts of the attire. The ephod symbolized the priest carrying the tribes of Israel before God. 3. The Breastpiece of Judgment (Verses 15-30) The breastpiece, worn over the ephod, served a dual purpose of beauty and function: •Crafted with the same materials as the ephod. •A square pouch containing twelve stones arranged in four rows, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel. •Attached to the ephod with gold rings and blue cords. The breastpiece also housed the Urim and Thummim, tools used for divine guidance in judgment. 4. The Robe of the Ephod (Verses 31-35) The robe was made entirely of blue fabric: •Decorated with pomegranates made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, alternating with gold bells along the hem. •The bells were meant to sound as the priest entered and exited the Holy Place, ensuring his life was preserved in God's presence. 5. The Turban and Gold Plate (Verses 36-39) The priest's turban included a gold plate inscribed with “Holy to the Lord.” •Fastened with a blue cord to the turban. •Served as a reminder of the holiness required in approaching God. 6. The Tunics, Sashes, and Underwear (Verses 40-43) •Tunics and sashes were made for Aaron's sons, signifying their priestly role. •Linen undergarments were provided for modesty, preventing sin in the holy place. •These garments were to be worn perpetually whenever the priests served, under penalty of death for disobedience. 6. The Tunics, Sashes, and Underwear (Verses 40-43) •Tunics and sashes were made for Aaron's sons, signifying their priestly role. •Linen undergarments were provided for modesty, preventing sin in the holy place. •These garments were to be worn perpetually whenever the priests served, under penalty of death for disobedience. Themes and Significance 1.Holiness and Set-Apartness: The priestly garments emphasized the holiness of God and the need for those serving Him to reflect that holiness. 2.Representation of the People: The names of the twelve tribes on the ephod and breastpiece illustrated the priest's role as a mediator, carrying the people before God. 3.Divine Order and Beauty: Every detail in the garments reflected God's perfection and the importance of worship being done according to His design. 4.Christ as the Ultimate High Priest: These garments point forward to Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest, who perfectly mediates between God and humanity (Hebrews 4:14-16). Exodus 28 teaches us the importance of reverence, preparation, and order in worship, emphasizing God's desire for His people to approach Him in purity and humility.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

“Top 100 Songs Of 2024” Programi traditë i ditës së fundit të vitit rikthehet edhe këtë herë dhe ndoshta ky është një nga momentet më të shumëpritura për të gjithë ju. E si mund të mbyllet ndryshe ky vit, përveç se nën tingujt e muzikës më të mirë të 2024 dhe me të ftuar mjaft të veçantë. Vetëm pak minuta më parë, Ronaldo Sharka bëri një urim special përmes një lidhje telefonike.

“Top 100 Songs Of 2024” , programi traditë i ditës së fundit të vitit rikthehet edhe këtë herë dhe ndoshta ky është një nga momentet më të shumëpritura për të gjithë ju. E si mund të mbyllet ndryshe ky vit, përveç se nën tingujt e muzikës më të mirë të 2024 dhe me të ftuar mjaft të veçantë. Një mesazh zanor ka ardhur nga këngëtari i njohur Elgit Doda.

Programi traditë i ditës së fundit të vitit rikthehet edhe këtë herë dhe ndoshta ky është një nga momentet më të shumëpritura për të gjithë ju. E si mund të mbyllet ndryshe ky vit, përveç se nën tingujt e muzikës më të mirë të 2024 dhe me të ftuar mjaft të veçantë. Një mesazh zanor ka ardhur dhe nga Meriton Mjekiqi, ekskluzivisht për Top Albania Radio.

“Top 100 Songs Of 2024” Programi traditë i ditës së fundit të vitit rikthehet edhe këtë herë dhe ndoshta ky është një nga momentet më të shumëpritura për të gjithë ju. E si mund të mbyllet ndryshe ky vit, përveç se nën tingujt e muzikës më të mirë të 2024 dhe me të ftuar mjaft të veçantë. Një urim special për Top Albania Radio ka artisti shumë i dashur Young Zerka!

Title: "Leadership Passed Down: Moses and Joshua" Be Fruitful & Multiply Series   Introduction * Moses and Joshua's relationship offers a powerful biblical example of mentorship and succession. Their dynamic demonstrates the importance of intentionally preparing the next generation to accomplish God's mission. We are called to leave a legacy—not just to achieve for ourselves but to invest in others, passing on wisdom, faith, and leadership that will continue to impact the world long after we are gone.   I. Moses' Perspective: The Mentor   1. Recognizing the Potential in Joshua   * Exodus 17:8-13: Exodus 17:8-13: 8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Moses trusts Joshua to lead the Israelites in battle against Amalek.      * A mentor recognizes the potential in a disciple and actively creates opportunities for their growth. Success is not a solo endeavor—we can only go as far as our team. If we operate alone, our capacity is limited. For actual multiplication, we must intentionally choose trustworthy individuals who, in turn, will disciple others with integrity. The body of Christ thrives only when all its members function together in unity and purpose. As leaders, our foremost responsibility is to identify the right people, position them effectively, and empower them to carry out the work with excellence.   2. Teaching Through Example   * Exodus 24:13-18: 13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.      * A mentor invites their disciple into God's presence and demonstrates spiritual leadership through example. The goal of discipleship is not to draw people closer to themselves but to lead them closer to the Lord. We are not seeking to create replicas of ourselves; we aim to help others become more like Jesus. Discipleship is about more than transferring knowledge—facilitating encounters with God. Transformation happens as we behold the glory of the Lord, and worship is one of the primary ways God reshapes us. The effectiveness of our leadership and the grace we carry depend significantly on our ability to practice and dwell in the presence of God.   3. Empowering for Leadership   * Numbers 27:18-23: 18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,[a] and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command, he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command, they will come in.” 22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.      * A mentor ensures that their disciple is well-prepared and accepted by others. Effective discipleship results in others recognizing the same wisdom, authority, and grace in our disciples that they see in us. Through Christ, we can impart what He has entrusted to us into the lives of those He places before us. Standing alongside those we have raised affirms our support and signals to others that these individuals are worthy of their trust and leadership. Commissioning is a powerful act that releases God's anointing and calling upon the individual, inspiring confidence and alignment among those who will follow them.   4. Releasing with Confidence    * Deuteronomy 34:9: 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit[a] of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So, the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.   *   * Effective discipleship involves entrusting the disciple with opportunities to lead. The more individuals carry what the Lord has imparted, the further His work can reach. However, just as a vessel cannot be filled until it is emptied, disciples must be led to surrender themselves entirely to God. Only then can they be genuinely filled with the Spirit and fully embrace their calling. When we see those we disciple walking in the power of the Holy Spirit and firmly placed in the Lord's hands, we can confidently trust that they will fulfill their God-given mission.   II. Joshua's Perspective: The Disciple   1. Learning Through Service   * Exodus 33:11: 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua, son of Nun did not leave the tent.      * Time spent alone in God's presence is the most vital preparation for fulfilling the divine purpose of our lives. As ambassadors of Christ, our primary responsibility is to reflect His character and represent Him to the world. The depth of our impact is directly tied to the depth of our relationship with Him; the more intimately we know Christ, the more effectively we can carry out His mission.   2. Observing and Emulating   * Numbers 11:28-29: 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”      * Joshua speaks up and tries to stop leaders who were prophesying; Moses rebukes Joshua, displaying his heart that he wished all of his leaders could prophesy. Joshua may have thought only Moses should be prophesying, for this was the first occurrence of anyone else operating in this gift. Yet Joshua's perspective did not fit the heart of Moses or God. A disciple learns humility and patience under a mentor's guidance.   3. Growing in Courage    * Joshua 1:6-9: 6 : “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or the left. Then, you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”      * A disciple must embrace their calling with unwavering confidence and courage, fortified by the preparation and guidance of their mentor. In this passage, God emphasizes three essential principles for spiritual leadership:     a. Obedience to God's Word: Success comes from diligently knowing, meditating on, and applying God's instructions. A leader's strength lies in their alignment with God's truth.     b. Faithful adherence to mentorship: Joshua is urged to follow Moses's instructions, recognizing the wisdom passed down through godly mentorship.     c. Dependence on God's presence: True courage flows from the assurance that the Lord is always with us, empowering and guiding us every step of the way.   * Spiritual leaders are not called to rely solely on their abilities but on God's promises and presence. Time spent alone with the Lord and a commitment to His Word prepares leaders to step boldly into their divine purpose.   * 4. Carrying the Vision Forward   * Joshua 24:14-15: 14 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”      * A disciple's success is measured by their faithfulness and ability to inspire and lead others to follow God wholeheartedly. Spiritual leaders are not focused on drawing people to themselves but on pointing them to the Lord. Joshua sets a powerful example of spiritual leadership by explicitly declaring that his allegiance and that of his household is to the Lord. He challenges the people to make a definitive choice, laying out the stark consequences of serving idols and the blessings of serving God. Leaders must similarly emphasize the urgency and gravity of choosing whom to serve. As disciples of Christ, we are called to lead others toward complete devotion to Jesus, rejecting any allegiance to idols or worldly influences. True discipleship prioritizes Christ as Lord, ensuring that those we guide are rooted in faithfulness to Him alone.   III. Lessons for Modern Discipleship 1. For Mentors:   * Identify and invest in potential leaders.   * Walk alongside disciples, modeling a life centered on God.   * Empower and release them with faith that God will continue the work through them. 2. For Disciples:   * Serve faithfully in preparation for leadership.   * Learn from the mentor's strengths and weaknesses.   * Seek God's guidance as you step into more significant responsibilities.   Conclusion * The relationship between Moses and Joshua demonstrates the power of discipleship to ensure the continuation of God's work. * Actual multiplication happens when leaders invest in disciples who, in turn, become leaders themselves. * Challenge: Who are you mentoring, and who is mentoring you in your walk with God?   -- Praise Tabernacle Dr. Joshua Kennedy, Pastor 2235 Ocean Heights  Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 pastorjosh@praisetabernacle.com praisetabernacle.church  (609) 927-4560(w

Escaping Apostate Church Judgments (4) (Audio) David Eells 11/27/24 I'm going to pick up where we left off in part 3. This is important for the people of God to know because time is very short now. Let's go to Zec.11:17 Woe unto the worthless shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm…. The arm represents your strength by which you do your works with your hands. Isa.53:1 … And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Our strength is Jesus Christ, “the arm of the Lord”, and we do our works through His power. This next verse we will share speaks about the leadership of apostate shepherds that God said He would raise up. Zec.11:17 Woe unto the worthless shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, (I.e. he will not have the strength of the Lord to do His works.) and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. The sword shall be upon his right eye, means his spiritual discernment, his ability to see in the spirit, his ability to discern and understand the Word of God, and so on “shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.” This very much describes the leadership in most of the Church today. This sounds very much like a verse in Micah: Mic.3:6 Therefore, it shall be night unto you, that ye shall have no vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them. We're coming to a day when people who have called themselves prophets and spiritual leaders, pastors, and so on, if they have not followed the Lord in putting to death the old man of their flesh, and submitted to the Word of God, they're going to become more and more blind. God is taking away their discernment. Even now, He's taking away their spiritual discernment and they're not even understanding that it's happening. Mic.3:1 And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know justice? 2 ye who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; 3 who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them…. What do you think it means to take their skin off of them? Our skin separates us from the world. It also is a protection against the attack of the enemy, isn't it? Our skin protects us against germs and things like that. It's kind of a first line of defense, isn't it? So, again, why are so many of the people of God plundered by these curses? Because they are not trained with the true Word of God! The Word of God is our defense, it's our shield, it's our high tower and there's no protection unless we are trained in it. So Mic.3:3 … they flay their skin from off them, and break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the cauldron. Your bones are where your life comes from. Also we see that the apostate shepherds will devour and get fat off of the flesh of the sheep. People who are not fleshly can't stand these apostate ministers, but the people of God who are fleshly cannot discern them. Even the world can look at the apostate ministers and see that they are plundering the flock, but these poor people have fallen under their spell. They're going to sleep listening to their teachings and so they cannot rightly discern. Mic.3:4 Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not answer them; yea, he will hide his face from them at that time, according as they have wrought evil in their doings. Well, it was the same in Jesus' day. Jesus spoke to them in parables so that they would not perceive and would not understand and repent, and God would heal them according to Matthew 13:15. We know that the same thing is happening in our day. God is not going to grant most of them repentance. They have done evil in plundering God's people and very few of them are going to escape. Mic.3:5 Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people to err; that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and whoso putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. In other words, anybody who doesn't flatter their ego, well, they're going to make war against them, right? Anybody who doesn't feed their pocketbook or their ego, they're going to make war against them. Mic.3:6 Therefore it shall be night unto you, that ye shall have no vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets and the day shall be black over them. 7 And the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God. Remember how when Saul was in a war with the enemy and he was losing the war, he tried to get an answer from God and God would not answer him? And so what did Saul end up doing? Going to the demons. Do you think it's any different today? I don't think so. Mic.3:8 But as for me, I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord…. “Micah” means “Who is like God.” Micah, who is like God, says, But as for me, I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. Again we've found another Man-child here who is being accosted by the Eli, Saul and Pharisee ministries, right? Mic.3:9 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, that abhor justice, and pervert all equity (which basically means “uprightness,” “pervert all uprightness”). 10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. 11 The heads thereof judge for reward (They are hirelings like the Eli ministry.), and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord in the midst of us? no evil shall come upon us. 12 Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest. So judgment came on Jerusalem, the apostate leadership, because, God's people have followed a Saul ministry, a Pharisee ministry, and so judgment came. And we see once again why this Tribulation is coming upon the world. It's for the same reason. God's people have not represented Him to this world and it has to be done. We're coming to the end. God is merciful in bringing these judgments. It has to be done. So returning to our text in 1 Samuel, we see that even though Samuel had showed up as a child and was not yet matured, and he had not yet come into his position of authority, God was training him. However, during this whole time, Eli was becoming darker and darker in his understanding and dimmer and dimmer in his sight, but the lamp of God was not yet gone out, and Samuel was laid down [to sleep,] in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was (1Sa.3:3); (Samuel slept in the presence of God, didn't he? He rested in the presence of God.); that the Lord called Samuel…. Now, to make a long story short, the Lord called Samuel while he was in Eli's house. 1Sa.3:11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even unto the end. Wow! That sounds like it comes all the way down to us, doesn't it? If God is prophesying that He's going to judge Eli's house all the way to the end, He must be talking about the end-time here. We know that there are people in Eli's house today because, if you walk in the steps of someone, you're a part of their house; you're a part of their heritage. In the New Testament, we've learned that you pass on your heritage by words and by nature, not by flesh. We are Christians because we have taken on His Name, meaning in Greek, His nature, character and authority – all those attributes. And, of course, you'd be in Eli's house for the same reasons – that you had been taking on his nature, character and authority. That's how you would be in his house in the end times. Well, God says that the days are coming when everything that He's spoken about Eli is going to be fulfilled and I tell you, that's happening in our days, folks. 1Sa.3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he restrained them not. 14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated (“purged”) with sacrifice nor offering forever. Have we ever read in the Scriptures where God would not forgive and cleanse and purge a man's sins, a man who is a child of God? Yes, we have. The Bible tells us this very plainly in 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. What brings responsibility is the knowledge someone has. Jesus came on the scene so that those who said they saw would become blind and those who didn't see would see. When Jesus came, He brought the knowledge that made people responsible. And He said, If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin (Joh.15:22). His knowledge of the Word of God that He gave them made them responsible. In this situation, Eli is being prophesied to through Samuel. God spoke to Samuel to give this revelation to Eli, which Samuel did. God essentially said that Eli's house would not be purged by sacrifice; meaning God wasn't going to forgive him for this. Some of you think God will forgive you for anything if you repent, but I'll tell you what, they weren't going to repent. And did you know, God grants repentance? The Bible says God has to grant repentance. He doesn't do that for everybody. He didn't grant the Pharisees repentance; He didn't grant Saul repentance; He didn't grant Eli and his house repentance; and it was because they all continued to walk in willful disobedience. 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. You see, there is a place where God will not grant, where the sacrifice of Jesus will not grant a person repentance because they continued to walk in willful disobedience. Back to 1Sa.3:19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. Oh, praise God! Have you ever heard the old saying that the heavens were brass? People prayed and they didn't feel like their prayers were getting into the heavens, but instead, they were bouncing and coming back. Well, none of Samuel's prayers bounced, folks. His name means “heard of God.” In other words, God heard him and when Samuel made a pronouncement it came to pass, and when he prophesied it was the truth. So be happy that we have a ministry like that coming down the road. 1Sa.3:20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord (Note that this is even though he was a child at this time). 21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh (which was the house of God); for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. He revealed himself to Samuel in the house of God by the word of the Lord. 1Sa.4:1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. There it is, “to all Israel.” Samuel was sending this word forth to all of Israel while the Eli ministry was still in official authority here and so the rest of this chapter is about what happens to those who follow the Eli ministry. As the Word of the Lord was coming to them and making them responsible, it was making them more and more blind and more and more apostate. God was taking grace away. Every time they would reject the true Word of God, they'd lose more grace. Today we see them stumbling around, very foolishly, with false doctrines and bad spirits. Why? They're becoming more and more blind and their grace is being taken away. 1Sa.4:1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. So once again, those who are under the Eli ministry are going up against the Philistines. As you remember, this happened with Saul. His battle against the Philistines was lost and God said the reason for that was that Saul didn't put to death the old man when God sent them out to do that. So now the Philistines were coming back to conquer them and Israel, under the leadership of the Eli ministry, was going forth to battle with the Philistines. 1Sa.4:2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines…. We see the same thing that happened to Saul. The apostate ministry brought destruction at the hands of the old man and the people who followed that apostate ministry died at the hands of the old man, the Philistine. 1Sa.4:2 … And they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. Notice that responsibility brings judgment. Responsibility came because Samuel sent forth the Word to all Israel and, here, all of a sudden, judgment comes upon the apostate ministry and the people who follow them. 1Sa.4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to-day before the Philistines? They didn't understand why they were losing the battle with the Philistines. These are the elders. These are the elders of the church in our day. Why did God smite us? What can we do about this? They did not understand. Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies. 4 So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who sitteth [above] the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. This is false leadership. They had taken possession of the ark of God. Now, let me ask you a question here. You are a child of God because you have the Presence of the Lord in your Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant was a part of the Temple. It was the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. So we together, the corporate body of Christ, we are that temple and our spirits are the Ark of the Covenant because God dwells in our spirits. So, because you have the Spirit of God, does that save you? I mean, here they sent to the House of God, they took out the Ark of the Covenant, they brought it with them and they put it in their midst because they thought this would save them. They thought the Ark would save them, but is that really true? Remember what we read in Mic.3:4 Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not answer them; yea, he will hide his face from them at that time, according as they have wrought evil in their doings. So they've plundered the people of God, as the first text tells us, and now God won't listen to them anymore. This is the same thing that happened with Saul. God would answer him neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets (1Sa.28:6), so Saul turned to familiar spirits and God turned him over to demon spirits. Mic.3:11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money (of course, the sons of Eli were doing all these things): yet they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord in the midst of us? no evil shall come upon us. 12 Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field…. You see, the presence of the Lord didn't save them. How is it that they could have the presence of the Lord in their midst and still not be saved from the Philistines? How is this possible? Well, the Bible tells us in Rom.8:12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: 13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die…. How is it, if we live after the flesh, we must die? Because if you submit to the flesh, if you let the flesh rule, then it's going to put to death your spiritual man; you're going to spiritually die. You may still be living, but you'll be dead on your feet. You'll be walking in death and you'll have no victory over the Philistine whatsoever. Rom.8:13 … but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body (in other words, if you are putting to death the old Philistine, the old man, he says), ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Now, I ask you, could the people who are following the Saul ministry, the Eli ministry, and the Pharisee ministry, could they be righteous? Could they be sons of God? And could they be following the Spirit of God? No, they couldn't because they couldn't see and perceive that these men were evil. They weren't following the Spirit of God; they were following these men who were not following the Spirit of God themselves. So we see that you can have the presence of God and not be spared. Listen, some people think you're going to be saved because you have the Holy Spirit. That's not so. You're not going to be saved unless you follow the Holy Spirit. Having the Holy Spirit will just condemn you because you are capable, and you're able to partake of the inheritance in the saints. Somebody who has the Holy Spirit can do this, but if you're not doing it, then your gift is just condemning you that much more. The presence of the Lord was in their midst, but it wasn't saving them and they lost the next battle. 1Sa.4:5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp. 7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. Think about this. The old man fears God. The old man will not submit to Him, but he does fear God. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. 8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? Actually, that word gods is the word Elohim. It's the same word we just read: “God is come into the camp.” It's talking about our God and they translated it “gods” because they knew it was coming out of the mouth of Philistines, but 2700 times in the Bible this was translated elohim because elohim is plural. God is plural. “Y-H-W-H is Elohim”, the Scripture tells us. The name of the true God is plural. God is One God, but He's One in unity, not in essence. So it should be read here just the way it's translated everywhere else, as 1Sa.4:8 who shall deliver us out of the hands of this mighty God? this is the God that smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness. 1Sa.4:9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Notice “that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews.” God's plan is that the old man is a servant to the spiritual man. They were afraid they were going to lose their position of authority over the spiritual man, so they said, “Let's fight extra hard here; we don't want to serve the spirit man. We don't want to serve the Hebrews.” And you know the flesh hates the spirit; the flesh dies when the spirit man's in control. 1Sa.4:9 … That ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight. 10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten…. Even though the presence of the Lord was in their midst, the Israelites were conquered by the old man who lives in the land. They were conquered. It was because they wouldn't follow the Spirit of God. They were following the Eli ministry and so they were conquered by the old man. We saw the same thing with the Saul ministry. Those who followed Saul died at the hands of the Philistines. Here they followed the Eli ministry and what happened? They were dying at the hands of the Philistines. It made no difference that they were what we loosely call “children of God”; it made no difference that they had God in their midst; they still died. It's what Jude calls twice dead, plucked up by the roots (Jud.12). And there's another reason. Psa.78:56 Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, And kept not his testimonies; 57 But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places…. They had the high places of the altar of Baal and the Ashtaroth in the time of Eli, but Samuel put all that away. 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, And moved him to jealousy with their graven images. This is what Ezekiel called the abomination in chapters seven and nine. The abomination. Here's an abomination. You know what abominations do? The abominations make one desolate. Well, what happens when you're desolate? God leaves your temple. Psa.78:59 When God heard [this,] he was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel; 60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh (Aha! That's “an abomination that maketh desolate”.), The tent which he placed among men; 61 And delivered his strength (that was the Ark that came out of the Temple) into captivity, and his glory into the adversary's hand. And we know that when the Israelites were conquered, then the Philistines took possession of the Ark of God. The Israelites had brought it there with their own hands. They brought the Ark out of the Temple of God, out of the House of God, with their own hands. They thought it would save them but, instead, the Philistines captured the Ark. 1Sa.4:10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. When the Ark of God is taken possession of by the Philistines, it means that you, as the temple of God's Presence, are being ruled by the old man. It means that the old man is taking the presence of God where he wants to go. He has taken possession now, you see, and that brings death every time. Rom.8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye must die…. It's death every time. You see, God's presence comes into you so that you, by His Spirit, would be led by your spiritual man. But in this case, they lost their battle with the old man and the old man had taken possession of the Spirit of the Temple of God. Psa.78:61 And delivered his strength into captivity, And his glory into the adversary's hand. 62 He gave his people over also unto the sword (in other words, the death of the Saul, the Eli, the Pharisee ministry), And was wroth with his inheritance. 63 Fire devoured their young men; And their virgins had no marriage song. 64 Their priests fell by the sword (Hophni and Phinehas fell by the sword); And their widows made no lamentation. Now, I'm going to share a revelation with you.     Not My Father's House Care Sebourn - 06/27/2008 (David's notes in red) The dream starts with Mick and I going through a door of a rental house. (The house that is merchandised, Babylonish religion.) I am carrying a baby boy, he is bald and has huge blue eyes. (The fruit of Christ with heavenly insight and bald in this case, means no submission to Babylon.) As we enter I stop in the first room and look around. I noticed the place is filthy and torn up. (The apostate house of God's people has been trashed.) I can see the kitchen from the room we are standing in and there are stacks and stacks of dirty, gross dishes with food stuck on them. (Their table is unclean.) Mick and I are disgusted and wonder why we would rent such a place. I notice my three children (the ones that still live at home) working like dogs, trying to clean the place up. I tell them to stop and that it is useless to try because it will never clean up. My kids are relieved and almost grateful that I saw it was useless. (It is time to give up trying to clean up Babylon and call the people out. Jer.51:9 We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country.) Then they drag out a huge box that is covered in dirt. They want Mick and I to see what's inside, so they open it for us. Inside is a guitar covered in dirt, rocks, etc. (Unveiling the hidden corruption in their music and word.) In an instant the room becomes bigger and is filled with furniture and people. Across the room Mick and I spot this man that is sitting at a dining room table. Right away I realize that he is the owner of the house. Mick takes the baby from me and we make our way towards him. As I am walking toward him I run into a thrashed overstuffed chair and couch. I look down and notice the terrible condition of the carpet. Then I move the chair and notice huge rips and tears in the carpet. I then commented to Mick that they tried to cover the holes with furniture. (“There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed”.) How deceiving. Mick agreed with me. He is still holding the baby. I look up and notice the owner is still seated across the room. As we resume our journey towards him I realize that he and many of his “friends” are having a Christmas party. (Babylon's roots are from Babel of the false Jesus and Mary.) We hear someone call the owner “Sal”. (Short for Salvatore, meaning Savior; teachers of false salvation.) These friends of his are smoking (which is partaking of unclean breath or spirits), drinking (out of touch with reality) and partying it up (overindulging in the world). They were eating from huge tables of elegant and rich food as they laughed and socialized. As we continue our way to “Sal”, many of these people stop us and try to engage us in conversation. They offer us food and we turn it down. (Refusing Babylon's spiritual food as did the three Hebrews.) I feel as though they are trying to stop us from getting to Sal. Mick and I join hands (we still have the baby) and we begin to try and maneuver around the people. One by one some of them step in front of us and begin talking to us. All of them are so sweet and friendly. One woman was right in our face smoking a cigarette; she was terribly overly made-up with hideous make-up. (The harlot hinders “the way” of the righteous and protects their leadership.) The room was crowded and smelled nasty. The strange thing was that none of these people noticed the filth or the smell. (They are spiritually assimilated into the harlot and do not recognize holiness.) As we reached the other side of the room, Sal was in the corner. He looked up and saw us walking toward him and got really nervous. (These sons of perdition feel cornered and threatened by the righteous.) He gave us a fake smile and said, “Hello”. I noticed he had a New York (Little Babylon) accent and had the characteristics of a used car salesman. (They are slick con men.) I looked him straight in the eye and told him that he lied to us; this house was torn up and filthy and I wanted all of my money back. (Stop pouring God's money down a rat hole, Church!) Sal dropped his eyes to the ground and ignored me. I repeated my request for the money back. He continued to ignore me. I was aware that people were still partying and going about their business and I could still hear Christmas music (Babylon's false Jesus worship). I stepped away and took the baby out of Mickey's arms and stepped into the other corner where I felt he would be safe. I observed Mick and Sal in an intense discussion and after a long period of time, Sal took out his checkbook, wrote a check and handed it to Mick. Then Mick made his way back to me in the corner, still having to dodge Sal's friends. When he reached the baby and me, I noticed he was disappointed. The check was for $78 and I became angry because I knew that I had given Sal over $2000. (The apostates have stolen 2000 years from the Church and all they want to offer is 78, which means ignorance and idolatry, which I'll explain below.) I handed the baby back to Mick and took the check from his hand. I marched across the room towards Sal, and this time his friends didn't try to detour me or block my way. As I walked, they created a path for me to get to Sal and there was fear in their eyes. When I reached him, I could tell that Sal was not happy that I was back and he began to slowly retreat into the corner as I yelled at him, “This is unacceptable and I will not accept this $78. (Don't accept 78.) I gave you over $2000 and all I got was this filthy house. (The Church has nothing to show for 2000 years of self-effort.) Take back your house and give me back my money”. Sal retreated further back into the corner and the room became dead quiet. Again I repeated my request and told him I did not want the house; I wanted him to refund the money. He ignored me and so I repeated it again. He dropped his eyes to the ground and became despondent, as though he were wishing me away, but I persisted, and again I demanded that he return my money as I held my hand out in front of his face. Reluctantly, he again pulled out the same checkbook, looked me dead in the eyes, and said nothing. I then noticed that Mick and the baby were standing directly behind me. Then I repeated to Sal that I wanted all of my money back. He slithered down into a chair and began to write a check. As he was writing the check, I noticed that he became angrier and angrier. He violently removed the check from the checkbook and slapped it into my hand. When he put it in my hand, I looked down at the check and noticed it was for over $2000. (God is going to restore through the latter rain all that the thieves have taken from His people for the last 2000 years as in Joel 2:25.) I snatched up the check and Mick and I began to exit the house hand in hand. Once we were outside, I noticed it was nighttime. I gave Mick the check and I told him that Sal could not be trusted; we must go now and immediately deposit the check. Then I woke up. This dream represents the ministry of bringing the fruit of Christ to the apostate church in correction. It is full of sin and worldliness. This church is likened unto a rental house because it is merchandised. Jesus told the Pharisees, “Make not my Father's house a house of merchandise”. Their table (food) is unclean. Their leader and owner is Sal, which is short for Salvatore, meaning Savior. Many have trusted in these Pharisees and their word instead of the real Savior and His Word. Sal's friends are a hindrance in the way of the real Church. They have destroyed and corrupted (trashed) the Father's house. As Jesus said, their house is being left unto them desolate. All attempts to revive the system are over and the real Church is moving on. Everything their leaders have stolen for 2000 years will be demanded of them. As in Luke 16, they will have to give account of their stewardship before they are thrown out of office. All they offer the Church in return is 78. I asked the Lord what the ‘78' that the false leaders were offering represented. He gave me the 7th book and 8th chapter of the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 8, which speaks of false knowledge, sacrificing to idols, (which are demons in 10:20), preachers and religious systems, idols and idols temples, defiling the conscience, leading God's people astray, etc. This is what the apostate leaders offer in exchange for their leadership for the last 2000 years. But a great revival and restoration of all things is coming now. PTL!

église AB Lausanne ; KJV 1 Samuel (1 Kings) 28 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. ...

Review of James W. Lucas and Jonathan E. Neville, By Means of the Urim & Thummim: Restoring Translation to the Restoration (Cottonwood Heights, UT: Digital Legend Press & Publishing, 2023). 288 pages. $19.95. Abstract: In their book, James Lucas and Jonathan Neville present two major theses relative to translation of the Book of Mormon. The […] The post Trust Us, We're Lawyers: Lucas and Neville on the Translation of the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of James W. Lucas and Jonathan E. Neville, By Means of the Urim & Thummim: Restoring Translation to the Restoration (Cottonwood Heights, UT: Digital Legend Press & Publishing, 2023). 288 pages. $19.95. Abstract: In By Means of the Urim & Thummim, James Lucas and Jonathan Neville valiantly seek to defend Joseph Smith's role as […] The post Through a Glass Darkly: Restoring Translation to the Restoration? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of James W. Lucas and Jonathan E. Neville, By Means of the Urim & Thummim: Restoring Translation to the Restoration (Cottonwood Heights, UT: Digital Legend Press & Publishing, 2023). 288 pages. $19.95. Abstract: In By Means of the Urim & Thummim, James Lucas and Jonathan Neville valiantly seek to defend Joseph Smith's role as […] The post Through a Glass Darkly: Restoring Translation to the Restoration? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of James W. Lucas and Jonathan E. Neville, By Means of the Urim & Thummim: Restoring Translation to the Restoration (Cottonwood Heights, UT: Digital Legend Press & Publishing, 2023). 288 pages. $19.95. Abstract: In their book, James Lucas and Jonathan Neville present two major theses relative to translation of the Book of Mormon. The […] The post Trust Us, We're Lawyers: Lucas and Neville on the Translation of the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of James W. Lucas and Jonathan E. Neville, By Means of the Urim & Thummim: Restoring Translation to the Restoration (Cottonwood Heights, UT: Digital Legend Press & Publishing, 2023). 288 pages. $19.95. Abstract: In By Means of the Urim & Thummim, James Lucas and Jonathan Neville valiantly seek to defend Joseph Smith's role as […] The post Through a Glass Darkly: Restoring Translation to the Restoration? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of James W. Lucas and Jonathan E. Neville, By Means of the Urim & Thummim: Restoring Translation to the Restoration (Cottonwood Heights, UT: Digital Legend Press & Publishing, 2023). 288 pages. $19.95. Abstract: In their book, James Lucas and Jonathan Neville present two major theses relative to translation of the Book of Mormon. The […] The post Trust Us, We're Lawyers: Lucas and Neville on the Translation of the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Are you talking with the wrong people? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. King Saul is freaked out right now. He glared down at an inevitable war with his two great enemies, Achish and David. And in his despair, he will do exactly what he shouldn't. Let's read verses 6-7: And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” — 1 Samuel 28:6-7 Are you talking with the wrong people? In Desperation, We Make Devastating Choices Saul's fear drove him to desperation, and in that desperation, he made a devastating choice. This decision not only disobeyed God's orders (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) but also disobeyed his own order and reflected his unwillingness to listen to God in his anxiety and impatience. We often do the same, don't we? When life presses in and we feel anxious, we can seek answers in all the wrong places. We might turn to: People: People who have opinions that are opposed to God. Friends: Friends who only tell us what we want to hear. Feelings: Your own feelings that lead you astray. Time To Evaluate So today, I want you to evaluate: Have you deafened your ears to God and turned to consulting the wrong people? Instead, try this: Talk with God in prayer about your issues. Dig into God's Word by reading Scripture. Seek counsel from God-fearing people. Just so you know, consulting mediums are not the right medium. #SeekGodFirst, #GodlyWisdom, #RightVoices Ask This: Who are you turning to for advice when you're anxious—God, His Word, or people who may lead you astray? How can you ensure you listen to God's voice rather than letting fear guide your decisions? Do This: Consult with God and his people. Pray This: Lord, help me to seek Your wisdom above all else and trust Your timing, even when I feel anxious or afraid. Guard my heart from turning to the wrong voices and guide me to listen to You alone. Amen. Play This: God Who Listens.

28 “Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. 3 You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. 4 These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests. 5 They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. 6 “And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked. 7 It shall have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges, so that it may be joined together. 8 And the skillfully woven band on it shall be made like it and be of one piece with it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. 9 You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, 10 six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth. 11 As a jeweler engraves signets, so shall you engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall enclose them in settings of gold filigree. 12 And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for remembrance. 13 You shall make settings of gold filigree, 14 and two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords; and you shall attach the corded chains to the settings. 15 “You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work. In the style of the ephod you shall make it—of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen shall you make it.16 It shall be square and doubled, a span[a] its length and a span its breadth. 17 You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius,[b] topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; 18 and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; 19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree. 21 There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.22 You shall make for the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure gold. 23 And you shall make for the breastpiece two rings of gold, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece. 24 And you shall put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece. 25 The two ends of the two cords you shall attach to the two settings of filigree, and so attach it in front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod.26 You shall make two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod.27 And you shall make two rings of gold, and attach them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, at its seam above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 28 And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod. 29 So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord. 30 And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly. 31 “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 32 It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a garment,[c] so that it may not tear. 33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them, 34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe.35 And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die. 36 “You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the Lord.' 37 And you shall fasten it on the turban by a cord of blue. It shall be on the front of the turban. 38 It shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear any guilt from the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall regularly be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord. 39 “You shall weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and you shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash embroidered with needlework. 40 “For Aaron's sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps. You shall make them for glory and beauty. 41 And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. 42 You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the hips to the thighs; 43 and they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister in the Holy Place, lest they bear guilt and die. This shall be a statute forever for him and for his offspring after him.

Do you default to your will, convincing yourself it's God's will, or just to God's will? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are in Chapter 23 of 1 Samuel. I've titled this chapter "Your Way Or The Lord's Way." Yesterday, David went over to Keilah and defeated an invasion of the Philistines, putting him within Saul's reach. Today, we will see how that turns out in  1 Samuel 23:6-12 which reads: When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand. Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” Then David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.” — 1 Samuel 23:6-12 An ephod was a cloth garment worn by Israel's high priests. It was made from fine and colorful materials; think of it as a long, lightweight, sleeveless vest worn over other clothing to distinguish a priest (see image here). Attached to it was a jem-covered breastplate. The garment was used during worship and to seek God's guidance because within a pocket of the ephod were the Urim and Thummim—objects used to discern God's will. So what are the Urim and Thummim? These objects are a bit of a mystery. We don't know exactly how they were used or what they looked like. We believe they were two small stones (maybe gems), one white and the other black. But in some way, they were used exclusively by a high priest to inquire of God and determine his will. The words Urim and Thummin literally meant "lights" and "perfections," so some believe that when light shone on them, they gave direction. Given this context, we can compare Saul and David in the text. If you remember back a few verses, Saul had just murdered all the priests, minus one who escaped—Abiathar. So the fact that he thinks God has given David into his hand is preposterous. This is how delusional Saul has become. He kills defenseless priests of God and then believes he is still hearing from God. It troubles me to say this but there are believers who can become this delusional. On the other hand, we have David. In the previous text, David consulted God twice before going to Keilah and will now do it again. He does it in the traditional way because God has given him a secret weapon—a surviving priest who slipped away with an ephod that no doubt had the Urim and Thummin. Notice the shift in the story: Saul has eliminated all means of hearing God's voice, and David has been given the means of hearing God's voice. This is a vital power shift in this story. If you want to do God's will, you have to be willing to hear God's will. This means you cannot eliminate all means of hearing from God and then justify the voice in your head as God's will. That's delusional. Instead, the better choice is to surround yourself with as many means of hearing God's will as possible, including God's Word, God's people, and God's Spirit, and engaging in intercessory prayer. #GodsWill, #Discernment, #FaithJourney Ask This: What practices or resources are you currently using to discern God's will in your life, and how can you deepen those practices? Can you identify a recent decision where you felt torn between your own desires and what you believed to be God's direction? How did you navigate that situation? Do This: Seek God's will, not your own. Pray This: Father, please help me to seek Your will above my own and to recognize the guidance You provide through Your Word, Your Spirit, and the community around me. May I be open to hearing Your voice and willing to follow the path You have set before me. Amen. Play This: I Lift My Eyes.

A new mishnah! On the sale of a field with demarcations of the property, where the buyer can hold the seller to those specifications, with a one-sixth margin of error (give or take, which is the bulk of the discussion). Plus, whether one-sixth exactly should be treated as more or less than one-sixth, which are respectively defined with halakhic conclusions. Also, the case of brothers who drew lots to determine the portions each received of their inheritance. With parallels to the division of the land of Israel among the 12 tribes, under the guidance of the Urim ve-Turim -- but there's no reason to think the brothers' decision would be contested, which is an easier lottery, such as it was.

Abracadabra! Today, we're diving into the strange world of spell-casting, charms, and defense against the dark arts. No, this isn't about a school for young witches and wizards, it's the magic practiced in the Bible! And oooh, does that make some people uncomfortable! First, we're going to look at the famous priestly divining implements, the Urim and Thummim. What were they? How did they work? Did they glow? Were they more or less accurate than a Magic 8 Ball? Then we're traveling to the caves of Ketef Hinnom, to look at the oldest known witnesses to the Hebrew Bible, and their potentially magical properties. For early access to an ad-free version of every episode of Data Over Dogma, exclusive content, and the opportunity to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at: https://www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma      Follow us on the various social media places: https://www.facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod https://www.twitter.com/data_over_dogma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interviewer:  Lisa Meeks   Interviewees:  David J. Skorton, MD, President and CEO of the AAMC Amy Addams, Director of Student Affairs, Alignment and Holistic Review at AAMC Mytien Nguyen, Researcher and MD-PhD student at Yale   Description:   In this milestone episode, host Lisa Meeks interviews leaders from the AAMC and a medical student to tackle the critical issues of burnout, mental health, and disability inclusion in medical education. The conversation provides an overview on  the current state of burnout and well-being among medical students, residents, and fellows, while also highlighting the AAMC's efforts to address these challenges through targeted initiatives and collaborations.    The interviewees stress the importance of supporting the well-being of traditionally underrepresented and marginalized groups in medicine, including individuals with disabilities. The episode further explores strategies for improving program access and fostering inclusive environments for disabled students, with a particular focus on the impact of intersectionality on medical student well-being, informed by a pivotal study on burnout at the intersection of race and disability. This episode is essential listening for anyone committed to the future of medical education and the well-being of its community. Don't miss this special celebration of 100 episodes!   Transcript Keywords: AAMC, URiM, Disability, Accommodations, Policy, Intersectionality, David J Skorton, DocsWithDisabilities, Medical Students, Wellbeing, Depression, Burnout Bios:  David J. Skorton, MD President and CEO, Association of American Medical Colleges David Skorton, MD, is president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which represents the nation's medical schools, teaching hospitals and health systems, and academic societies. He began his leadership of the AAMC in July 2019 after a distinguished career in government, higher education, and medicine. Previously, Dr. Skorton served as the 13th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, where he oversaw 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and education programs. Prior to that, he served as president of two universities: Cornell University (2006 to 2015) and the University of Iowa (2003 to 2006), where he also served on the faculty for 26 years and specialized in the treatment of adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease. A pioneer of cardiac imaging and computer processing techniques, he also was co-director and co-founder of the University of Iowa Adolescent and Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic. A distinguished professor at Georgetown University, Dr. Skorton is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society, as well as a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Skorton earned his BA and MD degrees from Northwestern University. He completed his medical residency and fellowship in cardiology and was chief medical resident at the University of California, Los Angeles.   Amy Addams Director, Student Affairs Alignment and Holistic Review; AAMC Ms. Addams is a diversity, equity, and inclusion expert, change management professional, researcher, and author. She has robust experience in both higher education and in the not-for-profit space. Her work focuses on creating and sustaining equitable and inclusive systems, cultures, policies, and processes in the fields of medical education and community health. At the AAMC, she leads the holistic review work across the continuum from pre-med preparation and admissions through residency recruitment and selection as well as emerging work on disability inclusion. For the Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HPRC), she engaged Boston-area middle schools and community members to make lasting changes in nutrition and physical activity. Her credits as an author include, the Roadmap to Diversity: Integrating Holistic Review Practices into Medical School Admission Processes. Co-author of Best Practices for Conducting Residency Program Interviews and Holistic Review in Medical School Admissions and Selection: A Strategic, Mission-Driven Response to Shifting Societal Needs, and several peer reviewed articles on the prevalence and experiences of medical students with disabilities. Developmental editor for Accessibility, Inclusion, and Action in Medical Education: Lived Experiences of Learners and Physicians with Disabilities and Roadmap to Excellence: Key Concepts for Evaluating the Impact of Medical School Holistic Admissions. Developmental editor, key contributor, and facilitator of the Holistic Review in Admissions and Selection workshops.    Mytien Nguyen MD/PhD student at the Yale School of Medicine.  Mytien earned her undergraduate and master degree from Cornell University, studying biology and bioengineer. Her work centers on eliminating barriers for students from marginalized backgrounds in pursuing a career in medicine. An advocate for health equity, she is a co-founder of the National First Gen & Low-Income Medicine Association. Produced by: Dr. Lisa Meeks  Audio editor: Jacob Feeman Digital Media: Katie Sullivan and Lisa Meeks  Listen to the full episode now and don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insightful conversations! Follow Us: Twitter: @DocsWith Instagram: @DocsWithDisabilities Resources: A number of resources were provided for this series, they are all listed in the transcript.

1 Samuel 28:1-25 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the ar- my.” 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.” 3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” 8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” 9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. 15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul an- swered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. There- fore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.” 20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

Do you wonder why God isn't speaking, or you cannot hear his voice? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are in 1 Samuel 14. I've titled this chapter "A Contrast Of Leadership Between Jonathan and Saul." We are in the latter part of Chapter 14, surveying Saul's leadership. We are still feeling the hangover that results from that stupid vow Saul instituted, but in the end, Saul builds an altar to the Lord, and then here is what happens next in verses 36-38: Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day. — 1 Samuel 14:36-37 Saul is pretty excited about this victory—I would be pretty high, too—because death was knocking at his door. But he wants to continue the campaign and finish them off, which probably would have been the case if they had the calories to do it. But before they go, in traditional fashion, he tries to consult God, but God doesn't answer, which bothers him. We have all been in this situation: We want to know what God wants us to do and even seek his counsel, but we don't seem to get the answer as fast as we want. And it's irritating because we are irritated with God's sovereignty. But there is more to this story. Verses 38-42 read: And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” Therefore Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken. — 1 Samuel 14:38-42 Saul does what any believer would do. He searches out the sin, preventing the voice of God, which is the right impulse. When God is silent, it is right to ask this question and deal with sin because sometimes sin prevents the voice of God or us from hearing the voice of God. The problem with Saul's search is that he will not like the answer. So the priest pulls out the Urim and Thummim, which are kept in his breastplate and rolls the divine dice. We are not exactly sure how this worked, but we do know this: it is the same process used for selecting Saul as King. But this time, the selection is not of a king but of a sinner. And the die falls to Jonathan. Tomorrow, we will see how this pans out. But for now, remember that every situation in this life is an opportunity to consult God. Sometimes, God's answers don't come in the timing we like or expect. The key is not to be irritated with God's sovereignty. We need to trust his sovereignty when he calls us to act and not act. And sometimes, when he doesn't answer, this is a good time to do business with our selfishness and sin. So do that today! #GodsTiming, #DivineSilence, #SaulAndJonathan Ask This: When you face moments of silence from God, what practical steps can you take to reflect on your own life and possible barriers to hearing His voice How can Saul's experience with unanswered prayers guide you in your own journey of seeking God's direction, especially when His responses are delayed or unclear? Do This: Seek his voice and search out your sin. Pray This: Lord, when Your voice seems silent, help me to trust in Your timing and seek my own heart for any barriers to hearing You. Guide me in dealing with my sin and selfishness, so I can remain faithful even in the quiet moments. Amen. Play This: Lord, I Need You.

The pastors dive into the Bible during this week's episode of “Bible Answers Live” to answer questions from callers nationwide ! Traditions of man, connection with God; God in the Old Testament, God in the New Testament... study with us now these topics and much more ! Do you want to know how to reestablish trust with God ? Do you want to know if God lives you unconditionally ? Tune in now and join us ! 1.- Was there a Sabbath day before creation ? 2.- Is the graven image in Revelation 13 going to come to life and kill those who refuse to worship it ? 3.- How can I help someone understand that just because something is tradition, it doesn't mean it's right ? 4.- Is it appropriate to use the words “God,” “hymnal,” and “church” ? 5.- In Genesis 12 verses 10 through 20, Abram and Sarai traveled to Egypt. Did Sarai conceive a child with Pharaoh ? 6.- In Genesis 48 verse 20, Jacob blessed Joseph's two sons. Why did he bless Ephraim before Manasseh ? 7.- Is the number 144,000 a literal or symbolic number ? 8.- How can I reestablish a connection with God and trust His plan for my life ? 9.- How was Naaman able to continue as commander when he had leprosy ? 10.- If God knows everything from the beginning to the end, how is it possible for an evil individual to be born ? 11.- If God is the same yesterday, today and forever, why is there a difference in His actions between the Old and New Testaments ? 12.- In 1 Kings 13, was the older prophet feeling guilty when he asked his sons to bury him next to the younger prophet ? 13.- Did the Urim and Thummim survive all those generations? or did they make different breastplates for the priests throughout all those ages ? 14.- I had a supernatural encounter where I heard God speak the Ten Commandments during a thunderstorm. Why did this happen ? 15.- Is Paul the man referenced in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 2 ? 16.- Where is the best place to begin studying with a new believer ? 17.- Am I sinning for going to two different denominations/ churches ? 18.- According to John 6 verse 46, no one has seen the face of God. However, the Bible says that Enoch, Elijah and Moses did see him. Can you please explain this ? 19.- Is God's love unconditional ? 20.- How are God's chosen people the Jews when so many Jews today don't even believe that Christ is the Messiah ? 21.- If one angel could kill 185,000 soldiers in one night, why do the angels stand by and allow things like mass shootings to take place ? 22.- What does it mean when Jesus said, “The night is coming and no one can work” ?

Welcome to Day 2411 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – Love Potion: Number 5 – I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2411 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2411 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today is the twelfth lesson in our segment, Theology Thursday. Utilizing excerpts from a book titled: I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible written by Hebrew Bible scholar and professor the late Dr. Michael S Heiser, we will invest a couple of years going through the entire Bible, exploring short Biblical lessons that you may not have received in Bible classes or Church. The Bible is a wonderful book. Its pages reveal the epic story of God's redemption of humankind and the long, bitter conflict against evil. Yet it's also a book that seems strange to us. While God's Word was written for us, it wasn't written to us. Today, our lesson is, Love Potion: Number 5. When was the last time you heard a sermon on Numbers 5:11-31? One of the things I enjoy telling people in conversations about Bible study is that “if it's weird, it's important.” This passage certainly qualifies in both respects. The strangeness of the passage is easily detectable, but only careful Bible study makes its importance apparent. Numbers 5:11-31 describes a water ritual to determine the guilt or innocence of a woman suspected of adultery. A husband is to bring the wife under suspicion to the priest, along with a required grain offering that will “bring iniquity to remembrance.” The priest, in turn, prepares a jar of water mixed with dust from the Tabernacle (5:16-17). To this mixture is added the curses against her written “in a book” (5:23). Either the curses were written and erased, so that the erasures are swept into the water mixture, or the ink is washed off into the water mixture. The woman is compelled to drink the concoction after saying “Amen, Amen” in response to the priest's invocation of blessing or cursing upon her, depending on her innocence or guilt. If she is guilty, the ingested mixture will cause pain and sterility; if there is no such reaction, she is deemed innocent (5:27-31). Since the instructions in Numbers 5 were given by God (5:11), the water ordeal is a means of divination, whereby it is expected that God will use the ritual to answer a question human beings cannot. That the Israelites could use such divination comes as no surprise, as the high priest had the Urim and Thummim at his disposal, and various biblical characters utilize the casting of lots for discerning the mind of God on a matter (Josh 18:6-8: Prov 16:33: Acts 1:26). This passage provides a useful starting point for discussing why biblical characters were permitted to practice divination at all, when elsewhere such methods are condemned (e.g., Deut 18:9-14). But let's instead focus on one practical implication of this passage. Students of the Bible know that adultery was punishable by death in ancient Israel (Lev...

The key to the supernatural has been under your nose this whole time! An ancient oil runs through your veins. It's a supernatural legacy that can only be activated through leadership! It's already in you, you just need someone to help you activate it. Today's podcast will impart the spirit of leadership you need to activate that ancient oil. A Message From Your Big Brother “When you step into leadership, you tap into legacy. When you tap into legacy you tap into the ancient oil that unlocks the supernatural in your life” - Michael Velthuysen Materials used in this podcast:     - Rise of Prophetic the Champion by Apostle Colette Toach Register for Prophetic Training: www.myprophetictribe.com Scripture Used in This Podcast:     - Numbers 27:18-22 “18 And the Lord said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate[d] him in their sight. 20 And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the Lord for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him—all the congregation.” 22 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 And he laid his hands on him and [e]inaugurated him, just as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.” - 

Join us on this week's episode as we dive into one of the most mysterious parts of the Theocracy, the Urim and Thummim. We welcome the renowned scholar Doug Bookman to help us uncover the secrets of these ancient Israelite communication tools and their historical significance. Prepare to be captivated as Doug Bookman takes us on a journey through time, shedding light on how these mysterious objects were used to seek divine guidance and make pivotal decisions. Tune in now! This episode is sponsored by: https://drinkag1.com/blurry — Get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase! Support the show! www.blurrycreatures.com/members Socials instagram.com/blurrycreatures facebook.com/blurrycreatures twitter.com/blurrycreatures Music Kyle Monroe: tinytaperoom.com &Parker Mogensen Outro Song: On the Run by TimeCop1983 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore biblical prophecy with esteemed biblical scholar Dr. Ben Witherington III as he discusses his book, "Jesus the Seer: The Progress of Prophecy." Jesus the Seer explores the profound role of prophecy in both the Old and New Testaments and how it all points to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.Dr. Witherington unpacks the historical and theological contexts of prophecy, shedding light on its significance in the ancient Near East and Greco-Roman world. He explains how ancient cultures relied on diviners to interpret signs from nature, while court prophets served kings with their insights. In contrast, the Israelites transitioned from these practices as Yahweh's prophets rose to prominence, delivering divine messages directly from God. Meanwhile, priests took on roles that involved interpreting God's will through sacred objects such as the Urim and thummim, effectively replacing the diviners of surrounding nations.Our conversation examines the complexities of distinguishing true prophecy from false, the role of court prophets, and the fascinating interplay between prophetic and wisdom literature. Dr. Witherington also shares his perspective on how the Holy Spirit operates differently in the New Covenant era, emphasizing the importance of discernment in contemporary prophetic practice.Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion that not only enriches our understanding of biblical prophecy but also points us back to the central figure of our faith—Jesus Christ. Whether you're a pastor, teacher, or theology enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable insights that will deepen your appreciation for the prophetic traditions of the Bible.Jesus the Seer: https://a.co/d/1Ty6jSg