Podcasts about where jesus

Receive refreshment for your soul as we explore "The Wedding at Cana"! (Where Jesus turned water into wine.) 

"Be a man." Three words that have gotten a lot of guys in trouble. Too many of us have done too many dumb things to prove what a "man" we were. But it seems more confusing than ever to know what that even means. Being a man. Is it changing diapers and watching Hallmark movies? Or increasing your bench press and wearing camos? Is it conquest or compassion? Tenderness or toughness? Is it hiding your feelings or feeling your feelings? "Toxic masculinity" at one pole, passive manhood at the other. As we approach another Father's Day, I'm not feeling a great urge to pontificate on manhood. What I do have is an urge to remember my Dad. And the man who changed him. When I was a kid, Dad was a machinist. By the time I was a teenager he'd become a plant manager - only a high school graduate. On his own time, he was a leader at church, even chairman of a couple nonprofit boards. Recently I was asked to write a paragraph about my dad for a broadcasters' magazine. He was strong in his convictions and honest. Mischievously funny. Hardworking. Always fair. Always there. But as I sat at my keyboard, staring at the wall for the words, one word just kept coming to mind. "Tenderhearted." For all my dad's obvious strengths as a leader, I remember the man who wasn't afraid of tears. When he was moved, you knew it. He was moved by a son's adolescent accomplishments... when he became a grandpa... when he saw people hurt. Most of all, he was deeply moved when he thought about my baby brother who died suddenly at six months. And he really teared up when he thought about the man he used to be and the God who changed him. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Messy Manhood and Dynamite Dads." My dad thought of himself as very average. His priorities were anything but average. You can read it on his tombstone. With all the titles he had in his life, on his grave it simply says, "John Hutchcraft. Husband. Father." And after all is said and done, that's his legacy. Others could be foreman or chairman or boss. Only he could be our husband and father. So with all the craziness about manhood, this Father's Day I'll go with the one who defined the word Dad for a boy named Ronnie. He was strong but sensitive. Fighting for what is right, but still a peacemaker. Neither toxic nor timid. Achieving but putting people first. But most of all, I think about the Man who changed my Dad into the man I've been describing. For when my brother died, my Dad was totally lost. His broken heart led him to an old rugged cross. Where Jesus died to pay for every sin John Hutchcraft ever did. John Hutchcraft gave up driving that day - his life, that is. And Jesus took the wheel. And made him the man I remember, I love, and I miss. Our word for today from the Word of God makes me think of my dad. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Jesus. Tough enough to single handedly drive crooks out of the temple, but tender enough that children clamored to sit on his lap. Strong enough that men would leave everything to follow Him. Yet caring enough to elevate women in a world that crushed their dreams. The Savior who has made many a man what he could never have been without Him. I'm one of them. When a man experiences Jesus forgiving... His unconditional love... His power to change - he now has nothing to prove. Nothing to hide. And nothing to lose. He is free to lead. And free to love. My friend, if you want to begin a relationship with Him (which I hope you do!), go to our website. There's more there about how you can belong to Him. The website is ANewStory.com. So I'm very blessed this Father's Day. I think I know all I need to know about being a man. From the one I call Dad. And, most of all, from the One I call Savior.

Introduction: Leviticus 19:18 – You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:34 – You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. I Love My Enemies... (Matthew 5:43–48) ...because of WHO I AM. (Matt 5:45a) ...by WHAT I DO. (Matt 5:45b) ...because I Am CALLED TO BE DIFFERENT. (Matt 5:46–47) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 5:43-48What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What does it mean to be persecuted? When Jesus said we must pray for those who persecute us, what / how exactly should we pray?Can you genuinely love your enemy if you don't really feel like it? Why or why not?Explain Romans 12:20. How exactly does loving your enemy lead him to repentance? See also Romans 2:4.What did Jesus mean in verse 48 when He said we “must be perfect”?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Open up those Bibles to Matthew chapter 5.As we go through our series, the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapter 5 verse 43, Jesussaid, "You have heard that it was said."Stop there for a second.This whole section that we're in right now, if you've been following this series at all,I'm sure you've noticed that that has come up.What is it like?Six total times pastor?Like, "You have heard that it was said, but I say to you."What Jesus is dealing with here is correcting some garbage beliefs.And I've shared with you before, that's my biggest concern for this church is the areaof discernment.We live in a day that there is so much bad teaching out there.And thanks to the Internet, we have access, right?And look, I'm not saying it's all bad, but I'm saying probably for every good teachingyou can find online, you can probably find ten other garbage teaching online.And my concern for the church is people not knowing the difference.And it gets back to what did Jesus actually say?It's the issue that He was dealing with in His day, lack of discernment.Last week we saw Jesus said, "You've heard that it was said, and I for an eye."And Jesus said, "No, no, no, no, no, no."Jesus, as I say to you, I'm paraphrasing, He says, "Do not retaliate."You can walk away from last week's message and say, "Got it.Don't retaliate."So I'm just going to ignore the people that I can't stand.Well, let's keep reading.Verse 43, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate yourenemy.'But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."Oh, no, no, don't ignore your enemies.You have to look for ways to be good to them.You're like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.You're saying that I not only don't get to get even with them, but I have to proactivelylove them?Yeah, that's what He said.All right?It's a hard word.So I think we should just stop and pray right now, shouldn't we?I'm going to ask that you would pray for me to be faithful to communicate God's word,accurately and clearly, and I will pray for you to have a heart open to receive what ourLord is teaching us in this part of His Sermon.All right?So let's pray.Father in heaven, as we go through this sermon from our Lord, it's just wave after wave ofthings that really confront our selfish, sinful, fleshly tendencies.And I don't know of one that's bigger than this one.I'm asking, please God, please, by the power of Your Word, Father, by the power of YourSpirit that You would change our minds today, Father, change our hearts and that we wouldn'tjust leave here knowing some things, but we leave here deeply convicted and moved to dosome things.For Your glory and honor, Father.We pray in Jesus' name.And all of God's people said, Amen.All right, let's break this down here.Jesus says in verse 43, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighborand hate your enemy.'"You have heard.You have heard.That's what we've seen in this series.The scribes and the Pharisees in Jesus' day did what's still happening today.They twist verses in the Word of God to justify whatever it is they want to justify.For them, Jesus called them out.They were justifying their lust.They were justifying their hatred.They were justifying their getting even with people.He calls them out again.You've heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy."That's what the scribes and the Pharisees said.And you're like, "Well, was that in the Old Testament?"Well, the first part was, kind of.Here's what I mean.Here's what's actually in the Scripture.Leviticus 19-18.Look at this."You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but youshall love your neighbor as yourself.I am the Lord."So you see, with the way that they sort of restated that, they ran into four problems.Four problems.The first problem is the scribes and the Pharisees left out the "as yourself" part.Did you notice that?Well, I love my neighbor, but as myself, that's a bit too much.Let's keep it vague.Because if we keep love vague, then whatever we do, we can just say it was love, right?So keep it vague.God never kept it vague.That was their first problem.Second problem is the scribes and the Pharisees redefined neighbor.And their definition of neighbor was, "Those I choose to love."That was their definition.So do you realize...the reason I'm laughing is, do you realize what that made the command?God's command is, "Love those you choose to love."That's convenient.Third problem, the scribes and the Pharisees totally added the "hate your enemy" part,right?Totally added that.You're not going to find that anywhere in the Old Testament.My vague love is for my Jewish neighbors.What about the foreigners?Hate them.And that leads us actually to the fourth problem.Because that whole love your neighbor as yourself, that was in Leviticus 19, 18.But if you go down a few verses to verse 34, it says, "You shall treat the stranger whosojourns with you as the native among you.And you shall love him as yourself."For you are strangers in the land of Egypt.I am the Lord your God.See the scribes and the Pharisees, they thought that they were honoring God by hating foreigners.And we get asked this question a lot."Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait."In the Old Testament, didn't God tell the Israelites to exterminate the nations thatwere living in the Promised Land?And don't we have all these imprecatory psalms?Like what's up with that, huh?Well, it's like the eye for an eye thing that we talked about last week.The scribes and the Pharisees took a thing that was designed for Israel as a nation andthey turned it into a personal thing.So the whole exterminate the enemies in the Promised Land.Yeah, absolutely.Israel's wars weren't personal vendettas.They were commanded by God to wipe out those nations because those nations did horriblethings.And God says, "You are not going to pollute my nation Israel."So Israel, you're going to wipe them out.And if you have a hard time with that, I would just like to lovingly remind you that Godis allowed to make those calls because vengeance belongs to Him.Okay?And God's whole purpose in that was to protect Israel as a nation in that land.That's why when you turn to your New Testament, you don't see any imprecatory language inthe New Testament.It's for Israel.And individually, we're talking about personally now, what about the people that hate me?What about the people that are my enemies?Love them.Love them.Look at verse 44, Jesus says, "But I say to you," pretty clear, isn't it?Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.You see the whole loving your neighbor command includes everyone around you, including yourenemy.Now breaking this down, when He talks about enemy, He's talking about your personal enemy.Okay?It's not this collective group idea.It's somebody who personally hates me.And Jesus says our response is to love them.That's the word agape.That is the highest form of love.That's self-sacrificing love.That's the kind of love that we should have for our enemy.And the verb tense here is constant.It's continually.You need to continually love your enemies.And you're like, well, who is my enemy?Who is it that hates you?Who is it that you know that if you tried to call them, they wouldn't answer the phone?If you sent them a text, they wouldn't reply.Or vice versa?Who is it that has been slandering you, making accusations against you?Jesus says we not only love our enemies, but you notice He ratchets it up even more whenHe says pray for those who persecute you.Those who persecute you.Those are your worst enemies.Where Jesus is speaking about your enemies who they don't just hate you.They actively hate you.These are the people that make an effort to show you how much they hate you.And as we've been going through the Sermon on the Mount, we see that a true believerin Jesus Christ is someone who is defined by the Beatitudes.And if you were here for the Beatitudes here, do you remember what the last one was?The highest rung on the ladder of following Jesus Christ is when we're persecuted.And here's the part where we stop and ask, are we persecuted?Are we really persecuted?Because here's the thing.I think for a lot of us our knee-jerk reaction to that would be I'm not persecuted, but thereality is you probably are.But you just haven't realized it.Here's what I mean by that.Here's what I mean.Persecute doesn't just mean somebody physically attacks you.Somebody murders you.Somebody gets you arrested, thrown in jail.Yes, that is persecution, but those are the most graphic manifestations of persecution.The word "persecute" literally means to pursue.That's what it means.And listen, listen to this.Persecute means somebody is chasing after you to constantly criticize and condemn you.So I imagine most of you are being persecuted right now according to the true definitionof persecution.Think about it this way.Was Jesus persecuted?If you're like, "Oh yeah, when He was crucified."Of course!But He was persecuted His entire ministry because what were they constantly doing?The proper definition.They were constantly - read the Gospels.They were constantly pursuing Jesus.They were - how would we say it?They were out to get Him.That's what persecution means.I mean, read your Gospels.They were constantly looking to criticize Jesus and assaulting Jesus, accusing Jesus."You did this in the Sabbath and you shouldn't be doing healing this way and your disciplesdidn't wash your hands and what's up with the fasting?"They were constantly, constantly, constantly after Him.That's what persecution means.And if you really follow Jesus, you have people pursuing you in that way too.Don't shout out any names.But do you have somebody at your workplace, for example, that's always watching you,always looking to get their little remarks in, get their little digs in,always looking to criticize anything you say or anything you do.That's persecution according to the proper definition.They're pursuing you.Maybe you have that family member.Never approves of a thing you do.The bum just can't do anything right and they're always vocal about it.Getting their little shots in, their little passive aggressive comments, they're alwaysout to get you.That's persecution.Maybe it's on social media.You know anything you post.You know that person is going to show up with their snarky little comment.That's pursuing.That's persecution.Jesus says we need to pray for the people to do that to us.The people that are out to get you.Jesus said pray for them.So when was the last time you did that?I don't know about you but I have a list of people that I regularly pray for.When was the last time that you loved your enemy?And you're like, why in the world would I do that?Well let's keep reading.Jesus says in verse 45, "So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven."Why would you love your enemy?Why would you pray for people that are constantly out to get you?It's not because of who they are.It's because of who you are.That's the sermon that our Lord gives.That you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.It's not because of who they are.It's because of who you are.We just confess that so much of our lives, our attitudes, our moods are determined byother people, good or bad.People have a way of just like governing our lives.Here's what I mean.Your service, you go over to a giant eagle and you run into an old friend that you haven'tseen in years."Oh, that puts you in a good mood.Oh, it was so great catching up."That's going to put you in a good mood for the rest of the day, right?Or somebody makes a really jerky comment to you at work intentionally wanting to getunder your skin.Then that's just like wreck your day and you're in a bad mood for days over one jerky comment.And I would bet if you had a bad day last week, if you could point to a day last weekor like, "Oh, that was a bad day," I would be willing to bet that it had something todo with people.You're laughing because it's true.And Jesus here is saying, "My people don't react to people.My people act according to the Word of God."So let's unpack this for a few moments, shall we?When you're outlining, I want you to jot some things down.I love my enemies.Can you say that?You're like, "Not now."You will in a few minutes.I love my enemies.Number one, we already touched on this.We're going to drill a little deeper here.Number one, I love my enemies because of who I am.Look at this again.This is Jesus' whole rationale.Why would I love my enemies, Jesus?Lord, why would I pray for the people that are constantly out to get me?So that You may be sons of Your Father who is in heaven.This is where Jesus starts Your identity.You love Your enemies not because of who they are, but because of who You are.Jesus is in essence saying, "You love Your enemies because..."It's a family tradition in our family.You have family traditions.You have family traditions.You know what I mean?Every family has on brand things that they do, right?Like some families, they're like, "We're campers.We go camping."Yes, we have a house, but for a while we like to pretend that we don't.That's just what we do in our family.We live in a canvas enclosure in the wildlife.Okay, but that's your family thing.For some families, it's like, "We're beach people.We love the beach."Our family loves the beach.We love the beach.That's our family thing, right?Some families are sports families like, "Oh, we're baseball.We're a baseball family.We love the box and we're on the church softball team."And we're like, "We love baseball."Every family's got their thing, right?I mean, I remember growing up, our family.Our family had our thing.I remember when we were teenagers, Aaron actually came over to our house for Thanksgiving.And they had the stuffing out and the turkey and all the dressing and all that stuff.And I just remember our family was passing around the table a bag of funyons.And I just remember Aaron sitting there going, she looked like she saw a ghost.I'm like, "What's the matter?"She goes, "Why are you passing around a bag of funyons?It's Thanksgiving."And I'm just like, "What's Thanksgiving without funyons?"Like, "We're not the weird ones here."And then I got older and realized that we were.Every family's got their thing.That's what Jesus is saying here.Like, "Hey, hey, hey, we're in God's family."He said, "You know what we do in God's family?Do you know what we do?We love like God."And God loves His enemies.You're like, "Who are God's enemies?"Everyone.Do you realize that?Literally every single person on the planet is an enemy of God until they are reconciledto God in Jesus Christ.That's what Paul said in Romans 5, right?"If while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son."See that's the glorious reality of the gospel of Jesus Christ.When you receive Jesus Christ by faith, when you believe that He died to take away yoursin, when you believe that He rose from the dead to give you eternal life, when you turnfrom your sin and receive Him, God changes you from an enemy of God to a child of God.And now we are a child still living among enemies of God, child of God.Ephesians 4, spilling over to Ephesians 5, says, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children."This is what we do in our family.We love like God.And as His children, we imitate our dad.Do you ever notice that kids love to imitate?Do you ever notice that?Kids loved to imitate adults.It was made painfully aware to me, oh, many, many years ago, a couple decades ago at thispoint we had foster kids.Before we had any of our own kids, we had foster kids.And I remember, one little boy, he was five years old, his name was Walter, and we'd beplaying the PlayStation.We were sitting there, playing the PlayStation, and look, I was a perfect gamer back in theday.But sometimes the stupid game would glitch or something, and my guy would get killed.And when that happened, I remember I'd put the controller down, and I'd be like, "Oh,for Pete's sake!"Well Walter would be playing video games with me, and I remember he'd be playing a videogame, and he'd just randomly throw his controller down and go, "Your pee stinks!"Like no, no, no, no, no, no.No, it's for Pete's sake.But he was...It never clicked with him.He was constantly commenting on the smell of urine.Your pee stinks.Why did he do that?He was just imitating me.Right?Kids love to do that.And as a child of God, we naturally, we supernaturally want to imitate him.So when that guy at work is constantly out to get you, and you love him, and you repayhis nastiness with kindness, and then somebody else comes in and says, "Well, what are youdoing?You love that guy?That guy's a real jerk to you!"And your response says, "Yeah, I get that from my dad."You see, I see people as dad-season.Lost.Blind.Slave to sin.Heading to hell.You know what my heavenly dad taught me?He taught me that I don't need to retaliate.And my heavenly father taught me I don't need to ignore them.My heavenly father taught me that people like that need compassion.And I know right now somebody's thinking, "Yeah, I love your enemies.I see it.I hear it.Pastor Jeff, you don't know what this person said to me.You don't know the horrible things that they said to my face.You don't know the horrible things they said behind my back.Pastor Jeff, you don't know this person for years has been just out to get me."Look.You're right.They don't deserve it.You're right.They've been miserable.But you, you love them not because of who they are, but because of who you are.You're a child of God.And your heavenly father, he loves his enemies.Right?So I love my enemies because of who I am.Secondly, number two, write this one down.I love my enemies by what I do.I love my enemies by what I do.And you might be sitting here going, "Ah, yeah, this love your enemy thing.I ain't feeling it.I ain't feeling it."And I would say, "That's okay.You don't have to feel it."But you do have to do it.Because look, when the Bible talks about love, agape love, it's not an emotion.Listen, you don't have to like them.But you do have to love them.And biblically, love is an action.Here's what I mean.Love is an action.First, John 5.3 says, "For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments."Jesus said the same thing.What is it?John 14, 15.Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."John 15, Jesus said, "Abiding in Him is keeping His commandments."Notice the Bible never calls us to stir up some kind of emotion.Loving God is a choice.And yes, we worship God with our emotions in song and worship, yes, but that is thefruit of a choice to love God.The proof that you love God isn't based on your feelings.The proof that you love God according to our Lord is based on your actions.And listen, church, love works the same way with your enemies.You are not called to love your enemies by conjuring up gushy feelings.You're called to love them by your actions.You're called to love them by actively blessing them.Why?Because that's what God does.Look at verse 45, the rest of it.He says, "For He makes His Son rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on thejust and on the unjust."God is so kind to sinners.Did you ever stop and think about that?Have you ever stopped to just marvel at the glorious truth that somebody can live theirentire life and completely ignore God?And they can still have a pretty good life on the earth.Isn't that astounding?Isn't it amazing that somebody can live their entire life hating God, speaking against God,speaking against God's people, speaking against God's truth.They can live their whole life and do that, and they can still have a good life on theearth.In God's kindness, He still lets them have sun and rain and a million other good things.You can hate God, still have food and friends and laughter and family and health.And yeah, the heart hearted may refuse to be thankful or acknowledge this, but regardless,God does it anyways.God's kindness says little about them, but it says much about Him.And Jesus says, "Take note, children of God, you show love for your enemies by what youdo for them.You show love for enemies by actively seeking their good."Like, well, what does that look like, Pastor Jeff?What does that look like?Okay, so you've got a nasty, older family member who's always hated you.Go do your yard work.You got a jerk co-worker always looking to get their little shots in on you?Look for ways to sincerely and genuinely compliment their work.You got a nasty neighbor?Find out what they like and treat them.Hey, I saw your garden, and the other day I was at the store and I saw that there wasthis magazine about gardening, and I picked it up for you.I thought you might be interested.I don't know.Just get on your face and ask God to show you how you can show kindness to your enemy.Romans 12.20, Paul quotes from Proverbs 25.He says if your enemy is hungry, feed them.If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.For by so doing, you will heat burning coals on his head.When I was a young Christian, when I read this, I had this idea that if you do goodto people that aren't good to you, like if you meet their needs, they're going to havethis like mini Sodom and Gomorrah experience on their head.Like I'm going to be nice to you, and it's going to rain lava on your head.I'm burning!Like that will show them.And then I learned that that's not what that means at all.It was actually an Egyptian symbol that they would put hot coals in an insulated pot andcarried around on their head.It was a sign of repentance.See, Israel had the sackcloth and ashes.Israel had the pot of coals on their head.And that's what God's Word is driving us to.Because no one's ever been one to Jesus because a Christian matched their pettiness.No one's ever been one to Jesus because a Christian just flat-out ignored them.It's kindness that leads to repentance according to Romans 2-4.Show love to them.Actively show love to them.Why would I do that?Because it's not about who they are.It's about who you are.And one more.I love my enemies because of who I am by what I do.In Romans 2-3 we get to another because I love my enemies because I'm called to be different.Look at verses 46 and 47.Jesus says, "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?Do not even the tax collectors do the same?And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doingthan others?Do not even the Gentiles do the same?Stop there.If you're like, "You know what?I love the people that I like.I love the people that I like."Well, then you do what people who don't even know Jesus do.And our Lord here is saying, "What's so special about that?"Oh, so you think you're great because you do what's normal.Well hang on a second.Let me shine up your participation trophy.Why is it that we want applause for doing what's expected?Here's an example.Well Aaron and I, we always look at each other and kind of laugh.When we hear a dad say, "Yeah, I had a baby sit my kids last Monday."Do you hear somebody say that?You're not going to say it anymore.I had a baby sit my kids last Monday.I believe that's called being a father.You didn't baby sit your kids.What did your wife pay you $10 an hour?Like look, I'm not giving you a cookie because you did what was expected.That's what our Lord is saying here.You're expected to be different because Christians have something that no one else in the worldhas.Do you know what that is?Like the Bible?Not everybody has that.Like compassion?No, a lot of people have that.Christians have something that nobody else in the world has.You know what that is?God living in them.In other words, you should be different.I mean, anybody can go one mile.That was the law.That's expected.Anyone can give up a shirt that they lost legally in a lawsuit.That's expected.And here our Lord is saying, "Anybody can say hi to their friends."That's expected.But God expects and empowers us to do more, to be like Him.So do you do what the world expects?Or do you do what God expects because God's called you to be different than the world?Do you have a heart like God?We'll find out.We'll find out because it's revealed not in how you treat your friends, it's revealedin how you treat your enemies.You love them.Not because of who they are, but because of who you are.Oh yeah, there's one more verse.One of the most deeply convicting and challenging verses in the whole Bible.Jesus says, "You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."In the context of this teaching, obviously, he's talking about the way we love, right?You must love perfectly the way your heavenly Father loves perfectly.That's what Jesus is saying here.And look, you and I, we look at that verse and we say, "I failed.I failed."We all have.And actually, remembering the beatitudes, step one and two of the beatitudes was recognizingthat you failed.And you're like, "Man, I'll never be perfect."But God says you must be perfect.You know what that means?It means I always have room to grow.And today we're talking about loving your enemies.And maybe right now you're saying, "You know, I knew that.I knew that, but today I'm encountered by this calling in a fresh way and I realizenow I need to grow.I want to grow in this area."It's grace.It's grace.God has made us perfectly righteous in Jesus Christ.God has adopted us as His children, and He is constantly changing us.We don't deserve anything, but God has given us everything, even though we were His enemies.It's grace.You get that?Then like your Father, give it.In just a moment, we're going to be gathering around the Lord's table as a church.And it is the Lord's table that reminds us that we are grace people.Because in essence, what we are remembering, what we are celebrating, what we are declaringwhen we take the Lord's supper together is the Lord is saying, "I saved you."Not because of who you are, but because of who I am.

John 4:46-47 Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee, where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. Let's begin today with a few facts. The journey to Cana from Sychar was about 40 miles, or probably 2–3 days. The royal official was probably a Gentile, an official in Herod Antipas' administration, who was the Tetrarch of Galilee. The distance from Cana to Capernaum was about 20 miles over hill country, a long day's journey by foot. These facts help us keep things in perspective. Nothing is going to happen fast if everything goes at the normal pace. The situation given by the Father to Jesus was dire. The official's son was probably at the point of death before the father left for Cana to meet Jesus, so you can imagine the urgency of the official once they met. Having heard that Jesus was in Cana, he believed Jesus was the boy's only hope of healing. He believed it enough to undertake a 40-mile round trip. Under the circumstances, I think he would have taken the fastest means possible, which would have been horseback. That's simply conjecture. The apostle John didn't give us that information. There are a few encouragements I get from these verses. First, God may allow sickness in order to reveal His glory through His Son. The condition of the official's son was totally in God's hands. For this story to be in the Bible, the son had to be sick to the point of death. In fact, that had to be true of everyone Jesus healed. So, my takeaway is that regardless of how dire the circumstances are, don't panic, the situation is necessary for the glory of God. Since my purpose is to live to love with Jesus for the glory of God, it seems wise and faithful to ask, “How does God want to glorify Himself through His Son in this situation that He has given to Him and to me? Then pray, listen, receive, and release into the situation what I'm given. A second encouragement is that God reveals His will by giving faith where He plans to work. Jesus knew where the Father was working by the attitudes and responses of the people God put in His path. I think of 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” Where Jesus saw faith at work, He knew His Father was working, so then He worked with His Father. He was living to love with His Father. In this case, the official demonstrated faith. He heard Jesus was in Cana. His son was desperately ill, and there was no other hope. He knew Jesus was a healer and miracle worker. He made the trip to find Jesus to beg Him to come and heal his son because he believed Jesus was capable of healing his son. As we walk with Jesus, there will be times when we face dire circumstances and people with an urgent need. May we be so filled with the Spirit of Christ that we can discern where the Father is working and trust in Him to give us what we need to glorify His name at that time. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

May 6, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 5:(1-7) 8-14Daily Lectionary: Exodus 34:1-28; Luke 7:18-35“And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.'” (Luke 7:22-23)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. John the Baptist is confused. He spent the bulk of his ministry calling Israel to repentance and proclaiming the Messiah who was to come, with all this eventually culminating in John baptizing Jesus then being tossed in prison. Perhaps he had a good sense of how things were supposed to go, and they aren't going to plan. Perhaps he knows he is being punished for calling the ruler Herod to repentance for his sins and assumes that in the age of the coming Messiah, these sorts of injustices would never happen. Scripture doesn't give us the specifics of John's doubt; we just know that John wasn't sure if Jesus was The One. Whatever the root of John's doubt, however, I think we can all relate. We assume things should probably work out a certain way if we are faithful followers of our Lord, or perhaps we cannot stomach the injustice we see in a world supposedly ruled by a benevolent God. It's not that unusual to doubt. But what's important here is what John does with his doubt. John goes to Jesus with it. He asks if Jesus is the promised Messiah. On the surface, this is reasonable, but it's also a little odd when we remember John is related to Jesus. Their mothers knew each other, and I would imagine that John grew up steeped in the knowledge of exactly who Jesus was—angels, archangels, shepherds, Wise Men, all of that. So, it's strange that he doesn't quite know, but stranger still, that Jesus doesn't refer to his relationship with John to reassure John of Jesus's identity. Instead, Jesus points to His works as proof of who He is. Where Jesus is, there is life and salvation; that is, His person is not separate from His work. What are these works of Christ? The blind see, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have Good News preached to them. If you're struggling with doubt or frustrated with how things are in your life or the world, look to Jesus and his work. He continues this ministry today to you as He declares in the Word, the water, the bread, and wine that you are healed and your sins are forgiven.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O be our great deliv'rer still, The Lord of life and death; Restore and quicken, soothe and bless, With your lifegiving breath. To hands that work and eyes that see Give wisdom's healing pow'r That whole and sick and weak and strong May praise You evermore. (LSB 846:3)- Deac. Eleanor Corrow, Higher Things Board Member and coordinator in LCMS Missionary ServicesAudio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God's people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Where Jesus is, there can be joy? While the world is full of trials and sin, Christians still can have joy because Jesus has them.

AT ONCE. Where Jesus is calling you is better than where you are. Following Jesus is a one-time decision with a daily commitment. It it is important enough to do tomorrow, it is important enough to start today! www.localcity.church

Pastor Dominic continues our sermon series on the Gospel of Matthew, exploring Matthew 5:38-48. Where Jesus explains how we are to show radical love over hatred. Learn more about Maple Plain Community Church at mapleplaincc.org.

Pastor Dominic continues our sermon series on the Gospel of Matthew, exploring Matthew 5:27-37. Where Jesus explains the real meaning of adultery, marriage, and oaths. Learn more about Maple Plain Community Church at mapleplaincc.org.

Pastor Dominic continues our sermon series on the Gospel of Matthew, exploring Matthew 5:21-26. Where Jesus explains what the real meaning of murder is, and the importance of reconciliation.  Learn more about Maple Plain Community Church at mapleplaincc.org.

here Is Your Samaria? Grace Christian Fellowship Mikey Brannon February 16, 2024 The Haircut o Can you get me in? But barber wasn't there because of an emergency. o Julie can do it though. Hair was sticking up in spike, it was all different colors. She had 100 piercings, shoes didn't match. Polka dotted pants and a flannel shirt. She said I'm Julie are you Jack? o Thought I'll just go to sleep. I hope she hurries. We have nothing in common. I don't want to hear anything she has to say. o Where do you work? Down at the big church by the interstate. o She said Oh yeah I was there the other day. She said, my momma is cocaine addict. My uncle is cocaine addict. Somebody gave us a Christian video the other day, and we sat down and watched it. She said, I don't know nothing about the Bible, but I knew when I finished watching it, I didn't want to go to hell. o So I went down there to buy a Bible. I don't know what to do. Already read a bunch, but I don't know what I'm reading. o Tears are streaming down her face. By this point many of the other people in the barber shop are frozen, some are crying. o Got up out of that chair, broken by his own obstinance to the direction of the Holy Spirit, he said Julie I want to 1 apologize to you for not telling you about Jesus, but you stay right here because I'm going to get a bible study out of my car and I'm going to help you know all about Jesus. o Oh how many times do we try to decide where the Spirit gets to move and where the Spirit does not get to move ▪ That person doesn't look like me ▪ That person is annoying ▪ He's dirty, he's on drugs, she is a lowlife sinner ▪ I'm an introvert. I'm just shy. I don't even know that person. ▪ I don't talk about religion at work, or school, or at the gym. Transition to Key Verse (John 3:8) o First talk about the hermeneutical principle of context (Contextual Interpretation). Why is this story here? o We have been looking the last few weeks at John 3, and the story of Nicodemus. o And today we have this abrupt shift where Jesus leaves Judea for an entirely new setting. So it is important to ask ourselves why is this passage placed here. o I think I know why. In fact, I want to give overwhelm you with reasons this morning so that hopefully you would agree with me. o Do you remember back in school when you would have a reading assignment, and you would get back to class and the teacher would say. Now that you all have read the book, I want you to write a paper where you compare and contrast a key character in the story? o I think that is exactly why John places this story of Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well, next to the passage of Nicodemus. He (under inspiration of the HS) 2 wants us to see the similarities, but he also wants us to see the differences. And I really believe that both of these stories tie back to a key verse in John 3 and verse 8. ▪ [Jhn 3:8 ESV] 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." • The wind is abstract, you can't see it • The wind is random or unpredictable • That is the way it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit • We don't know where the Spirit is going to move. Baber shop, work, school, on an afternoon walk. • But many of us, if we are honest try to play assistant Holy Spirit all the time. o So we have both of these stories, and I content that both of them are linked to this passage. Where Jesus is showing us exactly how unexpected movements of the Spirit, Salvation, can be. The Comparison What do both of these stories have in common? ▪ They are beside each other in the Gospel of John (John 3 & John 4) ▪ Both are personal extended conversations with Jesus. ▪ Both conversations are about the nature of salvation. ▪ In both cases Jesus is well aware of who he is talking to. Even aware of personal details. ▪ Both Nicodemus and the woman start off by misunderstanding Jesus in an overly literal way. 3 4 ▪ Both conversations deal with the Holy Spirit The Contrast ▪ I believe these stories are meant to be compared ▪ I'm the 1,000,000th person also to make this comparison. Nicodemus, John 3 Woman at the Well, John 4 Nicodemus is a man, we know his name, he is prominent member of society well respected and powerful. She is a woman. We don't know her name and she is an outcast from society. She had no social status and is without any power. He is a devout Jew. Even the teacher of the Jews. He is a member of the ruling council (the Sanhedrin). She is an immoral Samaritan. She is from a culture of misfits. Kings 17:24. Because of this influence from the Assyrians The region and its people were polluted with false idols religions, and as such were looked down on by Jewish people. He would have been viewed as righteous by his peers. She would have been viewed as unrighteous and scorned by her peers. He was educated. She was uneducated. Discussion is a night Discussion is in the day. Walks away confused, and is slow to come to Faith. His community remains unbelievers. Walks away with understanding, is quick to receive faith and her community is significantly impacted. Jesus doesn't explicitly reveal the fullness of his identity. Jesus for the first time reveals himself as God the son incarnate. You expect the Spirit to move in the direction of Nicodemus The W@tW is the last place you expect the Spirit to move. 5 In your mind right now as we learn more about this Samaritan woman, I want you to be thinking back to Julie the hairdresser. You see the woman at the well was a picture of desperation. She was broken and wanted nothing more in her life than to have peace. [Luk 5:30-32 ESV] 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31 And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." I think when we read about the Pharisees there is (with me) a temptation to externalize them a little. To think wow those guys were horrible. But whenever you catch yourself doing that I want you to stop and ask yourself a question. In what ways am I just like that. Because I really believe there is a little Pharisee in each of us. [Jhn 4:1 ESV] 1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John • Pastor Darrien discussed this last week. JTB realized that he must decrease and Christ must increase. • John the Baptist is already in prison at this point. The Pharisees already suspicious of his growing popularity, and probably even have spies reporting on what Jesus is doing. • Talk about why Jesus was a threat to them, and why Jesus is a threat to the world today. 6 [Jhn 4:2 ESV] 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), • Jesus didn't baptize personally because of the division that might have caused. • People would have been tempted to think they were superior because they had been baptized by Jesus. See 1 Corinthians 1:12-15. • Talk here about Baptismal regeneration. Good proof text for knowing that baptism is not a requirement for salvation, but is done as a demonstration of salvation. [Jhn 4:3 ESV] 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. • https://www.jesuswalk.com/john/maps/jerusalem-cana samaria-2148x3472x300.jpg • 70 mile walk • Talk about Messianic timing and his perfect connection with the Holy Spirit. • [Jhn 7:30 ESV] 30 So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. • JTB ministry had cleared the way for Jesus to go to Galilee. It was under Herod's jurisdiction and the last known spot where we have John's ministry before imprisonment. [Jhn 4:4 ESV] 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. • Look at map. • Because of the geographic location travelers were often making their way through this region. • However, the real reason is not geographic necessity it is because of a divine appointment. Talk about God's sovereignty is all aspects of our life. How the lady was just going for water, but the appointment for her was set before the foundation of the world. • Jesus took the most direct path available. In that day most Jews would have opted for the longer route across the Jordan river because they had such a disdain for the Samaritan people. The believed that they would be defiled just by being near the people. • Parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10) o Beaten, striped, thrown away for dead o Priest comes by, moved as far away as possible and kept walking o Levite does the same o Then we have Samaritan 7 • “had to” – verb John often uses to denote Jesus perfect obedience to the mission given to him by his Father. • Give an example of a person who is obedient, but we don't do it perfectly [Jhn 4:5 ESV] 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. • Sychar mountain village located on Mount Ebal. Recall back in the book of Joshua • [Jos 8:33-34 ESV] 33 And all Israel, sojourner as well as native born, with their elders and officers and their judges, stood on opposite sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, half of them in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded at the first, to bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. • The Talmud explains that as the priest would say the positive of the curse they would all face toward Mount Garizim and for the negative of the they would face Mount Ebal. • What is the Samaria in your life? What group of location have you made off limits to the gospel. (work, school, home, friend group). • Religion had become about living in a bubble. If we are honest with ourselves we too create for ourselves bubbles that we fit in. And then we justify why those bubbles exist. [Jhn 4:6 ESV] 6 Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. • https://images.app.goo.gl/JTNTtkGQ7XYqQBdb9 • Modern site that is claimed to be Jacob's well. Location is pretty well established from tradition and writings. • Jacob -> Joseph shortly before he died (Gen 48) • 6th hour -> Noon. Jewish time starts counting at sunrise about 6 am. • Jesus has become weary. Gospel writers never tried to conceal Jesus' humanity or Jesus' divinity. We believe that Jesus is 100% man and 100% God. Bad math, but good theology. • Jesus humanity is required in order for him to be an appropriate sacrifice • [Heb 2:17 ESV] 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a 8 merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [Jhn 4:7 ESV] 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." • It is unusually that this woman would come to the well at noon. Customarily this practice (Gen 24:11) would be done in the evening. • Another unusual detail is the distance this woman would have walked from the village to get to this particular well. • We will find out later in the story why. She is an outcast from the outcasts. Likely someone who regularly receives shame and scorn from others. • In fact she would rather come to the well in the heat of the day, than to have to endure the shame that she would otherwise receive. • To the discouraged, realize that God's providence is in control, and he provides hope in the most mundane of things. Here is this woman just going to the well on any old day, and she is about to have the most life changing moment of her life. [Jhn 4:8 ESV] 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) • Jesus is not being exclusive or pretentious by sending his disciples. This was customary. Because Jesus was the Rabbi, it was normal for the students of the teacher to gather the food. [Jhn 4:9 ESV] 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no • Jews had transactions buy things, but could not share drinks food utensils. They were considered dirty. • How thirsty was this woman? o She wasn't seeking God o She was living in sin, running from God o She was seeking peace, guilt relief, but not God 9 dealings with Samaritans.) [Jhn 4:10 ESV] 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." • Jesus moves strait past her comment about the fued between the Samaritans and the Jews. He knows that this is a side bar and he gets right to the heart of the matter. • If you only knew who it is that asks you he says. o Can you imagine is she only knew? She sees a dirty, thirsty, tired traveler. o Jesus says if you only knew. If she only knew that the one who asks was: ▪ The word become flesh ▪ The one who hung the starts in the sky ▪ The one by whom all of creation came to be ▪ The one who was, the one is, and the one who is to come ▪ He is the I Am. As we close here, I want to ask the musicians and those serving the Lord's supper this morning to be making their way. I want to leave you with two thoughts. As you pray this morning and as you remember what Jesus did for you on the Cross. How is blood was spilled, how his body was broken. I ask you to search your heart of sin this morning. There's a couple of ways I want you to think about this sermon this morning. For some of you, I want you to think about where is Samaria for you. What is the place that you have marked off limits to God. If we are honest, we can admit that we have been trying to control which way the wind Where is the difficult place or the difficult thing that God is asking of you to go. This morning I want you to pray and take care of that. But I think there may be a second group of people here also. Because some of you may feel like you are not the Pharisees in the story, but maybe you feel like the Samaritan woman. You might say, this all sounds good Mikey, but I'm in a dirty dark spot. Down here where I am I just don't think Jesus is willing to come. I've done things, I've burned bridges, I've broken relationships and I'm like that Samaritan woman. I think Jesus this morning is sitting on the well, and he's waiting for you to walk up. And this morning he looks directly at you and says, I'm really thirsty would you mind getting me a drink? Don't walk away from him. Let's pray

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. (Ephesians 2:14-16) Can Christians claim to be people of peace? Some say that Christians are the problem, having created many conflicts. From the crusades to colonial campaigns, from the bloody religious wars during the reformation to residential schools in recent memory—we Christians have little track record to draw on when it comes to peace. It's true that in many places and times, Christians have not been agents of peace and reconciliation. Not even in our own lives. Today is Valentine's Day. Even for many Jesus' followers, it's a bitter and lonely day. Broken relationships and divorce litter our families too. How often have you or I not added bricks to the walls of hostility that divide us from others? Even our efforts at good produce unintended harms more often than we would like. Can we say anything when it comes to peace? Are we just as much part of the problem as the next person? But if we, followers of the Prince of Peace, cannot talk about peace, who can?  It is an important question. Violence continues to erupt all around us, embodied in wars in Gaza, Ukraine and many other places. Can we speak peace into these situations, tainted though our actions have been? Can we speak a word of reconciliation—of forgiveness or confession—among relationships that are broken and breaking, even though we ourselves have helped fortify walls of hostility? When it comes to these questions, Paul helps us out. At the beginning of this chapter, he reminds us that left to ourselves, we are dead in our transgressions. Our history is littered with sin, discord, and division.  Thankfully however, peace does not begin with us. It begins with God. Christ accomplishes it. He is our peace. He is the one who tears down the dividing walls of hostility and destroys the barriers. He is the one who unites deeply divided ethnic groups into one new humanity within his church.  And he does it through his cross where all the hostilities we can muster are put to death—whether the hostilities of our past, present, or future. All of them die in the death of Christ on the cross. His victory over human hostility is total. None of it survives, such that what remains, is peace. The peace he gives, he gives freely to all, as a gift of this new resurrection life. This is the reality in Christ which will be seen fully at his second coming. For now, though, amidst the continuing hostilities of our lives and world, take heart that we Christians can still speak of peace. The way we do it is not by pointing to ourselves, but to Jesus—reminding ourselves and others that “he is our peace.” Of course, we must do so with humility. Confession and repentance are also requirements. For if Christians will not humble themselves in confession and repentance, who will? Where Jesus' resurrection life is present among us, glimpses of that peace shine through. As you journey on, go with the blessing of God first given in this letter: May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing; at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

Hey whats going on guys hope yall have had a blessed week! This podcast Episode i have Pastor Bryan Melvin back again Part 2 of his testimony!  Where Jesus blesses him on showing him what a Glimpse of heaven Looks like and what goes on there. This one brought me to tears because its something im looking forward to not only seeing my past loved ones but seeing JESUS face to face!                            Ways to Support and Connect with Pastor Bryan Melvin :                            ✅ Website: Afterhoursministries.com Email: bwmelvin1@gmail.com Pay Pal: Bryanmelvin1@aol.com bwmelvin1@gmail.com Book: A Land Unknown: Hell's Dominion & Heaven Beckons - B W Melvin                     Hook Me Up With  A Coffee ☕️ (Monthly or one time donation keeps the show going):                         I know there is room for improvement and have decided to ask you (Our amazing fans) to help us grow! This will help us with better audio, expedition funding, and much more!                            ✅ https://shorturl.at/rNarN                                                                                                                            Email me:                            Cryptidwarfare@gmail.com                           C.woperations17905@gmail.com                                                                                                                                       Help support the mission in giving you the best podcast on

Everywhere the River of God flows, even through desert regions and the farthest reaches of places long dead, there will be new life! Jesus Himself gives this living water that brings His life to the world. The Gospels of Luke and John both tell stories of Jesus directing fishermen to cast their nets into the water. Though these fishermen had been unsuccessful after much labor, after following Jesus' instruction their nets were full to overflowing. Where Jesus is, He brings life! When that life draws its nourishment from Him, it continues to flourish and does not fade. Our lives can be like this!

Joy Right mouse click or tap here to download this MP3 The Battle for Joy! G'day! Welcome to Partake WISE. The word for today is joy! Let us ask ourselves at the very beginning what is joy? Is joy merely a form of bloated happiness as many people believe, including those in the church? Can joy be seen as going around everywhere with a silly grin etched into your face! That kind of joy is dependent upon circumstances and feelings! True joy is not to be confused with mere pleasure or feeling good! True joy is to be a way of life and it is to permeate every facet of the person and not just the emotions! True joy is to be a deeper, inner joy whereby the source, object and target is to be God and God alone! As Christians, we are all instruments in the orchestra of God's joy. Does that describe your experience of joy? To enhance that thought, hear what C.S. Lewis once wrote: "Joy is never in our power, and pleasure is. I doubt whether anyone who has tasted true joy would ever, if both were in his power, exchange it for all the pleasure in the world." True Joy Can Be Yours! True internal, biblical joy is always separated from our circumstances and is a heartfelt response that endures regardless of what happens around us. The world says happiness is looking out for your own interests in everything you do and at all times, because the greatest good is your own personal happiness! That is what the world calls ‘joy'. That kind of happiness or type of joy doesn't last long so the perpetual search for happiness continues in a circle - like a dog chasing its tail. But that is not true biblical joy! Now I am not saying happiness is a bad thing, but in comparison to true joy - well there really is no comparison! Joy, in the Bible, is frequently mentioned with peace and salvation rather than just an emotional state! In the New Testament, joy is often associated with all kinds of suffering. True joy is always for the good of others, not for our own selfish gain. When we give away our will, for the sake of others, we receive the joy that Jesus desired for us. Happiness and joy are radically different. Joy Is Jesus True joy is never an end in itself. It is only as Jesus Christ is made our overwhelming first priority, that true joy, almost without our knowing it, bursts in! The source, object and target of our joy as Christians, is to be Jesus Christ and Him alone! Where Jesus is glorified in the power of the Holy Spirit, so is the Father and this pure, unadulterated joy is released upon us and in us! If we seek joy for joy's sake alone, we will mislay it, because it cannot be caught. People of the world think that by crying "Me, me, me", they will have joy! When in fact, true joy is "Jesus, Jesus and yet more Jesus!" True and unbridled joy, is given only by Jesus Christ and we receive it by serving Him and Him alone. Joy Is Jesus Over Yourself Joy is "Jesus Over Yourself" and letting Him have total control over all aspects of life! In Hebrews 12:2 we read this "Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our saviour is now experiencing glorious joy in all senses of the word! Go out with joy and allow Jesus' joy to permeate every facet of your life and make a difference in your local community! Remember, you are a part of God's orchestra of joy, so go be an instrument of joy for God's greater glory!! Thank you! Right mouse click or tap here to download this MP3

Where Jesus is, there can be joy? While the world is full of trials and sin, Christians still can have joy because Jesus has them.

Matthew 14:22-24 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.John 16:33, which says -In this godless world, you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world.”Don't let the wind determine your direction.John 6:19 says - 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,Mark 6:47-48Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them.Romas 7:5 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Matthew 14:2525 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It's a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.Sometimes, God's provision doesn't look like we think it will, and we become afraid of what will ultimately be our deliverance. Matthew 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.”Mark 6:50 Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.”John 6:20 But he said to them, “It is I; don't be afraid.”Dr Tom Constable Said it this way. “Where Jesus is present, fear is unwarranted.”I am is bigger than anything we could ever face in life, and he is for us.Matthew 14:28-2928 “Lord, if it's you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”29 “Come,” he said.Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Being in the storm with Jesus is safer than being on a boat without.Verse 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Don't let FAITH fatigue rob you of a TRUST you once knew.Matthew 14:31 offers us hope. 31 Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”Partial Trust is not trust at all; it's doubt

Matthew 14:22-24 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.John 16:33, which says -In this godless world, you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world.”Don't let the wind determine your direction.John 6:19 says - 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,Mark 6:47-48Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them.Romas 7:5 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Matthew 14:2525 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It's a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.Sometimes, God's provision doesn't look like we think it will, and we become afraid of what will ultimately be our deliverance. Matthew 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.”Mark 6:50 Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.”John 6:20 But he said to them, “It is I; don't be afraid.”Dr Tom Constable Said it this way. “Where Jesus is present, fear is unwarranted.”I am is bigger than anything we could ever face in life, and he is for us.Matthew 14:28-2928 “Lord, if it's you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”29 “Come,” he said.Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Being in the storm with Jesus is safer than being on a boat without.Verse 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Don't let FAITH fatigue rob you of a TRUST you once knew.Matthew 14:31 offers us hope. 31 Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”Partial Trust is not trust at all; it's doubt

Do you have a healthy view of Church? Or is it completely warped by trauma? Do you seek a new vision church as Christ intended? What if you tried church again as Jesus intended? Let's Try This Again Invites you to explore church as Jesus intended! This part 1 of 5. Stay with us for the series to see church as Jesus intended! This sermon explores Matthew 16:21. Where Jesus laid down his vision of the church! You will be surprised about what that vision is! Whenever you are ready, drop us a comment on the sermon!

I tell you many things of which you pretend to hear for the first time.  Things you pretend not to know. Things you pretend to learn,  to forget.  Don't think.  What do you hear? What do you feel? "Come into the present and you'll find this Presence, like an invisible friend."* Rumi says, "Where Jesus lives, the Great-Hearted gather. We are a door that's never locked. If you are suffering any kind of pain, stay near this Door,  open It.  Your Silence is the key.  Not just not talking, but shutting up on the inside. Being quiet on the inside. Still,  like Earth.  Like Me.  I don't breathe.  I Ram.  I Love you, nik  Support the show! ▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings _________________________________ "Come into the present and you'll find this Presence, like an invisible friend."*- John Butler "Stop searching. The search is over. You are free. The bonds have been cut. There is no longer anything holding you back. Awaken. Awaken. You have experienced the mortal dream long enough. Awaken from this dream. You are not limited to your body. You are boundless space. You are all-pervading, omnipresent. You are all the bodies. You are the universe. You are the sub-stratum of the universe. The whole universe is playing its game within you. You are boundless space." -Robert Adams  "I am smiling at myself today There's no wish left in this heart Or perhaps there is no heart left Free from all desire I sit quietly like Earth." -Rumi "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived-the things God has prepared for those who love Him." -1 Corinthians 2:9 Your search to attain me is like searching all over the world, ceaselessly straining to find the necklace around your own neck." - Ramana Maharshi 

Where Jesus met His Disciples after the resurrection? Thank you for listening! Please leave a 5 star review, share and subscribe!

Where Jesus has gone, we are called to follow. He has prepared the place and the way for us to follow Him to heaven.

Janet talks about what it takes to become FREE in Christ Jesus The opposite of freedom is PRISON…BONDAGE…CHAINS! The enemy wants to bind you, put you in chains and hold you in a spiritual prison. Where Jesus wants to set you  FREE!  I am at a FREEDOM CONFERENCE…and I am seeing many people being set free! Freedom, and Deliverance is the Children's bread. It's our inheritance, it what God wants to give us.  I have a question for you. What are you running to for comfort, peace and tranquility? Food? Beer? Wine? Chocolate? Diet Coke? Or is it drugs, porn, shopping or sex? What ever it is…God wants to break the chains that are holding you in bondage!! It's time!! Make up your mind….get's some accountability….and l pray you will experience the power of the Holy Spirit moving upon every dark area in your life in the powerful name of JESUS. AMEN! 

Satan tempts us in our strength and not our weaknessess  He then tempts Jesus in these areas: Provisions Turn these stones into bread  Jesus response: People can't live by bread alone  Possessions  The Devil told him I will give you all these kingdoms and authority over them because they are mine and I can give to whoever I please  Posture If you worship me.... Jesus replied: You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him  Protection The Devil took Jesus to the highest point of the Temple  If you are the Son of God. Jump off  Then the Devil used Scripture  How you going to use the Word with the Word  Jesus replied You must not test the Lord your God   The Digest  The Devil tempts us with our strengths, not our weaknesses. He knew Jesus had power and he wanted Jesus to use his power prematurely. Once he overcomes this temptation he will be ready for the mission field  Jesus was tempted and temptation is part of the human experience so he like us was tempted and didn't sin.  The Devil will misinterpret Scripture  The Devil doesn't isolate us to one temptation they are ongoing so we must be ongoing  The best way to resist temptation is the Word of God  Jesus was in the synagogue weekly making him the example for us to be in church each week  Your family and friends may not welcome your life in Christ and that's ok. Keep seeking God because you belong to the greater family and the Kingdom Family  Be a witness to them anyway  Where Jesus is demons flee. The demons have an agenda of “interfering”   Demons are fallen angels ruled by satan to harass people, tempt them to sin, and kill them. God restores our health through faith like Peter's Mother in Law so that we can serve  He has the ability to heal all kinds of diseases with a word.  He shut the demons up to show his authority  His identity would be revealed in God's timetable  The demons know who He was  Jesus at daybreak went to a place of solitary to pray and be with His Father so should we.  We are to proclaim the good news more places How are you handling temptations? In what ways, have you rejected by family and friends due to faith in Christ? How do you handle or need to handle  Seeing the authority Jesus has and if you are his how can this help you combat the evil one. You have no power over me only which i give you.. The Chew  Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you  To help support this ministry  www.buymeacoffee.com/gloribites To shop merch gloribites.com/shop    

Where Jesus' identity is declared with words in the previous chapter, now Jesus is revealed visually in illuminated Glory through the transfiguration. We are given a visual expression of God's delight in His Son, and the disciples too are to delight and stand in awe of Jesus. Sometimes, we don't explain with words or try to understand completely the Glory of Jesus Christ. The disciples stand on holy ground and are given the gift of a very intimate encounter with God.

Sermon on the Feast of the Transfiguration.Only through Jesus Christ can we approach God. This is how he comes down and touches us. The thin place between heaven and earth is not on the mountain of transfiguration. It is here, where Christ promises to be. Where Jesus commands to baptize in his name, he is there. There in the water is God Himself, giving his life to these little children.

The birth of the Son of God in Bethlehem's manger brought heaven down to us so that God in Christ might bring us up to heaven. From Matthew 1:23 and Revelation 21:3 we learn that just as Jesus is Emmanuel - God with us - so Heaven is God with us. Where Jesus is, there is heaven.In this Christmas meditation we consider seven things that will be true of us when we get to heaven.

17. December 2023 Children's Program Hymn: “What Child Is This?” In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen. Children love to ask questions. Adults don't always like answering them. Sometimes, the questions are absurd and don't make sense. Sometimes, the answers are uncomfortable, and adults want to avoid answering. But as the children have heard me say, “There are no bad questions, only bad answers.”  An inquisitive and curious mind is God the Father's gift. Teaching is the art of stimulating conversation and investigating life's little and big things. This is part of delighting in God's creation. Even taxonomy can be fun, finding joy in naming the plants, animals, and stars. Who hasn't looked at the clouds and asked, “What does that look like?” God's gift of creation enchants us as children. At some point, we're told or conditioned to stop asking questions. What happened to the delight, joy, and discovery of learning something new? It's sad, really. There's so much to explore, pursue, enjoy, and delight in. And in learning and acknowledging that knowledge is a gift, we worship the giver of every good gift coming down from the Father of lights. Curiosity is a blessing, not a curse, no matter how many times the child asks the same question. God's Word is given for our delight, exploration, and investigation. Jesus wants us to wrestle with Him, asking questions and listening to His answers. Every day, we begin our school day by listening to Jesus' Word and then asking questions. Sometimes, the Word doesn't reveal the answer to our questions. Where Jesus is silent, we can't do anything but speculate. Guessing doesn't save us.  But some Jesus loves to have us ask Him questions about sin, death, faith, life, hope, and salvation. William Dix knew that when he wrote “What Child Is This?” one of his 300 hymns. Often used as a Christmas hymn, "What child is this?" begins with a four-phrase question, and stanza 2 has a two-phrase question, prompting the singer to answer them from the Scriptures.  “Jesus” is the answer in stanza 1, which is a survey of His nativity as He is greeted by angels “with anthems sweet” and by shepherds. Jesus is identified as Christ, King, and "son of Mary." We are to "bring Him laud," an uncommon but understandable word for "praise."  The answer to the question "Why lies He in such mean estate?" depends upon the meaning of the archaic and often confusing term "mean," understood here as "lowly," "inferior," or "humble." The "good Christian" observes this child in fear or reverent awe, for the Word made flesh asks us. He lies ignobly where animals feed in anticipation of His lowly, humble Passion, crucifixion, and death “for me, for you.” The line “the cross be borne” directs our hearts again to the purpose for which Christ was born.  Stanza 3 has no questions, but plenty of gifts are given in faith-filled response to the gift given by God in Christ, namely, salvation from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Faithful, loving hearts enthrone this King. The Wise Men brought three gifts: incense, gold, and myrrh. Everyone, from peasant to king, claims Him as his own, confessing Christ as Lord by faith.  “What Child Is This?” asks questions and directs us to the Scriptures for the answers. It encourages us to be children again, asking and inquiring from Jesus what His Christmas is all about. So, be children again. Explore, investigate, and delight as you hear the story of our Lord Jesus's nativity again. And join in joyful song as Dix brings us back to a celebration of the birth of our Lord; for Jesus, the babe, the Son of Mary, was born to die so sinners live in Him. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stjohnrandomlake/support

"If you're a Try-Hard Christmas girl like me, I invite you to embrace a Try-Slow Christmas this year. Your house can be a boisterous, chaotic, evergreen-needles-in-the-carpet house at Christmas, while you still hold within you the peace of the season, just as Mary did. Picture her, sitting in a barn, as she “treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19 ESV).  You, too, can have the kind of Christmas where you treasure up the best things in your heart.  The kind of Christmas where every person knows they are cherished.  Where peace and joy are contagious.  Where Jesus is the brightest light in the room."Leave a comment for Jennifer: https://incourage.me/?p=236395--The winter issue of DaySpring's Everyday Faith Magazine is now available! Pick up a copy today on DaySpring.com or at your local grocery store, Sam's Club, Costco, CVS, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you buy magazines.  The (in)courage podcast is brought to you by DaySpring. For over 50 years, DaySpring has created quality cards, books, and gifts that help you live your faith. Find out more at DaySpring.com.Connect with (in)courage: Facebook & Instagram for daily encouragement, videos, and more! Website for the (in)courage library, to meet our contributors, and to access the archives. Email us at incourage@dayspring.com. Leave a podcast review on Apple!

Today, we look at Mark 1: 1-8. What does a Christian look like?  We see in our Confirmation Sunday, as these young persons confess and confirm their hope, what a Christian looks like.  Where Jesus is, there is peace.  Peace is found in the person of Jesus Christ.    

Today, we look at Mark 1: 1-8. What does a Christian look like?  We see in our Confirmation Sunday, as these young persons confess and confirm their hope, what a Christian looks like.  Where Jesus is, there is peace.  Peace is found in the person of Jesus Christ.    

Glory be to God! Welcome everyone to Episode #745, Season 8. **

Pastor KJay preached a powerful message called "I Am Resurrection." We learned how resurrection isn't a day; resurrection is a man, Jesus! Where Jesus is present, resurrection is possible; anything that is dead in your life can be brought to life when you attach it to Him. Jesus can turn graves into gardens. Check out this incredibly powerful message!Scripture References: John 11:17-26John 19:40-42John 20:11-15Ezekiel 37:1-5Connect With Us: Website: https://www.radiantchurchtxk.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Radianttxk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiantchurchtxk/Support the show

Join Pastors DA Bennet and Josh and Bonny Coats as they continue our discussion about the Apostle's Creed. This week we talk about the Ascension of Jesus, the proof of the ascension, and Where Jesus went afterwards.

Where Jesus meets us in ACIM, we think we are our thoughts. He explains that they are not only not what we are, but are the very things veiling from us the memory of what we are as God created us. Visit the website to learn more about the podcast, the Facebook community and information on private ACIM mentoring: ⁠https://www.acimwithkeith.com/⁠ You can watch many older meetings on the YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@acimwithkeith⁠ Our meetings are organised in the Facebook group, "A Course In Miracles With Keith" Please ensure you read and agree to the group rules on application to have membership approved. This is the link: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/384802770144828⁠⁠ If you'd like to donate, you can do so with paypal here: ⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/keithkav⁠⁠ Or you can donate with credit card here: ⁠⁠https://www.mypos.com/@keith⁠

Today's program looks at Psalm 27 - Where Jesus comes into the Psalms.

The last few weeks we have been in the book of Psalms, and we have seen God's purpose and hope for the world expanding out from Israel to the nations. Seeds that were sown from the very beginning of the Bible chart the path of salvation. A salvation that is not just a salvation for God's covenant people, but a salvation for every tribe and language and people and nation. As Jonathan summarized for us last week. Psalm 67 describes the blessing of all nations. Then, Psalm 68, shows that this blessing and salvation will come through a single king. Then comes Psalm 69. If read in succession, you would notice the abrupt turn that happens in Psalm 69. And at first glance, it would be easy to say that we have moved on to a new theme in the Psalms. However, as we will see, we are far from leaving the topic of the last few Psalms. Psalms 67 answers who will be blessed by God: the nations.Psalm 68 answers how they will be blessed: through a conquering king.Psalm 69 in turn will answer, How does this king conquer?Psalm 69 is written for a time of suffering and distress. It is an individual lament, which includes corporate aspects. It includes prayer for the righteous and curses for the wicked, both which find fulfillment in the new testament. With all that is going on in this Psalm, my hope for us this morning is to understand 3 things. First, the Problem, second, David's Prayer, and last, the Promise.So again 3 things, the problem, the prayer, and the promise.The ProblemDavid has been in an extended season of distress, and he is at the breaking point, he is just holding on and is pleading to the Lord for help.With vivid descriptions of his distress (v.1-3), David says: “The waters are rising and are up to my neck” “My feet are sinking in the muck, and I have no foothold” “I am weary from crying out, and my throat is dry and hoarse from my pleas” “My eyes grow dim as I wait for the Lord” Whether you have ever been literally in a situation like this or not, we all feel it. We intuitively can understand what that would be like. There is an utter helplessness here. David has been in distress for a while. It has reached a critical stage, not only is David stuck, but the waters have been rising up, they aren't at his ankles or his knees, they are up to his neck. His pleading thus far has gone unanswered. If the water goes any farther, or his feet sink any deeper, he will be overtaken by the flood and no longer will have the ability to cry out. David is nearing his last breath and cries out, “Save me, O God!” We can feel this distress, the panic and volatility of his predicament, lets dig in a little more to see what had caused such a distress of David.The cause of the distress Verses 4-12 show us two pieces here: the who and the why.The who of the distress are David's enemies.Verse 4, “more than the hairs on my head are those who hate me without cause, mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?” Verse 8, “I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons.” David's enemies aren't just out there, but he is a stranger to his own nation and brothers. His enemies are many and they are mighty. Those who are near him either stand at a distance or join in with the attacks against David. Verse 19, “I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.” Not only is the situation terrible, but he is alone in it.In addition to all that, David's suffering is not a private matter. Verses 11-12, “When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.” From the officials at the gates, to the drunkards in the alley, David's situation is known. Psalm 22:7-8, “All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” David is also the talk of the town.As David humbles himself, laments and seeks God they develop sayings about him. His humbling of himself has become the occasion for further reproach. They are pouring it on.An example of this in sports would be a little extra push at the end, the extra nudge, the step over. It is not only a stab in the back, but the added twist. The why of the distress: Why do these enemies ridicule David?His destress is caused by His enemies because of his zeal for God.Some commentaries see David suffering here for his sin, but his enemies piling on. I think the main thrust of the Psalm is on David suffering for his zeal for God's House and God's Glory. David surely is sinful, but here it is not the cause of his suffering. Or at a minimum, David's sin is not in focus in this Psalm. I want to list 7 reasons I think this is the case, and then explain why it matters.1) In verse 4, there are 3 statements of David's innocence.His enemies “hate him without cause”, they “attack him with lies”, and he rhetorically asks “What I did not steal must I now restore?” Plainly, the accusations aren't true.2) In verse 5 David mentions that his folly and wrongs all are known by God.This verse functions as a defense in light of the false accusations in verse 4. I also think David draws strength from being known by God, not further condemnation.3) Verse 7, David says: “For it is for [God's] sake that I have borne reproach.”4) Verse 9, David says that zeal for God's house is his driving passion, it has consumed him.A passion which even flows out in his words against his enemies, for their wickedness in turn have consequences. Defend the righteous from the wicked. And the reproaches David is receiving are the same reproaches they have of God.5) David never repents in this psalm, which stand in contrast to others (see Ps. 51)Verses 10-11, David wept, humbled himself and put on sackcloth, which can be actions of repentance, but also actions of lament and mourning.For example, when Jacob's sons told him that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal, as well as when Mordecai hears of the decree to kill all the Jews, and he tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth and ashes, went to the center of the city and cried out with a loud.These are times of mourning and bitter providence, that often are attached to sin, not always.6) Verse 20, David says their reproaches have broken his heart. Which helps us understand his prayer in verse 6 and 7. David's heart, weakened by false accusations, explains his desire for others who hope in God to not be put to shame (v. 6-7). He is not in regret of past sin, but pleading with God that he would have strength to patiently suffer and wait for God's deliverance.He also may be concerned that they will be led away by the lies.7) The last reason is because of who speaks this Psalm in the new testament.David has suffered for a long time, with desperation, by himself, with others pouring it on and it is because of His love for God.Why does it matter? Because it is important for us to see that suffering for the sake of God is a common expectation for a follower of Jesus. David's lament was written for the community, they are to see themselves to some degree in the story, and he models how they should respond and what they should be concerned about.Difficulty in this life and displeasure from God are not the same thing. When things are tough, our internal dialogue can sound like this: Does he not see it? Does he not care? Or maybe he sees, but is he for me?Trial is not always because of our sin. We will suffer wrong from one another. We will be mocked or ridiculed by the world around us, because we love Jesus and follow him.David vocalizes what he, along with Israel, has experienced at times. They have seen others, like the Egyptians literally in situations like this, and now they feel it themselves.This expectation carries over into our experience. Those who desire to live a Godly life will be persecuted, especially when circumstances are difficult and the benefit of following God isn't readily apparent. In the world we will have tribulation, but with God we have grace and peace. In the world we will get less than we deserve, but with God we get much much more than we deserve. And because of God's love for us, we should be more concerned with honoring God than striving for relief.David humbling himself under God became another occasion for reproach from enemies. His heart is broken by them, and he is desperate. He may have been doing well for a while, but their constant attacks are starting to wound. Now entering round 9 of the fight, their punches are starting to land, his hands are feeling heavy, and the water is up to his neck. This is those extra shoves.He is struggling to not despair and does not want to quit his waiting for God. The description starts as a depiction of physical distress but the real distress here is the distress of David's soul.This desperation leads David again towards prayer. We've looked at David's problem, now lets look at his prayer.David's Prayer (v.13-29)Verse 13 stands in stark contrast with verse 12. Remember, David's suffering is the new saying and song. David is the talk of the town, and as they talk to one another, David is going to talk to God. And the amazing thing, is that despite the water being up to David's neck, his prayer is on the path to patience and trust.Verse 13, “At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.” He asks by God's timing, God's character, and God's salvation.David, whose eyes are growing dim from waiting, will keep on waiting. But, his waiting does not prevent him from again asking for help in a myriad of ways: Deliver me! Answer me, hide not your face from me, ransom me, Draw near to my soul, let not the flood overtake me or the pit close around me.What was implicit earlier is explicit here, David isn't on the run from enemies and concerned about his physical life, he is concerned about the life of his soul. His prayer addresses all the things mentioned in verse 1-3, but God's nearness, his character his faithfulness and mercy are entering the picture.David doesn't just pray for himself, but he prays for the blessing of the faithful and the cursing of the wicked.It's not just defense of himself, but for defense of God's people, and God's name.He prays that the suffering of God's people, and the wickedness around them, wouldn't go unnoticed.As David prays against the wicked, he prays largely for poetic justice. Let them receive what they have done.“They gave me poison for food” so “Let their table before them become a snare.”“My eyes are dim in my faithfulness” so “may their eyes be darkened in their wickedness.”Let those who gave no comfort, have no comfort themselves.Those who deserted me “let their camp become a desolation.”Those who pile on reproach, may you pile on punishment.Those who do not yield in their persecution of the righteous, yield not in your punishment of their wickedness.If they will not leave their table let it be a snare. If they will not cease in digging a pit then let them fall into it themselves. Defend the cause of the righteous. Glorify your name.David is wrestling in prayer. He knows his desperate situation, he knows God is sovereign in it. He knows that his enemies are attacking him but ultimately God brought him to this position. He knows that God doesn't just overlook sin. He knows that God has a plan and has confidence in the end result. We see this from verse 13 and the assumption that God will “answer him with his saving faithfulness” to verse 29 where David asks for God's salvation to “set him on high” And we must remember that God's glory is his passion, not personal vengeance.David models how we should wrestle through suffering, even if it's because of our sin. He takes his problems and God's promise to him and pull them together. It's hard work of pulling those together in your soul not just your mind.When you don't know where to start or what to pray, pray about the problem and pray with God's promises and strive to pull those together. Strive to reconcile these in your heart and soul.David is pulling these together, and if David is pulling on God's promises, what are they?The Promise that leads to praise (v.29-33)The promise to David generally was that God would be faithful to him, and specifically that he would have an heir that would reign forever and usher in a good and everlasting kingdom. A king that would rule with equity & justice, doing God's will. You see that in his prayer.Verse 34 says the offspring of God's servants will inherit the land, and that offspring, that king, has come. What David saw from a distance, we have seen closely and clearly. There are 2 wondrous surprises that we can see from our place in history, a few thousand years later.First, that Jesus descended. I wonder if David thought, times are tough for me, but the Lord will redeem me and as I have walked through the valley, the future king to come will climb to the mountain top. Much like the first words of David in Psalm 68, “God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered. And those who hate him shall flee before him.” David didn't just precede the path of the triumphant king, he foreshadowed the path of the triumphant king. He who ascended, first descended. He who will be exalted on high, first will be brought low and humiliated. It was not better times for Jesus, Jesus took on the full valley.The God who saved David from the valley walked a longer, deeper, darker valley himself. While carrying all our sin on his back. And he became the hope for the sinner and sufferer alike.We, like the new testament, are to see Jesus in Psalm 69. Jesus finishes the path through the valley of Psalm 69. The New Testament draws from this Psalm at least 7 times, 2 of which are places where Jesus took this Psalm on his own lips. Here are a few examples:Jesus says that “he was hated without cause”. As he clears the temple his disciples remembered it was written “zeal for your house has consumed me”. Jesus also was the talk of the town, and proverbs were spoken about himSome said: “Physician heal yourself” (Luke 4:23)Others mocked and said:“He who saved others cannot save himself” (Matt. 27:42)And on the cross Jesus said “I thirst.” And they give him sour wine to drink, to fulfill the scriptures.Jesus is a king, but he first was a King of the valley.Second, with the surprising route of the valley, Jesus came first with mercy instead of wrath. Jesus first comes with blessing for the sinner who repents. Salvation for any who love his name. David prays for justice, but Jesus comes to say “let mercy have its day”. He came first for the rescue of the nations.The curses aren't cancelled but are delayed, and they serve as warning for those who continue in wickedness. But right now, Jesus offers forgiveness and grace. He has carried our sin and can relate in our sadness or in our suffering.Not only does Jesus save wicked people like us, but he lets us share in the spoils of the victory. It is one thing to save sinners like us, which should stop our mouths right there, but still greater is to not only save us but to share his reward, his rule and his glory with us. That Jesus comes and says, “I'm with them.” “Those are my friends, that is my family.” That he will sit at the table and eat with us. They will possess my inheritance.And therefore, David, and the people will praise God. They will praise him while they are still in the valley. Because they know the end, they can celebrate victory in the midst of the battle, hope in the midst of the valley.And for us, there is no valley Jesus has not already been through. Jesus does see you, he does care for you, he enters into your suffering. He will keep you, and walk with you.God did not abandon David, he did not abandon Jesus, and he will not abandon us.So we, like David, can praise God in the midst of the valley. We are not yet home, but he will see us through, and we can in confidence praise Him now.The TableAnd this bring us to this table. Where Jesus reminds us and declares: “I am with them and they are with me.” They have a share in my covenant, in my inheritance. And at this table, we celebrate victory in the midst of battle. The promise is sure, so we will eat the bread, and lift up the cup of salvation, together.

Homeschooling has tripled in the United States in the past three years, so it’s a pretty hot topic these days. Founded in 1997, SAINTS is a professional, accredited homeschool P.E. program created to provide homeschool children ages 5-18 all the benefits of an athletic curriculum under the guidelines of professional instructors in an environment “Where Jesus is Lord and Every Child is a Winner!”. Coming up on Friday's Mornings with Eric and Brigitte, Coach Rick Andreassen will tell all home-schooling parents what is available to them in physical education at home, and offer a word of encouragement for enthusiastic and overwhelmed parents. 55 BIBLE VERSES - WHO I AM IN CHRIST.pdf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we look just at a short passage in Matthew chapter 12. Where Jesus casts our a demon, and the Pharisees attribute the power to the devil. Become a Patreon and support this ministry              https://www.patreon.com/undyinglightGet your Undying Light merchandise              https://www.bonfire.com/undying-light160/Get your copy of Logos Bible Software              www.logos.com/undyinglightMake sure you follow us on Instagram: @coram.deo.lifeEmail us questions or comments: undyinglightministries@gmail.comCheck us out on the web: www.undyinglight.orgGet your hormones checked at www.primebody.compromo code: alexzenkGet industry best supplements from Advanced Molecular Labshttps://advancedmolecularlabs.com/Promo code: ALEXZ25#christianity #jesus #christian #bible #god #faith #jesuschrist #church #christ #love #prayer #gospel #bibleverse #holyspirit #godisgood #pray #truth #hope #scripture #blessed #worship #biblestudy #grace #amen #religion #jesussaves #believe #jesuslovesyou #peace #catholicSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/undying-light. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/undying-light. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WHERE JESUS performed his miracles is often just as important as the miracles themselves. Case in point: The only miracle other than the Resurrection recorded in all four gospels is the feeding of the 5,000. The Bible tells us this occurred in a desolate area near Bethsaida, the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. Doug Van Dorn, author of Giants: Sons of the Gods, and Director of the Institute of Biblical Anthropology Dr. Judd Burton, author of Interview With the Giant: Ethnohistorical Notes on the Nephilim, join us to discuss an unknown megalithic site on the bank of the Jordan River two miles north of the Sea of Galilee. If you watch the video broadcast, you'll see exclusive photos and video of this ancient site as we explain why we think it's where the miracle took place—and why it's linked to an old belief, described in Psalm 74:13–14, that God served up Leviathan as food for creatures in the wilderness.

Matthew 10:34-39. Do you have a ‘personal Jesus' or a ‘personalised Jesus?' A personalised Jesus is one where we call Jesus to submit to our will, where Jesus is there to give us our goals, hopes, and dreams. Where Jesus looks great when our lives are good, but he is fired when our lives are filled with suffering. This Jesus has us at the centre. But the Jesus who is personal is different. This is when Jesus brings us into His world and takes us on his journey. When you find this Jesus, you discover the person you were really made to be. The Jesus you ordered is not the real Jesus. Listen to this sermon to find out who the personal Jesus is.

WHERE JESUS performed his miracles is often just as important as the miracles themselves. Case in point: The only miracle other than the Resurrection to appear in all four gospels is the feeding of the 5,000. The Bible tells us this occurred in a desolate area near Bethsaida, the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. Doug Van Dorn, author of Giants: Sons of the Gods, and Director of the Institute of Biblical Anthropology Dr. Judd Burton, author of Interview With the Giant: Ethnohistorical Notes on the Nephilim, join us to discuss an unknown megalithic site on the bank of the Jordan River two miles north of the Sea of Galilee. If you watch the video broadcast, you'll see exclusive photos and video of this ancient site as we explain why we think it's where the miracle took place—and why it's linked to an old belief, described in Psalm 74:13–14, that God served up Leviathan as food for creatures in the wilderness. Here's the link to the PDF of Doug's sermon on the Messianic banquet. Help us Build Barn Better! This is our project to convert our 1,200 square foot pole barn from a place to park our yard tractor into usable studio and warehouse space. In 2023, we plan to fix the holes in the walls, replace windows, insulate the building, install an HVAC system, and move our studios and book/DVD warehouse and shipping office out of our home. If you are so led, you can donate by clicking here. Subscribe and share our YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/GilbertHouse! But be sure to get all of our video and audio content on our new mobile app: www.gilberthouse.org/app/! Please join Derek and Sharon Gilbert each Sunday for the Gilbert House Fellowship, our weekly Bible study podcast. Log on to www.GilbertHouse.org for more details. Get all of our podcasts — VFTB, P.I.D. Radio, and the Gilbert House Fellowship — at Spreaker: www.spreaker.com/user/gilberthouse. That's more than 1,600 hours of free archived audio going back to 2005! Check out our weekly video program Unraveling Revelation (www.unravelingrevelation.tv), and subscribe to the YouTube channel: YouTube.com/UnravelingRevelation. Please visit our online store for special offers on our books and DVDs: www.gilberthouse.org/store.

WHERE JESUS performed his miracles is often just as important as the miracles themselves. Case in point: The only miracle other than the Resurrection to appear in all four gospels is the feeding of the 5,000. The Bible tells us this occurred in a desolate area near Bethsaida, the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. Doug Van Dorn, author of Giants: Sons of the Gods, and Director of the Institute of Biblical Anthropology Dr. Judd Burton, author of Interview With the Giant: Ethnohistorical Notes on the Nephilim, join us to discuss an unknown megalithic site on the bank of the Jordan River two miles north of the Sea of Galilee. If you watch the video broadcast, you'll see exclusive photos and video of this ancient site as we explain why we think it's where the miracle took place—and why it's linked to an old belief, described in Psalm 74:13–14, that God served up Leviathan as food for creatures in the wilderness.

Have you seen those awesome cartoons where Jesus is holding a rainbow sheep? Where Jesus gets all sassy with hypocritical and mean churchgoers who are ostracizing whole segments of our population? Where Jesus is walking out of church holding hands with the trans sheep?They are all sooooo bad ass!! I got to interview the man behind the scenes, David Hayward (aka The Naked Pastor)! I couldn't be more excited to have heard his religious deconstruction story, how he got started with his art and some of what he has to say to so many who are done with hypocritical, harmful religions and their practices.  In 2010, after 30 years as a pastor, David Hayward left the ministry to focus on NakedPastor and the community that was emerging around it. It's now his full-time gig! With a Masters in Theological Studies, as well as Diplomas in Religious Studies and Ministry, and University Teaching, he is no stranger to belief systems.Beyond his art, he's also written 9 books and posts several times a month on his blog. If you're interested in hearing his ideas about deconstruction, spirituality, and freedom, you might enjoy his newsletter which you can sign up for on his website, nakedpastor.com. Intro ("Fisher's Hornpipe") and outro by Otter Creek Podcast edited by: Ashley Pacini

Tune in to hear Rob's heart about a startling dream he had, where he got a word from the Lord about "The Window of Opportunity." Rob also shares plenty of scripture speaking similar language. Where Jesus makes similar statements. These statements have truly startled Rob. With love. The evening that Rob recorded this, he was revealed some things. And the song that he felt led to listen to immediately after was: "Psalm 51" by Sight & Sound theatres. Which was followed by "Hymn of Heaven" by Phil Wickham [these songs were not next to each other in the Spotify playlist]He recommends listening to those after these podcast. 

Here are the Biblical Passages so you can look them up yourself and mark up your Bibles during Worship!1.      Did you know Micah predicted where Jesus would be born? (about 700 years before Jesus arrived)“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:22.      Jesus could not have controlled His lineage and who His most ancient ancestors were. Consider all the genealogical branches and families that came from Abraham, but also Isaac and also Jacob. The tree of human families splits out wildly. Abraham is about 2,000 BC and consider David is about 1,000 BC. Jesus is also the son of David. All of this was fulfilled by the Holy Spirit when He selected Mary & Joseph to be Jesus' parents and He added the necessary DNA into Mary's womb to create Jesus as a human.[Abraham] I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,and through your offspring[b] all nations on earth will be blessed Genesis 22:18 Ref Matt 1:1, Rom 9:5[Isaac] … it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. Gen 21:12 Ref Luke 3:34[Jacob] “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. Num 24:17 Ref Matt 1:2[David] Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom… Is 9:7 Ref Rom 1:3, Luke 1:323.      Jesus also could not have manipulated which tribe he was born into. Gen 49:10 confirms that Messiah will be born into the tribe of Judah. We will look at this verse again shortly.The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. Gen 49:10*** On their own, these individual events from points 1, 2 and 3 may seem less that compelling, but when you line them up together, they become much more powerful and demonstrate that God has certified or given evidence that Jesus is indeed the One to come into history and save mankind! It is not Buddha, Mohammad or any of the other Religious Leader or Leader of Philosophy!·        Where Jesus was born – Bethlehem·        Was the descendent of Abraham·        Was also the descendent of Isaac·        Was also the descendent of Jacob·        Was also the descendent of David·        Was predicted to be of the Tribe of JudahThe odds become very, very, very small that any human could even fulfill these things on their own.4.      Were you aware that Malachi predicted that Jesus would have a forerunner to go before Him and Herald His arrival? (~400 years before Jesus)“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. – Mal 3:1 (Also Is 40:3)5.      Jacob predicted that Israel would continue to have a King or Leader (hold the scepter) until Messiah arrived that was Jewish. It turns out that the 1st non-Jewish ruler of Israel was Herod who was Idumean (not Jewish) which signaled that Messiah was due to arrive. And Jesus did arrive just then. (~2,500 years before Jesus) Even afte

Good Morning! We are glad you are here!Today we are in John 2:1-12Where Jesus is There's JoyScriptures Pastor Tom will be teaching from (in order of presentation)John 2:1-12, John 2:1-3, John 2:4, John 2:5, John 2:6-10, Matthew 11:28-30, John 2:11, John 2:12, Hosea 6:2

Change of Fortunes for the Man-child and Bride (Audio) David Eells - 12/18/22 The DS Plan to Rob the People Winnie Osegueda - 12/4/2002 (David's notes in red)   I dreamt that my husband, Chuc, and I were driving through the city streets. (Representing world Babylon.) There were a few large, black SUV's that were in front of us which suddenly turned sideways in order to block the road so that we, and others, would not be able to drive through. I knew, in the dream, what they were about to do. (As we will see, the black SUVs represent DS government forces who are trying to hyjack the people and the banking system. Cyrus, who we know Trump is a type of, was shown the stolen hidden riches of Babylon mentioned in Isaiah 45. Trump discovered these riches and repatriated them. Which, in effect, he will use to re-build the Kingdom of God like Cyrus did.) Masked men wearing black from head to toe came out of the SUVs with large guns in order to rob people; particularly, the large armored truck to our left which was transporting money for the banks. (Robbing the truck translates into robbing the people who have money in the banks. Also, blocking the road from people passing through could represent preventing people from accessing their money in the banks.)  They made all the cars stop whether they were going to rob that specific car or not. However, Chuc and I decided to not be afraid and kept driving. Chuc drove through a gap on the right and we made it through the roadblock. The masked men began to shoot at the back of our car, and although our car was hit, the bullets did not penetrate, and we were unharmed. I remember calling on the name of Jesus while we were driving away. (Staying on the right represents access to God's protection.) Then I woke up. Verses I received by faith at random: Deuteronomy 10:17 For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of Lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps. (The DS thinks “might is right” but when it comes to God's people who trust in Him, His might comes into play.) A verse Chuc received by faith at random: John 3:19 And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.    The DS Serpent Coming to Constrict Babylon Marie Kelton - 12/9/22 (David's notes in red)  During our meeting, as we were praying, I closed my eyes and saw a vision of a huge brown and black boa constrictor. It was slithering down a rocky cliff going towards a city that was below the cliff. (We recently had a factious man rail at us that we weren't going to “constrict” him. He became a Judas. Judas also went over a cliff when he hung himself and fell into Akeldama “the field of blood.” Because he was guilty of innocent blood. This also seems to fit the factious in the Church and state.) The city buildings looked light brown, like they were made out of clay or sand. (Light brown was the color of Hitler's Nazi uniforms. Also, Jesus said in, Mat. 7:26-27 And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof.) The city looked like it was in a desert. There was little water and not many trees. (The old serpent, the dragon, and his factious minions, are being cast down through our prayers. He will not be able to save his Nazi (Brown) city of Babylon. They are falling together..)   The Old Serpent Seeks to Devour the Bride and Man-child  Tiannah Fire - 12/13/22 (David's notes in red) I dreamt Samuel and I were visiting a town called Dysart. (Meaning isolated, desert, waste)  We walked around to the back of a shop to find a trash bin. (God's true disciples seek to rid themselves of all worldly Babylonish garbage.) We found an enclosed area… that led us through this big corridor to a covered area. The roof was plastic and partially transparent, and there were heaps of leaves on top of it. (Preventing the light of the sun/Son from getting through.) …   Towards the left … was a dirty, red car parked, that looked like it hadn't been used in an extremely long time. … (Representing [the apostates that have fallen away from the crucified life.] Their lives are stagnant in this town and almost completely buried under the carnality and death of the world;) (The dead leaves represent wintertime which the Bible says is tribulation. Dead leaves can no longer take in the light of the sun/Son representing the Word.)  Samuel was holding our baby, David, and he went to walk over to another section that had green, wheeled, trash bins. …Samuel went over there to put the trash in a bin, as I watched from over near the car. (Representing sanctification and getting rid of the Babylonish waste from our lives.)  Then, I saw two brown snakes slither out, but Samuel didn't see them. They slipped straight past him and came towards me. I then saw a yellow snake and a black snake come out from under the dirty, red car towards my left, and they went in front of me. (The snakes represent the enemies that surround us.) (The left is where Jesus placed all the apostate, rebellious goats. Both Jesus and John the Baptist referred to the factious leadership “vipers.”) I shouted to Samuel about the snakes, and he turned and looked at them. Then our son David jumped from his arms onto the ground, and the snakes slid around him but they couldn't bite him. (Little David represents the Man-child whom the enemy will try to destroy but will not be able to. The Pharisees were afraid to publicly against Jesus because His wisdom was beyond them.) Then many more snakes appeared and came over towards us.   David crawled to me, and I picked him up and Samuel came over to us. Although the snakes were slithering all over the ground and around him, he never once stepped on one of them. (The demons in these serpents cause them to come against satan's enemies.)   The snakes tried to intimidate us by looking like they were going to bite us; opening their mouths wide and moving their tongues and showing off their fangs, but they never bit us. (This represents the enemy spreading their fear, lies and intimidation. We must put on our spiritual armor and guard ourselves from the wickedness and venomous poison of the enemy.)  Psa 140:3 They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders' venom is under their lips. Selah.   Mar 16:18 and in their hands they shall take up serpents, and if they drink aught deadly, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.   I was getting attacked with fear, but I was trying to reject it and stay calm. …Samuel said we needed to leave, and told me to just walk slowly and calmly out, the same way that we came in. (They came in seeking sanctification which is the only escape from the torments and tactics of the enemy.)   The snakes followed us and kept moving around our feet. Even though they looked so close to us, they couldn't touch or bite us, but they were trying to intimidate us.   When we were going through the …corridor to get out, we stopped for a moment, and Samuel turned around and stepped on the head of one of the brown snakes and it died straight away. (We must “bruise its head” with our heel representing our walk of faith and spiritual warfare or we won't win the battle.)  Luk 10:19 Lo, I have given you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.   He then stamped his foot on another, and it wriggled around for a bit, but then died. (Gen. 3:15 and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.) Then a giant snake slithered over to us; it was 10 times bigger than all the other ones. Its head was a bright yellow and green and its body a bright purple. (This represents satan himself who has appeared to men as a beautiful angel of light. He is the old serpent who will try to devour the woman and her Man-child in Rev. 12.) I was holding little David when this snake came to us and we were supernaturally lifted up off the ground, but still inside this covered area. (The Bride and Man-child are kept safe and are hidden.) (The wicked dwell on the earth and are at the mercy of the Beast. Rev. 13:7-8 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. 8 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, everyone whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain. But the Bride abides in heavenly places in safety. Eph. 2:6 and raised us up with him and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.) Rev 12:5-6 And she was delivered of a son, a male, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath there a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred threescore days.   The snake kept moving its head around, and on the top of its head it had a big hole. This snake didn't show off its fangs like the other smaller ones. But instead, it kept aiming the hole on the top of its head at Samuel and each time it would spew out venom at him. (Satan uses those who have the mind of the flesh because it is at enmity with God.)  Samuel casually moved out of the way each time and the venom couldn't get onto him. … (When the enemy cannot directly attack or intimidate, he will desperately try anything to spread his lies.)  We ended up just opening the gate we came in through and walking out. The snakes couldn't follow us out of the gate. We were all safe praise God! (Satan cannot deceive those that come out from among them.)   Man-child at Death's Door Missy Pollock 12/3/22 (David's notes in red) I was in David's house observing; I knew it was Davids' house, but it didn't look like it was his house. (It is the house of David as a type of the larger Man-child reformers.) David was in a bed covered up and frail looking like he was at deaths door; it hardly looked like him. (Representing the death of the Man-child David's old man in preparation for the catching up to the throne of resurrection life. This will be a great change of fortunes for the Man-child and Bride initially and then for the Church.) There were a lot of brothers and sisters around him and he was talking to them about something, but I didn't hear what he said. After a bit, everyone left. (John 6:66-71 (Notice 666 represents a departure of the factious among the disciples.) Upon this many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. 67 Jesus said therefore unto the twelve, Would ye also go away? 68 Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we have believed and know that thou art the Holy One of God. 70 Jesus answered them, Did not I choose you the twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 Now he spake of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.) I went over to Michael who was laying on his back on the kitchen counter with his head at the corner. (Jesus was the Head of the corner) and his legs stretched out across the countertop, and he had on blue jeans. (Michael means, "who is like God". A corner is also a turning point like the death of self brings resurrection. Also resting on his back puts his eyes toward heaven, meaning his expectation and faith is in God. And the kitchen is the place to prepare spiritual food, which the Man-child body will bring to the Church.)  There were items scattered around him, but it wasn't clear what they were. They didn't look like the shape of pots and pans. (Pots and pans are a natural way to prepare food. Spiritual food is prepared by God's methods which don't look anything like the ways of man.) I said to him, "You're in one corner and David is in the other.” (The corners are turning places where walks and provisions will be changed for the better.) (I believe I was just an observer in this dream because I didn't interact with anyone, and Michael didn't respond when I spoke to him.) Then David had gotten out of bed, and I saw that he was wearing a white t-shirt and white and red print pajama bottoms. (Representing being dressed in righteous works and red on the pajama bottoms represents a blood washed and rested walk.) He was nothing but skin and bones. (When the flesh life is dead and gone then the resurrection comes.)  David went to the other end of the countertop from Michael and there was a wooden safe under the countertop. I knew he wanted to check and see if he could open it. It didn't look like a normal safe because it had a latch on it that he pulled straight out and it opened. He didn't open the door wide but just enough to know that he could get into it when he needed to. (Access to funds for the ministry will be available to the resurrected Man-child David's.)  Then someone was at the door, and he went and opened it and it was Merlene. She had a smile on her face as she walked in. David asked her something like, "Did you bring $180?" She said, "Yes." (180 is a play on words; like making a 180 degree turn about. (Two 90 degree corners that Michael and David were in equals the 180 degree turn about. Everything will change for the Man-child reformers and those who follow them. The 180 degree turn about at the death of the Man-child and the corners represents a total turn about of situations, authority, power, fortunes, etc. The verses at random below, also imply this total turn around regarding enemies and fortunes.) I asked the Lord for verses by faith at random for the dream and received. Isa 14:28, (in context 28-32) 28 In the year that king Ahaz (Father of Hezekiah) died was this burden. 29 Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of thee, because the rod that smote thee is broken; for out of the  serpent's root shall come forth an adder, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. (Enemies of God's people, and especially Zion, will be judged)   30 And the first-born of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety; and I will kill thy root with famine, and thy remnant shall be slain. 31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou art melted away, O Philistia, all of thee; for there cometh a smoke out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks. 32 What then shall one answer the messengers of the nation? That Jehovah hath founded Zion, and in her shall the afflicted of his people take refuge. (Zion, the Bride city, shall have a rebirth and great change of fortunes. They will once again be a leader of God's people for the David Man-child will be crowned.) Zec 8:10, (in context 9-13) 9 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets that were in the day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of hosts was laid (Where we are again now), even the temple, that it might be built. 10 For before those days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in, because of the adversary: for I set all men every one against his neighbor. (Again, where we are now) (The fortunes will change for the better.) 11 But now I will not be unto the remnant of this people as in the former days, saith Jehovah of hosts. 12 For there shall be the seed of peace; the vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. 13 And it shall come to pass that, as ye were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong. (Michael and I asked if the coming of the Man-child would be soon and got heads for yes 3 times. I asked on Dec. 8th., “Is the Man-child coming now?” And received, Psa. 11:7b the upright shall behold his face.) I also had asked the angel Baruch, “Is the Man-child coming and he answered, “Surely.”) Missy said, “The bank situation may be a sign of Man child coming and related to the safe dream above. …I put my phone on shuffle and the first song was EVEN SO COME! (This is a confirmation of the dream) Last night I was looking at my dream about the embers of judgement falling out of the sky while I was holding my grandson, Maverick, all swaddled up, who wasn't born yet at the time. I know that from the time of that dream I felt things would happen soon; especially hoping the Man child would be anointed. As we know, when that happens, there are blessings and judgement.”   When the Davids Die, the Man-child Ministry is Born Vanessa Weeks - 12/1/22 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that I and some UBM women were standing outside on a white patio (Representing being founded on holiness.) We were standing in a circle, talking with each other on a sunny day. (Representing taking in the sun/Son.) Winnie was there in this circle and was pregnant. (“Winnie” as opposed to “losie” represents those in the Bride body who are winners or overcomers in order to give birth to the Man-child, Jesus.) She was dressed in a white, sleeveless sundress. (Representing righteous acts and works exposed to the sun/Son. Rev 3:5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.  Also Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and we will give him the glory: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And it was given her that she array herself in fine linen bright, pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.)  Winnie said something regarding how amazing it was that she was pregnant at her age, but I was thinking she was not too old. Then Merlene said that she was pregnant too. (The Bride body, who are the first fruits to bring forth the Man-child, is made up of many people young and old.) I remember thinking that was amazing because I have not known anyone pregnant at Merlene's age. (Representing Sarah who bore the impossible fruit of the promised seed, Isaac, at the age of 90 through the faith of Abraham.) Then I saw that a baby boy was born, and it seemed that he came from both Merlene and Winnie. (Representing the birth of the Man-child out of the Bride Body.) I no longer saw Winnie or Merlene, but only the baby. (We are no longer seen when our fruit of Christ is manifested.) There was a very small nurse, standing to my left. (Where Jesus placed the rebellious goats.) Immediately after the birth, she looked at the baby and said it was still born. (Representing the bad report; doubt and unbelief. Even though the apostates look on the fruit, it is not to their liking.) Then I saw the baby move and said, "No, he's alive." 2Co. 2:14-16 But thanks to God, who always leadeth us in triumph in the Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place. 15 For we are a sweet savor of Christ to God, in those being saved, and in those perishing; 16 to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these?  The baby was very big, like the size of a three-year-old child. He was also maturing quickly and starting to talk, even though he was just born. (When the Man-child is born, He will mature very quickly, for He is born in the image of His Father. 2Co. 3:18) After I woke up from this dream, I opened my Bible and saw this verse, which I think is the meaning of this dream. Rom. 6:22 But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life. Note: Since the David's are close to death, Judas must come along to help Him to His cross. This Judas process has been going on for some time and is near its end.   Dream About Judas Bill Steenland - 12/5/22 (David's notes in red) I dreamed I was telling a group of people “One of you is a devil!” (This is what Jesus said referring to Judas in John 6:70-71 Jesus answered them, Did not I choose you the twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 Now he spake of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.)  In the dream I said it multiple times and emphasized the word “is”.  I didn't know who the group of people were in the dream. (The factious Judas' become strangers and enemies to us when they are taken over by those spirits, as Judas was. Php. 3:18-19 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)   One of You Shall Betray Me Matthew Stewart - 12-11-22 (David's notes in red) In the dream, I was in a room and David was sitting in the doorway. (Jesus in the Man-child David reformers is the Door of the sheep.) Behind him were standing two or three people (Representing those who are mature in Christ [and standing with David in ministry.]), one of whom was Michael Hare, but I can't recall who the others were. In the room were lots of kids of various ages. (Indicating all of UBM local and larger.) (Representing different maturity levels in Christ). I was among the children, but I was a little older. I was sitting along the wall, along with some of the older kids, across from David. (The older ”kids” stay near the wall of sanctification, which represents a separation from the world.) Then David said to us all, “Do you know that part in the Bible where Jesus says, ‘One of you shall betray me?' ” All the kids answered, “Yeah”. Then David said, “One of you shall betray me.” (Mat. 26:20-25 Now when even was come, he was sitting at meat with the twelve disciples; 21 and as they were eating, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began to say unto him every one, Is it I, Lord?  23 And he answered and said, He that dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. 24 The Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born. 25 And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, Is it I, Rabbi? He saith unto him, Thou hast said.) I discerned that this event has not happened yet but is for a future time. Of course, I immediately thought, "is it me?” Then I saw a vision, where it was just David. (When Judas betrayed Jesus, Jesus was then all alone. This is the way it has been for me with my past Judas'. To involve others with these vicious people causes them to turn on the innocent.) He said, “I didn't see that one coming. I guess my discernment for that is gone.” (The last Judas that left made threats, but we haven't seen them come to pass. Backstabbers never warn you, they shoot from darkness. But the Lord is coming like a Lion as we shall see to judge these wicked Edomites.) Then I woke up.   The Backstabber's Feigned Repentance Winnie Osegueda - 11/21/22 (David's notes in red) I dreamt that some of local UBM was helping a factious man move into an apartment on the 1st floor. (The ground floor represents dwelling on the earth and not desiring to go higher with Christ. The last Judas was being helped into an apartment by us, but it didn't work out for him because he had not repented.) In this dream he had a bald head. (Representing no submission to the Lord since hair is a sign of submission in 1Co. 11.) It seemed that this factious man had repented, and David was being kind in helping him out, giving him another chance, and allowing him back into the fellowship. (True repentance and confession of sin is still the condition for governmental forgiveness in the Church. This is a warning to hold fast to the conditions that none return to defile the body.)  I remember that others were kindly helping to move the man's stuff in. However, I kept feeling that something was not right and that this man's repentance was not sincere. I had a knowing that he would destroy the place when he left. (He left before he got moved in because of backstabbing.  The factious demons in them always leave death and destruction in the lives of others in their wake, as it was with the disciples when Jesus was crucified through Judas.)  I noticed that he had a couple of black duffle bags full of knives. The knives had white handles, but on them were etched something like "love and light" which might sound good to the undiscerning, but it's something that new agers say, and it's a false love and a false light. (They always say they love you while they stab you in the back, and they don't seem to realize how hypocritical this is. This was exactly fulfilled with the last Judas and he left. Rom. 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent.) I remember saying "This person is not truly repentant," and then I woke up.    Hidden Sins of the Judas' Exposed Tiannah Fire - 12/12/22 (David's notes in red) I dreamt that I was a part of a group of brethren in the United States. (Representing UBM which is based in the U.S.) We all went to another country to set up a school, to tell everyone the real good news and to have a safe place for brethren to live. (This represents our missions outreach and the missionaries that supply our books and materials to the people in their respective countries.) The group bought a giant set of buildings which looked like a boarding school, it was giant and spread out and the buildings were yellow. (Representing the UBM Headquarters that the Lord has promised us for the great revival of the end times. It is yellow because we will spread the light of the Son/sun everywhere.) The buildings were located close to a beach on a small island, but you could still access the mainland by boat. (We were told by the Lord through dreams that this is how it's going to be. The beach represents Abraham's seed whom God promised would be as the sands of the sea.) The main people we were trying to minister to were like Islanders, people that didn't live in normal civilization but lived off the land. (This also describes what the Lord has told us. That we will be separated from the rest of civilization where many judgments will fall. We are living on a big boat in the land that will be separated by earthquakes. Those who are here with us in the boat and are the elect of God will come into the kingdom.). We would go to little islands all around the place and there would be many that came to Jesus. (Jesus went to every city and preached.) There was one woman that came to our Lord, and she was so on fire for our God that she was constantly out preaching and looking for lost brethren, day and night, not worrying about basic needs. (A Body of Saul's will turn into Paul's and will seek diligently to prove themselves worthy of the kingdom.) Samuel and I went for a walk around some of the beaches on this island that the school was located on. It was nighttime and the moon was very bright (The darkness can't stop the light and everything in darkness gets brought into the light, as we will see.). …We walked to this area on the beach which was more secret because there were large sand dunes.  As we walked close to the water, from a distance, we saw a man lying down on his back in the water, …but we couldn't quite recognize him. (Representing having his back to the word and in a backslidden state.) We then saw another man walk towards him as if he had been waiting for him. It was made obvious they were in a same sex relationship. We saw the face of the man walking and he was a man that was a part of the Christian group from the USA, (UBM) and he had blonde hair. (Many of the factious traitors have fallen into both bi-sexuality and homosexuality and other perversions because they judged as sinners and they were judged by God.) It was just found out now that he had this hidden sin. (This is why God turns them over to a reprobate mind. We can't hide our sins from God, he will expose them so we can be cleansed or purged out of His Body. Psa. 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, Our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.) We would never have guessed that he was doing this evil behind our back. He seemed to love our Lord. This was very unexpected. These two men didn't see us until we started to walk around them. The man we recognized yelled out to us in anger and frustration for being caught. (This is a good example of exactly how they act. They are mad at you because you caught them.) (Their attacks are based in pride and self-justification.) We didn't want to argue with him, so we just ran back to the school building. (Tit. 3:9-11 but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse; 11 knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.) The man started chasing after us yelling that if we tell anyone he will kill us and he kept threatening and trying to put fear on us. (They love to threaten and intimidate, and they are stalkers too. They send curses against all who are witnesses against them.) We ran straight to the buildings where some of the elder brethren were and we told them what we saw and how the man was threatening us. (Mat.18:15-17 And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.) …They said that they would confront the man about his hidden sin. So, we stayed in a different room on the top of a two story building for our safety. (We must take the “high road” and obey the Word represented by relocating to a higher level in the building. This is where safety from temptation and our enemies is provided.) The next day an elder's wife came to us and told us that they searched everywhere for the man, and no one could find him. She also told us to stay hidden in groups of people for our safety. (Pro. 11:14 Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.) There was a group meeting with everyone in the hall, so we joined them.  When we got down the stairs there was a man waiting there with a cart that had our items in it and it had my phone that I had dropped when were we escaping the factious Judas. He told us he was delivering our stuff to us. I picked up my phone and saw that I had a text from the man we had caught in sin, and the text was a threat to kill me for telling people about what we saw him doing. (They send factious witchcraft spirits to spiritually kill those who are witnesses or dreamers who reveal their secret sins.) …I then looked at the man holding the cart and, when seeing his face, I realized that he was the man we saw lying down in the water. This was my first time seeing him face to face. I ran over to the elder's wife and said this is the man that we saw. She refused to believe it because she loved this man very much and he helped out so much and had been with them for a long time. (Most of these people have rejection and fear of rejection and, like Judas, they hide their sins, but God reveals them every time.) We told her it was true, but she didn't want to hear it or believe it. (Believers don't want to accept the evil that is in these people, but sooner or later it will be revealed to them.) I felt that there is nothing else I can do except speak the truth. Then I woke up.    A Duty to Expose Judas Gabby Dibble - Sept. 2022 (David's notes in red)   I dreamed that I had to go undercover to hide my identity. I was posing as a man to sneak into a government building. I didn't change up my look that much; it must've been the Lord hiding me because I still looked female. (We are to put on Christ and abide in Him in the secret place. Gal. 3:28 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.) I was inside the building heading for a specific room. I had a duty to expose something. (Luke 17:3 … if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.) I also had a child with me, and I was carrying them as I was walking calmly. (This represents our fruit of Christ in us.) I could hear a woman over the speaker announce that I wasn't who I said I was, but a poser undercover. (A slanderous, false accusation and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. These people always accuse you of what they themselves are guilty of.) I knew now I didn't have much time and … I continued to press on to the room I intended to go to [for the exposure].  Then the scene changed, and I was in the spirit. I saw this man who would travel everyday on a school bus to a home nearby for some type of secret work. He and another man would have some kind of work exchange. For example, one provided the physical laboring, and the other paid for it. I'm not sure if this was the exact scenario or if it was a trading & bartering situation. (The laborer is the Son of man, and His life is being exchanged for the life of the Son of God. This man represents Jesus in the Man-child body who traded or exchanged His life for ours. The secret work represents the Mystery of Christ in us our hope of glory. The man rides a school bus because He teaches the children the good news of the reconciliation which means exchange.) This man that traveled on the bus got caught going to the other man's house. Many other men came into the school bus and began beating this man. (The factious Pharisees captured Jesus, beat him, and crucified Him. Luke 20:9-16 …A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long time. 10 And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him and sent him away empty. 11 And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12 And he sent yet a third: and him also they wounded and cast him forth. 13 And the lord of the vineyard said, what shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him. 14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, this is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15 And they cast him forth out of the vineyard and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16 He will come and destroy these husbandmen and will give the vineyard unto others.) A friend of his was a part of this group and betrayed him by joining in the beating. Another man that hit him didn't want to as they were also friends. I believe this friend was actually genuine as he didn't hit the man to kill him. (This represents Judas and Peter. Both betrayed the Lord but Peter was able to be redeemed while Judas was reprobated. Some of the faction will return to us while the majority won't receive grace to be reconciled.) The man ended up surviving the attacks. (This represents spiritual death and resurrection.) Then I woke up.   A Shift Taking Place  Gabby Dibble - Sept. 2022 (David's notes in red) I had a dream that things were taking a shift. I was standing outside with a group of people. They had an action plan and I felt I had no idea what any of them were talking about. I had no memory of what happened before this moment in the dream. I also didn't know who they were. (These are the factious Judas' who have many plans of action but the Lord will continue to foil, derail, and expose their plans. By the grace of God were able to record their leader and his corruption and plans.) All of them were talking in a circle and a man harshly rebuked me but it didn't seem to be accurate. I don't remember what he rebuked me for, but it caused me to cry. (This represents persecution and slander that are based on false charges.)  They were about to leave this location to pursue their action plan. I was still confused on what they were doing and where there were going. (We have the renewed mind of Christ and not unregenerate evil minds, so it's hard for us to relate to evil people with evil intentions.)  All I knew was that their plan seemed urgent to them. (They were in a hurry to earn their thirty pieces of silver.) They were going to take three trucks. I asked the first two drivers of the trucks if I could ride with them and there wasn't space. The last vehicle was driven by the man who rebuked me harshly. I had such an off feeling about it alI. I ended up not going with them. (Pro. 1:10-19 My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not. 11 If they say, come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit; 13 We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil;  14 Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. 17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird: 18 And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.)   The Lion is Released Taryn Ezell - 12/12/22 (David's notes in red) I had a vision while listening to the song “Let it Rain” in our praise and worship meeting. (A symbol of God pouring out His Holy Spirit with power and signs as we are seeing.) In the vision, the throne of God was there and there was light everywhere. There was a huge Lion next to the Lord on his right side as I was looking straight at them. (Representing Jesus, the Lion of Judah. He is not coming as a lamb but a Lion.) The floor was a blackish gray color with a shiny resin or epoxy on it, where I could see a reflection of all the light surrounding the Lord. (Rev. 4:6 and before the throne, as it were a sea of glass like unto crystal…) The Lord gave the Lion a nod. (The angels told us that “the Son is waiting for the Father's command”; referring to Jesus' return in the Man-child. Meaning it's time for the Lion to go forth and conquer His enemies.) Then I saw satan standing behind me and a huge pit behind him. The Lion was calm but then became enraged when it saw satan who appeared as a dark figure in this vision. (Zec. 3:1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Jehovah, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary [or accuser]. 2 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan; yea, Jehovah that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?) The Lord spoke into my mind and said, “The Lion is angry that the dark figure [satan] is [the one] who made Him how He is.” (An angry Lion) The Lion was thrashing around on the chain, like an angry dog on a leash, ready to kill. (Isa. 31:4 For thus saith Jehovah unto me, As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, … so will Jehovah of hosts come down to fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof.) As the Lion was showing his teeth and growling, the Lord unhooked the leash from His collar and loosed the Lion. (The Father is sending the Son as a Lion. The stone that the builders rejected had become the head of the corner.) The Lion gained traction quickly and ran past me, jumped up, and tackled satan with his claws around his neck and with all his might and they both end up in the pit. (The Lord will do a quick work upon His enemies; taking them to the pit. Its important to note that the last Judas who tried to usurp the Kingdom from the aged David was killed by Solomon who was given the Kingdom before David died.) I asked the Lord to confirm if this was from Him or not to make sure it was not just my imagination. I asked Him for a reference to the word “lion” in the next song at the praise meeting.  We sang Psalm 34 by the Brooklyn Tabernacle. In the lyrics of the song there was no mention of a lion, so I thought, “Maybe it was just my imagination.”  But, when I got home, the Lord led me to look up Psalm 34 and, low and behold, there was the mention of a Lion. It hadn't been in the song lyrics, but I had only asked the Lord for the word Lion in the next song! Here is the context of the scripture: Psalms 34:8-10 Taste and see how good the LORD is! The one who takes refuge in him is truly happy! You who are the LORD's holy ones, honor him, because those who honor him don't lack a thing. Even strong young lions go without and get hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. I also used an image generator to generate an image from words, and it gave me a few images based on this vision. I'll add those as well. I just thought it was a really awesome to be shown that vision!          Note: The dragon in Revelation 12 is the body of satan. The dragon was also the symbol of Babylon. The DS are satanists and Judas' to their brethren. The Lion is coming to do what the Alliance, alone, is not capable of, which is destroy satan's kingdom in Babylon. So, from here we will see this scenario worked out.     The Lord Will Come as a Mighty Man David Eells - 12-10-22 The Alliance will not be able to finish off the DS.  Their successes so far have been because the Bride like Esther was given authority over Haman and his army. But the Lord is coming as a "mighty man" in the Man-child to bring them down. Like Mordecai, meaning little man or man-child, was given the ring of authority by the King of Kings to lead the Bride to victory. Psa 78:65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, Like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. 66 And he smote his adversaries backward: He put them to a perpetual reproach. (We have received this many times by faith at random.  The Lord is coming in His David mighty man to finish off Babylon DS.) Psa 89:19-23 Then thou spakest in vision to thy saints, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; (A mighty one, mighty man, the David Man-child reformers) I have exalted one chosen out of the people. 20 I have found David my servant; With my holy oil have I anointed him: 21 With whom my hand shall be established; Mine arm also shall strengthen him. (In Isa 53, the arm of the Lord is Jesus, who we see here strengthening the David's)  22 The enemy shall not exact from him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 And I will beat down his adversaries before him and smite them that hate him. When David was anointed, he beat down the factious Edomites, which we have in Church and State. Isa 52:11-53:1 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; cleanse yourselves, ye that bear the vessels of Jehovah. 12 For ye shall not go out in haste, neither shall ye go by flight: for Jehovah will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward. 13 Behold, my servant shall deal wisely, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. 14 Like as many were astonished at thee (Who is just like thee? The Man-child David's just like Jesus were character assassinated, lied about, slanderered, and spiritually murdered, as Hisstory repeats. Both are defaced as the rest of this verse says.) (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men), 15 so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they understand. 53:1 Who hath believed our message? and to whom hath the arm of Jehovah been revealed? (Jesus) So, we see there were two manifestations of Jesus. First, we see that history or His Story has to repeat according to the Word. Ecc 1:9-12 That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11 There is no remembrance of the former generations; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter generations that are to come, among those that shall come after. 12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. (Now we can see that Jesus, the former generation, will be repeated by Jesus in the Man-child Body of the latter generation at the Latter Rain.) Notice once again there are two, Jesus, and as history repeats on the larger scale, Jesus in the Man-child body, which will cover the earth and be over mulitudes of the living.  Ecc 4:14 For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor. (This was Jesus)15 I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead. (This is the Man-child body of reformers who will be over all the Living on the earth. They are the son of man in whom the Son of God lives by His Word and Spirit.) 16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. The Mighty One will come to judge His enemies in Church and state and as a refiner or reformer to the Church all over the earth. Isa 1:24-26 Therefore saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies; 25 and I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin; 26 and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, a faithful town. Mal 3:1 Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple (At this time the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem is the Man-child Body of reformers.); and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts. 2 But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3  and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer unto Jehovah offerings in righteousness. 4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto Jehovah, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years. 5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner from his right, and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts. Isa 40:10-11 Behold, the Lord Jehovah will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him (Jesus in the Man-child body): Behold, his reward is with him (They will choose the Bride as Jesus did.), and his recompense before him. (He will judge the factions in Church and State)11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd (He will shepherd His Sheep, and all of this will be worldwide), he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that have their young. Isa 42:13-18 Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man (Jesus is coming as a Lion in the Man-child body to destroy the factious enemies in Church and state); he will stir up his zeal like a man of war: he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud; he will do mightily against his enemies. 14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still and refrained myself: now will I cry out like a travailing woman (The Lord will come as the Man-child ministry is birthed from the travailing Woman in Rev.12); I will gasp and pant together. 15 I will lay waste mountains and hills and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands and will dry up the pools. 16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not (Jesus will come in the Manchild body to set the captives free for their dead religions as Jesus did in Isa 61); in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them. 17 They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly put to shame, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images, Ye are our gods. 18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Jer 20:10-13 For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, they that watch for my fall; peradventure he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. 11 But Jehovah is with me as a mighty one and a terrible (The Mighty one in Jeremiah was a type of the Man-child): therefore, my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail; they shall be utterly put to shame, because they have not dealt wisely, even with an everlasting dishonor which shall never be forgotten. 12 But, O Jehovah of hosts, that triest the righteous, that seest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause. 13 Sing unto Jehovah, praise ye Jehovah; for he hath delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evil doers. Act 3:20-23 and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus: 21 whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, (things, here is italicized and has no numeric pattern as the Numeric NT shows. This is because the people were restored not all things.) whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old. (This restoration happened to Moses and the people who came out of Egypt for there "was not one feeble one among them”. From then until Moses was 120; he had perfect health and strength.  Deu 34:7 And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.)  So, Jesus is coming again in a body of spiritual Davids to bring this restoration and close the Red Sea on Pharaoh's army so we can go into the wilderness tribulation and see the guidance and miraculous provision for us through the Man-child body.)  22 Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me; to him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you. 23 And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. (Those who did not listen to Jesus in His first body were destroyed by the beast in 70 AD while the saints escaped to the mountains.  Those who do not listen to Jesus in His end time body will be destroyed also for His-Story will repeat as we have seen.) In Jesus' first body was crucified by the factious leaders and His flesh died but He was caught up to the throne. So, it will be in the second larger body. This crucifixion and death of the flesh is almost complete and then we will see Jesus' ministry again all over the world. Rev 12:1-6 And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman  (the Church) arrayed with the sun (Clothed with the Son), and the moon under her feet (Reflecting the light of the Son), and upon her head a crown of twelve stars; (With the inheritance of the original 12 apostles. All of this is her position given to her by the sacrifice of Jesus and not what she has attained to.) 2 and she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered. 3 And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. (The worldwide body of the Dragon) 4 And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth (The great falling away): and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered, he may devour her child. 5 And she was delivered of a son, a man-child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron (Given to the overcomers in 2:26-27): and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her (Jesus in the Man-child nourishes the woman in the wilderness for 3 1/2 years as Jesus did in his first body.)  a thousand two hundred and threescore days.   Select Language Afrikaans Albanian Amharic Arabic Armenian Assamese Aymara Azerbaijani Bambara Basque Belarusian Bengali Bhojpuri Bosnian Bulgarian Catalan Cebuano Chichewa Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) Corsican Croatian Czech Danish Dhivehi Dogri Dutch Esperanto Estonian Ewe Filipino Finnish French Frisian Galician Georgian German Greek Guarani Gujarati Haitian Creole Hausa Hawaiian Hebrew Hindi Hmong Hungarian Icelandic Igbo Ilocano Indonesian Irish Italian Japanese Javanese Kannada Kazakh Khmer Kinyarwanda Konkani Korean Krio Kurdish (Kurmanji) Kurdish (Sorani) Kyrgyz Lao Latin Latvian Lingala Lithuanian Luganda Luxembourgish Macedonian Maithili Malagasy Malay Malayalam Maltese Maori Marathi Meiteilon (Manipuri) Mizo Mongolian Myanmar (Burmese) Nepali Norwegian Odia (Oriya) Oromo Pashto Persian Polish Portuguese Punjabi Quechua Romanian Russian Samoan Sanskrit Scots Gaelic Sepedi Serbian Sesotho Shona Sindhi Sinhala Slovak Slovenian Somali Spanish Sundanese Swahili Swedish Tajik Tamil Tatar Telugu Thai Tigrinya Tsonga Turkish Turkmen Twi Ukrainian Urdu Uyghur Uzbek Vietnamese Welsh Xhosa Yiddish Yoruba Zulu Powered by Translate Printer-friendly version     © 2017 UBM | Unleavened Bread Ministries. 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We're all called into the great adventure of following Jesus. We need to discern Hispromptings, follow His commands, take steps of faith, and believe for the impossible.Where Jesus guides He always provides.

When was the last time you said not now to a prompting from God? Hi, I'm Mike Henry Sr. with Follower of One. Thanks for joining me again today on the Follower of One podcast. Often I am tempted, when I get an idea from God, I get tempted to say not now or not right now, or can I do it later? Today's passage is Matthew 8:21-22, I'm reading from the English Standard Bible. "Another of the disciples said to him, Lord, let me first go and bury my father. And Jesus said to him, follow me and leave the dead to bury their own dead."   Some people, when they first read this, the first time they read the scriptures, or the first time they come across this passage, they think that all this guy's making a reasonable request. He's just asking for delay while he goes to his dad's funeral. But the way this is done, a lot of scholars believe that this man's father isn't dead yet. He's talking about, I wanna do this as soon as I'm done working for my dad or when I'm done doing whatever it is I'm doing when I receive my inheritance after I've received my inheritance.   And Jesus is saying to him, look. Go with me. The rest of this is noise. What's happening in the world. If you're not following me is noise. There's another story in Luke chapter 10. Where Jesus goes over to Martha's for dinner and Martha's sister Mary, instead of helping with the dinner was sitting, listening to Jesus as he spoke, and Martha was distracted with everything she was trying to do. And so she asked Jesus to straighten out her sister, send my sister into the kitchen so that she can help me with what's going on. And Jesus, in, in Luke 10:42 says "only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good part, which can't be taken away from her."   Jesus is challenging us that focusing on and following Jesus isn't the top priority, it's the only priority. Following him is the one necessary thing we're being challenged in this passage to drop what we're doing and follow Jesus. Today in our workplace, are we being challenged to drop what we're doing and follow Jesus.   Now I'm not telling you to stop doing your job. Following Jesus means that we do our job well. We honor our commitments, but there are ways where we can focus our brain and our mind on the things that Jesus would have us do. We can pray for the people around us. That's one of the easiest ways to engage our faith and to follow Jesus in whatever we're doing today is pray for the person you're looking at.   Pray for the person across the cube from you or pray for your boss. Instead of whining, like I used to whine about my bosses wanted done, and I would disagree with the way that companies that I worked for were being run. Instead of criticizing them, why not pray for them? We can follow Jesus with our daily actions in this moment, by simply praying for the person that comes to mind. Ask God to show you how he would have you follow him.   And then let's do it today. Let's not delay or say not now. If God gives you an idea, and he's just given me one, as I'm recording this podcast, I have something to do as soon as this recording is over. So that I'm not saying not now to him, but I'm going with him when he goes. Now. It's interesting to note too, that in the next verse, his disciples followed him.   "When he got into the boat," it says "his disciples followed him." That's Matthew 8:23. If we're not following him, we need to question whether or not we're disciples. Let's try and make more and more of our life the simple act of following him. To become a disciple of his is simply to follow him. That's the reason why our organization is called Follower of One.   We want to follow him. Today, let's follow him, ask him how you can follow him in the very thing that you have to do today. He's there and he's in charge and he'll make it happen. And also if you want to join a community of people who are bent on trying to do this with their life, check out our online community at https://community.Followerofone.org.   Thanks very much.