#8; Hebrews 2:1-3; 12:25
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Six Months Since
By Shoshana bat-Yehonatan
A poem for the six (Hebrew) month anniversary of the Simchat Torah Massacre. With thanks to the JPS, Koren, Metsudah, and other translations on Sefaria.org. Footnotes link to sources of quotes. Footnotes connect to sources which will be in reblog, because otherwise it's too long to post.
TW: RAPE
Six months has it been
Since the fields turned red without flowers
Now calaniot bloom where once my darlings danced
But still, my precious ones are gone.
I have no prophets to comfort me
No visions from God [1]
My king remains in exile [2]
How can I sing a song of God on alien soil [3]
In an alien tongue?
Yet I have been too long a stranger in a land not mine[4]—
Two thousand years, to a paltry hundred and twenty—
And I forgotten even how to speak the Holy Tongue
Let alone write in it.
I have neither wit nor words to sing my grief.
And so I turn to those before me
As they turned to those before them
And say,
“God, open my lips, and let my mouth declare my grief.” [5]
Oholiva cries [6]
And Ohola wails [7]
This year was pregnant[8] with a second month of joy
Instead she wails in travails unending
“When will my children return?” [9]
Oh wall of Fair Zion [10]
Shed tears like a river [11]
Cry out in the night and pour your heart out like water [12]
Rachel’s eyes are red as her sister’s [13]
As she weeps over the fate of her children [14]
Six months it has been
Since they ravaged women in Zion [15]
Maidens in the towns of Judea [16]
Since their hands tore my princes apart
No deference shown to elders [17]
On this day six months ago
My infants were taken captive before the enemy [18]
The joy of our hearts was seized
And our dancing turned to mourning [19]
For the youths are gone from their music [20].
Now my eyes shed rivers of water [21]
Over the ruin of my people’s daughter [22]
Bitterly I weep in the night [23]
My cheeks wet with tears [24]
There is none to comfort me: my friends have betrayed me [25]
I cry:
Behold my agony! [26]
My priests and my elders have perished in the city [27]
The elders strewn like dust on the ground [28]
Those whom I dandled and reared my foe has consumed [29]
“This is the day we hoped for! We have found it, we have seen it!” [30]
My maidens and youths have gone into captivity! [31]
“It is your doing.” [32]
Blood on her legs, her nakedness seen, [33]
Zion reaches out for comfort [34]--
“Away! Unclean!” [35]
She can only shrink back and sigh [36]
“May it never befall you.” [37]
The nations have resolved “They shall stay here no longer” [38]
We wander and wander [39]
But where are we to go?
How can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred? [40]
“My life as my wish, my people as my request,” [41]
I begged my Husband [42]
“For we have been targeted, my people and I, to be destroyed, massacred, and exterminated.” [43]
But the King turned His face from me.
My dear ones were purer than snow [44]
Ruddier than rubies or coral [45]
Their bodies lovely as sapphire [46]
Now their faces are darkened with ash [47]
Unrecognizable amid the ruin of the streets [48]
See, God, and behold to whom You have done this! [49]
Look at me, answer me, Oh God! [50]
How long will You hide Your face from me? [51]
I have no prophets now to comfort me
And must take my comfort from those before:
You promised “God will restore your captives.” [52]
Return them, God, and let them come back [53]
Renew our days as of old. [54]
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Beelzebub Birthday Special 100 Fun Facts
1. Beelzebub makes up elaborate stories about befriending food to try to avoid eating it
2. Before his fall, Beelzebub was a cherub and recommended for Seraph
3. Beelzebub dislikes Mammon’s cooking
4. The only food Beelzebub refuses to eat is Solomon’s cooking
5. As an angel, Beelzebub initially wanted to use his strength to fight but became depressed after Raphael made fun of him. Instead he focused on protecting thanks to Lucifer’s advice
6. Beelzebub used to guard the gates of the celestial realm
7. Beelzebub considers him and Belphegor twins because they were created the same day
8. Beelzebub is usually quiet except when around Belphegor
9. Beelzebub has survivors guilt
10. Beelzebub blames himself for Lilith’s death since he chose to save Belphegor instead and until MC got him to open up to Belphegor, he believed Belphegor blamed him too
11. Beelzebub picks his loyalty based on if he’s offered food
12. Beelzebub will usually follow orders from any of his brothers, especially when it comes to helping restrain another brother
13. Beelzebub claims he never felt insatiable hunger up until the exact moment he fell from grace
14. Beelzebub is completely unaware of his surroundings when he is eating food
15. Beelzebub was the only brother not angered that MC had a plan with Belphegor to make pacts with them all
16. Beelzebub used to be Lucifer’s personal body guard
17. Out of all the brothers, Beelzebub insults Mammon the least
18. Beelzebub is able to feel Belphegor’s feelings and to an extent, read his mind
19. Beelzebub’s name in Hebrew translates to “Lord of the Flies”
20. Beelzebub’s worst subject is potions because he tends to eat the ingredients
21. Beelzebub’s favorite song is the jingle for the ad from Hell’s Burger
22. Beelzebub prefers pop music
23. Beelzebub loves Devilcat and feels he can relate to him
24. Beelzebub mentions his type of person is someone who will make him piles of food
25. Beelzebub prefers dogs because he believes they’re loyal
26. Beelzebub states he loves food from every world equally
27. Beelzebub prefers to work out in silence
28. Beelzebub’s favorite activity is working out
29. Beelzebub hates high heels, they hurt his feet and always snap because of his weight
30. Beel’s motto is “You can’t fight when you’re hungry”
31. Beelzebub usually eats the plates his food is served in alongside the food
32. Diavolo states Beelzebub once ate a pillar at the Demon Lord’s Castle
33. If the Devildom disappeared tomorrow Beelzebub said he’d eat all the food because it’s be a pity
34. Beelzebub states he probably starts his baths washing his head but can’t remember
35. Beelzebub is the active one when it comes to love
36. When asked if he’d bind or be bound by his lover he chose “other” because he wasn’t sure
37. Beelzebub easily forgets special dates of remembrance and anniversaries
38. For a relationship with obstacles his choice is to just give up
39. He won’t have sleepless nights thinking about the person he loves
40. Beelzebub is able to express his feelings frankly
41. Beelzebub can call forth a legendary rock giant
42. Beelzebub is shown to have wind related powers
43. Beelzebub, like all demons with wings, can fly
44. Beelzebub has such a strong sense of smell he can tell if someone is a human, demon, or angel
45. Beelzebub once attempted to diet, it didn’t work out
46. Beelzebub recalls Michael smelling tasty, due to him always eating sweets
47. During dance battles Beelzebub will sometimes shout “here comes my next meal” and “that was a nice feast”
48. Beelzebub sometimes states that MC looks delicious
49. The angrier Beelzebub is the hungrier his gets
50. In exchange for food, Beelzebub will groom and walk Cerberus
51. Beelzebub thinks it’s dumb Mammon likes money, since he can’t eat it
52. According to Beelzebub poison jellyfish don’t sit well in his stomach
53. Beelzebub binged TSL with MC and Mammon specifically for the popcorn
54. Beelzebub chooses his outfits based on if they’re easy to eat in
55. Beelzebub helped choose Mammon’s human world outfit
56. Mammon usually gives Beelzebub treats, he even mentions it on the home screen
57. The first time Beelzebub attempted to attack MC it was because they were convinced by Mammon to eat his custard
58. Beelzebub seems to be the only one who knows Simeon is hiding candy from the celestial realm
59. Beelzebub still considers it his duty to protect Lucifer
60. Beelzebub is a terrible artist but doesn’t seem to realize it
61. Beelzebub believes Solomon wouldn’t taste good
62. Beelzebub loves Luke’s cakes
63. Beelzebub believes Simeon’s pancakes are the best
64. Simeon’s wishes he could clone Barbatos so he’d have him to make him food every day
65. Beelzebub thinks it’s important to work so you have money to buy snacks
66. Beelzebub asks MC if they’re good at cooking, if they are he never wants them to leave his side
67. Beelzebub refers to MC as his angel
68. Beelzebub doesn’t like it when things get mushy and gross
69. Beelzebub will take home random fauna to see what it tastes like, he once brought home a giant black slug that scared Asmodeus
70. Beelzebub mentions on several occasions to love Red Spider Sandwiches
71. When given chocolates (a special item) Beelzebub tells MC he has his eyes and ears out to make sure no drunk people lay a finger on MC
72. Beelzebub thinks trees are delicious
73. When gifted a scarf, Beelzebub initially believes it was a long donut
74. When MC gifts Beelzebub a handmade Devilcat plushie, he isn’t sure what it is
75. Beelzebub says when he was eating a cat shaped pancake that Satan was giving him suspicious looks
76. Beelzebub says he can play the music from the Hell’s Kitchen ad on the Otomatone
77. Beelzebub mistook fireworks for churros
78. Beelzebub reveals to MC he sometimes wishes they were kind only to him
79. Asmodeus would prefer not to say what the most shocking thing he saw Beelzebub eat was
80. Beelzebub often mistakes shaped bath bombs for food
81. Beelzebub was banned from the Devildom botanic gardens for eating all the cherries off the cherry picking trees
82. Beelzebub once ate a tomato meant to make you reveal things, apparently it tasted like nothing to him and Mammon says he’d never seen him look so sad while eating
83. When going out to swim, Beelzebub chose to hunt and grill squid instead
84. Beelzebub always tries to eat all the hidden Easter eggs
85. As I asked Beel for advice on cleanly eating candy apples and was disappointed when Beel recommended just eating them in one bite
86. When Beelzebub expressed interest in a car his brothers were excited and then shocked when they realized Beelzebub only likes the shape as he saw it would be good to dead lift
87. Beelzebub gave MC a Devildom star
88. Beelzebub once tried bribing Mephistopheles into allowing him to help the newspaper club by kidnapping him and trying to force him to eat mountains of food
89. Beelzebub believes a cruise ship anchor is light weight
90. Beelzebub believes he can rely most on Lucifer and Belphegor
91. Beelzebub can run .3 miles (500 meters) in two seconds
92. Beel still enjoys games of tag
93. Beelzebub once put a whole in the RAD building
94. Beelzebub often accidentally breaks through doors and walls
95. Beelzebub is very slow to reply to texts
96. Beelzebub always lifts weights before bed
97. Beelzebub often chews on his pillows in his sleep and frequently sleep walks to the kitchen
98. Beelzebub ate a keychain Barbatos gave Luke and Luke was so angry he scared Beelzebub enough that Beelzebub was running away from him
99. According the Belphegor they once decorated a cake with fireworks but Beelzebub ate them too
100. Beelzebub has been banned from drinking Super Soda water
#obey me fun facts#obey me Beelzebub#obey me birthday#obey me happy birthday beelzebub#this took three hours my god
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how to read the Bible
this is in order!
1. John
2. Mark
3. Matthew
4. Luke
5. Genesis
6. Exodus
7. Leviticus
8. Numbers
9. Dueteronomy
10. Romans
11. Galatians
12. Colossians
13. Proverbs
14. Ecclesiastes
15. Job
16. 1 Peter
17. 1 Corinthians
18. 2 Corinthians
19. Ephesians
20. Philippians
21. 1 Thessalonians
22. 2 Thessalonians
23. 1 Timothy
24. 2 Timothy
25. James
26. 2 Peter
27. 1 John
28. 2 John
29. 3 John
30. Jude
31. Psalms
32. Joshua
33. Judges
34. 1 Samuel
35. 2 Samuel
36. 1 Kings
37. 2 Kings
38. 1 Chronicles
39. 2 Chronicles
40. Ezra
41. Nehemiah
42. Jeremiah
43. Lamentations
44. Ezekiel
45. Joel
46. Amos
47. Obadiah
48. Nahum
49. Habakkuk
50. Zephaniah
51. Haggai
52. Zechariah
53. Malachi
54. Micah
55. Hosea
56. Luke
57. Esther
58. Jonah
59. Song of Solomon
60. Acts
61. Titus
62. Philemon
63. Hebrew
64. Isaiah
65. Daniel
66. Revelation
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A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, But the mouth of fools gush out folly.
3 The LORD's eyes are everywhere, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, But deceit in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father's correction, But he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, But the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; Not so with the heart of fools.
8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But he loves him who follows after righteousness.
10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: Whoever hates reproof shall die.
11 She'ol and Avaddon are before the LORD -- How much more then the hearts of the children of men!
12 A scoffer doesn't love to be reproved; He will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face; But an aching heart breaks the spirit.
14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched, But one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
16 Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a fattened calf with hatred.
18 A wrathful man stirs up contention, But one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, But the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, But a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail; But in a multitude of counselors they are established.
23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise, To keep him from going downward to She'ol.
25 The LORD will uproot the house of the proud, But he will keep the widow's borders intact.
26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, But the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous weighs answers, But the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked, But he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.
31 The ear that listens to the reproof lives, And will be at home among the wise.
32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul, But he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
33 The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
— Proverbs 15 | Hebrew Names Version (HNV)
The Hebrew Names Version Bible is in the public domain
Cross References: Genesis 13:8; Leviticus 7:18; Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 32:22; Judges 8:1; 1 Kings 1:12; Nehemiah 2:2; Psalm 59:7; Proverbs 1:2; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 1:25; Proverbs 8:21; Proverbs 9:7; Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 13:18; Proverbs 16:24; Proverbs 17:1; Proverbs 18:15; Proverbs 22:5; Proverbs 25:25; Ecclesiastes 4:6; Ecclesiastes 7:5; John 9:31; Acts 1:24; Ephesians 5:15; 1 Timothy 6:9; 1 Timothy 6:11; Hebrews 4:13; 1 Peter 3:15; Revelation 2:7
#righteousness#wisdom#self-control#life#guidance#discretion#Proverbs 15#Book of Proverbs#Old Testament#HNV#Hebrew Names Version bible
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What is fundamentalism? I’ve gotten answers that range from ‘its sexism masked as Christianity’ to ‘its the opposite of modern liberal Christianity’
The term "fundamentalism" originated in a faith statement made by a Presbyterian denomination in 1910, wherein the "Five Fundamentals" were listed approximately as follows:
1. The Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8-9).
2. The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27).
3. The Blood Atonement (Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25, 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14).
4. The Bodily Resurrection (Luke 24:36-46; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 15:14-15).
5. The inerrancy of the scriptures themselves (Psalms 12:6-7; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20).
"Fundamentalist" was then soon after considered a test of Christian orthodoxy and a positive descriptor. However, by the 70's the term was so sought after that it became the subject of sectarian disputes.
Interestingly, in the 1970s, some fundamentalists debated with each other over who had the right to use the term. The “pseudo-fundamentalists” debated the “neo-fundamentalists,” and vice-versa. It also became popular to categorize fundamentalist leaders and ministries as to whether they were militant, or moderate, or modified fundamentalists. I remember writing an article during that time entitled, “Will the Real Fundamentalist Please Stand Up.” (Pettigrew)
Eventually, due to the hot blooded infighting and the narrowing of the meaning and definition of "fundamentalism", the term became synonymous with rigid and sectarian positions, synonymous somewhat with a person who thinks that only those of their specific denomination are true Christians and everybody at every other church is going to hell.
The term caught on with non-Christians and currently is used as a pejorative. Today hardly anybody would identify themselves as a fundamentalist, unless they are able to explain that they hold an originalist position on its meaning, referring back to some older variation of the 5 fundamentals.
Sources:
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The άνάλαβος (analavos) is the distinctive garment of a monk or a nun tonsured into the highest grade of Orthodox monasticism, the Great Schema, and is adorned with the instruments of the Passion of Christ. It takes its name from the Greek αναλαμβάνω (“to take up”), serving as a constant reminder to the one who wears it that he or she must “take up his cross daily” (Luke 9:23). The ornately-plaited Crosses that cover the analavos, the polystavrion (πολυσταύριον, from πολύς, “many,” and σταυρός, “Cross”) — a name often, though less accurately, also applied to the analavos — reminds the monastic that he or she is “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20).
With regard to each image on the analavos, the rooster represents “the cock [that] crowed” (Matthew 26:74; Mark 14:68 Luke 22:60; John 18:27) after Saint Peter had “denied thrice” His Master and Lord (John 13:38).
The pillar represents the column to which Pilate bound Christ “when he scourged Him” (Mark 15:15) “by Whose stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:5; I Peter 2:24).
The wreath garlanding the Cross represents the “crown of thorns” (Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2) that “the soldiers platted” (John 19:2) and “put upon the head” (Matthew 27:29) of “God our King of old” (Psalm 73:13), Who freed man from having to contend against “thorns and thistles in the sweat of his brow” (Genesis 3:18-19).
The upright post and the traverse beam represent the stipes and the patibulum that formed “the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14), upon which “all day long He stretched forth His hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” (Isaiah 65:2; Romans 10:21).
The four spikes at the center of the Cross and the hammer beneath its base represent the “nails” (John 20:25) and hammer with which “they pierced” (Psalm 21:16; John 19:37) “His hands and His feet” (Luke 24:40). when they “lifted up from the earth” (John 12:32) Him Who “blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us by nailing it to His Cross” (Colossians 2:14).
The base upon which the Cross stands represents “the place, which is called 'Calvary' (Luke 23:33), or 'Golgotha', that is to say, the Place of the Skull” (Matthew 27:33), “where they crucified Him” (John 19:18) Who “wrought salvation in the midst of the earth” (Psalm 73:13).
The skull and crossbones represent “the first man Adam” (I Corinthians 15:45), who by tradition “returned unto the ground” (Genesis 3:19) at this very spot, the reason that this place of execution, “full of dead men’s bones” (Matthew 23:27) became the place where “the last Adam was made a quickening spirit” (I Corinthians 15:45).
The plaque on top of the Cross represents the titulus, the “title” (John 19:19-20), with “the superscription of His accusation” (Mark 15:26), which “Pilate wrote” (John 19:19) “and set up over His head” (Matthew 27:37); however, instead of “Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews” (John 19:19), which “was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew” (Luke 23:38), the three languages being an allusion to the Three Hypostases “of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19), this titulus reads, “The King of Glory” (Psalm 23:7-10), “for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (I Corinthians 2:8).
The reed represents the “hyssop” (John 19:29) upon which was put “a sponge full of vinegar” (Mark 15:36), which was then “put to His mouth” (John 19:29) when in His “thirst they gave Him vinegar to drink” (Psalm 68:21), Him of Whom it was said that “all wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22).
The lance represents the “spear [that] pierced His side”; “and forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34) from Him Who “took one of Adam's ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof" (Genesis 2:21) and Who “washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5).
The plaque at the bottom of the Cross represents the suppedaneum of Christ, “His footstool” (Psalm 98:5), “the place where His feet have stood” (Psalm 131:7). It is slanted because, according to one tradition, at the moment when “Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit” (Mark 15:37), He allowed a violent death spasm to convulse His legs, dislodging His footrest in such a manner that one end pointed upwards, indicating that the soul of the penitent thief, Saint Dismas, “the one on His right hand” (Mark 15:27) would be “carried up into Heaven” (Luke 24:51), while the other end, pointed downwards, indicated that the soul of the impenitent thief, Gestas, “the other on His left” (Mark 15:27), would “be thrust down to Hell” (Luke 10:15), showing that all of us, “the evil and the good, the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45), “are weighed in the balance” (Ecclesiasticus 21:25) of the Cross of Christ.
The ladder and the pincers beneath the base of the Cross represent the means of deposition by which Saint Joseph of Arimathea, “a rich man” (Matthew 27:57) who “begged for the body of Jesus” (Matthew 27:58; Luke 23:52), “took it down” (Luke 23:53), so that as in body He descended from the Cross, so in soul “He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth” (Ephesians 4:9), “by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison” (I Peter 3:19).
Through these instruments, “the Cross of Christ” (I Corinthians 1:17: Galatians 6:12; Philippians 3:18) became the “Tree of Life” (Genesis 2:9; 3:22, 24; Proverbs 3:18, 11:30; 13:12; 15:4; Revelation 2:7; 22:2,14), by which the Lord Jesus reified His words that, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).
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God loves and cares for us more than we will ever know. He rejoices with us in moments of happiness; His heart breaks with us in times of sorrow. He is present during good times and bad. Our lives are His treasure. He loves us when we are unlovable and forgives us when unforgivable. God is the same from beginning to end. He is consistent, reliable, and loves us unconditionally. He remains devoted to us all the days of our life. And as true and born -again Christians we thank Him for this and for His eternal presence and everlasting love. God is holy and almighty and deserving of all praise honor and glory. We rejoice in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, knowing He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). May our hearts always be filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing. May He help us to praise Him freely and honestly like all believers who came before us. May we live a life that showcases our love and trust in Him and His Holy Word and Spirit as He uses us draw others to Him and His soul-saving Gospel Truth daily. May He continue guide, correct and protect us, so that we continue to grow in Him and not weaken and stray. May we all remain faithful to Him and to this duty and purpose He has called us to. Seek and put your faith and trust in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ and let Him do the rest. May He humble our hearts and help us focus on following and serving Him daily and helping others with joy and happiness. We lift our voices in praise to Him for His love, mercy, peace, faithfulness and grace. - For EVERYTHING!
It is vital that we remain rooted in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit and that we live and walk as a beacon of His light and love and share and spread the Gospel Truth daily, so that the lost souls in this world can come to know Him and be saved. The more we focus on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, growing spiritually by building our relationship with Him, leaning on Him and His Holy Word and Spirit, the better off we will be. Thanks to this and our faith in Him, we know that everything will be alright. And we will forever be grateful to Him. As true and born-again Christians, we believe in Him and His Holy Word and we strive daily to walk in His Holy Spirit. We know though our mortal bodies should die, He will raise us up and into new and glorious bodies (The Rapture). We who are truly His and alive at His second coming will never die, and our bodies will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven forevermore (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is one of many promises given to us by God Himself. Thank God for His strength and guidance when we are faced with sin and temptation. Thank Him for His mercy and grace. Through Bible study and prayer, God reveals His wisdom and guides us to see opportunities to grow closer to Him and grow spiritually. He gives us direction to live our lives daily according to His will.
Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven (John 3:5, 14:6), the ONLY way to salvation (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9) and He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). Jesus Christ the LORD of lords, KING of kings, the GOD of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16) - He is the Living, Almighty and Everlasting God (Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:8, John 3:16, John 3:36, Jeremiah 10:10). There is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5). We MUST humble ourselves before Him, turning our backs on false teachers, false gods and idols and our sinful ways. We MUST repent and turn back to God and recognize who He is and love Him in return for His great love for us. We MUST make God top priority everyday! May we be motivated to spread God's Holy Word and Gospel Truth to all the Earth, knowing that it is the only hope of all those lost in their sins. Let us not hold out a false hope for men to be saved without the Gospel, but instead, strive to do our part to get the Gospel out to a lost and dying world.
Leaning on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit strengthens us and our knowledge and wisdom about God and His Gospel Truth, exposing these imposters. May God help us to seek and lean on Him daily to gain the strength, wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to expose Satan and his imposters who seek to destroy us and God's ultimate Truth. Everyday, we must remember to share Jesus Christ's Gospel Truth with the world and to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and from the eternal damnation of Hell. In all we say and do, may all praise, honor and glory always be given to Him and His Kingdom of Heaven.
With renewed minds, hearts and wills, let us serve Him humbly and faithfully out of pure love and grateful rejoicing. May He remind us of His presence and to remain at peace, fully knowing that all will be well because He is always with us. Let us seek Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ today and everyday with all our heart and being, looking for His love, light and will for our lives with each step we take. Let us seek to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds and seek to advance His Kingdom of Heaven and His glory with our lives. Let us seek Him from a pure and humble heart, and when we so seek, we believe Him and His promise that we will find. May He help us all to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.
God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.
May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - Always!
Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.
May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!
Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!
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Previously, on Apocrypals part 5: The Fifth One
As we begin our sixth (!) calendar year of Apocrypals, here is a list of the texts we have covered so far on the show in case you want to read along or catch up. They’re arranged in a way that appeases my systematic nature.
Tanakh/Old Testament:
Genesis (episodes 16-20)
Exodus (episodes 33 and 35)
Leviticus (episode 59)
Numbers (episode 62)
Deuteronomy (episode 65)
Joshua (episode 73)
Judges (episode 80)
Ruth (episode 45)
1 Samuel (episode 89)
2 Samuel (episode 90-91)
1 Kings (episode 99)
2 Kings (episode 106)
Esther (episode 37)
Job (episode 101)
Ecclesiastes (episode 52)
Song of Songs (episode 34)
Isaiah (episode 4)
Jeremiah (episode 43-44)
Lamentations (episode 48)
Ezekiel (episode 55-56)
Daniel (episode 2)
Hosea (episode 108)
Jonah (episode 31)
Micah (episode 74)
Nahum (episode 74)
Deuterocanon/capital-A Apocrypha:
Tobit (episode 13)
Judith (episode 22)
Greek Additions to Esther (episode 37)
1 Maccabees (episode 27)
2 Maccabees (episode 28)
3 Maccabees (episode 53)
4 Maccabees (episode 78)
The Prayer of Azariah aka the Song of the Three Holy Children (episode 2)
Susanna (episode 2)
Bel and the Dragon (episode 2)
The Prayer of Manasseh (episode 6)
New Testament:
Matthew (episodes 8-9)
Mark (episode 7)
Luke (episode 10)
John (episode 11-12)
Acts of the Apostles (episode 1)
Romans (episode 5)
1 Corinthians (episode 25)
2 Corinthians (episode 42)
Galatians (episode 72)
Ephesians (episode 81)
Hebrews (episode 104)
1 John (episode 49)
2 John (episode 49)
3 John (episode 49)
Revelation (episode 50)
Pseudepigrapha (Jewish apocrypha):
The Testament of Solomon (episode 24)
The Story of Ahikar (episode 14)
The Ascension of Isaiah (episode 6)
1 Enoch (episode 39-40)
2 Enoch (episode 61)
3 Enoch (episode 86-87)
Jubilees (episodes 82 and 83)
The Letter of Aristeas (episode 70)
The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness (episode 71)
Joseph and Aseneth (episode 93)
New Testament apocrypha:
The Protevangelium aka Infancy Gospel of James (episode 29)
The Acts of Pilate/Gospel of Nicodemus (episode 23)
Mors Pilati/Death of Pilate (episode 23)
The Acts of Paul and Thecla (episode 22)
The Acts of Peter (episode 3)
The Acts of Peter and Paul (episode 3)
The Acts of Andrew and Matthias (episode 60)
The Acts of Thomas and His Wonderworking Skin (episode 66)
The Life of Xanthippe, Polyxena, and Rebecca (episode 57)
Questions of Bartholomew (episode 41)
Resurrection of Jesus Christ by Bartholomew (episode 41)
The Book of Bartholomew (episode 67)
Acts of John (episode 46)
The Acts of Andrew (episode 97)
Syriac Infancy Gospel (episode 47)
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (episode 54)
Infancy Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (episode 79)
The Adoration of the Magi (2020 Christmas bonus episode)
The History of Joseph the Carpenter (episode 103)
The First Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)
The Second Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)
The Third Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)
The Apocalypse of Peter (episode 75)
The Apocalypse of Paul (episode 95)
The Gospel of Philip (episode 92)
The Gospel of Mary (episode 92)
The Gospel of Jesus’s Wife (episode 92)
The Gospel of Judas (episode 100)
The Greater Questions of Mary (episode Secret 69)
The Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine:
The Life of Saint Nicholas (episode 26)
The Life of Saint Lucy (episode 26)
The Life of Saint Christopher (episode 15)
The Life of Saint Benedict (episode 15)
excerpts from The Passion of the Lord (episode 23)
The Life of Saint Sebastian (episode 58)
The Life of Saint Blaise (episode 58)
The Life of Saint Agatha (episode 58)
The Life of Saint Roch (episode 63)
The Life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (episode 77)
The Life of Saint Barbara (episode 77)
The Life of Saint Dunstan (episode 85)
The Life of Mary Magdalene (episode 94)
The Life of Saint Martha of Bethany (episode 102)
The Life of Saint Margaret of Antioch (episode 102)
Other:
Historia Trium Regum/The Legend of the Three Kings by John of Hildesheim (episode 30)
Muirchu’s Life of Saint Patrick (episode 36)
The Life of Saint Guinefort (episode 63)
The Life of Saint Mary of Egypt (episode 69)
The Life of Saint Pelagia (episode 69)
The Life of Saint Martin by Sulpicius Severus (episode 76)
The Life of Saint Columba (episode 84)
The Life of Saint Wilgefortis (episode 94)
Lives of cephalophoric saints (bonus episode cephalo4)
Stories of the Baal Shem Tov from The Golden Mountain (episode 96)
More stories of the Baal Shem Tov from The Golden Mountain (episode 107)
Solomon and Ashmedai (bonus episode double chai)
Listener questions (episode 32)
Bible trivia questions (episode 38)
Halloween-themed Chick tracts (episode 51)
Christmas-themed Chick tracts (episode 98)
Bible Adventures and the Wisdom Tree catalogue of video games (episode 64)
The Da Vinci Code, the movie (episode 88)
Guess the Bible character from Persona 5 (bonus episode Persona 5)
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron (episode 105)
You can find links to all these episodes with show notes and more on the Apocrypals wiki
#apocrypals#podcast#podcasts#religion#bible#christianity#judaism#apocrypha#old testament#new testament#hagiography
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GOD IS GOOD!
God is good all the time (Psalm 25:8; 106:1; 119:68; 145:9; Matthew 19:17).
God is wise (Romans 16:27; Daniel 2:20; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 25).
God is holy (Leviticus 19:2; Job 6:10).
God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 92:15; 119:37; Zephaniah 3:5).
God is merciful (Ephesians 2:4; Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 100:5).
God redeems (Psalm 78:35; Proverbs 23:11; Isaiah 41:14; 47:4; 59:20; Jeremiah 50:34).
God saves (Isaiah 43:3-11; 45:21; 49:26).
God sanctifies (Exodus 31:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Jude 1).
God is Judge over all (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 50:6; 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 12:23).
Nothing or no one is like God (Job 11:7; Isaiah 40:28).
Amen! 🙌
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“REPENT, or in 40 days your city will be overthrown!” Jonah warned the wicked inhabitants of Nineveh.
Then it happened: “The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth” (Jon. 3:5).
Even the King covered himself with sackcloth and commanded that “everyone call urgently on God, and give up their evil and violent ways” (vv. 8, 9).
Why was the whole city so quick to repent?
Besides Jonah’s warning, some Bible scholars believe the Ninevites were unsettled by a solar eclipse that occurred around that time. NASA data confirms that a famous eclipse mentioned in ancient cuneiform tablets, the Bur-Sagle Eclipse, occurred above the Assyrian city on June 15, 763 BC, about the time Jonah would have arrived and started preaching.
With the Nineveh eclipse in view, it is interesting to consider six coincidences around an eclipse that will darken the US on April 8, 2024:
1. JONAH’S FISH
The 2024 eclipse occurs just above the constellation Cetus, the sign that depicts the huge fish that swallowed Jonah as he was fleeing God’s command to go to Nineveh (Jon. 1).
Image: https://tinyurl.com/bde73x9e
2. SABBATICAL COINCIDENCE
The 2024 eclipse occurs exactly 398 Sabbatical weeks after the Nineveh eclipse of 763 BC:
763 BC + 398 weeks (2,786 years) = 2024
What’s more, both eclipses (Nineveh and US) occur in the pivotal first year of a Sabbatical week.
3. JUBILEE CONNECTION
The 2024 eclipse occurs in a calculated Jubilee year. The Jubilee is declared on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 25), which is the day Jews traditionally read the Book of Jonah.
4. NUMBER OF JUDGMENT
The path of the 2024 eclipse is 120 miles wide, recalling the 120,000 inhabitants of Nineveh (Jon. 4:11).
5. SEVEN-YEAR WARNING
The 2024 eclipse path intersects the path of the 2017 American eclipse to complete a giant “X,” or Hebrew letter “Tav,” across the US.
Image: https://tinyurl.com/3s67ry8b
That the two eclipses are viewed as a collective sign is significant because the inaugural eclipse occurred on Elu1, the date that, according to tradition, Jonah began warning the Ninevites.
6. IN THE PATH
Understanding that there are no coincidences with God, it is significant that there is only one city named “Jonah” in the US—Jonah, Texas—and it is located in the path of totality of the 2024 eclipse.
Additionally, there are seven places named “Nineveh” in the US, and all of them are clustered around the eclipse’s path of totality. Two of the seven Ninevehs—Nineveh, Indiana, and Nineveh, Ohio—are located within the path of totality.
A third striking “coincidence” is that in close proximity to the two Ninevehs is a place called “Rapture,” Indiana, which is the only location named Rapture in the US.
Image: https://tinyurl.com/2s3k72es
To appreciate the unlikelihood of “Jonah,” “Rapture” and two “Ninevehs” being in the eclipse’s path of totality, consider that if the angle of the path was different by even a few degrees, this would not be the case.
SUMMARY AND FINAL THOUGHTS
An eclipse in Jonah’s day may have helped spur the Ninevites to repentance. With this in mind, it is interesting to consider the following about the impending American eclipse:
• It occurs above the constellation Cetus, the sign that depicts Jonah’s fish.
• It occurs in the first year of a Sabbatical cycle, exactly 398 “weeks” after the Nineveh eclipse.
• It occurs during a Jubilee, which is declared on the same day Jews read the Book of Jonah.
• Its path is 120 miles wide, recalling the 120,000 Ninevites.
• It completes the 2017 eclipse sign, which occurred on the date Jonah began warning the Ninevites.
• Its path crosses over locations named Jonah, Nineveh, and Rapture, as no other path could or has.
When the doubters of Jesus’ day asked Him for a sign, He replied:
“A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah” (Matt. 12:39).
Jesus was referring to the fact that He would be in the tomb for three days, just like Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days. But the lesson pertained to unbelief. Even though He had already performed numerous signs and miracles, it was not enough for the skeptics.
The same is true today. Despite the many signs God has been issuing, most people remain unconvinced of the nearness of His coming.
Could the American eclipse be a final sign for a wicked and adulterous generation?
And assuming it is, will it be heeded?
When the Ninevites believed and repented, their city was spared (Jon. 4:11). In the case of America—where even many Christians mock the notion that an eclipse could be a Divine warning—national repentance seems unlikely.
. . .
NOTES:
1. Jonah was a minor prophet who God commanded to preach to the people of Nineveh, but instead fled by boat. A storm arose, and Jonah instructed the sailors to throw him overboard. He was then swallowed by a large fish and spent three days in its belly, before being spit out onto dry land. Jonah subsequently went to Nineveh and warned the people, as directed by God. The Ninevites repented, thus avoiding judgment.
2. The Hebrew word translated “repent,” teshuva, means simply to “return” to God.
3. Of all the signs of Judgment Day, the most frequently mentioned in Scripture is a darkened sun, or total solar eclipse (Rev. 6:12; Joel 2:31; 3:14, 15; Isa. 13:9-10; Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:24; Luke 21:25-27;
Acts 2:20, 21; Ezek. 32:8).
4. 765–64 BC was a Sabbatical year, making the year of Nineveh’s eclipse, 764–63 BC, the first year of a new cycle.
5. Strong’s coincidence: From the Nineveh eclipse in 763 BC to Sabbatical year 2023 is 2,785 years. Strong's Greek #2785 is the word kétos, referring to the “huge fish” or “whale” that swallowed Jonah: https://biblehub.com/greek/2785.htm
6. Sabbatical-year chronology (see “WH” for Wacholder): https://www.pickle-publishing.com/.../sabbatical-years...
7. 2024 Jubilee calculation:
There have been exactly 70 Jubilee periods since the Israelites first entered the Promised Land and began counting the 49-year cycle:
1407 BC + 70 Jubilees (3,430 years) = 2024
That 2024 is a Jubilee is corroborated by the 70 Weeks Prophecy:
“From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the prince comes, there will be seven sevens” [one Jubilee period] (Dan. 9:25).
According to the above prophecy, a Jubilee period begins after the Jews return to Jerusalem. Since the Jews returned to Jerusalem in June 1967, the count of “seven sevens,” or one Jubilee period, begins at the first Sabbatical week after that:
1974 + 49 = 2023 + 1 (Jubilee) = 2024
A third indication that 2024 is a Jubilee is the fact that the Sabbatical year 2022–23 (Hebrew 5782) is divisible by 49, a characteristic unique to Sabbatical years preceding Jubilees.
8. The number 120 also denotes judgment in the Flood account (Gen. 6:3).
9. The width of an eclipse may vary by a handful of miles, depending on topography. However, at the location where the 2024 shadow first enters the US, and which sees the longest duration of darkness, Texas, the path of totality is calculated to be exactly 120 miles wide:
https://www.space.com/what-states-total-solar-eclipse...
https://www.planophotographyclub.com/.../bec77043-06a7...
10. The second (2024) eclipse occurs on the Gentile calendar date 4/8. Coincidentally, in Exodus 4:8, as God is giving Moses signs to convince the Egyptians to release the Hebrew slaves, He says, “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second.”
11. More on the 2017 and 2024 eclipses:
2024 and 2017 Eclipse Paths: God Is in the Numbers:
https://storage.googleapis.com/.../2024%20and%202017...
Solar Eclipse 2024: God's Final Warning for America?
https://storage.googleapis.com/.../Solar%20Eclipse%202024...
12. In Judaism, the first day of Elul marks the beginning of a 40-day period of repentance leading up to the Day of Atonement. According to tradition, this is when Jonah began preaching.
13. The Rapture is the ultimate escape from judgment (1 Thess. 5:9; Luke 21:36).
14. Jonah, Texas:
Note: there is a small community named “Jonah” in Garfield, Oklahoma, but it is not an official city or town, and does not lie in the eclipse’s path of totality:
https://eclipse2024.org/communities/city/105423.html....
15. Rapture, Indiana:
16. The seven Ninevhes are located in Texas, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York.
17. Per our Jubilee calculation, 2024 marks America’s fifth Jubilee. (The nation’s first Jubilee was 1778, the year following Sabbatical year 1777). This is significant because the number five denotes a period of grace or Divine favor. While God has certainly “shed His grace” on the US, the impending eclipse may be a sign that the grace period is over.
. . .
*Visit the author’s website: www.theseasonofreturn.com
IMPORTANT MESSAGE: No one knows the day or hour of Jesus’ return (Matt. 24:36). However, a convergence of biblical signs and timelines suggests it is near. To escape the judgment reserved for a God-rejecting world, one must be in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. If you have not yet done so, call on His name and believe that He is the Son of God who died for your sins and was raised from the dead (Rom. 10:13). Do it today. Time is running out.
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Our sure and God-given weapons is The Word of God. As we consistently and prayerfully spend time with God in His Word, we will grow in faith and discernment ~ and it will also wash us and make us new. God’s Word provides protection for our minds like a helmet., and it arms us with truth like a belt wrapped around us ~ causing us to confidently stand firm. This belt holds a quiver full of promises that are like arrows that powerfully extinguish every fiery dart that the enemy will throw at us, as we take our thoughts captive as we replace the lies of the enemy with the truth of The Word. The Word also provides a shield of faith - because faith comes from hearing The Word - which places a divine breastplate across our chest ~ protecting our heart from sin and keeping us in righteousness as we hide The Word in our hearts. The Word enables us to stand in the shoes of the gospel of peace - because perfect peace comes to those who keep their eyes fixed on Him (Who is The Word.)
Every single piece of our armor mentioned in Ephesians chapter 6 is fully and completely provided by our sword, “which is The Word of God.” This is simply because He IS The Word! His blood, and His Spirit, and His Word ~ together ~ have given us everything we need for life and godliness ~ and everything we need to fight our battles. “And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these for war. The term "trains" here refers to He's walking us through a training exercise to fight the enemy much like a military training exercise. However, this is a spiritual war which cannot be fought with worldly ammunition ~ but know the enemy will try to distract you in a war of flesh - but only the weapon of His Word will ever be able to setus free, pull down spiritual strongholds m, and fight the principalities and powers of darkness in high places.
Our Father's goal is to bring us to the point where we have learned how ultimately trustworthy He is; so that we finally begin to automatically depend and lean 100% on Him as our natural reflex, and instinctive, reactive response... to literally e v e r y t h I n g..
The following are the verses that came to me as I was writing what was on my heart (if you are interested in further study) as well as the passages that inspired actually this post.
Ephesians 6:10-17 ~ John1:1 ~ John17.17 ~ John 14:6 ~ John 8:32 ~ 2 Timothy 3:16 ~ 1 Peter 2:2 ~ 2 Corinthians 10:5 ~ Hebrews 4:12 ~ Romans 10:17 ~ psalm 119:11 ~Isaiah 26:3 ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18 ~ Isaiah 50:7 ~ 2 Timothy 2:4-7 ~ 2 Timothy 2:15 ~ Isaiah 55:11 ~ Acts 17:11 ~ Deuteronomy 8:3 ~ James 1:21 ~ John 15:7 ~ John 16:13 ~ John 6:63 ~ John 7:38 ~ Matthew 4:4 ~ proverbs 30:5 ~ Romans 15:4 ~ 1 Corinthians 6:11 ~ Ephesians 5:25-27 ~ 1 John 5:6-13 ~ Psalm 144:1-6~ 2 Samuel 22:31-37 ~ Psalm 18:26-36
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RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD - 4 (of 8)
Why was Jesus manifested in the earth?
Answer: To create a new covenant that would allow and encourage Believers to establish God’s Kingdom throughout the earth by destroying the works of the devil. Destroying the works of the devil would include anything that would impede the advancing of God’s Kingdom.
"For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. All who are not deaf to the truth listen to My voice." - John 18:37
"The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil." - 1 John 3:8
"He was given over to die because of our sins, and was raised to life to put us right with God." - Romans 4:25
".....He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." - Hebrews 9:26
Has the cross of Calvary delivered me from the guilt of sin?
Answer: God made Jesus sin. Sin was not only reckoned to Him, but His spirit actually became sin. Jesus came as us to be our substitute in His sacrifice.
"God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:19,21
"Because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." - Hebrews 10:14
"If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." - 1 John 1:7
How are Satan and his works put under our feet as the body of Christ?
Answer: Through “binding and loosing” anything that does not match up with Heaven, the believer exercises their God given dominion and takes authority over satan and his works.
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." - Revelation 12:11
"When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." - Colossians 2:15
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” – Matthew 16:19
Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to build a righteousness consciousness through meditation and affirmation of the word concerning my right standing with God?
"By this we know we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit." - 1 John 4:13
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. - John 15:4
How will a righteousness consciousness affect my prayer life?
Answer: We pray from the position of our God-given authority and that all our sins have been forgiven (past, present, and future) so there is nothing hindering us from advancing God’s Kingdom NOW.
"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you." - Mark: 11:23,24
"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." - John 14;13;14
INTO ACTION:
Write Out, Affirm and meditate on the indicated scriptures 4 times daily until the renewing of your mind is made real to your spirit.
AFFIRMATIONS:
I know my prayers are heard by God because I believe in Christ Jesus His Son who gives me eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
I receive through faith because when I ask in prayer I believe that I have received what I have asked for. (Mark 11:24)
I transform my mind through affirming, meditating, and visualizing God's word. (Romans 12:2 & John 8:31,32)
ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
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Deranged, Destitute, and Dishonest Dementia Dummy donnie j. dump Doesn't Get To Be The Republican Presidential Nominee Anymore…Mwahahahahahahahahaa!!! A March 18, 2024 Update For All Political Debate Lovers! Part 9/17
The Republican/GOP 2024 State of the Union Response Was Chef's Kiss Perfection!!! More of THAT, Please?!?! Truly the Gift That Keeps On Giving... LOL!!!
Katie Britt's "Gonna generate a lot of votes for Democrats"
youtube
Published: March 8, 2024 (68th day)
Duration: 9:08 (548 seconds)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l2p8TrTzQw
6l2p8TrTzQw (6, 2, 8)
lpTrTzQw
lpqrttwz
20+60+70+80+100+100+900+500=1830. 1830+6+2+8=1846. 1846+548=2394. 2394+68=2462.
Strong's Concordance #2462
Chelbah: Feminine of cheleb; fertility; a city in Asher; halvah (a confection made of sesame flour and honey)
Original Word: חֶלְבָּה
Republicans React to Katie Britt's "Creepy, Whispering, Christian Cooking Show Mother, Former NFL Player Housewife, and Cult Qaren (Not An Actual Republican Rising-Star Senator)" Republican Rebuttal to President Biden's State of the Union Speech
youtube
Published: March 8, 2024 (68th day)
Duration: 4:14 (254 seconds)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvasDkMWdXg
cvasDkMWdXg
acddgkmsvwx
1+3+4+4+7+10+30+90+700+900+300=2049. 2049+254=2303. 2303+68=2371.
Strong's Concordance #2371
Chazael or Chazahel: from chazah and 'el; G-d has seen; "G-d sees," a king of Aram (Syria)
Original Word: חֲזָאֵל
Nine Inch Nails - Head Like A Hole
youtube
March 22, 1990 (81st day)
Duration: 5:00 (300 seconds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghIRu6UvQPc
ghIRu6UvQPc (6)
ghIRuUvQPc
cghipqruuv
3+7+8+9+60+70+80+200+200+700=1337. 1337+6=1343. 1343+300=1643. 1643+81=1724.
Strong's Concordance #1724
daham: to be dumb, dumbfounded, to astonish, astound
Original Word: דָּהַם
In late January 2024, only 36% of all women voters and 40% of all Independent voters continued to support LIDDLE "reebeedoog gggaaahhhh" Cognitively Crippled Cuck connie j. chump's presidential campaign. (Quinnipiac poll 1/25-1/29 2024)
21% of college-educated Republican voters, along with 11% of Republican men, indicated they'd vote against connie j. chump in the 2024 general election. (ABC News)
31% of all Republican voters (with an additional 17% undecided) and 66% of all independent voters (with an additional 19% undecided) continue to prove they wouldn't vote for connie j. chump due to his criminal acts that he's demanding permanent "Presidential Immunity" for.
More than 88 million of 258 million voting-age Americans have at least some college education, or a some kind of college degree (Wikipedia).
81,283,501 Real Americans voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. 2024 is on track for becoming the most pulverizing landslide election defeat for ANY presidential candidate, ANYWHERE in the world, IN HUMAN HISTORY.
Metallica - Enter Sandman
youtube
July 29, 1991 (210th day)
Duration: 5:32 (332 seconds)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZuM4zFg-60
XZuM4zFg-60 (4, 60)
XZuMzFg
fgmuxzz
6+7+30+200+300+500+500=1543. 1543+4+60=1607. 1607+332=1939. 1939+210=2149.
Strong's Concordance #2149
zulluth: From zalal; to shake (as in the wind), i.e. To quake; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless, cheapness, blow down, glutton, riotous (eater), vile.
Original Word: זֻלּוּת
TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 1604:
Proverbs 3:31
Do not envy a lawless man, Or choose any of his ways;
Proverbs 3:32
For the devious man is an abomination to the Lord, But He is intimate with the straightforward.
Proverbs 3:33
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the abode of the righteous.
Proverbs 3:34
At scoffers He scoffs, But to the lowly He shows grace.
Proverbs 3:35
The wise shall obtain honor, But dullards get disgrace as their portion.
TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 872:
Isaiah 12:1
In that day, you shall say: "I give thanks to You, O Lord! Although You were wroth with me, Your wrath has turned back and You comfort me,
Isaiah 12:2
Behold the God who gives me triumph! I am confident, unafraid; For Yah the Lord is my strength and might, And He has been my deliverance."
Isaiah 12:3
Joyfully shall you draw water from the fountains of triumph,
Isaiah 12:4
And you shall say on that day: "Praise the Lord, proclaim His name. Make His deeds known among the peoples; Declare that His name is exalted.
Isaiah 12:5
Hymn the Lord, For He has done gloriously; Let this be made known In all the world!
TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 1834:
Daniel 12:1
"At that time, the great prince, Michael, who stands beside the sons of your people, will appear. It will be a time of trouble, the like of which has never been since the nation came into being. At that time, your people will be rescued, all who are found inscribed in the book.
Daniel 12:2
Many of those that sleep in the dust of the eath will awake, some to eternal life, others to reproaches, to everlasting abhorrence.
Daniel 12:3
And the knowledgeable will be radiant like the bright expanse of sky, and those who lead the many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.
TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 1634:
Proverbs 21:1
Like channeled water is the mind of the king in the Lord's hand; He directs it to whatever He wishes.
Proverbs 21:2
All the ways of a man seem right to him, But the Lord probes the mind.
Proverbs 21:3
To do what is right and just Is more desired by the Lord than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:4
Haughty looks, a proud heart--The tillage of the wicked is sinful.
Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent make only for gain; All rash haste makes only for loss.
Proverbs 21:6
Treasures acquired by a lying tongue Are like driven vapor, heading for extinction.
Proverbs 21:7
The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, For they refuse to act justly.
TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 1512:
Psalm 79:1
A psalm of Asaph. O God, heathens have entered Your domain, defiled Your holy temple, and turned Jerusalem into ruins.
Psalm 79:2
They have left Your servants' corpses as food for the fowl of heaven, and the flesh of Your faithful for the wild beasts.
Psalm 79:3
Their blood was shed like water around Jerusalem, with none to bury them.
Guardians of the Galaxy 2: Super Yaka Justice and Retribution
youtube
May 5, 2017 (125th day)
Duration: 3:22 (202 seconds)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhc3CinJHYY
mhc3CinJHYY (3)
mhcCinJHYY
cchhijmnyy
3+3+8+8+9+600+30+40+400+400=1501. 1501+3=1504. 1504+202=1706. 1706+125=1831.
Strong's Concordance #1831
dema: From dama'; a tear, to weep; figuratively, juice -- liquor, vintage.
Original Word: דֶּמַע
TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 161:
Exodus 22:27
You shall not revile God, nor put a curse upon a chieftain among your people.
Exodus 22:28
You shall not put off the skimming of the first yield of your vats. You shall give Me the first-born among your sons.
TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 960:
Isaiah 49:1
Listen, O coastlands, to me, And give heed, O nations afar: The Lord appointed me before I was born, He named me while I was in my mother's womb.
Isaiah 49:2
He made my mouth like a sharpened blade, He hid me in the shadow of His hand, And He made me like a polished arrow; He concealed me in His quiver.
Isaiah 49:3
And He said to me, "You are My servant, Israel in whom I glory."
Isaiah 49:4
I thought, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for empty breath." But my case rested with the Lord, My recompense was in the hands of my God.
TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 1470:
Psalm 49:1
For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm.
Psalm 49:2
Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
Psalm 49:3
men of all estates, rich and poor alike.
Psalm 49:4
My mouth utters wisdom, my speech is full of insight.
Psalm 49:5
I will turn my attention to a theme, set forth my lesson to the music of a lyre.
TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 1775:
Ecclesiastes 7:5
It is better to listen to a wise man's reproof than to listen to the praise of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:6
For the levity of the fool is like the crackling of nettles under a kettle. But that too is illusory;
Ecclesiastes 7:7
for cheating may rob the wise man of reason and destroy the prudence of the cautious.
Ecclesiastes 7:8
The end of a matter is better than the beginning of it. Better a patient spirit than a haughty spirit.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Don't let your spirit be quickly vexed, for vexation abides in the breasts of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:10
Don't say, "How has it happened that former times were better than these?" For it is not wise of you to ask that question.
Christian Televangelist Pat Robertson says he believes President Joe Biden truly won the election and distances himself from Deranged and Destitute Dishonest Dementia Dummy donnie j. dump : 'You've had your day, and it's time to move on'
On his television show "The 700 Club," Robertson delivered a monologue in which he challenged the president on a personal and political level and gave a very different assessment.
"donald was "very erratic, and he's fired people and he's fought people and he's insulted people, and he keeps going down the line."
'donald lives in an alternate reality," Robertson added, laying into some of Trump's most notorious lies and telling traitor trump "it's time to move on."
In reconciling his perception of Deranged and Destitute Dishonest Dementia Dummy donnie j. dump, Robertson added, "And so, it's a mixed bag," he said. "And I think it would be well to say, 'You've had your day and it's time to move on.'"
When asked about a potential 2024 trump run, Robertson said, "I think it's a sideshow."
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/pat-robertson-distances-himself-trump-its-time-to-move-on-2020-12
Megyn Kelly said that Deranged and Destitute Dishonest Dementia Dummy donnie j. dump is increasingly confused and not as 'mentally sharp' as he once was
"There's no question that traitor trump has lost a step or multiple steps," Kelly told conservative commentator Glenn Beck on Friday. "He is confusing Joe Biden for Obama. I know he's now saying he intentionally did that — go back and look at the clips, it wasn't intentional."
She noted that he is making mistakes "repeatedly," including "confusing countries, confusing cities where he is."
"With all due respect to traitor trump, this is what happens when you're 77 years old. Traitor trump is human. He's just a very old man."
Trump's presidential nomination rivals are also challenging his mental capacities. Kelly highlighted a DeSantis' jab at traitor trump, who said, "Father Time spares no one."
Source:https://www.businessinsider.com/megyn-kelly-donald-trump-not-as-mentally-sharp-once-was-2023-12
Billionaire GOP donor endorses Haley, says Deranged and Destitute Dishonest Dementia Dummy donnie j. dump’s time has ‘come and gone’
Home Depot co-founder and billionaire Ken Langone put his support behind GOP hopeful Nikki Haley on Friday, calling her approach to the 2024 election “smart.”
“I think she’s just what we need right now. I think her approach is smart. I think she’s clarified herself on some issues which is very important,” Langone, who is seen as a GOP mega donor, said in an interview with Fox News’s Neil Cavuto. “And more importantly, I think the American people need this kind of leadership, statesman-like, elegant.”
“When you think of where we’ve been in the last six or seven or eight years, it’s not good, Neil. It’s not good at all,” he added.
Langone added that he believes the former president’s time had “come and gone,” while pointing to the last few months of his tenure in the White House, as reasons why he wouldn’t back traitor trump.
“What traitor trump put this country through for the last three months of his presidency was disgraceful. I’m sorry. And I think, frankly, that to me, ruined his chances to succeed himself at some point,” he told Cavuto. “So, you know, I think what happened on January 6th, all I had to say was, ‘please go home.’ You made known your feelings. Now go home.”
Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4350728-nikki-haley-billionaire-gop-donor-endorsement-2024/
#donald trump#trump 2024#gop#republican#republicans#conservatives#evangelicals#elections 2024#2024 elections#2024 presidential election#us politics#american politics#politics#us government#american government#government#holy bible#bible study#bible verse#bible scripture#Youtube
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Books of the Bible
Here is a detailed list of the 66 books of the Bible, divided by the Old and New Testaments, along with their divisions and categories:
**Old Testament:**
**Pentateuch (5 books):**
1. Genesis
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy
**Historical Books (12 books):**
6. Joshua
7. Judges
8. Ruth
9. 1 Samuel
10. 2 Samuel
11. 1 Kings
12. 2 Kings
13. 1 Chronicles
14. 2 Chronicles
15. Ezra
16. Nehemiah
17. Esther
**Poetry/Wisdom Books (5 books):**
18. Job
19. Psalms
20. Proverbs
21. Ecclesiastes
22. Song of Solomon
**Major Prophets (5 books):**
23. Isaiah
24. Jeremiah
25. Lamentations
26. Ezekiel
27. Daniel
**Minor Prophets (12 books):**
28. Hosea
29. Joel
30. Amos
31. Obadiah
32. Jonah
33. Micah
34. Nahum
35. Habakkuk
36. Zephaniah
37. Haggai
38. Zechariah
39. Malachi
**New Testament:**
**Gospels (4 books):**
40. Matthew
41. Mark
42. Luke
43. John
**History (1 book):**
44. Acts
**Pauline Epistles (13 books):**
45. Romans
46. 1 Corinthians
47. 2 Corinthians
48. Galatians
49. Ephesians
50. Philippians
51. Colossians
52. 1 Thessalonians
53. 2 Thessalonians
54. 1 Timothy
55. 2 Timothy
56. Titus
57. Philemon
**General Epistles (8 books):**
58. Hebrews
59. James
60. 1 Peter
61. 2 Peter
62. 1 John
63. 2 John
64. 3 John
65. Jude
**Apocalyptic (1 book):**
66. Revelation
This list represents the traditional order and grouping of the books of the Bible in most Christian denominations.
These are the 66 books that make up the Bible.
Title: The Significance of Each Book of the Bible
Introduction:
The Bible is a collection of 66 books that together form the inspired Word of God. Each book has its own unique message, themes, and significance that contribute to the overall story of God's redemption and love for humanity. Let's explore the importance of each book of the Bible.
Lesson Points:
1. The Old Testament:
- Genesis: The book of beginnings, detailing creation, the fall, and the establishment of God's covenant with His people.
- Exodus: The story of the Israelites' liberation from Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai.
- Psalms: A collection of songs and prayers that express a range of human emotions and provide a guide for worship.
- Proverbs: Wisdom literature that offers practical advice for living a righteous and wise life.
- Isaiah: Prophecies about the coming Messiah and God's plan of salvation.
2. The New Testament:
- Matthew: Emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the establishment of the kingdom of God.
- Acts: Chronicles the early spread of the Gospel and the growth of the early church.
- Romans: Explains the doctrine of justification by faith and the implications of salvation through Christ.
- Corinthians: Addresses issues within the church and provides practical guidance for Christian living.
- Revelation: Offers apocalyptic visions of the end times, the victory of Christ, and the establishment of the new heaven and earth.
3. Themes and Messages:
- Each book of the Bible contributes to the overarching themes of God's love, redemption, forgiveness, and salvation for all humanity.
- Together, these books provide a complete narrative of God's work in the world and His plan for His people.
Application:
- Take time to explore and study each book of the Bible, seeking to understand its unique message and significance.
- Reflect on how the themes and stories in the Bible can impact your own life and faith journey.
- Consider how the teachings and examples in the Bible can shape your beliefs and actions as a follower of Christ.
Conclusion:
The books of the Bible are not just separate entities but are interconnected parts of the larger story of God's redemption and love for humanity. Each book has its own importance and contributes to the overall message of God's plan for salvation. May we approach the study of the Bible with reverence and openness to the wisdom and guidance it offers for our lives.
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Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;
14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens;
20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes-- Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety's sake.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;
32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just.
34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.
— Proverbs 3 | New King James Version (NKJV)
The Holy Bible; New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Cross References: Genesis 7:11; Exodus 20:6; Exodus 22:29; Leviticus 19:13; Leviticus 26:14; Numbers 9:20; Deuteronomy 11:21; Job 4:6; Job 11:19; Job 21:24; Job 28:15; Psalm 37:1; Proverbs 1:9; Proverbs 2:4; Proverbs 6:14; Proverbs 8:10-11; Proverbs 8:27-28; Proverbs 9:11; Isaiah 5:27; Daniel 12:3; Joel 2:24; Micah 2:1; Matthew 11:29; Luke 2:52; John 7:17; Romans 12:16; Romans 12:18; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Philippians 4:6; Hebrews 2:1; Hebrews 12:5-6; 1 Peter 3:14; 1 Peter 5:5; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 3:19
#Lord#trust#heart#wisdom#Proverbs 3#Book of Proverbs#Old Testament#NKJV#New King James Version Bible#Thomas Nelson
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Plagues in the Bible Lesson 04: Plagues in the Wilderness
After the ten plagues of Egypt, the people of Israel were led out of Egypt by Moses. After such an experience, one would think the people of Israel had more than their fair share of plagues. However, they went through at least four more plagues in their wilderness journey? What happened and why?
Let’s read together Exodus 16:1-16; Numbers 11:1-6, 18-20, 31-33; and Psalms 78:17-32, 105:40, 106:13-15.
The Bible records two times where the people of Israel were asking for meat. Both times God responded by giving them quail. Why did God send a plague upon the people of Israel the second time?
God showed mercy towards the people of Israel the first time they asked for meat. However, the people of Israel demonstrated distrust of God when they asked for meat the second time. God had already provided them food daily by giving them manna. He also gave them water when they needed it. Yet, the people of Israel were tired of manna and craving meat. They even went so far as to crave the food they had when they were slaves in Egypt.
Interestingly, the name “Kibroth Hattaavah” can be translated as “graves of craving” or “graves of lust.” God punished the people of Israel for giving into their carnal cravings.
Let’s read together Numbers chapters 13 and 14.
Moses sent twelve spies to check out the land of Canaan. They returned after forty days and confirmed that land was indeed bountiful. However, ten of the spies told the people of Israel that they would not be able to conquer the inhabitants of the land, who were simply too large and powerful.
Joshua and Caleb begged the people of Israel to follow the word of the Lord in faith to enter the promised land in faith. However, the people murmured against Moses and Aaron, wanting to choose new leaders to take them back to Egypt.
In response to the people’s rebellion, God sent a plague that killed the ten spies. The people of Israel would also not be allowed to enter the promised land for another forty years. They would all die in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb. Thus, the people of Israel were punished for blatantly doubting God’s promises and seeking to make their own way.
Let’s read together Number 16:46-50; Romans 8:34; and Hebrews 7:25.
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. They contended for the leadership of Israel, but they failed to acknowledge that it was God who appointed Moses and Aaron to be leaders. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were killed by God for their presumption.
However, the rebellion did not end there. The next day the people of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, siding with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. God sent a plague upon the people of Israel. Aaron rushed into the camp with a censer to atone for the people of Israel. He literally stood between the living and the dead to end the plague.
Aaron’s intercessory action pointed to Jesus, who would stand between us and the plague of sin.
Let’s read together Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:13-15; and John 12:30-36.
Once again, the people of Israel murmured against Moses. God sent poisonous fiery serpents to plague them in response. God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake and set it upon a pole. Anyone bit by a fiery serpent would live if they looked upon the bronze snake. However, if they refused to look up at the bronze snake, they would die.
This incident foreshadowed Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Jesus died bearing all the sins of humanity. Everyone who repents of their sins and accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be saved. However, anyone who refuses to accept Jesus will die in their own sins.
Let’s read together Isaiah 45:22; John 14:6; 1 John 2:1; and Hebrews 12:2.
What can we learn from these plagues in the wilderness? We will die in our sins if we rely upon ourselves. Instead, we need to look upon Jesus and accept His infinite sacrifice on the cross. Jesus is the only One who can save us from the plague of sin.
Friend, will you confess and repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
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