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How Does Anime Help You?

How does watching anime help you in your life in the faith of Christ Jesus? For those who have accepted God in their life.

We have had threads where people express how certain things about anime discourages them. I learned and understand that there's balance regarding the matter. Stuff in anime can get you in idolatry or have worldly passion. I find that you have to cut off things that will hinder you spiritually. On the other side, there are things about anime that can help you. What those things are go many ways.

I have watched a lot throughout the years. In anime there's stuff that will make you go "Isn't that cute, but it's wrong!". This is where I try to control myself. There are things I have seen in anime that show the love of God. That do show forth goodness. That's how I gain confidence.
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State Senator in California wants speed governors in vehicles


Is this law really necessary in California?

Having Our Spiritual Ears Opened

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV)

This word here translated “urge” is a word often translated as “encourage.” But the word “encourage” is not all about saying only what makes people feel good. The word primarily means to exhort (insist, spur, prod), to beseech (implore, beg, plead), to entreat (request), to admonish (reprove, caution, rebuke, warn), and to urge with a holy urging. But if you are one who is encouraging with this kind of encouragement, here in America you might be chided for being “negative,” and thus to be ignored.

But we are not to ignore such biblical urgings and strong encouragements and exhortations, nor should we minimize them as though they don’t matter, nor should we regard them as though they are recommended, but optional. But we need to make certain that the “urging” or “encouragement” is in true biblical context, and thus is of God, and not of human origin. For so many people today are taking Scriptures out of their context, and they are interpreting them in ways not consistent with the biblical context.

So, I am going to share here one of my real life parables. For the Lord gives me parables sometimes. So recently my ears stopped up and that hindered my ability to hear. I could not hear at all through the left ear, but the right ear was also hampered. So I got an appointment with a doctor yesterday morning and her nurse flushed my ears so that the wax buildup inside my ears came out and now I can hear. But the doctor gave me two prescriptions to take, and the Lord stopped me from taking drugs 15 years ago.

I was also diligent to look up the drugs to see what possible side effects that they might have, for I have a long history of rare side effects to any kind of drugs, even vitamins, and this is what I learned:

“A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including rash, itching/swelling (especially of the ear/face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing” (source: WebMD). And possible side effects of the other medication are dizziness, hives, headaches, nerve damage, taste changes, fast heartbeat, etc. And the thing of it is that I told her that Vitamin B12 caused my tongue to swell and my throat to close up.

So, what is my point here? Well, when the Lord changes our hearts and minds and we repent of (turn away from) our sins to follow Jesus with our lives, he opens up our ears to hear the truth and to discern the lies. And he does use other humans as his instruments to teach us the truth, but not all teach the truth, but many are deceiving and teaching lies. And so we must be people of discernment who test the spirits to see if they are of God or if they might have possible side effects that may do us spiritual harm.

In other words, it was a good thing that my ears were opened up so that I can hear. And it is a good thing when our spiritual ears are opened up so that we can hear the Lord speak truth to our hearts. But then we must be discerning about what truth we choose to take into our ears, so we must test what we hear, and what is recommended or prescribed for us in our walks of faith, to make certain that the counsel that we are receiving is biblical (in context) and that it is not something that will cause us spiritual harm.

So, not all encouragements and urgings that we may receive are in their true biblical context, and so we need to be people who study the Scriptures in their context, and who test what we hear against the Scriptures (in context) to make certain that what we are receiving is of God and not of human origin. For liars and lies abound in our day and time, and trickery, deception, manipulations, misimpressions, and all sorts of twisting of the Scriptures abound, too. So, learn to test what you hear.

So, when Paul urged the Christians to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which they had been called, and if we are to do likewise, then we need to understand what that is. For our walk has to do with how we live, with the things that we do and speak. And worthy is what is suitable, fitting, and appropriate to the calling to which we have been called, which is a call to holiness, righteousness, godliness, moral purity, honesty, faithfulness, obedience to our Lord’s commands, and the forsaking of our sins.

[Ps 139:13-16; Rom 1:6-7; Rom 8:8,28-29; 1 Co 1:9; 1 Co 12:1-31; 2 Co 5:9; Gal 5:13; Gal 6:8; Eph 1:3-4; Eph 5:10; Col 1:9-11; 1 Thess 4:1,7; 2 Tim 1:8-9; 1 Thess 2:4; 2 Tim 2:4; Heb 11:6; Heb 13:6; 1 Pet 1:14-16; 1 Pet 2:9; 2 Pet 1:3; 1 John 3:22]

And humility is the opposite of pride. But there is a false humility that is self-abased which can have as its source inverted pride which is still self-focused. For true humility is able to examine oneself in the eyes of the Lord, and in the eyes of the Scriptures, and to make an honest evaluation of oneself based on what the Scriptures teach, not thinking too lowly nor too highly of oneself, but in all fairness and honesty, giving God the glory for what he has done and for what he is doing in and through our lives.

And gentleness is not going soft on sin nor is it diluting the truth of the gospel so as not to offend others with the truth. Gentleness makes no compromises with truth and righteousness to make others feel good, either. For it means “meekness” which is “gentle strength,” i.e. “gentle force.” For it expresses power with reserve, like Jesus did, for he was meek, but he was not weak, and he made no compromises with truth and righteousness. But he spoke the truth to the people, but in love, which was tough love, too.

And patience is longsuffering, which is willing to suffer injustices for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of the salvation of human lives. Like God is patient, for he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, and that is why Jesus Christ has not yet returned to judge the people of the earth, because he wants many more people to believe in him and to have the hope and the promise of eternal life with him. But he lets us know that we must obey him and not sin, or we will die in our sins.

And “love” is not all this “feel-good” stuff that so many are propagating today and calling it “the gospel” or “God’s grace.” For this word is “agape” which means to prefer what God prefers, which is what is holy, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, and obedient to our Lord. So the believer who loves with this kind of love will prefer to live through Christ, to embrace God’s will, to choose his choices, and to obey them in his power. And this love will speak the truth in love and not the lies to other people.

And unity of the Spirit is not of man, but of God. And I say this because much of what is being pushed today and called “unity” is not unity with God and with his Word and with his callings and his purposes. But it is unity with other human beings and their marketing schemes and goals and missions which are often flesh-driven. For the goal is to attract the people of the world to their gatherings, not to draw people spiritually to genuine repentance and obedient walks of faith. So make sure you are uniting with God.

Draw Me Close To You

Donnie McClurkin

Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend

You are my desire
And no one else will do
'Cause nothing else can take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace

Help me find a way
Bring me back to You
Bring me back, oh Jesus

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near

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Judges 4:4-5:31 and Matt 26:1-75

JUDGES 4:4-5:31

In this reading, we read about Devorah and Jael, two women of God who played an important role in Israel's history. We read about many “men of God” but very few “women of God” but they are out there, and today, we have many women who are used mightily by God in ministry. Through Deborah and Jael, Sisera and his army were vanquished, just as Moshe was an example of a leader, Deborah was also a leader, and Jael, whose name in Hebrew “Yah-El” means “El (God) is YHVH (Yah) “his Holy Arm revealed” "Deborah" comes from "Dabar" (Word) and she was the Prophetess at that time, who gave "God's Word" to the people who came to seek counsel at that time. So, we had back then both men and women prophets, those who God spoke to in order to judge and give counsel to the people.

We also need to recognize Miriam, the sister of Moses, who led the praises and worship after Israel crossed the Sea of Reeds. Hadassah (Queen Esther) who intervened for the Jewish people in the time of King Ahasuerus and the evil Haman. We need to recognize also the women who followed Yeshua and served him throughout his ministry. There were also many women who followed Judah Ben Matityahu (Judah the Maccabee) when he and his army went out to fight against King Antiochus of Syria. They kept the "campfires burning".

If you are a woman and reading this Parashah, never say “Because I am a woman, God cannot use me” Yes, he can, there are ministries for women, mostly, women ministering to other women, reaching out to those who have been abused in marriages, victims of rape, assault, homeless women, etc. YOU, my sister, have a place in ministry. Venture out and discover what it is, just be available.

MATTHEW 26:1-75

This chapter deals with Yeshua's final days with his disciples on earth, His anointing by the generous woman who poured the “nard” perfume on him, the betrayal by “Y'hudah Ish Kariot” (Judas, the man from the region of Kariot) in every group of disciples, there are always a few who are “fakers” We have the final “Pesach” dinner with his disciples, and Kefa's denial.

It was at this final supper together, that Yeshua expressed himself through the bread and the wine. His body and blood. The original Passover back in Exodus only had roasted lambs or goats, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. At the time of the last supper, cups of wine were added, as well as charoset (sweet mixture). All these have meaning. The unleavened bread = Yeshua, who is the Bread of Life. The cups of wine, the blood of our Savior which was shed for our sins. The bitter herbs, the bitterness of sin. The charoset (sweet mixture) the sweetness of our salvation and our new life with our LORD and Savior. The charoset is made in different ways depending on the culture. Most have ground nuts mixed with raisins and dates with wine.

Since Judas was the betrayer, he did not have a genuine relationship with Yeshua, and therefore, left the room and did not participate in the whole supper ceremony. Even so, Yeshua still loved him. He loves all people and wishes that all would come to repentance and accept him as LORD and Savior, but a true relationship can not be forced, only offered. In those 3 years with Yeshua, Judas learned nothing. Imagine those who have been exposed to the gospel for a lifetime, and still reject it, what a waste of life.

But there is a lot we can learn from this, Peter denied knowing Yeshua, out of fear, but Judas openly rejected him by identifying him with a kiss on the cheek. Both sins are forgivable, the only difference is that Peter confessed and received forgiveness, while Judas felt remorse, but did not cry out for forgiveness, but went out and committed suicide.

There is sin that leads to remorse and a “feeling sorry for oneself” and sin that leads to remorse, and from remorse to confession, and from confession to forgiveness, and from forgiveness to restored fellowship. How many readers out there have chosen the latter? We are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God, but confession of sins, and receiving forgiveness is something only you can do, I cannot do it for you. Yeshua receives ALL who come to him, no matter how evil you have been, nor what you have done, no sin is beyond forgiveness. Just ask, and turn from your sin, and forgiveness and restoration are yours.

Archbishop of Canterbury Celebrates Anglican Liturgy in Catholic Basilica of St. Bartholomew in Rome...

Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby celebrated an Anglican liturgy this morning in the Catholic Basilica of St. Bartholomew, located on Tiber Island in Rome’s Tiber River.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the current archbishop of Canterbury thanked Pope Francis for allowing him to hold the service in this Catholic church.

The ceremony was included on the official calendar of activities held in Rome during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that was published on the website of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

In a statement to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, Father Angelo Romano, rector of St. Bartholomew Basilica in Rome, explained that the prefect for the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, requested for the Anglican liturgy to be held there.

Continued below.
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Capitol Hillsong, German Bishops, FBI vs. Traditionalists, and a Gathering Storm...

Happy Friday friends,

I’m feeling pretty much like the world could end at any time. That might seem a little bit dramatic, I’ll concede that up front.

And where I’m going with this is going to strike some of you as silly and overwrought.

But I’m mostly serious. Just hear me out.

I started the week ranting to the Mrs. about this shiny new breed of AI software that allowed a speech at Davos, delivered in Spanish by the Argentine president, to be seamlessly and simultaneously rendered into English, in his own voice and accent, with his mouth augmented to fluently fit the translation.

Continued below.

Indian family flees America after Oregon teacher secretly pushes their daughter toward ‘transgender’ identity...

How a Washington public school’s transgender secrecy policies drove an immigrant family out of the country

In June 2022, two Centennial Elementary School students in Olympia, Washington, disappeared. Their parents, Indian immigrants, had quietly driven them out of state, to Oregon, before they eventually decided to fly back to their former home country. No one in Olympia has seen the children since.

“My daughter mentioned that Tia had been gone from school for a couple of weeks,” said Jess Davis, whose daughter was a classmate of Tia’s, one of the family’s children. (I have changed most of the names in this report to respect requests for anonymity.) “We were at an ice cream social that our neighborhood has at the end of the school year, and I was thinking about them.” So she decided to text Tia’s mother to ask why they weren’t there. The mother “got back to me and said, ‘Sorry, we are out of town,’” Davis explained. Evidently, the family was still hiding and hadn’t yet left the country. The mother texted Davis again, “and said, ‘Can I call you?’ And she dumped it all out.”

Tia, who was ten, had apparently just gone through a social gender transition at school, encouraged by her teacher. Olympia School District is one of at least 1,000 districts nationwide that have enacted secrecy policies for kids who express gender dysphoria; so for months, Tia’s parents had no idea what had happened. When they finally learned of their child’s secret identity, they came into conflict with a public school system that had embraced gender ideology’s radical notion that parents who don’t unquestioningly affirm their child’s gender choices pose a danger to that child. Tia’s parents’ protests were, consequently, treated as illegitimate.

“Mrs. A [Tia’s teacher] is stalking my daughter,” Tia’s mother told Davis. “What is she going to do to my daughter?”

Continued below.

St Matthew 24.21 is falsified by events

The passage is as follows:

15So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. 18And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

19How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.


The trouble is, that verse 21 is manifestly false. Something over a million Jews were killed in the War of 66-73 AD - but about 6 millon Jews were killed in the Shoah, and the tyrannies of Stalin and Mao are reckoned to have killed 60 million & 90 million people respectively. Nor are these the only blood-lettings that can credibly be estimated to have killed more people than were killed in the Jewish War.

Clearly it would be wrong to underestimate the atrocious suffering undergone by the Jews during the Jewish war, but nothing can alter the fact that other calamities have killed far more people than the Jewish War did. WW2 Is estimated to have killed about 50 million people altogether; that enormous figure hardly supports the idea that the Jewish War was a period of suffering so great that it would never be equalled or surpassed.

So what do people think about that verse ?

God's Word Will Stand - Stoltzfus Family

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What has happened to a nation that used to fear the Lord,
To a people whose foundation was built upon God's word;
We've allowed the world's opinion to chart a different way,
But it's time the church of Jesus Christ should boldly stand and say:

God's word will stand against the raging tide,
Of those who criticize and work their evil plans;
God's word will stand against the gates of hell,
With power to prevail in the hearts of men,
God's word will stand.

They can take it from the courthouse walls, remove it from the schools,
Teach our children that we're animals, speak against the golden rule;
Try and hide our Christian heritage from the public eye,
But they'll never overcome God's word no matter how they try.

God's word will stand against the raging tide,
Of those who criticize and work their evil plans;
God's word will stand against the gates of hell,
With power to prevail in the hearts of men,
God's word will stand.

It is forever settled, to evermore endure,
It's the only way a sinner's heart can ever be made pure.
God's word will stand.​

Terrorist Caught Illegally Crossing The Border Was Allowed To Roam Free For Nearly A Year, Memo Says

The unnamed individual, who the memo only identifies as a member of the Somali terror group al-Shabaab, was released shortly after being caught illegally crossing the southern border near San Ysidro, California on March 13, 2023, according to the memo, which the DCNF is not publishing in order to protect the identity of a confidential source. The Terrorist Screening Center “deemed him a ‘mismatch'” after running his name through the terror watchlist, according to the memo, which was sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.
However, on January 18, 2024, the Terrorist Screening Center “made a redetermination” that the individual was “a confirmed member of al-Shabaab” and was involved in the use, manufacture or transport of explosives or firearms, the memo states. Two days later, ICE nabbed the al-Shabaab member in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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What is this?

I am having a really weird thing happen. Certain thoughts will trigger a very sharp "Prick" somewhere on my body. It feels like ive been stung. Something in my head tells me this prick means whatever I was thinking about is false and it is God letting me know its false. The issue is, these things are ACCURATE and are always right. Even when im not thinking about them, if "God" doesn't like something I think about, ill get one. And, I gotta admit they are starting to scare me.

Has anyone else experienced this? Could this be from God?

Don't Bite the Hand

Notice how AP refuses to say the real beef in Germany, the Netherlands, India and now France is the matter of being dictated to by Monsanto, Gates and globalization. It's time for North American farmers to wake up before they too are pushed completely off their farms or absorbed by Corporatism. This corporate push has been going on since the 70's and is coming to it's pinnacle. The globalist plan as we are told every year at Davos is to control the world population by way of digital currency which can be manipulated or frozen, and food control, the two main weapons in their arsenal to keep the people subdued.

Ironically the elitists and media are saying it is the farmers who are a threat to the poor city folks with food blackmail when it is they themselves who boast the plan for everyone and of course present themselves as the victims instead of the farmers. The farmers want to feed all to make an independent living while the elites want to weaponize food. Watch how a few offended at the sound of tractors will try and control the narrative. A repeat of Canada a couple years ago . This is important and too few give it a thought, especially those in North America suckered into being too wrapped up in their petty local political fights with each other to see what is really going on. Actually it is actually these asleep who deserve what the globalists have planned. Without this background info, the article itself is useless propaganda.
France's protesting farmers encircle Paris with tractor barricades, vowing a 'siege' over grievances

Are You Deceived?

Are You Deceived?
People think they're saved, or hope they're saved, because they believe Jesus is the only begotten Son of God who died for their sins, but yet they are NOT saved! Why? Doesn't the Bible say just believe? Yes, but true saving belief will show fruits and requires repentance.

You think you can lust after girls, and talk all this foul nasty sex talk: this stuff's coming from your heart, and shows you ain't saved. Don't believe that, or think it's too harsh? What did Jesus say?
Matthew 15:18-20,
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man."

If your thoughts haven't changed, and your language hasn't changed, and you're still getting off on foul dirty jokes and sexual innuendos, you're still going to hell.

Ephesians 4:29-32
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Eph. 5:3-8
"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light."

What's it say? Filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting. Prior to that it mentions corrupt communication out of your mouth, anger, clamour, and evil speaking. That includes talking about some girls body parts in a lustful way, or guys body parts, or homo joking. It's filthiness; it's coming from the heart, which is wicked and deceitful, and scripture says those who do such things won't inherit the kingdom of Christ and God. That means those who do this stuff are headed to hell, plain and simple.
It's not just the act of fornication and adultery and same sex that's sin: it's the mere thought of it in any lustful or lewd way. The practice of these things in any way, including porn, is a sign of an unregenerate, lost soul. God has called you to holiness, and without holiness no one shall see the Lord. (Heb 12:14)

Colossians 3:8-9, "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds..."
You know Revelation 21:8 says all liars will have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death? This is serious stuff man: not to be fooled around with, as this:
Matthew 5:28, "I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Take this following scripture at face value. It means what it says and says what it means:
Matthew 7:13-23,
" Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

So you see it's possible to "believe" in Jesus in a way, and not be saved. James says even the devils believe and they tremble. If you're to be saved you need saving faith and saving belief - and that's a faith and belief that manifests itself in actions: you will repent and turn from your sins; you should want nothing to do with sin any longer. Cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness, because if you're doing any of these things (And I did them all before myself), you're on that broad way that leads to destruction, and you seriously need to get on the narrow way that leads unto life.

US truckers, Texas and civil war

"A trucker convoy of “patriots” is heading to the U.S. border with Mexico next week, as the standoff between Texas and the federal government intensifies."

The invasion of the US is being challenged. Many states also have sent help to Texas. Is this a good thing or bad thing? I would think that controlling who enters your house is a good thing. This does seem dangerous, however, since the Feds do not seem willing to back down. Civil war?

Tax Returns Leaker Sentenced 5 Years

Ex-IRS contractor who leaked Trump’s tax returns sentenced to 5 years

WaPo said:
Charles Littlejohn pleaded guilty last year to one count of unauthorized disclosure of income tax returns. Littlejohn, 38, admitted that he leaked Trump’s confidential tax information to the New York Times in 2019 and then replicated his work the next year, filtering the tax returns and financial data of thousands of wealthy Americans to ProPublica.

The news organizations published reports showing how Trump and the richest Americans for years paid little or no federal taxes. U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes, who handed down Littlejohn’s sentence, emphasized at his plea hearing in October that “there will be serious consequences for this illegal act.” Regardless of Littlejohn’s motivations, the judge said, “people taking the law into their own hands is unacceptable.”

Littleohn went to great lengths to accomplish this.
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Cheating death: he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Peace in Christ.

He that shall endure unto the end…..that is, the END OF THE AGE, the same shall be saved.

Our mortal bodies are kept alive in this present evil age until the end of it without dying as we shall have His eternal (age-lasting) life keeping us standing in the here-and -now.

Mat 24:13-14 KJV
(13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
(14) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come
.

How do we keep living in our mortal bodies to the end of this age?

By our faith in Him….and our faith is active.

We keep the “daily” sacrifice of our Lord in this mortal body which keeps our mortal bodies alive until the end of this present evil age. We always bear about in this mortal body the dying of the Lord Jesus so that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh….which keeps our mortal bodies standing here in this earth until the end of this age that we are living in now.

2Co 4:10-11 KJV
(10) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
(11) For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.


Our mortal bodies are dead because of sin….but the Spirit of Him that raised Jesus from the dead shall also make alive (quicken) our mortal bodies so that we may live in this earth until the end.

Rom 8:10-11 KJV
(10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
(11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.


Those who endure until the end of this age in their mortal bodies (who have not died...shall not have slept) by faith shall at the end of this age (at the last trump) then be “changed”. We who are alive and remaining in this earth (as the others perish), shall then put on immortality. Then there is no chance of ever dying again. This "mortal" (subject to death) body shall then put on immortality. We, who do not "sleep" (in death of the mortal body) will then be changed at the end of this age/beginning of next age.

1Co 15:51-57 KJV
(51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
(52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
(53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.


Death is then swallowed up in victory. We shall have never died in this current age as the life of Jesus kept our mortal bodies alive UNTIL the end where our mortal bodies (which have never died) shall then be transformed into immortal bodies.

(54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
(55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

(56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.


Thanks be to God which gives us the victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. We will have then cheated death so-to-speak by our Lord….keeping His daily sacrifice in our mortal bodies which kept our mortal bodies alive until the “even horizon”….the putting on of immortality at the last trump.

(57) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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reach and teach devotions

Please see the sermons at the bottom: In Chinese we have 4 sermons by Pastor Simon yin and in English, we continue our series on Pilgrims progress. Click link or copy and paste into browser to be blessed


Mark 4:39-40
马可福音 4:39-40

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
39耶稣醒了,斥责风,向海说:“住了吧!静了吧!”风就止住,大大地平静了。 40耶稣对他们说:“为什么胆怯?你们还没有信心吗?”

Where is YOUR faith?
你的信心在哪里?

This question was asked by Jesus to His disciples - The ones He had chosen to follow Him; The ones who had seen the miracles He performed; The ones who sat at His feet and listened to His teaching. What prompted Him to ask this question was the most recent incident in which Jesus and His disciples were sailing across the Sea of Galilee. While on the sea, the disciples encountered a storm.
这个问题是耶稣问他的门徒们的 —— 他所选择跟随他的人;那些见证了他所行的神迹的人;那些坐在他脚前听他教导的人。之所以问这个问题,是因为刚发生的一件事情,在这件事中耶稣和他的门徒们正在加利利海上航行。在海上时,门徒们遇到了暴风雨。

Several of the disciples were experienced sailors. Their immediate response was to guide the boat through the storm. Jesus who was with them, was in the hull of the boat taking a much needed nap. As the disciples worked to control the boat, the storm grew worse.
其中几个门徒是经验丰富的水手。他们的第一反应是引导船穿越暴风雨。与他们同在的耶稣,当时在船舱里打盹,补充急需的休息。门徒们努力控制船只时,风暴变得更加猛烈。

Fearing that the boat would sink and they would be lost at sea, the disciples went down to ask Jesus to help them steer the boat through the storm. As they shook the Savior out of His sleep, they asked the question, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
担心船会沉没,他们会在海上迷失,门徒们下去请耶稣帮忙掌舵引导船穿过暴风雨。当他们唤醒救主时,他们问了一个问题:“老师,我们快要淹死了,你不在乎吗?”

The disciples wanted Jesus to wake up and help them steer the boat out of dangerous waters. As Christians, we often think that Jesus is asleep when we are going through the storms of life. And when we pray to Him, our request are not based on His ability, but rather on our crisis. This episode between Jesus and the Disciples teaches us the following lessons:
门徒们希望耶稣醒来帮助他们将船引出危险的水域。作为基督徒,我们常常认为耶稣在我们经历生命风暴时是在睡觉。当我们向他祷告时,我们的请求不是基于他的能力,而是基于我们的危机。耶稣和门徒之间的这一幕教给我们以下几个教训:

1) Jesus is never asleep: although He may not respond to us when we want Him to, He is well aware of the trials and challenges we are going through, and He will deliver us in due time.
耶稣从不睡觉:虽然他可能不会在我们希望的时候回应我们,但他非常清楚我们正在经历的考验和挑战,他会在适当的时候拯救我们。

2) Jesus is greater than our storms: When we are going through tough times, it is easy to seek God for an immediate fix to our trouble. But the God we serve is greater than our trouble and He is able not only to take us through our storm, but to remove the storm from our lives.
耶稣比我们的风暴更大:当我们经历艰难时期,很容易寻求上帝让他立即解决我们的麻烦。但我们所侍奉的上帝比我们的麻烦更大,他不仅能带我们穿过风暴,还能从我们的生活中移除风暴。

3) Following Jesus does not mean you will not experience storms: Following the Lord does not mean we will never go through storms; in fact, following Jesus may mean greater storms. But we have this promise: Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. And greater is He who is us that He who is in the world.
跟随耶稣并不意味着你不会经历风暴:跟随主并不意味着我们永远不会经历风暴;实际上,跟随耶稣可能意味着更大的风暴。但我们有这样的应许:耶稣永远不会离开我们,也不会抛弃我们。住在我们里面的,比万有都大,我们还怕什么呢?

After waking Jesus from sleep, instead of grabbing a paddle to help the disciples row the boat to shore, Jesus spoke to the winds and the waves and said, "Peace Be Still." All of a sudden there was calm.
耶稣从睡梦中醒来后,没有抓起桨帮助门徒划船到岸,而是对风和浪说:“住了吧,静了吧。”突然间,风平浪静了。

Once all was calm, Jesus responded to the question of His disciples by asking a question of His own, "Where is Your faith?" In asking this question, Jesus was asking, "Where is Your faith in the midst of the storm?" "Where is your faith during Coronavirus?" "Where is your faith when the economy is facing a downturn?"
当一切平静下来,耶稣回答他的门徒的问题时,也提出了他自己的问题:“你们的信心在哪里?” 通过提出这个问题,耶稣是在问:“在风暴中,你们的信心在哪里?” “在冠状病毒期间,你的信心在哪里?” “当经济面临衰退时,你的心在哪里?”

Beloved, may God grant you the grace to have faith in Him, no matter what storms may come your way.
亲爱的,愿上帝赐予你恩典,无论遇到什么风暴,都要对他抱有信心。


God bless you
Keith
上帝祝福你
凯斯


SOAK IN SCRIPTURE

CHINESE

BY PASTOR SIMON YIN

基督的神性

Rev. Simon Yin


Chinese
圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

sermonaudio.com/sermon/7322149253662

出苦入安之道路 The Way Out of Misery and Into Peace

Rev. Simon Yin


Chinese
圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

sermonaudio.com/sermon/12124211076908

The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven (Part A) 天国的钥匙(上):福音的宣讲

Rev. Simon Yin


Chinese
圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

sermonaudio.com/sermon/1029232011302517

The Keys of the Kingdom (B): Church Discipline 天国的钥匙(下):教会惩戒

Rev. Simon Yin


Chinese
圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

sermonaudio.com/sermon/111223211422167

ENGLISH

PILGRIMS PROGRESS

5. The Cross and the Sepulcher: A Roadmap to Pilgrim's Progress

Mike Riccardi
| Pilgrim's Progress

The GraceLife Pulpit

sermonaudio.com/sermon/64201552492968

6. From the Cross to the Hill Difficulty: A Roadmap to Pilgrim's...

Mike Riccardi
| Pilgrim's Progress

The GraceLife Pulpit

sermonaudio.com/sermon/642016944156


7. The Palace Beautiful, Pt 1: A Roadmap to Pilgrim's Progress

Mike Riccardi
| Pilgrim's Progress

The GraceLife Pulpit

sermonaudio.com/sermon/64201618342864

8. The Palace Beautiful, Pt 2: A Roadmap to Pilgrim's Progress

Mike Riccardi
| Pilgrim's Progress

The GraceLife Pulpit

sermonaudio.com/sermon/69201538164850

Real Change is What is Necessary

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:5-10 ESV)

So, when I woke up this morning I could hear someone in my mind speaking to another and saying, “I am sorry that you are having to go through this.” But then the person being spoken to responded back with, “But you are the one who is putting me through this.” And the implication was that, if the first person doing the hurting would only change and would cease to do the hurting (injuring) of the other, then the second person would not be going through all that he is going through, at least not from that person.

And then a fellow blogger shared with me her blog post for today, which included the passage of Scripture from 1 John 1:5-10, among many others, and I believe the Lord then confirmed for me that is what he wants me to write on today, as well. For this passage of Scripture fits well with the conversation (not a real one) that I was hearing in my mind this morning, which I believe was given to me by God as an illustration of what this passage of Scripture is talking about.

For, in reality, we are hurting God by our sins, especially those done habitually and deliberately and premeditatedly, because it is him that we are sinning against, as well as we are sinning against other humans. And Jesus talked about that in at least one of his parables where he talked about how what we do to his followers we do to him, which he also said to Paul when he told him that he was persecuting Jesus when he was persecuting the Lord’s saints and servants and messengers who were serving Jesus with their lives.

And I don’t think that a lot of people who hurt other people think about that when they are doing evil against them, i.e. that they are hurting God by their sins against others, for it is against him that they are sinning. For how we treat others is how we treat God, well especially if we are deliberately and habitually sinning against them, especially those who belong to the family of God. And if all that we do is just to feel badly for them and what we are putting them through, that is not what God requires of us.

And I believe the Lord gave me that illustration in my mind this morning because so many people are misinterpreting this passage of Scripture in 1 John 1:5-10, mainly because it appears that most are quoting only verse 9, but not in the context of the whole of the passage. Plus, this word “confess” has a much deeper meaning than what we might think of it in the English language. For this is not about us just verbalizing that we are sorry that we did something wrong, but it is about agreeing with God about our sin.

But it goes even deeper than that. For this isn’t just about agreeing with God that we sinned, but it is to speak the same as God speaks about our sin, to speak to the same conclusion in full agreement with God. It means that we align with God regarding the subject of our sins, which is not just an admission of sin, but that we need to stop sinning, and we need to now walk in holiness and in righteousness and in walks of obedience to our Lord in the power of God. We don’t just feel badly that we sinned, in other words.

But we change, and we become someone else who lives a different way than we had been living, if we were still living in sin, which many are who profess faith in Jesus Christ. So, we don’t just feel sorry that we are putting God through this, that we are injuring him by our sins, but we stop doing what is wrong and what is hurting other humans and thus also hurting God. And now we start loving God/Christ and other human beings with the love of God and we do for them what is for their good, not to do them harm.

And that is really the message of this whole passage of Scripture if we read 1 John 1:9 in its context. For not only is it true that if we claim to be in fellowship with our Lord, but while we walk (in conduct, in practice) in sin, that we are liars, but it is that if we walk (in conduct, in practice) in the light (truth, righteousness, obedience to our Lord), then we are in fellowship with God (understood in the context) and then with others who are also in genuine fellowship with him, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin.

So, what is this saying? If sin is what we practice, and if righteousness and walks of obedience to our Lord (under the New Covenant) are not what we practice, then we are liars if we claim to be in fellowship with the Lord (see also 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10). But if righteousness and walks of obedience to our Lord are what we practice, and not sin, then we are in fellowship with our Lord and with our fellow believers in Christ who are also in genuine fellowship with Jesus Christ. This does not claim we never sin.

So, a mere verbal acknowledgment of sin, or even a mere verbal confession of “I am sorry, Lord, for sinning against you,” is not enough for it to be sincere sorrow (godly sorrow which leads to repentance). And repentance is not just a change of mind to believe in Jesus, but it is a change of mind resulting in a change of heart and behaviors, i.e. it is making a spiritual U-turn in our lives away from walking in sin to now living holy lives, pleasing to God, by his grace and mercy, and in his power, strength, and wisdom.

So, we don’t just say to others who we may be hurting by our actions, “I am sorry that you are having to go through this.” But we change, and we stop doing what is causing them hurt, and we now treat them with love and kindness and with compassion and caring, which includes speaking the truth in love to them if they are professing faith in Jesus Christ but they are still walking in sin deliberately and habitually. For confronting them with their sins and calling them to repentance is love, the best kind of love.

For one day we are all going to stand before our Lord and he is going to judge each one of us according to our deeds, not according to our confessions and professions of faith in him. For it is our deeds that reveal whether or not our confessions of faith are genuine, and whether or not our feeling sorry for our sins is truly godly sorrow which leads to genuine repentance (change). And that really is what this passage of Scripture is all about. So please read 1 John 1:9 in the context of verses 5-10.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-24; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-11; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Draw Me Close To You

Donnie McClurkin

Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend

You are my desire
And no one else will do
'Cause nothing else can take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace

Help me find a way
Bring me back to You
Bring me back, oh Jesus

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near

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Political pressure builds on Biden to strike Iran after US deaths

Political pressure builds on Biden to strike Iran after US deaths​

"The killing of three U.S. troops and wounding of dozens more on Sunday by Iran-backed militants is piling political pressure on President Joe Biden to deal a blow directly against Iran, a move he's been reluctant to do out of fear of igniting a broader war."

The situation brings to mind Joe's previous comments:

Biden says he’s sent a message to Iran with Yemen strikes, calls Houthis a terrorist organization​

“I’ve already delivered the message to Iran,” Biden said when asked his message during a tour of a coffee shop in Allentown, Pennsylvania. “They know not to do anything.”
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Leaving Egypt! (Exodus 13:17-17:16)

PARASHAH: “B'shalach” (when he let go) or (when he sent out) EXODUS 13:17-17:16


We are coming down to the “showdown” where Pharaoh gets his just desserts, and gets what he deserves for defying the God of Israel, going back on his word to “let Israel go”, you cannot pursue Israel without getting hurt, and Pharaoh and his army got to drink bitter waters, went off the “deep end” and received a very fatal “water baptism” in Yam Suf (Sea of Reeds)

Yet before all this happens, there are some interesting verses to look at. Exodus 13: 18 states;

“The children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt”

It also states that Elohim did not lead them through the land of the F’lishtim: (The Philistines) because an encounter with them might bring the Israelites to face war, frighten them, and cause them to go back to Egypt. But if they had weapons, why would they fear a battle? One can assume that even though they had weapons if they didn’t know how to use them, they would be no good.

We can say the same thing about the Bible. It is little good in the hands of one who does not know how to use it, or uses it in wrongful ways, inventing “strange” doctrines, or taking verses out of context. The Israelites were ex-slaves, not warriors. Another question, where did they get the weapons? Were the weapons among the spoils of Egypt? Here is another view from a Derashic perspective (Moral and spiritual)

The word for “armed” in Hebrew which is used is “chamushim” Jewish commentators state this word has roots in the words “chamesh” (the number 5) and “chamishim” (50). So how do we apply these? It is believed that it was the 5th generation after Yosef that left Egypt, if a generation is 80 years, it would add up to 400 years. Also, the number 5 symbolizes “grace”. So, the Israelites not only left Egypt with some spears and swords but they were also armed with the “grace” that Elohim bestowed on them. More importantly, they were armed with the protection, the blessings, and the leadership of Elohim who led them out of Egypt. The number “50” also reminds us of the “50 gates of understanding” which the ancient rabbis say are 50 questions that Elohim asked Job at the end of “Sefer Job.” (The Book of Job)

I would like to answer the question using a question. If we can have eternal life through the blood and sacrifice of Yeshua for our sins, past, present, and future, why do so many people still REJECT Him? The scripture states that ‘Wide is the way that leads to destruction, but narrow is the way that leads to eternal life.’ How many Israelites put the lambs' blood on their doorposts? We hope that all did. But of course, we can't be sure.

Another word for “armed” is “equipped”. One could also say that “B’nei Yisrael” went out of Egypt “equipped” with the “5” promises that Adonai gave to His people; 1) Elohim will deliver Israel out from under the burden of Egyptian Slavery; 2) Israel will be REDEEMED by the ARM of Elohim-YHVH; 3) Elohim-YHVH will take Israel as HIS people and will be their GOD; 4) Israel will be brought into the chosen land of promise; 5) The promised land will be an INHERETANCE.

But let’s look at the Peshat, the literal meaning of the word; “armed” It could also come from the Egyptian word “chams” which is “lance." Here's something else. Once the Israelites crossed the narrow portion of the Sea of Reeds, they were "out of Egypt" and when the Egyptians drowned in the Sea, the scriptures state that the "Israelites saw their bodies on the seashore." from the bodies of the Egyptian soldiers the Israelites took weapons; swords, bows, and arrows, (the spears probably sunk to the bottom of the sea). So here we can confirm that they "left Egypt (behind) and were fully armed (with the weapons they recovered). Now, they would need to learn how to use them. Moses probably taught them how.

As believers, we have the Word of God, but if we are unskilled in using His WORD, or if we do not know how to interpret it correctly, we could do much harm to others, just like a sword in the hands of a child, the child could cut himself, or hurt one of his friends

Another thing to ponder upon is that when the word “Egyptians” is used, the word “Mitzraim” is used, which also means “Egypt” (the nation of). Why “Mitzraim” and not “Mitzrim?” One can say that even though “b’nei Yisrael” left Egypt, Egypt still followed them out! They left with the Egyptian culture, ways, language, and all that was part of them in those 400 years as slaves. It took Elohim one day to take Israel out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to take Egypt out of Israel!

We are the same way, even though we are born-again believers, we still carry around the garbage related to our “Yetzer-Hara” (sinful nature) but little by little, the Ruach HaKodesh takes that from us as we mature in the faith.

We might wonder how many Israelites left Egypt, probably about 2 million, plus those Egyptians that “saw the light” plus the sheep and cattle, it was a huge people group that headed eastward across the Sinai Peninsula.

"And it was told the King of Egypt that the people were fled” (14:5). What? Didn't he already know that? Of course, he did, he let them go! It was probably a team of scouts that were sent out to track down the Israelites to see where they were going, and they gave their report back to Pharaoh. Now this took place a few days later, now Pharaoh is sorry he let them go. What? Didn't he remember the plagues? Some people never learn, they love misery. Now Pharaoh musters together his entire army! Another mistake, never send out your entire armed forces, always leave behind reserve units. But Pharaoh was not a wise general. This probably took another few days, thus giving Israel about a week's head start, it would take quite a few days for about 2 million people to cross the Sinai Peninsula.

The names “Elohim” and “YHVH” are both used in this Parashah, “Elohim” is used at the beginning of this parashah, in Chap 13:17 meaning the “Strong, powerful God” yet the name YHVH, later on, shows the personal name, (coming from “Havayah” meaning “to exist”) shows the personal relationship as “Adonai” which we also say when reading YHVH, anytime the word LORD is used in scripture, it is the name YHVH.

YHVH takes them across the Sinai Peninsula to thus entice the Egyptians, to utterly finish destroying them thus ending the powerful rule of Egypt, Egypt never recovered from that defeat, it formed another army years later, but it never had the power it once had with Rameses, Thutmose, Narmer, and other pharaohs of the past dynasties.

When the Israelites get to the beach, they get ready to cross, in Hebrew it is known as “Yam Suf” in English, it is known as “Nuweba Beach” it is a tourist resort today in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. We see that YHVH goes behind the Israelites to protect them, in the form of darkness to the Egyptians, yet light to the Israelites. To us as believers, Yeshua is our light, for us to follow, but to Satan, Yeshua is the conquering king, without the light of Yeshua, without the light of the Torah, we live in darkness, spiritual darkness.

Chapter 14:13 is interesting. Moshe says; “Fear not and stand still and see the SALVATION of YHVH” In Hebrew, the word “Salvation” is “YESHUAT” we have the name of our Messiah “Yeshua” plus the “Tav” Symbolically, we can see that Yeshua is part of Elohim, and He is moving to bring HIS people through the sea, It also reminds us that the “Tav” (T) symbolizes the covenant, it takes the form of the cross in Paleo-Hebrew. We have the name “Yeshua” and the “cross” He is saving his people from physical destruction by the Egyptians, and in the future, He will die to save the world from Spiritual destruction.

In gematria, “Yeshuat” adds up to 786. Reading from right to left, one way to understand the message of this sum of numbers is; “MAN achieves ETERNAL life (a new beginning) through the PERFECT God who is Yeshua, who is part of Elohim

Now YHVH tells Moshe to “lift up your rod and your hand” and cause the sea to part, and it is divided in two. We read that Israel crossed on “dry land” with a strong wind to dry up the sea bottom, today this area is known as the “Gulf of Aqaba” They crossed a small stretch of sea bottom, about 10 miles across, to get to the land of Midian, now known as Saudi Arabia, if you go to Google earth, and look up “Nuweba Beach” you can see the area that the Israelites crossed over at.

Then, YHVH gave the order to Moshe to raise his hand over the water again, and the waters closed up again and drowned the Egyptian army. we see something in the words, “hand” (Yad) and “rod” (Mateh) that make us think. The “rod” is a symbol of authority, of rulership. The “hand” is a symbol of “power and strength” The Torah speaks of YHVH reveling his “Holy Arm” the “arm is connected to the hand” The ancient Hebrew symbol of the “Yod” is the extended “arm and hand” so we can see the message here, “Moshe” is the authority as he shows his leadership by raising his rod, and his hand opens and closes the sea, thus demonstrating his strength and power, but of course, it is not HIS, it is GOD's leadership and strength, being revealed THROUGH Moshe.

When the people follow Moshe, it is as if they are following GOD, trusting in his leadership and strength. When we receive Jesus/Yeshua as Messiah, we trust in HIM as our leader and our strength, and we follow HIM through his WORD, yet many hope that Yeshua will follow THEM! (not going to happen) .

Today, you can see on YouTube what is left of the Egyptian chariots at the bottom of the Gulf of Aqaba, they are coral formations that look like mushrooms, probably the axle and wheels of the chariots, look up, “The real Exodus Crossing”

When we look at all this from a moral and spiritual insight (Derash) We have been rescued from HaSatan, by our Leader, who is strong, whose “hand” struck the death blow to Satan, whose “hands” bore the nails of Calvary's cross, and who leads us to a new life, we have been “kadoshed” (set apart) to follow HIM for all of our days, (Should we choose to) of course it is a choice, but the “good Shepherd always “looks back” for his lost or misguided sheep, to lead them back to the fold.

We see other events that show God's protection and provision for his people, in verses 22-27 we see the “bitter waters made sweet” Moshe threw into the water “a tree” probably cut it down and threw it in, the waters were made sweet, the Torah is also called, “The TREE of LIFE” (Etz Chaim) that changes our bitterness to sweetness, from sorrow to happiness, from lost to saved.

In chapter 16, the provision of “Manna” in the desert “Bread from Heaven” (Lechem b'Shemayim) another provision from YHVH, it symbolizes “Yeshua the Bread of Life” and in chapter 17, “Water from the Rock” This rock is there today in the Saudi Arabian desert very close to Mt. Sinai, it seems to be about 50 feet tall and has a crack down the middle. Go to “google images” and click on “The water rock at Horeb” Moshe was told to “strike the rock” and he did with his staff/rod” and out flowed water so that the congregation and the livestock could drink. This symbolizes “Yeshua the Solid Rock” (Yeshua HaTzur) and Yeshua who is the Living Water. (Yeshua Mayim Chayim). It also symbolizes that Yeshua was “struck ONLY ONCE for our sins at Calvary, ONLY ONCE meaning “nailed to the cross and died one time” and when Moshe got mad later on and struck the rock again, he was punished by God and couldn't enter the promised land, since he “misrepresented” who God is.

As Moses led his people out of Egypt, so Jesus/Yeshua took us out of the camp of Satan, closing the gap, never to return. He gave us a new beginning. A change of masters, We are now under the guidance of the Good Shepherd, instead of the Father of Lies.

Have a blessed week. And thank you for attending "Torah Class" (each one of these posts can be considered a "class")

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