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Daily Archives: August 11, 2024
“A weak faith can lay hold on a strong Christ.” — Thomas Watson
“It is neglect of the bible which makes so many a prey to the first false teacher whom they hear.” — J.C. Ryle
“When you’re looking for people who are deceived, look for people who are seeking feelings, blessings, experiences, healings, angels, whatever, that are only interested in the byproducts of the faith, not in Christ.” — John MacArthur
“You don’t get to use Him for your purposes. He gets to use you for His.” — Voddie Baucham
Meme: Nowhere in the New Testament will you find that salvation is about “accepting” Jesus. Nowhere are you called to “accept Jesus.” — Voddie Baucham
The Jerusalem Decree (Acts 15:22–29) — A Sermon by R.C. Sproul
Early Christians debated whether gentile believers needed to follow Jewish laws, like circumcision, to be part of the church. These debates led to the Council of Jerusalem, where specific cultural laws were addressed. In this sermon, R.C. Sproul distinguishes between eternal principles and cultural customs, demonstrating how the decree of the Jerusalem Council fits within the framework of the entire Bible.
This sermon was preached by R.C. Sproul at Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, FL. Hear sermons from his series in the book of Acts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL30acyfm60fXnqub4SWgiufkL-mCBXBXG
Source: The Jerusalem Decree (Acts 15:22–29) — A Sermon by R.C. Sproul
What’s Your Destiny? | Bible Apologetics – A DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Did you know that in the economy of God, though you may consider yourself just an ordinary person, God has an extraordinary destiny for you. Not only that but this extraordinary destiny is often forged in the crucible of affliction. In yesterday’s devotion I made the following statement: “God has a master plan in which He wants to use your tragedy for His glory.” And the great British writer, C. S. Lewis, added: “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”1
Even when we go through awful times I truly believe that, as a child of God, we are all called to an extraordinary destiny. Just what does an extraordinary destiny look like? Let’s look at two ways our destiny can be shaped by our willingness to be used by Jesus, first in good times and then through the trials of life.
Love like Jesus at all times
Lisa Mayer once said: “But we stop being ordinary when we realize that loving like Jesus is the most extraordinary thing of all.”2 If you want to leave an extraordinary destiny Mayer adds the following: “Saint Mother Theresa said, ‘If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.’ Trust me. That can be the most extraordinary thing. To just love God, love people, love yourself. That little bit of gentleness, kindness or compassion that you put into the world… it means more than you’ll ever know.”3 When we do random acts of kindness, help someone without expecting anything in return, and treat people as special even when they don’t act special, all in the name of Jesus, we become agents of extraordinary love and are accruing a lasting legacy in heaven above.
Letting your trial become a triumph
As a Christian I have learned over the years that when a trial comes my way God has a divine purpose in allowing it into my life. And knowing that all things work together for good (including hardships) to those who love God (Romans 8:28), as we also saw from yesterday’s devotion, gives me the strength and courage to let God use these trials and me to overcome them and thus bring glory to God. For you see when we triumph over our trials in the name of Jesus, we defeat Satan, help others going through the same struggles see that there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel, and glorify Jesus in the process. And the more we glorify God our extraordinary destiny and wonderful legacy of love accrue to our heavenly bank account.
In closing, when you love like Jesus, you make your ordinary extraordinary!
1 Destiny Born From Hardship – C.S. Lewis – 316 Quotes
2 Hardships often prepare ordinary people for extraordinary destiny (catholic365.com)
3 Hardships often prepare ordinary people for extraordinary destiny (catholic365.com)
The post What’s Your Destiny? appeared first on Bible Apologetics – A DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
Source: What’s Your Destiny?
August 11 Evening Verse of the Day
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’—and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah (v. 5). The three words for sin already used in verse 1 also appear here, while the phrase ‘the guilt of my sin’ (lit. ‘the iniquity of my sin’) is a combination of two of these terms. The silence is broken and the psalmist recounts abruptly his change of heart. When God’s Spirit brings true repentance there is no attempt to cover one’s sin and guilt. The psalmist had openly confessed his sin, and he knew the reality of God’s forgiving mercy. The confession and the forgiveness are simultaneous (cf. 1 John 1:9).[1]
the relief of confession (v. 5)
How did David get from the burden of guilt to the happiness of forgiveness? He leaves no doubt about the answer, as he says to the Lord:
I acknowledged my sin to you,
And my iniquity I have not
hidden.
I said, ‘I will confess my
transgressions to the Lord,’
And you forgave the iniquity of
my sin
(v. 5).
He moved from the burden to the blessing through confession. This truth is very clear when we reduce his words to these phrases: ‘I acknowledged … you forgave.’
What does it mean to confess our sins? It means to agree with God about them. Before David came to the point of confession, he and God were on opposite sides of the fence. God was condemning his sin, and he was defending himself by rationalizing and excusing his sin.
When he finally came to the point of confession, David stopped fighting against God. He, as it were, walked over to God’s side of the fence and stood with God and joined him in condemning his, David’s, sin.
The relief that came to David through confession is available to all of God’s people. The apostle John declares: ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9).
But the promise of God to forgive his repenting people must be believed. Right here is where many of God’s people go astray. Even though they have God’s promise to forgive them, they cannot forgive themselves. So they keep dredging up their sin and feeling guilty about it. And Satan gets the victory because, while they are feeling guilty over their sin, they are virtually useless to the cause of Christ.
What shall we say to such people? God has told us that when we repent of our sins, he casts them as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12), never to be remembered again (Jer. 31:34).
Our word, then, to our troubled brother or sister who won’t let go of guilt is this: dear brother, dear sister, believe God. Don’t try to resurrect what he has buried. If God says you are forgiven, you are forgiven. Rejoice in it.
When we get down to the nub of the matter, it is highly insulting to God not to believe what he has said. It is, rather, sheer pride and arrogance to cling to our guilt when God has promised to forgive those who repent.
If God has pledged to forgive, we must forgive ourselves.[2]
32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin … I said, “I will confess …” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. The verb “acknowledged” (Hiphil of yd‘, “to admit, reveal”) means disclosing something that was hidden or unknown. This acknowledgment was a turning point in the suppliant’s experience. Healing begins with confession (“I will confess”). The word “guilt” (‘awon) is in construct with “my sin,” and Hakham cites this as a case where the construct stands in the place of the conjunction waw, meaning “my iniquity and my sin.”[3]
32:5. I confess and you forgive
Repentance leads to forgiveness. The psalmist testifies that when he confessed his sins, God forgave him. He did not cover up his sin, but once he had acknowledged it, God covered it up (v. 1c). The sages taught that ‘those who simply conceal their wickedness will not succeed, but those who confess and abandon it will receive compassion’ (Prov. 28:13).[4]
Ver. 5. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.—Confession:—
It is hard to look things in the face; yet we must do so; we must own our sins honestly.
I. To our own hearts—and then, down comes our pride. We thought ourselves tolerably good, and that we could pass muster as well as most; but beginning to look, we detect, here first, and then there, a blemish, an infirmity, a gross sin. It is best to be frank, and rather to make the most than the least of our faults. The iron-founder examines the huge mass of some iron girder, on which he has spent much labour; he sees one tiny crack, but passes it by, hoping, though with strong misgiving, that the real strength of the metal will not be affected; and ere long he hears that the bridge has fallen, and men have been killed by it, and that the disaster is traced to a flaw in the metal. He had better have faced the disappointment, and have had the piece re-cast, than have been responsible for the accident.
II. To others. When a man knows his own fault, he does not like others to know it: He would prefer to remain in their eyes the spotless man he once was in his own. It is a degrading thought that others should know that you have been guilty of a meanness, of intemperance, of passion, of untruthfulness; and yet by trying to conceal it from them, you may be adding deception to your former error. Not that we are bound to blaze abroad our faults; that might do more harm than good: but to cover them, or palliate them, so as to retain the good opinion of others, is fruitless and insincere. Bitter though it be to lose the good opinion of friends, still even that is better than disingenuousness.
III. To God. It is God whom we have offended: to God must our confession be made. With abject sorrow, and unfeigned shame that we should in any, the least, point have outraged the majesty, the purity, the honour of God; with body, soul, and spirit all bowed down; with reason silent, with no excuses, no special pleading, no attempt to set off against our faults any good things which we have done; but simply engrossed in our hatred of the evil thing we have done, and unreservedly acknowledging its wickedness.
IV. If you cannot quiet your conscience by secret confession to God, use the ministry of reconciliation. Something human the man craves, some human voice to tell him to his face that he is forgiven, to assure him, and to dispel doubts. (G. F. Prescott, M.A.)
Sin confessed and unconfessed:—
I. Sin unconfessed, working misery in the soul.
1. This misery was corporeally emaciating.
2. This misery lasted as long as the silence.
3. This misery was felt to be from God.
II. Sin confessed, Divinely removed from the soul.
1. The removal of sin from man is a possible act.
2. A blessed act.
3. An encouraging act.
4. A saving act.
(1) It makes safe in the greatest dangers.
(2) It secures the protection of God Himself.
(3) It encircles the life with Divine music. (Homilist.)
Relief afforded by confession:—
I. The psalmist had kept silence. In this he was wrong. Sin had been committed, and the fruits were fermenting and fomenting in his bosom, gendering turmoil and breeding corruption. So sin will dwell in our souls, and we fondle and turn it into a means of enjoyment. We have not the courage to look at these sins as sins, and to cast them out from what ought to be the temple of the Lord. We try as far as possible not even to notice them. We prefer thinking of our supposed excellences, of the good deeds we have done, of our talents, courage, prowess, generosity, and roll these as a sweet morsel under our tongue. We decline thinking on the abuse made of the gifts bestowed on us,—on our ingratitude, ungodliness, our lusts cherished, our envy, our evil temper, our selfishness. There will be times, indeed, when these iniquities are forced upon our attention by the accusations of conscience or the reproaches of our fellow-men, or by the troubles into which they bring us. But on these occasions we put ourselves on the defensive and parry off the attack; and when these weapons of defence are wrested from us, then we bring excuses and urge palliations referring to extenuating circumstances, or pleading seductions, or pointing to the fairer side of the offence, to the pleasure it gave, or the kindness or frankness which characterized it. Under such pretexts as these we keep silence when we should speak out, when we should confess the sin and acknowledge the transgression, cast them out from our hearts and slay them before the Lord.
II. When he kept silence he was troubled. God speaks. He speaks in the conscience, saying, this deed, this thought was evil. He speaks in the Word, saying, “The wages of sin is death.” He speaks to us by His Spirit, striving to subdue the resistance. But the ear is stopped, that it may not hear; or when the voice is so loud that it cannot but be heard, no attention is paid to it, or it is openly disobeyed. There is now a terrible conflict. There is a voice commanding, but there is a determined effort to drown it, as loud and dismal as the sound of the gong which was used in Mexico to drown the cry of the tortured and bleeding human victims on the altar. What earnestness in the voice demanding, the voice entreating! but there is equal earnestness in the struggles resisting, and the hatred resenting. No wonder that “the moisture is turned into the drought of summer.” The terrible heat, exceeding that of a tropical sun, burns up every living thing. The soul is left as an arid waste, without a scrap of vegetation.
III. The psalmist confesses his sins.
IV. The psalmist had his sins forgiven. We are not to understand that the confession can merit the forgiveness. The confession can no more merit the forgiveness than the forgiveness can merit the confession. Both are gifts of God, and so bound together that you cannot have the one without the other. An old author represents Christ as coming to us with a gift in each hand. In the one hand He holds out forgiveness, free forgiveness; in the other hand He holds out repentance and confession. If we begin to say, “We are very willing to take the one of these; we know we have sinned, and are most anxious to have the forgiveness; but as to this wringing repentance and its proper fruit, a humbling confession, we wish to avoid them,” then Christ will give us neither. But if in simple faith we will only take both, we shall receive both “without money and without price.” At the same instant that we break silence and cry in faith for mercy, Heaven also breaks the awful silence, and the mercy is bestowed and received. And now the crowded bosom finds relief; the confined soul experiences enlargement; the fettered spirit is free; the prison doors are thrown open, and the soul walks at liberty and expatiates abroad, on before untrodden ground, and gazes on new and lovely scenes. New affections are called forth, and new-born feelings spring up. The evil humours have been let out, and the body feels health returning, and, with health, motive and activity. (J. McCosh.)
The forgiveness of sins:—
If you blot out of David’s psalms his profound sense of moral evil in all its bare, black iniquity, as the great reality of man’s experience and life, you blot out those psalms at the same time from the literature of the world: their work is done, their power is dead. But it is the firmness with which he grasps the hand which redeems from this evil, which gives him such a wonderful hold on the heart-strings of humanity. Slave, beggar, soldier, scholar, statesman, priest, all feel equally that he belongs to them, because his experience is so profoundly human; because man the sinner, God the Saviour, are the great themes of his meditation, and of his vivid, burning utterance to the world. Sin and salvation must be the main burden of every gospel which lays masterful hold on human hearts. There are two aspects of sin which need sometimes to be separately considered, that we may see the true method of its Divine treatment, and trace the principles on which it rests.
I. Its essential iniquity. The revelation of Scripture is that sin is a personal act against a person. It runs directly counter to our modern philosophizing on the subject. Man knows that he has sinned, himself has done it. “I have sinned, I have perverted that which is right.” That “I” means something which, whatever it may be, distinctly is not Nature and is not God (Ps. 51:4). The heart may be broken at beholding the ruin and anguish sin has wrought, but the core of the matter is not reached until its iniquity, the wrong before God, is seen to be the essence of it. Only when the sin is comprehended in all its evil, can God the Redeemer begin its cure.
II. Its disastrous fruits. Here is a second gauge of the evil of sin—the utter misery which it works (Gen. 3:24; 4:1–15). Let a man be selfish, envious, lustful, grasping, in the most hidden imaginations of his heart, he can no more help being the author of sorrow to every one who has intimate relations with him, than a dunghill can help breeding fever. It is a terrible subject, this inevitable fruit of sin. This is God’s ordinance about sin—its fruit shall be misery. It is the grand hold which He keeps on sinners. Sin is in their power; misery is in His; and it is the hand by which He withholds them from swift perdition (1 Tim. 1:15; Rom. 7; 1 John 1:6–10). The text casts a valuable light on the essential nature of forgiveness. God forgives the iniquity of the sin, while the mischief which it has wrought He sets Himself to repair. This is and must be slow and toilsome work. It is the work of God in the government of the world, to repair the evil which sin has wrought. But the forgiveness is prompt, absolute and final.
III. The forgiveness of sin by God—
1. In its nature. It does not touch the accidents of the sin, but its very essence. The accidents will be cured in time. There are two elements to be dealt with—the Divine anger and the sense of alienation and wretchedness in the child. Now as to the first, God when He forgives declares that it is gone. The sinner is slow to believe this, but it is true, and God has His own ways of lodging the sense of it in penitent hearts.
2. Its conditions. How can God forgive sin? Not by ignoring it. The answer of the Gospel is that by man’s righteousness, man’s iniquity has been put away. Christ stands for man before God, and His righteousness has become a stronger part in humanity than Adam’s sin. One has undertaken for us, stands for us, who can make and will make God’s righteousness the dominant thing, the conquering thing, the characteristic thing, in humanity; and in Christ God justifies man. But what then has confession to do with it? It is the vital link between the soul and Christ. It is the plea of the soul to the Father, Behold me, sinner as I am, in Christ. My will goes with Him; in His obedience, His hatred of sin, I desire to share; make me partaker of His victorious life. Confession, as the fruit of penitence, transmutes the relation of the soul to Christ. From formal it becomes vital. The name becomes a power. It makes, by the stirring of the thought and will of a free being, the oneness with Christ a spiritual reality. It declares that through Christ there is born in the soul that which is not sinful, which is of the essence of holiness, and ever struggling upwards towards God. Confession rests on Christ, and connects us vitally with His righteousness.
3. Its fruits. Perfect, absolute, and eternal peace, if the sinner but keep firm hold on the fact, “Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” Man will forgive himself when God forgives him. The fruits of his sin may be there; a broken body, a stained name, poverty, struggle, and sad, sad memories. But all the anguish has gone out of the soul, all the dread, if God forgives. “All things,” even the bitter fruits of transgression, “must work together for good to God’s justified children. (J. B. Brown, B.A.)
The penitent’s progress:—
David describes three states of mind through which he passed.
I. A state of guilt. “When I kept silence,” etc. It was his own bitter experience. He darkly and sullenly turned away from God. Though a voice within him bade him turn, he would not. He hung back and shunned the presence of his God, like Adam in the garden. It is an unspeakably wretched state of mind. There are two cases in which a man may feel what David felt.
1. An awakened sinner may feel it—a sinner for the first time brought to a sense of his transgression.
2. The other case in which a man may experience what David did, is that of one who, after he has known somewhat of God and the comfort of religion, has unhappily in some degree departed from God again, and fallen into sin, and does not at once return to Him with earnest prayer for forgiveness, with full confession of his sin, with renewed applications to the blood of sprinkling. This was David’s case; and this, too, was Jonah’s. It is easy even for a good man, through negligence and unwatchfulness, to fall into sin and consequent misery; it is not so easy for him to arise and regain the paths of righteousness; it is not so easy to betake himself indeed to the Saviour, and, through the penitent and believing application of His atoning blood, to recover peace of conscience, and with it renewed liberty in the service of God. But there is help for the penitent, help in the abundant mercy of God our Saviour for them that unfeignedly seek it.
II. For mark the next stage of David’s experience, as it is described in the text:—“I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.” A great change was here. David no longer kept silence. O happy is it, when the guilty mind comes to this resolution!
III. A state of holy joy at being reconciled to God. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose,” etc. Then he represents himself as secure and happy under the guidance and protection of God. And then, once more, he has communion with God in prayer. Are any conscious of sin committed? Dissemble it not. Cloke it not. Go to God your Saviour; confess your sin; and ask forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ. Thus, and thus only, can you find peace. (E. Blencowe, M.A.)
Penitential confession of sin:—
I. David’s conduct.
1. It was deliberate. “I said, I will,” etc. He was not dull or unfeeling in his sense of sin; but, like one infirm in body, yet strong in courage, he resolved manfully to go through the operation, however painful, having respect to the recompense of the expected cure.
2. It was humble: “I will confess.” By this is signified his intention of owning, without any excuses, and specifying, his fault—as was required of the Israelite seeking pardon (Lev. 5:5), of the high-priest making atonement (Lev. 16:21); and as was practised by the people (1 Sam. 12:19), and by the prophet Daniel (9:3). With this would be connected submission to his trouble, as designed for punishment of his sin, and acknowledgment of its justice; to which course a particular promise was made under the law (Lev. 26:40–42).
3. It was personal. “My sin.” Many, anxious to pass hastily and lightly over their own failings, try to effect their purpose by making stepping-stones of their neighbours’ faults. With the general confession, “I am a grievous sinner,” they couple the truth, “and so are we all”; and to the admission, “I have done wickedly,” they add the hackneyed saying, “this is a wicked world we live in.” Thus they seem to derive a false comfort from the number of their fellow-offenders, as though the crowd of criminals could screen them from the piercing eye, or the daring band of rebels protect them from the avenging hand of a long-suffering, but all-seeing and almighty Judge.
4. It was intelligent, i.e. with understanding: “I will confess my transgressions.” The word “transgression” implies a boundary-line to be passed, a fence to be broken; and, without knowing where this is fixed, a man will not be able to see and acknowledge his fault.
5. It was private: “I will confess unto the Lord.” David could abase himself before the prophet (2 Sam. 12:13) and his household (vers. 16, 17); but on this occasion he carried his burden to the Lord. It may be asked, Where is the need of confessing to that Lord who “trieth the hearts and reins, … and understandeth our thoughts afar off”? We answer, The need is ours, and the benefit is ours. The exercise of mentioning our sins leads the mind to dwell longer upon them, discovering their guilt more fully; and helps to mortify our pride, though no mortal ear listens to the recital. It may be further remarked, that David’s confession “to the Lord” was an appeal to his judgment, as to his sincerity; and pledged the penitent to a forsaking the sins which he professed to lament.
6. The happy consequences: “Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” Here is a benefit, beyond the mere ease obtained by giving vent to the feelings; here is the entire removal of the guilt of acknowledged transgression.
II. Application to ourselves.
1. In dwelling on David’s confession “to the Lord,” I would by no means neglect or undervalue the exhortation of the apostle (James 5:16) to well-chosen confidence and sympathy.
2. I would suggest to parents, sponsors, and teachers, as concerned in the training of the young, the importance of insisting on the duty of confession before they pardon their offences. (G. Newnham, M.A.)
A conscious sense of sin:—
I. A conscious sense of sin is accompanied with—
1. Self-abasement (Jer. 2:26; Ezra 9:6; Jer. 6:15).
2. Self-condemnation (Ps. 51:3–7).
3. Such self-abhorrence must reduce the sinner, who is not altogether abandoned, to self-denial, and abstinence from his former course of wickedness. The trembling penitent adopts the language of Ephraim (Jer. 31:18–20); and, prodigal-like (Luke 15:12–32), returns to his compassionate Father
II. The prodigal finding a kind reception, contrary to expectation, must be overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness. (J, Kidd, D.D.)
Repentance:—
1. Notice the elements of this repentance as they come out in this psalm:
(1) Clear consciousness of sin—“I acknowledged my sin.”
(2) Loathing sorrow for sin—“Mine iniquity have I not hid.”
(3) Confession of sin—“I acknowledged my sin.”
(4) Forsaking of sin (ver. 9).
2. Ask these questions:
(1) Having sinned, is not this the noblest possible way in which a sinner can treat his sin—to repent of it?
(2) Is it not far better and nobler thus to repent of it than heedlessly and blindly to go on in sin?
(3) Do you think that, going on in sin carelessly and blindly, it is possible to go on thus toward God?
(4) Therefore can you not see the necessity of repentance? (W. Hoyt, D.D.)
Selah. Selah:—
The word signifies a vehement, a pathetic, a hyperbolical asseveration, and attestation, and ratification of something said before. Such, in a proportion, as our Saviour’s “Amen, amen” is, “Verily, verily I say unto you”; such as St. Paul’s “fidelis sermo,” with which he seals so many truths, is, “This is a faithful saying”; such as that apostle’s “Coram domino” is, with which he ratifies many things, “Before the Lord I speak it”; and such as Moses, “As I live, saith the Lord,” and “As the Lord liveth.” And therefore, though God be in all His words, Yea, and Amen, no word of His can perish in itself, nor should perish in us, that is, pass without observation, yet, in setting this seal of “Selah” to this doctrine, He hath testified His will that He would have all these things the better understood, and the deeper imprinted, that if a man conceal and smother his sins, “Selah,” assuredly, God will open that man’s mouth, and it shall not show forth His praise, but God will bring him to fearful exclamations out of the sense of the affliction, if not of the sin; “Selah,” assuredly, God will shiver his bones, shake his best actions, and discover their impurity; “Selah,” assuredly, God will suffer to be dried up all his moisture, all possibility of repentant tears, and all interest in the blood of Christ Jesus. (J. Donne, D.D.)[5]
5. “I acknowledged my sin unto thee.” After long lingering, the broken heart bethought itself of what it ought to have done at the first, and laid bare its bosom before the Lord. The lancet must be let into the gathering ulcer before relief can be afforded. The least thing we can do, if we would be pardoned, is to acknowledge our fault; if we are too proud for this we doubly deserve punishment. “And mine iniquity have I not hid.” We must confess the guilt as well as the fact of sin. It is useless to conceal it, for it is well known to God; it is beneficial to us to own it, for a full confession softens and humbles the heart. We must as far as possible unveil the secrets of the soul, dig up the hidden treasure of Achan, and by weight and measure bring out our sins. “I said.” This was his fixed resolution. “I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.” Not to my fellow men or to the high priest, but unto Jehovah; even in those days of symbol the faithful looked to God alone for deliverance from sin’s intolerable load, much more now, when types and shadows have vanished at the appearance of the dawn. When the soul determines to lay low and plead guilty, absolution is near at hand; hence we read, “And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” Not only was the sin itself pardoned, but the iniquity of it; the virus of its guilt was put away, and that at once, so soon as the acknowledgment was made. God’s pardons are deep and thorough: the knife of mercy cuts at the roots of the ill weed of sin. “Selah.” Another pause is needed, for the matter is not such as may be hurried over.
“Pause, my soul, adore and wonder,
Ask, O why such love to me?
Grace has put me in the number
Of the Saviour’s family.
Hallelujah!
Thanks, eternal thanks, to thee.”[6]
[1] Harman, A. (2011). Psalms: A Mentor Commentary (Vols. 1–2, p. 277). Mentor.
[2] Ellsworth, R. (2006). Opening up Psalms (pp. 98–99). Day One Publications.
[3] Bullock, C. H. (2015). Psalms 1–72 (M. L. Strauss & J. H. Walton, Eds.; Vol. 1, pp. 238–239). Baker Books.
[4] Longman, T., III. (2014). Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary (D. G. Firth, Ed.; Vols. 15–16, p. 164). Inter-Varsity Press.
[5] Exell, J. S. (1909). The Biblical Illustrator: The Psalms (Vol. 2, pp. 132–136). Fleming H. Revell Company; Francis Griffiths.
[6] Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 27-57 (Vol. 2, p. 83). Marshall Brothers.
August 13 – The Foreman Who Refused His Pay | VCY
TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Nehemiah 5:14-7:73
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Psalm 33:1-11
Proverbs 21:8-10
Nehemiah 5:14 — Should Christian leaders be paid? Nehemiah had a right to eat (Nehemiah 5:15), he had an opportunity to profit off the work (Nehemiah 5:16), but he realized this would be a “heavy bondage” for the people (Nehemiah 5:18). Paul says the Christian leader has a right to be paid (2 Timothy 2:6, 1 Corinthians 9:11, 1 Corinthians 9:14, Galatians 6:6) and so did Jesus (Luke 10:5-7), but at times Paul taught it is better not to be paid (1 Corinthians 9:12-18). Les Bridgeman has a lengthy discussion on Paul’s financial sources for ministry. It is interesting that Nehemiah, as foreman of a massive construction project, passed on some of the pay he had a claim to because of the specific needs of the situation.
Nehemiah 6:3 — I read about a pastor who had some naysayers criticizing his ministry. He simply replied to their voluminous attack with a simple reply: “Nehemiah 6:3.”
Nehemiah 6:9 — Notice Nehemiah again breaks into prayer! He has learned from the kings of Israel that failure to pray is the greatest predictor of failure. How many times has Nehemiah prayed in his short little book? From BridgePointe Church:
- Nehemiah 1:4-11
- Nehemiah 2:4
- Nehemiah 4:4-5
- Nehemiah 5:19
- Nehemiah 6:9
- Nehemiah 6:14
- Nehemiah 9:5-38
- Nehemiah 13:14
- Nehemiah 13:22
- Nehemiah 13:29
Of the 405 verses in Nehemiah, 51 are prayers. 12.6% of the book is about Nehemiah praying to God. In contrast, by my count only 45 verses talk about the work that Nehemiah did. Nehemiah the great builder lets us know its more important to be praying than it is to be working.
Nehemiah 6:18 — Commentators note that Shechaniah, the son of Arah, was one of the leading pioneer families (Ezra 2:5, and we’ll see him in Nehemiah 7:10) that returned with Zerubbabel.
Nehemiah 7:17 — Why does Nehemiah report the children of Azgad as 2,322 and Ezra 2:12 reports it as 1,222? Will Kinney thinks Nehemiah is just reporting the records he found, which were varied from Ezra’s record. CARM examines all the differences and thinks it was a copyist error. Lavista thinks Ezra recorded the departure count, and Nehemiah recorded the arrival count. GotQuestions.org concurs – thinking it was based on deaths/births in families. Jack Kelly addresses the subtotals but not the family discrepancies. He does give a good analysis of the bigger issue:
Skeptics look at apparent discrepancies like this and immediately conclude that the Bible is not the inspired Word of God but a flawed work of man.
But those who believe in the inspiration of Scripture assume that the discrepancy is caused by a lack of understanding on their part and dig deeper for the solution.
1 Corinthians 8:1 — Paul is asked to weigh in on the issue of meats offered to idols. He will in a future chapter give a very clear answer on this issue and come to the conclusion that Jesus Christ Himself reiterates in the Book of Revelation! If the question was merely theoretical, he would have gone right to the answer. But because it was rooted in a messy situation, he had several other problems to work through before he made his point about meats offered to idols. His first point: showing love is better than having the right answer.
1 Corinthians 8:4 — The “wanna be” meat eaters said that idols aren’t real, so what’s wrong with meat offered to something that doesn’t exist? Paul acknowledges that they have a valid point, but that is not the final point (1 Corinthians 8:7).
1 Corinthians 8:13 — Many people think that Paul’s teaching is limited to just not offending our brother. They have extended that theory to other things such as claiming that drinking alcohol is not addressed in the Bible, and we can do it as long as no one else is offended by it. Contrary to their opinions, however, the Bible has clear warnings against the consumption of alcohol (Proverbs 20:1, Ephesians 5:18, Genesis 9:21, Leviticus 10:9, Proverbs 23:29-32, Proverbs 31:4, Isaiah 5:22, Hosea 4:11, Habakkuk 2:5, etc.). Paul’s point is something he has exemplified in his own life: “Even for something legitimate like getting paid for ministry, I will waive my rights, and do without if it causes problems for my brothers.” Interesting that we read this passage today for this was Nehemiah’s point in Nehemiah 5:18. Paul will continue to address meats offered to idols in the next few chapters.
Psalm 33:2 — What is a ten string instrument (Psalm 92:3, Psalm 144:9)?
Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.
What Sanctifies Our Offerings? | VCY
And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord. (Leviticus 4:7)
The altar of incense is the place where saints present their prayers and praises; and it is delightful to think of it as sprinkled with the blood of the great sacrifice. This it is which makes all our worship acceptable with Jehovah: He sees the blood of His own Son and therefore accepts our homage.
It is well for us to fix our eyes upon the blood of the one offering for sin. Sin mingles even with our holy things, and our best repentance, faith, prayer, and thanksgiving could not be received of God were it not for the merit of the atoning sacrifice. Many sneer at “the blood”; but to us it is the foundation of comfort and hope. That which is on the horns of the altar is meant to be prominently before our eyes when we draw near to God. The blood gives strength to prayer, and hence it is on the altar’s horns. It is “before the Lord,” and therefore it ought to be before us. It is on the altar before we bring the incense; it is there to sanctify our offerings and gifts.
Come, let us pray with confidence, since the Victim is offered, the merit has been pleaded, the blood is within the veil, and the prayers of believers must be sweet unto the Lord.
DEBATE: Creation Vs Evolution: Standing for Truth Vs RJ Downard | Monergism.com
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DEBATE: Atheist VS Creationist || Godless Engineer VS Standing for Truth | Monergism.com
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Creation vs. Evolution Standing for Truth Vs. Jackson Wheat | Monergism.com
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11 Aug 2024 News Briefing
Northern Front heats up as Hezbollah launches drone attack following the killing of Hamas commander in Lebanon
Hezbollah drone hits rehabilitation center for disabled in Israel’s north. After an IDF airstrike killed Hamas commander Samer Mahmoud al-Haj, a senior commander in the Hamas terrorist organization in Lebanon, on Friday evening, the Hezbollah terror group responded by launching several explosive drones into Israel’s northern territory.
MSM Absent In Reporting “Dozens Of Night Time Low Temp Records” Across US
Climate alarmists and their left-wing corporate media allies, who constantly spread fear and anxiety among an already heavily medicated population, churn out endless streams of climate doom headlines right at the peak of the Northern Hemisphere summer (how convenient). They deliberately ignore the fact that the 2022 Tonga Volcano eruption is contributing to some of the Earth’s warming—and they’ll conveniently leave out this critical piece of climate news: “Dozens of night time low temp records have been broken the last 2 mornings. Many folks waking up to temps in the upper 40s and lower 50s this morning,”
With F-22s and ‘mini aircraft carrier,’ US flexes muscle against Iranian threats
“While war is not inevitable, US will defend Israel if it were attacked,’ Pentagon vows amid fears of Iranian attack; Biden sends military reinforcements to region, including stealth jets, amphibious assault ship and carrier near Iran; Red Sea also covered
5 things to know about Tim Walz’s faith, church and the ELCA
“We pray for the loved ones and communities of all victims of gun violence across our country,” the newsletter states. “We pray for those whose lives are altered by climate events. We pray for creation and for an increased will to care for it. We pray for all in the LGBTQIA+ community who face bias, rejection, and violence. We pray that we all may grow in acceptance and each become a voice for acceptance, advocacy, and support.”
Rising Seismic Activity in Reykjanes: Two Likely Scenarios
Daily earthquakes continue to increase in the Sundhnúkagígaröð area on the Reykjanes peninsula. According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, sufficient pressure has built up in the volcanic system to potentially trigger a magma surge or an eruption in the coming days. Around sixty earthquakes were recorded in the Sundhnúkagígaröð area on the Reykjanes peninsula – near the Svartsengi Power Plant – over the past 24 hours, compared to an average of 30 per day a little over a week ago,
Deepening US reliance stalls Israeli preemptive strikes; time for a strategic shift
Biden and Kamala Harris do not want to see U.S. soldiers and civilians returning in coffins from the Middle East, especially during the election campaign, as Trump will undoubtedly use it against them.
Multiple alarms sound in Upper Galilee as Hezbollah drones enter Israeli airspace
Warnings issued for communities deep within Israeli territory as firefighting teams battle multiple blazes; Arab media report widespread panic in Beirut; Arab officials urge terror group to delay any action against Israel until after August 15. Amid the alarms, the Israeli Air Force launched strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Fires broke out in five locations in the Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights due to falling debris from interceptors
Venezuela president blames ‘Zionism’ for ‘coup d’état’
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has blamed “international Zionism” for the protests sweeping his country since he was accused of stealing its presidential election. Maduro’s government has cracked down on thousands of protesters who took to the streets over the results of Venezuela’s July 28 election, arresting 2,000 people and killing 20. Venezuela’s electoral authority said that Maduro was reelected with 51% of the vote but has refused to release precinct-level tallies.
‘Losing control’: Hamas’s grip weakens as Gaza’s desperation grows
As the war in Gaza rages on and the Strip continues to be degraded, Hamas’s once-firm grip on power is visibly slipping. Despite some success in maintaining wealth to fund its activities, its ability to maintain control may be on the clock, even if a hostage deal is implemented and the war is concluded.
After Congress approval: US to provide Israel with $3.5 billion for military equipment
US set to provide Israel with $3.5 billion to spend on US weapons and military equipment. The money comes from the $14.1 billion supplemental funding bill for Israel that was passed by Congress in April.
IDF eliminates senior Hamas terrorist in strike in Lebanon
IAF aircraft strike in the area of Sidon in Lebanon and eliminate terrorist Samer Mahmoud al-Haj, a senior commander in the Hamas terrorist organization in Lebanon.
Turbulence is up. Mandating a seatbelt might not be the answer, pilot says
Turbulence has become more frequent. It’s a trend American Airlines Captain Dennis Tajer has experienced firsthand. According to a 2023 study by researchers at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, clear-air turbulence has increased in regions around the world. Over the North Atlantic, which is one of the busiest flight routes, the total annual duration of severe turbulence increased by 55% between 1979 and 2020.
RFK Jr. claims to have enough signatures to appear on ballot in all 50 states
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy claims to have enough signatures to appear on the ballot in all 50 states. Kennedy spoke with Fox News’s Neil Cavuto on Friday, discussing his impact on the main parties’ campaigns and his chances at victory. “Right now we have enough signatures to be on all 50 states,” Kennedy said when asked about his eligibility nationwide.
Extreme rainstorm hits China’s Shaanxi, causing severe floods
An extreme rainstorm struck China’s Shaanxi Province on the morning of August 9, 2024, bringing in heavy rain totaling 172 mm (6.77 inches) of rainfall and causing severe flooding that swept away multiple vehicles.
Deep M6.5 earthquake hits Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
A deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.5 hit the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia at 03:28 UTC on August 10, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 406 km (252 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.5 at a depth of 400 km (248 miles).
Olympics Pres: We Would Screen Out Men if Science Could Tell Men and Women Apart
Science has a foolproof way of telling you whether someone is a man or woman — chromosomes. If they’re XY, you’re looking at a guy. Apparently, that memo didn’t make its way over to the office of the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, because he seemed to be a little more confused on the subject in recent comments.
Watch: Study of 125 Countries Finds ‘No Apparent Benefit’ From COVID Vaccines
The study, by researchers with Correlation Research in the Public Interest, examined excess mortality in 125 countries during the pandemic. It found that mortality patterns correlate closely with the imposition of restrictions such as lockdowns and with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Exclusive: 2K Chinese Migrants Encountered at Southwest Border in July
According to a DHS report reviewed by Breitbart Texas, 1,953 migrants from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) were apprehended at the southwest border during the month of July. This brings this year’s total number of PRC nationals apprehended at the border to 35,300.
Armyworm invasion eating up crops in Alabama
Nature is dealing a blow to farmers in the northern part. Armyworms are eating up their crops. Cattle farmer Alan Summerford is harvesting his hay fields in Falkville way earlier than he planned.
Fourth Circuit Upholds Maryland’s So-Called ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban, Allowing the State to Disarm Law-Abiding Citizens
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has once again turned its back on the Constitution, upholding Maryland’s oppressive Firearms Safety Act of 2013.
Christians Arrested in Paris for Driving Around a Bus Carrying the Message “STOP ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS”
A pro-life, pro-family group, Citizen Go, took to the streets of Paris with a bus carrying the message “STOP ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS.”
TikTok lawsuit: U.S. sues company over child privacy
The U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance on Friday, alleging that the company repeatedly violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
Microchip factory closing puts UK defense projects at risk
The British military is bracing for supply disruptions after one of the UK’s last microchip plants lost its Apple contract and ceased taking new orders, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Biden’s EPA dumping $4.3 billion in taxpayer-funded grants for climate boondoggles before he leaves office
With its July 22 announcement that it is disbursing $4.3 billion in taxpayer-funded grants for an assortment of climate projects around the country, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) secured the loot for grateful recipients before President Joe Biden leaves office in January.
POLL: 39% of Americans Are Worried That They Can’t Make Basic Payments
39% of US adults indicated that they worry most or all of the time that their family’s income won’t be enough to make ends meet. This marks a significant increase from December 2021, when that figure stood at 28%. These recent figures are also quite similar to those of the Great Recession, when they hovered around 37%.
Leftist UK Govt Plots to Scatter Migrants All Over Britain Despite Anti-Mass Migration Protests.
Britain’s Labour government, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, is set to scrap the use of former military bases and barges as sites to house illegal immigrants claiming asylum. Arguing these migrant sites have put too heavy a burden on local services, the Starmer government will instead spread them all over the country under a policy it calls “dispersed accommodation.”
Dr Sherri Tenpenny on X: “CDC Launches Traveler-based SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance Program
8 international airports in the US are being used as testing sites. The program was implemented on April 24 and is ongoing.
Illinois Halal Festival: The Stealth Invasion of Sharia into America
The Halal Food Festival in Naperville, Illinois, is not just a cultural celebration; it is a calculated effort to infiltrate American society with Islamic law (Sharia) under the guise of cultural diversity, leveraging local government support to advance an insidious agenda that threatens the very fabric of Western civilization.
Stand Up to Racism: An organisation that stokes racism and xenophobia in the UK to overthrow parliamentary democracy
Ricky Jones, a 57-year-old Labour councillor from Dartford in Kent, has been arrested on suspicion of encouraging murder and charged with one count of encouraging violent disorder. The incident occurred during a so-called “counter-protest” in London on 7 August, where he told a crowd that “disgusting Nazi fascists” need to have their throats cut. One of the groups who organised the protest where Jones gave his speech was Stand Up to Racism, a small fringe far-left organisation that appears to be well-funded. Who is funding them?
Is Anti-Semitism A Global Problem Without A Solution?
In looking around the news and the social networks in 2024, it is impossible not to hear the words “Anti-Semitism” or “Anti-Semitic,” regardless of the political slant of those reporting. Anti-Semitism is alive and well and has become part of the culture, especially since Hamas’ terrorist carnage in Israel last October. It is very concerning for Jewish people around the world, and possibly worse in some countries like Great Britain or France.
Three Columbia University administrators resign after ‘antisemitic tropes’ found in text messages
Three deans at Columbia University have resigned from their positions after they engaged in a texting exchange that “disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes.” Susan Chang-Kim, vice dean and chief administrative officer, Matthew Patashnick, associate dean for student and family support, and Cristen Kromm, dean of undergraduate student life, all have stepped down.
Four organisations of the pandemic-vaccine industry are seeking to raise $123 billion; the money for their schemes will be coming from you
Over the past few months, the World Health Organisation (“WHO”), GAVI, the International Development Association (“IDA”) and the Pandemic Fund have revealed how much money they’ll need in the next few years. WHO wants to raise $11.1 billion, GAVI wants donors to cough up $11.9 billion, IDA wants to raise $100 billion, and the Pandemic Fund wants $2 billion. Where do they expect this money to come from?
Source: https://www.raptureready.com/2024/08/11/11-aug-2024/
Headlines – 8/11/2024
Israel kills Hamas commander in Lebanon’s Sidon; bodyguard said critically wounded
Hezbollah launches drones at north after IDF kills Hamas commander in Lebanon
IDF confirms Hezbollah launched explosive-laden drones at northern Israel, causing damage
Powder-keg port town of Haifa readies for Hezbollah strike: ‘We are very exposed’
Hospitals stockpile water, fuel and medicine as they brace for 3-month siege
US says warship docked in Cyprus can ‘support civilians’ if regional conflict erupts
Deadly Israeli strikes hit school compound housing displaced Palestinians
Israel Bombs Terrorists Hiding Out in Gaza School, Disputes Death Total
Israeli Experts: Saturday’s Strike ‘Incredibly Precise’
White House: ‘Deeply Concerned’ Over Israeli Gaza City School Strike; Qatar, EU Condemn ‘Massacre’
Israeli attack on Gaza school renews calls for US to end support for Israel
Israel faces anger over Gaza school strike rescuers say killed 93
IDF rejects Hamas claim of over 90 dead after strike on terror operatives at Gaza school
Amid global criticism, Israel names 19 it says it killed in terror HQ at Gaza school
‘Children torn apart’: Israel strike rains hell on Gaza dawn prayers
U.S. Will Keep Aid Flowing To Israeli Unit Accused Of Rights Abuses
U.S. prepares for crucial week as Gaza deal faces “now-or-never” moment
Smotrich fires back at Kirby, vows to maintain opposition to Gaza ‘surrender deal’
Thousands rally across Israel to demand hostage deal ahead of renewed negotiations
Addressing hecklers, Harris says time is ripe for ceasefire to ‘bring hostages home!’
Doug Emhoff brings fight against global antisemitism surge to Paris Olympics
Foreign Ministry rails at ‘extremist’ Norway after revoking its diplomats’ status
Several US and coalition personnel suffer minor injuries in Syria attack, US official say
NKorea Has Flown More Trash Balloons Toward SKorea
Philippine Military: Chinese Jets Endanger Patrol Plane With Risky Maneuver
Ukraine’s Foray into Russia’s Border Region Embarrasses Putin. How Will it Affect the Course of War?
WW3 fears explode as Russian ally rushes troops to Ukraine’s border after ‘provocation’
Russia evacuates tens of thousands amid Ukraine incursion
Russia imposes security regime on three border regions amid major Ukrainian attack
Russia Launches ‘Counter-Terror’ Operation Against Ukraine Incursion
Ukrainian State Media Cheerlead for Tim Walz amid Stolen Valor Accusations
PBS’s Nawaz: ‘There’s No Evidence’ for Criticisms of Walz’s Claims About His Military Record
New Walz Stolen Valor Footage – Posed as ‘Battlefield’ Warrior on National TV
Report: Mother of Soldier Killed in Iraq Says Tim Walz Took the ‘Coward’s Way Out’
Tim Walz in 2007 Accepted Praise from Pelosi for Serving ‘on the Battlefield’
Harris Campaign: Walz ‘Misspoke’ About Military Record
Civil Rights Org: Tim Walz Should Drop Out – ‘Enemy of the Italian American Community’
George Floyd’s brother endorses Harris-Walz, says Minnesota governor is ‘built for this’
Feds: Dems’ Convention Faces Threat of ‘Retaliatory’ Attack
Bombshell: FBI Itself Allowed Would-Be Trump Killer Into Country, Said He Was ‘Polite’
Harris shutting down ‘lock him up’ chants shields Trump’s federal Jan. 6 case from even more delays
Panama offers Maduro temporary political asylum to resolve Venezuelan election crisis
Tech giants will be forced to ban fake news under Labour plans
UK Establishment Media Clamour for Censorship over Anti-Migration Riots
UK police commissioner threatens to extradite and jail Americans for social media posts
Tyrannical Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki Dies at 56 – Fought to Crack Down on Free Speech Online
Trump campaign says ‘hostile’ foreign sources hacked and leaked internal documents, emails
Trump campaign says it was hacked, blames Iran without evidence
Researcher Uncovers Massive USPS Scam, Hacks Fraudsters’ Systems
Volatility Pros Say Record VIX Surge on Monday Was a Head Fake
Chinese rocket breakup creates large field of space debris in low Earth orbit
Japanese urged to avoid panic-buying as megaquake fears spread
6.5 magnitude earthquake hits near Dolinsk, Russia
5.2 magnitude earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands
5.0 magnitude earthquake hits the Macquarie Island region
Sabancaya volcano in Peru erupts to 24,000ft
Sangay volcano in Ecuador erupts to 23,000ft
Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupts to 15,000ft
Reventador volcano in Ecuador erupts to 15,000ft
Semeru volcano in Indonesia erupts to 15,000ft
Lewotobi volcano in Indonesia erupts to 11,000ft
Disaster emergency declared in Pennsylvania after Tropical Storm Debby hits
Extreme rainstorm hits China’s Shaanxi, causing severe floods
North Korean leader says thousands of flood victims will be brought to capital for temporary care
Wildfires Scorch More Than 1.4 Million Acres in Oregon
Armyworm invasion eating up crops in Alabama
Commentary: Inside the foreign mission sent to battle Haiti’s gangs
U.S. says cartel infighting led to capture of ‘El Mayo’ and El Chapo’s son
2K Chinese Migrants Encountered at Southwest Border in July
Biden border czar Kamala admits immigration is broken under her administration, pledges to ‘fix it’
Biden-Harris DHS Builds ‘Ghost Mode Operation’ for Migrants to More Easily Stay in U.S.
Kamala Harris Promises Amnesty for Millions of Illegal Aliens, Nationwide Mail-In Voting
Sanctuary City Chicago: Venezuelan Migrant Freed from Jail After Allegedly Mugging 80-Year-Old Woman
Coast Guard Changes Culture Amid Sexual Abuse and Harassment Scandal
Algerian Fighter Who Failed IBA Gender Test Wins Gold Medal in Women’s Welterweight Division
Algerian Gold Boxing Winner Sues in Gender Flap
Olympics Pres: We Would Screen Out Men if Science Could Tell Men and Women Apart
Facebook bans #XX hashtag amidst Olympic boxing gender controversy
Dems Panic Over New Poll: Attacks on Men Are Turning Gen Z into a Right-Wing Generation
CDC was Breaking the Law By Deleting Information, Court Rules
Sen. J.D. Vance Full CNN Interview: Kamala Harris Campaign Website Still Doesn’t Have Any Policy Positions | RealClearPolitics Videos
Sen. J.D. Vance toured the Sunday news shows this week, with interviews on CNN (above), ABC’s “This Week” (here), and CBS’s “Face the Nation” (here) where he addressed the opposing candidate, abortion rights, monetary policy, and immigration. In this interview with CNN, Vance tried to turn the tables on Gov. Tim Walz, saying Walz calling him “weird” is “fundamentally schoolyard bully stuff.” “I think that it is a little bit of projection,” Vance said. “So they’re name-calling instead of actually telling the American people how they’re going to make their lives better. I think that’s weird, Dana. But, look, they can call me whatever they want to.” Vance said Walz is the one who looked weird giving his wife a handshake during his debut campaign rally with Vice President Kamala Harris. “Tim Walz gave his wife a nice, firm Midwestern handshake, and then tried to sort of awkwardly correct for it,” Vance said. I think what it is, is two people, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who aren’t comfortable in their own skin, because they’re uncomfortable with their policy positions for the American people, Vance told Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union” about his campaign rivals. Vance also said he thinks Kamala Harris has been “in charge,” saying President Biden “doesn’t know where he is.” “Their entire campaign has not been about, here’s our policy for how we’re going to make your lives better, or here’s what’s wrong with Donald Trump and J.D. Vance’s policies. We’re going to name-call and hope that you don’t notice that we don’t have an agenda,” Vance said. “No, no, if you go to Kamala Harris’ campaign page right now, they still don’t have policy positions about what they’re going to do.” Full transcript via CNN:
2024 08 11 John Haller’s Prophecy Update “You Can’t Handle the Truth”
John shares the unadulterated truth about what is going on in the world.
https://drjacobnordangard.substack.com/p/the-ultimate-goal-of-the-pact-for
https://drjacobnordangard.substack.com/p/the-coming-planetary-emergency-and
Source: 2024 08 11 John Haller’s Prophecy Update “You Can’t Handle the Truth”
WATCH: Greg Gutfield’s excellent explanation of Trump | WND
@greggutfeld “He’s not a figurehead. He’s an agent, he’s your agent. He’s America’s lawyer. He’s in the room to represent his client, America, your needs and your concerns. He’s supposed to be an asshole” pic.twitter.com/xMezZS2hZZ — WorldNetDaily (@worldnetdaily) August 10, 2024
Source: WATCH: Greg Gutfield’s excellent explanation of Trump
Harris v. Trump: Is 2024 The Great Reset Of The Church? | Shane Idleman
I’m re-releasing this revision for 2024
There has been a lot of talk lately about the Great Reset (e.g., resetting the economic and geopolitical aspects of the world with one group overseeing it). Those concerned about freedom, religious expression, morality, and a plethora of other topics are not fans of a Great Reset.
Leading up to January 20th, let’s look below at two possible scenarios regarding the presidency and how they could affect the church. I’m still very hopeful because my hope is in God.
In either case—Harris or Trump, I believe that something monumental will occur: The church will reset. She needs to; she must. It’s painfully obvious that most churches do not model themselves after the church that Christ commissioned. Often, God must break us down in order to build us up.
A Harris Presidency . . .
A Harris win will no doubt usher in a great “reset” that leads to greater financial collapse. We are seeing signs of this already.
Like in the Old Testament, a Harris presidency may mean that God used foreign enemies to judge America (open borders). In the church, we will divide us even more as the true church is forced to go underground, just like what has happened to the church in China. Although it may take time, it’s inevitable.
Churches with rainbow flags and positive messages will stay open, and may even be sanctioned by the government. Those that compromise God’s Word will become irrelevant social clubs. Lives will not be radically changed in these types of churches because the false prophet is not God’s prophet.
Under Harris, social media will censor the truth—churches that talk about sin, the inerrancy of the Word, Christ as the only way, repentance, and so on will be marginalized and silenced. The government will clamp down on what it deems “hate speech” and will attempt to silence pastors who don’t conform. All of this, however, can be the fuel that sparks a powerful revival . . . a powerful reset: That God may grant us a little reviving in our bondage (Ezra 9:8).
A Trump Presidency . . .
A Trump presidency would mean that God is giving us another season of grace and mercy in order to expose the unfruitful works of darkness. A Trump administration will confront social media giants and other corruption, but it will not come without a heavy price—there will be massive civil unrest and a huge attack from the media and the Left, designed to foster confusion and chaos. This is what many call the “new civil war,” where we are reminded that freedom is never free.
A Trump presidency will also bring division to the church. Christians will be forced to make a decision—will they stay silent about civil unrest, and thus back it? Will they have more in common with ANTIFA than with God’s agenda? Will they apologize for being white, or will they articulate the biblical view of unity under which we can all unite?
Will Christians continue to support ungodly organizations that divide us, or will they denounce them? Will “woke” Christians finally realize that they also need to wake-up? All of this, however, can also be the fuel that sparks a powerful revival: “Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6 KJV).
Why Does the Church Need a Great Reset?
In the same way that Jesus warned the lukewarm church in Laodicea, He warns us today: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot . . . So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” He concludes, “Do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:15-17).
I believe that the church today in America resembles the Laodicean church more than at any other time in our history. Sadly, conviction is replaced with complacency, and God’s glory is often replaced with gimmicks and marketing ploys. Just look at the top sermons viewed on social media today. The preachers are motivational speakers, not voices “crying in the wilderness.” They encourage the Laodicean lifestyle of being lukewarm instead of lovingly challenging it.
In most cases, these pastors only talk about having your best life now, positive emotions, and taking control of your mind. Granted, we need to be encouraged, but if that’s all we talk about, the church will inevitably drift in the lukewarm direction. And this is where the American church finds itself today. Because the lukewarm church disdains the heat of conviction, they will label bold churches as “legalistic, rigid, and arrogant.”
Like many Christians today, the Laodiceans thought that they were in the center of God’s will. The Laodicean church was large, wealthy, and involved in the community. They looked at numbers, but Jesus looked at the heart and said that they were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” His strong words were meant to convict and challenge, not coddle and comfort. Again, be encouraged: God often breaks us down in order to build us up. One thing is certain: on January 20th, we will know what God’s will is, and it will separate the wheat from the chaff. This will be a great reset for the church in 2021.
How to Stay the Course
Going forward, our overall spiritual condition will be measured by our prayer life. E.M. Bounds believed that without prayer, “The church becomes a graveyard, not an embattled army.” Prayer must be our priority. I’m not talking about a quick prayer before a meal or a brief closing prayer at the end of a church service. I’m talking about prayer services. I’m talking about focusing as much time on praying as preaching. Jesus often retreated to isolated places for extended times of prayer. How then are we to lead the church, our nation, and our families in these dire times if we do not cultivate a strong prayer life? We can’t!
In times of national crisis, we also see the power of prayer and fasting throughout the Bible. Joel 1:14 powerfully declares, “Consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly . . . and cry out to the Lord.” God’s people had departed from Him. The call was to return through fasting, prayer, and brokenness. It’s time to seek God’s mercy and humble ourselves before Him. We must stop confusing God’s patience with His approval and seek Him like never before. He is our only Hope!
The post Harris v. Trump: Is 2024 The Great Reset Of The Church? appeared first on Shane Idleman.
Donald Trump Plays a Compilation of Kamala’s Radical Policies at his Rally in Bozeman, Montana | The Gateway Pundit
Guest Post by Miriam Judith
At a rally in Bozeman, Montana on Friday, former President Donald Trump called out Kamala Harris through a scathing campaign video that spotlighted her radical and far-left policies.
The video opens with a clip of Harris herself proudly embracing her radical ideology. “Yeah, I am radical. We need to get radical about what we are doing and take it seriously,” Harris declares.
This bold admission serves as a stark introduction to the video’s central theme: Harris’s alignment with far-left and controversial policies.
The video then transitions into a montage showcasing several of Harris’s policy endorsements over recent years. These policies are emblematic of a dangerous and extreme leftist agenda.
Key among these is Harris’s support for a ban on fracking—a method of oil and gas extraction that has been crucial for American energy independence and economic growth. This ban is a significant element of the Green New Deal, which Harris also supports, and is a sweeping proposal that seeks to overhaul the American economy and energy infrastructure in the name of combating climate change.
The video also highlights Harris’s endorsement of stringent gun control measures, including proposals for gun confiscation. These measures are a clear attack on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, with Harris’s policies infringing on Americans’ fundamental freedoms.
Another focal point of the video is Harris’s support for socialist healthcare policies. This includes her endorsement of a government-run healthcare system that eliminates private healthcare. To make matters worse, she admits that she wants to put illegals on this costly government healthcare, as if they haven’t already been enough of a burden to American policy and pocketbooks.
Another clip follows of Harris highlighting her commitment to the “eat ze bugs” agenda by showing her discussing potential changes to dietary guidelines including meat consumption.
Overall, the campaign video clearly shows just how out-of-touch Kamala Harris is with fundamental American values. By highlighting her alignment with extreme leftist policies, the video clearly shows her as a proponent of changes that will fundamentally alter American life in ways that are detrimental.
Watch the Video:
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