The Help of God (1 Sam 7:7–12) Israel repented, and the enemy appeared. They were afraid, but instead of reaching for the ark they reached for prayer. A lamb was offered. Samuel cried. God heard. Heaven thundered. Israel pursued. Victory came. Then Samuel raised a stone. What should we remember? The battle after repentance does not mean repentance was wrong. Weakness can drive us into the safest place, dependence upon God. Prayer must rest upon the sacrifice and intercession of Christ. God's help does not excuse us from action. And past mercy must never be forgotten. So when the next Philistine appears, do not merely stare at the size of the army. Look at your Ebenezer.

Closing out the first chapter of John, the preacher takes up the promise of angels ascending and descending upon the Son of man and traces it back to Jacob's dream of the ladder in Genesis 28. He argues that the ladder is a picture of Christ Himself, the only one who is both fully God and fully man, and therefore the only one who can join earth to heaven and bring sinners to the Father. The message contrasts man's attempts to climb to God by works, law-keeping and religion with the finished work God set up on His own, where the sinner is called simply to behold and trust. A warning runs alongside it: Jacob slept through the setting up of the ladder, and men can sleep through the very revelation of the Messiah placed right in front of them. It closes with a call to wake up, stay in the word, and make Christ known while the time is short.

"Praying Out of Selfishness" Luke 12:13-21

Teachings about treasure, anxiety, judging, the golden rule, prayer, fruit, false prophets, last day surprises... all from the lips of Jesus.

Jesus heals with a touch, casts out demons with a word!

The Morning Devotional Season 11 | Edition 74 August 24, 2026 Psalm 114 This devotional explores Psalm 114, interpreting the historical Exodus as a typological foreshadowing of spiritual redemption through Jesus Christ. The speaker highlights God's sovereign power over nature and His role in judging sin while delivering His people from bondage. By connecting the Passover lamb to Christ, the message emphasizes that believers are freed from slavery to sin and guided toward their ultimate heavenly rest. The sermon underscores the continuity between Israel's journey and the Christian life, portraying Jesus as the greater Moses leading the new Exodus. Ultimately, it calls for gratitude and praise for God's faithfulness in ensuring the believer's arrival at eternal dwelling with Him.

The Morning Devotional Season 11 | Edition 74 Psalm 114 Providence Presbyterian Church Evansville, IN Pastor's Website: https://theparchment.net/ This devotional explores Psalm 114 as a poetic depiction of God's mighty deliverance of Israel from Egypt and His provision in the Promised Land. The speaker connects this historical redemption to the spiritual reality of the New Exodus, where Jesus Christ acts as the ultimate Passover Lamb who frees believers from the bondage of sin. By examining the psalm's imagery of nature trembling before God's presence, the message highlights divine judgment against evil and the assurance of heavenly rest for the faithful. The sermon emphasizes that just as God guided Israel through miraculous events, He continues to guide and protect His people on their journey toward eternal life. Ultimately, the text serves as a call to praise God for His power, faithfulness, and ongoing leadership in the lives of believers.