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Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is Monday so we’ll read from the Law. Deuteronomy 10-12  I have a special, by request On This Date In Church History for you, and an audio comment from a friend, in response to a prayer request. I’m calling today’s episode “What’s It Take?”  

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Uta Scholl on Unsplash

Comments on Deuteronomy 10

12“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 ESV

These are the actions that God requires of His people.

1. To fear the Lord your God

2. To walk in all His ways

3. To love Him

4. To serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

5. To keep the commandments and statues of the Lord

BONUS: These are all given FOR OUR GOOD.

1. To fear the Lord your God

This is not the kind of fear that makes us tremble with fright. This is an awe inspired respect that causes us to want to please Him. As He invites us into His presence, we are aware of His infinite power, holiness and righteousness. But the fact remains that He has, indeed, invited us. So we realize that He wants us to be with Him. And then we realize the price He paid so that we could be in His presence…Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, died for our sins and was resurrected, defeating death. And the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, came to live inside of us when we accepted Jesus, an unimaginable privilege. All of this helps us to realize how very much God loves us. 1 John 4:18 tells us that “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” We need not fear God if we have placed our faith in Jesus, not the type of fear that means “afraid”.

2. To walk in all His ways

In His Word, God has given instructions for how we should live. He expects and requires us to follow these instructions. Much of the time, our inclination is to follow our own desires, which are diametrically opposed to God’s ways. In spite of our desires, He requires that we choose His way. If we insist on walking in our own ways, how can we say that we are His? When I married the Lovely Lady LeeAnn, I made a vow to be faithful to her, and walk in the ways of matrimony. If I insist on continuing to live as if I were a single man, how could I say that I was truly her husband? I may have said the words, but my heart and my mind was not changed. In a similar way, when I accepted Christ, I began a new relationship with Him and asked Him to be the Lord of my life. My life must reflect that relationship, just as my life must reflect the marriage relationship I have with LeeAnn.

3. To love Him

God requires that we make a conscious decision to love Him. This kind of love is not based on an emotional or romantic whim, but a reasoned response to the love and mercy He has shown toward us. Love is more than a feeling. Love is a decision. I decided to love the Lovely Lady LeeAnn, forsaking all others. Through good times and hard times, in sickness and in health, I promised to love her. That’s a picture of how we are to love God. Sometimes life is sweet, sometimes life is hard. But I choose to love God in all circumstances.

4. To serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

Because we love Him, because of the fact that all that we are and all that we have is because of God’s goodness and love, He requires us to serve Him with our whole being. All that we do should be done as if it were a service to Him. Without Him, I am nothing. My very breath is a gift from God. I owe literally everything to Him. It is my honor to serve Him. It is an obligation, but one that I take on willingly and without reservation. How could I not?

5. To keep the commandments and statues of the Lord

We cannot keep His commandments and statutes unless we know them. Therefore, He requires that we truly study His Word. We must become students of the Word. We must keep it in our hearts and minds. His Word is really a love letter to us. In it, He reveals His heart to us. He shows us what His initial plan for mankind was before the fall, and then how He set about redeeming us so that all could be set right. The more I study and read, the more I want to know Him and do what He wants.

BONUS: These are all given for your good

The Lord our God is not a Cosmic Killjoy. He is not the Sovereign Stick In the Mud or the  Big Buzzkill. His commandments and statutes are given so that we can live the very best life possible; the life that He knows is best for us, even if we can’t understand it. 

God knew from the foundation of the world that we would fail miserably in keeping His commandments. It did not surprise Him when Adam and Eve sinned. God already had the plan of salvation in mind. He gave us free will, knowing that we would make wrong choices. But the alternative, that of having no free will, would mean that we would not love Him out of choice but out of programming. But then, it would not be love. Remember…love is a decision. Forced love is not love…it is something else entirely. So in His perfect love, righteousness and holiness, from the foundation of the world, Jesus knew what He would do for you and for me. I cannot but offer my life as a living sacrifice because of Jesus’ sacrifice. 

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 10 ESV; Ch. 11 HCSB; Ch. 12 NCV

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This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Transcript

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00He’s not a sovereign stick in the mud or the big Buzzkill.

INTRO S12E313 – 0:11Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Monday, so we’ll read from the Law. We’ll read Deuteronomy 10 through 12. And I’ve got a special, by-request, On This Date in Church History for you and an audio comment from a friend in response to a prayer request. I’m calling today’s episode, “What’s It Take?”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e313. Then my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin.

DEUTERONOMY 10 (ESV) – 0:50Deuteronomy, chapter 10. (1) “At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to me on the mountain and make an ark of wood. (2) And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets that you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.’ (3) So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two tablets of stone like the first, and went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hand. (4) And he wrote on the tablets, in the same writing as before, the Ten Commandments that the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly. And the Lord gave them to me. (5) Then I turned and came down from the mountain and put the tablets in the ark that I had made. And there they are, as the Lord commanded me.”

(6) (The people of Israel journeyed from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried. And his son Eleazar ministered as priest in his place. (7) From there they journeyed to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land with brooks of water. (8) At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless his name, to this day. (9) Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God said to him.)

(10) “I myself stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights, and the Lord listened to me that time also. The Lord was unwilling to destroy you. (11) And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, go on your journey at the head of the people, so that they may go in and possess the land, which I swore to their fathers to give them.’

(12) “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, (13) and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good? (14) Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. (15) Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. (16) Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. (17) For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. (18) He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. (19) Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. (20) You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. (21) He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen. (22) Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.

DEUTERONOMY 11 (HSCB) – 3:56Deuteronomy, chapter 11. (1) “Therefore, love the Lord your God and always keep His manda

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is Epistles Sunday. 1 Peter 1-3. I’m calling today’s episode “Not My Will.” 

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash

Comments on 1 Peter 1 and 2

In chapter 1,  Peter called the people to holy living. He told them not to slip back into their old ways of living to satisfy their own desires. “…their own desires…”

And then in chapter 2 when talking to slaves he said that they should submit to their masters with all respect. Not just when the master is kind, but when he is cruel.

And then dropping down again a few verses, Peter says, “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering…”

The common thread here is that we are not to put our own desires or our own rights above all else. We are to remember that we are slaves of God, and put His desires and His agenda ahead of ours. 

Let me complete the thought, “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.”

When Peter says this, he does so as he remembers that horrible night and early morning when Jesus did suffer for me and for you. Peter was an eye witness to the horrible ordeal Jesus suffered. Jesus could have, at any time, called down a legion of angles to wipe out those who were beating him. He could have released Himself from the pain and the chains that held him. He could have insisted on His rights as the Sovereign of All that is!

But He didn’t. He suffered so that we could be saved from the wages of our sins. And we must follow His example. If God puts us in a position of suffering, then we must prayerfully submit to His will, knowing that He loves us and trusting that His will is right. 

Since I know how much He loves me, I do trust Him. And any suffering I have gone through in my life truly has brought me closer to Him. It is worth it.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-2 NLT; Ch. 3 NCV

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This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00He was an eyewitness.

INTRO S12E312 – 0:09Well, hi there. Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Epistle Sunday. We’ll read the first three chapters in the book of 1 Peter, and I’m calling today’s episode, “Not My Will”. The show notes page for today’s episode is lifespringmedia.com/s12e312. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started.

1 PETER 2 (NLT) – 0:411 Peter, chapter 1. (1) This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. (2) God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

May God give you more and more grace and peace.

(3) All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, (4) and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. (5) And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

(6) So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. (7) These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

(8) You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. (9) The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

(10) This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about the gracious salvation prepared for you. (11) They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

(12) They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

(13) So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. (14) So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. (15) But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. (16) For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

(17) And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” (18) For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. (19) It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. (20) God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

(21) Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

(22) You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.

(23) For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. (24) As the Scriptures say,

“People are like grass;their beauty is like a flower in the field.The grass withers and the flower fades.(25) But the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

1 PETER 2 (NLT) – 4:441 Peter, chapter 2. (1) So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. (2) Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, (3) now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

(4) You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.

(5) And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. (6) As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,chosen for great honor,and anyone who trusts in himwill never be disgraced.”

(7) Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him,“The stone that the builders rejectedhas now become the cornerstone.”

(8) And,

“He is the stone that makes people stumble,the rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

(9) But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

(10) “Once you had no identity as a people;now you are God’s people.Once you received no mercy;now you have received God’s mercy.”

(11) Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. (12) Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

(13) For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, (14) or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

(15) It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. (16) For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. (17) Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.

(18) You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. (19) For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. (20) Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

(21) For God called you to do good,...

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is  Saturday Acts 11-12. I’m calling today’s episode “Thunder.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Comments on Acts 12

In verse one of chapter 12 we read that King Herod had arrested some of the Christians in order to persecute them. And in verse two we read that Herod had James, the brother of John put to death with the sword. 

That’s all that is said about James. The narrative moves quickly to the imprisonment of Peter, and how the Angel came to release him in the middle of the night before he was scheduled to be martyred.

But I want to talk a bit about James. Which James is this? The verse says this was James, the brother of John. He was one of the first three disciples that Jesus called at the beginning of His ministry. Jesus called James and John “Boanerges” — Sons of Thunder. 

I was curious about this nickname, so I did a little research. Why did Jesus call these brothers Sons of Thunder? I had a hunch that perhaps it was because they had commanding presence…perhaps with loud voices. I have a brother-in-law with a very loud, booming baritone speaking voice. When Mike speaks, everyone in the room hears him. I could imagine James and John perhaps being like that. 

We do know that Jesus always had a reason for everything He did, so let’s see if Scripture gives us a clue. It’s in Mark 3:17 that we learn that Jesus called them Boanerges, but that verse does not tell us why. 

A clue might be found in Luke 9:54. Jesus was traveling with His disciples, and they passed through Samaria on the way to Jerusalem. While in Samaria, they wanted to stop for the night but the Samaritan people didn’t want them there. Remember, Jews and Samaritans had a hatred for each other, so since Jesus and His disciples were on the way to Jerusalem, the Samaritans thought they were Jews. Which of course they were, technically.

So because of this trouble, James and John asked Jesus if He wanted them to call down fire from Heaven to destroy them. Of course Jesus didn’t let them, and He rebuked them at the idea. But their request does suggest that James and John might have been passionate at the least, and perhaps had short fuses to anger. Sons of Thunder. Seems to fit, don’t you think?

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 11 GNT; Ch. 12 NCV

Support

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00It’s not that he’s yelling. He’s just got a very loud voice.

INTRO S12E304 – 0:11Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Gospel Saturday, and we’re going to read Acts 11 and 12. I’m calling today’s episode “Thunder”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e304. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Are you ready? Let’s go.

ACTS 11 (GNT) – 0:44Acts, chapter 11. (1) The apostles and the other believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. (2) When Peter went to Jerusalem, those who were in favor of circumcising Gentiles criticized him, saying, (3) “You were a guest in the home of uncircumcised Gentiles, and you even ate with them!” (4) So Peter gave them a complete account of what had happened from the very beginning:

(5) “While I was praying in the city of Joppa, I had a vision. I saw something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it stopped next to me. (6) I looked closely inside and saw domesticated and wild animals, reptiles, and wild birds. (7) Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat!’ (8) But I said, ‘Certainly not, Lord! No ritually unclean or defiled food has ever entered my mouth.’ (9) The voice spoke again from heaven, ‘Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.’ (10) This happened three times, and finally the whole thing was drawn back up into heaven. (11) At that very moment three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where I was staying. (12) The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six fellow believers from Joppa accompanied me to Caesarea, and we all went into the house of Cornelius. (13) He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. (14) He will speak words to you by which you and all your family will be saved.’ (15) And when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them just as on us at the beginning. (16) Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ (17) It is clear that God gave those Gentiles the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, then, to try to stop God!”

(18) When they heard this, they stopped their criticism and praised God, saying, “Then God has given to the Gentiles also the opportunity to repent and live!”

(19) Some of the believers who were scattered by the persecution which took place when Stephen was killed went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message to Jews only. (20) But other believers, who were from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and proclaimed the message to Gentiles also, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. (21) The Lord’s power was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

(22) The news about this reached the church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. (23) When he arrived and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad and urged them all to be faithful and true to the Lord with all their hearts. (24) Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and many people were brought to the Lord.

(25) Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. (26) When he found him, he took him to Antioch, and for a whole year the two met with the people of the church and taught a large group. It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.

(27) About that time some prophets went from Jerusalem to Antioch. (28) One of them, named Agabus, stood up and by the power of the Spirit predicted that a severe famine was about to come over all the earth. (It came when Claudius was emperor.) (29) The disciples decided that they each would send as much as they could to help their fellow believers who lived in Judea. (30) They did this, then, and sent the money to the church elders by Barnabas and Saul.

ACTS 12 (NCV) – 4:12Acts, chapter 12. (1) During that same time King Herod began to mistreat some who belonged to the church. (2) He ordered James, the brother of John, to be killed by the sword. (3) Herod saw that some of the people liked this, so he decided to arrest Peter, too. (This happened during the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.)

(4) After Herod arrested Peter, he put him in jail and handed him over to be guarded by sixteen soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people for trial after the Passover Feast. (5) So Peter was kept in jail, but the church prayed earnestly to God for him.

(6) The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Other soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. (7) Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shined in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Hurry! Get up!” the angel said. And the chains fell off Peter’s hands. (8) Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And Peter did. Then the angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.” (9) So Peter followed him out, but he did not know if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he might be seeing a vision. (10) They went past the first and second guards and came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened by itself for them, and they went through it. When they had walked down one street, the angel suddenly left him.

(11) Then Peter realized what had happened. He thought, “Now I know that the Lord really sent this angel to me. He rescued me from Herod and from all the things the people thought would happen.”

(12) When he considered this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people were gathered there, praying. (13) Peter knocked on the outside door, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. (14) When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so happy she forgot to open the door. Instead, she ran inside and told the group, “Peter is at the door!”

(15) They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she kept on saying it was true, so they said, “It must be Peter’s angel.”

(16) Peter continued to knock, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. (17) Peter made a sign with his hand to tell them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord led him out of the jail, and he said, “Tell James and the other believers what happened.” Then he left to go to another place.

(18) The next day the soldiers were very upset and wondered what had happened to Peter. (19) Herod looked everywhere for him but could not find him. So he questioned the guards and ordered that they be killed.

Later Herod moved from Judea and went to the city of Caesarea, where he stayed. (20) Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but the people of those cities all came in a group to him. After convincing Blastus, the king’s personal servant, to be on their side,...

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is  Prophecy Friday. We are in the Minor Prophets, and Zephaniah is next in line  I do have an on this date in church history for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow.”  

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash

Comments on Zephaniah

Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria. It is first mentioned all the way back in Genesis, chapter 10, and then it is not mentioned again until the book of Jonah. 

Nineveh was large, both in area and population. Because of its geographic location on the Tigris river, it was a bustling city of trade and commerce, one of the largest and most successful of all ancient cities.

But as we know, God was not a part of daily life. And as the capital of the Assyrian empire, they were guilty of great sins against God and His chosen people. As we heard in today’s reading, Zephaniah prophesies the destruction of Nineveh, but if you’ll remember, so did Nahum in several verses. 

Around 633 B.C. the Assyrian empire began to decay, as have all empires. In 612 B.C. they were attacked by the Medes and the Babylonians. At its defeat, it was burned to the ground. By 605 B.C. there was nothing left of the once great empire. The Medes and the Babylonians divided the spoils between them.

Nineveh is not mentioned again in the Old Testament. We don’t hear of it again until the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Archaeologists have found the remains of Nineveh. Among other things, they found a wall surrounding the city with a circumference of about eight miles. Today all the ruins are covered by dirt.

It is good to remember that even a great and powerful nation can be reduced to dust if it fails to honor the one true God. And if that is true of a nation, it is even more so true of an individual. No matter your wealth, no matter your power, no matter your talent, if you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, if He is not your Lord and Savior, you are without hope. 

Jesus came to set you free from the things that separate you from God. He is the only way to God. He said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” Jesus is not *a* way to God. He is *the* way to God. There is only one way. You may have heard that all roads lead to God. Really? That sounds nice, but it isn’t true. And it’s actually a silly statement. Tell you what. Right now, I am inviting you to spend the 4th of July at my house. I would be happy to invite you in with my family. We’re going to have a wonderful time together. The swimming pool will be open, the grill will be hot, the beverages will be cold, and we’ll have a feast. I want you here. I invite you with open arms. Really. Come on over. What’s that? You want to know how to get here? Just take any road. All roads lead to my house.

Do you think you’d find my house? Of course not. If you don’t follow the way to my house, you’ll never get here. Same with God. There is one way to God, and Jesus is that way. 

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-3 ERV

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Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00Right now, I’m inviting you to spend the Fourth of July at my house.

INTRO S12E303 – 0:11Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Prophecy Friday. We’re in the Minor Prophets, and we’ll read Zephaniah, all three chapters. I’m calling today’s episode “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e303. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin.

ZEPHANIAH 1 (ERV) – 0:45Zephaniah, chapter 1. (1) This is the message that the Lord gave to Zephaniah. He received this message during the time that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, who was the son of Gedaliah. Gedaliah was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Hezekiah.

(2) The Lord says, “I will destroy everything on earth. (3) I will destroy all the people and all the animals. I will destroy the birds in the air and the fish in the sea. I will destroy the evil people and everything that makes them sin. I will remove all people from the earth.” This is what the Lord said.

(4) “I will punish Judah and the people living in Jerusalem. I will remove from this place any signs of Baal worship. No one will remember the priests who serve the idols there. (5) And those who go up on their roofs to worship the stars will be forgotten. They worship me, the Lord, but they also use the name of the false god Milcom to make promises. (6) They have turned away from me, the Lord. They have stopped following me. They no longer ask me, the Lord, for help.”

(7) Be silent before the Lord GOD, because the Lord’s day for judging the people is coming soon. The Lord has prepared his sacrifice, and he has told his invited guests to get ready.

(8) The Lord said, “On the Lord’s day of sacrifice, I will punish the king’s sons and other leaders. I will punish all the people wearing clothes from other countries. (9) At that time I will punish all the people who jump over the threshold and those who fill their master’s house with lies and violence.”

(10) The Lord also said, “At that time people will be calling for help at the Fish Gate in Jerusalem and mourning in the new part of town. They will hear the sound of destruction in the hills around their city. (11) You people living in the lower part of town will cry, because all the traders and rich merchants will be destroyed.

(12) “At that time I will take a lamp and search through Jerusalem. I will find all those who are satisfied to live their own way. They say, ‘The Lord does nothing. He does not help, and he does not hurt!’ I will find them, and I will punish them. (13) Then others will take their wealth and destroy their houses. Those who built houses will not live in them, and those who planted vineyards will not drink the wine from the grapes.”

(14) The Lord’s special day for judging is coming soon! It is near and coming fast. People will hear very sad sounds on the Lord’s special day of judgment. Even strong soldiers will cry. (15) The Lord will show his anger at that time. It will be a time of terrible troubles and a time of destruction. It will be a time of darkness—a black, cloudy, and stormy day. (16) It will be like a time of war when people hear horns and trumpets in the defense towers and protected cities.

(17) The Lord said, “I will make life very hard on the people. They will walk around like the blind who don’t know where they are going. That will happen because they sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be spilled on the ground. Their dead bodies will be like dung on the ground. (18) Their gold and silver will not help them! At that time the Lord will become very upset and angry. The Lord will destroy the whole world! He will completely destroy everyone on earth!”

ZEPHANIAH 2 (ERV) – 4:00Zephaniah, chapter 2. (1) Shameless people, change your lives (2) before you become like a dry and dying flower. In the heat of the day, a flower will wilt and die. You will be like that when the Lord shows his terrible anger. So change your lives before the Lord shows his anger against you! (3) All you humble people, come to the Lord! Obey his laws. Learn to do good things. Learn and be humble. Maybe then you will be safe when the Lord shows his anger.

(4) No one will be left in Gaza. Ashkelon will be destroyed. By noon, the people will be forced to leave Ashdod. Ekron will be empty. (5) You Cretans living by the sea, this message from the Lord is about you. Canaan, land of the Philistines, you will be destroyed—no one will live there! (6) Your land by the sea will become empty fields for shepherds and their sheep. (7) Then the land will belong to the survivors from Judah. The Lord their God will remember the people from Judah and restore their fortunes. Then they will let their sheep eat the grass in those fields. In the evenings they will lie down in the empty houses of Ashkelon.

(8) The Lord says, “I know what the people of Moab and Ammon did. They embarrassed my people. They took their land to make their own countries larger. (9) So, as surely as I am alive, Moab and the people of Ammon will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. I am the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, and I promise those countries will be completely destroyed forever. Their land will be overgrown with weeds. It will be like the land covered with salt by the Dead Sea. The survivors of my people will take that land and everything left in it.”

(10) This will happen to the people of Moab and Ammon because they were so proud and cruel and humiliated the people of the Lord All-Powerful. (11) They will be afraid of the Lord, because he will destroy their gods. Then everyone in all the faraway lands will worship the Lord. (12) People of Ethiopia, this even means you! The Lord’s sword will kill your people. (13) Then the Lord will turn north and punish Assyria. He will destroy Nineveh—that city will be like an empty, dry desert. (14) Only sheep and wild animals will live in those ruins. Owls and crows will sit on the columns that are left standing. Their calls will be heard coming through the windows. Crows will sit on the doorsteps. Black birds will make their homes in those empty houses. (15) Nineveh is so proud now. It is such a happy city. The people think they are safe....

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is Poetry Thursday and we’ll read Ecclesiastes 3-4. I have an on this date in church history for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Two Are Better Than One.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Quaritsch Photography on Unsplash

Comments on Ecclesiastes 4

These chapters, while not entirely inspiring, seem to be a little less hopeless sounding than the first two, don’t you think? 

There’s a lot here to think about, but in our limited time, I’d like to focus for just a moment on chapter four.

Halfway through the chapter, Solomon talked about the man who works so hard he has no family, no son or even a brother. And he said that this is a bad and senseless thing. No disagreement there, right?

But then he talks about a better alternative. The next four verses explain that two are better than one, and three are even better. Like Solomon, in my older years I have learned that this is true.

My dad was very much a loner. A “self made man”. He worked literally seven days a week until he got too old to work. In all my childhood years, until I moved out of the house at the age of 21, he probably took no more than a total of a month off work for a very few short vacations. He did pretty well for himself, financially, though never rich. But for a guy who barely finished the eighth grade, he did well. 

When I was a boy, he taught me that friends would always let you down, and that it is better to keep people at arm’s length. Don’t let anyone in. Do things on your own. Don’t ask for help. Figure things out yourself. Be your own man.

It wasn’t until many, many years later that I found out just how poor that makes you, even if you have a lot of money. When my dad died, he had no friends at his funeral. No one but my mom, my sister and her three children, my wife, my kids and me to mourn him. 

My father-in-law was the exact opposite of my dad. He was giving, warm, caring, loving man. He worked almost until the day he died, not because he was trying to accumulate money, but because he barely made enough to pay the bills. He was an integral part of our church and was there whenever the doors were open. I can’t tell you all the jobs he had at church over the years. Suffice it to say that if he saw something that needed to be done, he did it. Everyone loved and respected Rip Collins. And when he died, there was not an empty seat in the church nor a dry eye in the house. Rip Collins died a rich man. And I have no doubt that when he met Jesus he heard a hearty, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

My father-in-law knew that it is better to be with people than go it alone. There is no virtue in being a self made man if you close out the world in the process.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 3-4 ERV

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Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00But then he talked about a better alternative.

INTRO S12E302 – 0:10Well, hello there. This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year and today is Poetry Thursday. We’ll read Ecclesiastes three and four. I’ve got an On This Date in Church History, and I’m calling today’s episode ìTwo Are Better Than Oneî. Show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e290. Would you like to send me an email? Oh, good. Send it to st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin.

ECCLESIASTES 3 (ERV) – 0:47Ecclesiastes, chapter three.

(1) There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time.(2) There is a time to be bornand a time to die.There is a time to plantand a time to pull up plants.(3) There is a time to killand a time to heal.There is a time to destroyand a time to build.(4) There is a time to cryand a time to laugh.There is a time to be sadand a time to dance with joy.(5) There is a time to throw weapons downand a time to pick them up.There is a time to hug someoneand a time to stop holding so tightly.(6) There is a time to look for somethingand a time to consider it lost.There is a time to keep thingsand a time to throw things away.(7) There is a time to tear clothand a time to sew it.There is a time to be silentand a time to speak.(8) There is a time to loveand a time to hate.There is a time for warand a time for peace.

(9) Do people really gain anything from their hard work? (10) I saw all the hard work God gave us to do. (11) Go gave us the ability to think about his world, but we can never completely understand everything he does. And yet, he does everything at just the right time.

(12) I learned that the best thing for people to do is to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live. (13) God wants everyone to eat, drink, and enjoy their work. These are gifts from God.

(14) I learned that anything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to the work of God, and they cannot take anything away from it. God did this so that people would respect him. (15) What happened in the past has happened, and what will happen in the future will happen. But God wants to help those who have been treated badly.

(16) I also saw these things in this life: I saw that the courts should be filled with goodness and fairness, but there is evil there now. (17) So I said to myself, ìGod has planned a time for everything, and he has planned a time to judge everything people do. He will judge good people and bad people.î

(18) I thought about what people do to each other. And I said to myself, ìGod wants people to see that they are like animals. (19) The same thing happens to animals and to peopleóthey die. People and animals have the same ëbreath.í Is a dead animal different from a dead person? It is all so senseless! (20) The bodies of people and animals end the same way. They came from the earth, and, in the end, they will go back to the earth. (21) Who knows what happens to a personís spirit? Who knows if a humanís spirit goes up to God while an animalís spirit goes down into the ground?î

(22) So I saw that the best thing people can do is to enjoy what they do, because that is all they have. Besides, no one can help another person see what will happen in the future.

ECCLESIASTES 4 (ERV) – 4:00Ecclesiastes, chapter four. (1) Again I saw that many people are treated badly. I saw their tears, and I saw that there was no one to comfort them. I saw that cruel people had all the power, and I saw that there was no one to comfort the people they hurt. (2) I decided that it is better for those who have died than for those who are still alive. (3) And it is even better for those who die at birth, because they never saw the evil that is done in this world.

(4) Then I thought, ìWhy do people work so hard?î I saw people try to succeed and be better than other people. They do this because they are jealous. They donít want other people to have more than they have. This is senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind.

(5) Some people say, ìIt is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing. If you donít work, you will starve to death.î (6) Maybe that is true. But I say it is better to be satisfied with the few things you have than to always be struggling to get more.

(7) Again I saw something else that didnít make sense: (8) I saw a man who has no family, not a son or even a brother. But he continues to work very hard. He is never satisfied with what he has. And he works so hard that he never stops and asks himself, ìWhy am I working so hard? Why donít I let myself enjoy my life?î This is also a very bad and senseless thing.

(9) Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done.

(10) If one person falls, the other person can reach out to help. But those who are alone when they fall have no one to help them.

(11) If two people sleep together, they will be warm. But a person sleeping alone will not be warm.

(12) An enemy might be able to defeat one person, but two people can stand back-to-back to defend each other. And three people are even stronger. They are like a rope that has three parts wrapped togetheróit is very hard to break.

(13) A young leader who is poor but wise is better than a king who is old but foolish. That old king does not listen to warnings. (14) Maybe the young ruler was born a poor man in the kingdom. And maybe he came from prison to rule the country. (15) But I have watched people in this life, and I know this: People will follow that young man. He will become the new king. (16) Many people will follow this young man. But later, those same people will not like him. This is all so senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind.

COMMENTS – 6:36Well, beloved, these two chapters, while not entirely inspiring seem to be a little less hopeless sounding than the first two, don’t you think? There’s a lot to think about here. But in our limited time, I’d like to focus for just a moment on chapter four. Halfway through that chapter, Solomon talked about the man who works so hard. He has no family, no son, or even a brother. And he said that this is a bad and senseless thing to do. No disagreement there, right?

But then he talks about a better alternative. The next four verses explained that two are better than one and three are even better. And like Solomon here in my older years, I’ve learned that this is indeed true.

My dad was very much a loner. He was what we call a self-made man. And he worked literally seven days a week until he got too old to work....

What does John 1:5 mean? In one of the most beloved passages in Scripture, John reminds us that "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." No matter how dark our world or our circumstances become, the light of Jesus Christ has never stopped shining.

In this episode of Verses We Missed, we explore John 1:1–5 and discover why John introduces the theme of darkness so early in his Gospel. Along the way, we'll see how Jesus is the eternal Word, the Creator, the source of life, and the Light that darkness can never overcome. Browse more episodes at Recent Episodes.

Darkness Can Never Extinguish It

John 1:1–5 (NLT)

John opens his Gospel with breathtaking truths about Jesus, but nestled among those majestic verses is one statement that can easily be overlooked:

John 1:5 (NLT)

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."

Those few words remind us that darkness has never been a rival equal to God. It has never defeated His light, and it never will.

What Does John 1:5 Mean?

John begins by introducing Jesus as the eternal Word who existed before creation, was with God, and is God. Everything that exists was created through Him, and His life became the light of humanity.

Only after establishing who Jesus is does John introduce darkness. That order matters. Before we can understand the struggle between light and darkness, we must first understand the supremacy of the One who is the Light.

John's declaration is wonderfully simple: the light continues to shine, and the darkness has never been able to extinguish it.

Why Does John Mention Darkness?

Darkness isn't introduced because it's equal to the light. Rather, it highlights the power and permanence of Christ.

As Steve explains in this episode, darkness has no substance of its own. It is simply the absence of light. The moment light appears, darkness gives way.

That picture helps us understand spiritual reality. Satan creates nothing; he corrupts what God has made. Evil has no independent power to overcome the Lord. John's message is one of confidence: Jesus Christ continues to shine, regardless of how dark the world may appear.

John 1:5 Explained in One Sentence

John 1:5 teaches that Jesus Christ, the eternal Light, continually shines into a fallen world, and no power of darkness has ever been able to overcome, extinguish, or defeat Him.

What Should We Do With This Truth?

There are seasons when life feels dark. We face uncertainty, grief, unanswered prayers, or fears that seem larger in the middle of the night than they do during the day.

John reminds us that our circumstances never determine whether Christ's light is shining. Jesus remains exactly who He has always been. His light continues to reveal truth, guide His people, and bring life to everyone who trusts in Him.

Rather than becoming consumed by darkness, believers are invited to fix their eyes on the One who has already overcome it.

Related Scriptures

Genesis 1:1–3 — John's opening words intentionally echo creation, reminding us that the Light was present from the very beginning.

John 8:12 — Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world."

2 Corinthians 4:6 — God shines His light into human hearts through Christ.

1 John 1:5 — God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Podcast Chapters

00:00 Opening Reflection

01:39 Welcome to Verses We Missed

02:04 John 1:1–5 (NLT)

02:37 The Eternal Word

05:56 From Life to Light

06:57 Darkness Cannot Win

10:24 When Life Feels Dark

12:24 Why People Prefer Darkness

14:01 Jesus Enters the Darkness

15:20 The Verse We Missed

17:50 Closing Prayer

19:49 Support Verses We Missed

20:30 Final Blessing

Support the Show

Verses We Missed is a value-for-value podcast. If this episode encouraged you, consider returning value by praying for the ministry, sharing the episode with a friend, or supporting Lifespring! Media financially.

Learn more at https://lifespringmedia.com/support/.

More from Lifespring! Media

If you enjoy digging deeper into God's Word, you might also enjoy these other podcasts from Steve Webb:

Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind — Journey through the entire Bible with daily readings, insightful commentary, and practical application.

Lifespring! HymnStories — Discover the fascinating stories, theology, and history behind beloved Christian hymns.

Lifespring! — Bible teaching, Christian encouragement, interviews, and conversations designed to help you grow in your walk with Christ.

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is Psalms Wednesday. We’ll read chapters 125-127. I’m calling today’s episode “Who Is Building Your House?”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Foreground: Callum Hill | Background: Barthelemy de Mazenod | Both from Unsplash

Comments on Psalm 127

It is believed that Solomon had the building of the temple in mind when he wrote “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” Of course, this thought can be applied to building a family or pretty much any other endeavor. If God is not in it, there will be no lasting value. 

With that in mind, it is always a good idea to seek God’s will and His blessing in any undertaking. Let’s ask God to guide our steps and our decisions. Let’s invite Him to step in and take over in our home, our work, our school, our church and our government. Let’s ask him to build our house, because we don’t want our labor to be in vain. We want the fruit of our labor to last. Don’t you agree?

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 125-127 ESV

Support

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00We don’t want our labor to be in vain.

INTRO S12E301 – 0:09Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today is Psalms Wednesday. We’re gonna read chapters 125 through 127. Before reading each chapter, I’ve got a short introduction to you. And then afterwards, of course, I’ve got some comments. I’m calling today’s episode, “Who is Building Your House?” Today’s show notes pageis at lifespringmedia.com/s12e301, if you’d like to comment on today’s show, and my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started.

INTRO TO PSALM 125 – 0:47Psalm 125 is in the series of Psalms from 120 through 135, that are titled Songs of Ascent. As the people of Israel made the journey to Jerusalem for one of the three annual feasts, they would sing these songs. Psalm 125 would be especially appropriate as they made their way up to the city and the temple.

PSALM 125 (ESV) – 1:08Psalms, chapter 125.

(1) Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,which cannot be moved, but abides forever.(2) As the mountains surround Jerusalem,so the Lord surrounds his people,from this time forth and forevermore.(3) For the scepter of wickedness shall not reston the land allotted to the righteous,lest the righteous stretch outtheir hands to do wrong.(4) Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,and to those who are upright in their hearts!(5) But those who turn aside to their crooked waysthe Lord will lead away with evildoers!Peace be upon Israel!

INTRO TO PSALM 126 – 1:48Psalm 126 is also a Song of Ascent and it may have been written as the song of gratitude to God for His restoration of Israel after the exile.

PSALM 126 (ESV) – 1:58Psalms, chapter 126.

(1) When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,we were like those who dream.(2) Then our mouth was filled with laughter,and our tongue with shouts of joy;then they said among the nations,“The Lord has done great things for them.”(3) The Lord has done great things for us;we are glad.

(4) Restore our fortunes, O Lord,like streams in the Negeb!(5) Those who sow in tearsshall reap with shouts of joy!(6) He who goes out weeping,bearing the seed for sowing,shall come home with shouts of joy,bringing his sheaves with him

INTRO TO PSALM 127 – 2:34The title of Psalm 127 is slightly different, instead of being just called A Song of Ascents, this one is called A Song of Ascents of Solomon. While some scholars believe that the author of this psalm is David, writing to Solomon, most scholars believe that this Psalm was written by Solomon. He, of course, was the son of King David and he succeeded David to the throne. Solomon is known for many things, but he’s most noted for being the wisest man who ever lived, and for writing the Old Testament books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. And last but certainly not least, he is responsible for the building of the first Temple in Jerusalem.

PSALMS 127 (ESV) – 3:14Psalms, chapter 127.

(1) Unless the Lord builds the house,those who build it labor in vain.Unless the Lord watches over the city,the watchman stays awake in vain.(2) It is in vain that you rise up earlyand go late to rest,eating the bread of anxious toil;for he gives to his beloved sleep.(3) Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,the fruit of the womb a reward.(4) Like arrows in the hand of a warriorare the children of one’s youth.(5) Blessed is the manwho fills his quiver with them!He shall not be put to shamewhen he speaks with his enemies in the gate

COMMENTS – 03:54Well, Beloved, it is believed that Solomon had the building of the temple in mind when he wrote “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” in Psalm 127. Of course, this thought can be applied to building a family or pretty much any other endeavor. If God is not in it, then there will be no lasting value to it. With that in mind, it’s always a good idea to seek God’s will and His blessing in any undertaking. Let’s ask God to guide our steps and our decisions. Let’s invite him to step in and take over in our home, and our work, our school, our church, and our government. Let’s ask him to build our house because we don’t want our labor to be in vain. We want the fruit of our labor to last.

Do you agree? Let me know. Leave a comment at lifespringmedia.com/s12e301. Tomorrow is Poetry Thursday and we’ll read Ecclesiastes 3 through 4.

Boost!

PRODUCER SHOUT-OUT AND VALUE-FOR-VALUE – 4:52Our Associate Producer today is Kirsty who sent in her monthly $20 donation. Kirsty, thank you, for your generosity. Thank you for the work you do on the newsletter.

And if you enjoy the show, if you think there’s value to it, if it adds to your life and you’re happy to see a new episode every single day, then it would be great if you’d help to support the show. It’s a value-for-value thing. From the value that you receive from the show, convert part of that to a number and sent it into the show. Go to lifespringmedia.com/support. Take a look around there. See if what’s there makes sense to you. If it does pray about it. Ask the Lord what he would have you do and then do it, lifespringmedia.com/support. And whether you support the show with time, talent or treasure, I thank you and I do think God will bless you for it.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 5:47On this date in church history, June 29, 1757, Anglican clergyman and hymn writer John Newton offered this encouragement in a letter. He said, “Whatever we may undertake with a sincere desire to promote his glory, we may comfortably pursue. Nothing is trivial that is done for him.”

CLOSING PRAYER – 6:05Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, we do want you to build our house. Nothing matters if you’re not in it, but when we work in concert with you, there are eternally lasting results. So we ask that you would lead us show us what you want us to do. Bless the Lifespring family, I pray Lord. I pray this in Jesus name, amen.

If you have a prayer request or a praise go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com.

OUTRO S12E301 – 6:44Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e301. Send an email to me at st***@*************ia.com. Thanks to the team: Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise.

And Kirsty, again, thank you for your donation today.

And, Beloved, thank you for inviting me into your life today. Support the show at lifespringmedia.com/support.

And until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Transcribed by https://otter.aiCorrected by Denise

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Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is  History Tuesday. Our reading is 2 Chronicles 29-32. I’m calling today’s episode “Changes.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Jesper Aggergaard on Unsplash

Comments on 2 Chronicles 29-32

Hezekiah was a remarkable king, wasn’t he? 

His father was Ahaz, who reigned before him, and he was one of the most evil kings of Judah. If you’ve been listening along, no doubt you remember him and the heinous things he did, including sacrificing his own children.

That Hezekiah was such a good king is certainly noteworthy. As chapter 29, verse 2 says, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.” Bible commentator G. Campbell Morgan said of him, “His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah, probably the person mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 8:2) as a ‘faithful witness.’ This possible friendship of his mother for the prophet, combined with the certainty that up to this time he had been under the influence of Isaiah’s ministry, may account for Hezekiah’s action on coming to the throne.” 

Whatever the reason for his devotion to following God, he was a welcome contrast to his father, wouldn’t you say?

Think of the courage that was necessary for Hezekiah to reverse the course of Judah. Pagan altars, idols, and temples were destroyed. The bronze serpent that Moses had made in the desert (Numbers 21:9) was also destroyed, because the people had made it an idol (2 Kings 18:4). The temple in Jerusalem, whose doors had been nailed shut by Hezekiah’s own father, was cleaned out and reopened. The Levitical priesthood was reinstated (2 Chronicles 29:5), and the Passover was reinstituted as a national holiday (2 Chronicles 30:1). 

Instead of Hezekiah being cancelled, revival came to Judah. And God blessed him. 

Beloved, I believe that Hezekiah is a good example for us. He knew that his nation had wandered far from God under the leadership of his father, Ahaz. And when he had the opportunity, he boldly made the changes necessary to make things right. He even confronted the temple priests who had been entirely derelict in their duties. He told them to clean out the temple and sanctify themselves, the temple and everything in it. 

Each of us can do our part to make things right with God. We can pray daily for those in all levels of government. We can pray for our pastors, that they will have the courage to say and do what is right in the eyes of God in the pulpit. We can make our voices heard. 

We are called to be salt and light, beloved. Ask the Holy Spirit to give opportunities to make a difference. He will answer that prayer, guaranteed. Then when He does it, have the courage to follow His leading. Revival can begin today, beloved. It starts when God’s people cry out to Him, and then have the courage to follow His leading.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 29 ESV; Ch. 30-31 NLT; Ch. 32 NIV

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00Hezekiah is a good example for us.

INTRO S12E306 – 0:10Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. For those of you in the US of A, I hope you had a great Fourth of July. Today is History Tuesday. Our reading is 2 Chronicles 29 through 32. I’m calling today’s episode “Changes”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e307. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin.

2 CHRONICLES 29 (ESV) – 0:482 Chronicles, chapter 29. (1) Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. (2) And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

(3) In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. (4) He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east (5) and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. (6) For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs. (7) They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel. (8) Therefore the wrath of the Lord came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. (9) For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. (10) Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. (11) My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”

(12) Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; (13) and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; (14) and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. (15) They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. (16) The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron. (17) They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the Lord. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the Lord, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. (18) Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. (19) All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.”

(20) Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the Lord. (21) And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord. (22) So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar. (23) Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them, (24) and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

(25) And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king’s seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the Lord through his prophets. (26) The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. (27) Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. (28) The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished. (29) When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. (30) And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.

(31) Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. (32) The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. (33) And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. (34) But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves. (35) Besides the great number of burnt offerings,...

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Being  Monday, we’ll read from the Law. Deuteronomy 7-9. I’m calling today’s episode “Remember.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Evgeni Tcherkasski on Unsplash

Comments on Deuteronomy 7-9

As we often read here in Deuteronomy and other places in the Old Testament, God tells the people what He will do, and then He reminds them…many times. And He tells them what He did, and then He reminds them what He did, many times. 

Why does He do that? Why does God repeat Himself so much? Because they forget. Over and over again, they forget. And when it isn’t forgetfulness, they simply choose to ignore Him. They go their own way willingly. They rebel.

Crazy, right? 

No, not crazy. Just sinful. Why are they sinful? Because they are human beings. And being human, they have a sin nature. 

Which makes them…just like you and me. We, too need to be reminded repeatedly what the Lord said, what He did, and what He will do. We are no different than the children of Israel of the Old Testament. At least as far as our basic nature is concerned.

But those of us who have become followers of Jesus, those of us who have a real relationship with Him, those of us who are Christians have something that they did not. We have the Holy Spirit living in us. And we are no longer slaves to sin, as Paul said in Romans. 

But, as God said through Moses in Deuteronomy chapter nine, verse four, “…do not say in your heart, ‘The Lord has brought me in to take this land because I am right and good.’” That, beloved, is the sin of pride, which gets us into all kinds of trouble.

We are not saved because of anything we did, or because we deserved it. We are recipients of God’s grace only because of His goodness and His love. He did not call us because He needs us, He called us because we need Him.

Which is why we must stay close to Him. We are like the children of Israel in that we have to be reminded over and over again who God is, what He said, what He did, and what He will do. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He gave His Son, that we might live. He gave us His Word, that we might know Him. He has made it possible to live lives that are pleasing to Him, that He might bless us if we follow Him and determine in our hearts that we *will* follow Him. Not that we will never stumble, because we will. But we must quickly seek is forgiveness. And we know from 1 John 1:9 that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Not because we deserve it, but because of His grace.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 7 NASB; Ch. 8 NET; Ch. 9 NLV

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Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00Just like you and me.

INTRO S12E306 – 0:09Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. And if you’re in the United States, Happy Independence Day. This is the day that we celebrate the birth of our country and independence from the tyranny of the British crown. And today, sadly, there’s a growing push by many in our country to establish more tyranny within our borders. Pray that those efforts will be defeated, and that we can hold on to the freedoms given to us by Almighty God. Well, being Monday we’ll read from the Law, Deuteronomy 7 through 9. I’m calling today’s episode, “Remember”. The show notes page for today is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e306. If you’d like to email me, I’d like to get your email. Send it to: st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin.

DEUTERONOMY 7 (NASB) – 1:04Deuteronomy, chapter 7. (1) “When the Lord your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, (2) and when the Lord your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. (3) Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. (4) For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you. (5) But thus you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire. (6) For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

(7) “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, (8) but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (9) Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (10) but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. (11) Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them.

(12) “Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you His covenant and His lovingkindness which He swore to your forefathers. (13) He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you. (14) You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren among you or among your cattle. (15) The Lord will remove from you all sickness; and He will not put on you any of the harmful diseases of Egypt which you have known, but He will lay them on all who hate you. (16) You shall consume all the peoples whom the Lord your God will deliver to you; your eye shall not pity them, nor shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.

(17) “If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’ (18) you shall not be afraid of them; you shall well remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: (19) the great trials which your eyes saw and the signs and the wonders and the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the Lord your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. (20) Moreover, the Lord your God will send the hornet against them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you perish. (21) You shall not dread them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. (22) The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you. (23) But the Lord your God will deliver them before you, and will throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed. (24) He will deliver their kings into your hand so that you will make their name perish from under heaven; no man will be able to stand before you until you have destroyed them. (25) The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. (26) You shall not bring an abomination into your house, and like it come under the ban; you shall utterly detest it and you shall utterly abhor it, for it is something banned.

DEUTERONOMY 8 (NET) – 5:33Deuteronomy chapter 8. (1) You must keep carefully all these commandments I am giving you today so that you may live, increase in number, and go in and occupy the land that the Lord has promised to your ancestors. (2) Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these forty years through the desert so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not. (3) So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord’s mouth. (4) Your clothing did not wear out nor did your feet swell all these forty years. (5) Be keenly aware that just as a parent disciplines his child, the Lord your God disciplines you. (6) So you must keep his commandments, live according to his standards, and revere him. (7) For the Lord your God is bringing you to a good land, a land of brooks, springs, and fountains flowing forth in valleys and hills, (8) a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates, of olive trees and honey, (9) a land where you may eat food in plenty and find no lack of anything, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you can mine copper. (10) You will eat your fill and then praise the Lord your God because of the good land he has given you....

Transcript

Distinguished Producer

Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Paul of Seattle.

Podcast Introduction

Today is  Epistles Sunday James 4-5. I’m calling today’s episode “Golden Nuggets.” 

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash

Comments on James 4

Some have said that James is a bit like the book of Proverbs because of the way nuggets of truth are presented. Let’s look at a few of them.

James 4:2b – You do not have, because you do not ask.

Prayer is a necessary part of the Christian’s life. If we want God to bless us, we must ask. Listen to Charles Spurgeon: “Remember this text: Jehovah says to his own Son, ‘Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.’ If the royal and divine Son of God cannot be exempted from the rule of asking that he may have, you and I cannot expect the rule to be relaxed in our favor. Why should it be?” Also from Spurgeon: “If you may have everything by asking, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is, and I beseech you to abound in it… Do you know, brothers, what great things are to be had for the asking? Have you ever thought of it? Does it not stimulate you to pray fervently? All heaven lies before the grasp of the asking man; all the promises of God are rich and inexhaustible, and their fulfillment is to be had by prayer.”

James 4:3 – You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 

Contrast this with 1 John 5:14 – And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

James 4:4b – Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 

Beloved, we cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in God’s kingdom. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, ““No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”

James 4:6b-7a – “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.”

Pride is at the center of sin. Pride caused the fall of Lucifer. Pride caused the fall of Adam and Eve, and thus our sinful nature. Is it any wonder that God opposes the proud? But when we humble ourselves before God, when we confess our sin, God pours out His grace. It isn’t as though our humility *earns* God’s grace, but when we are humble, we are acknowledging that we are in need of the grace that He so freely gives. Spurgeon: “Do you suffer from spiritual poverty? It is your own fault, for he giveth more grace. If you have not got it, it is not because it is not to be had, but because you have not gone for it.” 

James 4:7b – Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Notice the text does not say, “…and he may flee from you.” or “…sometimes he will flee from you.” When we actively resist the enemy’s lies and temptations, we are *promised* that he will flee, though he will return to test our resolve. We can and we must resist him, in the name of Jesus,  as the already defeated foe he is. The Greek word translated as “resist” is a combination of two words: stand against. We are never conquered as long as we do not consent. 

James 4:8 – Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

This is both an invitation and a promise. And it comes directly after the “resist and he will flee” promise. When we resist the devil, we can and we *should* draw near to God. It is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was tempted in the desert, but He did not sin. When we have had an encounter with temptation, the best thing we can do is draw near to God for shelter and for strength. How do we draw near to God? In prayer, in worship and in praise. We learn to walk with God in our daily lives. We respond to His invitation to have an ongoing, daily, hour by our and minute by minute relationship with Him. We ask Him to guide our decisions and help us with our struggles. We thank Him for His blessings. In short, we live our lives with the awareness that He is always with us, and He delights in us. And we delight in Him.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 4-5 ESV

Support

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00We can’t have one foot in the world and one foot in God’s kingdom.

INTRO S12E305 – 0:11Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. I’m so glad you’re here today. Thanks for joining me. Today is Epistle Sunday. We’re going to read James 4 and 5. I’m calling today’s episode, “Golden Nuggets”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e305. I’d love it if you go by and leave a comment. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin.

JAMES 4 (ESV) – 0:45James, chapter 4. (1) What causes quarrels and fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? (2) You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. (3) You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (4) You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (5) Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? (6) But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (9) Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. (10) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

(11) Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (12) There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

(13) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— (14) yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (15) Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (16) As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. (17) So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

JAMES 5 (ESV) – 2:52James, chapter 5. (1) Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. (2) Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. (3) Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. (4) Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. (5) You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. (6) You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

(7) Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. (8) You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (9) Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. (10) As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (11) Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

(12) But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

(13) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. (14) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (16) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (17) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. (18) Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

(19) My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, (20) let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering