What Is The Most Precious Gift In Life?

The Holy Spirit woke me with the Words "Tanner and Sheneen are pregnant" and not sure who they are, but congratulations. I did write the date down but now I need to find the notebook I wrote it in. When I find it I will add it to this post because it was the inspiration for this post.

What Is The Most Precious Gift In life? 

Giving is the ultimate gift of life – and you don't need money or special skills to do it. The best way to give to others is to be fully present. To give deeply of yourself, your time and attention. The gift of presence, of experiencing every moment fully, is also the greatest gift you can give yourself.

How is family a gift from God?

The good news is that the Bible is positive about families; the family was God's idea – an integral part of being human. God affirms families. He intended them to be something powerful for good, places of belonging and trust, of learning and loving. 

What is God's most precious gift?

The Lord Jesus Christ is our most precious of all gifts from God. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

What are the three symbolic gifts?

Their gifts had special symbolic meanings as well: gold signified Jesus' status as "King of the Jews;" frankincense represented the infant's divinity and identity as the Son of God; and myrrh touched upon Jesus' mortality. (Learn what archaeology is telling us about the real Jesus.)

What are the four spiritual gifts?

Inner Guidance and the Four Spiritual Gifts: Each of us is born with the four spiritual gifts--clairvoyance (inner vision), clairaudience (inner thoughts or ideas), prophecy (inner knowing), and healing (inner feelings).

What are the five spiritual gifts?

Ephesians 4:11 lists 5 gifts which are Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. These 5 are unique – they are governing ministry gifts given to people who are called to ministry leadership within the global and local church.

What are the seven great gifts?

Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit 

Wisdom

Understanding

Counsel

Fortitude

Knowledge

Piety

Fear of the Lord

Discover Your Gifts

Here are nine ideas to help you discover some of your not-so-obvious gifts.

Ask Others To Let You Know

Sometimes we don’t see in ourselves what others can see in us. Ask a friend, relative, or Church leader to write you a note about a gift or talent they see in you.

Look For Gifts In Adversity

During hard times we can choose between letting our best qualities or our worst qualities come out. When times are tough, focus on discovering and using your best qualities and gifts.

Pray For The Help To Recognize Your Gifts

Heavenly Father knows our divine potential. If we have a difficult time seeing that in ourselves, He can help. You can pray for help to recognize your gifts.

Don’t Be Afraid To Branch Out

Do we only develop the gifts that we already know we have because we’re too afraid to do something we haven’t done before? Now’s the time to try something new and discover unknown gifts.

Search The Word Of God

Heavenly Father helps us discover and develop our gifts through clues found in the scriptures—usually through invitations to act. Take this scripture for example: “Cease to contend one with another; cease to speak evil one of another” (D&C 136:23). What gifts could you develop from this invitation? The gift of speaking kind words, the gift to calm others, the gift of restraint, and more. And that’s just from one verse!

Look Outside Yourself

Sometimes our best qualities come out when we’re not focusing on ourselves but focusing instead on how we can work with and help others. When we do that, we’ll see that we have many Christlike gifts.

Think About People You Look Up To

Who are some of your role models? You can make a list of all of the gifts your role models have and, instead of focusing on which gifts you don’t have in common, celebrate discovering the ones you do.

Reflect On Your Family

What gifts do you have that your siblings, parents, or grandparents have too? Go further! Research family history, discover stories, and identify even more gifts you share with your family.

Receive and Study Your Patriarchal Blessing

Your blessing could talk about gifts you have and should develop, and it could also point you to the path that will lead to the discovery of other new gifts and talents.

Be Perfected in Him

We don’t have to be the best at everything to know we’re worthwhile children of God. We just need to be dedicated to discovering and developing our gifts and talents—then, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can become perfect in Him.

PRAYING FOR YOUR CHILDREN

Father, I am Your child. I have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. My sins are forgiven. As the head of my household, I pray according to Your Word, asking for Your protection for each of us. Give safety to my children and ease them day by day. Our life is exceedingly filled with the scorning and scoffing of those who are at ease and with the contempt of the proud (irresponsible tyrants who disregard Your law). Lord, You see the violence that is in the streets and in our schools. The drug dealers and the gang members living in our neighborhoods are waiting to snare our children.

On the authority of Your Word, I ask that You destroy [their schemes]; O Lord, confuse their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the inner city. Day and night they go about on its walls; iniquity and mischief are in its midst. Violence and ruin are within it; fraud and guile do not depart from its streets and marketplaces. I am calling upon You, Lord, and You will save me and my household as well.

Father, in the name of Jesus, You, and You alone, are our safety and our protection. My household and I are looking to You, for our strength comes from You — the God Who made heaven and earth. You will not let us stumble. You are our Guardian God Who will not fall asleep. You are right at our side to protect us. You guard us from every evil, You guard our very lives. You guard us when we leave and when we return. You guard us now; You guard us always.

My household was chosen and foreknown by You, Father, and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood. We receive grace (spiritual blessing) and peace in ever-increasing abundance [that spiritual peace to be realized in and through Christ, freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts].

Lord, Your Son, Jesus, became our Passover by shedding His own precious blood. He is the Mediator (the Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and His sprinkled blood speaks of mercy. On the authority of Your Word, I proclaim that the blood of Jesus is our protection, as it is written, “...when I see the blood, I will pass over you...” (Ex. 12:13). I declare and decree that I am drawing a bloodline around my children, and the evil one cannot cross it.

I know that none of the God-begotten make a practice of sin — fatal sin. The God-begotten are also the God-protected. The evil one can’t lay a hand on my household. I know that we are held firm by You, Lord. Father, thank You for Your divine protection. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Scripture References:

1 John 3:1 Psalm 121:1-8 MESSAGE

1 Peter 1:18,19 1 Peter 1:2 AMP

1 John 2:12 Hebrews 12:24 AMP

Psalm 123:4 AMP 1 John 5:18,19 MESSAGE

Psalm 55:9-11,16 AMP

BIBLE EMERGENCY NUMBERS

John14:1–4 In 13:36 Jesus responded to Peter’s question individually; now He answers the same question for all the disciples.

14:2 Mansions literally means “dwelling places.” A better translation is “rooms,” conveying the idea that there is ample space in heaven for all who come to Jesus as Savior.

Psalm 23:1–6 This refreshing pastoral psalm reflects absolute trust and peaceful confidence in God. It is divided into two metaphors: the Shepherd (vv. 1–4) and the Host (vv. 5, 6).

23:1 The picture of God as Shepherd is fulfilled and completed in the Person and work of Jesus Christ who is presented as the redeeming Good Shepherd (John 10:11), the resurrected Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20), and the returning Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4).

23:3 Daily restoration of the anxious, weary soul is a major human need (2 Cor. 4:16). Walking the paths of righteousness that the Lord marks results in bringing honor to His name.

23:4 The key to provision is the presence of God (Josh. 1:5–9). This awesome thought causes the psalmist to change from mere statements (He . . .) to spontaneous heavenward praise (You are with me).

23:5 Of the two kinds of oil, the priestly anointing oil and the Oriental perfumed oil, this is the latter. This act shows favor and excellent hospitality.

23:6 Mercy (Hebrew chesed) is the unfailing, steadfast covenant love of God. This lovingkindness is similar to the NT word “grace” (John 1:16)

That’s God! So, with him on my side I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. 2 When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, Those bullies and toughs fall flat on their faces. 3 When besieged,  I’m calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I’m collected and cool. 4 I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty;  I’ll study at his feet.

11-12 Point me down your highway, God; direct me along a well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you’re on. Don’t throw me to the dogs, those liars who are out to get me filling the air with their threats. 

13-14 I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God.

Psalm 27:1-4  We readily recognize that God’s strength lessens our need for fear, but we may overlook this same potential in His light and salvation.

2, 3 These threats can be withstood because of the confidence David gains from what is described in v. 4.

4 This desire of David gives us a key to understanding why he was a “man after God’s heart,” and so beloved and blessed by Him.

Psalm 27:7-14 MSG

Listen, God, I’m calling at the top of my lungs: “Be good to me! Answer me!” When my heart...After the praise in the first half of this psalm, the topic swings to prayer, ending with the statement revealing the key to victorious living: Wait on the Lord.

27:10 This is the psalmist’s way of saying that God is more concerned about our welfare than even one’s cherished father and mother could ever be. God’s love transcends parental love. This is more of a “proverbial statement,” and is not to be understood as if David’s parents forsook him. ~MSG

THE PROPHECY OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS

What is the main purpose of Daniel Chapter 9?

The Prophecy of Seventy Weeks is the narrative in chapter 9 of the Book of Daniel in which Daniel prays to God to act on behalf of his people and city (Judeans and Jerusalem), and receives a detailed but cryptic prophecy of "seventy weeks" by the angel Gabriel.

God’s Covenant Commitment

9 1-4 “Darius, son of Ahasuerus, born a Mede, became king over the land of Babylon. In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, was meditating on the Scriptures that gave, according to the Word of God to the prophet Jeremiah, the number of years that Jerusalem had to lie in ruins, namely, seventy. I turned to the Master God, asking for an answer—praying earnestly, fasting from meals, wearing rough penitential burlap, and kneeling in the ashes. I poured out my heart, baring my soul to God, my God:

Seventy Sevens

20-21 “While I was pouring out my heart, baring my sins and the sins of my people Israel, praying my life out before my God, interceding for the holy mountain of my God—while I was absorbed in this praying, the humanlike Gabriel, the one I had seen in an earlier vision, approached me, flying in like a bird about the time of evening worship.

22-23 “He stood before me and said, ‘Daniel, I have come to make things plain to you. You had no sooner started your prayer when the answer was given. And now I’m here to deliver the answer to you. You are much loved! So listen carefully to the answer, the plain meaning of what is revealed:

24 “‘Seventy sevens are set for your people and for your holy city to throttle rebellion, stop sin, wipe out crime, set things right forever, confirm what the prophet saw, and anoint The Holy of Holies.

25-26 “‘Here is what you must understand: From the time the word goes out to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Anointed Leader, there will be seven sevens. The rebuilding will take sixty-two sevens, including building streets and digging a moat. Those will be rough times. After the sixty-two sevens, the Anointed Leader will be killed—the end of him. The city and Sanctuary will be laid in ruins by the army of the newly arriving leader. The end will come in a rush, like a flood. War will rage right up to the end, desolation the order of the day.

27 “‘Then for one seven, he will forge many and strong alliances, but halfway through the seven he will banish worship and prayers. At the place of worship, a desecrating obscenity will be set up and remain until finally the desecrator himself is decisively destroyed.’”

What are the seventy weeks of Daniel?

MATTHEW 10:1-28 THE TWELVE HARVEST HANDS

Matthew 10:1-4

 

The Twelve Harvest Hands

The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. This is the list of the twelve he sent: Simon (they called him Peter, or “Rock”), Andrew, his brother, James, Zebedee’s son, John, his brother, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, the tax man, James, son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon, the Canaanite, Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him).

Matthew 10:5-8 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: “Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

9-10 “Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.

11 “When you enter a town or village, don’t insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave.

12-15 “When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don’t welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they’ll be mighty sorry—but it’s no concern of yours now.

16 “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as shrewd as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.

17-20 “Don’t be naive. Some people will question your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me. Don’t be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they’ve done you—and me—a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don’t worry about what you’ll say or how you’ll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words.

21-23 “When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.

24-25 “A student doesn’t get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn’t make more money than his boss. Be content—pleased, even—when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, ‘Dungface,’ what can the workers expect?

26-27 “Don’t be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don’t hesitate to go public now.

28 “Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands. ~MSG

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMANS

Romans 15:1-2  Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”

3-6 That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!

7-13 So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! Jesus, staying true to God’s purposes, reached out in a special way to the Jewish insiders so that the old ancestral promises would come true for them. As a result, the non-Jewish outsiders have been able to experience mercy and to show appreciation to God. Just think of all the Scriptures that will come true in what we do! For instance:

Then I’ll join outsiders in a hymn-sing;

I’ll sing to your name!

And this one:

Outsiders and insiders, rejoice together!

And again:

People of all nations, celebrate God!

All colors and races, give hearty praise!

And Isaiah’s word:

There’s the root of our ancestor Jesse,

    breaking through the earth and growing tree tall,

Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope!

Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!

14-16 Personally, I’ve been completely satisfied with who you are and what you are doing. You seem to me to be well-motivated and well-instructed, quite capable of guiding and advising one another. So, my dear friends, don’t take my rather bold and blunt language as criticism. It’s not criticism. I’m simply underlining how very much I need your help in carrying out this highly focused assignment God gave me, this priestly and gospel work of serving the spiritual needs of the non-Jewish outsiders so they can be presented as an acceptable offering to God, made whole and holy by God’s Holy Spirit.

17-21 Looking back over what has been accomplished and what I have observed, I must say I am most pleased—in the context of Jesus, I’d even say proud, but only in that context. I have no interest in giving you a chatty account of my adventures, only the wondrously powerful and transforming present words and deeds of Christ in me that triggered a believing response among the outsiders. In such ways I have trailblazed a preaching of the Message of Jesus all the way from Jerusalem far into northwestern Greece. This has all been pioneer work, bringing the Message only into those places where Jesus was not yet known and worshiped. My text has been,

Those who were never told of him—

    they’ll see him!

Those who’ve never heard of him—

    they’ll get the message!

22-24 And that’s why it has taken me so long to finally get around to coming to you. But now that there is no more pioneering work to be done in these parts, and since I have looked forward to seeing you for many years, I’m planning my visit. I’m headed for Spain, and expect to stop off on the way to enjoy a good visit with you, and eventually have you send me off with God’s blessing.

25-29 First, though, I’m going to Jerusalem to deliver a relief offering to the followers of Jesus there. The Greeks—all the way from the Macedonians in the north to the Achaians in the south—decided they wanted to take up a collection for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. They were happy to do this, but it was also their duty. Seeing that they got in on all the spiritual gifts that flowed out of the Jerusalem community so generously, it is only right that they do what they can to relieve their poverty. As soon as I have done this—personally handed over this “fruit basket”—I’m off to Spain, with a stopover with you in Rome. My hope is that my visit with you is going to be one of Christ’s more extravagant blessings.

30-33 I have one request, dear friends: Pray for me. Pray strenuously with and for me—to God the Father, through the power of our Master Jesus, through the love of the Spirit—that I will be delivered from the lions’ den of unbelievers in Judea. Pray also that my relief offering to the Jerusalem believers will be accepted in the spirit in which it is given. Then, God willing, I’ll be on my way to you with a light and eager heart, looking forward to being refreshed by your company. God’s peace be with all of you. Oh, yes! ~MSG

CULTIVATING GOOD RELATIONSHIPS

Romans 14:1–23 These are guidelines with respect to things that are neither commanded nor forbidden in Scripture. Determining the neutrality of certain moral issues is not simple. However, when the principles taught here are obeyed, the Holy Spirit is free to guide individuals.

1 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.

2-4 For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ’s table, wouldn’t it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn’t eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God’s welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.

5 Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.

6-9 What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.

10-12 So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture:

“As I live and breathe,” God says,

    “every knee will bow before me;

Every tongue will tell the honest truth

    that I and only I am God.”

So mind your own business. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.

13-14 Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.

15-16 If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don’t eat, you’re no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? Don’t you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning!

17-18 God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and

completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you’ll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.

19-21 So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault. You’re certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God’s work among you, are you? I said it before and I’ll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don’t eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.

22-23 Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong. ~MSG

I, GOD, WANT TO REASSURE YOU

Do You Feel Like a Lowly Worm? 

1 “Quiet down, far-flung ocean islands. Listen! Sit down and rest, everyone. Recover your strength. Gather around me. Say what’s on your heart. Together let’s decide what’s right.

2-3 “Who got things rolling here, got this champion from the east on the move? Who recruited him for this job, then rounded up and corralled the nations so he could run roughshod over kings? He’s off and running, pulverizing nations into dust, leaving only stubble and chaff in his wake. He chases them and comes through unscathed, his feet scarcely touching the path. 

4 “Who did this? Who made it happen? Who always gets things started? I did. God. I’m first on the scene. I’m also the last to leave.

5-7 “Far-flung ocean islands see it and panic. The ends of the earth are shaken. Fearfully they huddle together. They try to help each other out,  making up stories in the dark. The godmakers in the workshops go into overtime production, crafting new models of no-gods, Urging one another on—‘Good job!’ ‘Great design!’— pounding in nails at the base so that the things won’t tip over.

8-10 “But you, Israel, are my servant. You’re Jacob, my first choice, descendants of my good friend Abraham. I pulled you in from all over the world, called you in from every dark corner of the earth, telling you, ‘You’re my servant, serving on my side. I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’ Don’t panic. I’m with you.  There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. 

11-13 “Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you will end up out in the cold— real losers. Those who worked against you will end up empty-handed—  nothing to show for their lives. When you go out looking for your old adversaries  you won’t find them—Not a trace of your old enemies, not even a memory. That’s right. Because I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go. I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic. I’m right here to help you.’

14-16 “Do you feel like a lowly worm, Jacob? Don’t be afraid. Feel like a fragile insect, Israel? I’ll help you. I, God, want to reassure you. The God who buys you back, The Holy of Israel. I’m transforming you from worm to harrow, from insect to iron. As a sharp-toothed harrow you’ll smooth out the mountains, turn those tough old hills into loamy soil. You’ll open the rough ground to the weather, to the blasts of sun and wind and rain. But you’ll be confident and exuberant, expansive in The Holy of Israel!

21-24 “Set out your case for your gods,” says God. "Bring your evidence,” says the King of Jacob. “Take the stand on behalf of your idols ,offer arguments, assemble reasons. Spread out the facts before us so that we can assess them ourselves. Ask them, ‘If you are gods, explain what the past means—or, failing that, tell us what will happen in the future. Can’t do that? How about doing something—anything! Good or bad—whatever. Can you hurt us or help us? Do we need to be afraid?’ They say nothing, because they are nothing—sham gods, no-gods, fool-making gods.

25-29 “I, God, started someone out from the north and he’s come. He was called out of the east by name. He’ll stomp the rulers into the mud the way a potter works the clay. Let me ask you, Did anyone guess that this might happen? Did anyone tell us earlier so we might confirm it with ‘Yes, he’s right!’? No one mentioned it, no one announced it, no one heard a peep out of you.

But I told Zion all about this beforehand. I gave Jerusalem a preacher of good news. But around here there’s no one—no one who knows what’s going on. I ask, but no one can tell me the score. Nothing here. It’s all smoke and hot air—sham gods, hollow gods, no-gods.” ~The Message

THE MESSAGE OF GOD, THE MASTER

 Back to Your Own Land

EZEKIEL 36:1-5 “And now, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel. Say, ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to God’s Message. God, the Master, says, Because the enemy crowed over you, “Good! Those old hills are now ours!” now here is a prophecy in the name of God, the Master: Because nations came at you from all sides, ripping and plundering, hauling pieces of you off every which way, and you’ve become the butt of cheap gossip and jokes, therefore, Mountains of Israel, listen to the Message of God, the Master. My Message to mountains and hills, to ditches and valleys, to the heaps of rubble and the emptied towns that are looted for plunder and turned into jokes by all the surrounding nations: Therefore, says God, the Master, now I’m speaking in a fiery rage against the rest of the nations, but especially against Edom, who in an orgy of violence and shameless insolence robbed me of my land, grabbed it for themselves.’

6-7 “Therefore prophesy over the land of Israel, preach to the mountains and hills, to every ditch and valley: ‘The Message of God, the Master: Look! Listen! I’m angry—and I care. I’m speaking to you because you’ve been humiliated among the nations. Therefore I, God, the Master, am telling you that I’ve solemnly sworn that the nations around you are next. It’s their turn to be humiliated.

8-12 “‘But you, Mountains of Israel, will burst with new growth, putting out branches and bearing fruit for my people Israel. My people are coming home! Do you see? I’m back again. I’m on your side. You’ll be plowed and planted as before! I’ll see to it that your population grows all over Israel, that the towns fill up with people, that the ruins are rebuilt. I’ll make this place teem with life—human and animal. The country will burst into life, life, and more life, your towns and villages full of people just as in the old days. I’ll treat you better than I ever have. And you’ll realize that I am God. I’ll put people over you—my own people Israel! They’ll take care of you and you’ll be their inheritance. Never again will you be a harsh and unforgiving land to them.

13-15 “‘God, the Master, says: Because you have a reputation of being a land that eats people alive and makes women barren, I’m now telling you that you’ll never eat people alive again nor make women barren. Decree of God, the Master. And I’ll never again let the taunts of outsiders be heard over you nor permit nations to look down on you. You’ll no longer be a land that makes women barren. Decree of God, the Master.’”

16-21 God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, when the people of Israel lived in their land, they polluted it by the way they lived. I poured out my anger on them because of the polluted blood they poured out on the ground. And so I got thoroughly angry with them polluting the country with their wanton murders and dirty gods. I kicked them out, exiled them to other countries. I sentenced them according to how they had lived. Wherever they went, they gave me a bad name. People said, ‘These are God’s people, but they got kicked off his land.’ I suffered much pain over my holy reputation, which the people of Israel blackened in every country they entered.

22-23 “Therefore, tell Israel, ‘Message of God, the Master: I’m not doing this for you, Israel. I’m doing it for me, to save my character, my holy name, which you’ve blackened in every country where you’ve gone. I’m going to put my great and holy name on display, the name that has been ruined in so many countries, the name that you blackened wherever you went. Then the nations will realize who I really am, that I am God, when I show my holiness through you so that they can see it with their own eyes.

24-28 “‘For here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You’ll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You’ll be my people! I’ll be your God!

29-30 “‘I’ll pull you out of that stinking pollution. I’ll give personal orders to the wheat fields, telling them to grow bumper crops. I’ll send no more famines. I’ll make sure your fruit trees and field crops flourish. Other nations won’t be able to hold you in contempt again because of famine.

31 “‘And then you’ll think back over your terrible lives—the evil, the shame—and be thoroughly disgusted with yourselves, realizing how badly you’ve lived—all those obscenities you’ve carried out.

32 “‘I’m not doing this for you. Get this through your thick heads! Shame on you. What a mess you made of things, Israel!

33-36 “‘Message of God, the Master: On the day I scrub you clean from all your filthy living, I’ll also make your cities livable. The ruins will be rebuilt. The neglected land will be worked again, no longer overgrown with weeds and thistles, worthless in the eyes of passersby. People will exclaim, “Why, this weed patch has been turned into a Garden of Eden! And the ruined cities, smashed into oblivion, are now thriving!” The nations around you that are still in existence will realize that I, God, rebuild ruins and replant empty waste places. I, God, said so, and I’ll do it.

37-38 “‘Message of God, the Master: Yet again I’m going to do what Israel asks. I’ll increase their population as with a flock of sheep. Like the milling flocks of sheep brought for sacrifices in Jerusalem during the appointed feasts, the ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. And they’ll realize that I am God.’” ~The Message

God Against Gog

EZEKIEL 38:1-6 God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, confront Gog from the country of Magog, head of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him. Say, ‘God, the Master, says: Be warned, Gog. I am against you, head of Meshech and Tubal. I’m going to turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and drag you off with your whole army, your horses and riders in full armor—all those shields and bucklers and swords—fighting men armed to the teeth! Persia and Cush and Put will be in the ranks, also well-armed, as will Gomer and its army and Beth-togarmah out of the north with its army. Many nations will be with you!

7-9 “‘Get ready to fight, you and the whole company that’s been called out. Take charge and wait for orders. After a long time, you’ll be given your orders. In the distant future you’ll arrive at a country that has recovered from a devastating war. People from many nations will be gathered there on the mountains of Israel, for a long time now a wasteland. These people have been brought back from many countries and now live safe and secure. You’ll rise like a thunderstorm and roll in like clouds and cover the land, you and the massed troops with you.

10-12 “‘Message of God, the Master: At that time you’ll start thinking things over and cook up an evil plot. You’ll say, “I’m going to invade a country without defenses, attack an unsuspecting, carefree people going about their business—no gates to their cities, no locks on their doors. And I’m going to plunder the place, march right in and clean them out, this rebuilt country risen from the ashes, these returned exiles and their booming economy centered down at the navel of the earth.”

13 “‘Sheba and Dedan and Tarshish, traders all out to make a fast buck, will say, “So! You’ve opened a new market for plunder! You’ve brought in your troops to get rich quick!”’

14-16 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy! Tell Gog, ‘A Message from God, the Master: When my people Israel are established securely, will you make your move? Will you come down out of the far north, you and that mob of armies, charging out on your horses like a tidal wave across the land, and invade my people Israel, covering the country like a cloud? When the time’s ripe, I’ll unleash you against my land in such a way that the nations will recognize me, realize that through you, Gog, in full view of the nations, I am putting my holiness on display.

17-22 “‘A Message of God, the Master: Years ago when I spoke through my servants, the prophets of Israel, wasn’t it you I was talking about? Year after year they prophesied that I would bring you against them. And when the day comes, Gog, you will attack that land of Israel. Decree of God, the Master. My raging anger will erupt. Fueled by blazing jealousy, I tell you that then there will be an earthquake that rocks the land of Israel. Fish and birds and wild animals—even ants and beetles!—and every human being will tremble and shake before me. Mountains will disintegrate, terraces will crumble. I’ll order all-out war against you, Gog—Decree of God, the Master—Gog killing Gog on all the mountains of Israel. I’ll deluge Gog with judgment: disease and massacre, torrential rain and hail, volcanic lava pouring down on you and your mobs of troops and people.

23 “‘I’ll show you how great I am, how holy I am. I’ll make myself known all over the world. Then you’ll realize that I am God.’” ~The Message

Walk from the Room of Last Supper to Gethsemane! Through the Kidron Valley!

Premiered Apr 8, 2023

ISRAEL MY CHANNEL

In this video tour, we will see and experience entering the Jaffa Gate, Tower of David, Arminian Quarter, Zion Gate, the room of the Last Supper, Tomb of David, Peter in Gallicantu, Dung Gate, Kidron Valley, Gethsemane, Church of Nations.

So you can see a lot of police, a lot of Army people, and this is because we are in a very tense time in Israel. Someone was shot yesterday. From Lebanon  many Rockets were fired at Israel, it's a tense time right now, and that's why there's so many soldiers, policemen on the streets. Of course this is also the Holiday so a lot of people come to Jerusalem in this particular time...

...So today we're we're gonna go to those different places connected to the Last Supper and crucifixion and you will be able to see how far everything is from each other. So, it's quite a walk actually especially from get some Mana which is on the bottom of Mount of Olives to the Tower of David were supposedly was Herod's Palace and where Jesus was trialed, it's quite a walk. 

So here is the Zion Gate, the gate through which we will go. The gate to which we will go. Again built by Sulaiman the magnificent in the 16th century. And this is from the other side. Now I want you to I want you to look at this gate and you will see holes, destruction. I will tell you in a moment what it's about. It's a reminder,  it's a witness to a big battle that happened here when Israel was attacked by five countries in 1967, the Six Day War started and Israel won with five countries in six days. And of course this time gave the Jewish people for the first time to take control of East Jerusalem, because before that the Jewish people did not control East Jerusalem, and after The Six Day War they were controlling the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, they were even taking control of the Old City. 

Also, those are the bullets that were shot towards this gate, okay, let's go now to this mountain. I mainly want to go here because there is a nice view and I want you to see it, because as I told you the places that are connected with this place our traditional. They are probably not what actually is. So this is a big Lutheran Church that was built here by the Germans. You know every country that came to Jerusalem basically built a church, so you have Russian churches, you have English churches, you have German churches, and that way each country has a piece of land here in Jerusalem. This land belongs to the Lutheran Church so it's a big Church.

Okay guys, now we're gonna walk into the place where traditionally to sell that the last supper was. So what you will see is again Mosaic because it used to be a mosque and now it's like a museum. It's like a place where you come and visit. It's not a church, but it's not also a mosque, so you will see resemblance of that. 

Here's some remains that remind you that it was a mosque and also the the signs over here. Okay, I wasn't there for a long time because my camera doesn't have  good light. When I'm in rooms and there's artificial light I need to change the settings so that's why I didn't spend time much over there. 

This is a place that not a lot of people go too because they don't know you can come here but you can. And suddenly you are on a rooftop, and you have a beautiful view of Jerusalem. So we just went up on a roof of this room which we just were in the room which is called the Room of the Last Supper is where tradition says that the Last Supper happened in the roof below us. So, it used to be a mosque as you can see, here's even a minoret which stayed.

From this roof you can see a very beautiful view of Jerusalem. So, you can see in the distance there is The Mound of Olives, it's nice now with the flag you can see.  Over there is the Kidron Valley and the City of David in that direction. In that direction is the the Hotel King David Hotel. So it's a nice place just to see the Panorama of Jerusalem. It's the people that come to visit those places, do not usually know that you can come here and see the view. So over there you can even see a little bit the Dome of the Rock.

Okay, so the last place we're gonna go here is the traditional place of the burial of David. I will not be talking much when I enter the room because the second synagogue it's an active synagogue, so I just want to go in and not disturb. So, here's the synagogue with me change the settings. 

So,  everybody are in the big tomb and it was there that the Jewish people are here praying next to it. I know this place pretty well because I used to actually work here. I was doing a course in archaeological conservation and we worked on those stones there because before that the stones were covered with cement and it was very bad.

The stone was done by the Jordanians before Israel's independence this territory was controlled by Jordan, and the cement was very bad. Because it's stronger than the stone and when that happens the water starts coming out not from the cement but from the stones. So what we had to do is take out all the cement and create a special mortar instead, so this is what we did here.

Okay, so let's go now. This is this place where you get out. See guys we are still on Mount Zion, but we were there at the roof. I'm just walking around here to see what else is here. It's been a while since I've been here. I want to see because this place wasn't open like this before. 

Here you can see the backside of Mount Zion, wow, this is quite beautiful actually. See with these flowers, so nice, the trees, and wow over there the purple flowers too. This is very beautiful, it's a nice view for a day like this right. Oh, there is somebody reading something next to a tree.

It is possible that the Last Supper was happening somewhere around here, and Jesus was spending the last few moments with his disciples. Ahead of him was a very difficult time, he was to suffer greatly for the cause of all people. And he did that because he loved people so much, that he wanted to sacrifice his own life so  they may have eternal life. 

So, here's an Armenian Church over here. Behind this plant is King David's Hotel, over there. That's New Jerusalem. Okay very nice, very close too. Here is also a cemetery on which Schindler, the famous Schindler. Schindler is buried on Mount Zion. So if you ever are here in the area you can visit that to give a tribute.

We're gonna get out of this complex now and we're gonna go into the direction of The Garden of Gethsemane. This will give you also an idea how far it is all together. Cedar Tree's, how nice. This is the other side of the Church right here, so you can exercise,  workout here, and you can skip rope.

Here this is a different Road, you will see how long of a walk it is from here to the Garden of Gethsemane it takes a while. And of course on the road on the way you have discoveries. This is Jerusalem, wherever you put the shovel we will find something, that's why it's so difficult to build roads here. Once you start building all the archaeologists come and want to see what you found.

So, over there you have the Kidron Valley and downstairs we walked from Mount Zion as it is called. Although again, I have to say, this according to me Mount Zion is always the City of David, and eventually the Temple mount. Although I know that in the Bible the term Zion is used in a more general way. For example the whole Israel can be called Zion or Jerusalem. As a whole can be called Zion, so it doesn't have to be a specific place. But this is funny, in this case, because this is a mountain which is called Mount Zion. 

If we have to point to a mountain, which mountain is Mount Zion, it would have to be the City of David. This is where the history of David started with Jerusalem and we agreed that David took the Fortress of Zion, and where was the Fortress of Zion? In the city of David, we visited it yesterday, and you saw the stones.

Here you can see a lot of Jewish people going to pray, because this is also a way to the Western Wall in that direction, so you can go through this road. See how many people are going to pray. In Judaism you should pray three times, in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening. Sometimes Jewish people combine the two prayers in the evening one also.

Over there you can see a church it's a Roman Catholic Church of Saint Peter in Galicanto from Latin, it means where the rooster crowed. This is the place where Peter denied, Jesus three times. It's that church, right where I'm pointing now. Like a gray Coppola this is where it is, and this is a road to the Western tunnel.

Today, it's still the whole day, it's Passover but also today starts another big holiday which is the Shabbat. Very important in Jewish life. In Jerusalem when Shabbat starts then Jerusalem, the Jewish Jerusalem, is closed. People are in home spending time with their family, this is something very nice.

You can see Jewish people walking with their children, spending time with their whole family. That's a very nice aspect of Shabbat, it gives you peace, you are disconnected from all the mobile phones, from the internet, from YouTube. You have a time just to rest. So here again another perspective on the church of Saint Peter in Galicanto downstairs. 

Over here David and the Kidron Valley is below. This is the proper Mount Zion and here you can already see the Temple Mound. We have not come from this direction yet in my videos, I don't think so I will show you this road, we can view on the City of David. 

You can look also up their walls and go to the Western Wall. There's going to be a gate through which you go through and then you are basically next to the Western Wall Plaza. But today, we're gonna go to the get Samana inn The Garden of Gethsemane, which means The Garden of the Oil Press. 

Alot of things are happening here, a lot of security, a lot of construction work, everything at once. Alot of Holidays, it's a mix. That's the Dome Gate, this is where you would enter to go to the Western Wall, but we are going further down to the valley, we walked this way yesterday, no not yesterday, on the first day of PESA tour. But, I'm doing it again because I want to do all the Christian sites that are connected with the Last Supper Friday Resurrection.

We're gonna do a detour here because I want to go to the Pool of Siloam. Yesterday, I did not go because it was a Holiday, it might be open. We are getting to the Church, this is the South of the Temple mount, and here is the City of David which we visited. 

So now, I will not be talking much about things that are in the City of David. If you are interested in learning more see my other videos. A video from yesterday would be good to see because there I talk more about the Archeology of the importance of the place.

So now we're gonna walk very close to the Arab neighborhood. This is the Sylvan neighborhood. We have some shops here, and this is the Sylvan neighborhood, and we'll walk the Kidron Valley, and get out next to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Here in the valley it's very warm, so I think I will end my tour in the Garden of Gethsemane, and tomorrow we will visit the two places that are considered to be the go for Calvaria, the Skull. The Burial side of Jesus and crucifixion and Resurrection.

You can already see where we are, this is South East End of the Temple Mount, this is the City of David where we just were since in this Arab neighborhood here. That's how it looks from the bottom of the valley, I did the video once when I was walking here, but was a while ago, and every time, even it depends when you come in the summer or you go in the spring. Every time it's different, a Supermarket.

An Asian neighborhood, and here you can see you can see the Valley. Those houses are built on a rock scarp and actually in some of them, in some places there are like holes. Those are Asian burial sites. This is of course a very uh problematic place because everything is built here without permits, people build how they like on top they build up build up so in one house a whole generation lives. Some of those houses are very old but nobody knows what is the state of the foundations of those buildings.

So here we are the Kidron Valley. We're at the bottom of the Kidron Valley. This is where we came from, in the distance you can see the Orthodox Church. Here it's the slope of the Kidron Valley. It's like going back in time now 2000 years. It feels like walking in ancient times somewhere.  

Not a lot of people come here, it's very quiet. So you see some caves, over there  the houses are built on ancient caves they are Burial sites. So as we walk here we can also remember the story of Abraham and Melchizedek. Remember Abraham was returning after rescuing his nephew a lot and as he was walking next to Salem, the King approached him and blessed him. It's not Abraham who lesses Melchizedek although he was a legend already but it's Melchizedek who is worshiping the God most high. So perhaps it happened somewhere here when they met. These are also very old burial sites of noble people. You can see where we walked and where we are now.

So, this is where where we get out. This is where the Church of Nations is or to  The Garden of Gethsemane it's salmon. So here is a view on the Golden Gate once again. Here you can see where we came from, this is where we're going.

Thank you! So once again, the View on the Mount of Olives, Kidron Valley. This is the Church of Nations, it will be probably very busy today, because it's The Good Friday. You can already see there's an active mask going on there for a moment we'll be able to then going on there let's see if we can go for a few.

We have been here before in my previous videos, but I just wanted to end here on Friday, because this is the place of the Greatest Suffering. This is the place of the Greatest Suffering of the Messiah when he was suffered that much. So let me get out a little bit because it's very loud. 

There you may not be able to hear me well, you see a person selling next to the church as it was in nation times. Next to the temple people who are selling today, also, people never change Church, Another tradition you also have olive trees here so generally, The Garden of Gethsemane could have been somewhere in this area, because there are olive trees that are very old here. There's a tradition of having olive trees here, so perhaps some are here.

Jesus was suffering in the garden before he was betrayed by Judas. And more of you Church of Nations, let me get out of the way of the group here, this is a better view. So, once again olive trees when Jesus came to Jerusalem on a donkey He was greeted with palm branches and you can see palm trees right now. 

You came from the East from there from the Mount of Olives and entered Jerusalem here on a donkey. Jesus suffered much, guys thank you for your attention. I hope you enjoyed this tour today! I'll see you on our next tour have a great day shalom.

A LIVING HOPE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

  "He is not here; He has risen!"

"Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man' must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again." (Luke 24:6-7)

At death his Spirit went to the Father in heaven, and then returned to be clothed in the resurrection body, in which he appeared to the disciples over a period of 40 days before the ascension. The statement in John 20:17 tells us that the ascension of the resurrected Christ had not yet happened.

The resurrection amounts to the Father's clear signal that Jesus is the powerful Son of God who has conquered death and reigns as Lord of all (Romans 1:4; 4:25). The resurrection demonstrates that Jesus' “blood of the new covenant” saves His people from their sins.

Based on the wording in 1 Peter, there's an argument that Jesus spent the weekend between His death and Resurrection in Hell preaching to the souls who were already there, giving them a chance at the forgiveness available through His sacrifice not previously available before His death.

Jesus died and rose again not only so that we could receive forgiveness, but even more so, He died and rose again so that we might have life. It is through His death and resurrection that we receive life.

1 Corinthians 6:14 says, "And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power." Romans 6:8-11 says,"The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 

"We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him." Romans 8:34 says, "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Romans 8:34 says, "Who then is the one who condemns? No one."

What are the 4 accounts of Jesus' resurrection? Jesus' resurrection appears in all four of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—only it is not the same exact story.

Now when Jesus meets with the disciples on the evening of the first day of the week, the day in which Jesus resurrected, his first words were “Peace Be With You.” Not only are they uttered as a culmination of Jesus' previous teaching, they are also filled with meaning because of his death-burial-resurrection.

Post-resurrection miracles attributed to Jesus are also recorded in the Gospels: A miracle similar to the miraculous catch of fish, also called the catch of 153 fish to distinguish it from the account in Luke, is reported in the Gospel of John but takes place after the Resurrection of Jesus.

Why did Jesus rise from the dead on the third day? Jesus was adamant about the third day because it represents God's pattern of creating new life and establishing a covenant with humanity.

How do you know Jesus was resurrected? In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul gives a list of people to whom the risen Jesus appeared. These witnesses to see the resurrected Jesus include the Apostle Peter, James the brother of Jesus, and, most intriguingly, a group of more than 500 people at the same time.

How many times did Jesus appear after the resurrection? The Bible records at least eight appearances of the resurrected Jesus to different people at various times and locations over a 40-day period before He ascended into heaven.

What is the power of Jesus' resurrection? His resurrection brought unquantifiable blessings to the Church and the world. His resurrection reminds us that he was raised by the Spirit of the Father, and that same Spirit dwells in us and would give life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11). 

"With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all (Acts 4:33).

What lessons do we learn from the death and resurrection of Jesus?  Because of Jesus' resurrection, you can live a forgiven life. Because Jesus went to the cross and overcame death, His forgiveness can turn your failures into acts of faith and faithfulness. You can place your trust in His death and resurrection and receive forgiveness for all your sins.

Psalm 107:2, says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy...”

1 Peter 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."