Lifespring! One Year Bible

This is the award winning podcast where Steve Webb, the O.G. Godcaster and host of the Lifespring! Family of Podcasts, invites you to join him as he reads through the entire Bible in a daily Sunday through Saturday, fifteen to thirty minute show. Each episode features a reading, followed by a short commentary.

Lifespring! One Year Bible is a religion podcast hosted by Steve Webb, with 30 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Steve Webb hosts Lifespring! One Year Bible, a religion show with 30 episodes published.

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  Episode #328

  S3E328 – Deuteronomy 20-22: There Are Two

  Sep 14, 202634 minS12

  Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is Monday, so we’ll read from one of the books of the law. Deuteronomy 20-22. I’m calling today’s episode “There Are Two.”  And I have an important announcement today. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Aaron Burden on Unsplash Comments on Deuteronomy 22 Have you ever heard the phrase, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”? I don’t think I’m a fool, but if I am, so be it. Every so often, current events and/or cultural conditions can’t help but influence my commentary on the day’s reading. This is obviously not a political or a news show, and I do dislike participating in political speech on this show. As a matter of fact, I don’t think that what I’m about to say is political, because I’m only going to talk about what the word of God says. But some might want to paint today’s episode with a political label. Whatever. What I am about to talk about needs to be addressed, especially with what’s going on in our current culture. Genesis 1:27 So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. Genesis 1:31And God saw everything that he had made and that it was very good. (GW) Deuteronomy 22:5 A woman must never wear anything men would wear, and a man must never wear women’s clothes. Whoever does this is disgusting to the Lord your God. (GW) Now listen. I’m not a transphobe. I do not hate people of either sex if they disagree with me or Scripture. And I am certainly not afraid of them. That is what “phobia” means. You know that, right? The reason I’m talking about this today, my motivation, in everything I say on this show, is to explain the Scriptures in such a way that the true nature of God is revealed. I believe that when He is properly understood, people’s hearts will be changed and eternal lives will be saved. Failing that, my hope is that there will at least be understanding, and maybe even less antipathy. When these scriptures were written, it was common for men and women to wear clothes that were similar. Both sexes wore long robes, but with distinctive styles that differentiated between the sexes. Deuteronomy 22:5 was a command not to blur the lines between the sexes or to purposely dress in the manner of the opposite sex. You see, as Genesis 1:27 says, God created only two sexes. Male and Female. There is not a spectrum. It’s one or the other. Now, before you say, “But Steve, some people are born with the organs of both.” Yes, I know that’s true. But hear me.  We live in a fallen world. We live in a world that is suffering the effects of sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, all of creation has been under a curse. Romans 8:22 says, “All creation groans…” Every living thing on the planet is less than God intended it to be. Humans were not meant to die. Humans were not meant to be born with any kind of defects. There was not supposed to be any disease. Every system on the planet is not what God intended. The weather is not the way God intended. Earthquakes were not supposed to be something we worried about. Everything is broken. Sin ruined everything. Including how we think about ourselves and each other.  Birth defects do happen, and when a baby is born with a defect, it is not because God made it happen. It is because of the condition of the world. Yes, God allows bad things to happen, but He is not the cause of bad things happening. Couldn’t He just step in and stop bad things from happening? Sometimes He does, but other times He doesn’t. God is sovereign, which means that He does what He does, and He answers only to Himself. But know this: His way is perfect. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he…” One day, everyone who has ever been born will see that and acknowledge that. So, back to the subject at hand. God says that it is wrong to dress in the manner of the opposite sex. Why? Because, for one thing, it is rebellion against God’s will. If he created you as a male, He wants you to be a male. If he created you as a female, He wants you to be a female. God truly does love you, and He has a marvelous plan for your life. He wants the very best for you. To reject that plan is really cutting off your nose to spite your face.  As I have said many times on this show, God’s laws are not given to take our fun away. God is not a cosmic killjoy. He is a loving Father who knows what is best for us.  But there is an Enemy. He is called Lucifer, Satan, the Devil, the god of this world and many other names in the Bible. His mission from the beginning of the creation, has been to pervert God’s creation and keep people from having a relationship with God. He takes what is beautiful and perverts it. What we are seeing in our culture today, with the blurring of sexual boundaries and distinctions is nothing new, as is evident by the fact that God talks about it in Deuteronomy 22. People today think they’re being progressive by advancing this agenda. They’re not progressive. They’re puppets of Satan himself.  The Good News is that their sin can be forgiven. God said in Ezekiel 18:23, “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” And 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  Repentance is turning away from, going in an entirely new direction. It is agreeing with God that I have sinned. That I want to begin living as He wants me to. That I acknowledge that His way is better than my way.  But listen. I cannot do it on my own. It is impossible for me to live a perfect life. Only one man has ever done that. His name is Jesus. But Jesus is more than a man. He is also God. He is fully God and fully human, and He is the only way that I, or anyone else, can have a restored relationship with God. John 3:16-21 says, “16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” God loves you. And He loves you enough to give you free will. You must decide. The time is now. If you have not yet accepted the free gift of salvation that Jesus is offering you today, you can do it now. You may not have tomorrow. The Lovely Lady LeeAnn and I were reminded recently how quickly our lives could be snuffed out, with no warning. We were involved in a hit and run traffic accident, and believe me, there was absolutely no time to think about what was happening. We were driving along a street that we have been on literally thousands of times before, little more than two miles from our home. All of a sudden, there was a terrible crashing sound of metal against metal, our car shook, and I had to wrestle the steering wheel to keep control. LeeAnn screamed and I watched the car that had sideswiped us accelerate down the road in front of us. Praise the Lord, we were not hurt, but we could have been. Instead of rear ending our car, he sideswiped it. The point is, you never know how or when your life will be over.  Will you make the decision now to follow Jesus? If you want to have a changed life….a changed eternity, let me lead you in a prayer where you will tell God that you want to turn from your sin, and that you want to follow Jesus. Will you pray with me? Once I publish this podcast, I don’t know who or where or when it will hear it. I still have episodes from almost 18 years ago at lifespringmedia.com. And I have no idea how many episodes are on hard drives all over the world. So whether you’re hearing this on the day I publish or days, weeks, months or years later, this invitation is for you to hear right now as you’re listening to my voice. Decide NOW that this is the day to have your eternity changed. Pray with me. “Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you now confessing my sins. I know that I have not lived the way I should, and I ask You to forgive me now. Thank you for sending Your son, Jesus, to take my sins upon Himself. Jesus, I’m asking You to be my Lord and my Savior now. Show me how I should live. Teach me. Help me to follow You. Thank you for hearing my prayer, Lord. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.” If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family. You might have felt like a weight was lifted from you, you might have felt some strong emotion, or you might have felt nothing. Whatever you felt, that’s ok. Our relationship with God is not based on emotions. Our relationship with God is based on His promise. God promised that anyone who accepts Jesus will be saved. If you accepted Jesus just now, you are saved, because God promised it, and He always keeps His promise.  If you did just pray that prayer with me, I have a gift for you. It’s free. I want to send you a special edition of the New Testament called the New Believer’s Bible. All you have to do is send me a quick email with your name and address so I can mail it to you at my expense. This NT has hundreds and hundreds of notes in it by Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Church, written with new believers in mind. They’re meant to help you get a good start in your walk with God. When I get your email, I’m not going to put you on a list, and I’m not going to send you any spam. I would just like to send you this NT, and I would like to pray for you. And If you have questions, I’ll answer any that I can. st *** @ ************* ia.com . GBY, and welcome to the family of God. Not to mention the ls fam! Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. Deuteronomy 20 and 22 GWT; Ch. 21 NLV 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 – 0:00 The time is here. Here it is. INTRO S12E334 – 0:10 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 today is August 1, the first day of the last month of season 12 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And today, they’re just thirty more episodes. More about that a little bit later. Today is Monday. So we’re going to read from one of the books of the Law. We’re currently in the book of Deuteronomy, and we’re going to read chapters 20 through 22. I’m calling today’s episode, “There Are Two”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e334. My email address is st *** @ ************* ia.com . And I would love to hear from you. Let’s get started. DEUTERONOMY 20 (GWT) – 0:58 Deuteronomy, chapter 20. (1) When you go to war against your enemies, you may see horses, chariots, and armies larger than yours. Don’t be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, will be with you. (2) Before the battle starts, a priest must come and speak to the troops. (3) He should tell them, “Listen, Israel, today you’re going into battle against your enemies. Don’t lose your courage! Don’t be afraid or alarmed or tremble because of them. (4) The Lord your God is going with you. He will fight for you against your enemies and give you victory.” (5) The officers should tell the troops, “If you have built a new house but not dedicated it, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will dedicate it. (6) If you have planted a vineyard and not enjoyed the grapes, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will enjoy the grapes. (7) If you are engaged to a woman but have not married her, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will marry her.” (8) The officers should also tell the troops, “If you are afraid or have lost your courage, you may go home. Then you won’t ruin the morale of the other Israelites.” (9) When the officers finish speaking to the troops, they should appoint commanders to lead them. (10) When you approach a city to attack it, offer its people a peaceful way to surrender. (11) If they accept it and open their gates to you, then all the people there will be made to do forced labor and serve you. (12) If they won’t accept your offer of peace but declare war on you, set up a blockade around the city. (13) When the Lord your God hands the city over to you, kill every man in that city with your swords. (14) But take the women and children, the cattle and everything else in the city, including all its goods, as your loot. You may enjoy your enemies’ goods that the Lord your God has given you. (15) This is what you must do to all the cities that are far away which don’t belong to the nations nearby. (16) However, you must not spare anyone’s life in the cities of these nations that the Lord your God is giving you as your property. (17) You must claim the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites for the Lord and completely destroy them, as the Lord your God has commanded you. (18) Otherwise, they will teach you to do all the disgusting things they do for their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God. (19) This is what you must do whenever you blockade a city for a long time in order to capture it in war. Don’t harm any of its fruit trees with an ax. You can eat the fruit. Never cut those trees down, because the trees of the field are not people you have come to blockade. (20) You may destroy trees that you know are not fruit trees. You may cut them down and use them in blockades until you capture the city. DEUTERONOMY 21 (NLV) – 3:45 Deuteronomy, chapter 21. (1) “If a person has been killed and is found lying in a field in the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own and it is not known who killed him, (2) then your leaders and judges will go out and see how far it is to the cities that are around the dead man. (3) The leaders of the city that is nearest to the dead man will take a young cow from the cattle. The cow must never have been worked or pulled a plow. (4) The leaders of that city will bring the young cow down to a valley with flowing water, which has not been plowed or planted. They will break the cow’s neck there in the valley. (5) Then the religious leaders, the sons of Levi, will come near for the Lord your God has chosen them to serve Him and to bring good in the name of the Lord. Every question about what is right and every fight will be decided upon by them. (6) All the leaders of that city nearest to the dead man will wash their hands over the young cow whose neck was broken in the valley. (7) Then they will say, ‘Our hands have not killed him. Our eyes have not seen it. (8) O Lord, forgive Your people Israel whom You have set free. Do not put the guilt of killing a man who did no wrong on Your people Israel.’ And they will be forgiven from the guilt of the man’s death. (9) So you must take away the guilt of taking the life of a good man by doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord. (10) “When you go to battle against those who hate you, and the Lord your God gives them to you, and you make them go with you, (11) and you see a beautiful woman and have a desire for her as a wife, (12) bring her home to your house. There she will cut off all the hair from her head and cut her nails. (13) She will change the clothes she wore when you took her away, and stay in your house. She will have sorrow for her father and mother for one month. After that you may go in to her and be her husband and she will be your wife. (14) If you are not pleased with her, you should let her go wherever she wants. And do not sell her for money or act as if she were a servant because you have put her to shame. (15) “If a man has two wives, one loved and the other not loved, and both the loved and the one not loved have borne him sons, and if the first-born son belongs to the wife who is not loved, (16) on the day when the man divides what he has for his sons, he cannot make the first-born of his loved wife the first-born before the son of the wife who is not loved, who is the first-born. (17) He must respect the first-born, the son of the wife who is not loved, by giving him twice the share of all he has. He is the beginning of his strength and the right of the first-born belongs to him. (18) “If a man has a strong-willed son who goes against him and does not obey his father or mother and when they punish him he will not even listen to them, (19) then his father and mother will take hold of him and bring him to the leaders of his city at the gate of his city. (20) They will say to the leaders of his city, ‘This son of ours is strong-willed and goes against us. He will not obey us. He eats and drinks too much.’ (21) Then all the men of his city will kill him with stones. You must get rid of the sin from among you. All Israel will hear about it and be afraid. (22) “If a man has sinned and should be put to death and he is put to death and you hang him on a tree, (23) his body must not hang all night on the tree. You should be sure to bury him on the same day (for he who hangs is cursed by God). So do not make your land unclean which the Lord your God is giving you. DEUTERONOMY 22 (GWT) – 7:06 Deuteronomy, chapter 22. (1) If you see another Israelite’s ox or sheep out where it doesn’t belong, don’t pretend that you don’t see it. Make sure you take it back. (2) If the owner doesn’t live near you or you don’t know who owns it, take the animal home with you. Keep it until the owner comes looking for it. Then give it back. (3) Do the same if you find a donkey, some clothes, or anything else that another Israelite may have lost. Don’t pretend that you don’t know what to do. (4) If you see another Israelite’s donkey or ox lying on the ground, don’t pretend that you don’t see it. Make sure you help him get it back on its feet. (5) A woman must never wear anything men would wear, and a man must never wear women’s clothes. Whoever does this is disgusting to the Lord your God. (6) Whenever you’re traveling and find a nest containing chicks or eggs, this is what you must do. If the mother bird is sitting on the nest, never take her with the chicks. (7) You may take the chicks, but make sure you let the mother go. Then things will go well for you, and you will live for a long time. (8) Whenever you build a new house, put a railing around the edge of the roof. Then you won’t be responsible for a death at your home if someone falls off the roof. (9) Never plant anything between the rows in your vineyard. Otherwise, you will have to give everything that grows there to the holy place. Th

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  Episode #327

  S3E327 – 1 John 1-3: They’re Talking About You

  Sep 13, 202616 minS12

  Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is Epistles Sunday. Our reading will be 1 John 1-3.. Before I begin the chapters, I’ll have an introduction to John’s Epistles for you. Tomorrow is August 1st, and I will have an announcement to share with you on the show, so don’t miss it. I’m calling today’s episode “They’re Talking About You.”  Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Thomas M. Evans on Unsplash Comments on 1 John 1-3 Chapter 1 John begins chapter one much like he did his Gospel. He refers to Jesus as the Word, and he affirms that the Word has existed from the beginning. And he says that he, John, personally saw and heard Him. He says that it is through Jesus that we can have a relationship with God, and that when we have that, we have a relationship with other believers…we truly are brothers and sisters. This is important because if we say we believe, and yet don’t love each other, we are fooling ourselves.  And then at the end of chapter one we read one of the foundational truths of the Gospel. John writes in verse nine, “God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong.” Of course, God sets a high standard for us, but He knows how weak and fallible we are. But because of what Jesus did on the cross, this forgiveness is available to all who believe. Chapter 2 And in the opening verses of chapter two, John continues this thought. And this one just blows me away. Did you know that you are a topic of conversation between Jesus and the Father? You are. And I am. Listen to this. John writes: I’m writing this to you so that you will not sin. Yet, if anyone does sin, we have Jesus Christ, who has God’s full approval. He speaks on our behalf when we come into the presence of the Father.”  When you and I sin, Jesus looks at the Father and says, “Forgive him, Father. I already paid for that sin with my blood.” What better advocate could there possibly be? Such Good News! Of course, there are a lot of golden nuggets of truth in these first three chapters, but I’m going to leave you with that last one. Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-3 GWT 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 – 0:00 This one just blows me away. INTRO S12E333 – 0:09 Coming 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 the year is almost over. Today’s Epistle Sunday and our reading will be 1 John chapters 1 through 3. Before I begin the chapters, I’ll have an introduction to John’s epistles for you. And tomorrow is August 1. I’ll have an announcement to share with you on that show. So you might not want to miss it. I’m calling today’s episode, “They are Talking About You”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e333. If you’d like to send me an email, I’d sure love to read it. Send it to st *** @ ************* ia.com . And by the way, as you just heard, this is episode 333 of season 12. And I’ll have a little bit more to say about 333 a little bit later in the show. Let’s get started. INTRO TO EPISTLES OF JOHN – 1:05 1 John is one of three epistles or letters that are attributed to John the Apostle who also wrote the Gospel of John and the book of Revelation. He’s the disciple that is often called John the Beloved, because it’s thought that he’s the one referred to six different times in the Gospel of John as the disciple whom Jesus loved. He’s also the disciple who was with Mary at the foot of the cross and into whose care Jesus gave Mary. The letters were not written to a specific church, but were intended to be circulated around to all the churches, the epistle was written to help them and encourage them in their devotion to Jesus, and to remind them that false teachers would be around and to emphasize that their love of God and people, especially other believers, was of the utmost importance. 1 JOHN 1 (GWT) – 1:53 1 John, chapter 1. (1) The Word of life existed from the beginning. We have heard it. We have seen it. We observed it and touched it. (2) This life was revealed to us. We have seen it, and we testify about it. We are reporting to you about this eternal life that was in the presence of the Father and was revealed to us. (3) This is the life we have seen and heard. We are reporting about it to you also so that you, too, can have a relationship with us. Our relationship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (4) We are writing this so that we can be completely filled with joy. (5) This is the message we heard from Christ and are reporting to you: God is light, and there isn’t any darkness in him. (6) If we say, “We have a relationship with God” and yet live in the dark, we’re lying. We aren’t being truthful. (7) But if we live in the light in the same way that God is in the light, we have a relationship with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from every sin. (8) If we say, “We aren’t sinful” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong. (10) If we say, “We have never sinned,” we turn God into a liar and his Word is not in us. 1 JOHN 2 (GWT) – 3:13 1 John, chapter 2. (1) My dear children, I’m writing this to you so that you will not sin. Yet, if anyone does sin, we have Jesus Christ, who has God’s full approval. He speaks on our behalf when we come into the presence of the Father. (2) He is the payment for our sins, and not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world. (3) We are sure that we know Christ if we obey his commandments. (4) The person who says, “I know him,” but doesn’t obey his commandments is a liar. The truth isn’t in that person. (5) But whoever obeys what Christ says is the kind of person in whom God’s love is perfected. That’s how we know we are in Christ. (6) Those who say that they live in him must live the same way he lived. (7) Dear friends, it’s not as though I’m writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, I’m giving you an old commandment that you’ve had from the beginning. It’s the old commandment you’ve already heard. (8) On the other hand, I’m writing to give you a new commandment. It’s a truth that exists in Christ and in you: The darkness is fading, and the true light is already shining. (9) Those who say that they are in the light but hate other believers are still in the dark. (10) Those who love other believers live in the light. Nothing will destroy the faith of those who live in the light. (11) Those who hate other believers are in the dark and live in the dark. They don’t know where they’re going, because they can’t see in the dark. (12) I’m writing to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven through Christ. (13) I’m writing to you, fathers, because you know Christ who has existed from the beginning. I’m writing to you, young people, because you have won the victory over the evil one. (14) I’ve written to you, children, because you know the Father. I’ve written to you, fathers, because you know Christ, who has existed from the beginning. I’ve written to you, young people, because you are strong and God’s word lives in you. You have won the victory over the evil one. (15) Don’t love the world and what it offers. Those who love the world don’t have the Father’s love in them. (16) Not everything that the world offers—physical gratification, greed, and extravagant lifestyles—comes from the Father. It comes from the world, and (17) the world and its evil desires are passing away. But the person who does what God wants lives forever. (18) Children, it’s the end of time. You’ve heard that an antichrist is coming. Certainly, many antichrists are already here. That’s how we know it’s the end of time. (19) They left us. However, they were never really part of us. If they had been, they would have stayed with us. But by leaving they made it clear that none of them were part of us. (20) The Holy One has anointed you, so all of you have knowledge. (21) I’m writing to you because you know the truth, not because you don’t know the truth. You know that no lie ever comes from the truth. (22) Who is a liar? Who else but the person who rejects Jesus as the Messiah? The person who rejects the Father and the Son is an antichrist. (23) Everyone who rejects the Son doesn’t have the Father either. The person who acknowledges the Son also has the Father. (24) Make sure that the message you heard from the beginning lives in you. If that message lives in you, you will also live in the Son and in the Father. (25) Christ has given us the promise of eternal life. (26) I’m writing to you about those who are trying to deceive you. (27) The anointing you received from Christ lives in you. You don’t need anyone to teach you something else. Instead, Christ’s anointing teaches you about everything. His anointing is true and contains no lie. So live in Christ as he taught you to do. (28) Now, dear children, live in Christ. Then, when he appears we will have confidence, and when he comes we won’t turn from him in shame. (29) If you know that Christ has God’s approval, you also know that everyone who does what God approves of has been born from God. 1 JOHN 3 (GWT) – 7:12 1 John, chapter 3. (1) Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either. (2) Dear friends, now we are God’s children. What we will be isn’t completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ appears we will be like him because we will see him as he is. (3) So all people who have this confidence in Christ keep themselves pure, as Christ is pure. (4) Those who live sinful lives are disobeying God. Sin is disobedience. (5) You know that Christ appeared in order to take away our sins. He isn’t sinful. (6) Those who live in Christ don’t go on sinning. Those who go on sinning haven’t seen or known Christ. (7) Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you. Whoever does what God approves of has God’s approval as Christ has God’s approval. (8) The person who lives a sinful life belongs to the devil, because the devil has been committing sin since the beginning. The reason that the Son of God appeared was to destroy what the devil does. (9) Those who have been born from God don’t live sinful lives. What God has said lives in them, and they can’t live sinful lives. They have been born from God. (10) This is the way God’s children are distinguished from the devil’s children. Everyone who doesn’t do what is right or love other believers isn’t God’s child. (11) The message that you have heard from the beginning is to love each other. (12) Don’t be like Cain. He was a child of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain murder his brother? Because the things Cain did were evil and the things his brother did had God’s approval. (13) Brothers and sisters, don’t be surprised if the world hates you. (14) We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn’t grow in love remains in death. (15) Everyone who hates another believer is a murderer, and you know that a murderer doesn’t have eternal life. (16) We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers. (17) Now, suppose a person has enough to live on and notices another believer in need. How can God’s love be in that person if he doesn’t bother to help the other believer? (18) Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words. (19) This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and how we will be reassured in his presence. (20) Whenever our conscience condemns us, we will be reassured that God is greater than our conscience and knows everything. (21) Dear friends, if our conscience doesn’t condemn us, we can boldly look to God (22) and receive from him anything we ask. We receive it because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. (23) This is his commandment: to believe in his Son, the one named Jesus Christ, and to love each other as he commanded us. (24) Those who obey Christ’s commandments live in God, and God lives in them. We know that he lives in us because he has given us the Spirit. COMMENTS – 10:30 John begins chapter 1, much like he did his Gospel. He refers to Jesus as the word and that the word existed from the beginning. And he says that he, John, personally saw and heard him. He says that it’s through Jesus, that we can have a relationship with God. And that when we have that we have a relationship with other believers. We truly are brothers and sisters. And this is important because if we say we believe and yet don’t love each other, we’re fooling ourselves. And then at the end of the chapter, we read one of the foundational truths of the Gospel. John writes in verse 9, “God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong.” If you’ve been listening to the show for very long, you’ve heard me quote that verse many times. And then in the opening verses of chapter 2, John continues this thought, and this one just blows me away. Did you know that you’re a topic of conversation between Jesus and the Father? You are! And so am I! Listen to this. John wrote, “I’m writing this to you so that you will not sin. Yet, if anyone does sin, we have Jesus Christ, who has God’s full approval. He speaks on our behalf when we come into the presence of the Father.” So when you and I sin, Jesus looks at the father and says, “Forgive him, Father. Forgive her, Father. I already paid for that sin with my blood.” Isn’t that a marvelous thing to hear? What better advocate could there possibly be than Jesus himself? That is such good news. Of course, there are a lot of golden nuggets of truth in these first three chapters, but, today, I’m just going to leave you with that last one. You can’t improve on that. You have any comments? Let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e333. Our reading tomorrow will be Deuteronomy 20 through 22. Boost. EPISODE 333 PROMOTION – 12:34 So this is episode 333 of season 12. And what with Kathi’s health problems this week, I didn’t even think to create a special deal to mark the 333. It wasn’t until I saw the really cool newsletter that Kirsty sent out this week that I realized that I missed out. So by all means, donations of $3.33 or $33.33 or $333.33 or $3333.33 are all welcome. And I’ll announce them on the show. I can’t believe I missed it. But you know, there are priorities. Kirsty thank you for bringing it to my attention. ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 13:23 On this date in church history, July 31, 1970, the complete New American Standard Version of the Bible was published on this date. The New American Standard New Testament first appeared in 1963. PRAISE REPORT – 13:44 I have a praise report about Kathi. Got some great news from Del this morning. Kathi is being released from the hospital today and I’m recording this on Saturday afternoon. Now, because of the stairs at Del and Kathi’s house, which she’s too weak to tackle right now, she’ll be going to stay with one of their daughters. And they hope to get an appointment set tomorrow, Monday, with City of Hope to start the new cancer treatments. And by the way, she started back on solid foods today, too. So good news all around. Praise the Lord and thank you for your prayers. CLOSING PRAYER – Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, what a joy it is to know that Jesus intercedes for us with you father. Knowing that he is our intercessor brings a great deal of security and peace, and we thank you for that, Lord. And I thank you for your hand on Kathi. In Jesus’ name, I just ask that you would continue the healing. And I pray, Lord, that You would bless the Lifespring family today. Where there are needs. I pray that you work your perfect will in each life. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen. And if you have a prayer request or to praise just go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com. OUTRO S12E333 – 14:57 Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e333. Send an email to me at st *** @ ************* ia.com . Thanks to the team. Kirsty, again, thanks for that great newsletter you just sent out. Thanks to Sean of San Pedro for being so quick and having those chapters done even before the show was published many times. And Denise, thank you for all the work you do on correcting the transcripts. Thank you for making me a part of your podcast-listening day. I am honored and I don’t take it for granted. So thank you very much. And please do support the show at lifespringmedia.com/support. Please and thank you. Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Remember I have an announcement tomorrow. See you then. Bye. Transcribed by https://otter.ai Corrected by Denise Please rate or review the show by clicking the heart!

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  Episode #326

  S3E326 – Acts 17-18: Just Do Your Job

  Sep 12, 202616 minS12

  Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is Gospel Saturday Acts 17-18. I’m calling today’s episode “Just Do Your Job.” Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Elaine Casap on Unsplash Comments on Acts 18 Something that struck me in today’s reading was in verse 5 and 6. Paul had told the Jews that Jesus was the Christ, and he was opposed and slandered. Other translations use the word “blasphemed” or “became abusive” or “insulted.” His response to this treatment was interesting. What do many of us tend to do today when people don’t accept our message? We try to change our approach. We try even harder to convince them that Jesus is who He said He is. But Paul shook the dust from his clothes in protest and said to them, “You are responsible for your own fates! I’m innocent! From now on I’ll go to the Gentiles!” He didn’t seem to fret over saving every last person he delivered the message to.  Folks, we need to remember that our job is merely to deliver the message as faithfully and accurately as we can. It’s not our job to make them believe. We can’t. It’s the Holy Spirit who convinces. Yes, we must be prepared to give an answer when people ask questions, but we cannot bring about change in the human heart. Once we’ve delivered the message, our job is done. That’s not to say that we should take too casual an attitude about witnessing, however. Note that in verse 28, we’re told that Apollos “would vigorously defeat Jewish arguments in public debate,” and here is the key part of the verse, “using the scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ.” He defeated the Jews with the scriptures. Not his own human arguments, but with scripture. Very important. Scripture is the living Word of God. My own arguments are just the word of Steve, which isn’t worth much. But God’s Word? That’ll change someone’s eternity. Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 17 NCV; Ch. 18 CEB 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 – 0:00 Scripture is the living word of God. INTRO S12E325 – 0:10 Coming 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. What’s going on? Today is Gospel Saturday and we’ll read Acts 17 and 18. I’m calling today’s episode, “Just Do Your Job”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e325. My email address is st *** @ ************* ia.com . And I think it’s time we get started. ACTS 17 (NCV) – 0:44 Acts, chapter 17. (1) Paul and Silas traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica where there was a synagogue. (2) Paul went into the synagogue as he always did, and on each Sabbath day for three weeks, he talked with his fellow Jews about the Scriptures. (3) He explained and proved that the Christ must die and then rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I am telling you about is the Christ.” (4) Some of them were convinced and joined Paul and Silas, along with many of the Greeks who worshiped God and many of the important women. (5) But some others became jealous. So they got some evil men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot. They ran to Jason’s house, looking for Paul and Silas, wanting to bring them out to the people. (6) But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers to the leaders of the city. The people were yelling, “These people have made trouble everywhere in the world, and now they have come here too! (7) Jason is keeping them in his house. All of them do things against the laws of Caesar, saying there is another king, called Jesus.” (8) When the people and the leaders of the city heard these things, they became very upset. (9) They made Jason and the others put up a sum of money. Then they let the believers go free. (10) That same night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea where they went to the synagogue. (11) These people were more willing to listen than the people in Thessalonica. The Bereans were eager to hear what Paul and Silas said and studied the Scriptures every day to find out if these things were true. (12) So, many of them believed, as well as many important Greek women and men. (13) But the people in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, too. So they came there, upsetting the people and making trouble. (14) The believers quickly sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. (15) The people leading Paul went with him to Athens. Then they carried a message from Paul back to Silas and Timothy for them to come to him as soon as they could. (16) While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he was troubled because he saw that the city was full of idols. (17) In the synagogue, he talked with the Jews and the Greeks who worshiped God. He also talked every day with people in the marketplace. (18) Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him, saying, “This man doesn’t know what he is talking about. What is he trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be telling us about some other gods,” because Paul was telling them about Jesus and his rising from the dead. (19) They got Paul and took him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said, “Please explain to us this new idea you have been teaching. (20) The things you are saying are new to us, and we want to know what this teaching means.” (21) (All the people of Athens and those from other countries who lived there always used their time to talk about the newest ideas.) (22) Then Paul stood before the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “People of Athens, I can see you are very religious in all things. (23) As I was going through your city, I saw the objects you worship. I found an altar that had these words written on it: to a god who is not known. You worship a god that you don’t know, and this is the God I am telling you about! (24) The God who made the whole world and everything in it is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands. (25) This God is the One who gives life, breath, and everything else to people. He does not need any help from them; he has everything he needs. (26) God began by making one person, and from him came all the different people who live everywhere in the world. God decided exactly when and where they must live. (27) God wanted them to look for him and perhaps search all around for him and find him, though he is not far from any of us: (28) ‘By his power we live and move and exist.’ Some of your own poets have said: ‘For we are his children.’ (29) Since we are God’s children, you must not think that God is like something that people imagine or make from gold, silver, or rock. (30) In the past, people did not understand God, and he ignored this. But now, God tells all people in the world to change their hearts and lives. (31) God has set a day that he will judge all the world with fairness, by the man he chose long ago. And God has proved this to everyone by raising that man from the dead!” (32) When the people heard about Jesus being raised from the dead, some of them laughed. But others said, “We will hear more about this from you later.” (33) So Paul went away from them. (34) But some of the people believed Paul and joined him. Among those who believed was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and some others. ACTS 18 (CEB) – 5:31 Acts, chapter 18. (1) After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. (2) There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus. He had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul visited with them. (3) Because they practiced the same trade, he stayed and worked with them. They all worked with leather. (4) Every Sabbath he interacted with people in the synagogue, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks. (5) Once Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. (6) When they opposed and slandered him, he shook the dust from his clothes in protest and said to them, “You are responsible for your own fates! I’m innocent! From now on I’ll go to the Gentiles!” (7) He left the synagogue and went next door to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile God-worshipper. (8) Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household came to believe in the Lord. Many Corinthians believed and were baptized after listening to Paul. (9) One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Don’t be afraid. Continue speaking. Don’t be silent. (10) I’m with you and no one who attacks you will harm you, for I have many people in this city.” (11) So he stayed there for eighteen months, teaching God’s word among them. (12) Now when Gallio was the governor of the province of Achaia, the Jews united in their opposition against Paul and brought him before the court. (13) “This man is persuading others to worship God unlawfully,” they declared. (14) Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “If there had been some sort of injury or criminal behavior, I would have reason to accept your complaint. (15) However, since these are squabbles about a message, names, and your own Law, deal with them yourselves. I have no desire to sit in judgment over such things.” (16) He expelled them from the court, (17) but everyone seized Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and gave him a beating in the presence of the governor. None of this mattered to Gallio. (18) After Paul stayed in Corinth for some time, he said good-bye to the brothers and sisters. At the Corinthian seaport of Cenchreae he had his head shaved, since he had made a solemn promise. Then, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila, he sailed away to Syria. (19) After they arrived in Ephesus, he left Priscilla and Aquila and entered the synagogue and interacted with the Jews. (20) They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. (21) As he said farewell to them, though, he added, “God willing, I will return.” Then he sailed off from Ephesus. (22) He arrived in Caesarea, went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. (23) After some time there he left and traveled from place to place in the region of Galatia and the district of Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. (24) Meanwhile, a certain Jew named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria and was well-educated and effective in his use of the scriptures. (25) He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and spoke as one stirred up by the Spirit. He taught accurately the things about Jesus, even though he was aware only of the baptism John proclaimed and practiced. (26) He began speaking with confidence in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they received him into their circle of friends and explained to him God’s way more accurately. (27) When he wanted to travel to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples so they would open their homes to him. Once he arrived, he was of great help to those who had come to believe through grace. (28) He would vigorously defeat Jewish arguments in public debate, using the scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ. COMMENTS – 9:18 Well, something that struck me in today’s reading was in verse 5 and 6 of chapter 18, Paul had told the Jews that Jesus was the Christ, and he was opposed and slandered. Other translations use the word “blasphemed” or they “became abusive” or “insulted” him. His response to this treatment was interesting to say the least. What do many of us tend to do today when people don’t accept our message? We try to change our approach. We try even harder to convince them that Jesus is who he said he is. But Paul did something entirely different. He shook the dust from his clothes in protest and said to them, “You are responsible for your own fates! I’m innocent! From now on I’ll go to the Gentiles!” Paul didn’t seem to fret over saving every last person he delivered the message to. Folks, we need to remember that our job is merely to deliver the message as faithfully and accurately as we can. It isn’t our job to make them believe. We can’t. It’s the Holy Spirit who convinces. Yes, we have to be prepared to give an answer when people ask questions, but we can’t bring about change in the human heart. Once we’ve delivered the message, our job is done. Now that is not to say that we should take too casually an attitude about witnessing. Note that in verse 28, we’re told that Apollos, quote, “would vigorously defeat Jewish arguments in public debate,” unquote. And then here’s the key part of that verse, quote, “using the scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ,” unquote. What did he do? He defeated the Jews with the Scriptures, not his own human arguments, but with scripture. That’s very important. Scripture is the living word of God. My own arguments are just the word of Steve, which aren’t worth much. But God’s word? Well, that’ll change someone’s eternity. What do you think? Have a comment? Let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e325. Tomorrow’s Epistle Sunday, and we’ll read the book of 2 Peter. Boost! SUPPORTER SHOUT-OUT – 11:24 I just wanted to acknowledge a donation by Anonymous who sent in a $22.22 row-o’-ducks donation. Thank you very much Anonymous, and may God bless you richly. Thank you. You can also participate in the value-for-value method by supporting the show with time, talent or treasure by making a donation to support the show that comes to you seven days a week, rain or shine. It certainly isn’t free for me to create the show for you. And if it’s something that you look forward to each day, it would be awesome if you would return a portion of that value to me to help with the cost of producing the show. What is the show worth to you? Go on over to lifespringmedia.com/support. Take a look at that page, then pray about it and then do what the Lord leads, lifespringmedia.com/support. ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 12:18 On this date in church history, July 23, 1825, Samuel Ajayi Crowther who was kidnapped earlier by Muslim slave traders from his Yoruba homeland in North Central Africa, was rescued by English missionaries and baptized into the church. And in 1864, he was consecrated as a missionary Bishop of the Niger territory. Wow, that’s quite a story. PRAYER REQUESTS – 12:49 Prayer requests. Some of you might be aware of and listen to the podcast I produce here at Lifespring Media for my former pastor who’s retired. The show is “In the Word with Mel Bennett”. Well, I got this email from him this morning. He said, “Just a note to let you know I haven’t sent any further podcasts. Had another procedure yesterday on both legs. Had three stents and two balloons in my left leg to open arteries that were clogged. And they checked my right leg and found the artery 100% clogged and could do nothing. We’ll keep watching it. Appreciate your prayers.” So we need to pray for my former pastor. And by the way, for those that might not know, when God called me to podcasting all those years ago, I didn’t have any of the necessary recording gear. So I asked Pastor Bennett, if I could use the church equipment. He didn’t know what a podcast was. Podcasting was brand new at the time. But he said that if God called me to do it, then of course, I could use the church’s microphones and whatever else I needed. So Pastor B was very instrumental in me even talking to you right now. He did send an episode about a week ago that I do hope to get produced and published by this coming Monday. I haven’t gotten to it yet because of my workload, including helping another friend of mine start his own podcast. And I gotta tell you, I’m really anxious to tell you about it. But we’ve got to get our ducks in a row first. So let’s pray for Pastor Bennett. CLOSING PRAYER – 14:11 Our heavenly Father, Lord as we seek to do your will and share the good news. Help us to deliver the message faithfully. Help us to be compassionate and loving, but then step aside and let you bring the harvest as you see fit. Help us to just be faithful to what you’ve called us to do. And Lord, now we pray for Pastor Bennett, that his healing would be quick and as easy as possible. I thank you for his presence in my life for the past thirty-five or so years, and I pray that you would be with him as he recovers. Touch him, Lord, in Jesus name. And I thank you for the Lifespring family and ask you to bless them. And I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. If you have a prayer request or a praise, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com, and give me all the information you want me to have, and if you want to remain anonymous, you can do that too, prayer.lifespringmedia.com OUTRO S12E325 – 15:10 Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e325. Send me an email at st *** @ ************* ia.com . And thanks to Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise for all that they do. You guys are awesome. Thanks to Anonymous for their donation today and helping to bring the show to you. And thank you for meeting me here today. Are you glad the show is here? Are you getting something out of it? Then put something back in. Support the show at lifespringmedia.com/support. Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Bye. Transcribed by https://otter.ai Corrected by Denise Please rate or review the show by clicking the heart!

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  Episode #325

  S3E325 – Zechariah 8-14: There Is A Fountain

  Sep 11, 202628 minS12

  Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is Prophecy Friday Zechariah 8-14.  I’m calling today’s episode “There Is A Fountain.”   Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Tony Mucci on Unsplash Comments on Zechariah 8-14 The Messiah is prophesied in chapter 6. There, He is referred to as the Branch, who will build the Temple of the Lord. What temple did Jesus build? The Church. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:19. And then in chapter 7, the Lord, through Zechariah, said that His people ignored Him, so He ignored them and scattered them among the nations. But in chapter 8 He once again said how much He loves them, and then makes nine more statements that demonstrate that love, so that they would not be discouraged by the punishment they had received because of their disobedience.  And isn’t that how a loving Father disciplines his child? How terrible it is when a parent allows a child to lose hope, to doubt that he or she is still loved. Discipline should always be couched in love, and the child should always have that love reinforced. This is what God the Father has always done for us, His children. In verse 1 of chapter 12, we read, “The word of the Lord concerning Israel. A declaration of the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him.” This verse is confirming that the God who created all that is spoke this message, just in case there was any doubt about its veracity. The Supreme Being of the Universe has a message, and all who hear should listen.  The bottom line of God’s message is that any nation that comes against Jerusalem will ultimately be soundly defeated. Any nation that comes against Israel is on a fool’s errand. They may triumph for a day, but the final outcome is sure.  The chapter ends, of course, with a look forward to Jesus Himself, the fact that He would be pierced, and the mourning that would take place upon His death. Chapter 13 begins with the declaration of what would be the result of the piercing. It says, “On that day a fountain  will be opened for the house of David and for the residents of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and impurity.“ Of course, being on this side of the prophecy and having knowledge of the New Testament and the work of Jesus, we know that this promise applies to all, not just to the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, it applies to all who believe. The rest of the chapter speaks more to who this Messiah would be, and it ends with another beautiful promise, “I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say: They are My people, and they will say: Yahweh is our God.” Imagine. This God who created all that is says, “Steve is mine. Mike is mine. Suzie is mine.” Put your own name in there. You are His, if He is your God. What a privilege! Are you feeling bad today? Do you think no one loves you? Do you get no respect? YOU ARE HIS! Hallelujah! You. Are. His. That should thrill your heart. I know it thrills mine. The final chapter of Zechariah shows us a glimpse of one of the final chapters of man’s history on Earth. It talks about a last battle with those who are against God, and the resolution of the aftermath. Peace.  Why did the Lord leave this message with us? So that, even when we are still in the midst of the turmoil and pain that we all must endure, our heart can have peace in the knowledge that we belong to Him and as such, we will be included in His victory and then have lasting peace. Sure, there are difficulties in life, but we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that they are temporary. Whatever situation we are in, it is only for a season. It is not permanent. God *is* permanent and unchanging. His promises never fail. And His promise is that victory is sure, and peace is secure. Rest in that, Beloved. Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 8-11 NIV; Ch. 12-14 HCSB 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 – 0:00 Our heart can have peace. INTRO S12E324 – 0:09 Coming 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. How’s your day going? Today’s Prophecy Friday. We’ll read Zechariah 8 through 14 which will finish that book. I’m calling today’s episode, “There is a Fountain”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e324. That means we’ve got forty more episodes in this season. If you’d like to email me, you can send it to st *** @ ************* ia.com . Let’s begin. ZECHARIAH 8 (NIV) – 0:48 Zechariah, chapter 8. (1) The word of the Lord Almighty came to me. (2) This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.” (3) This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.” (4) This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. (5) The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.” (6) This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of the people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the Lord Almighty. (7) This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. (8) I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.” (9) This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets said who were present when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. (10) Before that time there were no wages for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. (11) But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the Lord Almighty. (12) “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. (13) Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.” (14) This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, (15) “so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. (16) These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; (17) do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord. (18) The word of the Lord Almighty came to me. (19) This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.” (20) This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, (21) and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ (22) And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.” (23) This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold by one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’” ZECHARIAH 9 (NIV) – 4:04 Zechariah, chapter 9. (1) A prophecy: The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak and will come to rest on Damascus— for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord— (2) and on Hamath too, which borders on it, and on Tyre and Sidon, though they are very skillful. (3) Tyre has built herself a stronghold; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. (4) But the Lord will take away her possessions and destroy her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire. (5) Ashkelon will see it and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, and Ekron too, for her hope will wither. Gaza will lose her king and Ashkelon will be deserted. (6) A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod, and I will put an end to the pride of the Philistines. (7) I will take the blood from their mouths, the forbidden food from between their teeth. Those who are left will belong to our God and become a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites. (8) But I will encamp at my temple to guard it against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch. (9) Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (10) I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. (11) As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. (12) Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you. (13) I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and make you like a warrior’s sword. (14) Then the Lord will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south, (15) and the Lord Almighty will shield them. They will destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar as with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling the corners of the altar. (16) The Lord their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. (17) How attractive and beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women. ZECHARIAH 10 (NIV) – 6:44 Zechariah, chapter 10. (1) Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone. (2) The idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd. (3) “My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the Lord Almighty will care for his flock, the people of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle. (4) From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler. (5) Together they will be like warriors in battle trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets. They will fight because the Lord is with them, and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame. (6) “I will strengthen Judah and save the tribes of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them. (7) The Ephraimites will become like warriors, and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the Lord. (8) I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before. (9) Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return. (10) I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be room enough for them. (11) They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria’s pride will be brought down and Egypt’s scepter will pass away. (12) I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will live securely,” declares the Lord. ZECHARIAH 11 (NIV) – 8:43 Zechariah, chapter 11. (1) Open your doors, Lebanon, so that fire may devour your cedars! (2) Wail, you juniper, for the cedar has fallen; the stately trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan; the dense forest has been cut down! (3) Listen to the wail of the shepherds; their rich pastures are destroyed! Listen to the roar of the lions; the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined! (4) This is what the Lord my God says: “Shepherd the flock marked for slaughter. (5) Their buyers slaughter them and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, ‘Praise the Lord, I am rich!’ Their own shepherds do not spare them. (6) For I will no longer have pity on the people of the land,” declares the Lord. “I will give everyone into the hands of their neighbors and their king. They will devastate the land, and I will not rescue anyone from their hands.” (7) So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter, particularly the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock. (8) In one month I got rid of the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them (9) and said, “I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those who are left eat one another’s flesh.” (10) Then I took my staff called Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations. (11) It was revoked on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the Lord. (12) I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. (13) And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord. (14) Then I broke my second staff called Union, breaking the family bond between Judah and Israel. (15) Then the Lord said to me, “Take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. (16) For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hooves. (17) “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!” ZECHARIAH 12 (HCSB) – 11:07 Zechariah, chapter 12. (1) An Oracle The word of the Lord concerning Israel. A declaration of the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him. (2) “Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering for the peoples who surround the city. The siege against Jerusalem will also involve Judah. (3) On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who try to lift it will injure themselves severely when all the nations of the earth gather against her. (4) On that day”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah but strike all the horses of the nations with blindness. (5) Then each of the leaders of Judah will think to himself: The residents of Jerusalem are my strength through the Lord of Hosts, their God. (6) On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right and the left, while Jerusalem continues to be inhabited on its site, in Jerusalem. (7) The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of David’s house and the glory of Jerusalem’s residents may not be greater than that of Judah. (8) On that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that on that day the one who is weakest among them will be like David on that day, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the Lord, before them. (9) On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (10) “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn. (11) On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. (12) The land will mourn, every family by itself: the family of David’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Nathan’s house by itself and their women by themselves; (13) the family of Levi’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself and their women by themselves; (14) all the remaining families, every family by itself, and their women by themselves. ZECHARIAH 13 (HCSB) – 13:33 Zechariah, chapter 13. (1) “On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the residents of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and impurity. (2) On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“I will erase the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land. (3) If a man still prophesies, his father and his mother who bore him will say to him: You cannot remain alive because you have spoken falsely in the name of Yahweh. When he prophesies, his father and his mother who bore him will pierce him through. (4) On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive. (5) He will say: I am not a prophet; I work the land, for a man purchased me as a servant since my youth. (6) If someone asks him: What are these wounds on your chest? — then he will answer: I received the wounds in the house of my friends. (7) Sword, awake against My shepherd, against the man who is My associate— this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will also turn My hand against the little ones. (8) In the whole land— this is the Lord’s declaration— two-thirds will be cut off and die, but a third will be left in it. (9) I will put this third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will restore them. I will say: They are My people, and they will say: Yahweh is our God.” ZECHARIAH 14 (HCSB) – 15:11 Zechariah, chapter 14. (1) A day of the Lord is coming when your plunder will be divided in your presence. (2) I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle. The city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city. (3) Then the Lord will go out to fight against t

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  Episode #324

  S3E324 – Ecclesiastes 9-10: No White Knuckles

  Sep 10, 202610 minS12

  Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is Poetry Thursday. We’ll read Ecclesiastes 9-10.  I’m calling today’s episode “No White Knuckles.”  Design and Photo: Steve Webb Comments on Ecclesiastes 9-10 Last week when we were last in Ecclesiastes, at the end of chapter eight, Solomon had said that after setting his mind on understanding wisdom, after watching what happens here on earth, he concluded that it’s impossible for a man to understand it all. And this is coming from the wisest man that ever lived! At the beginning of our reading today began with the words, “So I considered all of this carefully, examining all of it: The righteous and the wise and their deeds are in God’s hand…” I’ve discovered that this is a good place to be. Before Jesus left this world he said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.” If we try to make sense out of the world, as Solomon did, will become just like him. We will become cynical and jaded. Solomon spent many years in pursuit of the things the world tells us will bring happiness. And near the end, he threw in the towel, and he said, “It’s too much. I can’t understand.” When I was a few years, well, okay, when I was many years younger, during the Jesus Freak days…In the late 60s and early 70s, there was a popular bumper sticker around that said, “Let go and let God.” Like most bumper stickers, that’s overly simplistic, but it fits in our discussion here. When we’re willing to admit that we’re not in control, that it’s all in God’s hands, it becomes easier to let go and let God. One of the reasons Jesus came was to give us peace, which is good, since all the things that the world says will give His peace fall sadly short. It’s a good thing to remember that I’m not God, which is good because I don’t want that job. Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 9-10 NKJV 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 – 0:00 It’s too much. I can’t understand. INTRO S12E323 – 0:10 Right outta 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. How’re you doing? Today’s Poetry Thursday. We’ll read Ecclesiastes 9 and 10. And I’m calling the episode, “No White Knuckles”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e323. And my email address is st *** @ ************* ia.com . Let’s get going. ECCLESIASTE 9 (NKJV) – 0:42 Ecclesiastes, chapter 9. (1) For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. (2) All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. (3) This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. (4) But for him who is joined to the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. (5) For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. (6) Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun. (7) Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. (8) Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. (9) Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. (10) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (11) I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. (12) For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them. (13) This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: (14) There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. (15) Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. (16) Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard. (17) Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. (18) Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.” ECCLESIASTER 10 (NKJV) – 3:36 Ecclesiastes, chapter 10. (1) Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. (2) A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left. (3) Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool. (4) If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses. (5) There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler: (6) Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place. (7) I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants. (8) He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. (9) He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it. (10) If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success. (11) A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different. (12) The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; (13) The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness. (14) A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him? (15) The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city! (16) Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning! (17) Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time— For strength and not for drunkenness! (18) Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. (19) A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything. (20) Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter. COMMENTS – 5:54 Last week when we were last in Ecclesiastes, at the end of chapter 8, Solomon had said that after setting his mind on understanding wisdom, after watching what happens here on earth, he concluded that it’s impossible for a man to understand it all, and this is coming from the wisest man that ever lived. And the beginning of our reading today began with the words: “So I considered all of this carefully examining all of it, the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in God’s hand…” Well, beloved, I’ve discovered that this is a good place to be. Before Jesus left this world, he said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.” If we try to make sense out of the world, as Solomon did, we’ll become just like him. We’ll become cynical and jaded. Solomon spent many years in pursuit of the things the world tells us will bring happiness and near the end, he threw in the towel, and he said, “It’s too much I can’t understand.” When I was a few years – well, okay, when I was many years younger, during the Jesus Freak days – we’ve talked about this before – in the late 60s and early 70s, there was a popular bumper sticker around that said, “Let go and let God”. Well of course, like most bumper stickers, that’s overly simplistic, but it fits in our discussion here. When we’re willing to admit that we’re not in control, that it’s all in God’s hands, it becomes easier to let go and let God One of the reasons Jesus came was to give us peace, which is good, since all the things that the world says will give us peace fall sadly short. It’s a good thing to remember that I’m not God, which is good because I don’t want that job. What do you think? Let me know at lifespringmedia.com/s12e323. Tomorrow is Prophecy Friday and we’ll read Zechariah 8 through 14 which will finish that book. Boost. Boost. Boost. ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 8:08 On this date in church history, July 21, 1829, Priscilla Jane Owens was born and she was an American public school teacher and hymn writer. She lived her entire life in Baltimore, where she taught for 49 years. She also published a number of articles and poems during her lifetime, including the hymn texts, “We Have an Anchor” and “Jesus Saves”. And on July 21, 1900, Albert Schweitzer received his Licentiate in theology. He later became famous as a musicologist, physician, and missionary. CLOSING PRAYER – 8:50 Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, help us to let go. Help us to trust You, Lord. Help us to focus on the things you’ve called us to do and let go of the things that are out of our ability to control. Help us to “let go and let God” because we know in our minds that you are infinitely more capable than we are. But sometimes it’s so difficult to let go. Of course you know that about us, and that’s why you said in your word so many times, “Fear not”. Help us not to fear Lord, give us your peace and help us to trust in You. Lord, I thank you so much for the Lifespring family and I ask that you bless them today. In Jesus name, amen. The word tells us that we are to bear one another’s burdens. That means we’re supposed to pray for each other. So if you’d like to share a prayer request or to praise with the Lifespring family, there’s a place you can go. It’s at prayer.lifespringmedia.com. OUTRO S12E323 – 9:54 If you’d like to comment on anything you heard today, go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e323. Send me an email at st *** @ ************* ia.com . Thanks to the team: Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise. And thank you for letting me be in your ears today. I appreciate it. Support the show at lifespringmedia.com/support. Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Bye. Transcribed by https://otter.ai Corrected by Denise Please rate or review the show by clicking the heart!

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