#judgment against Nineveh

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Judgment Against Nineveh

1 Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder— no end to the prey! 2 The crack of the whip, and rumble of the wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot! 3 Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear, hosts of slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end— they stumble over the bodies! 4 And all for the countless whorings of the prostitute, graceful and of deadly charms, who betrays nations with her whorings, and peoples with her charms. 5 Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame. 6 I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle. 7 And all who look at you will shrink from you and say, Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her? Where shall I seek comforters for you? 8 Are you better than Thebes that sat by the Nile, with water round her, her rampart a sea, and water her wall? 9 Cush was her strength; Egypt too, and that without limit; Put and the Libyans were her helpers. 10 Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity; her infants were dashed in pieces at the head of every street; for her honoured men lots were cast, and all her great men were bound in chains.

11 You also will be drunken; you will go into hiding; you will seek a refuge from the enemy. 12 All your fortresses are like fig trees with first-ripe figs— if shaken they fall into the mouth of the eater. 13 Behold, your troops are women in your midst. The gates of your land are wide open to your enemies; fire has devoured your bars. 14 Draw water for the siege; strengthen your forts; go into the clay; tread the mortar; take hold of the brick mould! 15 There will the fire devour you; the sword will cut you off. It will devour you like the locust. Multiply yourselves like the locust; multiply like the grasshopper! 16 You increased your merchants more than the stars of the heavens. The locust spreads its wings and flies away. 17 Your princes are like grasshoppers, your scribes like clouds of locusts settling on the fences in a day of cold— when the sun rises, they fly away; no one knows where they are. 18 Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; your nobles slumber. Your people are scattered on the mountains with none to gather them. 19 There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil? — Nahum 3 | English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Anglicised Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Cross References: Leviticus 26:37; 1 Kings 22:17; 2 Kings 8:12; 2 Chronicles 12:3; 2 Chronicles 16:8; 2 Chronicles 32:3-4; Job 6:27; Job 9:31; Job 27:23; Job 30:8; Job 39:22; Psalm 62:10; Psalm 76:5-6; Psalm 105:34; Isaiah 2:10; Isaiah 2:19; Isaiah 19:6; Isaiah 19:16; Isaiah 23:8; Isaiah 34:3; Isaiah 45:1-2; Isaiah 47:2-3; Isaiah 51:19; Isaiah 51:27; Isaiah 66:15-16; Jeremiah 15:5; Jeremiah 25:19; Jeremiah 30:12; Jeremiah 46:3; Jeremiah 47:3; Jeremiah 51:14; Ezekiel 24:6; Revelation 6:13; Revelation 9:7; Revelation 17:1-2; Revelation 18:3

Commentary on Nahum 3 by Matthew Henry

[jessdyet]

I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and make thee a sight. Bible word, Nope , Jordan Peele (Foreword)

Hearing this, the people of Nineveh began to pray and supplicate and were converted. They asked for forgiveness for their sins. God forgave .Because .The essence of love is to 'get tired' of something, so a love and effort are inseparable. A man loves what he labors for and he works for what or whom he loves... Love is active concern for the life and development of the person or thing we love." (Erich Froom: The Art of Love, excerpt)

[walkswithmyfather]

Jonah 1:1-3 (NLT). [1] “The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: [2] “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” [3] But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.

Jonah 2:1-4 (NLT). [1] “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. [2] He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! [3] You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. [4] Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’”

“Saying Yes (When We Want to Say No)” By In Touch Mysteries:

“We don't have to worry about what happens if we obey God—He will take care of us.”

“In a fish’s belly, Jonah recommitted himself to the Lord’s purpose. But the popular Bible story about the consequences of disobedience doesn’t end with Jonah obeying God. The book actually concludes with him acknowledging why he didn’t want the job—and with the Lord chastising him for his selfish reasons.

Jonah was afraid that the Ninevites—who were a threat to the Jews—might actually repent, and God wouldn’t destroy them. Jonah admitted he wanted to see them wiped out: “Therefore in anticipation of [their salvation] I fled to Tarshish” (Jonah 4:2).

Believers resist doing God’s will for many reasons. Sometimes we say no because we dislike the probable outcome of obedience. Like Jonah, we also can lose sight of spiritually important things and focus on our own desires. But if the Lord calls us to act, He will take care of the end results. Our job is to obey.

What form of selfishness might be keeping you from obeying the Lord? Maybe you are too angry with your spouse to work on your marriage or too hurt to welcome back a repentant child. But we’re not to be ruled by feelings, no matter how strong they are. The heavenly Father calls us to obey Him. The final results may surprise you, particularly how blessed you will be for having followed Him.”

[twiggy-in-pink]

“The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.”

Matthew 12:41

[scribeforchrist-blog]

Nothing Is Going To Hold Me Back!

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

=======================

+ Ephesians 5:8 For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

=======================

VERSE OF THE DAY

======================

+ Galatians 5:7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?

=======================

** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I AM LETTING NOTHING HOLD ME BACK

I AM STRONG

I AM NOT COMPLAINING

I AM NOT AFRAID

======================

READ TIME: 9 Minutes & 55 Seconds

======================

THOUGHTS:

======================

   A lot of things can hold us back from achieving our goals , if were in school , our grade can , if we constantly making F's we will most likely not pass that grade,  even getting a house if our credit score isn't high enough it could us back from getting a car or a house , this is just to name a few things I am pretty sure it’s more to but those examples will do , a lot of us are allowing the schemes of the enemy to prevent us from growing , we are allowing his ways and tricks to stop us from progressing in the lord and when this happen we will always be held back .

The lord can’t elevate us if we are constantly getting fooled with the same  schemes , the enemy loves when he can hold us back he loves to distract us from connecting with God , and sometimes we do it by what we do during the day the moments we could be worshipping God we decide to go out and shop or we decide to binge watch Netflix , the moments we could be praying instead we are constantly picking up our phone to see who called . These things are what's holding us back from God.

  Galatians 3:1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ's death was made as apparent to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross.

  He asks them who has cast a spell on them; he even called them foolish because he wonders what was so great that it pulled their eyes off the truth. Often times , we can allow sin, people, and things to pull us away from the gospel of truth. Paul had told them this; that they knew of this, but why were they getting fooled? We allow ourselves to get fooled by the comfort of sins. It's people who know what they are doing is wrong and won't stop because they feel like it makes them feel good ;why should I stop? It makes me happy; Having this mindset will pull you away from God every time because happiness lasts for so long; curiosity only happens for so long; we must stop allowing the enemy to hold us back and start fighting back.

 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

  This is what we must do when the enemy strikes, and he will; we must cast down every imagination, every high thought that is against the knowledge of God; a lot of us cast it down, but we still let it stay; we still allow it to hold us back, and to cast anything down or to rebuke anything we must be ready to rebuke it and send it back, don't allow the thoughts the enemy try to place in our heads to stay, because as long as it stays, it will hold us back from our true goal which is worshiping God.

  True repentance comes when we truly consider what we did and ask God to forgive us; we learned this week that the city of Nineveh knew they were wrong after Jonah got through talking with them about the judgment of God, and they knew what they must do to achieve repentance.

  Jonah 3:7-8 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:

"No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything. 8 People and animals alike must wear mourning garments, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence.

  Every person and every animal wore a garment and mourned; they prayed to God earnestly to forgive them of their ways; that's how you seek repentance so that it won't hold you back; a lot of us don't want to say we are sorry or to confess with our mouth about what we did because we are so fixated on other things. Paul is saying today, stop being foolish; you know the truth of God, you know what the truth is, and you know that listening to the things of this world is only going to push you back.

   Matthew 8:19-20 Then, one of the teachers of religious law said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

20 But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head."

   We also learned this week that walking in Christ is hard because we must deny ourselves. That's it, point blank , and a lot of people don't want to deny themselves to follow Him; he says in his word to become a disciple, we must deny ourselves, we must pick up our cross DAILY and say Father, please help me

A lot of us don't want to do that we don't want to pick it up because we feel it’s too heavy and yes it will be heavy. We must deny what we desire to follow him, and a lot of people made excuses why they couldn't, and he gave them an excuse why they could; there is nothing in this life that should be stopping us from following Christ.

  1 Peter 3:12   The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.

  The Lord hears our cry, and he watches over those who do right and hear our prayers; a lot of time, we are curious: does he hear me, or did he love us? This verse tells us he watches over the ones that do right, loving your neighbors, praying, reading your read, keeping peace with all man, etc. When we do those things, do what is right, and do not seek vengeance on people, we live the way Christ wanted us to.

  Another topic we talked about is grumbling and complaining; it's hard not to complain about things we feel are wrong, but God wants us not to complain so much; he wants us to say what we have to say, and that's it, a lot of us grumble just like the Israelites we ask for one thing then we complain he gives us something else then we complain even more, see its no way of satisfying someone that is constantly not happy with what's going on.

Deuteronomy 1:34-36 When the Lord heard your complaining, he became very angry. So, he solemnly swore, 35 'Not one of you from this wicked generation will live to see the good land I swore to give your ancestors.

  With their complaining, the lord stopped them from coming into the land he swore they wouldn't and that none of them would get in but the ancestors; the lord will hold up our blessing because we are complaining, and the lord will stop our destiny from coming forth because of our grumbling we must learn to be content in everything, a lot of us don't have a lot because we aren't grateful of what we have.

 ***Today, the lord wants us to remember who we are, what he has given us, and what he has done for us; we can't complain every day about the things we are going through and the things that are in our lives because as long as we are complaining the lord will not move in our life, sometimes we must be content with everything and accept what the lord has done as a blessing. This is one of the many other things that can hold us back from the truth; we allow other things to cloud our mind, and we lose focus on who we are and what we are supposed to be doing, and that's being what God has called us to be in him.

  Romans 6:17 Thank God! Once, you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.

  We were once a slave to our sins, but now we obey God, and we listen to his teaching; obedience is something we all must have when we are following Christ; it sounds easy to do what we want, it sounds easy to be led away by our selfish ways , but it's easy not to read our word it's easy to not to pray. Still, we can't do the easy thing, my friends; when we do the easy thing, we say, whatever the enemy throws at me, I will accept. We can't; we must be willing to hold on to God and wait on him.��Seer~ Prophetess Lee

======================

PRAYER

=====================

Heavenly Father, we thank you for today. We ask you to help us to be more like you. Lord, help us take this week's devotions and apply them to our lives. We are so grateful for the things you give us. Lord, help us not to complain and grumble. Lord, help us to be more grateful for what we have; we love you. Thank you. Lord, remove anything that's in us out that's not of you. Lord, continue to change us each day so we may evolve into what you want of us; lord, we submit to you everything in Jesus' Name, amen

======================

REFERENCES

======================

 + Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

+ Matthew 13:21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

+ Romans 6:17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,

======================

FURTHER READINGS

======================

 Proverbs 19

Zechariah 11

Ephesians 1

Galatians 1

======================

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Thursday, December 14, 2023

december 1_december 14

HOLY PROPHET NAHUM (7th c. B.C.)

The Holy Prophet Nahum, whose name means “God consoles,” was from the village of Elkosh (Galilee). He lived during the seventh century B.C. The Prophet Nahum prophesies the ruin of the Assyrian city of Nineveh because of its iniquity, the destruction of the Israelite kingdom, and the blasphemy of King Sennacherib against God. The Assyrian king Ashurbanipal died in 632 B.C., and over the next two decades, his empire began to crumble. Nineveh fell in 612 B.C.

Nahum differs from most of the prophets in as much as he does not issue any call to repentance, nor does he denounce Israel for infidelity to God.

Details of the prophet’s life are unknown. He died at the age of forty-five, and was buried in his native region. He is the seventh of the Twelve Minor Prophets.

The Prophet Nahum and Saint Nahum of Ochrid (December 23) are invoked for people with mental disorders.

RIGHTEOUS PHILARET THE MERCIFUL (792)

Righteous Philaret the Merciful, son of George and Anna, was raised in piety and the fear of God. He lived during the eighth century in the village of Amnia in the Paphlagonian district of Asia Minor. His wife, Theoseba, was from a rich and illustrious family, and they had three children: a son John, and daughters Hypatia and Evanthia.

Philaret was a rich and illustrious dignitary, but he did not hoard his wealth. Knowing that many people suffered from poverty, he remembered the words of the Savior about the dread Last Judgment and about “these least ones” (Mt. 25:40); the Apostle Paul’s reminder that we will take nothing with us from this world (1 Tim 6:7); and the assertion of King David that the righteous would not be forsaken (Ps 36/37:25). Philaret, whose name means “lover of virtue,” was famed for his love for the poor.

One day Ishmaelites [Arabs] attacked Paphlagonia, devastating the land and plundering the estate of Philaret. There remained only two oxen, a donkey, a cow with her calf, some beehives, and the house. But he also shared them with the poor. His wife reproached him for being heartless and unconcerned for his own family. Mildly, yet firmly he endured the reproaches of his wife and the jeers of his children. “I have hidden away riches and treasure,” he told his family, “so much that it would be enough for you to feed and clothe yourselves, even if you lived a hundred years without working.”

The saint’s gifts always brought good to the recipient. Whoever received anything from him found that the gift would multiply, and that person would become rich. Knowing this, a certain man came to Saint Philaret asking for a calf so that he could start a herd. The cow missed its calf and began to bellow. Theoseba said to her husband, “You have no pity on us, you merciless man, but don’t you feel sorry for the cow? You have separated her from her calf.” The saint praised his wife, and agreed that it was not right to separate the cow and the calf. Therefore, he called the poor man to whom he had given the calf and told him to take the cow as well.

That year there was a famine, so Saint Philaret took the donkey and went to borrow six bushels of wheat from a friend of his. When he returned home, a poor man asked him for a little wheat, so he told his wife to give the man a bushel. Theoseba said, “First you must give a bushel to each of us in the family, then you can give away the rest as you choose.” Philaretos then gave the man two bushels of wheat. Theoseba said sarcastically, “Give him half the load so you can share it.” The saint measured out a third bushel and gave it to the man. Then Theoseba said, “Why don’t you give him the bag, too, so he can carry it?�� He gave him the bag. The exasperated wife said, “Just to spite me, why not give him all the wheat.” Saint Philaret did so.

Now the man was unable to lift the six bushels of wheat, so Theoseba told her husband to give him the donkey so he could carry the wheat home. Blessing his wife, Philaret gave the donkey to the man, who went home rejoicing. Theoseba and the children wept because they were hungry.

The Lord rewarded Philaret for his generosity: when the last measure of wheat was given away, an old friend sent him forty bushels. Theoseba kept most of the wheat for herself and the children, and the saint gave away his share to the poor and had nothing left. When his wife and children were eating, he would go to them and they gave him some food. Theoseba grumbled saying, “How long are you going to keep that treasure of yours hidden? Take it out so we can buy food with it.”

During this time the Byzantine empress Irene (797-802) was seeking a bride for her son, the future emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitos (780-797). Therefore, emissaries were sent throughout all the Empire to find a suitable girl, and the envoys came to Amneia.

When Philaret and Theoseba learned that these most illustrious guests were to visit their house, Philaret was very happy, but Theoseba was sad, for they did not have enough food. But Philaret told his wife to light the fire and to decorate their home. Their neighbors, knowing that imperial envoys were expected, brought everything required for a rich feast.

The envoys were impressed by the saint’s daughters and granddaughters. Seeing their beauty, their deportment, their clothing, and their admirable qualities, the envoys agreed that Philaret’s granddaughter, Maria was exactly what they were looking for. This Maria exceeded all her rivals in quality and modesty and indeed became Constantine’s wife, and the emperor rewarded Philaret.

Thus fame and riches returned to Philaret. But just as before, this holy lover of the poor generously distributed alms and provided a feast for the poor. He and his family served them at the meal. Everyone was astonished at his humility and said: “This is a man of God, a true disciple of Christ.”

He ordered a servant to take three bags and fill one with gold, one with silver, and one with copper coins. When a beggar approached, Philaret ordered his servant to bring forth one of the bags, whichever God’s providence would ordain. Then he would reach into the bag and give to each person, as much as God willed.

Saint Philaret refused to wear fine clothes, nor would he accept any imperial rank. He said it was enough for him to be called the grandfather of the Empress. The saint reached ninety years of age and knew his end was approaching. He went to the Rodolpheia (“The Judgment”) monastery in Constantinople. He gave some gold to the Abbess and asked her to allow him to be buried there, saying that he would depart this life in ten days.

He returned home and became ill. On the tenth day he summoned his family, he exhorted them to imitate his love for the poor if they desired salvation. Then he fell asleep in the Lord. He died in the year 792 and was buried in the Rodolpheia Judgment monastery in Constantinople.

The appearance of a miracle after his death confirmed the sainthood of Righteous Philaret. As they bore the body of the saint to the cemetery, a certain man, possessed by the devil, followed the funeral procession and tried to overturn the coffin. When they reached the grave, the devil threw the man down on the ground and went out of him. Many other miracles and healings also took place at the grave of the saint.

After the death of the righteous Philaret, his wife Theoseba worked at restoring monasteries and churches devastated during a barbarian invasion.

Source: Orthodox Church in America_OCA

TITUS 1:5-2:1

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you- 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. 10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:

LUKE 20:9-18

9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. 10 Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.' 14 But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it they said, "Certainly not!" 17 Then He looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written:'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone'? 18 Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.

[hiswordsarekisses]

I have never read anything more convicting in my life… “All the books about prophets in the Bible are written about their message – except Jonah. The book of Jonah is about his defiant heart and the merciful heart of God.

Jonah lived when Judah was a vassal of Assyria. Strategically located on the Via Maris, the major trade highway, Judah also served as a buffer between Assyria and Egypt. The Assyrian capital, Nineveh, was known as “the city of blood”. The Assyrians invented crucifixion. They put hooks in the mouths of captives, dragging them into exile and enslaving them. They flayed their enemies and lined walls with human skins. They cut out tongues, cut off ears and testicles, gouged out eyes, and disemboweled victims. They dashed babies’ heads against stones.

When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and announce His judgment against it, Jonah turned his back, went to Joppa, bought a ticket, and boarded a ship going to the furthest reaches of the known world – Tarshish. Was he afraid? Who wouldn’t be afraid to be sent to such a cruel people? But another possibility seems more likely. Jonah knew God. God is just and merciful. God is love. God’s Word is powerful and can transform lives. It seems more likely Jonah wasn’t running away out of fear. He was running because he hated the Assyrians and didn’t want to be the one to bring them an opportunity to repent. If the Assyrians repented, God might show His loving mercy.

It takes a powerful storm that threatens the lives on board the ship, being tossed overboard, swallowed by a fish, and stubbornly sitting inside for three days before Jonah cries out to God. All that gives us an idea of how deep Jonah’s hatred went. And how persistent God is. God didn’t let go of Jonah. Jonah was still His prophet. So, Jonah is puked up on the beach, now willing to listen and obey. God repeats the same call. Judgment is about to fall on Assyria.

I imagine Jonah shouting the message gleefully, relishing the judgment. Once given, he goes outside the city and sits on a hill where he can see watch (gloat over) the destruction. Ah, but Assyrians hear the Word of the Lord, believe it, and show heart-felt repentance. Jonah is furious and rails at God. “I knew You were merciful and compassionate….!” God is merciful and patient with Jonah. It’s hot. God provides a shade plant for him. Jonah is grateful for the plant, but still watching for Nineveh to be destroyed. Then God sends a worm to eat the plant. Jonah mourns the death of the plant, but still hopes for the death of thousands. God sends a scorching east wind. The last we hear from Jonah; he’s telling God he is still “angry enough to die”.

What I learned from Jonah: It wasn’t Jonah’s ability as a speaker that brought about mass repentance. He was just the mouthpiece. It was the power of God that changed lives from the inside out. There were 120,000 Ninevites who were saved because God opened their minds and hearts to receive His Word. Jonah spoke, and God empowered His Word by the Holy Spirit and lit a fire of repentance in the Assyrians (the same way He did in the Jews at Pentecost).

And so, I pray: Oh, Lord God, please call more Jonahs to take Your message of salvation to Hamas, Hezbollah, Isis, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and all those who live by hate, who dwell in darkness and on the precipice of hell. And may there be Jonahs ready to speak to the terrorists who have come over our southern border. Only You can change their hearts. In the precious name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen”

~ Francine Rivers

[yhwhrulz]

Worthy Brief - November 7, 2024

Be God's messenger!

Jonah 3:5-9 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.9Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?

Jonah preached his 8-word sermon and the Ninevites were struck with the fear of the Lord and moved to complete repentance.

The king stood up (a sign of his serious intent), removed his royal robes (a sign of humility), covered himself with sackcloth (a sign of mourning), and sat in the dust (a sign of repentance). Then, according to the King's edict, every soul in Nineveh responded with desperate fasting. It's hard to imagine that level of conviction coming upon an entire metropolis of over 120,000 people. But what followed was the greatest revival in history. Everyone in the city got saved! This seems so impossible at every level. The whole story of Jonah is utterly fantastic from beginning to end…almost like a fairytale.

But we know it isn't a fairytale. The Lord Himself clearly refers to Jonah's ministry as a historical fact; [Luke 11:29-30].

Through it, God is inspiring us for the days we live in. Look around, isn't the whole world going the way of ancient Nineveh? Isn't the wickedness and moral erosion around us just as horrifying as the evil deeds of the Assyrians? Can God’s judgment be far away?

And what were the chances of Nineveh's revival taking place? If Jonah, who knew God's mercy and grace as a prophet, was against it, who would give the Ninevites a ghost of a chance for salvation? Many of us undoubtedly feel the same way about most of our modern cities. We've stopped believing that God can reach the unreachable or do the impossible. Instead, we say, "It's Nineveh. It's hopeless?" What can we honestly expect in these "Days of Noah and Lot"?

The prophet Daniel, I believe, has an answer for us in these End Times: "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever; [Daniel 12:3]. It took Jonah a while to get there, but he finally did shine the righteousness of God into a wicked city; and he led many to righteousness.

Pete, our God still has some plans with "fairytale" dimensions. If we can get over our cynicism, apathy, judgmental attitude, and unbelief, there are still a few Nineveh's in our future, I believe. I have no illusions about the strength of those negative qualities in us, or the desperate evil in our modern cities. But there are some whose identification with the Lord in His death, just like Jonah, who will lead many to righteousness, just as he did.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Melbourne, Florida)

Editor's Note: Latest YouTube video published: Worthy Brief - November 7, 2024

Pete, be God's messenger!

Jonah 3:5-9 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.9Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?

Jonah preached his 8-word sermon and the Ninevites were struck with the fear of the Lord and moved to complete repentance.

The king stood up (a sign of his serious intent), removed his royal robes (a sign of humility), covered himself with sackcloth (a sign of mourning), and sat in the dust (a sign of repentance). Then, according to the King's edict, every soul in Nineveh responded with desperate fasting. It's hard to imagine that level of conviction coming upon an entire metropolis of over 120,000 people. But what followed was the greatest revival in history. Everyone in the city got saved! This seems so impossible at every level. The whole story of Jonah is utterly fantastic from beginning to end…almost like a fairytale.

But we know it isn't a fairytale. The Lord Himself clearly refers to Jonah's ministry as a historical fact; [Luke 11:29-30].

Through it, God is inspiring us for the days we live in. Look around, isn't the whole world going the way of ancient Nineveh? Isn't the wickedness and moral erosion around us just as horrifying as the evil deeds of the Assyrians? Can God’s judgment be far away?

And what were the chances of Nineveh's revival taking place? If Jonah, who knew God's mercy and grace as a prophet, was against it, who would give the Ninevites a ghost of a chance for salvation? Many of us undoubtedly feel the same way about most of our modern cities. We've stopped believing that God can reach the unreachable or do the impossible. Instead, we say, "It's Nineveh. It's hopeless?" What can we honestly expect in these "Days of Noah and Lot"?

The prophet Daniel, I believe, has an answer for us in these End Times: "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever; [Daniel 12:3]. It took Jonah a while to get there, but he finally did shine the righteousness of God into a wicked city; and he led many to righteousness.

Pete, our God still has some plans with "fairytale" dimensions. If we can get over our cynicism, apathy, judgmental attitude, and unbelief, there are still a few Nineveh's in our future, I believe. I have no illusions about the strength of those negative qualities in us, or the desperate evil in our modern cities. But there are some whose identification with the Lord in His death, just like Jonah, who will lead many to righteousness, just as he did.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Melbourne, Florida)

Editor's Note: Latest YouTube video published: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QThFC-2LJJ0

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. https://t.me/worthywatch/ Be sure to check it out!

Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are going to be heading WEST!!! Now booking in the following states: Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas …. If you know Pastors, Rabbis or Ministry Leaders who might be interested in some powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the Land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are going to be heading WEST!!! Now booking in the following states: Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas …. If you know Pastors, Rabbis or Ministry Leaders who might be interested in some powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the Land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.

[jaclyntan]

If God exists why do we experience pain and suffering?

It's a common question that we all wrestle with. I was reading someone's comment on a thread on the matter earlier today, and I was trying to think of ways to approach the question. Especially because God's Word tells us to always be ready to give an answer for the reason of the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15).

The thing we have to understand is that firstly, God is sovereign.

Secondly, God authors and executes justice. He is also faithful and true to His word, and He treats everyone fairly. We all know His law because He gave us a conscience and moral compass, as we are made in His image. What a privilege!

Thirdly, because we are made in the image of God, and because we reflect His nature of justice and morality, we expect consequences to our actions. Just like we expect to be paid for our time at work, or validation for our good deeds, we also come to expect punishment for our unrighteous actions. For example, if we commit a crime and go to jail, we should know that that is justified through the law.

If Adam and Eve were living in perfect communion with God in eternal bliss and they committed one act of disobedience, what other punishment fits the crime other than death?

Leviticus states that blood is the life of all flesh (Lev 17:14) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Heb 9:22).

Adam knew God's law because God explicitly told it to him. Yet he disobeyed anyway, so he expected what was due to him.

The curse of sin is something we all inherit, and some might say that is unfair. But it was God's mercy that saved us, because God could have killed Adam on the spot, and started over again.

He gave man the time and grace to repent, and this is shown throughout the Old Testament, for example with the Amorites, and with Nineveh.

While it is through Adam that sin entered the world, it is also through one man Jesus, our kinsman redeemer, that we are able to be redeemed.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

The most important thing to remember however, is that the suffering we experience in this world is not due to God. It is due to sin. Sin has consequences, and it doesn't just hurt us, it hurts other people, and it especially hurts God.

God is entirely good, and He cannot lie. He is gracious and merciful with us because He wishes for all to come to Him in repentance so He can help us to understand the truth.

The bad choices we make only validate why we should trust and obey Him. It is only when we listen to our Father in Heaven instead of blindly going about our own way that we can actually progress and learn in wisdom and truth.

When we experience pain and suffering it is a reminder that we live in a fallen world- a world cursed by sin, which is essentially disobedience and anarchy against God's perfect design.

And when we attempt to impose our own morality and justice on the situation of pain and suffering, we are basically saying we have more self-control, knowledge, wisdom, and sense of justice than God, which is wrong.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

When we fully trust in the Lord, we know He is full control of everything and nothing happens unless He allows it. God's ways are higher than our ways, and only He is able to work all things together for good, even when people or powers, or even our own heart works against us.

[focr]

Comfort...

The book of Nahum comes some one hundred years after the prophecy of Jonah. During this time, Nineveh had repented of its repentance, and had begun to do the same things again that called forth the threat of judgment through the prophet Jonah. The prophet Nahum was sent to minister to the southern kingdom of Judah at the time of the invasion of the Assyrian king Sennacherib. King Sennacherib who came from the capital city of Syria, Nineveh, invaded Israel at the time of the prophet Isaiah, and it was from this great city in the north that the armies of the Syrians frequently came against the land of Judah and of Israel. But God moved to protect his people and met and destroyed these enemies of the king overnight. Nahum means "consolation," or "comfort," and as the Assyrian army was spread out around the city of Jerusalem, the prophet was given a message of consolation. You can imagine how consoling it was when the armies were right there with their terrible reputation as ruthless warriors, burning and destroying, raping and pillaging, killing the children and sparing no one, to have this prophet stand up in Jerusalem and declare to them that God would destroy Nineveh, the capital city of their enemies. ~ Ray Stedman

[freebiblestudyhub]

Why Did Jonah Hate The Ninevites?

The story of Jonah is one of the most compelling narratives in the Bible, offering profound insights into God’s mercy, human disobedience, and the complexity of forgiveness. Central to the story is Jonah’s deep-seated animosity toward the Ninevites, which drives much of the narrative.

This hatred is not merely a personal grudge but reflects a broader historical and cultural context. Understanding why Jonah despised the Ninevites requires us to delve into the geopolitical realities of the time, the nature of Nineveh as a city, and the theological implications of Jonah’s reluctance to see God’s mercy extended to his enemies.

Background

The Historical Context of Nineveh

To understand Jonah’s feelings toward the Ninevites, it’s essential to first grasp the historical and cultural background of Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, one of the most powerful and feared empires of the ancient Near East. The Assyrians were known for their military might, expansionist ambitions, and, notably, their brutality. They employed terror as a weapon of war, using extreme violence to subdue and intimidate their enemies. Historical records and archaeological evidence reveal the Assyrians’ use of tactics such as mass deportations, mutilations, and public executions to maintain control over their vast empire.

For the Israelites, the Assyrians represented an existential threat. The Assyrian Empire’s expansion posed a constant danger to the smaller nations of the region, including Israel. The Assyrians eventually conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE, leading to the exile of the ten tribes. This historical enmity between Israel and Assyria is crucial to understanding Jonah’s hatred for the Ninevites. Nineveh, as the heart of the Assyrian Empire, symbolized everything that was hostile and threatening to the people of Israel.

Nineveh in the Bible

Nineveh’s significance in the Bible extends beyond the Book of Jonah. It is mentioned in several other books, including Genesis, Nahum, and Zephaniah. Genesis 10:11 describes Nineveh as a city founded by Nimrod, a mighty hunter and ruler, linking it to a lineage of rebellion against God. The prophet Nahum dedicates an entire book to pronouncing judgment against Nineveh, condemning it for its violence, idolatry, and arrogance (Nahum 3:1-4). This prophetic context helps to paint a picture of Nineveh as a city deeply entrenched in sin, making it a fitting object of Jonah’s disdain.

The Book of Jonah itself provides a vivid portrayal of Nineveh’s wickedness. In Jonah 1:2, God commands Jonah to go to Nineveh and “cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.” This indicates that Nineveh’s sins were not only numerous but also so severe that they had reached the attention of God. Jonah’s mission to Nineveh was therefore not just a call to repentance but also a divine confrontation with a city steeped in evil.

See also: How Many Days Jonah Spent In The Whale?

Jonah’s Hatred: A Complex Interplay of Factors

Nationalistic and Ethnic Tensions

One of the primary reasons for Jonah’s hatred of the Ninevites likely stems from nationalistic and ethnic tensions. As an Israelite prophet, Jonah would have been acutely aware of the threat that Assyria posed to his people. The Assyrians were not just foreign invaders; they were seen as oppressors, intent on destroying the very fabric of Israelite society. Jonah’s reluctance to preach repentance to Nineveh can be understood as a refusal to offer mercy to a nation that had caused so much suffering and posed such a grave danger to Israel’s future.

The animosity between Israel and Assyria was not merely political but also cultural and religious. The Assyrians were polytheists, worshipping a pantheon of gods and goddesses, in stark contrast to Israel’s monotheistic faith. This religious difference further deepened the divide between the two nations, as the Israelites viewed the Assyrian deities as false gods and their practices as abominable. Jonah’s hatred for the Ninevites, therefore, was likely fueled by a sense of religious and cultural superiority, viewing them as unworthy of God’s mercy.

Personal and Prophetic Integrity

Jonah’s role as a prophet also played a significant part in his animosity toward Nineveh. Prophets in Israel were not only messengers of God’s word but also guardians of the nation’s covenant with God. They were tasked with calling Israel to repentance and warning of the consequences of disobedience. For Jonah, being sent to preach to Nineveh might have seemed like a betrayal of his prophetic mission. By offering the possibility of repentance to Israel’s enemies, Jonah may have felt that he was undermining his own people’s cause.

Moreover, Jonah might have feared that if Nineveh repented and was spared, it would make Israel’s own unrepentance even more glaring. As a prophet, Jonah was aware of Israel’s sins and the looming threat of divine judgment. If God showed mercy to a foreign nation like Assyria, it could serve as a stark contrast to Israel’s persistent disobedience, highlighting their failure to respond to the prophetic warnings they had received. This could have placed Jonah in a difficult position, torn between his loyalty to Israel and his obedience to God’s command.

Theological Dissonance: Justice vs. Mercy

At the heart of Jonah’s hatred for the Ninevites lies a profound theological dissonance. Jonah, like many Israelites, would have believed in a God of justice, one who punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous. Nineveh, in Jonah’s eyes, deserved judgment, not mercy. The idea that God would forgive such a wicked city was likely incomprehensible to him. Jonah’s reaction in Jonah 4:1-3, where he expresses anger and despair over God’s decision to spare Nineveh, reveals his struggle to reconcile God’s mercy with His justice.

This tension between justice and mercy is a central theme in the Book of Jonah. While Jonah desires justice—specifically, the destruction of Nineveh—God desires mercy, offering the Ninevites a chance to repent. Jonah’s hatred for the Ninevites, therefore, can be seen as a reflection of his inability to accept the radical nature of God’s mercy, which extends even to those who seem most undeserving.

The Broader Theological Implications

God’s Universal Mercy

One of the key messages of the Book of Jonah is the universality of God’s mercy. While Jonah’s hatred for the Ninevites is rooted in his nationalistic, ethnic, and theological biases, the narrative ultimately challenges these prejudices. God’s command to Jonah to preach to Nineveh demonstrates that His concern is not limited to Israel but extends to all nations, even those considered enemies. The repentance of the Ninevites and God’s subsequent mercy underscore the idea that God’s love and forgiveness are available to all who turn to Him, regardless of their background or past sins.

This theme of universal mercy is echoed throughout the Bible, particularly in the New Testament. Jesus’ teachings emphasize love for one’s enemies (Matthew 5:44) and the extension of God’s kingdom to all people, not just the Israelites. The story of Jonah, therefore, can be seen as a precursor to the New Testament’s message of inclusivity and the breaking down of barriers between different peoples and nations.

Human Resistance to Divine Grace

Jonah’s reluctance to preach to Nineveh and his anger at God’s mercy also reflect a broader human tendency to resist divine grace when it challenges our own notions of justice and fairness. Jonah’s struggle is not unique; it mirrors the difficulty many people have in accepting that God’s love and forgiveness are not limited by human standards. The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) offers a similar message, where the elder brother’s resentment at his father’s forgiveness of the wayward younger son reflects a similar struggle with the boundless nature of grace.

The Book of Jonah invites readers to confront their own biases and prejudices, challenging them to embrace the full extent of God’s mercy. It serves as a reminder that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9) and that His grace often defies human expectations. Jonah’s story encourages believers to trust in God’s wisdom and to be open to the possibility that His mercy may extend even to those we find most difficult to forgive.

Conclusion

Jonah’s animosity reflects the deep-seated tensions between Israel and Assyria, as well as the broader human resistance to the radical nature of God’s grace. However, the Book of Jonah ultimately challenges these attitudes, revealing a God whose mercy transcends human boundaries and whose love extends to all people, regardless of their past.

Through the story of Jonah, readers are called to reflect on their own attitudes toward others, particularly those who may seem undeserving of forgiveness. Jonah’s reluctance to accept God’s mercy for the Ninevites serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that our understanding of justice is often limited and that God’s grace is far more expansive than we can imagine.

[wolint]

FRESH MANNA

COLLECTIVE REPENTANCE

Isaiah 59:9-13

Confession and repentance always proceed to change.

As individual repentance is vital to our souls so also is collective repentance vital to our community's change and progress.

Repentance is the realization that we've taken the wrong way in life. The way the Bible calls sin. Repentance is when we admit our sins and make a commitment, with God’s help, to change our life’s choices and directions.

Confession is important, as it allows us to own up to our wrongs.

It's very easy to ignore collective sin because no one would like to take responsibility for other's wrongs and shortcomings but from our text, we see Isaiah do so with the collective use of "we, us, and our". He didn't exempt himself from sins in the community, just as Daniel did in chapter 9, who saw the sin of the community as his sin.

We too must admit that there’s sin in the land and assume responsibility for confession and repentance according to 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Looking at our communities today, it would be impossible to overlook and ignore the systemic and collective sin going on, both culturally and socially.

So many are lost, with deep anxiety or dread, focusing on the human condition or the state of the world in general rather than on God, the only one with the answers and solutions.

Let's not even get into the absence of justice, love, compassion and unity ravaging our communities.

We need to repent, collectively repent of all these. Otherwise, as Jesus said in Luke 13:3 we will perish, too, unless we repent of our sins and turn to God.

Jesus taught that without repentance we face judgment.

When we gather in our communities, as Christians, we must be willing to collectively repent and lead others to confession and repentance to bring forgiveness and change.

Repentance is our only hope of receiving God’s mercy as seen in Isaiah 55:7.

Anyone who refuses to acknowledge and admit their sins can’t be forgiven, placing themselves outside of God’s mercy and blessing.

For the sake of "one" righteous person, Genesis 18:26 says God will spare the community. Abraham didn’t ask God to spare the wicked for their own sake but for the sake of the righteous who might be found among them. Only righteousness can make a plea before God through confession and repentance.

As gracious as God is, repentance is necessary for an ongoing relationship with Him as stated in 2 Chronicles 30:9.

Let us learn to turn away individually and collectively from anything that would prevent us from worshipping and obeying God wholeheartedly.

Everyone needs repentance because everyone has rebelled against God and sinned according to Romance 3:23 and cannot claim righteousness ( without sin) without confession and repentance, according to 1 John 1:8-9. Confession and repentance of sin is a mark of the person walking in the light of fellowship with God whether individually or collectively.

Prayer of confession, repentance and forgiveness releases

guilt or resentment present in the community.

A perfect example of collective confession and repentance is in the book of Jonah: “The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. If God forgave and showed mercy to a paganistic community when they acknowledged Him, confessed, repented and abandoned their sinful ways, He would do much more for us.

PRAYER: Father, forgiver of all sin and wrong, work in me and my community and instil in us the spirit of humble repentance in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Shalom

WOMEN OF LIGHT INT. PRAYER MIN.

[twiggy-in-pink]

“The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen. The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.”

Luke 11:31-32

[nijjhar]

Luke 11v29-32:- Jesus didn't perform miracles among the clever unbelievi.. Luke 11v29-32:- Jesus didn't perform miracles among the clever unbelieving authoritarian Rabbis but the village people. https://youtu.be/lufKuCvGTCM Holy Gospel of our Supernatural Father Elohim, Allah, Parbrahm, etc., delivered by the First Anointed Christ, which in Punjabi we call Satguru Jesus of the highest living God Elohim that dwells within His Most Beautiful Living Temple of God created by the greatest artist demiurge Potter, the Lord of the Nature Yahweh, Brahma, Khudah, etc. and it is called Harmandir or “Emmanuel” according to Saint Luke 11,29-32. While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, "This generation is an evil greedy dirty-hearted generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Prophet Jonah, a witness to the Light became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation and that was he rose on the Third Day. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this greedy generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here." A Testimony by an American Soldier:- Youtube channel - Truthsoldier I served in the satanic Iraq war. I openly am shamed for that and I asked for forgiveness for taking part in that war. I actually had my awakening while over in Iraq. My eyes were opened to the injustice of that war. The Iraqi people loved Saddam; they had whole stories with nothing but Saddam’s face on everything. Since then I have been speaking out against the US and ISRAEL on my Youtube channel. Here is my contribution:- Holy spirit, common sense, shatters the fetters of the dead letters, the Holy Books. If we have One God, our Supernatural Father of our souls, then there should be one Faith. In Christianity, Jesus said One Fold called the Church of God headed by One Shepherd, our Bridegroom Christ Jesus/Christ = Satguru Nanak Dev Ji, the Second coming of Jesus. they have DHARM. That is why no Bhagat was needed there except when Satguru Thomas visited and transformed people into Christianity in which you go by heart and not by the forbidden Jewish Leaven  Book, called the Bible. This time of Kalyug has been defined by Christ Nanak:- All the Glory to our Father in honour of our anointed Elder Brother Christ Jesus, who introduced to us our Father through His Word. We are solitary Christ from above in Christ Jesus, the True Vine planted by our Father Elohim, Allah, Parbrahm, etc. PAWANN (REVELATION) ARANBHH (BEGINNING) SATGUR (SAT = THE BOTTOM LINE GOSPEL TRUTH, THE ROCK OVER WHICH THE TEMPLE OF GOD STANDS AND GUR MEANS TARIKA = FORMULA, WHICH IS LOGICAL REASONING THAT YOU YOURSELF HAVE TO DO) MATT (WISDOM OR WAY OF LIFE) WAILA (TIME); SHABD (END PRODUCT = NECTAR OF THE LOGICAL REASONING CALLED LOGO = HIS WORD) GURU = TEACHER; SURAT (COMMON SENSE) DHUNN CHAELA (A DEVOTED STUDENT). That is, the Gospel cannot be written down in ink on paper as the Scriptures, the Milk for the once-born babies is. Gospel is the Flesh of Jesus and Nanak or what came out of their mouths. In India, the crooks were imitating the Gospel and for this reason, Satguru Arjan Dev Ji got one written under his supervision in which every Saint and Satguru himself appeared and spoke that the Scribe Bhai Gurdass Ji sitting in another tent wrote. Each page was signed by Satguru Arjun Dev Ji. The one who was sent to get it bound diligently copied it and presented two Holy Books called Ad-Granth; Satguru Arjan Dev Ji rejected the copied version and said that the spiritually blind would read that copied version. So, these holy books in the Sikh Temples like the Bible are corrupted that the spiritually blind read and become drunken fanatics. I will make a YouTube Video on this topic. Saint Matthew 19,16-22. A young man approached Jesus and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments of Yahweh as our Supernatural Father is Spirit and He sets us FREE of the Law and commandments. This is a Messianic Jewish corruption." He asked him, "Which ones?" And Jesus replied, " 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honour your father and your My ebook by Kindle. ASIN: B01AVLC9WO Full description:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/Rest.htm Any helper to finish my Books:- ONE GOD ONE FAITH:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/bookfin.pdf and in Punjabi KAKHH OHLAE LAKHH:-  www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/pdbook.pdf Very informative Channel:- Punjab Siyan. John's baptism:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/johnsig.pdf Trinity:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/trinity.pdf .

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Wednesday, December 14, 2022

december 14_december 1st

THE HOLY PROPHET NAHUM (7th c. B.C.)

The Holy Prophet Nahum, whose name means “God consoles,” was from the village of Elkosh (Galilee). He lived during the seventh century B.C. The Prophet Nahum prophesies the ruin of the Assyrian city of Nineveh because of its iniquity, the destruction of the Israelite kingdom, and the blasphemy of King Sennacherib against God. The Assyrian king Ashurbanipal died in 632 B.C., and over the next two decades, his empire began to crumble. Nineveh fell in 612 B.C.

Nahum differs from most of the prophets in as much as he does not issue any call to repentance, nor does he denounce Israel for infidelity to God.

Details of the prophet’s life are unknown. He died at the age of forty-five, and was buried in his native region. He is the seventh of the Twelve Minor Prophets.

The Prophet Nahum and Saint Nahum of Ochrid (December 23) are invoked for people with mental disorders.

RIGHTEOUS PHILARET THE MERCIFUL OF AMNIA  (Asia Minor_792)

Righteous Philaret the Merciful, son of George and Anna, was raised in piety and the fear of God. He lived during the eighth century in the village of Amnia in the Paphlagonian district of Asia Minor. His wife, Theoseba, was from a rich and illustrious family, and they had three children: a son John, and daughters Hypatia and Evanthia.

Philaret was a rich and illustrious dignitary, but he did not hoard his wealth. Knowing that many people suffered from poverty, he remembered the words of the Savior about the dread Last Judgment and about “these least ones” (Mt. 25:40); the Apostle Paul’s reminder that we will take nothing with us from this world (1 Tim 6:7); and the assertion of King David that the righteous would not be forsaken (Ps 36/37:25). Philaret, whose name means “lover of virtue,” was famed for his love for the poor.

One day Ishmaelites [Arabs] attacked Paphlagonia, devastating the land and plundering the estate of Philaret. There remained only two oxen, a donkey, a cow with her calf, some beehives, and the house. But he also shared them with the poor. His wife reproached him for being heartless and unconcerned for his own family. Mildly, yet firmly he endured the reproaches of his wife and the jeers of his children. “I have hidden away riches and treasure,” he told his family, “so much that it would be enough for you to feed and clothe yourselves, even if you lived a hundred years without working.”

The saint’s gifts always brought good to the recipient. Whoever received anything from him found that the gift would multiply, and that person would become rich. Knowing this, a certain man came to Saint Philaret asking for a calf so that he could start a herd. The cow missed its calf and began to bellow. Theoseba said to her husband, “You have no pity on us, you merciless man, but don’t you feel sorry for the cow? You have separated her from her calf.” The saint praised his wife, and agreed that it was not right to separate the cow and the calf. Therefore, he called the poor man to whom he had given the calf and told him to take the cow as well.

That year there was a famine, so Saint Philaret took the donkey and went to borrow six bushels of wheat from a friend of his. When he returned home, a poor man asked him for a little wheat, so he told his wife to give the man a bushel. Theoseba said, “First you must give a bushel to each of us in the family, then you can give away the rest as you choose.” Philaretos then gave the man two bushels of wheat. Theoseba said sarcastically, “Give him half the load so you can share it.” The saint measured out a third bushel and gave it to the man. Then Theoseba said, “Why don’t you give him the bag, too, so he can carry it?” He gave him the bag. The exasperated wife said, “Just to spite me, why not give him all the wheat.” Saint Philaret did so.

Now the man was unable to lift the six bushels of wheat, so Theoseba told her husband to give him the donkey so he could carry the wheat home. Blessing his wife, Philaret gave the donkey to the man, who went home rejoicing. Theoseba and the children wept because they were hungry.

The Lord rewarded Philaret for his generosity: when the last measure of wheat was given away, an old friend sent him forty bushels. Theoseba kept most of the wheat for herself and the children, and the saint gave away his share to the poor and had nothing left. When his wife and children were eating, he would go to them and they gave him some food. Theoseba grumbled saying, “How long are you going to keep that treasure of yours hidden? Take it out so we can buy food with it.”

During this time the Byzantine empress Irene (797-802) was seeking a bride for her son, the future emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitos (780-797). Therefore, emissaries were sent throughout all the Empire to find a suitable girl, and the envoys came to Amneia.

When Philaret and Theoseba learned that these most illustrious guests were to visit their house, Philaret was very happy, but Theoseba was sad, for they did not have enough food. But Philaret told his wife to light the fire and to decorate their home. Their neighbors, knowing that imperial envoys were expected, brought everything required for a rich feast.

The envoys were impressed by the saint’s daughters and granddaughters. Seeing their beauty, their deportment, their clothing, and their admirable qualities, the envoys agreed that Philaret’s granddaughter, Maria was exactly what they were looking for. This Maria exceeded all her rivals in quality and modesty and indeed became Constantine’s wife, and the emperor rewarded Philaret.

Thus fame and riches returned to Philaret. But just as before, this holy lover of the poor generously distributed alms and provided a feast for the poor. He and his family served them at the meal. Everyone was astonished at his humility and said: “This is a man of God, a true disciple of Christ.”

He ordered a servant to take three bags and fill one with gold, one with silver, and one with copper coins. When a beggar approached, Philaret ordered his servant to bring forth one of the bags, whichever God’s providence would ordain. Then he would reach into the bag and give to each person, as much as God willed.

Saint Philaret refused to wear fine clothes, nor would he accept any imperial rank. He said it was enough for him to be called the grandfather of the Empress. The saint reached ninety years of age and knew his end was approaching. He went to the Rodolpheia (“The Judgment”) monastery in Constantinople. He gave some gold to the Abbess and asked her to allow him to be buried there, saying that he would depart this life in ten days.

He returned home and became ill. On the tenth day he summoned his family, he exhorted them to imitate his love for the poor if they desired salvation. Then he fell asleep in the Lord. He died in the year 792 and was buried in the Rodolpheia Judgment monastery in Constantinople.

The appearance of a miracle after his death confirmed the sainthood of Righteous Philaret. As they bore the body of the saint to the cemetery, a certain man, possessed by the devil, followed the funeral procession and tried to overturn the coffin. When they reached the grave, the devil threw the man down on the ground and went out of him. Many other miracles and healings also took place at the grave of the saint.

After the death of the righteous Philaret, his wife Theoseba worked at restoring monasteries and churches devastated during a barbarian invasion.

Source all texts: Orthodox Church of America_OCA

LUKE 20:1-8

1 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him. 2 and spoke to Him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?" 3 But He answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: 4 The baptism of John-was it from heaven or from men? 5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 6 But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. 7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

LUKE 20:1-8

1 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him 2 and spoke to Him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?" 3 But He answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me:

4 The baptism of John-was it from heaven or from men? 5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 6 But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. 7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

[carltonblaylock]

God’s Vengeance in Judgment

Nahum 1:1-2 1 The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. 2God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; The Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;   The Bible Knowledge Commentary – Nahum 1:1-2 The Title (1:1) 1:1. The book was an oracle against Nineveh. As an oracle it was a burden (maśśā’;…