Conflict and Courage.
Daniel 2

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: and he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. Daniel 2:20, 21.
Behold the Jewish captive, calm and self-possessed, in the presence of the monarch of the world's most powerful empire. In his first words he disclaimed honor for himself and exalted God as the source of all wisdom. To the anxious inquiry of the king, “Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?” he replied: “The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king; but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” ...

In the annals of human history, the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as if dependent on the will and prowess of man; the shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counterplay of human interest and power and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will....

In the history of nations the student of God's word may behold the literal fulfillment of divine prophecy. Babylon, shattered and broken at last, passed away because in prosperity its rulers had regarded themselves as independent of God, and had ascribed the glory of their kingdom to human achievement.... The kingdoms that followed were even more base and corrupt; and these sank lower and still lower in the scale of moral worth.

The power exercised by every ruler on the earth is Heaven-imparted; and upon his use of the power thus bestowed, his success depends.... To recognize the outworking of these principles in the manifestation of His power who “removeth kings, and setteth up kings”—this is to understand the philosophy of history.1Prophets and Kings, 494-502.

DBF-001-039 continues with John 2:18. The Jewish authorities now challenge Jesus to prove His authority. Their response exposes a recurring human problem: demanding that God prove Himself on our terms rather than submitting to the revelation He has already given.
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Today’s Scripture
John 2:18 (ESV)
“So the Jews said to him, ‘What sign do you show us for doing these things?’”
Opening the Scriptures
Jesus had cleansed the temple.
He had driven out those who were misusing His Father’s house and had demonstrated unmistakable authority.
The Jewish authorities now confronted Him.
Their question was essentially:
What gives You the right to do this?
They demanded a sign.
This is striking because the problem Jesus confronted was already visible before them. The temple had been misused, yet instead of first examining what had gone wrong, they challenged the authority of the One who confronted it.
They wanted Jesus to prove Himself.
This attitude will appear repeatedly throughout His ministry.
People will see His works, hear His words, and still demand something more before they will believe.
The deeper problem is not always lack of evidence.
Sometimes it is an unwillingness to submit.
Living God’s Word Today
We must be careful not to approach God in the same way.
We can quietly begin making bargains with Him.
“God, if You answer this prayer, then I will trust You.”
“If You solve this problem, then I will believe You are with me.”
“If You give me what I ask for, then I will obey.”
That is not biblical faith.
God does not stand before us waiting to pass our examination. We stand before Him.
He has revealed Himself in creation.
He has spoken through His Word.
Most importantly, He has revealed Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Our responsibility is not to demand that God continually prove Himself according to conditions we establish.
Our responsibility is to hear His Word, believe Him, and obey.
This does not mean Christians should never ask sincere questions. Scripture contains many faithful servants of God who cried out for understanding during difficult circumstances.
There is a great difference, however, between seeking understanding and demanding proof before we will obey.
One says:
“Lord, help me understand.”
The other says:
“Lord, prove Yourself to me first.”
The religious leaders were standing before Jesus Christ, yet they demanded another sign.
We should examine our own hearts before criticizing theirs.
God has already given us the greatest revelation possible.
He has given us His Son.
And as we continue through John’s Gospel, we will discover that Jesus will point toward the greatest sign of all: His death and resurrection.
Do not build your faith upon demanding another miracle.
Build your life upon the Christ revealed in God’s Word.
Question for Today
Are you trusting what God has revealed, or are you demanding that He prove Himself on your terms?
Respond: “Lord, help me trust Your Word and obey You.”

Daily Devotion — August 31 | Acts 23:6 (NKJV)

Standing Firm in the Hope of the Resurrection

Acts 23 records Paul's appearance before the Jewish council after his arrest in Jerusalem. Realizing that the council was divided between the Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection, and the Sadducees, who did not, Paul declared that the real reason he was on trial was because of his faith in the resurrection of the dead. His words shifted the focus from false accusations to the central truth of the gospel.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith. Paul understood that everything he preached and every hardship he endured pointed back to the living Savior. Because Jesus conquered death, believers have the assurance of forgiveness, eternal life, and the promise of their own future resurrection.

For believers today, this verse reminds us to remain steadfast in the hope we have in Christ. Our confidence is not built on changing circumstances but on the unchanging truth that Jesus is alive. This hope gives us courage to stand firm, remain faithful, and share the gospel with boldness, even when we face opposition.

Reflection Questions

1. Is my hope firmly rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

2. How does the promise of eternal life encourage me during difficult times?

3. In what ways can I boldly share the hope of the gospel with others?

Prayer

Lord God, thank You for the living hope I have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Help me to stand firm in my faith and never be ashamed of the gospel. Fill my heart with confidence, courage, and joy as I live each day for Your glory. In Jesus name Amen.

Practical Application

● Thank God each day for the hope found in Christ's resurrection.

● Share the message of eternal hope with someone this week.

● Stand firm in your faith, knowing that Jesus has conquered sin and death.

Takeaway Thought

Because Jesus lives, our hope is secure and our faith can stand firm in every circumstance.

#LordsbookDailys #DailyDevotion #August31 #Acts236 #HopeOfTheResurrection #StandForTruth #FaithInChrist #BibleInspiration #GrowInFaith

Need to know.
The claim that Jesus never existed falls apart when the evidence outside the Bible is examined. The New Testament is not the only source that tells us about Jesus of Nazareth. Ancient writers from outside Christianity also wrote about Jesus, His followers, His execution, and the movement that spread in His name. Some were Roman historians. One was a Jewish historian. Others were pagan critics or hostile Jewish sources. They had no reason to help Christianity, yet their writings point back to the same historical person. Tacitus, the Roman historian, records that Christus suffered the death penalty under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius and that His followers were called Christians. Suetonius records disturbances among the Jews connected with “Chrestus,” while Pliny the Younger describes Christians gathering and singing hymns to Christ “as to a god.” These were not Christian writers defending the Bible. They were outsiders describing the people who followed Jesus.

Then there is Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian. Josephus was not a Christian trying to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. Yet when he writes about James, he identifies him as “the brother of Jesus who was called Christ.” That short statement is incredibly important. Josephus does not stop to explain who Jesus was or argue that Jesus really existed. He simply uses Jesus to identify James. Jesus was already a known historical figure, and Josephus refers to Him as “Jesus who was called Christ.” This is one of the clearest pieces of non-Christian evidence for Jesus anywhere in the ancient world. Josephus also refers to Jesus in the famous Testimonium Flavianum, which speaks about Jesus, His ministry, His crucifixion under Pilate, and His followers. Regardless of the later debate over the exact wording of that passage, Josephus’s separate reference to James remains. The evidence is sitting right there in the writings of a first-century Jewish historian: Jesus existed, James was His brother, and Jesus was known as the Christ.

The evidence becomes even more powerful when we look at people who opposed Christianity. Celsus, a second-century pagan critic, attacked Christianity and mocked the claims Christians made about Jesus. Yet his attacks assume that Jesus was a real person. His writings preserve traditions about Jesus’ birth, His family, and the miraculous claims made about Him. The Babylonian Talmud also preserves hostile traditions about Jesus, including accusations of sorcery and a tradition that He was executed on the eve of Passover. Mara bar Serapion, a non-Christian Syrian writer, speaks of a wise king of the Jews whose teachings continued after his death—a description that points directly to Jesus. Think about what this means. These sources were not trying to help Christians. Some were trying to discredit them. Yet they still point back to Jesus as a real person. They did not describe Him as a fictional character invented centuries later. They attacked Him, mocked Him, or preserved hostile traditions about Him because there was a real historical figure at the center of the Christian movement.

Two other names are often overlooked: Thallus and Phlegon. Their original writings have been lost, but later ancient writers preserved reports about what they wrote. Julius Africanus connects Thallus’s discussion of an unusual darkness with the darkness associated with the crucifixion of Jesus. Phlegon is also reported by later writers as describing an extraordinary darkness and an earthquake during the reign of Tiberius. We do not have the original books of Thallus and Phlegon today, but we do have ancient testimony reporting what they wrote. That matters. These accounts add another layer to the ancient evidence surrounding the death of Jesus. The point is not that these two writers prove every detail of the Gospel accounts by themselves. The point is that even ancient writers outside Christianity were remembered as recording extraordinary events connected with the very time when the New Testament places the crucifixion.

Now put all nine witnesses together: Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Celsus, the Talmud, Mara bar Serapion, Thallus, and Phlegon. This is not one Christian writer making one claim. This is a collection of ancient voices coming from different backgrounds and different parts of the Roman world. They point to Jesus, His followers, His execution, His identity as Christ, and the movement that spread in His name. The evidence is overwhelming when viewed as a whole. Jesus was not a mythical character invented hundreds of years after the fact. He was a real first-century Jewish man who gathered followers, was called the Christ, was executed under Pontius Pilate, and left behind a movement that spread throughout the Roman world. The very people who rejected Christianity still left behind evidence that Jesus was a real person.

And this destroys the claim that Jesus was simply invented. The question is not whether there is evidence that Jesus existed. There is. The question is why anyone would ignore this substantial body of ancient testimony simply because it is not found in the Bible. Tacitus connects Jesus to Pontius Pilate. Josephus identifies James as the brother of Jesus who was called Christ. Pliny records Christians worshiping Him. Suetonius records disturbances connected with the movement surrounding Him. Celsus attacks the claims made about Him. Jewish tradition preserves hostile accusations against Him. Mara bar Serapion remembers a wise Jewish king whose teachings survived His death. And ancient reports connected with Thallus and Phlegon preserve traditions about extraordinary events surrounding the time of His death. The evidence does not disappear because it comes from outside the Bible. In fact, that is precisely what makes these witnesses so important. They were not writing the New Testament. They were not preaching the Gospel. Some were not even friendly toward Christianity. Yet they still point back to the same historical person. Jesus Christ was not a myth invented by Christians. He was a real man who lived in first-century Judea, gathered followers, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and left behind a movement that changed the world. The historical record does not erase Jesus—it confirms that He was there.

Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus

St. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were very prominent Jews and were members of the supreme Jewish Council called Sanhedrin.

Mathew called Joseph as a rich man and Luke called him as a good and upright man. Even though Joseph was a very important Jewish leader, he believed in the coming kingdom of God and started believing that Jesus might be the Messiah. Luke calls him a good and upright man. After the death of Jesus on the cross at Golgotha, Joseph courageously met Pilate, the Procurator of Judea, in person and asked him the body of Jesus. Pilate also ordered to handover the body of Jesus to Joseph, after confirming from the guards that Jesus died on the cross. Joseph then wrapped the body of Jesus with 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes brought by Nicodemus, in fine linen and buried in a cave tomb hewn for him. Nicodemus helped Joseph in all these activities and he only brought the myrrh and aloes to anoint Jesus. Joseph and Nicodemus have given an honorable burial to Jesus following the Jewish burial procedure. Nicodemus was a secret disciple of Jesus and he came to Jesus one night to listen to His teachings and praised Jesus Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles you have done (John 3: 2). When the Chief priest sent guards to arrest Jesus, they did not brought Jesus. When the Chief Priests and the Pharisees condemned the officers who have said no one talked like Him (Jesus), they cursed them. But Nicodemus told them whether our laws judge anyone before hearing what had happened (John\-7:45\-51). Nicodemus made this comment naturally in support of Jesus.

St. Joseph of Arimathea is the patron saint of Funeral Directors and Pallbearers.
#Catholic #trust #believers #followers #Jesus #support #help #courage #funeral #jesus #death #supreme #burial #secret #world #Christian

Martyrdom of John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Elizabeth became pregnant with John in her old age, according to God's plan, which was revealed to Zechariah by the Archangel Gabriel when Zechariah was in the temple. While Elizabeth was pregnant, Holy Mary, the mother of Jesus, visited her and helped her. The name "John" was chosen by God and also announced by the Archangel Gabriel to Zechariah.

As a young man, John lived in the desert, wearing clothes made from camel hair and surviving on locusts and honey. He spent his life giving witness to Jesus, declaring that Jesus was the Son of God. John also baptized Jesus and publicly proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus praised John, saying that he was greater than an apostle. John was bold in speaking the truth, even to powerful people, and he openly criticized them for their sins.

One example of John’s courage was when he condemned Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying his brother's wife, Herodias, while his brother Herod Philip I was still alive. Herod Antipas had divorced his first wife, Phasaelis, to be with Herodias, which was unlawful. Herod wanted to kill John but was afraid to because many people believed John was a prophet and a holy man.

At a banquet, Herodias' daughter, Salome, performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod Antipas. In his delight, Herod promised to give her anything she asked for, even up to half of his kingdom. At her mother Herodias' urging, Salome asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Although Herod was reluctant, he had to keep his promise and ordered John's beheading. John was executed at the fortress of Machaerus around 30 to 35 A.D.

The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus wrote that Herod's army was later destroyed as divine punishment for the killing of St. John the Baptist.

John the Baptist is considered the forerunner of Jesus, sent by God to prepare the way for Christ’s coming. Just as John prepared the way for Jesus' first coming, Christians believe they should prepare themselves for the second coming of Jesus, which will bring the Last Judgment and establish the Kingdom of God. To do this, we must strive to live as true followers of God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
#Catholic #trust #death #martyr #John #Christian #

GOD Wrote his warning signs in the sky. They Have already appeared.

Every Blood Moon Tetrad in 500 Years fell on Jewish Feast Days.

The Crucifixion Darkness was Recorded by THREE Roman Historians who had Never Read Scriptures.
Thallus. Phlegon. Africanus. All Confirmed An Impossible Darkness during Passover.

Joel 2:31

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.

Only 8 Blood Moon Tetrad in 2,000 Years - NASA Confirmed,
1493 Tetrad -Jews Expelled from Spain.
1948 Tetrad - Israel Reborn As Nation.
1967 Tetrad - Jerusalem Recaptured.
2014 - 2015 - The Last One This Century. Already Done.

He did not Hide The Sign. Most People in this End Times Generation were not Watching and Paying Attention and also most of them did not Warns the Next End of Times Future Generations.

Remember what JESUS Said in his Disciples,

Luke 21:25-28

25. “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 

26. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 

27. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 

28. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

#endtimes #bloodmoon #Bibleprophesy #lastgenerations #endtimesrevival

My Christian Historical fiction novel, "The Promise: We will meet again" takes you on an powerful journey back in time to the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland.
Hannah and Rachel are two young Jewish girls struggling to survive during the dark days of the Holocaust. Their world has been turned upside down by the brutal and merciless Nazis who are daily transporting the Jews off to the concentration camps.
Then one day Hannah has to say goodbye to her best friend when her family decides to go into hiding.
While Hannah and Rachel ever be reunited again?
My book is available in three formats: Paperback, Kindle, and virtual voice audiobook.
Click on the link to purchase on Amazon:
The Promise: We will meet again https://a.co/d/7tqT33M
Listen to my original song based on the book.
"The Promise."
https://suno.com/s/qJSThEHD7cDCDTLm

This morning at truthsintheword.com I added in some 24/7 tv and radio channels. I also added the CJB (Complete Jewish Bible ) to the list of Bibles available.

This is an ongoing project of love

CALLING ALL CHRISTIANS.
I URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP. RIGHT NOW THERE IS AN URGENCY CONCERING THE VERY SOON COMING OF JESUS. THERE IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY THAT THE CATCHING AWAY OF THE TRUE CHURCH MIGHT VERY WELL HAPPEN THIS COMING FEAST OF TRUMPETS STARTING 6PM ON 11TH SEPTEMBER, 2026.

I NEED YOUR INPUT FOR COMPILING AND PUBLISHING A SHORT EBOOK AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WHEREIN SUPPORTING VERSES OF SCRIPTURE VALIDIFY ALL ASPECTS OF THE COMING RAPTURE OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.

THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WELL INFORMED ARE INVITED TO PROVIDE, IN THE COMMENTS, A CONCISE EXPOSITION OF THIS END TIME SITUATION, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THE REMAINING THREE JEWISH FEAST CELEBRATIONS YET UNFULFILLED BY JESUS.

THE EBOOK WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED AS A COLLECTIVE WORK BY ALL OF US AND WILL BE FREE TO DOWNLOAD FROM AMAZON, DRAFT2DIGITAL, PAYHIP AND GOOGLE DRIVE. YOU MAY GIVE YOUR CONSENT FOR THE USE OF YOUR NAME ABOVE YOUR CONTRIBUTION SHOULD IT BE USED IN THE EBOOK.

THIS EBOOK NEEDS TO BE PUBLISHED WITHOUT DELAY. ONCE PUBLISHED THE LINKS FOR DOWNLOAD WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOU TO SHARE WITH ALL AND SUNDRY.