The Kitchen Newsletter Good day, Welcome to The Kitchen, where we explore, prepare and serve the contents in the Body of the Word as the delicacies of God—to create the form of the Father on the earth, to make the earth in His likeness, and to take charge of the economic destinies of nations for God. Relax, and let's journey through the scriptures to see the Body of the Word. What does God look like? It is a simple question, but Scripture gives us an answer that is far more concrete than we often realise. The Bible calls God invisible. Yet Scripture also tells us that the invisible God has made Himself known—not merely through ideas, doctrines, or written sentences, but through a Person. John, on the island of Patmos, saw Him. “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me…” And what John saw was astonishing: a figure with a head and hair, eyes, feet, a voice, hands, a face and a mouth. John was describing the appearance of Jesus Christ—the living Word of God. Revelation 1:12–17 This is why Scripture says: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Hebrews 1:3 And again: “Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 So we can say: The Body of the Word is the image of the invisible God. The Scriptures Reveal a Person This changes the way we should read Scripture. We are accustomed to reading the Bible primarily as a collection of words, teachings, commandments, promises and historical accounts. But Scripture itself tells us that the Scriptures testify about a Person. Jesus said: “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” John 5:39 The Scriptures are therefore not merely information about God. They testify about Jesus Christ, the living Word. Consider one example. John saw the eyes of Christ and wrote: “His eyes were like blazing fire.” Revelation 1:14 That is a detailed description of the Body of the Word. But Scripture also says: “Our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29 The description of the Body therefore becomes a revelation about God Himself. The same principle runs through the Scriptures: the details of the Body of the Word testify about the Person of the Word and reveal the invisible Father. Paul writes: “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 The “face of Christ” becomes a point of revelation—the Body of the Word revealing the invisible God. Scripture Must Be Unfolded This is where something particularly provocative begins to emerge. What if the Scriptures are not simply information about God, but the Father's script for revealing Himself? Psalm 119:130 says: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 The Word must be unfolded. We can read a Scripture without necessarily seeing the revelation contained within it. We can know the sentence without knowing the Person whom the sentence reveals. That is the difference between merely reading Scripture and receiving revelation. The detailed descriptions of the Body of the Word are therefore not decorative language. They are scriptural descriptions that can be unfolded to reveal the Father. Paul describes this revelation as: “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 So the purpose of the unfolding is not simply to give us more biblical information. It is to give us the revelation knowledge of the Father. The Body of the Word: White Like Wool and Snow Consider the description John gives: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.” Revelation 1:14 This is a detailed description of the Body of the Word. But John is not alone in seeing this. Daniel saw the Ancient of Days and wrote: “His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.” Daniel 7:9 Then Song of Solomon gives another description: “His appearance is like Lebanon.” Song of Solomon 5:15 Lebanon was associated with its mountainous, snow-covered appearance. The Scriptures are therefore giving us a repeated picture. The Body of the Word is white like wool, as white as snow. And because Christ is: “the exact representation of his being” Hebrews 1:3 the description of Christ also becomes a revelation concerning the invisible God. This is why the details matter. The head matters. The hair matters. The eyes matter. The face matters. The hands matter. The feet matter. The mouth matters. The voice matters. The entire Body becomes a vocabulary through which Scripture speaks about the Person of the Word. The Body Is More Than a Description Every detailed description of the Body of the Word is also a Scripture because it testifies about the Person of the Word. Jesus said: “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” John 5:39 Therefore, the description of His whiteness is not simply a physical observation. It is a testimony. It is a Scripture. It is a figure of speech. It is a revelation waiting to be unfolded. And Scripture gives us a principle for understanding this: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” Matthew 13:35 God uses visible and natural things to communicate invisible and spiritual realities. The Body of the Word is therefore not merely something we look at. It is something Scripture teaches us to understand. The Father Is Speaking Through the Body Isaiah gives us another remarkable statement: “The hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants.” Isaiah 66:14 Why the hand? Because the hand is part of the body. The hand becomes a doorway into understanding the Body of the Word. And the Body becomes a doorway into understanding the Person of the Word. And the Person of the Word reveals the invisible Father. Body → Person → Father. This is why I believe Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, is addressing His Church through the detailed descriptions of His Body. He is continually making the Father known. Jesus said: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9 And the Holy Spirit does not speak independently of Christ. Jesus said: “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” John 16:14 The Spirit takes what belongs to Christ and makes it known. And Paul tells us: “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10 So there are depths in God that the Holy Spirit searches and reveals. Scripture Is God's Script for His Work There is another dimension to this revelation. The Scriptures are not merely records of what God has done. They are also the script through which His purposes are fulfilled. Again and again, Jesus said: “It is written…” Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 And concerning His ministry: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21 The Scriptures therefore have a relationship with God's performance on Earth. When the Father has an intention, He opens Scripture according to that intention. When He is doing a work, He brings particular Scriptures into revelation. When the Spirit speaks to the churches, He speaks through what is being revealed: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:7 This makes the present question very important: What is the Spirit saying to the Church through the Scriptures He is opening? And if Christ is presently revealing Himself through the detailed descriptions of His Body, then these revelations deserve our attention. The Body of the Word Is Our Inheritance The Father has not given us Christ merely so that we can know facts about Him. He has given us Christ so that we can know Him. The Body of the Word is therefore not something we should approach casually. It is an inheritance. It is a revelation. It is an invitation to know the Person of the Word in greater detail. The Scriptures testify about Him. The Holy Spirit reveals Him. The Father is seen in Him. And the more the Scriptures are unfolded, the more light we receive concerning the Person of Christ and the glory of the invisible Father. So perhaps the question is no longer simply: “Do you read the Bible?” The deeper question is: “Do you recognise the Person whom the Scriptures are revealing?” Because the Bible is testifying. The Spirit is speaking. The Scriptures are being unfolded. And behind the revelation stands a Person: Jesus Christ, the living Word of God—the image of the invisible God. Listen to The Kitchen Podcast Continue this exploration of The Body of the Word on The Kitchen Podcast by Omodolapo Ogunye, available on Audible, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts. Please share and spread the Revelation Knowledge of the Body of the Word. celebrating the Body of the Word #foodmoneyshow #bodyoftheword #marketplace #worldwide #moneymindset

Strength Is Found in Faithfulness Scripture Judges 16:28 (NKJV) Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes. God Can Restore the Repentant Judges 16 records one of the most tragic chapters in Samson's life. God had uniquely called him from birth to be a Nazirite and a deliverer of Israel. The Lord had given him extraordinary strength through the power of the Holy Spirit, yet Samson repeatedly compromised with temptation instead of walking in obedience. His relationship with Delilah exposed the weakness that had been growing in his heart. Rather than guarding the calling God had entrusted to him, Samson toyed with sin until it eventually overcame him. After revealing the secret connected to his Nazirite vow, his hair was cut, the Lord's empowering presence departed from him, and the Philistines captured him. They blinded him, bound him, and forced him into humiliating labor. One of the saddest statements in Scripture is that Samson did not realize that the LORD had departed from him. Sin had gradually dulled his spiritual awareness until he no longer recognized what he had lost. Yet God's grace had not reached its end. While Samson was imprisoned, his hair began to grow again. More importantly, his heart turned back to God. At the end of his life, Samson finally humbled himself and prayed. He no longer trusted in his own strength but cried out for God's strength. His final victory came not because of his ability but because of God's mercy. God answered Samson's prayer. Though Samson suffered the consequences of his disobedience, God restored him for one final act that accomplished more than many of his earlier victories. This chapter reminds believers that compromise always carries consequences, but repentance opens the door to God's mercy. Our failures do not have to be the end of our story when we return to the Lord with sincere humility. God delights in restoring those who genuinely repent and place their trust in Him. Reflection Questions 1. Is there any area of compromise that I need to confess before it grows into greater bondage? 2. Am I relying on my own strength instead of God's power? 3. Have I allowed failure to keep me from returning to the Lord, or am I trusting in His restoring grace? Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and Your willingness to restore those who turn back to You. Guard my heart from compromise and help me to walk faithfully in the calling You have given me. When I fail, lead me quickly to repentance and remind me that Your grace is greater than my weakness. Strengthen me by Your Spirit so that I may live for Your glory each day. In Jesus' name, Amen..

Trump's Hair 4 - The Mission - A Poem https://rumble.com/v70o6w6-trumps-hair-4-the-mission-a-poem.html

Trump's Hair 4 - The Mission - A Poem https://rumble.com/v70o6w6-trumps-hair-4-the-mission-a-poem.html

The Kitchen Newsletter Good day, Welcome to The Kitchen, where we explore, prepare and serve the contents in the Body of the Word as the delicacies of God—to create the form of the Father on the earth, to make the earth in His likeness, and to take charge of the economic destinies of nations for God. Relax, and let's journey through the scriptures to see the Body of the Word. What does God look like? It is a simple question, but Scripture gives us an answer that is far more concrete than we often realise. The Bible calls God invisible. Yet Scripture also tells us that the invisible God has made Himself known—not merely through ideas, doctrines, or written sentences, but through a Person. John, on the island of Patmos, saw Him. “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me…” And what John saw was astonishing: a figure with a head and hair, eyes, feet, a voice, hands, a face and a mouth. John was describing the appearance of Jesus Christ—the living Word of God. Revelation 1:12–17 This is why Scripture says: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Hebrews 1:3 And again: “Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 So we can say: The Body of the Word is the image of the invisible God. The Scriptures Reveal a Person This changes the way we should read Scripture. We are accustomed to reading the Bible primarily as a collection of words, teachings, commandments, promises and historical accounts. But Scripture itself tells us that the Scriptures testify about a Person. Jesus said: “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” John 5:39 The Scriptures are therefore not merely information about God. They testify about Jesus Christ, the living Word. Consider one example. John saw the eyes of Christ and wrote: “His eyes were like blazing fire.” Revelation 1:14 That is a detailed description of the Body of the Word. But Scripture also says: “Our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29 The description of the Body therefore becomes a revelation about God Himself. The same principle runs through the Scriptures: the details of the Body of the Word testify about the Person of the Word and reveal the invisible Father. Paul writes: “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 The “face of Christ” becomes a point of revelation—the Body of the Word revealing the invisible God. Scripture Must Be Unfolded This is where something particularly provocative begins to emerge. What if the Scriptures are not simply information about God, but the Father's script for revealing Himself? Psalm 119:130 says: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 The Word must be unfolded. We can read a Scripture without necessarily seeing the revelation contained within it. We can know the sentence without knowing the Person whom the sentence reveals. That is the difference between merely reading Scripture and receiving revelation. The detailed descriptions of the Body of the Word are therefore not decorative language. They are scriptural descriptions that can be unfolded to reveal the Father. Paul describes this revelation as: “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 So the purpose of the unfolding is not simply to give us more biblical information. It is to give us the revelation knowledge of the Father. The Body of the Word: White Like Wool and Snow Consider the description John gives: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.” Revelation 1:14 This is a detailed description of the Body of the Word. But John is not alone in seeing this. Daniel saw the Ancient of Days and wrote: “His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.” Daniel 7:9 Then Song of Solomon gives another description: “His appearance is like Lebanon.” Song of Solomon 5:15 Lebanon was associated with its mountainous, snow-covered appearance. The Scriptures are therefore giving us a repeated picture. The Body of the Word is white like wool, as white as snow. And because Christ is: “the exact representation of his being” Hebrews 1:3 the description of Christ also becomes a revelation concerning the invisible God. This is why the details matter. The head matters. The hair matters. The eyes matter. The face matters. The hands matter. The feet matter. The mouth matters. The voice matters. The entire Body becomes a vocabulary through which Scripture speaks about the Person of the Word. The Body Is More Than a Description Every detailed description of the Body of the Word is also a Scripture because it testifies about the Person of the Word. Jesus said: “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” John 5:39 Therefore, the description of His whiteness is not simply a physical observation. It is a testimony. It is a Scripture. It is a figure of speech. It is a revelation waiting to be unfolded. And Scripture gives us a principle for understanding this: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” Matthew 13:35 God uses visible and natural things to communicate invisible and spiritual realities. The Body of the Word is therefore not merely something we look at. It is something Scripture teaches us to understand. The Father Is Speaking Through the Body Isaiah gives us another remarkable statement: “The hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants.” Isaiah 66:14 Why the hand? Because the hand is part of the body. The hand becomes a doorway into understanding the Body of the Word. And the Body becomes a doorway into understanding the Person of the Word. And the Person of the Word reveals the invisible Father. Body → Person → Father. This is why I believe Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, is addressing His Church through the detailed descriptions of His Body. He is continually making the Father known. Jesus said: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9 And the Holy Spirit does not speak independently of Christ. Jesus said: “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” John 16:14 The Spirit takes what belongs to Christ and makes it known. And Paul tells us: “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10 So there are depths in God that the Holy Spirit searches and reveals. Scripture Is God's Script for His Work There is another dimension to this revelation. The Scriptures are not merely records of what God has done. They are also the script through which His purposes are fulfilled. Again and again, Jesus said: “It is written…” Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 And concerning His ministry: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21 The Scriptures therefore have a relationship with God's performance on Earth. When the Father has an intention, He opens Scripture according to that intention. When He is doing a work, He brings particular Scriptures into revelation. When the Spirit speaks to the churches, He speaks through what is being revealed: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:7 This makes the present question very important: What is the Spirit saying to the Church through the Scriptures He is opening? And if Christ is presently revealing Himself through the detailed descriptions of His Body, then these revelations deserve our attention. The Body of the Word Is Our Inheritance The Father has not given us Christ merely so that we can know facts about Him. He has given us Christ so that we can know Him. The Body of the Word is therefore not something we should approach casually. It is an inheritance. It is a revelation. It is an invitation to know the Person of the Word in greater detail. The Scriptures testify about Him. The Holy Spirit reveals Him. The Father is seen in Him. And the more the Scriptures are unfolded, the more light we receive concerning the Person of Christ and the glory of the invisible Father. So perhaps the question is no longer simply: “Do you read the Bible?” The deeper question is: “Do you recognise the Person whom the Scriptures are revealing?” Because the Bible is testifying. The Spirit is speaking. The Scriptures are being unfolded. And behind the revelation stands a Person: Jesus Christ, the living Word of God—the image of the invisible God. Listen to The Kitchen Podcast Continue this exploration of The Body of the Word on The Kitchen Podcast by Omodolapo Ogunye, available on Audible, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts. Please share and spread the Revelation Knowledge of the Body of the Word. celebrating the Body of the Word #foodmoneyshow #bodyoftheword #marketplace #worldwide #moneymindset

THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT THANKFULNESS “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” —Luke 14:33 In her remarkable book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsie were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbrück, where they lived in barracks that were plagued by fleas. Fleas were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies. One day Betsie told Corrie they needed to give thanks for the fleas. Corrie thought Betsie had gone too far. She couldn’t imagine thanking God for fleas. But Betsie insisted, reminding her sister that 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances” (NLT). Still, Corrie didn’t want to thank God for the fleas. But as it turned out, Corrie and Betsie were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. They found out later that because of the fleas, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, the women were able to have their Bible studies. As a result, they had the freedom to minister to numerous women. So, God can use even fleas. If the Bible said, “Be thankful in some circumstances,” I would say, “No problem there!” But it says, “Be thankful in all circumstances.” And that’s not an easy thing to do. Yet it’s necessary because “this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” It’s also beneficial. Our attitude does, in fact, impact our circumstances. Being thankful won’t change events that have occurred, and it won’t prevent trials and suffering from coming our way. But when we lead with a spirit of thankfulness and joy, we change our relationship to our circumstances. We see them in a different light. We see them in the context of the big picture of God’s faithfulness. This isn’t simply a matter of choosing to be a “glass half full” person or to “always look on the bright side of life.” It’s a matter of choosing to see God at work in our lives, no matter how bad our circumstances get. It’s a matter of wrapping ourselves in His presence when life threatens to overwhelm us. It’s a matter of staying in constant contact with Him during trials and never losing sight of the awesome privilege of being able to do so. Maintaining a spirit of thankfulness will not only impact our lives, but it will also impact the lives of others in our orbit. Nothing speaks louder about the life-changing potential of the Christian faith than a believer who remains faithful and thankful when things go bad. First Thessalonians 5:18 doesn’t say we should be thankful for all circumstances, but rather in all circumstances. There are many things that happen that I’m not glad about. But I am glad that, despite the tragedies, God is still on the throne, and He is still in control of all circumstances that surround my life. God bless you!

*Praising Adonai From Dawn to Dusk* Close your eyes for a moment. And while you do that, picture this wonderfully diverse planet we call home. (Yes, really.) Everything that you just imagined—God created all of it. And God created all of us to worship Him. From north to south and east to west. From bustling cities to slow-paced villages. From lifeless deserts to life-packed forests. From the highest mountains to the farthest oceans. *“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the Lord is to be praised!” Psalm 113:3* The sun “rises” and “sets” on all of us. All people, all languages, all nations. All skin colors, eye colors, and hair colors. All shapes, sizes, and personalities. Rich and poor. Aching hearts and contagious smiles. An eclectic mix of people from various parts of the world have been praising God from generation to generation—and it continues to happen now. And we know it will never stop. In *Revelation 7*, John has a vision of a “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,” who is Christ. They are serving and worshiping, all day and night. God’s people—past, present, and future—are a worshiping people.  We can worship with our songs. We can worship with our money. We can worship with our lives. And one day, when we finally see things clearly, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But today, we don’t have to wait to worship. When sunlight streams through our windows, we can worship. When the evening sky turns orange-ish pink, we can worship. When we’re in a season of waiting, we can worship. When we’re in a season of receiving, we can worship. When our heart is empty and breaking, we can worship. When our heart is full, we can worship. *From dawn to dusk, let the Name of the Lord be praised.* Today, let's begin to think about this verse and consider what compels us to worship God. Then, shift our hearts toward Him and don’t forget to worship Him that sit enthroned upon the circle of the earth.. The One that lives forever. *Praising God For His Goodness* Father God, You are good and Your Mercy endures forever. No matter what goes on around us—You are always good. You are worthy of our praises because You are God in eternity past, present and future. You provide for us, strengthen us, deliver us, heal us and redeemed our souls. Even when we don’t see You at work in our lives, that doesn’t change the fact that You are working. There is no one like You. So regardless of what we face today, we will praise You forever! In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

MEANING OF SACKCLOTH AND ASHES. Sackcloth and ashes originates from biblical texts and is used to symbolize: MOURNING,(*Deep sorrow and grief) REPENTANCE, (*Desire to change) AND HUMILITY.(*Humbled to Father in shame) Wearing sackcloth, is uncomfortable and course fabric. Usually made from goats hair. Sitting in ashes were traditional practices during times of great spiritual and physical distress or showing their penance for sins. In the Bible, figures such as Job and the people of Israel used sackcloth and ashes to express their sorrow and seek forgiveness from Father. This showed a deep sense of remorse and the desire to turn away from their iniquity. These biblical stories of mourning, repentance, and humility show someone who is experiencing regret for transgressions by taking responsibility for their actions, and bowing down to the heavenly Father. Demonstrating the act of being nothing but dirty ashes. Burnt up and consumed with the trials and tribulation of this life. 👉REPENTANCE OF NINEVEH (Jonah 3:5-6) When Jonah prophesies the destruction of Nineveh, the king and the people respond by donning sackcloth and sitting in ashes as a sign of repentance. 📖THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH BELIEVE Jonah 3:5-10 KJV 1 SO THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH Believed God, And proclaimed a fast, And put on SACKCLOTH, From the greatest of them Even to the least of them. 6 FOR WORD CAME UNTO THE KING OF NINEVEH, And he arose from his throne, And he laid his robe from him, And covered him with SACKCLOTH, And sat in ASHES. 7 AND HE CAUSED IT TO BE PROCLAIMED And published through Nineveh By the decree of the king and his nobles, Saying, Let neither man nor beast, Herd nor flock, taste any thing: Let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 BUT LET MAN AND BEAST Be covered with SACKCLOTH, And cry mightily unto God: Yea, let them turn every one From his evil way, and from the violence That is in their hands. 9 WHO CAN TELL IF GOD WILL TURN AND REPENT, And turn away from his fierce anger, That we perish not? 10 AND GOD SAW THEIR WORKS, That they turned from their evil way; And God repented of the evil, That he had said That he would Do unto them; And he did it not. 👉KING DAVID MOURNS (2 Samuel 12:16-17) After the death of his child, with Besthsheba, David fasts and mourns, emphasizing humility and sorrow. The child was born through adultery and murder. God did not let it live. THE DEATH OF DAVID’S SON 2 Samuel 12:15-23 KJV 15 AND NATHAN DEPARTED Unto his house. And the Lord struck the child That Uriah's wife bare unto David, And it was very sick. 16 DAVID THEREFORE BESOUGHT GOD For the child; And David fasted, And went in, And lay all night upon the earth. 17 AND THE ELDERS OF HIS HOUSE AROSE, And went to him, To raise him up from the earth: But he would not, Neither did he eat bread with them. 18 AND IT CAME TO PASS On the seventh day, That the child died. And the servants of David Feared to tell him that the child was dead: For they said, Behold, While the child was yet alive, We spake unto him, And he would not hearken unto our voice: How will he then vex himself, If we tell him that the child is dead? 19 BUT WHEN DAVID SAW That his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: Therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 THEN DAVID AROSE FROM THE EARTH, And washed, and anointed himself, And changed his apparel, And came into the house of the Lord, And worshipped: Then he came to his own house; And when he required, They set bread before him, And he did eat. 21 THEN SAID HIS SERVANTS UNTO HIM, What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child, While it was alive; But when the child was dead, Thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 AND HE SAID, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: For I said, Who can tell whether God Will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 BUT NOW HE IS DEAD, Wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, But he shall not return to me. 👉QUEEN ESTHER'S PLEA (Esther 4) Esther asks the Jews to fast and wear sackcloth as they seek deliverance from impending doom. ESTHER AGREES TO HELP THE JEWS Esther 4 KJV 1 WHEN MORDECAI PERCEIVED All that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, And put on sackcloth with ashes, And went out into the midst of the city, And cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2 AND CAME EVEN BEFORE THE KING'S GATE: For none might enter into the king's gate Clothed with sackcloth. 3 AND IN EVERY PROVINCE, Whithersoever the king's commandment And his decree came, There was great mourning Among the Jews, And fasting, And weeping, And wailing; And many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 SO ESTHER'S MAIDS And her chamberlains Came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; And she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, And to take away his sackcloth from him: But he received it not. 5 THEN CALLED ESTHER FOR HATACH, One of the king's chamberlains, Whom he had appointed To attend upon her, And gave him a commandment To Mordecai, To know what it was, And why it was. 6 SO HATACH WENT FORTH TO MORDECAI Unto the street of the city, Which was before the king's gate. 7 AND MORDECAI TOLD HIM OF ALL That had happened unto him, And of the sum of the money That Haman had promised To pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, To destroy them. 8 ALSO HE GAVE HIM THE COPY Of the writing of the decree That was given at Shushan To destroy them, To shew it unto Esther, And to declare it unto her, And to charge her that she should go In unto the king, To make supplication unto him, And to make request before him For her people.🤥✡️ 9 AND HATACH CAME And told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10 AGAINST ESTHER SPAKE UNTO HATACH, And gave him commandment Unto Mordecai; 11 ALL THE KING'S SERVANTS, And the people of the king's provinces, Do know, that whosoever, Whether man or women, Shall come unto the king Into the inner court, Who is not called, There is one law of his to put him to death, Except such to whom the king Shall hold out the golden sceptre, That he may live: But I have not been called to come in Unto the king these thirty days. 12 AND THEY TOLD TO MORDECAI Esther's words. 13 THEN MORDECAI COMMANDED To answer Esther, Think not with thyself That thou shalt escape In the king's house, More than all the Jews. 14 FOR IF THOU ALTOGETHER Holdest thy peace at this time, Then shall there enlargement And deliverance Arise to the Jews from another place; But thou and thy father's house Shall be destroyed: And who knoweth whether thou art come To the kingdom for such a time as this? 15 THEN ESTHER BADE THEM Return Mordecai this answer, 16 GO, GATHER TOGETHER ALL THE JEWS That are present in Shushan, And fast ye for me, And neither eat nor drink three days, Night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; And so will I go in unto the king, Which is not according to the law: And if I perish, I perish. 17 SO MORDECAI WENT HIS WAY, And did according to all That Esther had commanded him. 👉PROPHET JEREMIAH (Jeremiah 6:26) Jeremiah calls for mourning in Israel, invoking sackcloth as a sign of sorrow for sin. IMPENDING DESTRUCTION FROM THE NORTH Jeremiah 6:16-30 KJV 16 THUS SAITH THE LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, And ask for the old paths, Where is the good way, and walk therein, And ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17 ALSO I SET WATCHMEN OVER YOU, Saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. 18 THEREFORE HEAR, Ye nations, and know, O congregation, What is among them. 19 HEARKEN, O EARTH: BEHOLD, I will bring evil upon this people, Even the fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not hearkened Unto my words, nor to my law, But rejected it. 20 TO WHAT PURPOSE COMETH THERE To me incense from Sheba, And the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, Nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. 21 THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD, BEHOLD, I will lay stumblingblocks Before this people, And the fathers and the sons together Shall fall upon them; The neighbour and his friend shall perish. 22 THUS SAITH THE LORD, BEHOLD, A people cometh from the north country, And a great nation shall be raised From the sides of the earth. 23 THEY SHALL LAY HOLD ON BOW AND SPEAR; They are cruel, and have no mercy; Their voice roareth like the sea; And they ride upon horses, Set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion. 24 WE HAVE HEARD THE FAME THEREOF: Our hands wax feeble: Anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, As of a woman in travail. 25 GO NOT FORTH INTO THE FIELD, Nor walk by the way; For the sword of the enemy And fear is on every side. 26 O DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE, Gird thee with sackcloth, And wallow thyself in ashes: Make thee mourning, as for an only son, Most bitter lamentation: For the spoiler shall suddenly Come upon us. 27 I HAVE SET THEE FOR A TOWER And a fortress among my people, That thou mayest know and try their way. 28 THEY ARE ALL GRIEVOUS REVOLTERS, Walking with slanders: They are brass and iron; They are all corrupters. 29 THE BELLOWS ARE BURNED, The lead is consumed of the fire; The founder melteth in vain: For the wicked are not plucked away. 30 REPROBATE SILVER Shall men call them, Because the Lord hath rejected them. 👉THE ISRAELITES (Isaiah 15:3, Micah 1:10) Throughout the books of the prophets, sackcloth is often mentioned as part of national mourning or individual repentance. JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL AND JUDAH Micah 1 KJV 1 THE WORD OF THE LORD That came to Micah The Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, Which he saw concerning Samaria And Jerusalem. 2 HEAR, ALL YE PEOPLE; Hearken, O earth, And all that therein is: And let the Lord God Be witness against you, The Lord from his holy temple. 3 FOR, BEHOLD The Lord cometh forth Out of His place, And will come down, And tread upon The high places of the earth. 4 AND THE MOUNTAINS Shall be molten Under him, And the valleys shall be cleft, As wax before the fire, And as the waters that are poured down A steep place. 5 FOR THE TRANSGRESSION Of Jacob is all this, And for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Are they not Jerusalem? 6 THEREFORE I WILL MAKE SAMARIA As an heap of the field, And as plantings of a vineyard: And I will pour down The stones thereof into the valley, And I will discover the foundations thereof. 7 AND ALL THE GRAVEN IMAGES THEREOF Shall be beaten to pieces, And all the hires thereof Shall be burned with the fire, And all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: For she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, And they shall return to THE HIRE OF AN HARLOT. 8 THEREFORE I WILL WAIL AND HOWL, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, And mourning as the owls. 9 FOR HER WOUND IS INCURABLE; For it is come unto Judah; He is come unto the gate of my people, Even to Jerusalem. 10 DECLARE YE IT NOT AT GATH, Weep ye not at all: In the house of Aphrah Roll thyself in the dust. 11 PASS YE AWAY, Thou inhabitant of Saphir, Having thy shame naked: The inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth In the mourning of Bethezel; He shall receive of you his standing. 12 FOR THE INHABITANT OF MAROTH Waited carefully for good: But evil came down from the Lord Unto the gate of Jerusalem. 13 O THOU INHABITANT OF LACHISH, Vind the chariot to the swift beast: She is the beginning of the sin To the daughter of Zion: For the transgressions of Israel Were found in thee. 14 THEREFORE SHALT THOU GIVE Presents to Moreshethgath: The houses of Achzib Shall be a lie to the kings of Israel. 15 YET WILL I BRING AN HEIR UNTO THEE, O inhabitant of Mareshah: He shall come unto Adullam THE GLORY OF ISRAEL. 16 MAKE THEE BALD, And poll thee for thy delicate children; Enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; For they are gone into captivity from thee. 🔥The significance of sackcloth and ashes in the Bible, demonstrates moments of deep emotional strive and the desire to reconcile with The Father. 👉The 2 witnesses come teaching sackcloth and ashes.They are described as prophetic figures who proclaim God's message during the end times. The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3-6) As having the power to prophesy for 1,260 days while clothed in sackcloth.(*shortened by Christ in Matthew 24:22-24/ Revelation 9 to 150 days. The 7 years given to Satan was deduced to those 5 months/140 days. The 2 Witnesses time was given in days and when shortened to days they are given about a week longer to prepare and warn the house of Isreal.) THE TWO WITNESSES Revelation 11 KJV 1 AND THERE WAS GIVEN ME A REED Like unto a rod: and the angel stood, Saying, Rise, and measure The temple of God, And the altar, And them that worship therein. 2 BUT THE COURT Which is without the temple leave out, And measure it not; For it is given unto the Gentiles: And the holy city shall they tread Under foot forty and two months. (*Shortened by Christ, Matthew24, to 5 months of Revelation 9, for the elections sake, so they could stand.) 3 AND I WILL GIVE POWER Unto my TWO witnesses, And they shall prophesy A thousand two hundred And threescore days, Clothed in sackcloth.(*Repentance) 4 THESE ARE THE TWO OLIVE TREES, And the two candlesticks Standing before the God of the earth. 5 AND IF ANY MAN WILL HURT THEM, Fire proceedeth out of their mouth, And devoureth their enemies: And if any man will hurt them, He must in this manner be killed. 6 THESE HAVE POWER TO SHUT HEAVEN, That it rain not In the days of their prophecy: And have power over waters To turn them to blood, And to smite the earth with all plagues, As often as they will. THE WITNESSES KILLED 7 AND WHEN THEY SHALL HAVE FINISHED Their testimony, The beast that ascendeth out Of the bottomless pit(*Abbadon, Appolyon) Shall make war against them, And shall overcome them, And kill them. 8 AND THEIR DEAD BODIES Shall lie in the street of the great city, Which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, Where also our Lord was crucified. 9 AND THEY OF THE PEOPLE And kindreds And tongues And nations shall see their dead bodies Three days and an half, And shall not suffer their dead bodies To be put in graves. 10 AND THEY THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH Shall rejoice over them, And make merry, And shall send gifts one to another; Because these TWO prophets Tormented them that dwelt on the earth. THE WITNESSES RESURRECTED 11 AND AFTER THREE DAYS AND AN HALF The spirit of life from God Entered into them, And they stood upon their feet; And great fear fell upon them Which saw them. 12 AND THEY HEARD A GREAT VOICE From heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; And their enemies beheld them. 13 AND THE SAME HOUR WAS THERE A great earthquake, And the tenth part of the city fell, And in the earthquake Were slain of men SEVEN THOUSAND: And the remnant Were affrighted, And gave glory to the God of heaven. (*The 7000 fallen angels that take over the government's of the world with their new world order will die forever.) 14 THE SECOND WOE IS PAST; And, behold, The third woe cometh quickly. 👉Sackcloth is a symbol of humility and sorrow, indicating their role as prophets of repentance in a time of great tribulation of the apostasy of God's people. The sackcloth worn by the Two Witnesses provokes their somber mission, calling for the repentance of the nations and pointing out their eminent demise. The 2 serve as messengers of God's judgment, calling people to repentance. They are granted the power to perform miraculous signs, such as shutting the sky to prevent rain and turning waters into blood, emphasizing their authority as God's representatives. After their testimony, they are killed, signifying the rejection of their message. Like that of Jesus message they will lay in the street 3 days and half. They are later resurrected and taken up to heaven, symbolizing the ultimate vindication of God's

ARE YOU A PHARISEE? MATTHEW 16:6,12 NKJ 6 Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Why did Jesus warn His disciples to beware of the Pharisees? What did they do wrong? (An entire chapter of the Bible (Matthew 23) is Jesus' teaching against the Pharisees.) The Pharisees were conservative, faithful "church" members. They accepted the Bible as the written Word of God. They paid tithes. They believed in miracles (at least in days past). They wouldn't dream of stealing, committing adultery, or such things. You would like living next to a Pharisee as they were model citizens. But instead of having a living relationship with God, the Pharisees took the Word of God and made just another dead religion out of it. The Pharisee way of thinking is: keep up appearances. "It doesn't matter so much what you are on the inside, as long as you keep the rules (at least publicly)." Notice that Jesus likened their teaching to leaven, or yeast. Why? Yeast spreads easily and rapidly. Humans are very susceptible to approaching God in this manner, "Keep the rules. Just do these 10 things and you are OK." Different groups may have different rules, but we all accumulate them. It may be how many times each week you must attend church meetings, or what kind of clothes you must wear, or how you must wear your hair. Or, it may be a list of things you cannot do. But, as long as you meet these requirements, you are in good standing with your group (or denomination). But, good standing with God is based on only one thing according to the New Testament: faith in what Jesus did for us. That alone is what makes us right with God. Not our works, but Jesus' work. LUKE 12:1 NKJ 1 ... He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. The Pharisees were hypocrites. That is, they put on an act. What they pretended to be in public was not really what they were like in private. They claimed to be perfect in keeping God's law, but as humans they were all sinners, just like the rest of the people were. Yet, in public, they insisted that others keep the Law perfectly, or be condemned. They were quick to pass judgment on others, and slow to extend mercy or help. The Pharisees had a legalistic view of God's Word and did not realize that God was merciful and wanted to help people. 2 CORINTHIANS 3:6 NKJ 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Using God's Word to "kill" instead of using it to minister life is wrong. God's Word is meant to help people and lift them up, not place such hard demands on them that they cannot ever measure up. When we load people down with heavy loads of rules to keep in order to be right with God, we are ministers of death. MATTHEW 23:1-5 NLT 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. 5 "Everything they do is for show. . . . If your "Christianity" is nothing more than a list of "do's and don'ts" then you are missing real Christianity, which is a living relationship with Jesus Christ. SAY THIS: Jesus does not want me to act like a Pharisee. God bless you!

Acts 27: "1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. 2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. 3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. 4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. 7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; 8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. 9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. 11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. 12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. 13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. 18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. 21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. 26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. 27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; 28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. 30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. 35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. 36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. 37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. 39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. 40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. 41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. 42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. 43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: 44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land."