Categories
History

Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego -Charles Laughton

Three men in robes standing unharmed in a large fiery furnace with a glowing figure beside them and soldiers watching
Three men stand unharmed in a blazing furnace with a glowing figure beside them.

Notice this line: “…there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.”

Daniel 3:1-30, “(1) Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.  (2)  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.  (3)  Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.  (4)  Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,  (5)  That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:  (6)  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  (7)  Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.  (8)  Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.  (9)  They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.  (10)  Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:  (11)  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  (12)  There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  (13)  Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.  (14)  Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?  (15)  Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?  (16)  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  (17)  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  (18)  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  (19)  Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.  (20)  And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.  (21)  Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  (22)  Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  (23)  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  (24)  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.  (25)  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.  (26)  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.  (27)  And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.  (28)  Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.  (29)  Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.  (30)  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.”

Categories
Bible Teaching

Taking Away Services – Tim Dilena

I agree with Tim Dilena’s comments here. We don’t need less time together in the Body of Christ, but more, or as Paul wrote:

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25, NLT).

Categories
Golden Heart Foundation

When Jesus was told, “No.”

Clay cup with liquid on mossy stone surrounded by green plants
A handcrafted clay cup rests on a moss-covered rock in a lush garden at dusk.

The three prayers of Jesus in Gethsemane represent the ultimate moment of human vulnerability and divine submission:[1]

Matthew 26:36-46, “(36) Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.  (37)  And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.  (38)  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.  (39)  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.  (40)  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?  (41)  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  (42)  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (43)  And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.  (44)  And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.  (45)  Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  (46)  Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.”

Mark 14:32-42, “(35) …fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. (36)  And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt…. (39) And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words…. (41)  And he cometh the third time…”

Luke 22:42-46, “…if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.  (43)  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  (44)  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Jesus repeated the same petition three separate times:

  • He asked, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.”
  • The “cup” symbolized the weight of human sin and God’s wrath He was about to endure.
  • Each time, He concluded with a statement of total submission: “Yet not as I will, but as you will”.

Key Features of the Prayer:

  • Anguish – Jesus’ soul was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”
  • Physical Toll – His sweat became like “great drops of blood falling to the ground” (a rare condition known as hematohidrosis caused by extreme stress).
  • Relationship – Jesus used the intimate term “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36). He kept His personal relationship with God.

God did not remove the “cup,” but by the end of His prayer, Jesus was at peace and ready to face betrayal, abandonment and the cross.

The prayer in Gethsemane is perhaps the most profound example of a “No” from God.

Jesus did not get what He wanted from the Father.

Even for Jesus, prayer was not some type of magical spell spoken to change His circumstance, but a test of relationship as He willingly aligned His human will with unwanted divine purpose of the Father.

The Prayers of Jesus display for us the genuine tension between his human desire to avoid suffering and His divine mission.

“Let this cup pass from me” = a natural, holy desire to avoid the physical and spiritual agony of the cross.

The Divine “No” — You would never expect Jesus to get a “NO” from the Father — NEVER, but here it is, “No.”

God did not grant the request to bypass the cross. This demonstrates that an unanswered prayer (in the way we want it) is not a sign of God’s absence or displeasure—after all, Jesus is God’s “Beloved Son.”

This moment establishes a model for how to handle “unanswered” prayers:

  • Honesty: Jesus was brutally honest about what he wanted (“Take this cup”).
  • Trust: He ended with “Not my will, but yours,” acknowledging that
    God’s perspective was greater than his immediate suffering.
  • Submission: He moved from the posture of a petitioner to the posture
    of a participant in God’s plan, eventually rising from prayer with the
    resolve to face his arrest.

Hebrews 4:14-16, “(14) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  (15)  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

In order to know ALL that humanity experiences, Jesus had to learn what it was like to hear the Father say, “No.”

“…in all points tempted like as we are…”

Hebrews 12:1-2, “(1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

[1] Italicized parts were done with the help of GOOGLE AI and/or Copilot.

Categories
Music

glued to you – RIDERS

I just found this group recently and this song is now stuck in my brain…

glued to you

[Verse 1]
How have I been?
Living on my own accord
Is it worth the rent?
They wished me well
But it’s hard to live a good, old life
When I’m wasting it

[Verse 2]
A beckoning
I hear a righteous, booming voice
And it’s asking me
“How have you been?”
Well, honestly I’m broken
Kind of hopeless and I need You, my friend

[Chorus]
I don’t deserve this love
Yet still You show me it
All those times I’ve been asleep
Not knowing that You’ve always been near
Now I won’t leave this bond
I’m covered in Your blood
I’ll follow You till death is due
I’m eternally glued to You

[Verse 3]
How could it be
A chained stingy, hardened heart
Turned into ecstasy?
A single touch
My hurt, my shame, my lust for fame
It’s gone, it’s done, now I’ll never leave

[Chorus]
I don’t deserve this love
Yet still You show me it
All those times I’ve been asleep
Not knowing that You’ve always been near
Now I won’t leave this bond
I’m covered in Your blood
I’ll follow You till death is due
I’m eternally glued to You

[Interlude]

[Bridge]
You can chuck my past in the trash like an old cardigan
‘Cause I’ma dig that grave and bury it with all my sin
Au revoir to the lust and the drugs that kept me insane
Now look at my life, I’m freer than I’ve ever been
And I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t care what the world has to say
They can see my life and hopefully learn a thing
I could die right now just happy that I served a friend
That died for my life; our love, it goes hand-in-hand
Yeah, oh

[Interlude]

[Outro]
I just want to want You
I just want to know You
I just want to feel You
I just want to love You
I just want to want You
I just want to know You
I just want to feel You
I just want to love You
I just want to want You
I just want to know You
I just want to feel You
I just want to love You
I just want to want You
I just want to know You
I just want to feel You
I just want to love You

Categories
Bible Preaching

Not Guilty

Stephen Kuntzman | Nov. 18, 2025 | 7pm

Text: 2 Samuel 12:1-7

(1) And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.  (2)  The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:  (3)  But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.  (4)  And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.  (5)  And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:  (6)  And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.  (7)  And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man…”

“Thou art the Man…”

Not Guilty[1]

God’s forgiveness is the remedy for your guilt.

Your sincere obedience to His plan is how you find forgiveness.

“Guilty,” was the loud accusation that sprang from the lips of a woman on the corner of a busy intersection.

People looked towards the voice and say her repeat that accusation, “GUILTY,” while pointing her finger at those who passed her.

Inevitably, the accused would look at her, put their head down and walk quickly to the other side of the road.

We have an accuser of the brethren.

We are often our own worst accusers.

Sometimes the guilt feelings are legitimate, but you don’t have to be guilty to feel guilty.

In our text tonight, David was definitely guilty

– tell the story of Uriah the Hittite and Bathsheba –

What are you guilty of doing, seeing, saying, thinking, silencing?

Nathan, the prophet, came to David and declared to him, “Thou art the man.”

We need a “thou art the man” moment.

If forgiveness is the greatest builder of lives then guilt has to be the most destructive demolisher.

Guilt weights people down – Forgiveness lift people up

One day, a group of indignant “righteous” men dragged a woman to Jesus, pointing their fingers at her in moral outrage and mortal accusation. 

Her immorality, they said, demanded her public execution. 

Jesus – Our Jesus – did not join them in pointing His finger at her. Instead, he pointed his finger to the ground and wrote on it.

The accusers and the accused were standing on the dust of the earth, the common dirt of their shared humanity, and Jesus said unto them:

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”[2]

One by one, beginning with the eldest among them, her accusers hung their heads and walked away.

“Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?” he then asked her.  “No sir” she replied.  “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more,” said Jesus.[3] [4]

Preacher, I’m guilty…how can I get to the place where I’m Not Guilty?

Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

“When God forgives He forgets. He buries our sins in the sea and puts a sign on the bank saying, ‘No Fishing Allowed.’”[5]

[1] SOURCE: Carlton L. Coon Sr. (2003). Master-FULL Preaching. Truth Publications.

[2] John 8:7

[3] John 8:10-11

[4] Ronald W. Nikkel. (2013). By Pointed Fingers. https://www.prisonfellowship.org/2013/02/by-pointed-fingers/. Accessed: 11/18/2025.

[5] Corrie Ten Boom

Categories
Bible Preaching

The City of Light

Text: Matthew 5:13-16, “(13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (14) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

The City of Light

We are an elevated city.
The Mount of Beatitudes rises from the Sea of Galilee not far from
Capernaum.
Jesus likely pointed out across the water city on top of a hill there.

Quesnall wrote, “The Christian life is something very high and sublime, to which we cannot arrive without pains: while it withdraws us from the earth, and carries us nearer heaven, it places us in view, and as a mark, to the malice of carnal men.”
We rise as an example to a world looking for something real to follow.
Jesus said, “If I be lifted up…”
“I am the Light of the world…”

You are the temple of the Holy Ghost
When we are together we become a city of light for the whole world to see.
Diffusing to the world the Light of Jesus Christ.

Apostolic Life Cathedral is the City of Light

Categories
Bible Teaching

The Chosen Struggle

Categories
Bible Preaching

Unthinkable – LJ Harry

Categories
Bible Preaching

Fresh Oil

Text: Psalms 92:10, “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”

Fresh Oil

Oil plays a significant part in the Scriptures and in the life of the believer.

The first time oil is mentioned in the Word of God it was used by Jacob to anoint the stone he’d used as a pillow (Genesis 28:10-22):

(10) And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.  (11)  And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.  (12)  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.  (13)  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;  (14)  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  (15)  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.  (16)  And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.  (17)  And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.  (18)  And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.  (19)  And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.  (20)  And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,  (21)  So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:  (22)  And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

There on that stone Jacob poured oil and dedicated it as a place of worship to God naming that spot Bethel – The House of God.

Later he came back to Bethel, built an altar and named it El-Bethel – the God of the House of God (Gen. 35:1-15).

The first time we see oil used on man it is the anointing oil poured on Aaron and his sons as they are dedicated and consecrated unto God as priests (Exodus29).

Throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, you will find the constant presence and use of oil.

  • Consecration and Sanctification of Priests, Prophets and Kings, Tabernacle, Tools and Furniture (Exodus 30:22-25).
  • Used Medicinally to Heal the Sick (both spiritual and physical restoration)
    • James 5:14-15, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  (15)  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
    • Acts 10:38, “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
      • There is a lingering presence when you have been anointed – God’s presence will stick and stay with you.
  • Worship
    • Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume (oil-based) as an act of worship (Matthew 26:7, Mark 14:3).
  • Purification
    •  Leviticus 14:1-18 instituted cleansing rituals for those recovering from leprosy, symbolizing their legitimate return to society and acceptance into the general public.
  • Joy
  • Psalms 45:7, “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
  • Everyday Life
    •  Oil is used for cooking, cosmetics, skin care (Frankincense & Myrrh).

This fresh oil is a type of the Holy Spirit.

Just as oil pervaded, permeated, saturated, soaked and flooded every aspect of a person’s life in the Old Testament

The Fresh Oil of the Holy Ghost abides constantly in the life and spirit of the believer:

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

There are three types of oil that was produced from pressing of the olives:[1]

  1. First Pressing (Purest Oil) – Holy Use
    1. Used for anointing priests and kings, lighting the Temple menorah, and sacred meal offerings.
    1. Christ the Anointed One – Messiah
  2. Second Pressing (Medicinal/Food Oil) – Physical Use
    1. For healing wounds, cooking, and general household use.
    1. Christ the Healer and Provider
  3. Third Pressing (Crude Oil) – Cleaning and Fuel
    1. For soap (cleansing) and lamp fuel.
    1. Christ the atoning cleansing sacrifice and the Light of the World.

Gethsemane means “olive press,” and the three prayers of Jesus reflect these three pressings.

Just as the pressings extracted the oil in ever increasing intensity

Jesus was pressed to the point of sweating great drops of blood

The intense suffering of Jesus provides spiritual anointing, healing, and cleansing for believers.

1 John 2:20, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

“Unction” is the same word for “anointing”

To be anointed you have that fresh oil rubbed in our poured on.

That’s what happened to David (1 Samuel 16:1, 13)

 (1) And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons….(13) Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.”

Look what happened:

  1. God sent Samuel to Jesse’s house in Bethlehem to find the next king, telling him to fill his horn with oil.
  2. Samuel sees Jesse’s older sons, but God rejects them, explaining that He looks at the heart, not the outer appearance.
  3. David is brought from shepherd’s field
  4. God confirmed to Samuel that is was the chosen one – the one after His one heart.
  5. Samuel then takes the horn of fresh oil and anointed David in front of his family.
  6. At that moment, the Holy Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David and never left him.

Tonight, at the beginning of this New Year, we need to receive Fresh Oil – Fresh Anointing.

Fresh Oil will Eliminate Fear, Confusion and Frustration.

Fresh Oil will propel us into a future that will see us operate in faith and boldness as we reach our families, our friends and our homes with the oil of gladness.

To receive Fresh Oil for this coming year lift your hands and hearts to God and begin to thank Him for His Fresh Oil

Receive a renewing of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 92:10, “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”

My horn = You can find joy tonight in foreseeing the mercy of the Lord. You will not perish, but God will lift you up over your difficulties.

Jesus is here tonight to anoint you with fresh oil that will enable you to be victorious, smooth the difficulties of life and prepare you for new levels of ministry and spiritual growth.

The overflowing effect of Fresh Oil will produce renewed purpose, focused vision, and divine wisdom.

God has sent Fresh Oil here tonight to refresh and renew you:

Acts 3:19 , “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”

Fresh Oil releases Joy, Victory, Explosive Power and Divine Authority.

Fresh Oil will bring unity to this body:

Psalms 133:1-3, “(1) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  (2)  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;  (3)  As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

  • As the oil covered Aaron’s entire body, unity is a shared blessing that touches everyone.
  • Unity is a divine gift, not just a human effort.
  • The flowing oil signifies the blessing and life that God commands where unity exists, bringing a refreshing abundance, like the dew of Hermon.
  • As Aaron was the High Priest, this anointing signifies that believers living in unity function as a unified priestly body, anointed and set apart for God’s purpose.

[1] Google AI Overview. Query: three oil pressings in the Bible. Accessed: 1/4/2026.

Categories
Bible Preaching

A Thing Called “Hope”

Text: Matthew 9:20-22 

(20) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:  (21)  For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.  (22)  But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –

That perches in the soul –

And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –

And sore must be the storm –

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –

And on the strangest Sea –

Yet – never – in Extremity,

It asked a crumb – of me.[1]

Hope is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. A feeling of trust”[2]

Albert Barnes defines Hope as:

…a desire for an object, and an expectation of obtaining it.

If there is no desire for it; or if the object is not pleasant and agreeable, there is no hope, though there may be expectation – as in the expectation of the pestilence, of famine, or sickness, or death.

If there is no expectation of it, but a strong desire, there is no hope, as in cases where there is a strong desire of wealth, or fame, or pleasure; or where a man is condemned for murder, and has a strong desire but no prospect of pardon; or where a man is shipwrecked, and has a strong desire, but no expectation of again seeing his family and friends.

In such cases, despondency or despair are the results.

It is the union of the two feelings in proper proportions which constitutes hope.[3]

Hope is the place where desire and expectation unite:

A Thing Called Hope

She had been sick for 12 long years, but somehow she had not lost her hope. “She had gone to many doctors, and they had not done anything except cause her a lot of pain. She had paid them all the money she had. But instead of getting better, she only got worse.”[4]

She was ritually unclean and should not have even been out in the crowd, but there she was.

This was such a personal and private issue – an issue of blood – but fueled by desire and expectation – HOPE – and she quietly approached Jesus from behind.

She had no desire to make a scene. She simply had a hope kindled by an Old Testament messianic prophecy, and when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she was expressing her faith in Him as the Christ:

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…”[5]

You have been holding onto your own quiet, personal, private issue of blood for some time now.

You may even think that nobody really cares about your situation. What you really want to do it quietly come to Jesus, just brush the hem of His garment because still resident inside you, despite how long, weary, disappointed and tired you have become in this struggle – you still have HOPE (desire and expectancy).

Don’t give up! The miracle is just a brush away.

The moment she touched the border of his garment, immediately her issue of blood stopped.  

Jesus said, Who touched me? …Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.  

And when the woman saw that she was not hid [she had tried to be as inconspicuous as possible], she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.[6]

A Thing Called Hope

Is something you cannot afford to let go.

It is in the waiting where Hope is tested. The sometimes-insurmountable fear that this delay is just foreshadowing the disappointment to follow, but I hear Lord say…

Habakkuk 2:2-3, “(2) And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  (3)  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

There is a future Hope beyond this world, but there is a present Hope as well: Romans 8:24-28:

(24) For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  

(25)  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.  

(26)  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  (27)  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  

(28)  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

A Thing Called Hope will hold you together when nothing else will:

  • Psalm 38:15, “For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.”
  • Psalm 42:5, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”
    • His face is turned towards you with favor and salvations.
  • Psalm 42:11, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” (See: Psalm 43:5)
    • If you hold onto hope, one day your face will display the joy within because you hoped in God.
  • Job 14:7, 14, “(7) For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again…(14) If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.”

[1] Emily Dickinson. (1861). “Hope” is the thing with feathers.

[2] Oxford Languages.

[3] Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible. 2 Corinthians 3:12.

[4] Mark 5:26, CEV

[5] Malachi 4:2

[6] Luke 8:43-48

(Preached on 11/16/2025 to the saints of Tornado Apostolic Church, Pastor Wilson Hudson)