Luke 7:1-17 ~ As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.

The Son is going to come up - tomorrow - bet your bottom dollar on Tomorrow.

How is it possible that we love the Centurion, Jesus was pleased and astonished with, and do not know his name?'

Consider the second paragraph, this Widow of Nain, we need her name. This is a pivotal part of the ministry of Jesus, a huge crowd knew her, knew her son and Jesus proves the dead come to life. Makes sense, Jesus needed to put proof before them of Jesus' upcoming Easter Victory over death.

Luke 7:1-10

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

The Pillar reads the Son of Alphaeus, the son of Zebedee, the son of John. Of Course.

Jesus took up Capernaum as His adult Hometown. What happened to the name of the Centurion who built the Synagogue where we find a Pillar with the name Zebedee - as in Mark 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee. The Synagogue is newer than the Centurion built. But the ability to say - related - is spot on accurate.

The answer is clear. Peter's house went on to become a House Church. Told by the Graffiti on the walls. This "HISTORY" did not pause. Here are the photos from the 1960's of Peter's Beautiful House where his mother-in-law was healed and served Jesus dinner:

What happened to the humble Centurion's name?

Micah 6

“With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

9 The voice of the Lord cries to the city—
and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:
“Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!



Indeed two millenniums have covered over the name of the Centurion who Pleased Jesus with his Faith. God has wrought this. Do we have a doubt that God has his name upon His Hand? We Believe.

I'd venture a guess from two thousand years ago, the Centurion asked that God alone was important and remember him because the Centurion knew what is crucial. Because walking humbly with God, the narrow path, where we live with God - is the relationship we need.

God is Love.

Father God, bring on the Son for us all and remember especially the ones we love and like and You have given us. In Jesus we have the glory to ask in expectation. Amen

Luke 7:11-17 ~ The dead man sat up and began to talk

Luke 7:11-17

Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain.

And his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still.

 He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”

The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 

This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

"That is - impossible". If you heard that story from a person at work, if you were in a hurry and they were telling you, you might be very, very frank.

And your day progresses busily - yet the co-worker comes back and says,"Look here is Stan and he saw this too. With his own eyes." Stan glowingly tells the same impossible story.  Well, they have never, ever told you a story like this, but they look too gleeful. Could be a scam. (Hey, Stan, Got him!) You are now busy and uncertain and annoyed, " Ok, wow, thanks - "you reply and you say, "I am very, very busy."

And the deadline is met, but you missed.............

Actually, in Oklahoma a teen-age boy was brain dead from a head on collision.  the machines and the doctors and the family knew to be dead for hours - he had checked he was an organ donor. The medical people came in with the tools - to break his skin - he had Rigor mortis. And the tech screamed because this teenager clamped her hand and said, "No." He had just his mom there? No, his extended family. The whole small town in Oklahoma prayed for this teen - who recovered. Every Church in town asked for prayer.

Man makes "miraculous" recovery from brain death after ...
www.catholicnewsagency.com › News › US
Catholic News Agency
Mar 27, 2008 - ... Liturgical Calendar · Liturgy · Mary · Politics · Pope Francis · Prayers ... Oklahoma authorities were informed of his death, while friends and family were ... Forty-eight days after being declared dead, Dunlap returned home, where Dan Coffin presented him with the pocketknife that proved he was still alive.

And the woman in New Jersey who had cancer and died. She was turning black with Rigor mortis when she was wheeled into the hospital morgue. Fortunately a heart attack had finished her off. You can't find her on Google now either. Or her oncologist. But she was perfectly well even after the nurse described how her whole body turned black and stiff as her skin died and she held on. And she dreamed Jesus said, "I will heal you." And He did. She was perfect. Way, way, way back in 2010.

Mom prays, dead son comes back to life - USA Today
www.usatoday.com/story/news/...prays-son.../22883985/

USA Today
Feb 4, 2015 - A Missouri mother is saying the power of prayer brought her son back to life after he was dead for 45 minutes. But, the teen didn't just survive, his brain is normal ...

Meet 'Lazarus tot' whose heart stopped for 1 hour - Today.com
www.today.com/.../meet-lazarus-tot-whose-heart-stopped-hour/
Sep 17, 2010 - Gore Otteson, 2, was underwater for 25 minutes, but he's OK today.

Wadena, Minnesota in July 2009. Every wall remaining from an F4 Tornado- had a Cross on the wall.

What if you had been alive and attended the real and factual funeral of that widow and her only living son? And you spoke of this your entire life - telling people Jesus Christ the Lord didn't even touch that living young man or use His Hands - He merely touched the bier from afar and spoke - to make Life.

And all your life you've rejoiced Jesus Christ has defeated death.

Suddenly

Life can change. Multitudes came to mourn Jesus as He died. Multitudes came to say we Know Jesus Lives. And people will say in their lives exactly as Martha did to Jesus - "Where were You when we needed You?" The reply is always the same through the millenniums. Jesus is on God's Plan. He has not wavered.

We cry out like the Psalms David and Solomon chose and Asaph wrote:

Psalm 74
1 O God, why have you rejected us forever?
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember the nation you purchased long ago,
the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—
Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins

These days do not surprise Jesus:

Luke 17:22
Then he said to his disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it."

I lost my daughter. My daughter had been my plan from about the time I realized I could have children of my own some day. This was utterly devastating to me. I have lost my dad - Daddy - twice. I have lost people when the wild winds of life - rage and howl.

The choice - we can surely be like Job's wife - cuss God and die.

Or we can be honest, struggle through the times far from good and read Elijah. Who knew what it was to stand up, take a stand and feel as if you'd like to die later. And Elijah discovered the still voice of God compels us to love ourselves, to Hope in God and struggle to fight the Good Fight to the Gates of Heaven. Elijah ended well.

David fought the good fight and ended well. Nathan helped.

Solomon, it's rather unknown, spent many years in the high places begging God to do things Solomon's way and eventually Solomon rediscovered God has a Plan and Solomon ended well.

Hezekiah fought the good fight - and ended well.

Jeremiah fought the good fight - and ended well.

John fought the good fight and - ended well.

Titus fought the good fight - and ended well.

Luke fought the good fight and ended well.

Mark fought the good fight and ended well. Abraham,.. Isaac... Jacob... JESUS!

Give us this day.


Mark 12:27
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 



 

Isaiah was a visitor of Almight Father God's Eternal Kingdom unto His Throne. Isaiah 49 tells us there are Highways, Hills and Nations. God tells us in Revelation of His Love of Color. Nations and Nations in Heaven.

The Creator of Heaven and Earth are the Same. The Earth displays His Majesty in New Zealand and across China

Not all roads in Heaven need gravity

Father God, in Your Scriptures and in Your Power every one of us will bow at the Name of Jesus.
Jesus, You appeared in the Power of the Grace of God offering Salvation to us all. In every Nation. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Jesus tells us Your eternal Kingdom is Paradise. And this is Your free gift to us.

Father, You want all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Faith calls us to Trust in You.

You have planned eternal life, we will know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

We have a hope in You, there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. Father God will render to each one of us according to patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, You will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given higher than Jesus.

We pray that as we face eternity we have told with great effect the name of Jesus - that our families in Heaven not only include our blood families - but include the nobility - the true nobility is those who look to Father God knowing He Loves us and will be for us in Jesus Christ. For all nations and may God bless the peaceful and the Nations who call upon Him. For healing and for guidance we ask in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Judges 14 ~ What is stronger than a lion?

Judges 14

Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. ² Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.” ³ But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”
 

⁴ His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.

⁵ Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. ⁶ Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. ⁷ Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson's eyes.

⁸ After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. ⁹ He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion.

¹⁰ His father went down to the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, for so the young men used to do. ¹¹ As soon as the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. ¹² And Samson said to them, “Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes, ¹³ but if you cannot tell me what it is, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.” And they said to him, “Put your riddle, that we may hear it.” ¹⁴ And he said to them,

“Out of the eater came something to eat.
Out of the strong came something sweet.”

And in three days they could not solve the riddle.

¹⁵ On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, “Entice your husband to tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?” ¹⁶  

And Samson's wife wept over him and said, “You only hate me; you do not love me. You have put a riddle to my people, and you have not told me what it is.” And he said to her, “Behold, I have not told my father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?”  

¹⁷ She wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted, and on the seventh day he told her, because she pressed him hard. Then she told the riddle to her people. ¹⁸ And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down,

“What is sweeter than honey?
What is stronger than a lion?”

And he said to them,

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,
you would not have found out my riddle.”

¹⁹ And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father's house.  

²⁰ And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.

I wrote a Bible Study.Let's look at the time of Judges, it helps to establish the framework.

Judges 17:6
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

We always ask, was Jesus a Republican, a Socialist, what form of government would Jesus prefer? When God established Israel, He preferred self-government. Unfortunately, man being man turns self-government into the cafeteria plan. Which means then we need a government. And then people disagree and there is war and social upheaval, unions, insurance, house payments.... not the Garden of Eden.

Why didn't Samson's parents spank him when he was a child? From God's perspective - maybe they did. Or maybe they treated him like God's own wonder child. The point that is repulsive in Samson and explains a lot of why the world still works like this - everyone partially believes they are right. 

They just are doing their level best. And compared to God and His Holiness - it falls far short. What happened next and always happens? God's plan. When we've left our eyes open for so long and we've seen the evil and the good - what happens? God's plan. The evil produce God's plan, the good produce God's plan. It's just than when the pendulum swings to the selfish, sinful, evil - what ever word you use for wrong - portion of the pendulum - everything becomes confusing and unclear.

So - what does Samson mean for us today. We are not God. We do our best to be His Child, His Servant. In each of our large actions, our small actions we do what we can. When we fall short, we pray for grace. When the people around us are doing - get her for me, tearing animals to pieces, jumping in the cage with lioness named Delilah, living unclean habits they aren't aware of, providing thirty companions to be with him, bribing/enticing others, hate for love, love for hate, giving riddles that cannot be solved - what can we do???

Jump out of the way!! If you saw someone jumping off of cliff - would you Do it? NO!

And here is another good one - the little frog sat in the water so long - he didn't notice the warm water was heating up, he was being boiled to become frog leg lunch. LOOK OUT!!

Colossians 1:3
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you

Psalm 141:5
Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.

Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

 

Father God, 

 Help us each day to see what You would have us do. Help us to help others in a humble manner. Help us to help ourselves, loving ourselves as You would have us to, in diligence and hope. 

We were Not built to be here forever. Help us to remember the goal - to grow and to go Home. To You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Let us rest in You and Hope in You. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 25 ~ Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdQOE8QqWOY&feature=youtu.be

Matthew 25

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps [torches] and went to meet the bridegroom [and the bride]. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.



14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants [bondservants] and entrusted to them his property.

 15 To one he gave five talents [talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer], to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 

22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

 

 Color is a gift of God's Creation and we all enjoy something like this.

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory,

and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 

32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 

37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 

40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers [brothers and sisters], you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Joel and Rhonda Jurasinski are friends of ours from Church and our Pastorate.

If you have ever wondered about the phrase

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Joel is tall to the Filipinos and those children are going to remember them. God calls us to carry His Banner and what is easier to someone tall?

Psalm 20:5
May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.


Being a Missionary is hard work. The first success in Missions was St. Patrick - driving out the religion of the Druids who required people to be all the negatives of all the virtues. Patrick voluntarily took on the Island of Ireland because he knew his audience.

What Rhonda and Joel have going for them is what Paul and Peter and Timothy and Luke and Mark and Silvanus and Titus have - The Holy Spirit and a great love in their souls making where ever they live a hearth for Jesus Christ.

Hope is present in the Country.
The Philippines is rich in opportunities. Many Missionaries actually go to take seminars on re-energizing and reawakening God's Call. A place where the cities host people wanting to know more about the Flame the Philippines keeps burning for Jesus Christ.

And in the country - the home-sites are small and look like what is built on top of shipping pallets. Each yard is well cared for. Young women look after children who have taken a wheeled back pack and have started using this as a cart pulling friends.

Art and Healing
At first, it looks like an intimate gathering of friends at one of the function rooms of the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas, but upon closer inspection, this group is more than it meets the eye. Tonight is a fellowship of Artists in Touch, a gathering of Christian artists in performance arts.

Campus Crusades brings Americans in to help the local Filipinos. This is a huge destination from a very worthy group.

And in the country - the home-sites are small and look like what is built on top of shipping pallets. Each yard is well cared for. Young women look after children who have taken a wheeled back pack and have started using this as a cart pulling friends.

All areas of this nation are being traveled for Jesus - Climbing for Christ - Taking the Gospel to mountainous areas of the world where other missionaries cannot or will not go.




Rhonda has already experienced this - providing medical care for an infected bite - that might have been mortal for the young mother. $15 provides life saving medicine thanks to Rhonda and Joel - this is only their first week here.

Father God we ask you to bless Rhonda and Joel,


They want to bring Jesus, Life and Light of all mankind.
We know in this new time, the Light of Christ is shining as all is new and clouded.

The Light of Jesus will Shine Forth.  Always!
And Angels bless and minister to you in your beginning ministry and always!

We pray for them and their genuine and true witness testifying concerning the Light of Christ Jesus. That all who hear might believe. The Wind of the Holy Spirit making new paths become certainty of Joy, Love, Peace and Happy Memories.

Jesus, You are the Glory of all. You are Grace and Truth. And we ask Your blessing of Grace upon Grace especially as Rhonda and Joel get situated.

Glory to God, Father of All, He hears our prayers from one side of the Globe to the Other!

Bless all their Letter Writing Campaigns for supplies and donations with Cheerful Givers!

We are With Rhonda and Joel ~ in the Holy Spirit! 
With the Lord Jesus
and Father God Almighty!

 Amen and Amen.



Answering one video with His Joy and a Song in our Hearts!!! The Great Adventure!

Let Joy Fill Your Hearts! 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 118 ~ This is the Gate of the Lord

East Gate or called Beautiful Gate, today called Gate of Mercy


East Gate

Psalm 118

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they went out like a fire among thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation
are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
16 the right hand of the Lord exalts,
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we pray, O Lord!
O Lord, we pray, give us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
up to the horns of the altar!

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Photo of the Western Tunnel towards the Temple Mount

Gates.

If you could pick an adventure. Charles Warren  was the first to go underground to find the archaeology and walk among and touch and breathe and see with his eyes the Temple. The stones had been thrown down nad he was the first to see millenniums of what was left of God's Temple Jesus said would fall. He was the one to research Jack the Ripper and was called and chosen to dig all around the Temple Mount.

No one has found the original East Gate, the Gate called Beautiful Gate. Today, built in 6th century A.D, is called Gate of Mercy. Why is the original gate missing or not found? A really good reason would be:


Ezekiel 44:1-3
Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east. And it was shut. 2 And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore it shall remain shut. 3 Only the prince may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord. He shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.

Are gates important? 182 times in the Bible.




A city gatekeeper - a prominent citizen, judging the trustworthiness of the traveler and a representative to speak wisely.

Mali, Africa where Christians have been shot at and killed while screaming "Allah is God" - very univited to return.

In both the Old and New Testament a lot of towns were built to keep out invaders - the unrighteous. So many gates because the people were unsure. Only in the days of St. Paul's Basilica were they beginning to come out of the fortified cities. The Church open for evening prayer led to a greater trust. The full name of St. Paul's Basilica is St. Paul's Basilica Outside the Walls.

 

Matthew 13

44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
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What shall we say of  the Pearly Gate?  Revelation 21 tells us Heaven has 12 gates named after the Tribes of Israel. And each gate is one large pearl.  And what is like that one huge Pearl??? Jesus had a regular rock rolled from His Tomb. A Father - Like God the Almighty - remembers what His Son has Given.


Because of Jesus.
The Grace and Grace of Jesus:

Revelation 21:25-27
On no day will its gates ever be shut


God does not need Gates. His Gates are open.




Father God,
Open our hearts to being Your's.

Challenge, Call and Charge us to follow the specific plan of being on Your Path. We need Your Righteousness to call up our faith.

We give You, Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit great Thanks for Your gifts. Help us to be part of Your's Son's Body with effectiveness. We want and ask You to be firstborn among those of Salvation.

We ask for You to bless and keep us, shine Your Face upon us, be gracious to us, lift up Your countenance upon us, bless us with Peace, cover us in the Name of Jesus. We ask for Your blessings of predestination to be firstborn. Thank You for Your calling. For Your Justification and for the Glorification of Jesus each day and for eternity.

Help us to be in gratitude for our blessings, because You are for us.

The Lord, The Lord, The Marvelous Lord Jesus.

Father God, when we ask Jesus the Christ, Your only Son, to live in us and be part of us. When we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth," You are Lord"; You stretch out Your arms again for us. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †