Book of Galatians, Chapter 2

 Chapter 2

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Paul Opposes Peter

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Justified by Faith

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

All Things Are Temporal 5

 Your life on earth

We will wrap up our current series, “All Things Are Temporal," today with this.

Your life on earth? Temporal

It is shorter than you might expect. This will be our topic of discussion today. Let us pray.

"Father, Lord God, we come before You today to give You praise, glory, and thanksgiving for all things. We wish to enter into Your Word today not just to read it, but also to absorb it. We pray that it nourishes our spirit as the food You bless us with nourishes our bodies. Please, Father, grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive Your truth and revelation. In Yeshua's name, amen."

Our life is so very short here on earth. The Word declares it is but a vapor, a mist—something that is here one second and gone the next. You may think you have a long time. Let's say you are blessed with a long life here on earth—75 years. Now, picture 100 years. In that time, you were born, raised, became an adult, married, and had kids; they had kids. And you have now been gone for 25 years.

Let's do some math. How about 500 years? Do you know how old America is? It is 248 years old. That equates to approximately 3.31 people whose lives would total 75 years each. Currently, 341,138,802 people are living in America. According to world population statistics, there is one birth every 9 seconds and one death every 10 seconds.

Think about this. We die. Our loved ones mourn us. In a year or so, they feel better. In 5 years, “Wow, I can’t believe it’s been 5 years. 20 years pass, and we may end up being pictures on someone's wall that no one remembers. In 50, we are all but forgotten.

The Word declares that to God, who is outside of time, 1000 years are as a day.

“For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” Psalm 90:4

We read this.

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9

If we could, just for the sake of this illustration, think of God in human terms. God wakes up in His morning. Has a coffee, you are born, live your life, your kids are born, live their lives, and then God has lunch. Most likely, before God has a 3 pm snack, you are all but forgotten by nearly all other humans. Dinner? Your grandkids are all but forgotten. In the span of one of God’s days, looking at it in this sense, there were approximately 13.3333 75-year generations and billions of people born and died, and life goes on.

“For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Death is not something to be feared. Especially not for children of the Most High. Life on Earth is like everything else on Earth. Life on Earth is temporary. It lasts but a time, and then it is on to the next stage of existence. Death is as natural as birth. It is as natural as life itself. It will come for all living things. Read that one part again. “A time to be born, and a time to die.” In other words, death will come. There is an appointed time. We all must face our immortality in this temporal world. I truly believe that we fear this because of uncertainty. We fear what comes next. However, we do not have to. Why? Yeshua, or as translated, Jesus, tells us what comes next. Turn to John chapter 5, starting at verse 24

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.”

Say “whoever.” Say it again. “Whoever.” Who? ANYONE. EVERYONE. “Whoever.” What? “hears my word.” Whose word? Yeshua. Hears and believes. Has Faith in Christ, “has eternal life.” It is not exclusive. It is inclusive and open to all.

“He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life. "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man.”

Again, Yeshua, or Jesus, is saying that those who have faith in Him, there is no other way, will live forever in peace and love with God Himself. However?

“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” John 5:24-29

Again, we see the word “All.” All will hear. All will come out. Some will go to a resurrected life of love and peace, and those who reject God and His Truth will also be resurrected into eternal life. However, those who reject God and His truth will be resurrected into judgment.

Now I want you to close your eyes, clear your mind, and try to imagine, if you can, eternity. No end. Forever. Thousands of billions of years, and that would not even scratch the surface of time. Yes, EVERYONE will kneel before God.

“But I don’t believe.” Doesn’t matter. “I reject your God.” Doesn’t matter. “I believe in another god.” Doesn’t matter. “I am my god and I refuse to accept your Jesus or Yeshua, or whatever you want to call Him.” Doesn’t matter. Look here. Philippians 2:9-11

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

It does not matter in the least whether you accept Him or not. You will bow before Him. He will say one of two things. Turn to Matthew 25, starting at verse 31

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations,”

Wait. Say it again. “All nations.” Everyone.

“and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.”

It does not matter, in the slightest little bit, if you want to believe this or not. This will happen. We will all be on one or the other side of our Lord and Saviour, and He will say?

“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.”

This is the resurrection into life. However, continue reading. We are going to drop down to verse 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.”

As a side note, notice the way this is phrased: "Eternal fire prepared for... who? The devil and his angels." Hell was never intended for humanity. A loving God does not send anyone to Hell; rather, we end up there because of our own choices. We have the option to accept or reject Yeshua, or Jesus, as God's plan for salvation. Therefore, God has no choice but to honor our decisions. Verse 46.

“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Jesus explains that we will all receive exactly what we deserve.

“For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.“ Matthew 16:27

There are no excuses, and nothing will save you at that time. It is then too late. Look how he tells those on the left why.

“For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 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.' 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?' 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.'” Matthew 25:42-45

People will also say, “You have to let us in. We are religious. We have done so many good works.” One of the scariest passages in the Bible. To me, anyway. Look here.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'” Matthew 7:21-23

Now I know. This does sound pretty rough. It should be scary to you if you are one of these “Christians in Name Only.” I said a prayer a while back, and I know God, but I’m living my own life. But God has to let me in, right? Once saved, always save, right? No. Jesus also just got done talking about fruit. In another passage, Jesus said this.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.“ Matthew 7:15-20

Do not be misled, Yeshua is not saying you must work your way to heaven. He is saying if someone comes to you in His name, look for the fruit. If they produce no fruit or bad fruit, then they are not “Good Trees” or true children of God.

If you look at your life and see no growth in faith or wisdom in God and His Word, nor do you see any fruit being produced, or worse yet, you look just like the world, then I would seriously suggest you pause and think about it, pray about it, be honest with yourself, and make whatever change you need to make.

Take a moment to reflect on this seriously. How much time do you truly have here on Earth? How do you want to spend that time? Do you want to be stuck in a routine where all you do is work and pay bills? Are you willing to work your entire life just to save for retirement, only to enjoy perhaps five to ten years of life after you stop working?

I submit to you, there is a far better way. Store up your treasures in Heaven and serve our Father. Get to know your Abba Father and His plan and purpose for you and your life. Just like everything else here on earth, your time here is temporal. Don’t waste it.

Are you a child of God? Does His Law apply to you? Have you been adopted? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be, say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us pray.

"Oh, heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yeshua's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Yeshua, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost and the peace of our Lord Yeshua be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

Book of Galatians, Chapter 1

 Chapter 1 

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul Called by God

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Happy Resurrection Day 2025

 Happy Easter 2025

Happy Easter! First? Is there anything wrong with Easter Egg Hunts? Nope. Is there anything wrong with Easter Bunnies and Easter Baskets for the little ones? Again, nope. There is nothing wrong with these fun family traditions, as long as, with all this, you instill the truth of what Easter is actually all about. We celebrate Easter to celebrate Yeshua, or Jesus, as translated, coming to earth, and although He could have called down angels to wipe out those who were trying to kill Him, He allowed them to kill Him. Not just kill Him, but torture and humiliate and nail Him to a cross. He allowed this, well, look here what He told Peter in the garden when they came to take Him. 

"Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. All who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” Matthew 26:52-56

Which scriptures? Isaiah 53 is a good one to start.

"Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of the dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our grief
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds, we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—everyone—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers are silent,
so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors."

Why? Why would God lay down His Godhood, come to earth, live as one of us, and allow His creation to do all we did to Him?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

And

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:1-4, 10-14

Yeshua came into the world, healed the sick, raised the dead, and gave sight to the blind. Then, He fulfilled His main purpose of coming. He was killed for our Sins. He went to the cross to pay the price for all sin and shed His blood for us all. He did so for YOU.

If you allow His blood to be your blood, His payment for all sin to be your payment for your sin, and His death to be your death, you will have everlasting peace and happiness with Him. Easter is the day we have set aside to remember what happened.

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

That very day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24

This is what Easter is all about. The greatest gift you will ever receive. The gift of forgiveness and salvation. The gift of eternal life. He did all these things and suffered all things so that you can enter Heaven. So that you will not die, but have everlasting life. He paid the ultimate price so you do not have to. The greatest and final sacrifice, ever.

Do you know Jesus? The real Yeshua? Say this prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us pray.

"Oh, heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yeshua's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent of my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost and the peace of our Lord Yeshua be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

Book of Galatians Introduction

 Introduction

Hello, everyone! Welcome today. If you have been with us for the past 31 weeks, you've just completed a thorough study of the Book of 1 Samuel. Congratulations! What’s next? We will now return to the New Testament to explore a shorter, yet equally important, study of the Book of Galatians.

The Book of Galatians is a powerful letter written by the Apostle Paul to several early Christian churches in the region of Galatia. Its central theme focuses on the doctrine of justification by faith in Yeshua, or Jesus, as translated, The Christ, rather than by adhering to the works of the Mosaic Law. Here’s a breakdown of its key aspects.

Justification by Faith:

Paul strongly emphasizes that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not through following the Jewish Law.

He claims that trying to achieve salvation through the law undermines God's grace and the completeness of Christ's sacrifice.

Defense of Paul's Apostleship:

Paul defends his authority as an apostle, asserting that he received his gospel directly from Jesus Christ.

He addresses challenges to his authority from those who were trying to lead the Galatian Christians astray.

Freedom in Christ:

Paul highlights the freedom that Christians have in Christ, liberating them from the bondage of legalism.

This freedom is not a license for sinful behavior, but an opportunity to live by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Role of the Law:

Paul explains the purpose of the Mosaic Law, stating that it served as a "guardian" to lead people to Christ.

He clarifies that the Law was not intended to be a means of salvation, but rather a way to reveal sin and point to the need for a Savior.

Living by the Spirit:

Paul contrasts living by the flesh with living by the Spirit, emphasizing the importance of yielding to the Holy Spirit's guidance.

He describes the "fruit of the Spirit" (love, joy, peace, etc.) as evidence of a life transformed by God's grace.

In chapters 1-2, Paul defends his apostleship by establishing his authority and explaining how he received the gospel.

In chapters 3-4, Paul teaches justification by faith: Paul presents his theological arguments, emphasizing that salvation is through faith in Christ, not by works of the law.

In chapters 5-6, Paul instructs the Galatians on how to live out their freedom in Christ, emphasizing the importance of love and the fruit of the Spirit.

Historical Context:

The Galatian churches were under pressure from "Judaizers," who insisted that Gentile Christians must be circumcised and adhere to the Mosaic Law. In response, Paul wrote this letter to challenge their teachings and reaffirm the true gospel. Galatians is a passionate defense of the gospel of grace, emphasizing that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ.

Join us next week, and we will start our chapter-by-chapter study of the Book of Galatians. Just like those churches in Galatia, we will do good to learn what Paul says and follow what has become a powerful book in the New Testament.

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost and the peace of our Lord Yeshua be with you all. May God bless you and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

All Things are Temporal, 4

 Time

Time. Yes, time is incredibly precious. It's often taken for granted, and most of the time, we don't even think about it. I want you to close your eyes. Clear your mind. Breathe. Count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Now, open your eyes. That moment in time is gone. Those 5 seconds have come and gone and will never be repeated. Ever. They are gone for good. The past. History. Soon to be forgotten.

Now, picture 75 years. Your life. Those 5 seconds are just a tiny fraction — like 5 seconds out of one minute, or one hour, day, week, month, or year of those 75 years. You probably won’t even miss it. Those 5 seconds. But should you?

The truth is that we go through our days at the speed of life. We get caught up in routines and habits, becoming slaves to our bills and jobs. As we transition from the carefree enjoyment of childhood to the responsibilities of adulthood, we often find ourselves merely existing rather than truly living. Looking back, the sun shone brighter and the grass was greener when we inhabited a world filled with wonder and possibilities.

There are 24 hours in a day, and most people work between 8 and 10 hours daily. Typically, they work five days a week. But what happens to the rest of that time? You might feel like you don’t have enough time to pray, read the Bible, or even attend church more than just the Sunday morning service. On Friday nights, you likely want to relax and enjoy time with friends after a long workweek. On Wednesdays, you may feel too tired to go to church to study the Bible.

"The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Isaiah 40:7-8

Remember those 5 seconds? Somewhere around the world, someone was praying. Someone was crying. Someone was laughing. Someone was being born, and someone was dying.

Let us pray. "Oh Heavenly Father, we give you all the praise and glory for all of your beautiful creation. That includes us. We thank you, Father, for our very lives, yet rather, for life everlasting. We thank you for adopting us into your family and giving us the ability to learn your will and ways for us and our lives. As we enter into this topic of time, we pray You guide us, teach us, and show us what You want us to see and learn. We ask and pray in your holy name, amen." 

I previously used Sally as an example. Some people find her strange. Why is that? She attends church every time the doors are open and stands outside Planned Parenthood. Do you know what she does on Friday nights? She goes to the inner city—yeah, the "downtown" area—and hands out sandwiches to the homeless. I've even heard that she talks to young girls in the neighborhood, trying to teach them how to be ladies or something similar. So, why do some people think she's so strange?

Why aren't more of us like Sally? What you might not know about her is that she has chosen to tithe her time as well as her finances. What does that mean? It means she decided that if God requires only ten percent of her money, then why shouldn't we also devote ten percent of our time? Since there are 24 hours in a day, she has decided to give 2 hours and 40 minutes of her time to God each day. I know that might seem like a lot.

She prays for part of that time. She reads the Word for part of that time. She goes out and does her Father's work part of the time. I know, it seems like a lot. What about that little time-sucking device in your hand? Not only social media, but how about your Fitbit app? That or those games you play? How much screen time do you use daily? How long is that show on TV? How long is your lunch hour at work? What time do you wake up in the morning? Hobbies? Gym? Where do you invest your time?

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” James 4:13-17

Our lives are incredibly short here on Earth. The Word declares it’s just a vapor, a mist—something that’s here one minute and gone the next. You might think you have a long time. Let's say you’re blessed with a long life here of 75 years or more. Now, picture 100 years. During that time, you were born, raised, became an adult, married, and had kids; they had kids, and now you have been gone for 25 years.

What about 500 years? Do you know how old America is? 248 years old. That is 3.3066 people’s lives that lived to 75. Right now, 341,138,802 people are living. According to world population stats, one birth every 9 seconds. One death every 10 seconds.

In the Apocrypha Book, the Wisdom of Solomon, we read this.

“For we are born at all adventure: and we shall be hereafter as though we had never been: for the breath in our nostrils is as smoke, and a little spark in the moving of our heart: Which being extinguished, our body shall be turned into ashes, and our spirit shall vanish as the soft air, And our name shall be forgotten in time, and no man shall have our works in remembrance, and our life shall pass away as the trace of a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, that is driven away with the beams of the sun, and overcome with the heat thereof. For our time is a very shadow that passeth away; and after our end, there is no returning: for it is fast sealed, so that no man cometh again.”

I know some of you may have a problem with using this supposed passage from King Solomon. However, keep in mind that Martin Luther said, "Apocrypha—that is, books which are not regarded as equal to the holy Scriptures, and yet are profitable and good to read" (King James Version Defended, page 98).

Think about this. We die. Our loved ones mourn us. In a year or so, they feel better. In 5 years, “Wow, I can’t believe it’s been 5 years. 20, we may be pictures on someone's wall that no one remembers. In 50, we are all but forgotten.

The Word declares that to God, who is outside of time, 1000 years are as a day.

“For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” Psalm 90:4

We read this.

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9

If we could, just for the sake of this illustration, think of God in human terms. God wakes up. He has a coffee, you are born, live your life, your kids are born, live their lives, and then God has lunch. Most likely, before God has a 3 pm snack, you are all but forgotten by nearly all other humans. Dinner? Your grandkids are all but forgotten. In the span of one of God’s days, looking at it in this sense, there were approximately 13.3333 75-year generations and billions of people born and died, and life goes on.

Now I want you to close your eyes, clear your mind, and try to imagine, if you can, eternity. No end. Forever. Thousands of billions of years, and that would not even scratch the surface of time.

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”

This will happen. This time is coming. Some people do not like to believe it, but it is reality.

“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!”

Nothing will survive this. Nothing.

“But according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:10-13

What is it that you may be wasting your time on? What are you working for? What are you doing with this precious commodity that God has granted to you?

I want you to think about this seriously. What would you do today if you knew it was your last day on earth? Would you be concerned about who posted what on social media? Would you worry about who gets voted off your show? Would it be worth it to spend your last day making another dollar? How would you change what you do and how you live? Would you?

I'm not trying to be confrontational. I'm genuinely asking. If you add up the hours in a week, you get 168 hours. That's roughly 16.8 hours per week if you're considering ten percent of that time. Is giving God that time too much to ask? Do you find yourself rushing through your prayers, spending just a minute praying but an hour on your phone? There are even apps available that can track your screen time. Do you take time to read the Bible?

I'm not saying you must give God ten percent of your time every day. I'm simply asking, why not? I suggest aiming for a good goal, like spending a minimum of 15 minutes in prayer each day, another 15 to 30 minutes in the Word, and perhaps 15 more minutes doing something kind for others. Let’s aim to start with one hour a day and build from there.

One hour is not a long time. If you read more than one chapter in the Bible, you could easily meet that reading goal. Take time to talk to God about life itself. Thank Him for your life, from birth to everlasting life, and all the moments in between. Share your hopes and dreams with Him. Ask Him what He wants you to do about various situations. If you run out of things to say, try this: remain quiet. Listen. Seriously listen. God might be trying to tell you something.

Why does Sally look so strange? Why will you start looking strange to others? You little weirdo. It is simple. It is because they can't see you. They can't see a child of God, serving God, and storing up treasures in heaven. It doesn't make any sense to them. It makes no sense to those who are not of God, or to those who are looking at you in a worldly sense.

"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:7-8

Be strange. Reduce your time in the world, and increase your time with God. Today may not be your last day on this earth, but then again? You never know. Yeshua, or Jesus as translated, tells us to occupy until He returns. But He stresses the importance of doing so while watching for Him. One last one for today.

"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table, and he will come and serve them he comes in the second watch, or the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants but know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12:35-40

Invest your time wisely. Spend time with God. If this is an area you need to work on, then do so. Get up a little earlier. Stay up a little later. Set aside at least one hour a day to start training yourself to invest your time wisely. Spend more time in prayer, reading the Word, and doing your Father's business.

Is He your Father? Are you His child? Have you been adopted? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be, say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us pray.

"Oh, heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yeshua's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent of my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Yeshua, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost and the peace of our Lord Yeshua be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

Book of 1 Samuel, Chapter 31

 Chapter 31

The Death of Saul

1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. 7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted for seven days.

All Things are Temporal 3

 Your stuff - Materialism 

Hello. Welcome to today's discussion. We are discussing the fact that all things are temporal—yes, ALL things minus one: God. We are discussing this passage by Yeshua.

"Jesus left the temple and went away when his disciples came to point out the temple buildings to him. But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." Matthew 24:1-2

And this one by Paul.

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" Philippians 3:8

Let us pray. 

"Heavenly Father, LORD God. We come before you today and give you all the praise and glory we can. We thank you for all your grace and blessings you bestow on us daily, and we thank you for allowing us to be your children. We ask you for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive and understand your Word and Your Will today. In Yeshua's name, amen."

I know some of you may be thinking: how can Paul make a statement like this? It is normal and even encouraged to “keep up with the Joneses,” isn't it? Come on, he who dies with the most toys wins, right? Well?

“And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

And we read this in the Word.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

Yeshua even instructed us not to worry about working solely to meet our needs.

“And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” Luke 12:22-23

Why should we not worry about them?

“And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.” Luke 12:22-23

This is why Yeshua tells us to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” He tells us this.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Did you know that we should not be working to earn our way into Heaven? Instead, we should be motivated to do good works because we are going to Heaven, thanks to God's salvation. By doing so, we "lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven," knowing we have a reward waiting for us.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:12

We have a treasure waiting for us. Some will be larger than others. Some will receive more than others. Some, sadly, will receive judgment. Why?

“For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” Matthew 16:27

Once again, let me clarify my point. We do not work to be saved, nor do we work merely for the treasures in Heaven. Our motivation for serving must come from the fact that we are already saved and that God loves us deeply. Even though we were sinners living in our sins, He came and died for us so that we might have life. What could be more important than serving Him?

As for all this stuff that surrounds us daily? It will one day belong to someone else. Of itself will simply cease to exist.

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” 1 Timothy 6:7-10

You cannot say. “Yes. I'm saved. But I do not have time to share the gospel. Gotta make that money.” Or things like, “I wish I had more time to serve God. But you know, I gotta pay the electric bill.” Did you not know that if you are working to serve God and working for the kingdom, then you are worthy of compensation? Look here. Turn to 1 Timothy 5:18

“For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

When Yeshua sent out the Disciples, He told them to take nothing. And He said this.

“No bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.” Matthew 10:10

What does He mean? He means He will provide. God will provide. Why? “Your Father knows that you need them,” and “The laborer deserves his wages.” God will never ask you to do something that does not give you the necessary tools. All you have to do is trust in Him.

If he tells you to quit your job and join a church full-time, quit. If God tells you to move, move. Evangelize. Then go do that. To be a Missionary, go do that. Life is far more than working 9-5, or more like 24-7 nowadays, and paying bills on Friday.

Jesus tells us this. He said He wants us to have an abundant life. Turn to John 10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Again, do not be misled. I am most definitely NOT talking about the “Prosperity Gospel.” That is a lie straight from the evil one himself. I’m talking about God, choosing you out of the world, having a plan and a purpose for you and your life, and supplying your needs along the way.

God is not an ATM. He is not a lottery ticket. He is not a get-rich-quick scheme. He is God. He is your Father in Heaven. He loves you. He created you for a purpose. He will without a doubt, supply your needs. Remember, it was Jesus or Yeshua who called the rich man a fool.

“And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'” Luke 12:16-20

That, a car you love so much? Rubbish
That house, or houses, you like to brag about? Rubbish.
That money hidden where you hid it? Rubbish
Your clothes? Rubbish

Everything you have or ever will have, while here on this earth? Rubbish.

Every secular goal is bound to death and decay. Think about that. I will say it again. Every secular goal is bound to death and decay. What is today is rubbish tomorrow. Why worry a lot about things that do not matter in the long run?

Enjoy the nice things you have, and if you are blessed with something you desire, take pleasure in it. However, always remember not to place anything above God or what He is calling you to do. Seek the Kingdom first; He will meet your needs and provide you with a life of abundance.

Are you His child? Are you sure? If not, say this prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be, say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us pray.

"Oh, heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yeshua's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent of my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Yeshua, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost and the peace of our Lord Yeshua be with you all. May God bless you and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

Book of 1 Samuel, Chapter 30

 Chapter 30

David's Wives Are Captured

1 Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2 and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one but carried them off and went their way. 3 And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5 David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” 9 So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.

11 They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. And they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink, 12 and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. 13 And David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. 14 We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.” 15 And David said to him, “Will you take me down to this band?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band.”

David Defeats the Amalekites

16 And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17 And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. 18 David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoiled or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. 20 David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David's spoil.”

21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” 23 But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. 24 Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” 25 And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord.” 27 It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, 28 in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, 29 in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, 30 in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach, 31 in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.