Believer, imagine the thoughts that ran through the minds of Christ’s disciples, when He asked, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” (Jn. 6:67). Jesus had just spoken of Himself as the bread of life, saying that His body was true bread and His blood true drink, and the Jews, taking Him literally, were dumbfounded. They could not comprehend how they could possibly eat Jesus flesh and drink His blood. Their eyes were not able to see, nor were there ears able to hear, so they turned and left.

Thus, Jesus questioned His close associates, “do you want to leave too?” But they had eyes to see and ears to hear. Peter responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:68).

What a wonderful recognition. It is not, however, simply recognition, but revelation! Jesus explained, again (Jn. 6:65), to His apostles, when many walked away, that this was why He had told them earlier no one could come to Him unless the Father first draws him (Jn. 6:44). He even goes on to say that those who were with Him were with Him, not because they chose Him, but because He chose them (Jn. 6:70).

How humbling a situation! The author of life, the one who came to lay His down as a ransom (Mk. 10:45), chose and opened the eyes of those who walked with Him. Jesus affirms this when He tells Peter that flesh and blood did not reveal to Peter that Jesus is the Son of the living God, but that God Himself revealed it to Peter (Mt. 16:15-17).

No one can receive the gospel unless God first opens their heart. All others have been blinded to the truth of the gospel by the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), and such natural men can neither receive nor understand the things of God because they do not have His Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14).

Christian, be grateful and humbled that the God who created you did so with a vision to save you and adopt you into His family, calling you a child of God (Eph. 1:3-6). There is no room for boasting or arrogance; for we have nothing that we did not receive (1 Cor. 4:6-7).

Therefore, with humility of mind, remember the condition in which you were when Christ called you, and turn not away from the One who affected your salvation, but instead, preach Him boldly, that others He calls might also come and not be turned away.

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, October 23

"Will ye also go away?" John 6:67

Many have forsaken Christ, and have walked no more with Him; but what reason have YOU to make a change? Has there been any reason for it in the past? Has not Jesus proved Himself all-sufficient? He appeals to you this morning- "Have I been a wilderness unto you?" When your soul has simply trusted Jesus, have you ever been confounded? Have you not up till now found your Lord to be a compassionate and generous friend to you, and has not simple faith in Him given you all the peace your spirit could desire? Can you so much as dream of a better friend than He has been to you? Then change not the old and tried for new and false. As for the present, can that compel you to leave Christ? When we are hard beset with this world, or with the severer trials within the Church, we find it a most blessed thing to pillow our head upon the bosom of our Saviour. This is the joy we have today that we are saved in Him; and if this joy be satisfying, wherefore should we think of changing? Who barters gold for dross? We will not forswear the sun till we find a better light, nor leave our Lord until a brighter lover shall appear; and, since this can never be, we will hold Him with a grasp immortal, and bind His name as a seal upon our arm. As for the future, can you suggest anything which can arise that shall render it necessary for you to mutiny, or desert the old flag to serve under another captain? We think not. If life be long- He changes not. If we are poor, what better than to have Christ who can make us rich? When we are sick, what more do we want than Jesus to make our bed in our sickness? When we die, is it not written that "neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!" We say with Peter, "Lord, to whom shall we go?"

RED IS THE MEMORY OF FIRE

They told her that some colors
do not fade with weather or time—
they linger the way vows do,
binding the living to those who left shape behind.

They said the earth keeps a pulse
beneath its stones and treaties,
and whoever leans close enough
can still hear the old drums
under every courthouse and churchyard.

They taught that devotion
is not proven by loud witness,
but by tending a small flame
without letting the wind
talk you out of it.

So she keeps what was carried
through grief and burning—
not out of nostalgia,
but because a people survive
by refusing to forget
What once made them unkillable.

All The #Prophets Were Pointing To The Front Of The #Church… https://sonsoflibertymedia.com/all-the-prophets-were-pointing-to-the-front-of-the-church/

Matthew
Chapter 18

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Church of England Splits, Losing 40 Million Members as Conservative Majority Drives Major Division
https://slantedright2.blogspot.com/2025/10/church-of-england-splits-losing-40.html

SUMMARY: The Gateway Pundit picks up on a report that Conservative Church of England (Anglican Church) is rebelling against UK Church of England leadership for becoming Left-Wing and anti-Biblical. The implication is a Global Church split in which the Leftist Archbishop of Canterbury will apparently lose Church authority of Anglicans outside of the UK. Christians should read.
#ObeyGod #RejectSecularHumanism

Dr Erwin Lutzer preaching at The Shepherd's Church in Cary, NC
https://youtu.be/YoxSNWqkv5U?si=Q62cdmHiKDL3uhYh

Matthew
Chapter 16

1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Isaiah tells us that “we all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isa. 53:6). Isn’t that just like sheep? Left to themselves, they wander off, aimlessly, knowing not where they’re going nor how to return. They do not search for their shepherd, but a shepherd who cares for his flock will search for his sheep.

Such an apt description. We were lost, but there is a Good Shepherd to whom we belong. He knows His sheep, they hear His voice and follow (Jn. 10:27). How wonderful that our Lord would care so much for us!!!

Because, just like lost sheep, we did not search for Him; He came looking for us. And like the Good Shepherd He is, He gathered us to Himself, and we are comforted by His rod and His staff (Psalm. 23:4).

Oh believer, do not wander off. He laid down His life for you (Jn. 10:15-18). He gives us eternal life (Jn. 10:27). No one can snatch us from His hand (Jn. 10:28). Follow His voice and you will find pasture (Jn. 10:9).

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, October 17

"He shall gather the lambs with His arm." Isaiah 40:11

Our good Shepherd has in His flock a variety of experiences, some are strong in the Lord, and others are weak in faith, but He is impartial in His care for all His sheep, and the weakest lamb is as dear to Him as the most advanced of the flock. Lambs are wont to lag behind, prone to wander, and apt to grow weary, but from all the danger of these infirmities the Shepherd protects them with His arm of power. He finds new-born souls, like young lambs, ready to perish- He nourishes them till life becomes vigorous; He finds weak minds ready to faint and die- He consoles them and renews their strength. All the little ones He gathers, for it is not the will of our heavenly Father that one of them should perish. What a quick eye He must have to see them all! What a tender heart to care for them all! What a far- reaching and potent arm, to gather them all! In His lifetime on earth He was a great gatherer of the weaker sort, and now that He dwells in heaven, His loving heart yearns towards the meek and contrite, the timid and feeble, the fearful and fainting here below. How gently did He gather me to Himself, to His truth, to His blood, to His love, to His church! With what effectual grace did He compel me to come to Himself! Since my first conversion, how frequently has He restored me from my wanderings, and once again folded me within the circle of His everlasting arm! The best of all is, that He does it all Himself personally, not delegating the task of love, but condescending Himself to rescue and preserve His most unworthy servant. How shall I love Him enough or serve Him worthily? I would fain make His name great unto the ends of the earth, but what can my feebleness do for Him? Great Shepherd, add to Thy mercies this one other, a heart to love Thee more truly as I ought.

Video Sermon - Pastor Bryan Denlinger #kjv #kingjamesbible #bible #scriptures - #Israeli Targeting Of #Christians That Go To #Churches https://youtu.be/g2K0z46qZYc?si=qrs4VtqvEhuUNsfW

WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR A VETERAN TO GET WHAT THEY SHOULD BE GETTING....AND SO DAMN EASY FOR THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T GET THE MONEY.....

Leaders of a Georgia-based church with congregations in five states have been charged by federal prosecutors with swindling millions of dollars in veterans benefits from veterans
The indictment says House of Prayer received $5.2 million in rent payments between 2018 and 2020, with some of that money being used to pay for Denis’ two homes as well as church leaders’ credit card
https://ayetv.substack.com/p/leaders-of-a-georgia-based-church?publication_id=2540510&post_id=175222170&isFreemail=false&r=1maoyr&triedRedirect=true&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Christian, when Jesus was preparing to return to glory, He promised His disciples that He would not leave them alone, but that He would send them a comforter, a helper, who would teach them and bring to remembrance all things He had taught them (Jn. 14:26). And just as they were not without this Helper, neither are we. For, “do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you” (1 Cor. 3:16)?

We have within us the same comforter who indwelt those who walked daily with the Lord. And through Him, in all our afflictions, God comforts us that we may also comfort those who suffer similar affliction (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

He guides us into truth, speaking what He hears from the Father and the Son, and taking from that which is the Son’s and revealing it to us (Jn. 16:13-14). He even intercedes for us when we know not how to pray (Rom. 8:26).

Believer, do not fail to avail yourself of this gracious gift, our seal and surety of our salvation, the One who reveals to us the things freely given to us by God (1 Cor. 2:12). He is not only beside us, but within us, and in all our troubles, He is able to comfort us.

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, October 12

"The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost." John 14:26

This age is peculiarly the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, in which Jesus cheers us, not by His personal presence, as He shall do by-and-by, but by the indwelling and constant abiding of the Holy Ghost, who is evermore the Comforter of the church. It is His office to console the hearts of God's people. He convinces of sin; He illuminates and instructs; but still the main part of His work lies in making glad the hearts of the renewed, in confirming the weak, and lifting up all those that be bowed down. He does this by revealing Jesus to them. The Holy Spirit consoles, but Christ is the consolation. If we may use the figure, the Holy Spirit is the Physician, but Jesus is the medicine. He heals the wound, but it is by applying the holy ointment of Christ's name and grace. He takes not of His own things, but of the things of Christ. So if we give to the Holy Spirit the Greek name of Paraclete, as we sometimes do, then our heart confers on our blessed Lord Jesus the title of Paraclesis. If the one be the Comforter, the other is the Comfort. Now, with such rich provision for his need, why should the Christian be sad and desponding? The Holy Spirit has graciously engaged to be thy Comforter: dost thou imagine, O thou weak and trembling believer, that He will be negligent of His sacred trust? Canst thou suppose that He has undertaken what He cannot or will not perform? If it be His especial work to strengthen thee, and to comfort thee, dost thou suppose He has forgotten His business, or that He will fail in the loving office which He sustains towards thee? Nay, think not so hardly of the tender and blessed Spirit whose name is "the Comforter." He delights to give the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Trust thou in Him, and He will surely comfort thee till the house of mourning is closed for ever, and the marriage feast has begun.

Oh Christian, do you agonize over the evil by which we’re surrounded? Do not despair. There is nothing to fear from man. God promises redemption for His chosen. He spoke through the prophet Jeremiah saying, “ I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible” (Jer. 15:21).

Do you trust God? Why should you not? For “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num. 23:19)

We have nothing to fear from evil men. The “worst” they can do to us is hasten our entrance into glory. Thus Jesus exhorts, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28).

This body is a mere tent, a temporary dwelling. One way or another, our deliverance is assured. We should, therefore, look forward to the day we enter His presence, as did Paul when he exclaimed that “we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

Evil men hold no trepidation for those who know God. He is our deliverer, and He will, according to His will, deliver us from the hand of the wicked.

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, October 10

"And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible." Jeremiah 15:21

Note the glorious personality of the promise. I will, I will. The Lord Jehovah Himself interposes to deliver and redeem His people. He pledges Himself personally to rescue them. His own arm shall do it, that He may have the glory. Here is not a word said of any effort of our own which may be needed to assist the Lord. Neither our strength nor our weakness is taken into the account, but the lone I, like the sun in the heavens, shines out resplendent in all-sufficience. Why then do we calculate our forces, and consult with flesh and blood to our grievous wounding? Jehovah has power enough without borrowing from our puny arm. Peace, ye unbelieving thoughts, be still, and know that the Lord reigneth. Nor is there a hint concerning secondary means and causes. The Lord says nothing of friends and helpers: He undertakes the work alone, and feels no need of human arms to aid Him. Vain are all our lookings around to companions and relatives; they are broken reeds if we lean upon them- often unwilling when able, and unable when they are willing. Since the promise comes alone from God, it would be well to wait only upon Him; and when we do so, our expectation never fails us. Who are the wicked that we should fear them? The Lord will utterly consume them; they are to be pitied rather than feared. As for terrible ones, they are only terrors to those who have no God to fly to, for when the Lord is on our side, whom shall we fear? If we run into sin to please the wicked, we have cause to be alarmed, but if we hold fast our integrity, the rage of tyrants shall be overruled for our good. When the fish swallowed Jonah, he found him a morsel which he could not digest; and when the world devours the church, it is glad to be rid of it again. In all times of fiery trial, in patience let us possess our souls.

Beloved brethren, we may often be tempted to focus on our faults and shortcomings. Indeed, to recognize our own need for salvation, we must admit that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

Paul laments even his post-justification condition, bemoaning, “wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death” (Rom. 7:24)?

Yet we have reason, as did Paul, for not only hope but rejoicing! For “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). Why?

Because He “is able to…make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless” (Jud. 1:24).

Hallelujah! We were cleansed with “the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Tit. 3:5). Jesus was made a sin offering for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). When God looks upon us, He no longer sees our sinful past, but instead looking through a Christ-filtered lens, He perceives us as holy and righteous with Jesus.

How humbled we should be to know that “the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isa. 53:6). How grateful we should be that our transgression is forgiven, that our sin is covered, and that our iniquity not taken into account (Psalm. 32:1-2). How amazed we should be in knowing that our hearts have been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, and that our bodies have been washed clean with pure water (Heb. 10:22).

Let us then, remembering our debt, sing joyfully with the hymnist:

“Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe,
sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.”

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, October 10

"Faultless before the presence of His glory." Jude 24

Revolve in your mind that wondrous word, "faultless"! We are far off from it now; but as our Lord never stops short of perfection in His work of love, we shall reach it one day. The Saviour who will keep His people to the end, will also present them at last to Himself, as "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without blemish." All the jewels in the Saviour's crown are of the first water and without a single flaw. All the maids of honour who attend the Lamb's wife are pure virgins without spot or stain. But how will Jesus make us faultless? He will wash us from our sins in His own blood until we are white and fair as God's purest angel; and we shall be clothed in His righteousness, that righteousness which makes the saint who wears it positively faultless; yea, perfect in the sight of God. We shall be unblameable and unreproveable even in His eyes. His law will not only have no charge against us, but it will be magnified in us. Moreover, the work of the Holy Spirit within us will be altogether complete. He will make us so perfectly holy, that we shall have no lingering tendency to sin. Judgment, memory, will- every power and passion shall be emancipated from the thraldom of evil. We shall be holy even as God is holy, and in His presence we shall dwell for ever. Saints will not be out of place in heaven, their beauty will be as great as that of the place prepared for them. Oh the rapture of that hour when the everlasting doors shall be lifted up, and we, being made meet for the inheritance, shall dwell with the saints in light. Sin gone, Satan shut out, temptation past for ever, and ourselves "faultless" before God, this will be heaven indeed! Let us be joyful now as we rehearse the song of eternal praise so soon to roll forth in full chorus from all the blood-washed host; let us copy David's exultings before the ark as a prelude to our ecstasies before the throne.

Brethren, don’t let a dry spell discourage you. Have you been toiling but not seeing fruit? It may be that the Lord is simply holding back for a time in order to provide a windfall.

This may be in witnessing. It may be in other areas. Do not be distracted by the things of this world (1 Jn. 2:15-16). And continue to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).

Listen for the Lord to tell you when and where to let down your net, and it will end up full beyond its capacity. Remember, our salvation, and our fruit is not dependent upon our work, but upon Him who give grace to the one who believes.

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, October 8

"Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught." Luke 5:4

We learn from this narrative, the necessity of human agency. The draught of fishes was miraculous, yet neither the fisherman nor his boat, nor his fishing tackle were ignored; but all were used to take the fishes. So in the saving of souls, God worketh by means; and while the present economy of grace shall stand, God will be pleased by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. When God worketh without instruments, doubtless He is glorified; but He hath Himself selected the plan of instrumentality as being that by which He is most magnified in the earth. Means of themselves are utterly unavailing. "Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing." What was the reason of this? Were they not fishermen plying their special calling? Verily, they were no raw hands; they understood the work. Had they gone about the toil unskillfully? No. Had they lacked industry? No, they had toiled. Had they lacked perseverance? No, they had toiled all the night. Was there a deficiency of fish in the sea? Certainly not, for as soon as the Master came, they swam to the net in shoals. What, then, is the reason? Is it because there is no power in the means of themselves apart from the presence of Jesus? "Without Him we can do nothing." But with Christ we can do all things. Christ's presence confers success. Jesus sat in Peter's boat, and His will, by a mysterious influence, drew the fish to the net. When Jesus is lifted up in His Church, His presence is the Church's power- the shout of a king is in the midst of her. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." Let us go out this morning on our work of soul fishing, looking up in faith, and around us in solemn anxiety. Let us toil till night comes, and we shall not labour in vain, for He who bids us let down the net, will fill it with fishes.

The Ken Smith Band performed at The 79th Annual Pohick Country Fair, featuring the songs Green River, Ring of Fire, The Letter, You Don't Mess Around With Jim, Galveston, I Got Somebody, Workin’ Man Blues, Silver Wings, I’m a Believer, Sweet Caroline & Ken's own compositions I Don't Want to Let Time Slip Away from Me, I Ain't Got Time for a Broken Heart, Lonesome Whistle in the Dark, Gone but Not Forgotten, and It's Gonna Be All Right. #KenSmithBand #PohickCountryFair #PohickChurch #Pohick #PohickFair2025 #PohickFair #Music

Kyle Johnson presented a piano recital at The 79th Annual Pohick Country Fair, featuring the songs Celestial by Ed Sheeran, Mad Rat Heart by Dyes Iwasaki, and Wherever We Are Now by Joel Baylis. #PohickCountryFair #PohickChurch #Pohick #PohickFair2025 #PohickFair #Piano #Music

The Pohick Pickers performed at The 79th Annual Pohick Country Fair, featuring songs including Y’all Come, Listen to the Radio, Abilene, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Sloop John B, Chains, Star of the County Down, I've Just Seen a Face, The City of New Orleans, Across the Great Divide, Wagon Wheel, Desperado & Take Me Home, Country Roads. #PohickPickers #PohickCountryFair #PohickChurch #Pohick #PohickFair2025 #PohickFair #Music