Closer To Heaven
|
|
|
24 December 2025 | When we think of the birth of Jesus as depicted in the New Testament, especially during the Christmas season, we naturally recall those memorable statements that seem central to the story. One of these is: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall […] Source: https://atoday.org/atss-warren-trenchard-isaiah-and-the-virginal-conception-of-jesus/
by Chester Hitchcock | 24 December 2025 | The word “shekinah” is not found in the Bible. It is a Hebrew word used in rabbinic literature to refer to the presence of God. The word means, technically, “to dwell,” but specifically it denotes a spectacular manifestation of God in such phrases as “the glory of […] Source: https://atoday.org/the-shekinah-glory-in-the-christmas-story/
In a Zimbabwe maximum security prison, the gospel reached men once written off as lost, including death row inmates and a notorious criminal whose surrender to Jesus made national news. During an evangelism series, lives were transformed, baptisms followed and a prison became a mission field. Watch the entire story titled “Miracles in Motion” here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=H5TOHExq3F0&t=4s Support AWR’s evangelism initiatives at https://awr.is/evangelism. #AWR360 #BroadcastToBaptism MB01DXP3ZQGQKIY Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/riDrtRlIv08
Bible verse of the day: “Luke 11:9 – "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Welcome to our Daily Prayer Meeting! This is a safe space where you are seen, heard, and prayed for. Start your day in God's presence—every day at 8AM ET, we share a short devotional from God's Word and lift your prayer requests to Him. You're not alone! Our prayer team is here to intercede with you and for you. Whether you need prayer, celebrate a breakthrough, or start your day with Jesus, you're in the right place. Share your prayer requests or testimonies of praise here: https://wkf.ms/3DBuapQ Engage with us in the comments:
• How can we pray for you today?
• Where are you watching from?
• What are you thankful for? How has God answered your prayers?
Let’s grow together in faith, hope, and love—one prayer at a time. Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a prayer. 🔔 Share this video with someone who needs hope or tag a loved one who needs encouragement today. Today’s Message: Pr Joel Sarmiento The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 21 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. We are believers committed to helping people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/ Find us on social media by following the links below:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/theadventistchurch
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/adventistchurch
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/adventistchurch 👉 Want more prayer moments?
Watch our full playlist of daily prayer videos here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-k2Gb-DBYo–V8axD7iFUL6TFEckrhxv&si=vIljgfwrSZN6iJR2 GodFirst, DailyPrayer, PrayerMeeting, ChristianPrayer, MorningDevotional, HopeInJesus, BibleVerseOfTheDay, PrayerRequest, FaithCommunity, SeventhDayAdventist Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGKA-kxqPK4
“Poiché un bambino ci è nato, un figlio ci è stato dato, e il dominio riposerà sulle sue spalle; sarà chiamato Consigliere ammirabile, Dio potente, Padre eterno, Principe della pace”. 📖 Isaia 9:5
—
💌 Apri la porta del tuo cuore
🗣 Speaker: Alessia Calvagno Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0mlN0iU-XM
Still waiting on someone you love to meet Jesus?
This prayer is for every heart that hasn’t come home yet. 💔
Share it & type “Amen” if you’re praying too. Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Dsdf9-6QrPw
Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr. Barna Magyarosi, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson.”
<
Heaven’s song on that holy night still echoes today: peace on earth. Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jzoZLTrmfGI
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 24th of December 2025
The threat of idolatry is not a theoretical one. Earlier, on the plains of Moab, in a similar context, Moses asked for the same decision (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). The gods that are in view now are not the ones of Egypt or those beyond the river, but they are found “among them.” Therefore, Joshua pleads with his people to incline their hearts to the Lord.
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
The Hebrew term used here, natah, means “to stretch,” “to bend.” It describes a God who is expected to bend down and listen to prayers (2 Kings 19:16; Psalms 31:2-3; Daniel 9:18), and it is also the attitude required of Israel later by the prophets (Isaiah 55:3, Jeremiah 7:24). It is employed to indicate the apostasy of Solomon when his heart inclined toward foreign gods (1 Kings 11:2,4,9). The sinful human heart does not have the natural tendency to bend and listen to God’s voice. It takes conscious decisions on our part to incline it toward fulfilling God’s will.
The Israelites’ answer literally reads: “We will listen to His voice.” This expression emphasizes the relational aspect of obedience. Israel is not asked to routinely follow lifeless rules. The covenant is about a living relationship with the Lord, which cannot be fully expressed by mere regulations. Israel’s religion was never intended to be legalistic; rather, it was to be a constant conversation in faith and love with a holy and merciful Savior.
Even after the people’s threefold promise to serve the Lord, which implies, as Joshua commanded, the removal of foreign gods from among them, there is no report that it actually happened. Throughout the entire book, it became customary to report on the fulfillment of Joshua’s commands (or those of Moses) as examples of obedience. The lack of it now at the end of the book leaves the plea of Joshua open-ended. The central appeal of the book to serve the Lord is not only for Joshua’s generation but also for each new generation of God’s people who would read or hear this message.
|
How often have you promised the Lord you would do something, but then you didn’t? Why didn’t you? What does your answer tell you about grace? |
Bible verse of the day: “Lamentations 3:25 – "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him." Welcome to our Daily Prayer Meeting! This is a safe space where you are seen, heard, and prayed for. Start your day in God's presence—every day at 8AM ET, we share a short devotional from God's Word and lift your prayer requests to Him. You're not alone! Our prayer team is here to intercede with you and for you. Whether you need prayer, celebrate a breakthrough, or start your day with Jesus, you're in the right place. Share your prayer requests or testimonies of praise here: https://wkf.ms/3DBuapQ Engage with us in the comments:
• How can we pray for you today?
• Where are you watching from?
• What are you thankful for? How has God answered your prayers? Let’s grow together in faith, hope, and love—one prayer at a time. Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a prayer. 🔔 Share this video with someone who needs hope or tag a loved one who needs encouragement today. Today’s Message: Pr Joel Sarmiento The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 21 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. We are believers committed to helping people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/ Find us on social media by following the links below:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/theadventistchurch
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/adventistchurch
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/adventistchurch 👉 Want more prayer moments?
Watch our full playlist of daily prayer videos here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-k2Gb-DBYo–V8axD7iFUL6TFEckrhxv&si=vIljgfwrSZN6iJR2 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K_bhLjWBDc
Intercer is a website with biblical materials in Romanian, English, Hungarian and other languages. We want to bring the light from God's Word to peoples homes. Intercer provides quality Christian resources...[Read More]
