Gospel Dynamite with J. Allen Mashburn

When Anxiety Feels Louder Than God | Philippians 4:6-7; I Peter 5:7; Psalm 34:4

When Anxiety Feels Louder Than God
 
There are times in the Christian life when anxiety seems to shout louder than the voice of God. The pressures of daily living—the demands of school or work, the pull of peers in the wrong direction, the subtle temptations of the enemy to sin, and the uncertainty of what tomorrow may bring—can create a clamor in the soul that drowns out the quiet assurance of God's presence. Yet the Scriptures speak directly to these very struggles, offering not mere human advice, but divine remedies that bring peace and victory.
We will focus our attention on three key passages that address the heart of this matter: Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7, and Psalm 34:4. These verses, taken from the Authorized King James Version, provide a clear pathway from anxiety to the peace that only God can give.
First, let us read Philippians 4:6-7 in full:
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul wrote these words from a Roman prison, where anxiety could easily have overwhelmed him. Chains clanked around his wrists, the future was uncertain, and yet he penned one of the most triumphant letters in the New Testament. His secret? He refused to be "careful"—that is, anxious—about anything. Instead, he turned every concern into a conversation with God.
Notice the comprehensive nature of Paul's instruction: "in every thing." No worry is too small or too large to bring before the throne of grace. Whether it is the stress of examinations and deadlines in school, the pressure from classmates to conform to worldly standards, the temptation whispered by Satan to compromise holiness, or the fear of what lies ahead in an unpredictable world—every thing qualifies for prayer.
Paul specifies three elements in this prayer: prayer itself (general communion with God), supplication (specific requests), and thanksgiving (gratitude even in the midst of trial). Thanksgiving is the key that keeps prayer from becoming mere complaining. When we thank God for His past faithfulness, we remind ourselves that He is still in control.
The result is breathtaking: "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding." This is not the absence of problems, but the presence of God in the midst of them. It is a peace that defies human explanation—a garrison, as the word "keep" suggests, stationed around the heart and mind like a Roman guard around a priceless treasure. Through Christ Jesus, this peace stands sentinel, preventing anxiety from storming the citadel of the soul.
Consider the young student facing overwhelming school pressures—exams that seem insurmountable, projects that pile up, grades that determine future opportunities. The enemy whispers, "You can't handle this; you'll fail." Peers add their voices: "Everyone else is cheating—just this once." The future looms dark: "What if you don't get into the right college? What if your plans fall apart?" In such moments, anxiety roars. But when that student obeys Philippians 4:6-7, turning those burdens into thankful prayer, the peace of God descends like a quiet shield. The problems may remain, but they no longer dominate the heart.
Now turn with me to 1 Peter 5:7:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Peter, who once sank in the waves because he focused on the storm rather than on Christ, now writes with pastoral tenderness to suffering believers. The word "casting" pictures a deliberate act—throwing the entire weight of our cares onto the Lord, as one might hurl a heavy burden onto a strong beast of burden.
"All your care"—not some, not the large ones only, but all. The everyday stresses, the relational tensions from peer pressure, the spiritual battles against Satan's temptations to sin, the nagging fears about tomorrow—all are to be cast upon Him.
Why can we do this? Because "he careth for you." This is not indifferent deity, but personal, tender concern. The same God who numbers the hairs of our heads and feeds the sparrows knows every detail of our anxieties. He cares more deeply than the most loving parent.
Think of the believer facing peer pressure—the subtle (or not so subtle) invitations to join in activities that dishonor God, the ridicule for standing firm, the loneliness of being different. Satan uses these moments to create anxiety: "If you don't go along, you'll lose your friends; you'll be isolated." But when we cast that care upon the Lord, remembering His personal love, the pressure loses its grip. We realize that pleasing Him is worth far more than temporary acceptance.
Or consider the fear of the future—job uncertainty, health concerns, world events that unsettle the heart. The enemy loves to paint bleak pictures: "What if the worst happens? God has forgotten you." Yet Peter's simple command cuts through the noise: Cast it on Him. He cares. The One who guided Peter through denial, restoration, and martyrdom cares for us in our smaller storms.
Finally, let us examine Psalm 34:4:
I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
This psalm comes from David's experience when he fled from Saul and feigned madness before Abimelech (1 Samuel 21). Surrounded by danger, David turned to the Lord in desperate seeking. The result? God heard and delivered him from all his fears.
Not some fears, but all. The fear of death at Saul's hand, the fear of humiliation, the fear of failure—all were removed. How? By seeking the Lord—turning the eyes of faith upward instead of inward or outward.
In our context, this verse speaks powerfully to every form of anxiety. The student overwhelmed by academic stress seeks the Lord in prayer and Scripture, and fears of failure diminish. The young person battling peer pressure seeks the Lord for strength to stand alone if necessary, and the fear of rejection fades. The believer tempted by Satan seeks the Lord's deliverance, and the fear of falling into sin is replaced by confidence in God's keeping power. The one anxious about the future seeks the Lord who holds tomorrow, and fear gives way to trust.
David's testimony is personal: "I sought...he heard me...delivered me." This is not theory but experience. Thousands of believers through the centuries have echoed these words. When anxiety threatens to overwhelm, seeking the Lord brings deliverance.
These three passages form a beautiful harmony. Philippians teaches us how to pray about our anxieties; 1 Peter encourages us to cast them upon a caring God; Psalm 34 assures us that seeking Him brings deliverance from fear itself.
But Scripture does not leave us with these three verses alone. The Bible is rich with encouragement for the anxious heart.
Consider Matthew 6:25-34, where our Lord Jesus repeatedly commands, "Take no thought" for life's necessities. The birds of the air and lilies of the field are cared for—how much more His children? Worry about tomorrow accomplishes nothing but robs today of its strength.
Or Psalm 55:22: "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Parallel to Peter's words, this promise assures sustaining grace.
Isaiah 41:10 offers strength: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Joshua 1:9 reminds us: "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
And in the storms of spiritual pressure, remember 1 Corinthians 10:13: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
Satan's temptations to sin often come wrapped in anxiety: "If you don't yield, something terrible will happen." But God always provides a way of escape.
When peer pressure intensifies, recall Proverbs 1:10-15—wisdom's warning against enticement by sinners. Standing firm may cost friends, but it gains the smile of God.
For school and life stresses, Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
The fear of the future finds its antidote in Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
And when anxiety peaks, Psalm 46:1 declares: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
These truths are not distant doctrines but practical helps for daily living. The young person facing exams can pray specifically, cast the burden, and seek the Lord—experiencing peace that guards the mind during study and testing.
The one pressured by peers can cast the fear of rejection upon God, remembering He cares, and find deliverance from the fear that drives compromise.
In spiritual warfare against temptation, seeking the Lord brings deliverance from the fear of falling.
And for future uncertainties—graduation, career, marriage, family—casting cares upon Him who holds the future brings sustaining peace.
Anxiety feels loud because it speaks in the voice of circumstances, peers, and the enemy. But God's voice, though often quiet, is infinitely more powerful. When we obey these Scriptures—praying with thanksgiving, casting every care, seeking Him earnestly—anxiety's volume decreases, and God's peace becomes the dominant sound in the soul.
The world offers temporary fixes: distraction, medication, denial. But only Christ offers permanent peace—the peace that passes understanding, the care of a loving Father, deliverance from all fears.
May we, like Paul in prison, like Peter in persecution, like David in flight, turn anxiety into prayer, burdens into casting, fears into seeking. And may the God of peace Himself garrison our hearts and minds until that day when faith becomes sight, and anxiety is silenced forever in His presence.

The First Gospel Mentioned - Redeemer En Route! | Allen Mashburn

Let's turn together in our Bibles to the book of Genesis, chapter 3, and focus our attention on verse 15. This is one of those pivotal verses in Scripture that has rightly been called the protoevangelium—the first announcement of the good news of salvation. In the King James Version, which we'll use throughout our study today, it reads:
"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
Imagine the scene in the Garden of Eden just moments after the fall. Adam and Eve have disobeyed God, eaten the forbidden fruit, and now they stand before Him in shame and fear. The harmony of creation is shattered. Sin has entered the world, bringing with it death, curse, and separation from God. It seems as though Satan, working through the serpent, has scored a complete victory. Yet right here, in the midst of pronouncing judgment, God speaks a word of incredible grace—a promise that shines like a beacon in the darkness.
This verse is the seed from which the entire message of redemption grows. It's the foundation for everything that follows in the Bible, pointing us ultimately to the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, I want us to unpack this promise carefully, phrase by phrase, and trace how it unfolds through Scripture. We'll see God's sovereign grace at work, the conflict between the two seeds, the suffering and triumph of the Savior, and what it all means for us personally. My prayer is that as we study this together, we'll gain a deeper appreciation for the gospel and a stronger confidence in God's unbreakable plan.
1. The Divine Initiative: "And I Will Put Enmity"
Notice first who takes the initiative here. God says, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman." The "thee" refers to the serpent, and as Revelation 12:9 and 20:2 make clear, this is none other than Satan himself:
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
God doesn't command Adam or Eve to start fighting the devil. No, He declares sovereignly, "I will put enmity." This is pure grace from beginning to end. Fallen humanity, left to ourselves, has no natural hostility toward Satan. In fact, we're at peace with him and at enmity with God. As Ephesians 2:1-3 reminds us:
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."
And Colossians 1:21:
"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled."
By nature, we love the darkness and hate the light (John 3:19-20). But when God plants this enmity in a heart, everything changes. The one who once listened eagerly to the serpent's lies now becomes his enemy. This is the beginning of regenerating grace—the Holy Spirit turning a heart of stone into a heart of flesh.
Think about it: Eve had just been deceived by the serpent, yet God promises to create hostility between them. From that moment, humanity is divided into two spiritual lines: those who remain friends with the serpent and those in whom God has worked to make them hate sin and love holiness. This isn't something we muster up on our own; it's God's doing. What encouragement this is! If you're a believer today, that enmity toward sin in your heart is evidence of God's grace at work in you from the very foundation of the gospel promise.
2. The Two Seeds: "Between Thy Seed and Her Seed"
Next, God speaks of the ongoing conflict: "and between thy seed and her seed." Throughout Scripture, this theme of two seeds runs like a thread, dividing all humanity spiritually.
The serpent's seed are those who belong to him by nature and choice. Jesus said it plainly in John 8:44:
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
We see this line early on with Cain, who murdered his brother Abel. It continues through history: Pharaoh oppressing Israel, Haman plotting against the Jews, Herod slaughtering the innocents, Judas betraying Christ, and every unregenerate person who opposes God and His people.
But there's another seed—the seed of the woman. This is unusual language. Everywhere else in Genesis, offspring is described as the seed of the man: Abraham's seed, Isaac's seed, Jacob's seed, David's seed. Why here "her seed"? Because this points to the virgin birth. The promised Redeemer would have no human father. He would be conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a woman alone.
Paul understood this clearly in Galatians 4:4:
"But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law."
And Isaiah prophesied it in Isaiah 7:14:
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
This singular wording in Genesis 3:15 is God's early hint at the miraculous incarnation. The Champion who would defeat Satan would be fully human—born of a woman—yet fully God, without a sinful human father to pass on Adam's guilt.
As we trace this promise, we see it narrowing. From the seed of the woman, to Seth's line, to Noah, to Shem, to Abraham (whose seed would bless all nations—Galatians 3:16 points this to Christ), to Judah (Genesis 49:10: "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be"), to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16, the everlasting throne), to the virgin's Son in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting").
Every type and shadow in the Old Testament points forward to this Seed: Abel's acceptable lamb, the ark preserving Noah through judgment, the ram provided for Isaac, the Passover lamb, the bronze serpent lifted up (John 3:14), the scapegoat bearing away sins, the daily offerings—all crying out, "The Seed is coming!"
3. The Conflict and Victory: "It Shall Bruise Thy Head, and Thou Shalt Bruise His Heel"
Now we come to the heart of the promise: "it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Note the pronouns carefully. In the Hebrew, it's singular and masculine: "He shall bruise thy head." This isn't a general conflict between groups; it's personal. One individual—the Seed of the woman—will deliver the decisive blow.
The bruising of the heel speaks of real suffering. The serpent will strike, causing pain, humiliation, even apparent defeat. But a bruised heel is not fatal; it heals. A crushed head, however, is final—total destruction of the enemy's power.
This is a preview of the cross and the resurrection. At Calvary, Satan bruised Christ's heel. From the manger onward, the enemy opposed Him: Herod's massacre, the temptations in the wilderness, the opposition of religious leaders, the demons' fury, and finally the horrors of Gethsemane and Golgotha.
Philippians 2:6-8 describes the depth of this humiliation:
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
The eternal Son veiled His glory, entered a virgin's womb, lived as a servant, and died a criminal's death. On the cross, darkness covered the earth, and He cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, quoting Psalm 22:1). Satan seemed triumphant—the Seed was dead and buried.
But the promise was only a bruised heel, not a crushed head. On the third day, Christ rose victorious! As Psalm 16:10 prophesied:
"For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Hebrews 2:14 declares the result:
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil."
And Colossians 2:15:
"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
At the cross, Jesus disarmed the demonic forces. Death's sting is gone for believers (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Satan's head received a mortal wound, though he still thrashes about.
The full crushing awaits Christ's return. Then, as Revelation 20:10 promises:
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
The King will return in glory (Revelation 19:11-16), and the ancient Eden promise will be completely fulfilled.
4. The Incarnation: God Manifest in the Flesh
To accomplish this victory, the Seed had to become one of us. Galatians 4:4-5 again:
"But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."
1 Timothy 3:16 captures the wonder:
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
The infinite God became finite, the eternal entered time, the Creator became a creature—yet without ceasing to be God. He who upheld the universe lay in a manger. This is the heart of the gospel: Immanuel, God with us.
Personal Application: Living in the Victory
What does all this mean for us today? Genesis 3:15 isn't just history; it's our story.
By nature, we were all seed of the serpent—children of wrath. But if God has saved you, He has planted enmity in your heart toward sin and Satan. You've begun to hate what you once loved and love what you once hated.
At the cross, Christ's heel was bruised for you, and Satan's head was crushed on your behalf. By faith in Him, you've passed from death to life, from darkness to light.
Now we live out this victory daily. When you resist temptation, bear suffering for Christ, or share the gospel boldly, you're participating in the ongoing conflict—and the outcome is certain.
Satan may bruise your heel through trials, slander, or temptation, but he cannot touch your Head, who sits at God's right hand (Psalm 110:1: "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool").
So stand firm. The battle is the Lord's. The victory is already secured. And soon, the Seed of the woman will return to make all things new.
May this first gospel promise encourage your heart today. The God who spoke grace in Eden is the same God who speaks it to us now through His Son. Trust Him. Walk with Him. Look for His coming.

Israel's Future in Bible Prophecy: A Biblical Exposition | J. Allen Mashburn

Israel's Future in Bible Prophecy: 
A Biblical Exposition
 
Introduction: The Setting from Luke 21
As we open our Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21, we find Jesus standing on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the city of Jerusalem. His disciples marvel at the temple's grandeur, but the Lord turns their attention to far greater matters—the signs of the end times and the destiny of His people. 
 
In Luke 21:20-24, Jesus declares:
"And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
 
Here, the Lord Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, a tragic fulfillment of judgment on unbelieving Israel. 
 
Yet, notice the phrase "until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." This points beyond that historical event to a future restoration. The "times of the Gentiles" refer to the period when Gentile powers dominate Jerusalem, but it has an end. From this vantage, Jesus shifts in verses 25-28 to cosmic signs and His return:
 
"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
 
Luke 21 sets the stage for our study: Israel's past rebellion, present trials, and glorious future under the Messiah's reign. God's Word promises that though Israel has stumbled, He will lift them up. Let us trace this thread through Scripture, seeing God's unchanging faithfulness to His covenant people.
Israel's Past: From Abraham's Call to Repeated Rejection
To understand Israel's future, we must first look back to her origins. God did not find Israel as a nation; He created her. In Genesis 12:1-3, the Lord calls Abram, a Gentile idol-worshiper from Ur of the Chaldees:
 
"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
 
Abram—later Abraham—became the father of the Jewish nation through Isaac and Jacob, whom God renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28). This was no accident of history; it was divine election. God promised Abraham an everlasting covenant in Genesis 17:7-8:
 
"And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
 
This covenant is unconditional—based on God's promise, not Israel's performance. It includes land, seed, and blessing, and it stands today. God reiterated it to Isaac (Genesis 26:3-4) and Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15), forming the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
Yet, from the exodus onward, Israel repeatedly rejected her Creator. In the wilderness, they murmured against Moses and God (Exodus 17:3; Numbers 14:1-4). Entering the land, they turned to idols (Judges 2:11-13). 
 
The kings, from Saul to the divided kingdom, led them into idolatry, culminating in Assyrian and Babylonian captivities (2 Kings 17:7-18; 2 Kings 25). Prophets like Jeremiah warned of judgment for covenant unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 3:6-10).
 
This pattern peaked in the rejection of the Messiah Himself. The Jewish leaders knew the Scriptures foretold His coming. Psalm 22:16-18 vividly describes His crucifixion: 
"For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
 
Isaiah 53:3-6, 9-12 paints the suffering Servant:
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ... And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
 
Micah 5:2 pinpointed His birthplace in Bethlehem. Zechariah 9:9 described His humble entry on a donkey. The religious elite studied these texts daily. Yet, when Jesus fulfilled them—born in Bethlehem, riding into Jerusalem on a colt, bearing our sins on Calvary—they rejected Him defiantly, not blindly.
 
In John 1:11, we read: "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." They expected a conquering general to smash Rome, not a suffering Savior (Acts 1:6). But they knew. In Matthew 27:22-25, Pilate asks, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" The crowd cries, "Let him be crucified." When warned of innocent blood, they shout, "His blood be on us, and on our children." This was open defiance. Peter charges in Acts 2:23: "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." 
 
And in Acts 7:51-52, Stephen indicts: "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.”
 
Israel's history is one of gracious election met with stubborn rebellion. Yet God, in mercy, preserved a remnant through exile and diaspora, never forsaking His word.
 
Israel Today: A Tiny Nation Amid Global Hatred and Fleeting Peace
Fast-forward to our day. Ethnic Israel—the Jewish people descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—numbers about 9.6 million worldwide, with roughly 7.3 million living in the modern State of Israel. This political entity, reestablished in 1948, occupies a land about 8,500 square miles—roughly seven times the size of Rhode Island, yet smaller than many U.S. states, squeezed between vast hostile neighbors. It's a miracle of survival: a people scattered for nearly 2,000 years, regathered to their ancient homeland against all odds.
 
But today, antisemitism surges like a tidal wave, especially in the United States. Reports show a 21% global rise in incidents in July 2025 alone, with the U.S. seeing nearly 70% of religion-based hate crimes targeting Jews. ADL surveys reveal antisemitism has woven into daily American Jewish life—on campuses, streets, and workplaces—spiking since recent Middle East conflicts. Why this hatred? Scripture unveils the roots.
 
First, it's divine judgment for rejecting the Messiah. In Matthew 27:25, their cry of "His blood be on us, and on our children" echoes through generations, as Jesus warned in Luke 19:41-44:
"And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
 
This "visitation" was Christ, spurned. Zechariah 12:2-3 prophesies nations gathering against Jerusalem like a "burdensome stone," a future reality foreshadowed today.
 
Second, Satan fuels this enmity. As the father of lies (John 8:44), he hates Israel because through her seed comes the woman's offspring who crushes his head (Genesis 3:15). Revelation 12:13 depicts the dragon (Satan) pursuing the woman (Israel): 
 
"And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child."
Satan knows Israel's role in God's redemptive plan—birthplace of the Church, guardian of Scripture, and future throne for Messiah.
 
Why does God allow this? To humble His people, drive them to repentance, and fulfill prophecy. Deuteronomy 28:15, 64 warns of curses for disobedience: 
"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. ... And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.”
 
Yet, this scattering has an end. God uses hatred to refine Israel, as Hosea 5:15 states: "I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.”
 
Amid this, Israel boasts more peace initiatives than any nation. The Abraham Accords under President Trump in 2020 normalized ties with Arab states, and in 2025, Trump unveiled a bold 20-point Gaza peace plan, signed in its first phase, aiming for enduring prosperity without forced displacements. 
 
Trump's "peace through strength" approach—bolstered by U.S. resolve—has invitations from leaders like Egypt's el-Sisi for regional summits. Noble as these are, Scripture warns they are fragile. Daniel 9:27 foretells a future "prince that shall come" (the Antichrist) who "shall confirm the covenant with many for one week"—a seven-year peace deal with Israel, only to break it midway:
"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
 
No human accord can thwart God's timeline. These deals set the stage for the ultimate betrayal.
 
 
We must distinguish: Ethnic Israel is God's covenant people, the physical descendants of Abraham (Romans 9:4-5). 
 
Political Israel is the modern state—a vessel for prophecy, but not the full spiritual fulfillment yet. 
God preserves the nation, but salvation comes to individuals who repent.
 
God Is Not Done with Israel: Insights from Romans 9-10
Turn to Romans 9-10, where Paul, a Jew of Jews, wrestles with his people's unbelief. He affirms God's irrevocable gifts in Romans 11:29: "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." But chapters 9-10 explain the tension.
 
In Romans 9:1-5, Paul's anguish pours out:
"I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”
 
Israel has every advantage—covenants, law, promises—yet many reject Christ. Paul explains in Romans 9:30-33:
"What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
 
Their zeal without knowledge (Romans 10:2) led to defiance. 
 
Yet God hardens whom He will (Romans 9:18), not arbitrarily, but to fulfill mercy on both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 11:11-12, 25-27):
"I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? ... For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”
 
"All Israel shall be saved"—a national turning to Messiah at His return. Paul quotes Isaiah 59:20-21 and 27:9, confirming future restoration.
 
 
Beware of replacement theology, the dangerous error claiming the Church has permanently supplanted Israel in God's plan. It twists Romans 11 to say the "olive tree" is only the Church, erasing Israel's distinct promises. This denies the land covenant (Genesis 15:18), ignores prophecies like Ezekiel 37's dry bones reviving as a nation, and contradicts Paul's plea in Romans 10:1: "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." 
 
This desire points future, not past. God has two programs: one for the Church (the body of Christ, Jew and Gentile in one, Ephesians 2:14-16), and one for national Israel. To merge them robs God of His faithfulness and fuels antisemitism by devaluing the Jewish people.
Though Israel has defied Him—from golden calf to crucifying the King—God loves His covenant people. Jeremiah 31:3 whispers: "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." 
 
He cannot break covenant; Numbers 23:19 assures: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
 
Israel's Future: Tribulation, Invasion, and Glorious Restoration
The road ahead is stormy, but victory dawns. Zechariah 12:10 promises: "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”
 
The Great Tribulation: Judgment and Awakening
The Tribulation—a seven-year period of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)—brings global wrath, but especially on Israel. Why? First, to judge unbelieving Jews and the world for sin. Revelation 6-19 details seals, trumpets, and bowls of judgment. Second, to break Israel's defiance, as Zechariah 13:8-9 foretells: 
"And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”
 
Third, to prepare earth for Christ's return in Revelation 19:11-16, where He treads the winepress of wrath:
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ... And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
 
During this horror, Israel becomes a focal point—and unwilling host to the world. Revelation 12:6 describes: "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." Multitudes flee to Israel seeking refuge, only to face Antichrist's fury.
Yet, salvation breaks through. God seals 144,000 Jewish evangelists from the tribes (Revelation 7:4-8)—12,000 from each—to proclaim the Gospel worldwide. 
 
Two witnesses in Jerusalem, empowered, most likely Moses and Elijah, prophesy for 1,260 days, calling fire from heaven and striking with plagues (Revelation 11:3-6):
"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. ... And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.”
Their ministry awakens thousands. When slain, God resurrects them before a watching world (Revelation 11:7-12). Many Jews repent, fulfilling Romans 11:26.
As Antichrist's abomination desecrates the temple (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15), believing Jews flee to Petra (Bozrah), the rose-red city of Edom. Jesus urged in Matthew 24:15-21: 
"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: ... For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
 
God supernaturally protects them there for 1,260 days (Revelation 12:14), as Micah 2:12 gathers a remnant to "Mizpah"—a stronghold.
 
The Ezekiel 38-39 Invasion: Gog's Futile Assault
Before or early in the Tribulation, a massive coalition attacks a seemingly secure Israel. Ezekiel 38:1-6, 8-9, 14-16 describes:
"And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. ... After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. ... Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.”
 
Gog (a title, perhaps Russia's leader) leads Magog (Russia), Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer (Turkey), and Togarmah. They invade for spoil, when Israel dwells "safely"—perhaps post-peace deal. God allows it to reveal His holiness (Ezekiel 38:16, 23). 
But He intervenes supernaturally in Ezekiel 38:18-23; 39:1-6:
"And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. ... Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
 
Birds and beasts feast on the dead (Ezekiel 39:17-20), and it takes seven months to bury them (39:12). 
God uses this to turn Israel to Him (39:21-22, 29):
"And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. ... Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.”
 
The Antichrist's Treachery and Christ's Victorious Return
The Antichrist emerges as a false peace-broker, confirming that seven-year covenant (Daniel 9:27). But midway, he betrays: halting sacrifices, setting up his image in the temple (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4):
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
 
He persecutes Jews savagely (Daniel 7:25: "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High"), demanding worship (Revelation 13:15).
 
But Christ returns! In Revelation 19:19-21:
"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”
 
He binds Satan (Revelation 20:1-3) and crushes Israel's foes at Armageddon (Zechariah 14:1-4, 9):
"Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. ... And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”
 
The Millennial Restoration: Blessing Beyond Eden
With enemies vanquished, Christ establishes His 1,000-year kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6). Israel, at last, fulfills her calling as head of nations (Isaiah 2:2-3). Zechariah 8:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 paints the joy:
"Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. ... Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. ... For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.”
 
The desert blooms (Isaiah 35:1-2: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing"). 
 
En-Gedi's shores overflow with fish (Ezekiel 47:8-10):
"Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.”
 
Israel becomes the world's economic powerhouse, exporting blessings (Zechariah 8:13). Nations stream to Jerusalem for instruction (Micah 4:1-2). The wolf dwells with the lamb (Isaiah 11:6-9), pre-Edenic harmony restored.
 
Beyond the Millennium, after final rebellion and judgment (Revelation 20:7-15), God creates new heavens and earth (Revelation 21:1-4; Isaiah 65:17; 66:22). No more curse—eternal joy, with redeemed Israel and Church worshiping the Lamb forever.
 
Beloved, Israel's story is God's story: rebellion met with grace. Though they defied Him, He pursues with everlasting love. As Luke 21 urges, when signs unfold, "look up"—redemption draws near. May we, like Paul, pray for Israel's salvation, standing firm on God's unbreakable Word. Amen.

A Concise Biblical Examination of John 1:1 and It’s Importance to Our Faith | J. Allen Mashburn

A Concise Biblical Examination of John 1:1 
and It’s Importance to Our Faith
 
 
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 
 
 
This verse is like a treasure chest full of truth about who Jesus is. It tells us that Jesus, called “the Word,” is God and has always been with God. Let’s break it down into three simple parts, using the original Greek words to help us understand, and see how it shows that Jesus is fully God.
 
Part 1: “In the beginning was the Word”
 
What it says in Greek: En archē ēn ho Logos  
Simple meaning: “When everything started, the Word was already there.”
 
-“In the beginning”:  This is like the very first moment of everything, just like the start of the Bible in Genesis 1:1, where God created the world. The Greek word archē means the start of all things. 
It’s saying Jesus was there before anything was made.
 
-“Was”:  This Greek word tells us the Word didn’t start existing—it was already there, always existing, forever. Jesus didn’t have a beginning; He’s eternal God.
 
-“The Word”:  The “Word” is Jesus. In Greek, Logos means God’s way of speaking or showing Himself. Jesus is God’s special way of talking to us and showing who God is. The word ho (the) means He’s the one and only Word, not just any word.
 
What this tells us: Jesus, the Word, was there before time began. He didn’t get created because He’s eternal, just like God. This shows us Jesus is God because only God has no beginning.
 
 
Part 2: “And the Word was with God”
 
What it says in Greek: kai ho Logos ēn pros ton Theon  
Simple meaning: “The Word was close to God.”
 
-“Was with”:  The Greek word pros means being right next to someone, like best friends who are always together. It shows Jesus was with God in close proximity, sharing a special relationship.
 
-“God”:  This is talking about God the Father. The Greek words show it’s a specific person, not just a vague idea of God. Jesus, the Word, is not the Father, but He’s with Him.
 
What this tells us: Jesus is a distinct person from God the Father, but they’re together as One. This shows Jesus is part of the Godhead, not a creation. It’s a hint that God is more than one person but yet still one God.
 
 
Part 3: “And the Word was God”
 
What it says in Greek: Kai Theos ēn ho Logos
Simple meaning: “The Word was God.”
 
-“God”:  In Greek, Theos means God, but here it doesn’t have the word ho (the) like before. This doesn’t mean Jesus is less than God. It’s a way to say Jesus has all the qualities of God—He is God in His nature, not a different or smaller god.
-“Was”:  Again, this word shows Jesus didn’t become God; He always was God, forever.
 
What this tells us: Jesus, the Word, is fully God. He’s not just like God or partly God—He is God, with all of God’s power, glory, and nature. This is super important because it tells us Jesus isn’t just a great person or a prophet; He’s God Himself.
 
Kai ——  And
Theos —  God
ēn ——-   was (can also mean “always existed”- thus, “God ‘always existed’ as the Word.”)
ho ——   the 
Logos — Word
 
Our translators didn’t get it wrong, it was proper to translate it “…and the Word was God,” in English in 1611.  Saying “God was the Word” is like saying God’s essence is perfectly shown in Jesus. It’s two ways of saying the same thing: Jesus is truly, fully, 100% God.  Christ came to fully reveal God to humanity, thus the Word was God and God was the Word.
 
Why This Matters: Jesus is God — Yet there are approximately 10,000 world religions that claim He isn’t. (Source:  Google, Accessed 10-8-2025)
 
John 1:1 is like a big sign shouting that Jesus is God. Here’s what we learn:
 
1. Jesus is eternal: He was there “in the beginning,” before anything was made. Only God is eternal, so Jesus is God.
2. Jesus is close to God: He’s with God the Father in a special, loving relationship, showing He’s a person in the Godhead, not just a thing or idea.
3. Jesus is fully God: The Word is God, sharing all of God’s qualities. This means Jesus has God’s power, love, and glory.
 
This verse sets up the whole Gospel of John, where we see Jesus do amazing things only God can do, like creating life (John 1:3) and forgiving sins (John 8:58). Later, in John 1:14 (“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”), we learn that this Word became a human—Jesus! So, the God who was there forever (always existed) became a person to show us who God is and to save us.
 
 
 
 
 
Summary of the Lesson on John 1:1
 
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  
The verse is broken into three parts to show that Jesus, called “the Word” (Greek: ho Logos), is fully God.
 
“In the beginning was the Word”: Jesus existed before everything, even before creation (like Genesis 1:1). The Greek word ἦν (was) shows He’s eternal, with no beginning, proving He’s God.
 
“And the Word was with God”: Jesus is close to God the Father, like best friends, in a special relationship. The Greek πρὸς (pros) shows they’re distinct but united, hinting at the Trinity.
 
“And the Word was God”: Jesus is fully God, sharing all of God’s qualities. The Greek Θεὸς (Theos) without “the” emphasizes His divine nature, not a lesser god.
 
The phrase “the Word was God and God was the Word” reflects the Greek, emphasizing Jesus’ full deity. 
 
In conclusion, John 1:1 teaches that Jesus is eternal, in close relationship with the Father, and fully God, setting the foundation for His identity as our Savior who became human (John 1:14). 
 
This one verse establishes the most outstanding case for the Deity of Christ, that is, Jesus Christ is God.

Spiritual Warfare in a World that Hates Christ & You | J. Allen Mashburn

Join Pastor Mashburn as he examines the Scriptures on the subject of "Spiritual Warfare in a World that Hates Christ & You."

A Good Man Assassinated - Charlie Kirk | What Does the Scripture Offer Us During This Time? | Psalm 46

It's been a heavy week.  A good man has been tragically taken from us by an assassin's bullet.  Charlie Kirk was a brilliant mind, a good man, a faithful husband and father.  Join Pastor Mashburn as he examines the Scripture and gains strength for these difficult days.

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians - The Boots of Peace | Ephesians 6:15 | J. Allen Mashburn

As we continue to study “the whole armor of God,” we continually need to be reminded why this is such an important topic. Verses 10-13 introduce the subject of spiritual warfare. We are told that the saints of God are engaged in a great cosmic battle against a powerful, relentless enemy. Our enemy is called “the devil,” v 11. Our enemy is said to employ “wiles,” v. 11. This word refers to “the tricks, schemes, and methods” the devil uses to undermine the faith of the saints, and to attack the glory of God.
 God’s command to His people is that they “stand” against the attacks of the enemy, vvs. 11, 13, 14. The word “stand” is a military term. It means “to hold a critical position during a time of enemy attack.” It is the image of “a soldier refusing to yield even one inch of ground to an attacking foe.” It is not the image of someone on the offensive, but rather, it is the picture of a soldier on the defensive, protecting the ground that has already been won.
 God had given His people some very precious possessions. He has given us truth, His church,  His Word, His grace, His salvation, His blessing, etc. And, the devil wants all of it. He will stop at nothing to take everything we have been given by the Lord.
 If we are to keep what we have received from the Lord, we must “stand” and hold on to the critical ground we have received from the Lord. To do that, God says we must “put on the whole armor of God.”

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians - The Breastplate of Righteousness | Ephesians 6:13-14 | J. Allen Mashburn

We are studying pieces of “the whole armor of God.” The “armor or God” is a necessary tool in our fight against  our common the enemy, the devil. Without every piece of the amor in place, we are easy prey for the enemy. When the pieces of the armor are missing, Satan has little trouble defeating us. He has little trouble damaging our testimonies, infiltrating our churches, and devastating our church. When the armor is missing, we are easily defeated.
  Yet, when a saint of God is dressed in “the whole armor of God,” the enemy has a hard times dealing with them. When the armor is in place, he cannot penetrate their defenses, and he must watch helplessly as they “stand” for God’s glory day after victorious day. I want that to be my testimony, how about you?
  Let’s continue to examine the pieces of “the whole armor of God.” Knowing what they are and how to use them will help us to “stand” for the Lord in victory.