Welcome to Bible Bytes, where we work to inspire faith one byte at a time.
In Matthew 12:22-23 and Luke 11:14-23, Jesus demonstrates His authority over demonic forces by healing a man who was blind and mute due to demonic oppression. This miraculous event reveals both the power of Jesus and the skepticism of those who witnessed it. Through this lesson, we will explore the implications of Jesus’ actions, the reactions of the crowd, and the eternal truths about His authority and the kingdom of God.
Scriptures in this Episode:
Matthew 12: 22-23 (NASB)
Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Jesus, and He healed him so that the man who was unable to speak talked and could see. And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?"
Luke 11: 14-23 (NASB)
And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute; when the demon had gone out, the man who was previously unable to speak talked, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, "He casts out the demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons." Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven. But He knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. And if Satan also has been divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you claim that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Yet if by Beelzebul I cast out the demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if I cast out the demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are secure. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor on which he had relied, and distributes his plunder. The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters."
Key Takeaways:
- Jesus' power is unmatched
- Reactions to Jesus Vary
- Allegiance is essential
- The kingdom of God is advancing
Value 4 Value:
This podcast operates under the Value 4 Value model. We hope that we are providing value through the work we are doing, and that you would then, in turn, provide value back to us. This can come in three forms: time, talent, or treasure.
To learn more about the Value 4 Value model and how we apply it to this show, head over to our website and read up on it at https://bible-bytes.com/v4v.
Prayer Requests:
Head to our website (https://bible-bytes.com/contact) and fill out the contact form to make a prayer request or send it to us in a boost in a modern podcast app.
[00:00:06]
Unknown:
We gather here today with open hearts and minds to grow in faith and truth in every word we find. The pages of the word alive and full of grace, inspiring faith within as we seek his face.
[00:00:52] Randy Black:
Welcome to Bible Bites, the podcast where we work to inspire faith one bite at a time. I'm your host, Randy Black. In the gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus demonstrates his authority over demonic forces by healing a man who is blind and mute due to demonic oppression. This miraculous event reveals both the power of Jesus and the skepticism of those who witnessed it. Through these scriptures, we will explore the implications of Jesus' actions, the reactions of the crowd, and the eternal truths about his authority and the kingdom of God. As we do with every episode, before we dive into our study of the scripture, let's open up with a word of prayer.
Heavenly father, we come before you in all of your power and your love. Thank you for the example of Jesus who brings healing and freedom to those in bondage. Open our hearts and minds as we study your word. Teach us to recognize your authority in our lives and to trust in your power to overcome all evil. May these scriptures in this lesson deepen our faith and strengthen our commitment to follow you. In the name of your son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
[00:02:19] Randy Black:
Matthew chapter 12 verses 22 and 23. Then a demon possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Jesus, and he healed him so that the man who was unable to speak talked and could see. And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, this man cannot be the son of David, can he? Luke chapter 11 verses 14 through 23. And he was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the man who was previously unable to speak talked, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, he cast out the demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.
Others to test him were demanding of him a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house divided against itself falls. And if Satan also has been divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you claim that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Yet if by Beelzebul I cast out the demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if I cast out the demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his own house, his possessions are secure. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor on which he had relied, and distributes his plunder.
The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters.
[00:03:58] Randy Black:
In both passages passages of scripture here, Jesus' power over demonic forces is unmistakable. The man's condition was severe as he was both blind and mute, making it clear that his affliction was beyond human remedy. Jesus' healing of the man demonstrates his divine authority, showing that no force of darkness can can withstand his power. This act not only restored the man's physical restored this man physically, but also it it freed him spiritually and exemplifying Jesus' mission to bring liberation to the oppressed. The reaction of the crowd reflects a mix of amazement and of doubt.
In Matthew's account, some wondered if Jesus could be the promised Messiah calling him the son of David. This title signifies the people's hope for a deliverer from David's lineage who would establish God's kingdom. However, their question reveals uncertainty as they struggle to reconcile their expectations of the Messiah with Jesus' actions. Luke's account adds another layer by highlighting opposition to Jesus. Some accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons. This accusation reveals the hardness of their hearts and their unwillingness to acknowledge Jesus' divine authority.
Rather than seeing the miracle as evidence of God's kingdom, they twisted it into something sinister. Jesus' response to accusations is both logical and profound. He points out the absurdity of Satan working against himself, stating that a divided kingdom cannot stand. By exposing the flawed reasoning of his accusers, Jesus reinforces his authority and underscores the reality of his mission to overthrow the kingdom of darkness and establish God's rule. Furthermore, Jesus uses this moment to emphasize the seriousness of choosing sides.
In Luke 11 verse 23, he declares, the one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters. This statement challenges all who hear it to decide whether their allegiance where exactly their allegiances lie. Neutrality is is not an option in the face of Jesus' authority. We have some key takeaways from these pieces of scripture. Our first is that Jesus' power is unmatched. Jesus' healing of the blind and mute demonic is a clear demonstration of his authority over both physical and spiritual realms. No human remedy could address this man's affliction, but Jesus' power proves sufficient.
This underscores his identity as the son of God capable of overcoming any forces of darkness. It also reminds us that no problem or challenge in our lives is beyond his ability to resolve. His authority is both comprehensive and compassionate, always working for the good of those who trust him. Our second takeaway is that the reactions to Jesus vary. The crowd's response to the miracle was a mixture of amazement and skepticism. While Saul some saw the possibility of Jesus being the son of David, others doubted or even accused him of colluding with evil. This reveals the diversity of human reactions to God's work, shaped by the condition of the heart.
It reminds us that faith requires humility and openness to truth. Our response to Jesus should be one of belief and gratitude rather than doubt or resistance as he continually reveals his love and his power. Our 3rd takeaway is that allegiance is essential. Jesus clearly states that neutrality is not an option. The one who is not with me is against me. This calls us to actively choose him and align our lives with his mission. It challenges us to examine our priorities and to ensure that we are not inadvertently scattering scattering, by neglecting our our faith or our mission.
Allegiance to Jesus, means more than belief. It requires action such as sharing the gospel, serving others, and living according to his teachings. By standing with Jesus, we contribute to his kingdom's growth and reflect his love to the world. And our last takeaway is that the kingdom of God is advancing. Jesus' miracle serves as an as undeniable signs that God's kingdom is breaking into the world. The healing of the man highlights the liberating power of this kingdom, which brings freedom from sin and from oppression. This truth assures us that God's reign is active and victorious even in the face of opposition.
As followers of Christ, we are invited to participate in this advancing kingdom by living as ambassadors of his love, his grace, and his truth. Each act of faith and obedience contributes to the realization of God's will on earth as it is in heaven. These passages challenge us to reflect on how we respond to Jesus' authority. Like the crowd, we are faced with a decision. Will we recognize Jesus as as Lord and align our lives with his kingdom, or will we resist and miss the freedom he offers? Reflect on moments in your life where you may have doubted or delayed fully committing to his will.
How can you take steps to deepen your trust in his authority? Consider the faith of those who brought this man to Jesus. They believed in his power to heal despite the man's severe condition. This example reminds us to bring our burdens and the needs of others to Jesus, trusting in his ability to provide restoration. How often do we intercede for others confident in God's power to change lives? The accusations against Jesus highlight the danger of hardheartedness. It is possible to witness God's power and still reject him due to pride or preconceived notions. This serves as a warning to examine our hearts and ensure we are open to the truth of who Jesus is.
Reflect on areas where pride or misconceptions might hinder your ability to fully embrace God's work in your life. Jesus' statement about allegiance urges us to evaluate our commitments to him. Are we actively gathering with him, contributing to his kingdom work, or are we passively scattering by neglecting our call? This reflection invites us to deepen our devotion and participate fully in his mission. What specific steps can you take today to align more closely with his kingdom's work? And lastly, the concept of the kingdom of God advancing reminds us that we are part of a much larger story.
Every act of obedience, every prayer, and every step of faith contributes to God's eternal purposes. Consider the ways in which you can be an active participant in this kingdom, spreading his love and truth to those around you. As we do in every episode as we finish up our examination and study the scripture, let's close out with a prayer. Lord, we thank you for your power and authority over all things. Help us to respond to your faith, respond to you with faith, and not with doubt or resistance. Give us the courage to choose you daily and to align our lives with your kingdom.
Teach us to trust in your ability to bring healing and freedom to every area of our lives. May we always stand with you and work to gather others into your kingdom. In the name of your son, Jesus, our savior, we pray. Amen.
[00:12:59] Unknown:
This podcast supports podcasting 2 point o, so feel free to send us a boost if you are
[00:13:15] Randy Black:
Here at Bible Bytes, this pod our podcast operates under what's called the value for value model. And we hope that with what we do each week in providing these episodes and the work we're doing to prepare them, that we are providing value to you. And that you would then, in turn, provide value back to us. And that can come in 3 different forms under the value for value model, and we call it the 3 t's, time, talent, and treasure. Time is as simple as taking the time to listen each week when an episode comes out. It could also be taking that episode and sharing it with someone else that you think may gain something or learn something or come to the Lord from hearing that episode. Talent will be offering to assist us with helping, with various aspects of the show. It could be creating cover art for an episode because we do change that with every episode. It could be providing ideas for topics that we can look at and examine and find scripture to to include in that. It could be providing you scriptures to look at and examine and and build a topic and a lesson off of. It could be even scripting out a lesson based off of scriptures and topics you have on your heart from the Lord.
And it could even be stepping up and volunteering to record and be a part of the show. And the 3rd part of those three t's is treasure, which would be something financial. You can share, support the show financially by listening at a modern podcast app and streaming SATs to us in the app. SATs are very small very small small pieces of Bitcoin. You can also go to our website there, and you can, make a pledge of support on our value for value page. At the bottom of the page, there's a link there. Of an actually an embedded widget there where you can send us funds to support us through PayPal and some of the options PayPal has there. There's also a link there for get Alby so you can send a transaction through the Lightning Network or Bitcoin, as well as strike. Strike, as well as a way you can do that.
And we have a link there that you can use, to purchase credits on Auphonic. Auphonic is a service we use for processing our audio and things. To learn more about the value for value model and how it is we apply it to what we do here on the show, you can head over to our website and read up on that. You can head do that by heading to bible dash bytes.com/v4v. That's bible dashbytes with a y, bytes.com/theletterv, the number 4, and the letter v. We hope that if you have a prayer request, you're willing to reach out and share that with us on the show via one of the con contact means we have on our website. There's a form built there on the website. You can send those in. You can also send those in in a modern podcast app by sending us a boostagram, of support that includes your prayer request. But we would hope that we can we can bring those together and share them and lift them up to our with our audience to the Lord as a unit to to bring those requests very strongly to the Lord.
We do have prayer requests to to include today. First off, the the victims of of the previous winter storm we talked about, Blair, and then there's another winter storm heading right in, barreling toward the East Coast. It's gonna hit us here in West Virginia where I'm at and some other places in the mid Atlantic, and the north north some of the northeast, some of the southeast. So keep the people in in your mind with that that they can make it through and everything will be okay. We also wanna remember those who've been affected by the the wildfires in California, specifically Los Angeles, the Pacific Palisades area. Tremendous devastation and things there, but we wanna hope that, you know, the recovery happens for these folks. And if they don't know the Lord, that that this might be a a sign for them that they need to come to the Lord, as well in their lives.
We have continued prayer requests for my dad. His cancer treatments are they're going okay. He hasn't had a full week of treatment just with some things at the at the at the treatment center and stuff, with some machinery issues. But he's he's doing well, not having a lot of side effects from it other than being tired. So we're gonna continue to ask the Lord to help him as he goes through this process and to touch him and maybe stir his heart a little and bring him bring him back to church and into into direct service with the Lord. Again, my mom as well as she's going through all this with him, that she can be the rock he needs to for support and hold him up, and, you know, I'd love to see her as well get back into church, weekly, for services and for the amazing, fellowship you can have with others, while in service to the Lord.
Again, Tim Kolek, he's a gentleman I've mentioned for the last couple of weeks. I'm gonna lift him up and continue to pray for him and as he deals with the sickness and things he's dealing with. Family friend, Greg, as well. He's currently preparing to go and see the doctor and see what options they have for for treatment with what they found through the results and things they've they've gotten on the biopsies and stuff with him. Also, his wife currently this week is pretty ill. She's pretty sick. So, like, we're having a family get together later on, today that she's not gonna be able to make it to make it to. We invited them down because they're such good friends and so close with them, but they're not gonna be able to make it because of her illness. So we wanna remember Kim, his wife, as she's, dealing with that, that the Lord can heal her and touch her and and help her to get well.
And then, again, continue to remember me. I'm seeing some some success and some some things happening with the changes in the medication from the direction that the doctor has pushed things. And I'm I'm feeling much better, and I'm I'm ready to say that I'm I think I'm gonna I'm gonna beat these things that are that are being issues. And I know it's because I've handed that over to the Lord and asked the Lord for, for the help on that. So as we do each week, before we talk about our next episode, we're gonna close out with a prayer for these requests. Heavenly father, we thank you again for the chance to to come and spread your word, to share it with those, and to learn from your word.
We wanna lift up these requests that, we've we've had shared today, the people affected by these winter storms as they're going on, California and the wildfires, my parents, friends, Greg and Kim, friend, Tim Kolekka, and myself, and any unspoken requests that we have, Lord. You know what the needs are, and you know the best way to address them in a way that meets with your will. We we trust your wisdom in providing those answers for us. It's in your name that we work each week to share the word with those in the world to help them to gain better knowledge and better understanding of your word, but also if they don't know your son, Jesus, personally as their savior, that they can accept him and spend eternity in heaven with those who are saved and with you and with your son.
And it's in the name of your son that we pray and ask you for these things. Amen. Our next episode, we're gonna look at the 30th miracle in our series and that's when Jesus heals a woman who had been crippled for 18 years. If you wanna go ahead and read up on that, you can look in Luke chapter 13 in verses 10 through 17. So join us on the next episode of Bible Bites, the podcast where we work to inspire faith one bite at a time. Bible bites.
[00:20:49] Unknown:
Bible bites. Inspiring faith one bite at shine.
[00:21:28] Unknown:
This podcast was produced at Johns Creek Studios in Milton, West Virginia. To learn more, head over to johnscreekstudios.com. Johns Creek Studios, where podcast dreams come to life.
We gather here today with open hearts and minds to grow in faith and truth in every word we find. The pages of the word alive and full of grace, inspiring faith within as we seek his face.
[00:00:52] Randy Black:
Welcome to Bible Bites, the podcast where we work to inspire faith one bite at a time. I'm your host, Randy Black. In the gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus demonstrates his authority over demonic forces by healing a man who is blind and mute due to demonic oppression. This miraculous event reveals both the power of Jesus and the skepticism of those who witnessed it. Through these scriptures, we will explore the implications of Jesus' actions, the reactions of the crowd, and the eternal truths about his authority and the kingdom of God. As we do with every episode, before we dive into our study of the scripture, let's open up with a word of prayer.
Heavenly father, we come before you in all of your power and your love. Thank you for the example of Jesus who brings healing and freedom to those in bondage. Open our hearts and minds as we study your word. Teach us to recognize your authority in our lives and to trust in your power to overcome all evil. May these scriptures in this lesson deepen our faith and strengthen our commitment to follow you. In the name of your son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
[00:02:19] Randy Black:
Matthew chapter 12 verses 22 and 23. Then a demon possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Jesus, and he healed him so that the man who was unable to speak talked and could see. And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, this man cannot be the son of David, can he? Luke chapter 11 verses 14 through 23. And he was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the man who was previously unable to speak talked, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, he cast out the demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.
Others to test him were demanding of him a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house divided against itself falls. And if Satan also has been divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you claim that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Yet if by Beelzebul I cast out the demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if I cast out the demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his own house, his possessions are secure. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor on which he had relied, and distributes his plunder.
The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters.
[00:03:58] Randy Black:
In both passages passages of scripture here, Jesus' power over demonic forces is unmistakable. The man's condition was severe as he was both blind and mute, making it clear that his affliction was beyond human remedy. Jesus' healing of the man demonstrates his divine authority, showing that no force of darkness can can withstand his power. This act not only restored the man's physical restored this man physically, but also it it freed him spiritually and exemplifying Jesus' mission to bring liberation to the oppressed. The reaction of the crowd reflects a mix of amazement and of doubt.
In Matthew's account, some wondered if Jesus could be the promised Messiah calling him the son of David. This title signifies the people's hope for a deliverer from David's lineage who would establish God's kingdom. However, their question reveals uncertainty as they struggle to reconcile their expectations of the Messiah with Jesus' actions. Luke's account adds another layer by highlighting opposition to Jesus. Some accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons. This accusation reveals the hardness of their hearts and their unwillingness to acknowledge Jesus' divine authority.
Rather than seeing the miracle as evidence of God's kingdom, they twisted it into something sinister. Jesus' response to accusations is both logical and profound. He points out the absurdity of Satan working against himself, stating that a divided kingdom cannot stand. By exposing the flawed reasoning of his accusers, Jesus reinforces his authority and underscores the reality of his mission to overthrow the kingdom of darkness and establish God's rule. Furthermore, Jesus uses this moment to emphasize the seriousness of choosing sides.
In Luke 11 verse 23, he declares, the one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters. This statement challenges all who hear it to decide whether their allegiance where exactly their allegiances lie. Neutrality is is not an option in the face of Jesus' authority. We have some key takeaways from these pieces of scripture. Our first is that Jesus' power is unmatched. Jesus' healing of the blind and mute demonic is a clear demonstration of his authority over both physical and spiritual realms. No human remedy could address this man's affliction, but Jesus' power proves sufficient.
This underscores his identity as the son of God capable of overcoming any forces of darkness. It also reminds us that no problem or challenge in our lives is beyond his ability to resolve. His authority is both comprehensive and compassionate, always working for the good of those who trust him. Our second takeaway is that the reactions to Jesus vary. The crowd's response to the miracle was a mixture of amazement and skepticism. While Saul some saw the possibility of Jesus being the son of David, others doubted or even accused him of colluding with evil. This reveals the diversity of human reactions to God's work, shaped by the condition of the heart.
It reminds us that faith requires humility and openness to truth. Our response to Jesus should be one of belief and gratitude rather than doubt or resistance as he continually reveals his love and his power. Our 3rd takeaway is that allegiance is essential. Jesus clearly states that neutrality is not an option. The one who is not with me is against me. This calls us to actively choose him and align our lives with his mission. It challenges us to examine our priorities and to ensure that we are not inadvertently scattering scattering, by neglecting our our faith or our mission.
Allegiance to Jesus, means more than belief. It requires action such as sharing the gospel, serving others, and living according to his teachings. By standing with Jesus, we contribute to his kingdom's growth and reflect his love to the world. And our last takeaway is that the kingdom of God is advancing. Jesus' miracle serves as an as undeniable signs that God's kingdom is breaking into the world. The healing of the man highlights the liberating power of this kingdom, which brings freedom from sin and from oppression. This truth assures us that God's reign is active and victorious even in the face of opposition.
As followers of Christ, we are invited to participate in this advancing kingdom by living as ambassadors of his love, his grace, and his truth. Each act of faith and obedience contributes to the realization of God's will on earth as it is in heaven. These passages challenge us to reflect on how we respond to Jesus' authority. Like the crowd, we are faced with a decision. Will we recognize Jesus as as Lord and align our lives with his kingdom, or will we resist and miss the freedom he offers? Reflect on moments in your life where you may have doubted or delayed fully committing to his will.
How can you take steps to deepen your trust in his authority? Consider the faith of those who brought this man to Jesus. They believed in his power to heal despite the man's severe condition. This example reminds us to bring our burdens and the needs of others to Jesus, trusting in his ability to provide restoration. How often do we intercede for others confident in God's power to change lives? The accusations against Jesus highlight the danger of hardheartedness. It is possible to witness God's power and still reject him due to pride or preconceived notions. This serves as a warning to examine our hearts and ensure we are open to the truth of who Jesus is.
Reflect on areas where pride or misconceptions might hinder your ability to fully embrace God's work in your life. Jesus' statement about allegiance urges us to evaluate our commitments to him. Are we actively gathering with him, contributing to his kingdom work, or are we passively scattering by neglecting our call? This reflection invites us to deepen our devotion and participate fully in his mission. What specific steps can you take today to align more closely with his kingdom's work? And lastly, the concept of the kingdom of God advancing reminds us that we are part of a much larger story.
Every act of obedience, every prayer, and every step of faith contributes to God's eternal purposes. Consider the ways in which you can be an active participant in this kingdom, spreading his love and truth to those around you. As we do in every episode as we finish up our examination and study the scripture, let's close out with a prayer. Lord, we thank you for your power and authority over all things. Help us to respond to your faith, respond to you with faith, and not with doubt or resistance. Give us the courage to choose you daily and to align our lives with your kingdom.
Teach us to trust in your ability to bring healing and freedom to every area of our lives. May we always stand with you and work to gather others into your kingdom. In the name of your son, Jesus, our savior, we pray. Amen.
[00:12:59] Unknown:
This podcast supports podcasting 2 point o, so feel free to send us a boost if you are
[00:13:15] Randy Black:
Here at Bible Bytes, this pod our podcast operates under what's called the value for value model. And we hope that with what we do each week in providing these episodes and the work we're doing to prepare them, that we are providing value to you. And that you would then, in turn, provide value back to us. And that can come in 3 different forms under the value for value model, and we call it the 3 t's, time, talent, and treasure. Time is as simple as taking the time to listen each week when an episode comes out. It could also be taking that episode and sharing it with someone else that you think may gain something or learn something or come to the Lord from hearing that episode. Talent will be offering to assist us with helping, with various aspects of the show. It could be creating cover art for an episode because we do change that with every episode. It could be providing ideas for topics that we can look at and examine and find scripture to to include in that. It could be providing you scriptures to look at and examine and and build a topic and a lesson off of. It could be even scripting out a lesson based off of scriptures and topics you have on your heart from the Lord.
And it could even be stepping up and volunteering to record and be a part of the show. And the 3rd part of those three t's is treasure, which would be something financial. You can share, support the show financially by listening at a modern podcast app and streaming SATs to us in the app. SATs are very small very small small pieces of Bitcoin. You can also go to our website there, and you can, make a pledge of support on our value for value page. At the bottom of the page, there's a link there. Of an actually an embedded widget there where you can send us funds to support us through PayPal and some of the options PayPal has there. There's also a link there for get Alby so you can send a transaction through the Lightning Network or Bitcoin, as well as strike. Strike, as well as a way you can do that.
And we have a link there that you can use, to purchase credits on Auphonic. Auphonic is a service we use for processing our audio and things. To learn more about the value for value model and how it is we apply it to what we do here on the show, you can head over to our website and read up on that. You can head do that by heading to bible dash bytes.com/v4v. That's bible dashbytes with a y, bytes.com/theletterv, the number 4, and the letter v. We hope that if you have a prayer request, you're willing to reach out and share that with us on the show via one of the con contact means we have on our website. There's a form built there on the website. You can send those in. You can also send those in in a modern podcast app by sending us a boostagram, of support that includes your prayer request. But we would hope that we can we can bring those together and share them and lift them up to our with our audience to the Lord as a unit to to bring those requests very strongly to the Lord.
We do have prayer requests to to include today. First off, the the victims of of the previous winter storm we talked about, Blair, and then there's another winter storm heading right in, barreling toward the East Coast. It's gonna hit us here in West Virginia where I'm at and some other places in the mid Atlantic, and the north north some of the northeast, some of the southeast. So keep the people in in your mind with that that they can make it through and everything will be okay. We also wanna remember those who've been affected by the the wildfires in California, specifically Los Angeles, the Pacific Palisades area. Tremendous devastation and things there, but we wanna hope that, you know, the recovery happens for these folks. And if they don't know the Lord, that that this might be a a sign for them that they need to come to the Lord, as well in their lives.
We have continued prayer requests for my dad. His cancer treatments are they're going okay. He hasn't had a full week of treatment just with some things at the at the at the treatment center and stuff, with some machinery issues. But he's he's doing well, not having a lot of side effects from it other than being tired. So we're gonna continue to ask the Lord to help him as he goes through this process and to touch him and maybe stir his heart a little and bring him bring him back to church and into into direct service with the Lord. Again, my mom as well as she's going through all this with him, that she can be the rock he needs to for support and hold him up, and, you know, I'd love to see her as well get back into church, weekly, for services and for the amazing, fellowship you can have with others, while in service to the Lord.
Again, Tim Kolek, he's a gentleman I've mentioned for the last couple of weeks. I'm gonna lift him up and continue to pray for him and as he deals with the sickness and things he's dealing with. Family friend, Greg, as well. He's currently preparing to go and see the doctor and see what options they have for for treatment with what they found through the results and things they've they've gotten on the biopsies and stuff with him. Also, his wife currently this week is pretty ill. She's pretty sick. So, like, we're having a family get together later on, today that she's not gonna be able to make it to make it to. We invited them down because they're such good friends and so close with them, but they're not gonna be able to make it because of her illness. So we wanna remember Kim, his wife, as she's, dealing with that, that the Lord can heal her and touch her and and help her to get well.
And then, again, continue to remember me. I'm seeing some some success and some some things happening with the changes in the medication from the direction that the doctor has pushed things. And I'm I'm feeling much better, and I'm I'm ready to say that I'm I think I'm gonna I'm gonna beat these things that are that are being issues. And I know it's because I've handed that over to the Lord and asked the Lord for, for the help on that. So as we do each week, before we talk about our next episode, we're gonna close out with a prayer for these requests. Heavenly father, we thank you again for the chance to to come and spread your word, to share it with those, and to learn from your word.
We wanna lift up these requests that, we've we've had shared today, the people affected by these winter storms as they're going on, California and the wildfires, my parents, friends, Greg and Kim, friend, Tim Kolekka, and myself, and any unspoken requests that we have, Lord. You know what the needs are, and you know the best way to address them in a way that meets with your will. We we trust your wisdom in providing those answers for us. It's in your name that we work each week to share the word with those in the world to help them to gain better knowledge and better understanding of your word, but also if they don't know your son, Jesus, personally as their savior, that they can accept him and spend eternity in heaven with those who are saved and with you and with your son.
And it's in the name of your son that we pray and ask you for these things. Amen. Our next episode, we're gonna look at the 30th miracle in our series and that's when Jesus heals a woman who had been crippled for 18 years. If you wanna go ahead and read up on that, you can look in Luke chapter 13 in verses 10 through 17. So join us on the next episode of Bible Bites, the podcast where we work to inspire faith one bite at a time. Bible bites.
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Bible bites. Inspiring faith one bite at shine.
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This podcast was produced at Johns Creek Studios in Milton, West Virginia. To learn more, head over to johnscreekstudios.com. Johns Creek Studios, where podcast dreams come to life.
