RUSSELL SANDERS

4-2-2025

JUDAS ISCARIOT

PART ONE

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Judas Iscariot is best known as the disciple who betrayed Jesus. John 6:64 tells us that Jesus knew right up front that Judas would betray him, yet he selected Judas anyway as one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Judas was different from the other eleven from the beginning. The eleven were all from Galilee, north of Jerusalem. They grew up in the Galilean culture. Judas, the only non-Galilean, grew up in Bethany, a village just outside Jerusalem. This presented some subtle cultural differences in how he was reared up. His father was an established Pharisee of Jerusalem, well educated in the law of Moses. The eleven Galileans were considered to be poorly educated and uncultured. Judas’ upbringing was more than likely one that was well ordered, including being educated. Judas’ father was called Simon the leper.

Judas’ surname Iscariot likely came from the geographic origin of his family before moving from Kerioth, south of Judah to Bethany. We know nothing of his early life, but it would appear that he had some business experience or background since Jesus put him in charge of the finances for the group.

Tomorrow we will dig deeper into the man himself, to see what we can learn from him.

HELEN SANDERS

4-2-2025

OUR RIGHTEOUS ADVOCATE

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In 1 John 2:1-2 it reads, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

The word “advocate” means an intercessor, a consoler, a comforter. In modern terms, an advocate is, “One who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy, or who speaks or writes in support of a person, cause, etc., or pleads for or on behalf of another.”

Think of a legal courtroom in heaven. You are on trial for your sin. The prosecuting attorney is Satan, who stands with a list in his hand, detailing all the sinful things you have done in your life. Every lie, every broken promise, every sinful thought, and deed. He places the list on the scales of justice, and it immediately yields to the “sin list” and is weighed down, bringing a verdict of guilty. You have nothing to say because you know you are guilty.

Then, Jesus, your righteous advocate, stands up for your “defense” and goes to the judge, who is Father God. He speaks to him and says that you have repented of your sin and have become born again. He then goes to the scales of justice. He places something on the scale. As you look closely you see that it is one drop of his innocent blood. The scales immediately go the other way, the list of sins falls from the scale because Jesus’s blood has pardoned you.  

There is silence from the prosecuting attorney because he knows the charges are no longer valid. They have been washed away. He walks away angry, but there is nothing he can do. The Judge brings forth the verdict. Not Guilty! You have been acquitted in the courtroom of heaven. You are free, pardoned by the blood of Jesus!

This is what Jesus does for us when we ask forgiveness of our sin and receive him as our savior. He “advocates” in the courtroom of heaven against our adversary, Satan. You are no longer bound by your sin. You have been set free.  

HELEN SANDERS

4-1-2025

PROPHETIC EXHORTATION

Never lose hope. Hope brings faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God. So put your hope in the promises of God and stand on those promises until they bring faith that brings it to pass!

DEBRA TOPE

SEER/INTERCESSOR

Wednesday Thought For Today



Have you ever thought about what happens when the Presence of God comes into the room? Everything changes. Miracles take place, healings and deliverances happen. It’s how Jesus operates. When He walks into a room His anointing comes in also and everything changes. And when you become a child of God that anointing falls on you. With the Holy Spirit you become a game changer for the Lord.

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So the question today is do you believe that you are a game changer? Do you believe that when you walk into a room everything changes? Jesus already gave us the answer.

APOSTLE PAT MURRAY

PROPHETIC EXHORTATION

Just know there’ll always be those times when you simply CANNOT understand everything about life and living it; For the truth is…We none can fully understand EVERYTHING all the TIME. Therefore you should keep in mind as a child of God that absolutely NOTHING will happen TO you that our God does not see. So be sure that you’re allowing Him to be the WRITER and the DIRECTOR on the STAGE of the play of life called…”It’s Your Life; So Be Careful How You Live It”. If you remember King Solomon who was known for his great wisdom gave us these wise words in Proverbs 3:6…”Seek God’s will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take”. Then it was in Proverbs 16:9 that he went on to write even more words of wisdom to us…”We can make our plans but the Lord determines and directs all our steps". Now you go in peace realizing that God, not only has the DIRECTIONS for your life; But He also has you safe, sound and secure from any and all harm. So today and everyday walk in that wisdom and understanding; And you will have yourself a happy, healthy and blessed life.

BARBARA TOWER

PROPHETESS

If you can't pray for me but offer me healing "vibes", I am good without them. Vibes are short for vibrations which no vibrations ever healed anybody. It is the prayer of faith that makes the difference. Not frequencies, sounds or "well wishes" supposedly sent from some that say they are sending "healing vibes". By His stripes we are healed. The fervent prayers of a righteous man (or woman) avail much.

Our Reward! HCC

When we are called home, our reward awaits!

We are with our Savior now, we look upon

His face. In my Heart, this Jesus, is all the reward

I need; for he, this savior, he is the one who died

And rose for me. There is no better reward than

This, for forgiveness for our sins. This beautiful

Savior we’ll stand before, and all will smile

Just to be with him.

To see more of HCC's beautiful poems on YouTube click here