Get Out of the Boat

You Can’t Walk On Water If You Are Sitting in the Boat (via http://link2power.org)

You ever hear someone say about a person that they walk on water? It typically means that this individual is the best at what they do. Well Jesus is the ultimate at what He did. He is asking us to do those works that He did. The etymology behind the…

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Red Heifer

Jesus died and rose again so that we might have abundant, eternal life -- and, access to the very Throne of the Eternal God.

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

John 10:10 [AMP]

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

Hebrews 4:16 [AMP]

If we insist on holding on to the dead things in our lives, we can find our spiritual progress hindered. Fortunately, we can confess our sins and receive instant cleansing. That is what the ashes of the red heifer did in the old testament... and that is what the Blood of Jesus does for us today.

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

1 John 1:9 [AMP]

 

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Mission POSSIBLE

This podcast will not self-destruct after you listen to it... But, hopefully... satan will self-destruct.

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Tastes Great... Less Filling...

Temptations from satan may be like honey to your ears. Unfortunately, they typically leave you hungry afterwards. Or even worse... they might leave you injured or even dead. They are sweet to your tongue and yet bitter to your stomach.

Sin often tastes great... but it is less filling. The drug addict spends his or her life trying to recapture that first elusive high. That path may lead to overdose... and possibly death. Get it?

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

John 10:10 [AMP]

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You can also download a free copy of our book Five Men Who Faced the Roaring Lion.

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The Offensive End (Part 5 of 5)

Love covers a multitude of sins. So ramp up your love walk and cover those sins!

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends. A reproof enters deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred lashes into a [self-confident] fool.

Proverbs 17:9-10 [AMP]

We apologize for the less than optimal sound quality on this series... but we hope the messages will touch your hearts.



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Check out the song we mention in the podcast entitled Love Covers a Multitude of Sin



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The Offensive End (Part 4 of 5)

Don’t trip when people get offended with you. They were offended by Jesus too...

Just a Carpenter

^1-2 He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. "We had no idea he was this good!" they said. "How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?"

³But in the next breath they were cutting him down: "He's just a carpenter—Mary's boy. We've known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?" They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.

^4-6Jesus told them, "A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child." Jesus wasn't able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that's all. He couldn't get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching.

Matthew 6:1-6 [MSG]

We apologize for the less than optimal sound quality on this series... but we hope the messages will touch your hearts.



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The Offensive End (Part 3 of 5)

People can become offended at you because of the blessings that God has given you...

The Offensive End (Part 2 of 5)

Oatmeal isn’t the only right thing to do… forgiveness is the ultimate right thing to do!

"The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."

Matthew 18:32-35 [MSG]

We apologize for the less than optimal sound quality on this series... but we hope the messages will touch your hearts.

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The Offensive End (Part 1 of 5)

On a snowy day, an altrusitic act is appreciated. On a sunny day, a simple greeting is ignored. The temptation comes to get offended. We must not give in to that temptation!

²¹ Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times?
²² Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven!
²³ Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a human king who wished to settle accounts with his attendants.
²⁴ When he began the accounting, one was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents [probably about $10,000,000],
²⁵ And because he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made.
²⁶ So the attendant fell on his knees, begging him, Have patience with me and I will pay you everything.
²⁷ And his master's heart was moved with compassion, and he released him and forgave him [cancelling] the debt.
²⁸ But that same attendant, as he went out, found one of his fellow attendants who owed him a hundred denarii [about twenty dollars]; and he caught him by the throat and said, Pay what you owe!
²⁹ So his fellow attendant fell down and begged him earnestly, Give me time, and I will pay you all !
³⁰ But he was unwilling, and he went out and had him put in prison till he should pay the debt.
³¹ When his fellow attendants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and told everything that had taken place to their master.
³² Then his master called him and said to him, You contemptible and wicked attendant! I forgave and cancelled all that [great] debt of yours because you begged me to.
³³ And should you not have had pity and mercy on your fellow attendant, as I had pity and mercy on you?
³⁴ And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (the jailers), till he should pay all that he owed.
³⁵ So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart his offenses.

Matthew 18:21-35 [AMP]

We apologize for the less than optimal sound quality on this series... but we hope the messages will touch your hearts.

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Good Sense

Why is it some people seem to go out of their way to make you feel bad?  Human nature would say to strike back... to do something mean and nasty back to them as revenge. But the Bible tells us that Good Sense dictates that we restrain our anger... that we overlook the offensive things that others do. This opens the door for love to come in.

Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.

Proverbs 19:11 [AMP]

⁸ Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].

⁹ Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ's body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him).

1 Peter 4:8-9 [AMP]

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The Lord is Your Defender (Part 3 of 3)

God will see your righteous behavior and defend you. Unfortunately, people sometimes see your righteous behavior and accuse you of being unrighteous.

We see an example of that in the Old Testament. A woman who wanted to have a baby prayed to ask God for a blessing. The man of God saw her and assumed she was drunk.

 



 

And as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli noticed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.

1 Samuel 1:12-13 [AMP]

 

In the Bible, Hannah (not to be confused with Hannah Montana) was falsely accused by the prophet of being drunk when, in fact, she was praying to the Lord. And would you believe that this Old Testament faux pas is repeated today in the 21st Century? But just as He did in the olden days, God still protects those whose hearts are right in His eyes.

 

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The Lord is Your Defender (Part 2 of 3)

Our friend Charlie Peacock wrote a wonderful song called “Monkeys At The Zoo” to describe those things in our lives that can wreck our personal walk with The Defender.

 

 

You may be a perfect Christian, but I definitely am not.  I know what it is like to catch yourself (or to be caught by The Spirit) acting like a monkey in the zoo. Fortunately, we can repent... receive forgiveness... and continue to live within the protection and defense of the Lord.

 

My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.

Psalm 51:17 [AMP]

 

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

1 John 1:9 [AMP]

 

God is our Defender. He will send His hosts to deliver you from those who rise up to destroy you. What a wonderful promise.  However, it is important to remember that, in order to be a recipient of His protection, we must live the type of life that honors Him.

 

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The Lord is Your Defender (Part 1 of 3)

A favorite TV show from our childhood was The Equalizer, a master spy who would be your personal defender in times of trouble.

 



 

That show has since been canceled.  The star of the series is now deceased.  And worse of all... this was fiction and not real life.  But there is a Defender Who is real, Who will never go away, Who will be quick to defend you... and He is always there!

 

For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

Psalm 91:11 [AMP]

 

God will defend and protect you. He will send His angels to accompany and defend and preserve you. He does this because He is a loving Father.  Part of the requirement for receiving His protection is when we obey and serve God. As you walk with Him, you will grow to know Him more.

God will defeat your enemy (satan) and hold off all who would work against you… and he will discipline you when you screw up.  He is your Father.  He is your defender.

 

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Elimelech

Times are hard. But just because times are hard doesn’t mean you should stray away from God to try to find something in the world.  

Are You Helping or Hurting the Cause?

Are you helping to bring people into the Kingdom of God... or are you chasing people away?