Real Truth Matters Podcast: Recent Episodes
Michael Durham
Walking and communion with God are not automatic. How then do you experience the reality of a personal relationship with God, or read your Bible and experience God’s presence? Put simply, how do you know God? These are huge questions that need serious discussion. Every Tuesday, Michael Durham of Real Truth Matters Ministries will lead in such a conversation. This podcast tackles the experiential side of Christianity with teaching, interviews, and question and answer episodes. If you want to grow in fellowship with God in the biblical manner known by the orthodox and sound men of God of the old paths, then tune in each week to the Real Truth Matters Podcast.
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As we come to the final episode of this season-long study on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, we return to one of the most beautiful promises Jesus ever made—the promise of another Helper. When He spoke those words, the disciples were facing the darkest hours of their lives. Everything familiar was about to change, yet His words carried a hope that would outlive every trial: “He will abide with you forever.” That promise was not confined to the upper room—it reaches across centuries to you and me today.
From the first episode to now, our aim has been to know the Holy Spirit not as an influence or power, but as a living Person—real, present, and personal. The One who abides with us and in us, guiding, strengthening, and revealing Christ in our hearts. In this closing episode, we return to John 14:16–17 to discover one final truth about our divine Companion: that He personally interacts with us. He is not silent or distant, but active—speaking, leading, and working in ways we often fail to see.
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The upper room was filled with uncertainty. Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure, yet His words were filled with comfort: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” Those words reached beyond that moment in time—they were spoken for every believer who would ever walk this earth.
As we come to the next-to-last episode in our season on the Holy Spirit, we return to this precious promise: the companionship of God Himself. The Spirit is not a mysterious force or fleeting emotion—He is a Person, just like Jesus, sent to dwell within us, guide us, and make Christ’s presence real in our lives. Join Michael Durham as he shares how we can rediscover what it means to live in fellowship with the Helper, the Spirit of truth, who continues to walk with us.
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Why do some believers seem to “lose” the witness of the Holy Spirit? In this episode of Real Truth Matters, Michael Durham continues his exploration of Romans 8:16, unpacking why assurance can feel strong one moment and faint the next. He exposes the enemy’s lies that accuse us of being unchanged or insincere, shows how temperament and over-introspection can disrupt assurance, and reminds listeners that the Spirit’s witness is not earned by perfection but received as a direct testimony of God’s love.
If you’ve ever doubted your salvation or wondered why your sense of God’s pleasure fades, this episode will bring both clarity and hope. Durham explains how understanding justification, focusing on Christ rather than self, and responding to the Spirit’s loving conviction restores confidence and joy. Don’t settle for fleeting assurance—discover how to walk in the Spirit’s ongoing witness that you are truly a child of God.
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In this follow-up episode of Real Truth Matters, Michael Durham goes even deeper into one of the most profound realities of the Christian life: the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. This isn’t about merely agreeing with the facts of the gospel or rehearsing doctrinal truths—it’s about the Spirit Himself testifying directly to your heart that you are a child of God. Drawing from Romans 8 and powerful historical testimonies like those of George Whitefield and John Wesley, Durham shows how the Holy Spirit’s assurance is more than a doctrine to study; it’s an experience that transforms your confidence in Christ.
If you’ve ever wondered why so many professing Christians live without joy, without assurance, or with only a “take it by faith” mentality, this episode is for you. Durham tackles the misconceptions about faith and assurance, explains the difference between mental assent and true saving faith, and encourages believers to expect what the New Testament promises—the Spirit’s personal seal and witness in their lives. Whether you’re struggling with doubts or longing to understand the Spirit’s ministry more deeply, this episode will leave you hungry for the real and living assurance God gives His people.
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In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, Michael Durham tackles one of the most vital yet overlooked truths of the Christian life: the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Romans 8, Durham shows that true assurance of salvation doesn’t rest merely on outward tests or someone else’s opinion but on the Spirit Himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Paul lists six evidences of genuine conversion, but it is this seventh—Heaven’s own testimony in the soul—that gives believers unshakable confidence in their standing with Christ.
Why do so many Christians live with doubt, relying only on human reasoning or external signs? Why do even faithful pastors often miss this Spirit-given assurance? In this episode, Durham contrasts common, well-meaning counsel with the Apostle Paul’s teaching that every believer should experience the Spirit’s confirming voice. If you have ever wrestled with your salvation—or if you want to understand the deepest, most personal ministry of the Holy Spirit—you won’t want to miss this episode.
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In this week’s episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, Michael Durham finishes his series on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 with a sobering but hope-filled message. While the miraculous works of God are awe-inspiring, they are never meant to steal our gaze from the Giver Himself. Michael lays out six biblical principles designed to safeguard believers from deception, pride, and misplaced priorities regarding signs and wonders. He reminds us that the greatest miracle isn’t a dramatic healing or a supernatural sign—it’s the salvation of a sinner brought from death to life by the power of Christ.
Michael warns against making gifts the centerpiece of ministry, calls for humility when God displays His power, and stresses the importance of testing the spirits by God’s Word. Drawing on the stirring words of Martyn Lloyd-Jones, he urges us to seek the living God who still acts in power, rather than settling for cold intellectualism or chasing spiritual fireworks. This episode will challenge your assumptions, stir your hunger for God Himself, and anchor your faith in the One who gives gifts according to His perfect will.
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What if the entire debate over spiritual gifts has been asking the wrong questions? In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, Michael Durham, director of RTM, examines a biblical perspective that transcends the familiar arguments between continuationism and cessationism. Instead of reducing God’s work to theological grids or historical timelines, this conversation explores how the Spirit manifests Himself—sovereignly, purposefully, and always according to His wisdom.
Far from a dry academic discussion, this episode challenges us to reconsider whether our expectations of God have grown too small. The gifts of the Spirit were never meant to be tools in human hands but moments of divine choosing. Michael Durham calls listeners to behold the living God who has never stopped being supernatural—not as we will, but as He wills.
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What if the debate over spiritual gifts has been asking the wrong questions all along? In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, we continue exploring why both continuationism and cessationism fail to give a complete picture of God’s work in His church. Far from a sterile theological argument, this discussion presses us to consider whether our expectations of God have grown far too small.
Could it be that our discomfort with the miraculous says more about us than about Scripture? Join us as we peel back layers of tradition, fear, and reactionary thinking to uncover a perspective on spiritual gifts that neither camp fully embraces—one that calls us to confront our own unbelief and rediscover the God who has never stopped being supernatural.
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The debate over spiritual gifts has divided Christians for generations—but what if both sides are missing something vital? In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, Michael Durham continues our deep dive into whether the gifts of the Spirit have ceased or continue today, uncovering blind spots that often go unnoticed.
Rather than defending a camp, this conversation challenges the assumptions behind the debate itself. Could it be that Scripture and church history paint a picture far richer—and far more unsettling—than either side admits? Join us as we peel back the layers and search for the truth.
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Are the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit still active today, or did they cease with the apostles? In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, we take an in-depth look at the two major positions on this question—continuationism and cessationism. Drawing directly from Scripture, we examine the case for continuationism, which affirms that gifts such as prophecy, tongues, healing, and miracles continue until Christ returns. We also trace historical evidence from the early church through the Reformation, where leaders like Irenaeus, Augustine, Martin Luther, and others testified to the Spirit’s supernatural work long after the apostolic era.
On the other side, we explore the arguments for cessationism, which holds that miraculous gifts ended with the apostles and the completion of the New Testament. These arguments focus on the foundational role of apostles and prophets, the purpose of signs and wonders in validating revelation, and the sufficiency of Scripture for guiding the church today. Whether you lean toward continuationism, cessationism, or find yourself somewhere in between, this episode invites you to consider what God’s Word truly says about the Spirit’s work and to let Scripture—not tradition or opinion—be the final authority.
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In this episode, we dive into the often-debated question: Is speaking in tongues the initial physical evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit? Exploring the foundations of Pentecostal and Charismatic theology, we unpack how supernatural gifts like tongues, healing, and miracles are understood within these movements. Along the way, we examine key passages in Acts and 1 Corinthians, consider the historical context of Pentecost, and ask whether these miraculous signs are necessary or normative for Christians today.
This thoughtful and pastoral conversation offers clarity on a topic that touches many believers personally—especially those with Charismatic or Pentecostal roots. With respect for differing traditions and a commitment to biblical teaching, this episode aims not to divide, but to equip listeners with a deeper understanding of what Scripture says about the infilling of the Spirit. Whether you're curious, concerned, or just seeking clarity, you’re invited to listen with an open heart and a love for truth.
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In this second part of our discussion on The Timing of the Sealing of the Holy Spirit, Michael Durham revisits the influential teachings of Martyn Lloyd-Jones and respectfully examines his view that the sealing of the Spirit is a post-conversion experience disconnected from conversion. While deeply appreciative of Lloyd-Jones’ impact and insight, this episode challenges the notion of a two-tier Christianity, arguing instead that Scripture presents the sealing of the Spirit as an immediate, conversion-linked work—an inseparable part of receiving the Holy Spirit at the moment of faith. With careful attention to Ephesians 1:13, 2 Corinthians 1:22, and Romans 8:9, we explore the biblical teaching that every believer is indwelt, empowered, and sealed when they trust Christ.
This episode also addresses the deeper questions surrounding Christian maturity, spiritual stagnation, and the troubling presence of professing believers who show little evidence of regeneration. We examine how different movements have attempted to explain this disparity and propose that both a lack of true conversion and shallow teaching on the Spirit’s ministry contribute to the confusion. Ultimately, we return to the Scriptures, affirming that the sealing of the Holy Spirit is not a privilege for the few, but the birthright of every child of God. Join us as we continue to pursue clarity, conviction, and the real truth that matters.
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In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, we continue our exploration of the sealing of the Holy Spirit by asking a critical question: When does the sealing take place? Is it an immediate work of the Spirit at conversion, or a distinct event that occurs sometime after? Drawing deeply from Scripture, this episode demonstrates that the sealing of the Spirit is not merely a theological concept, but a real, experiential event that brings assurance, joy, and the inner witness that we are children of God.
We examine key passages from Acts, Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians, all of which point to the sealing as something tangible and knowable. While some, like Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, believed many Christians have not yet been sealed, this episode pushes back with careful biblical reasoning—showing that while the feeling of God’s love may vary, the presence of the Spirit is certain for all who believe. Whether the seal is faint or bold, God’s Spirit is given to every true child of God.
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In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, we continue exploring the profound reality of the believer’s sealing with the Holy Spirit. Many Christians understand the idea in theory but have not grasped its depth as a living, experiential truth. This conversation unpacks the biblical meaning of the sealing: God’s unmistakable mark of ownership, protection, and authentication upon His children. More than an abstract concept, the sealing is the Father’s personal testimony to the soul that you truly belong to Him — a supernatural witness that calms doubts and ignites a deep assurance of salvation.
We’ll see how this divine seal is different from simply believing right doctrines or seeing the fruit of the Spirit in one’s life. Through Scripture and vivid illustrations, we discover that the sealing is an experience of God’s love and joy poured directly into the heart by the Spirit Himself. Join us as Michael Durham discusses why this assurance is vital, how it strengthens faith amid life’s battles, and why every Christian should seek to understand and cherish this blessed reality. Don’t miss this encouraging journey into the heart of your identity in Christ.
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In this week’s episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, we continue our journey into the profound ministry of the Holy Spirit by exploring a work of the Spirit that is often misunderstood or overlooked: the sealing of the Holy Spirit. While many believers know they are indwelt and empowered by the Spirit, few grasp the rich assurance and significance that come from being sealed by Him. Drawing from the Apostle Paul’s teaching, we unpack what it truly means to be sealed—how it secures the believer, proves God’s ownership, and authenticates us as genuine children of God. This divine seal is more than a theological term; it is a living testimony from the Spirit Himself, whispering to our hearts that we belong to the Father and no one can break His claim on us.
Far from being an abstract doctrine, the sealing of the Holy Spirit brings unshakeable security and deep assurance to our daily walk with Christ. It is a heavenly mark that distinguishes us to ourselves, to the Church, and to the watching world. In a time when many wrestle with doubts about their salvation and identity, rediscovering this privilege can strengthen our confidence and boldness as disciples. Join us as we open the Scriptures to understand the purpose, power, and practical impact of this glorious gift. May you be encouraged to rest in the fact that you are His, secured and kept by the omnipotent hand of God through the seal of His Spirit.
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In this stirring episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, we journey through church history to hear the compelling testimonies of godly men who experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit in profound and transformative ways. From the spiritual ecstasies of John Flavel and the theological insight of John Owen to the deeply personal encounters of Jonathan Edwards, Thomas Goodwin, and Christmas Evans, each account highlights the reality of Spirit-filled living beyond mere doctrine. Their experiences are not offered as the final authority—that belongs to Scripture alone—but they powerfully reinforce biblical truth and the transformative power of God's presence.
Through these historical narratives, we’re reminded that the command to be filled with the Holy Spirit is timeless and essential. Whether dramatic or quiet, the infilling is a real work of grace meant for every believer. Don’t miss this episode—it will encourage your heart, stir your desire for deeper communion with God, and challenge you to pursue the fullness of the Spirit with fresh faith and expectation.
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Are you living the Spirit-filled life—or just the memory of one? In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, Michael Durham explores the necessity of repeated experiences of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Far from a one-time event, the Spirit’s infilling is both a continual empowerment for godly living and a fresh enduement for bold, Christ-exalting service. Drawing from Scripture, history, and spiritual giants like Charles Spurgeon and Martyn Lloyd-Jones, this episode challenges believers to examine whether their Christian walk is running on past encounters or present power.
With rich illustrations and a piercing call to holy hunger, Durham makes the case that what the Church desperately needs is not more programs or technology—but a genuine, Spirit-driven revival of holy enthusiasm. If you’re tired of spiritual dryness and long for the fire of God to burn fresh in your heart, this episode will stir you to seek more—not more of the world, but more of the Spirit. Don’t miss this powerful call to awaken and be filled again.
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What does it truly mean to live under the influence of the Holy Spirit? In this powerful continuation of last week’s episode, we go deeper into the biblical command to be filled with the Spirit—and what that looks like in daily life. Far from being an abstract or mystical idea, being filled with the Spirit is intensely practical. It involves real surrender, real trust, and real obedience to the Word of God. In this episode, you’ll be challenged to examine your trust in Christ, your attitude toward Scripture, and your willingness to submit every area of life to the Spirit’s leading.
With biblical clarity and spiritual urgency, this message uncovers how letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, learning to love and apply truth, and walking in holiness are essential to the Spirit-filled life. You’ll also discover how joy, gratitude, and humble submission—not emotional highs or dramatic displays—are the true evidences of the Spirit’s fullness. If you’re hungry for a deeper relationship with God and tired of living in spiritual lack, this episode offers the truth that can set you free. Don’t miss it.
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What does it really mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit—and how do we live in that reality daily? In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Michael Durham opens up the biblical command of Ephesians 5:18 and explores what it means to be continually filled with the Spirit. Forget the overly complicated multi-step formulas you may have heard—this episode gets to the heart of Scripture to show how genuine Spirit-filled living begins with desperation, dependency, and a deep surrender to the Word of Christ.
You’ll discover how abiding in Jesus, letting His Word dwell in you richly, and walking by the Spirit all intersect as one unified reality of the Christian life. This isn’t about striving harder—it’s about learning to let God do through you what you cannot do on your own. Whether you're new to the faith or decades into ministry, this message will challenge your assumptions and call you into a deeper, more Spirit-empowered walk with God. Join us as we begin this essential two-part series that could reshape your understanding of what it means to live the normal New Testament Christian life.
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In Part 2 of this important discussion, Michael Durham and Nate Freeman continue their exploration of the infilling of the Holy Spirit—this time turning to the practical side. What are the biblical requirements for being filled with the Spirit? Can every believer experience this, and if so, how? In this episode, the mystery surrounding the infilling is brought into the light as Michael and Nate work to demystify the experience and show how it is both essential and accessible to all who follow Christ.
This conversation is both clarifying and encouraging for anyone hungry for more of God and longing to live under the fullness of His Spirit.
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In this first part of a two-part discussion, Michael Durham and Nate Freeman sit down to explore the often-misunderstood subject of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Why is the infilling so frequently confused with the baptism of the Spirit? Are they the same experience—or something entirely different? This conversation dives deep into the theological and practical distinctions between these terms, clearing up confusion that has persisted in many Christian circles. Along the way, Michael and Nate address several foundational questions that every believer should consider when seeking a deeper, Spirit-filled life.
This is a rich and thoughtful conversation that sets the stage for greater clarity and deeper intimacy with the Holy Spirit.
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In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, we continue our deep dive into the infilling of the Holy Spirit—exploring what it is and how it transforms every aspect of the Christian life. While the Spirit sometimes empowers believers for extraordinary acts of ministry, today’s focus is on His constant, daily influence—the kind of infilling that forms Christlike character and enables believers to live unto God in a way natural strength never could.
Drawing on Scripture and thoughtful teaching, this episode highlights the vital difference between trying to serve God in the strength of the flesh versus walking in the Spirit. You'll hear how the Spirit’s work in us is not only necessary for moments of power, but for the quiet, steady, often unnoticed faithfulness that glorifies God. If you’ve ever wondered what it truly means to “be filled with the Spirit” as a lifestyle, not just an experience, this episode brings clarity, challenge, and encouragement.
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In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, we continue our exploration of the infilling of the Holy Spirit—focusing on the often-overlooked truth that this divine empowerment is not always dramatic or accompanied by outward manifestations. Building upon our previous discussion, we address the third major misunderstanding surrounding the infilling: the mistaken belief that one must feel a strong emotional experience to know they've been filled. Through careful examination of Scripture, we see that while the infilling is indeed experiential, it varies greatly from person to person. What matters most is the Spirit's work in pouring out God’s love into our hearts, producing joy, hope, and the boldness to witness for Christ.
We unpack several passages from Romans, 1 John, and 1 Peter to show how joy and love—infused by the Holy Spirit—are powerful indicators of His presence within us. Whether someone can recall a specific moment of conversion or experienced a gradual awakening to faith, the key evidence is a heart that knows and rejoices in God’s love. We also discuss how the infilling of the Spirit is not a one-time event but something that must be renewed, often in greater measure, for the tasks and callings God entrusts to us. The episode closes with a powerful story from the life of D. L. Moody that illustrates how even seasoned believers may receive deeper measures of the Spirit’s power to accomplish greater works for God’s glory.
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In this powerful episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, we take a deep dive into the infilling of the Holy Spirit—not just as a theological concept, but as a living, active work of God in the believer’s life. Turning our attention beyond the historic Day of Pentecost, we examine the ongoing empowerment of the Holy Spirit given to every Christian to serve Christ and fulfill His will. From the Old Testament examples of Bezalel and Samson to the bold witness of Peter, Stephen, and Paul in the book of Acts, we explore how the Spirit equips us with divine strength for specific acts of service.
This episode also clears up common misconceptions about what it means to be filled with the Spirit. Is it a one-time event? Does it require speaking in tongues? Is a dramatic experience necessary to validate it? These questions and more are thoughtfully answered, grounding our understanding in Scripture. Whether you're a new believer or a seasoned saint, this conversation will encourage you to walk in dependence on the Holy Spirit, trusting Him to provide the power you need—when you need it—for whatever task God has called you to.
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This is the second part of a discussion between RTM Associate Evangelist Nate Freeman and RTM Director Michael Durham in the studio about the episodes of The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
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RTM Associate Evangelist Nate Freeman joined Michael Durham in the RTM studio to discuss the episodes on The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Listeners and RTM staff had many questions that Michael Durham would answer in this episode and the next.
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In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, we continue our deep dive into the baptism of the Holy Spirit by addressing the confusion surrounding this doctrine. Many believers struggle to understand what truly happens when someone receives the Holy Spirit. Does He simply indwell the believer, or is there more to it? We explore the three key aspects of receiving the Spirit at conversion—indwelling, filling, and sealing—unpacking their distinct roles in the life of a Christian.
Through Scripture, we clarify how the Holy Spirit empowers believers for ministry, provides assurance of salvation, and continually refills those who seek His guidance. Misunderstandings about these experiences have led to division in the church, but by distinguishing the baptism of the Spirit from its benefits, we gain a clearer, biblical perspective. Join us as Michael Durham brings clarity to this vital subject and uncovers the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.
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In this episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, we continue our deep dive into the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Building on our last discussion, we explore how this pivotal event, which took place on the Day of Pentecost, fulfilled Old Testament prophecy and inaugurated the New Covenant. The baptism of the Spirit was a one-time historical event where God poured out His Spirit upon the entire church, making His dwelling among His people. While believers today continue to experience the Spirit’s infilling and empowerment, Scripture never describes these subsequent experiences as another baptism of the Spirit. Understanding this distinction is crucial to avoiding common misconceptions surrounding the work of the Holy Spirit.
As we examine key biblical passages, we uncover how terms like "filled," "poured out," and "received" are used interchangeably to describe the Spirit’s initial coming upon believers, yet the phrase "baptism of the Spirit" is uniquely tied to Pentecost. We also address the confusion surrounding terminology and how a proper biblical framework helps us grasp the Spirit’s role in our lives today. Don’t miss this crucial teaching as we lay the foundation for next week’s discussion on the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in believers. Tune in and be strengthened in your understanding of this vital truth!
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In this episode of Real Truth Matters, we explore one of the most debated topics in Christian theology—the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Before His ascension, Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for the Promise of the Father, which He described as being “baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5). But what exactly does that mean? Is it simply the indwelling of the Spirit at conversion, a necessary second blessing, or a one-time historical event? With so many perspectives on this doctrine, we categorize them into four major theories before presenting a biblical view that reconciles the confusion.
Through a deep dive into Scripture, we uncover how the baptism with the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and the inauguration of the New Covenant. We examine Pentecost as the moment Christ poured out His Spirit upon His church and what that means for believers today. Is this a repeatable experience, or do we enter into its blessings at conversion? Join us as we unpack these crucial questions and seek a biblical understanding of what it truly means to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
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In this episode of Real Truth Matters Podcast, Michael Durham tackles common misconceptions about sanctification and offers biblical clarity on the believer's relationship with the Holy Spirit. Durham exposes unbiblical terminology like "dying to self" and "crucifying self" that has infiltrated Christian vernacular, while explaining the truth that believers are already new creations in Christ.
Rather than presenting sanctification as a constant struggle to become something we're not yet, it is demonstrated as the Spirit-empowered process of living from our true identity. Listeners will discover the divine partnership between the Holy Spirit and believers, practical steps for Spirit-led living, and the beautiful tension of our salvation's "already" and "not yet" aspects.
This episode provides a refreshing perspective on spiritual growth, emphasizing grace over striving and identity over performance. Whether you're a new believer or seasoned Christian, this teaching will deepen your understanding of how the Holy Spirit manifests Christ's life in and through you.
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Welcome to the RTM Podcast! I hope you had a chance to listen to last week’s episode, Circuses and Cemeteries, Part 1, where we examined the excesses and abuses surrounding the doctrine and ministry of the Holy Spirit. While not all Pentecostal/Charismatic believers endorse these extremes, it seems much of the movement has been hijacked by unbiblical practices.
Now, in Part 2, we shift to the opposite extreme—the cemeteries of the traditional church. While some have rightly rejected the chaos of charismatic excesses, have they also quenched the Spirit entirely? Join me as we explore this sobering reality and seek a biblical, Spirit-led balance.
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In this powerful two-part series, Michael Durham explores the abuses of the doctrine and ministry of the Holy Spirit. In this episode, he addresses the excesses and distortions within the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements—where emotionalism, sensationalism, and unbiblical practices have often overshadowed the true work of the Spirit. With biblical clarity and pastoral insight, Durham examines how these distortions have turned genuine revival into spectacle, replacing reverence with entertainment. How can we discern the real from the counterfeit? Join us as we seek a biblical, Christ-exalting understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work.
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Welcome to The Real Truth Matters Podcast with Michael Durham, founder and director of Real Truth Matters. In this episode, The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in Regeneration (Part 2), we continue our deep dive into the essential work of the Holy Spirit in the new birth. Michael Durham explores the Spirit’s instrumentality in regeneration, explaining both its passive and active nature—how the sinner, though entirely dependent on the Spirit’s sovereign work, immediately responds in faith upon being made alive. This transformative act of grace is not a delayed process but an instantaneous awakening to the reality of Christ. Join us as we unpack these profound truths and gain a deeper understanding of the Spirit’s role in salvation.
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In this episode, Michael Durham explores the profound work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration—what it truly means to be born again. He clarifies the distinction between regeneration and the conviction of sin, showing that while conviction awakens the sinner to their need for salvation, regeneration is the actual transformation that brings spiritual life.
The New Testament uses three powerful metaphors to describe this divine work:
- New Creation – In Christ, the old passes away, and a completely new spiritual nature emerges (2 Corinthians 5:17).
- New Birth – Just as natural birth brings physical life, regeneration is a supernatural birth that imparts eternal life, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus (John 3:3-8).
- Cleansing – The washing of regeneration purifies the heart, removing sin’s defilement and making the believer holy before God (Titus 3:5, Ezekiel 36:25-27).
Join us as we delve into this foundational truth of salvation and the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in bringing sinners from death to life.
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In this episode, Michael Durham continues our exploration of the Holy Spirit’s role in convicting sinners. We dive into the three stages of conviction, an essential process through which the Holy Spirit leads every sinner before true conversion occurs. Without this deep, transforming work, salvation is impossible. Join us as we unpack these critical phases and better understand the Spirit’s ministry in drawing souls to Christ.
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In this episode, we explore the vital role of the Holy Spirit in convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, as revealed in John 16:8-11. What does it truly mean to be convicted of sin? Is conviction the same as condemnation? And what specific truths does the Holy Spirit bring to light in the hearts of believers and unbelievers alike?
Join us as we unpack the meaning and subject matter of conviction, laying the foundation for a deeper understanding of the Spirit’s work in drawing people to Christ. This is Part 1 of an eye-opening discussion that will challenge and inspire your walk of faith.
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In this follow-up episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, Michael Durham shifts the focus to the key differences between the Holy Spirit’s work in the Old Testament and His ministry under the New Covenant. While the Spirit’s presence and power were evident throughout the Old Testament, something profoundly changed after Christ’s resurrection and the outpouring at Pentecost.
Michael unpacks how the New Covenant ushered in a deeper and more personal work of the Holy Spirit, including His permanent indwelling, the fullness of His empowerment for all believers, and His direct role in transforming hearts. What was once a selective and temporary work became an abiding and universal reality for those in Christ.
Join us as we explore how the coming of Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant brought about a greater outpouring of the Spirit, fulfilling God’s redemptive plan in a way never seen before.
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In this thought-provoking episode of the Real Truth Matters Podcast, Michael Durham delves into the profound continuity of the Holy Spirit's ministry between the Old and New Covenants. Often misunderstood or overlooked, the Spirit’s work in the Old Testament provides the foundation for His transformative power revealed in the New Covenant.
Michael examines how the Holy Spirit empowered individuals, inspired Scripture, and moved in the hearts of God’s people in the Old Testament, drawing striking parallels to His ministry in the New Covenant. Discover how the Spirit's role in regeneration, sanctification, and empowerment connects the Testaments, revealing God’s unchanging purpose and promise.
Join us for an episode that bridges the Old and New Covenants, showing the Holy Spirit as the eternal agent of God’s redemptive plan. Be encouraged to see His work as timeless and ever-present in the life of every believer.
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Building on our last episode, where we explored three compelling reasons to believe the Holy Spirit is both God and a person, we now delve into a fourth reason that underscores His personhood: His work. The Holy Spirit operates with clear objectives—saving sinners and helping believers—and His actions reveal His purposeful and personal nature.
Join us as we unpack how the Spirit’s work reflects His divine character, His intimate involvement in our lives, and His mission to transform hearts. Whether through conviction, guidance, or empowerment, the Holy Spirit is actively working as a person to fulfill God’s redemptive plan.
Let’s continue uncovering the truth about the Holy Spirit’s nature and His profound impact on our lives!
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Welcome to the first episode of season four! In this episode, we begin an exciting journey into understanding the person of the Holy Spirit. Who is He, and why is He essential to our spiritual lives? We’ll explore His identity, role, and presence as revealed in Scripture, unraveling common misconceptions and embracing the truth of His divine nature. Whether you’re new to the faith or have been walking with God for years, this episode lays the foundation for a deeper relationship with the Spirit of God. Join us as we discover the One who empowers, guides, and transforms us from the inside out.
Tune in to uncover the profound mystery of the Holy Spirit and prepare to encounter Him in new and life-changing ways!
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In this thrilling finale of Season 3, we’re wrapping up with a powerful preview of what’s coming next in Season 4! This episode is all about setting the stage for a journey into the depths of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. We’ll dive into the identity of the Holy Spirit, exploring how He moves, guides, and breathes life into our spirits. Join us as we uncover what intimacy with the Holy Spirit truly means and why understanding His character is crucial for our walk of faith. Get ready for an enlightening season ahead—packed with teachings, testimonies, and revelations that will deepen your connection to God like never before. Don’t miss this exciting glimpse into what’s coming in January 2025
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In this captivating episode of the RTM Podcast, Nate Freeman sits down with RTM founder and director Michael Durham for a profound conversation that goes beyond the usual topics. Michael opens up about the journey that shaped RTM’s unique philosophy of giving, sharing personal stories and insights that have never been discussed before. This episode stands out as perhaps the most intimate and revealing one across all three seasons. Listeners will be moved by Michael's transparency as he reflects on God’s unwavering faithfulness, especially during pivotal moments in the ministry.
Whether you're looking for encouragement in your own faith journey or curious about how God works through generosity, this episode will resonate deeply. Michael’s story is a testament to how God consistently provides and rewards those who trust Him, and it’s bound to inspire you to think differently about the impact of giving.
Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear Michael’s heart and be uplifted by his faith-filled journey. It’s more than just a podcast episode—it’s a reminder that God is still at work in powerful ways today. Tune in for a faith boost that will leave you encouraged and ready to trust God more fully in your own life.
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In the third and final episode explaining the Law of Christ, Nate Freeman and Michael Durham discuss the practical effects of the Law of Christ in the life of Christians. We are giving a power in Christ to conform to Christ and live as He lived. This Law of Christ works in us as internal motivation as opposed to the Law of Moses, which was an external motivator.
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The Law of Christ is a blessed but little-known subject. This episode continues to define and explain it. Michael Durham and Nate Freeman pick up where they left off in Episode 38.
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The law of Christ is a blessed but little-known subject. In this and the next episode, Michael Durham and Nate Freeman discuss it. In this first broadcast, the discussion centers on Mosaic Law and its relevance to the New Covenant Christian.
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Christ is in every believer. This is the greatest reality of the Christian faith. To be joined in a union with Jesus Christ makes you and He one in purpose, identity, and destiny. This is such an incredible fact that many struggle to believe it. Nevertheless, it is true whether you believe it or not. Not even your lack of faith changes this union. But you need to believe it to experience its power in your life. Faith actuates the reality of all that is true in the blessings of God.
In this episode, Michael Durham discusses the blessings and benefits of Christ's ascension and exaltation to the throne of heaven and its huge impact on you as a follower of Christ. Just think how things would be different if you truly believed to the point of experiencing the life of the Savior within. Please listen and discover the difference.
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If Christ is living in the believer, how can we discern who is living? The Apostle Paul said, ". . . it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh . . ." He says he doesn't live but then turns around and says he lives. Which is it? And how can both Christ and Paul live in the same person?
As RTM director Michael Durham says in this episode, these questions are the same as asking: How can I be saved by grace and not works, yet commanded to work to persevere in the faith with a warning of destruction if I do not? This is among the most asked questions, which is a matter of great confusion for many.
Please listen and learn to discern the life of Christ in you!
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How does the law of the Spirit of life in Christ work? It is the principle that Christ lives in us by the person of the Holy Spirit. This dynamic becomes a law, meaning Christ is always in us because the Holy Spirit is always in us. His life is a constant. The life of the Spirit becomes, to the Christian, a governing principle or law. The Spirit of life in Christ works to override the law of sin and death.
Please listen and learn how to let the Christ who dwells in you live His life through you.
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What is spiritual maturity, and how do we achieve it? We hear this term in church and among Christians, but have you ever wondered what it is? How would you define spiritual maturity?
This is so important because we are commanded to "grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ." We are exhorted not to remain babes but to come to full age in spiritual discernment.
This is the second of two episodes exploring what maturity in the Spirit is and how we attain it.
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What is spiritual maturity, and how do we achieve it? We hear this term in church and among Christians, but have you ever wondered what it is? How would you define spiritual maturity?
This is so important because we are commanded to "grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ." We are exhorted not to remain babes but to come to full age in spiritual discernment.
This is the first of several episodes exploring not only what maturity in the Spirit is but also how we attain to it.
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This is the second of two very special episodes. RTM director Michael Durham is joined in the studio with his two adult sons. They will discuss growing up as PKs (preacher's kids) and their conversion. You will discover biblical parenting insights, whether you are a pastor or not. Also, this will be a behind-the-scenes look at the history and evolution of RTM.
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This is the first part of two very special episodes. RTM director Michael Durham is joined in the studio with his two adult sons. They will discuss growing up as PKs (preacher's kids) and their conversion. You will discover insights into biblical parenting, whether you are a pastor or not. Also, this will be a behind-the-scenes look at the history and evolution of RTM.
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In this final episode on the subject, Killing Sin, Michael Durham explores and explains the final principle: how to be violent toward sin. We are commanded to do this, but we cannot do it without the Holy Spirit's help and power. You can learn what it takes to fight and kill your sin in a very practical and biblical way.
If, by chance, you have not listened to the four preceding episodes, please do so before you listen to this episode. And, as always, share this podcast with friends and family. We all need to know how to kill our sin.
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If we are to obey the Scriptures and fight our sin, we must supply the heart with a greater fascination and obsession than the sin we are fighting. The heart cannot equally pursue two opposing desires. The key is to expel a lesser longing with a greater, more pleasure-offering desire. When the heart is offered a superior affection, the lesser affection will pale in comparison. The heart will naturally go out and pursue the chief desire.
Nevertheless, we, if honest, must admit that our hearts are often lusting, coveting lesser desires, less worthy loves. How is this possible? I have had the love of God as my heart’s greatest treasure, obsession, and fascination, why is it that sin still catches my eye? And once I lose sight of Christ, why is it that I can’t see Him in His beauty like I once did?
Please listen as Michael Durham answers these most important questions in our pursuit of Christ and His holiness.
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We have thus far shared two necessary principles or biblical strategies for fighting sin. Principle one is an intense desire to be free from the sin. Without this, why would you fight against your sin? Principle two is an intense hatred for the sin in question despite the fact that it has an attraction to the flesh. You not only want to be free, but you hate the sin.
This leads us to this episode where the third principle is discussed. Principle number three is: To fight sin, you need to supply the heart with a greater fascination and obsession than the sin.
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In this series, we explore how we can put to death sin. As the Apostle Paul defined it, "the deeds of the body," that is, the remaining impulses of sin that use the natural desires of the mind and body to act contrary to the Holy Spirit. In this episode, Michael Durham states the first two principles of how we can, through the Holy Spirit, kill our sin.
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How do you kill sin? How do you stop sin in its tracks? How do you face temptation and overcome its appeal? Temptation has appeal; it has attractiveness. Otherwise, it would not be tempting. How do you confront it and put the stake through its heart?
In this episode, we will learn where temptation begins and how it starts. This is extremely important when learning how to kill sin. This will be a multiple-episode theme.
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In this final episode on the assurance of salvation, Michael Durham shares how faith is to fight so that you can know peace with God. What should you believe, and how do you deal with your doubts? If you have not already secured your copy of Michael Durham's book, The Fight of Faith: How a Christian Can Experience Assurance of Salvation, then follow the link provided here: https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Faith-Christian-Experience-Assurance/dp/B0CY92NM7J
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Sanctification is the work of God conforming Christians to the image of Christ, meaning it is the process the Lord uses to make us more like Jesus. But what role does our sanctification play in our having confidence we have been genuinely saved? In this episode, we continue our study of the assurance of salvation by looking at this question. Should we get assurance from our progress in sanctification or not? Listen as Michael Durham explains.
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Continuing our theme on assurance of salvation, today, RTM speaker Michael Durham explains the relationship between confession of sin and assurance. The two are related and confession plays a vital role in your experience of assurance.
Many express confusion on why the Bible requires confession of sin when all our sin is already forgiven in Christ. It is very true that we are forever justified, but sin must still be confessed in real-time. The benefit is enormous to the believer when he or she understands this essential doctrine.
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In this episode, Michael Durham continues to show how a biblically informed mind needs to think for doctrine to become experiential, meaning real and felt. Too many Christians think that learning doctrine is the goal. The more information they learn about God, the more they assume they know God. But that is only half of the process of knowing God personally and spiritually. Please listen and learn that you can have a real, intimate relationship with the Lord, which will translate into a greater assurance of your status before God.
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In this episode, we resume our examination of the assurance of salvation. The lack of assurance is from a lack of knowing God on a personal level. Assurance is based, in large measure, on how accurate one's knowledge of God is, and how the doctrine of God is translated into a felt conviction. In this episode, Michael Durham begins to show the mental work commanded in Scripture that converts the truth in the brain to the truth that the heart knows and feels. This will be continued and completed in the following episode, "Transforming Knowledge to Experience."
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In this final episode, guest associate evangelist Nathan Freeman and Michael Durham discuss the ongoing work of the Spirit in the believer's life. Is there more of the Spirit for each believer to experience? Please listen and discover that you can have more of His gracious influence in your life.
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In this episode, join RTM evangelist and director Michael Durham alongside RTM associate evangelist Nate Freeman as they discuss the sealing work of the Holy Spirit as distinct from the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
This is the third installment of a discussion between the evangelists on the work of the Spirit, which started as a review of Martin Lloyd-Jones' position on the sealing of the Spirit being the same thing as the baptism of the Spirit.
While the two works of the Holy Spirit, the sealing and the baptism, happen simultaneously, they are two separate works or functions of the Holy Spirit. One is for empowering, and the other is for assurance.
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In this episode, join RTM evangelist and director Michael Durham alongside RTM associate evangelist Nate Freeman as they try to unravel the intricacies of the Holy Spirit's works in the Christian life.
The focal point of their discussion lies in Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's teachings on the baptism of the Spirit and the sealing of the Spirit. Dr. Lloyd-Jones, a renowned theologian, taught that these two works of the Spirit were synonymous.
Amidst the myriad of interpretations and theological perspectives, Durham and Freeman delve deep into the heart of the matter, seeking to explain the essence of the baptism with the Spirit and the sealing of the Spirit.
Welcome to the Real Truth Matters Podcast with your host, Michael Durham! Joining Michael in the studio for the first time is special guest Nate Freeman, RTM associate evangelist, bringing a fresh perspective to the conversation.
In this episode, we take a break from the current study of the assurance of salvation and embark on a journey through the teachings of the esteemed Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a towering figure in 20th-century evangelicalism. Dr. Lloyd-Jones, a Welsh Protestant minister and preacher, was renowned for his expository preaching and deep theological insights.
Our focus? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' stance on the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the sealing of the Spirit. Through insightful analysis and discussion, Michael and Nate navigate the intricacies of this subject, exploring its biblical foundations and contemporary relevance.
Over the course of four episodes, we'll unravel the complexities of this crucial aspect of Christian theology, shedding light on its significance for believers today. So, tune in as we start the discussion.
This is part two of our study of the assurance of salvation. In our last episode, we laid down the premise that a great deal of the struggle with the lack of assurance is due to a lack of understanding and belief in justification by faith alone.
If you have not yet listened to episode one of The Assurance of Salvation, go back and listen to last week’s podcast first, and then come back and listen to this episode. A deep faith in the doctrine of justification is integral to assurance.
Many Christians struggle with assurance temporarily; some struggle off and on for years, and others struggle their whole Christian lives. Michael Durham deals with assurance in a way that diagnoses the cause of assurance struggles. He gets to the root cause of why a Christian grapples with God's acceptance.
In this podcast, the focus is on how distinctly a person's faith is in the doctrine of justification. Most true Christians who struggle to be assured do so because they carry the burden of striving for an unattainable righteousness and refuse to rest in the Savior who freely extends this kind of righteousness.
This episode discusses how to combat and cure our spiritual downturns. As already explained, all Christians suffer this malady from time to time. No one is exempt. Therefore, if we experience it, it stands to reason that we need to know how to see its end and experience recovery from spiritual declension. Please listen and share this episode with other Christians so they, along with you, know the cure for backsliding.
We have already looked at some of the causes and the root of not growing in grace but instead digressing. Spiritual declension is defined as any lessening of the heart’s fascination with Jesus Christ the Lord. In this episode on spiritual declension, we continue by learning how to detect it. It is essential to overcome spiritual decline by recognizing it early. What are the telltale signs of spiritual digression? It isn't what you would normally think.
How is it possible for the child of God to turn away from following the Lord? How do sheep go astray? What makes people who have been loved by God, who has done nothing but good to them, drift in their love for Him? In this episode, RTM founder and director Michael Durham will answer these questions. There is one root from which all spiritual decline grows.
Do you know why you suffer times of low devotion, a weak heart, and lukewarmness? There’s more to it than meets the eye. With this podcast, we begin a new topic we want to dive into for the next few weeks. That topic is spiritual declension. Now, what do those two words mean? Please listen as Michael Durham explains.
There are two approaches to the Christian life that make up the majority of Christians. One is a reliance upon emotionalism, a philosophy that promotes the experience of feeling positive emotions is what is considered vibrant Christianity. The other approach is intellectualism, which believes that the Christian faith is mostly cerebral. It elevates knowledge and equates with it spiritual maturity. However, both approaches are not promoted or substantiated in the Bible. The Scriptures declare a third approach, the only way to live more abundantly.
In our last episode, we looked at 1 John 2:24-28. John says there is an abiding message, which is Christ, who is the Gospel, and this message indwells and abides with you. Jesus equates Himself with His words. If you have the Word of God implanted within, then you have Christ within. But John also says that the Holy Spirit must communicate that Word to us in an experiential way. Listen and discover this principle of maintaining fellowship with God.
The next biblical principle to maintain fellowship with our God is very crucial to the ability to experience God anytime. The principle is that you must keep your experience of truth up to date. In other words, you must often experience the power of the truth. You should be feeling its influence and impact on a very consistent basis. Listen and discover in this first of two episodes how to experience God in the truth of His word.
The next principle for maintaining fellowship with God. It is keeping your focus eternal, in other words, having and maintaining an eternal perspective and not an earthly or temporal focus. John gives us the two spectrums of human perspective, and these are the only two. Either you have a temporal view of life, meaning a view that believes all of life consists here in this world, or you have an eternal view of life, meaning life is more than an allotted time on this earth and that after death, life continues. According to both Jesus and the Apostle John, this plays a greater factor in walking with God than most Christians realize.
As we continue to learn how to maintain fellowship with God, a fifth principle stated in 1 John is to keep brotherly love up to date. Loving the brethren helps us to walk in the light. Loving brothers and sisters in Christ assist you to love God more. Because you experience fellowship with God, you love the brethren, but because you love them, you experience more fellowship with God. It becomes a full circle.
When loving obedience is given to the Lord Jesus, then fellowship with Him is experienced. The very act of obedience is a kind of communion with God. It is you expressing your love and faith in Him. It is you telling Him that you see Him for what He is, absolutely and altogether beautiful and faithful. That is communion and is received by the Lord as the language of the heart, the language of deep affection.
The Apostle John demonstrated in his First Epistle that if we quickly and consistently confess our sins, meaning we agree with God, then the blood of Christ removes the stain of our sins. This leads us to another question we want us to explore in this episode. If we are already justified, meaning declared judicially right with God, and all of our sins, past, present, and future, have been forgiven us, why then does God require confession of sin? Why does the blood of our Savior need to cleanse us of sin already pardoned?
In this episode, Michael Durham, answers these questions and demonstrates that fellowship with God requires keeping your confession of sin up to date.
This episode focuses on how to maintain fellowship with God. Suppose you have learned how to enter into fellowship with God; you’ve listened to this podcast, and your communion with God has been helped. How do you maintain it?
There are external as well as internal forces working against your walk with God. These things are constantly striving to disrupt your intimacy with the Lord. One of the purposes for the Apostle John to write his first epistle was to help his readers know how to walk and maintain communion with the living God, the God of light. Michael Durham shares from I John the key principles of maintaining a close walk with God. The first principle is to keep your confession of sin up to date.
An important ingredient for fellowship with God is transparency. All relationships must be based on honesty if they are to thrive. You need to try to impress the Lord with a pseudo-spirituality, a spirituality that you are pretending to have. We all have issues with sin. We are not to act as if we don't, but we are to acknowledge our sin to God, confessing our need for His grace and aid.
Since it has been so long since we’ve dealt with the topic, this episode reviews what we have learned thus far about how to have fellowship with the living God. For a refresher, please go back to season two and listen to episodes 25-30.
If revival is the renewal of healthy New Testament Christianity, then one question remains. How do you experience revival? How can you return to a place of vibrancy in your relationship with the Lord Jesus? In this episode, we outline three biblical mandates that, if believed and experienced, will lead you back to spiritual well-being. Please listen, and then share with family and friends.
Revival is a return to normal New Testament Christianity. It is to walk in the Spirit consistently. In this episode, Michael Durham considers the indicators that evidence that a believer or a church needs revival. God wants His children to walk in the experience of their inheritance in Christ. But all of us know that we do not always do so. So, listen and discover what the signs of spiritual regression are. We need to know these indicators before our symptoms become a full-blown disease.
We try to find a more biblical view of revival in this episode. One of the prevailing reasons revival is not occurring is the unbiblical attitudes about revival. Some have an idea that revival is a great evangelistic campaign, and others believe in humanistic formulas to be the key to having a revival. And others consider revival a purely sovereign work of God alone. These perspectives are hindering genuine revival, which is Christians returning to healthy New Testament Christianity.
In this episode, we discuss special moves or outpourings of God on His people. Many call these movements of God’s Spirit working in powerful ways revivals. The word revival has come to mean different things to different people. It is highly imperative that we rightly define the word so that confusion does not reign. It is also essential that we rightly understand the word to experience it when needed.
How do you know if God is leading you on a specific path? Well, do not despair. The Lord is too kind to leave us to a guessing game. The Bible gives six markers or identifiers that mark the way of the Lord. You could say these six markers are six tests, tests by which we see if something is God’s will or not. So don’t panic; God commands us to exam Him and all other spirits who would pretend to the Holy Spirit. Thank God that He gave us a book whereby we can test all things and, therefore, able to hold fast to that which is good.
How do you know if God is leading you on a specific path? Well, do not despair. The Lord is too kind to leave us to a guessing game. The Bible gives six markers or identifiers that mark the way of the Lord. You could say these six markers are six tests, tests by which we see if something is God’s will or not. So don’t panic; God commands us to examine Him and all other spirits who would pretend to be the Holy Spirit. Thank God that He gave us a book whereby we can test all things and, therefore, hold fast to that which is good.
Does God still speak personally to us, or was that something for just the Apostles and no longer viable? In this episode, Michael Durham, explains that God still does speak subjectively. However, to hear God speak is not a physical, but spiritual reality, which requires the spirit of a man to be trained and developed in the art of spiritual listening. Perhaps God is speaking, but you haven’t learned the voice of God, nor the language of the spiritual.
Too many times, we do not experience the Word, Jesus Christ when we read His word. How can we change this? How can you start reading the Bible and it connects you with the One who authored it? That is what today’s edition of the Real Truth Matters podcast is all about. Please join us and learn that we must not make the fundamental mistake of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day and separate God’s word from God.
Sometimes prayer requires more of you than at other times. There is a prayer that requires grit, a determination that will not relent. So often, the Lord tests our endurance by delays in granting the answer that we are seeking. Some have prayed for years for things they desired to see, and some have died without seeing their request answered. But they never gave up asking. Listen as Michael Durham explains this kind of prayer.
In this episode of the RTM podcast, Michael Durham deals with our Lord Jesus' answer to the request for Him to teach His disciples how to pray. The Lord's answer is the best teaching on prayer you can read. Books on prayer are wonderful, and we ought to be grateful for them and read them. But no book on prayer says as much about how to pray as this simple outline given by Christ.
As Real Truth Matters moves to a new location, we have selected to play these previous episodes. This episode is about God wrestling with Jacob.
In our last episode, we discussed how to have fellowship with God. The first thing essential is to be real and transparent with God. Any kind of duplicity or artificiality will shut down the conscious awareness of fellowship.
This episode examines the next means of cultivating fellowship with God. And that is developing a conscious awareness of the presence of God. So please listen and learn how to walk with the Lord.
In this episode, Michael Durham explains what is essential to have ongoing fellowship with God. If you have ever asked yourself why God seems to be distant, then this and the following episodes are crucial for you to hear.
It seems fitting to think that if we are to have fellowship with God, we need to know what it is so we can see if we are experiencing it or not. In this episode, Michael Durham defines fellowship with the Almighty from several key New Testament passages.
Fellowship with God can occur on two different levels. One level is not experiential, and the other is. Do you long to draw closer to Christ? Then this is one episode you do not want to miss.
We all know that the death of Christ is essential to being right with God. However, it is also the basis of our ongoing fellowship with the Lord. Christ's death plays a considerable role in our communion with the triune God. Listen as Michael Durham explains.
We are looking at how to walk and maintain fellowship with God. In last week’s episode, we opened up 1 John 1 and heard the Apostle John say that we can have the same kind of fellowship with God as he and the other apostles enjoyed.
The accessibility of God is an overlooked topic. Fellowship with God is not held out and is only open to God’s elite. No, it is available to you at any time you desire. The way John states it, it should be a continual experience. Fellowship with God need never be interrupted. But there are biblical conditions for enjoying the Lord and fellowshipping with Him. Listen as Michael Durham explains.
Is it possible for a person to consistently walk with God? Can they maintain a relationship with God and never lose fellowship with Him? Most answer no because such seems impossible, but it isn't as difficult as it sounds. Christ has removed the impossibility, and He extends to all His followers true friendship and genuine camaraderie.
This episode is the first in a series of shows that teach from 1 John how any Christian can have heavenly fellowship with God.
In this episode, George Müller gives an interview, sort of, where he explains his faith and how any believer can grow in faith. Actually, Michael Durham reads a portion from Müller's biography that shares excellent remarks concerning faith. So share this episode with others and listen for yourself.
We have learned that there are two kinds of faith, the grace of faith and the gift of faith. However, today, we are going to hear that for the grace of faith, there are three degrees or levels of it. No one starts with a complete faith that rests fully in the Lord. Faith must be tested and stressed for it to grow. The disciples were in the school of faith, and it was their Instructor's task to help their faith to rise from the lowest grade to the highest grade of faith. And that is the Lord's work in us as well.
How do you know that you trust God? Is there any way to gauge faith, to be sure that you trust Him? There are many biblical examples of people who thought they had faith in God when in the end, it proved that they didn’t. Peter is an example of this. With all of his heart, he believed that he really had faith in Christ and would follow the Lord even to death. But, as most of us know, Peter didn’t trust as much as he thought he did. He folded and denied knowing Jesus, not once but three times.
So, how do you know you trust God? Listen as Michael Durham explains how you can know your faith is in the Lord.
In last week’s podcast, we began a discussion of the fight of faith. The fight of faith is the battle to believe what God has revealed objectively and subjectively. Using Abraham’s Genesis 17 encounter with God, the first two stages of the fight of faith were explained.
In this episode, Michael Durham continues by showing through the significant test of Abraham’s faith the last two stages of the fight of faith and teaches how we can wage this battle of faith. No matter the present challenges to your faith, you can overcome them. And in the end, know and experience the Lord more deeply.
Does faith make life easy, comfortable, and prosperous? If you have faith, does that mean you will be able to defeat all antagonists and put down all difficulties quickly? And if you should struggle to believe God does that mean you are unbelieving? The answer to these questions is the same. The answer is, no, not at all. There are times when our faith seems to ride high and lift us above all that would bring us down. However, there are other times when faith does not do that, and you will have to learn how to fight to believe. You will, of necessity, fight the fight of faith.
In this episode, Michael Durham uses a significant test of Abraham's faith to demonstrate the fight of faith and to teach how we can wage this battle of faith. Please join us and learn how the Bible intersects with real life as we begin part one of the Fight of Faith.
How does faith increase if it does increase? Every Christian is genuinely concerned that their faith is vital and vibrant. If it is impossible to please God without faith, then it is a serious concern that our faith is healthy. However, faith is a living thing, and therefore it is not like a product that can be manufactured and spit out of an assembly line. We are not faith factories. In this episode, how faith is strengthened is examined and explained. If you have any interest in cultivating your faith, please listen.
How does faith increase if it does increase? Every Christian is genuinely concerned that their faith is vital and vibrant. If it is impossible to please God without faith, then it is a serious concern that our faith is healthy. However, faith is a living thing, and therefore it is not like a product that can be manufactured and spit out of an assembly line. We are not faith factories. In this episode, how faith is strengthened is examined and explained. If you have any interest in cultivating your faith, please listen.
There are two kinds of biblical faith stated in the Scriptures. The two kinds of faith are the grace of faith and the gift of faith. In this episode, Michael Durham explores each of these kinds of faith from the Bible. The grace of faith is stated in Romans 12, and the gift of faith is found in 1 Corinthians 12.
Today, there are many faith teachers with differing opinions about faith. There are almost as many ideas about faith as there are teachers. Radical ideas concerning faith are rampant. Therefore, never has an hour existed where an exact definition of faith is more needed than now. This episode is the final of three, explaining faith and coming to a working definition of faith. These episodes are very important. Please listen, and then share them with others.
Today, there are many faith teachers with differing opinions about faith. There are almost as many ideas about faith as there are teachers. Radical ideas concerning faith are rampant. Therefore, never has an hour existed where an exact definition of faith is more needed than now. This episode is the second of three, explaining what faith is to come to a working definition of faith. These episodes are very important. Please listen, and then share them with others.
Today, there are many faith teachers, and they are varied in their opinions. There are almost as many ideas about faith as there are teachers. Radical ideas concerning faith are rampant. Therefore, never has an hour existed where an exact definition of faith is more needed than now. This episode is the first of three, explaining what faith is to come to a working definition of faith. This and the next two episodes are very important. Please listen, and then share them with others.
What are the evidences of genuine faith? We may not be able to discern the very moment of new life in the sinner, but we can surely be wise concerning faith’s evidences. There are at least three evidences of God-approving faith. In this episode, we will examine all three signs of faith in the Christian.
There are many different ideas about faith, and many are so misleading. That is why we have dedicated this episode to share with you what are the ingredients or components of faith. There are four elements that come together and make faith genuine. Without all these four ingredients, faith is not biblical. So please listen and learn what makes faith, faith.
Today, we begin a new series of episodes on faith. There isn’t any more important topic that you can discuss than faith. The entirety of Christianity requires faith, for it is written, “the just shall live by faith.” So, with so much riding on correctly understanding faith, what it is, and how it operates in us, it is good to devote several episodes to the subject. The first order of business is to debunk all inaccurate definitions of faith, to show the falseness of what is wrongly called faith.
If revival is the renewal of healthy New Testament Christianity, then one question remains. How do you experience revival? How can you return to a place of vibrancy in your relationship with the Lord Jesus? In this episode, we outline three biblical mandates that, if believed and experienced, will lead you back to spiritual well-being. Please listen, and then share with family and friends.
Revival is a return to normal New Testament Christianity. It is to walk in the Spirit consistently. In this episode, Michael Durham considers the indicators that evidence that a believer or a church needs revival. God wants His children to walk in the experience of their inheritance in Christ. But all of us know that we do not always do so. So, listen and discover what the signs of spiritual regression are. We need to know these indicators before our symptoms become a full-blown disease.
We try to find a more biblical view of revival in this episode. One of the prevailing reasons revival is not occurring is the unbiblical attitudes about revival. Some have an idea that revival is a great evangelistic campaign, and others believe in humanistic formulas to be the key to having a revival. And others consider revival a purely sovereign work of God alone. These perspectives are hindering genuine revival, which is Christians returning to healthy New Testament Christianity.
In this episode, we discuss special moves or outpourings of God on His people. Many call these movements of God’s Spirit working in powerful ways revivals. The word revival has come to mean different things to different people. It is highly imperative that we rightly define the word so that confusion does not reign. It is also essential that we rightly understand the word to experience it when needed.
What is that something that many of us know is missing, but we don't know how to express it? Since we have not experienced it, we don't know what it is; we only know something is needed. Many faithful Christians would admit that something is absent from the local worship service, especially during the hour of preaching. That doesn't mean that the pastor or the one delivering the sermon is not presenting the truth. It means that even as he is, there is a dynamic missing that we read of in the New Testament. Please listen, and share this very important episode with family and friends.
We have made the case that one of the reasons preaching is missing in many biblical churches is because teaching is mistaken for preaching. In this episode, Michael Durham shares several necessary characteristics of preaching that distinguish it from teaching. If you want to know what biblical preaching is, this episode will provide you with a clear answer.
What makes preaching biblical? Why is preaching suffering unpopularity in our churches? And what is needed if preaching is to have an effect? These are some of the questions we are seeking to answer.
The problem of preaching is not that preaching has been rejected in biblical churches. The problem is what's considered preaching is not. Preaching has declined because of teaching. Teaching has supplanted preaching.
Preaching has come under severe attack from without the church and, sadly, within the church. It seems every generation must contend, not just for the faith once delivered to the saints, but also for the integrity and purity of preaching. Preaching is the main work of the church, and if the enemy can dilute the proclamation of God’s word, he can kill the church’s fruitfulness.
In this episode, Michael Durham explores why preaching has undergone assassination attempts and why it is not central in our churches.
In our last episode, we aired a sermon Michael Durham preached the previous year that created some controversy. The contention was not doctrinal but about the application. The question disputed was about suitability. Was the sermon appropriate, and should a preacher say such things?
In this episode, we will air the final half of the sermon. In the following episodes, the podcast will examine true preaching and its importance and the demise of preaching in our generation.
Welcome to Season Two! The Real Truth Matters Podcast starts season two with a sermon Michael Durham preached last year that created some controversy. The contention was not doctrinal but about the application. The question disputed was about suitability. Was the sermon appropriate and should a preacher say such things?
In this and the next episode, we will air the sermon so you can hear it for yourself. In the following episodes, the podcast will examine true preaching and its importance, as well as the demise of preaching in our generation.
In this last episode of season one, Michael Durham deals with David's practicing the presence of God. How do you cultivate an ongoing awareness of the presence of God? Are there things you must do for this to take place? And if so, what are those things that we must do so that we walk conscious of God? Please take time to listen to this most important episode. We will resume the Real Truth Matters Podcast with season two in January of 2022.
Unless you are a new Christian, you have learned that God's ways are so radically different than our ways. We all want God to show up when we are in trouble. We pray, cry, and make promises so that the Lord will intervene. But sometimes God shows up and He is the trouble. He afflicts and causes pain. He hurts rather than heals; He wounds instead of restores.
As we continue looking at the life of Jacob when he wrestled with God, we are going to see that we, like Jacob, need the wound of God so that we can truly enjoy communion and intimacy with Him.
Should we learn how to wrestle in prayer until we prevail with God? Of course, but the incident in the life of Jacob when he and God wrestle the entire night is not about prayer. It is often used as an illustration of persevering prayer, but that is not the point of the story. Jacob doesn't start the wrestling match, God did. God was about something else in Jacob's life to bring Jacob into a place of real communion with God.
Prayer is one of the most challenging things in the Christian life. But without it, there is little communion with our God. In this episode, Michael Durham shares how you can turn the Bible into a book of prayer and thereby revolutionize your prayer life. He discusses how he discovered this and gives a brief example of using the Bible as a guide to prayer.
Too many times, we do not experience the Word, Jesus Christ, when we read His word. How can we change this? How can you start reading the Bible and connect with the One who authored it? That is what today’s edition of the Real Truth Matters podcast is all about. Please join us and learn that we must not make the fundamental mistake of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day and separate God’s word from God.
The Bible is God’s heart expressed to us, and that is where the Bible plays another huge role in our lives. Not only does it provide us the only revelation of God, who He is, and what He is like, but it also gives us doctrinal instruction that teaches us how to relate to the Lord and have fellowship with Him. It also serves as the voice of God to us. He speaks through it.
In this episode, Michael Durham explains how to read the Bible to hear God speak personally to you. This is one of the most important discussions you will listen to on this subject.
Do you struggle in prayer, thinking prayer should be more a dialogue than a monologue? In this episode, Michael Durham shares how to pray in the biblical way that makes communion with God real conversation. This is one of the most practical principles about prayer you will ever hear. So, we invite you to listen.
Sometimes prayer requires more of you than at other times. There is a prayer that requires grit, a determination that will not relent. So often, the Lord tests our endurance by delays in granting the answer that we are seeking. Some have prayed for years for things they desired to see, and some have died without seeing their request answered. But they never gave up asking. Listen as Michael Durham explains this kind of prayer.
In this episode of the RTM podcast, Michael Durham deals with our Lord Jesus' answer to the request for Him to teach His disciples how to pray. The Lord's answer is the best teaching on prayer you can read. Books on prayer are wonderful, and we ought to be grateful for them and read them. But no book on prayer says as much about how to pray as this simple outline given by Christ.
To really pray, we must prepare our hearts to pray. This is a biblical fact, and it is a fact of church history. All too often, we dash into the closet of prayer, say prayers but do not actually pray. We have fulfilled the form and ritual of prayer, but true communion with God doesn’t happen. Prayer is a spiritual work, and it requires our spirit to be attuned to the spiritual realm. This is something that we seldom hear and know. Please, listen to this essential prerequisite to genuine fellowship with God, and learn how to prepare your heart to pray.
In the previous broadcast, it was stated that Jesus made a habit of prayer. It was a regular and continual part of His life. And, as our Lord’s disciples, we must regularly pray, as well. Biblical suggestions were given on how to build prayer into your daily life.
As we look at the text John 11:41-43, what must seem an odd text on the subject of prayer, we do find what is foundational to prayer. Up to this point, this podcast has explained the motivations for prayer, which are our love for God, and because God is our resource, a second motivation for prayer is the provision of our needs. But there is a foundation for these motives that propel us to pray. Listen as Real Truth Matters speaker, Michael Durham shares this foundation to prayer.
We don’t pray as we ought to or would desire. We all have failed in prayer. You can even pray regularly but oftentimes find it hard to pray when you pray. In this episode of the RTM podcast, Michael Durham addresses this biblically and encouragingly. This episode and the next will give reassuring support from the prayer life of our Lord Jesus.
Jesus prayed much. And if we are to be His disciples and live as He lived, we must do as He did. Because He prayed much, we ought to pray much. How can you build prayer into your life? Listen and find out.
Do you struggle to believe God is good to you? Are you bothered by the lack of reality of God in your life? He doesn’t seem real at times. You believe in Him, but He’s more like a fact than a person. These are important questions we need to ask. In this episode, Michael Durham continues to unpack the Bible’s principal purpose of prayer. As we continue to learn how to commune with the Lord, we must understand and learn the lesson in this podcast. Prayer is ultimately for the reason of communion, and communion’s prize is God Himself.
In Matthew 17:2, Jesus said, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” So, what does Jesus mean? Is He saying the more prayer, the more power? The more prayer, the more success?
These are important questions because depending on the answer, we will have a biblical Christianity that has a motivation of prayer that is unique, or we will have an improper motivation for prayer that will lead to an unbiblical Christianity. In other words, Jesus’ answer provides us with the proper reason or purpose of all prayer. And let us not forget that prayer is a primary means of communion with God. Listen as Michael Durham explores what our motivation for prayer ought to be.
Every Christian has a vital interest and desire to commune with the living God. But how do we do this? Sometimes it isn't easy. Prayer can be, at best, a difficult thing. There seems to be so much that opposes us, keeping us from praying or hindering us when we pray. We would rather do many other things than pray. Prayer can be so challenging that, as Thomas Shephard, a leading New England Puritan, said, “It is sometimes so with me that I will rather die than pray.”
Listen as Michael Durham explains how to approach the difficulty of prayer.
Is fellowship with the living God and Creator of all things really possible? And if so, how does one go about having communion with God? Are there specific protocols to observe? Or can one enter in without rules and regulations?
In this episode, Michael Durham defines what communion with God is and deals with the possibility of lowly creatures like us being able to fellowship with the Almighty. It is an incredible thought to realize you can be in the right relationship with God and interact with Him in the sweetest communion. Please listen and discover what Christ ultimately died to grant His children.
In this episode, Michael Durham discusses how the Lord gets our attention. No doubt, He can get our attention in a million different ways. His power is unlimited. If He wants, He could get our attention most spectacularly. But since the Lord seldom uses the more dramatic methods to gain our attention, we should investigate the less spectacular and regular ways He employs. If you are not acquainted with these biblical ways in which God works, you are apt to miss what God wants to accomplish. Of course, the Lord can get our attention, but He doesn’t want to reinforce our dull hearing but training us to not listen by using dramatic methods. The Lord desires that our hearts grow sensitive to Him without He having to shout.
We must never think of God as being a “chatty” person. But at the same time, we must not think of Him as being silent. He does communicate to His own. There is the potential of fellowship with God, and fellowship requires communication. The primary means for our Lord to communicate with us is through the Scripture. However, the Bible does not preclude any other form of communication. God does speak immediately and directly and His voice is knowable. It is truly self-authenticating. Does He speak this way often? No, but we should not rule it out.
How do you know if God is leading you on a specific path? Well, do not despair. The Lord is too kind to leave us to a guessing game. The Bible gives six markers or identifiers that mark the way of the Lord. You could say these six markers are six tests, tests by which we see if something is God’s will or not. So don’t panic; God commands us to exam Him and all other spirits who would pretend to the Holy Spirit. Thank God that He gave us a book whereby we can test all things and, therefore, able to hold fast to that which is good.
How do you know if God is leading you on a specific path? Well, do not despair. The Lord is too kind to leave us to a guessing game. The Bible gives six markers or identifiers that mark the way of the Lord. You could say these six markers are six tests, tests by which we see if something is God’s will or not. So don’t panic; God commands us to exam Him and all other spirits who would pretend to the Holy Spirit. Thank God that He gave us a book whereby we can test all things and, therefore, able to hold fast to that which is good.
Does God still speak personally to us, or was that something for just the Apostles and no longer viable? In this episode, Michael Durham, explains that God still does speak subjectively. However, to hear God speak is not a physical, but spiritual reality, which requires the spirit of a man to be trained and developed in the art of spiritual listening. Perhaps God is speaking, but you haven’t learned the voice of God, nor the language of the spiritual.
Most of us think we experience so little of Jesus. For this reason, we find ourselves thinking that, at times, it is difficult to follow the Lord. We don’t seem to know what Christ is up to in our lives; we complain that He is not easy to see and, therefore, hard to follow. But, how do you follow someone you can’t see?
Michael Durham tackles this subject and helps us to see that Christ is showing up and manifesting Himself. The Lord Jesus is keeping His promise and you can experience Him.
According to some, it seems God has hidden His will from us; He has given us some cryptic clues and then bids us go hunt for it. Those who find the elusive prize are usually the super-spiritual because only they understand the clues and have learned God’s method of hiding His will.
To know God’s will for you is nowhere that difficult. It does take some effort, but you will find that it is not the effort you thought. Discovering God’s will is as simple as discovering God.
Most Christians believe the dynamic of relationship seen in the Bible stays in the Bible. We should not expect the level of intimacy that men and women in the Bible experienced. We have our Bibles, and we have the corporate worship of the saints; why then should we expect more? If you do, you will only be disillusioned and dissatisfied. But that is not the stated sentiment of Scripture. Everything in the Word of God leads us to expect and experience deeper levels of communion with our Lord. In this episode, Michael Durham shows the necessity of Christ to reveal Himself and His will to His sheep.
Mysticism is every sense of the word an ugly and persistent problem that has plagued the church from its earliest days. What does mysticism mean? In this episode, Michael Durham, not only defines what is mysticism, but shows it dangerous results. Many today claim a Christian mysticism; even some of the great heroes of the faith talked about the necessity of a Christian mysticism. However, any mysticism godly leaders in church history may have claimed is not what modern mysticism is today. Can you experience God, yes, and you should, but not all experiences are God.
How do you discover if a so-called spiritual experience is biblical or not? There is no doubt that God can make Himself real to someone. The experience of faith is just that—God is made real to a person. God is a God to be experienced, but not every experience is God. How then can you discern the difference? The Lord has given us His word, which is the objective standard. It tests the genuineness of every subjective experience. Listen as Michael Durham explains the five tests of Scripture that must evaluate every spiritual experience.
Does God personally get involved in our lives? And if so, how are you to know it is God or just your emotions? Indeed, the Lord did not leave us here to do our best, nor did He throw us into a free-for-all where people can claim any experience, and no one should question it. The Bible warns that many seducing spirits will try to deceive God’s people. The power of their deception is that they claim to be godly; in fact, they try to impersonate the Holy Spirit. That is why this episode and the next are so important. The Lord God has given us warnings that must be heeded so that we won’t fall prey to the devilish devices of the enemy.
In this episode, RTM director, Michael Durham, explores the subjective side of Christianity. Much debate exists on whether or not God relates to us today subjectively, meaning personally and directly. Can you truly be conscious of the presence of God? If a person says they feel God’s presence, is that true or is it demonic? And are emotions to be completely renounced, or do they play any role in the Christian life? These are the questions this episode is focused on answering.
Is the Bible the Third Person of the Trinity? Absolutely not! Yet, some accuse those who have a high view of Scripture that they replace the Holy Spirit with the Bible as if it was the third person of the Trinity. Of course, the charge is not accurate, but what is it concerning some with a high view of Scripture that would instigate such an accusation, whether in jest or not? When we discuss the sufficiency of Scripture, are we speaking about the Bible as if it were omnipotent? Or does the Holy Spirit play an active role in the power of the Word of God? This is an important question because the answer will shape the reality and experience of God.
In this episode, Michael Durham discusses whether or not Christianity has a subjective or experiential side to it. How do we know our feelings are biblical or not? Many claim extraordinary experiences with God, while others tell us that any experience is unbiblical. Is there really a biblical spirituality that can be tested and discerned?
Walking with God and growing in relationship with Him is often difficult because we really don't know what we know. We know biblical information and theology about God, but those facts and doctrines have little to no reality in our lives. We know them with the intellect, but we don't know them in experience. In fact, the reason we read our Bibles is wrong. In this introductory episode, Michael Durham, explains how the Bible and real life intersect.