SEVEN WITH KEVIN: Recent Episodes
Kevin Cozort
Podcasts of approximately seven minutes by a person named Kevin who attempts to use scripture combined with his life experiences and current events to bring the Bible's messages more to life in the lives of the listeners.
Paul spoke of the struggle between keeping the law and continuing to sin. He struggled with it, even though he had been blinded by the light and was able to do miracles. It was the same with the apostles. They may have had strong spirits, but Jesus knew they were still flesh and blood men who would sometimes slip into sin.
So, what do we do? Well, mainly, we ask for forgiveness after we sin and then strive to do better. That really is all we can do. We should draw on the experiences of the men and women of the Bible who saw great things - and, did great things! - yet, still sinned and needed forgiveness.
Don't be too hard on yourself is the lesson. The world teaches us to carry guilt and "pay for your mistakes." Jesus absolutely is not that way with you. Accept that you sin, have sinner, and are going to sin, ask for forgiveness and keep praying for strength against the areas of your walk you know are weakest.
God, Christ, and Holy Spirit are absolutely here to help you! Pray and accept forgiveness and guidance.
After a year of worry about pandemic and its effects on our lives, and a rather unfriendly political season, we turn to the book of Proverbs to read a verse that tells us a simple way to help those around us who have hearts heavy with anxiety.
King Solomon's famous "Everything Under The Sun" passage does not include worry, which we know to be a thing. And, Christ knew it to be a thing to the degree that he addressed it during his "Sermon on the Mount."
It is so difficult to not worry. I supposed we can surmise that Solomon didn't worry because everything he needed physically was given to him from birth until death. Still, Christ never encourages jealousy against those who have more than we do.
Instead, we are instructed to trust God to provide for us, the same as he does the animals and plants. God loves us, and wants the best for us. He wants us to trust Him and ask Him for what we need.
These past 12 months have been very difficult for many of us - and, many of us still feel uncertain about the future. Jesus says we can trust God and not worry. I pray every day for that kind of faith because, truthfully. there are many times when i do lack it. Let's together draw some hope from these verses.
Knowing he would soon be arrested and put to death, Jesus prayed. Let's look at some of the characteristics of the prayed He prayed during this stressful time:
(1) It was customary for Him to pray.
(2) He teaches that prayer helps prevent temptation.
(3) He submitted to God's will, even though He asked out of the situation.
(4) An angel came and strengthened Him because of the prayer.
(5) He prayed so earnestly that he sweat profusely.
There are many lessons here to be learned. Christ taught a daily prayer, as captured in what is called His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6). This prayer, however, if different. It is a prayer for a time or stress.
The key points seem to be that prayer is the "go to" remedy when you have difficulty and stress, it is pivotal in not allowing that stress to lead you into temptation, that God's will is to be asked over your own preference, and that God will minister to you if you are praying honestly and humbly - perhaps, sending angels to strengthen you as well!
Continuing the overview of Peter's actions before and after the Crucifixion and Resurrection, we can see that Christ is very forgiving - even though He knows beforehand that we will sometimes "let Him down." In fact, it's doubtful that Christ is "let down" when our hearts are in the right place overall.
Remember, even though Peter denied he knew Christ when he was confronted during Jesus' arrest and questioning, Christ still chose Peter to carry the Gospel to a wider audience. In short, though "disrespected" by Peter - and, knowing full well in advance that he would do so - Christ still forgave Peter and gave him a very important role in carrying the Gospel to the non-Jewish world.
The lesson for us is, Jesus can use our lives to spread the Gospel as well - even though we have had a sinful past. You are as important today as Peter was back then. There is Gospel to spread. And, even though we might believe we are not doing it correctly, or well enough, or often enough, we should give ourselves a break because Christ is not judging us as hard as we are judging ourselves.
In the second episode, I said that, like Peter, we might, in stressful situations, also deny Christ. Or, we might not want to present that Gospel out of some fear we feel at the moment.
We need to acknowledge, though, that Christ himself advised his followers not to share the Gospel in all instances. In fact, it is seen as using discretion when we understand whether the Holy Spirit is prompting us within a discussion or interaction with non-believers. Not every situation is right for presentation of the Gospel.
In short, Jesus was no "telemarketer" when it came to the Gospel, simply throwing it out there to anyone, then just hoping someone would bite. No. The Gospel, in Christ's view, was to be treated and cherished as sacred, presented only in the right manner and in the correct context.
Howdy! In Episode #1, we discussed the concept of Jesus interceding, or advocating, on our behalf. In this episode, we explore the origin of that concept.
Going back to the Gospels, we find in Luke's account of The Last Supper, that Jesus told Peter that he had prayed for him. He knew that Peter would soon enough deny him, and that all the apostles would fall away before he was led to his death. Yet, he prayed for Peter, anyway.
We can be comforted, therefore, knowing that Jesus is interceding for us before we need it...and, that He is doing so specifically because he knows where Satan will attack us. Whatever your weakness, please know that Jesus is already presenting your case to God, understanding that you may fall. Folks, that is how much Jesus loves and cares about us!
Enjoy the podcast!
Biblical references: Luke 22:31-32, and the Last Supper parts of Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 13.
Hello, my name is Kevin and this is my "Seven With Kevin" podcast. As close to daily as possible, I'll make a podcast of approximately seven minutes. The topics with be scriptural, but not necessarily straight forward Bible lesson. I hope to tie my experience to a scripture, and sometime a current event to make the Bible more alive for you, as a Christian or non-Christian.
Welcome, and thank you for listening!