Duane Sheriff Ministries - Messages: Recent Episodes
Duane Sheriff
Since 1983 we have been promoting the Word of God, and helping people develop a personal relationship with Jesus. 036660
What if eternal life isn't about how long we live—but about knowing God intimately? In episode 15 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff teaches that Jesus defined eternal life not by its duration, but by its relationship: "that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." The biblical word "know" is used throughout Scripture to describe the intimate union between a husband and wife. Just as Adam knew Eve and they became one flesh, believers are invited into a covenant relationship with Christ that goes far beyond religion and into genuine intimacy with God.
Under the New Covenant, there is no mediator standing between our heavenly Husband and us. Even Jesus' invitation in Revelation 3:20 is a call for His own bride to open the door to deeper fellowship. As we draw near to Him through His Word, prayer, communion, meditation, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we grow in our knowledge of God.
Discover how God's Word, prayer, communion, meditation, and other spiritual disciplines cultivate a deeper relationship with Christ, why drawing near to Him produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and how intimacy with our Hero Husband transforms every area of the Christian life.
What if the first marriage in human history was God's blueprint for our relationship with Jesus? Hidden within the creation of Adam and Eve is the "great mystery" Paul reveals in Ephesians 5—a prophetic picture of Christ and His Church.
In episode 14 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores the book of Genesis to show how Eve's creation foreshadowed our covenant relationship with Christ. Woman was within Adam before God formed her and brought her to him, paralleling how believers were in Christ at the cross, brought forth through His sacrifice, transformed into His Church, and joined to Him in an eternal covenant. Understanding this divine mystery is essential to grasping our relationship with Jesus as our covenant Husband and to developing a deeper intimacy with Him. As Adam recognized his own flesh and bone in Eve, Jesus sees Himself in us.
Christianity is far more than religion—it's the intimate relationship God has always desired with His people. Discover why we're called to leave our former life and cleave to Christ, how abiding in Him produces lasting fruit, and why growing in relationship with Jesus, our Hero Husband, is at the very heart of eternal life.
Did you know that the first marriage in the Bible between Adam and Eve is a type and a shadow of the marriage relationship we, the Church, have today with Jesus? In Ephesians 5:32, Paul declares that the marriage covenant is "a great mystery" that ultimately points to Christ and His Church.
In episode 13 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores how the first marriage in Genesis was a prophetic picture of our covenant relationship with Jesus. Just as God brought Eve out of Adam's side and united her back to him as one flesh, God has brought His Church out of Christ through His sacrifice on the cross. The blood and water that flowed from Jesus' pierced side reveal the birth of His bride. We were spiritually in Christ at the cross, just as Eve was in Adam before she was formed, and through the new birth we have been joined to Jesus as one spirit in holy matrimony.
Discover how Adam and Eve reveal the Gospel, why we're called to leave the world and cleave to Christ, and how seeing yourself as Christ's faithful bride will deepen your love, strengthen your loyalty, and draw you into deeper covenant intimacy with our Hero Husband.
Our relationship with God mirrors a marriage covenant, calling us to remain faithful and loyal to Christ regardless of our circumstances. In episode 12 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explains why believers can rejoice even during life's bitter cups. Scripture teaches that trials, persecution, and hardship are not strange or unexpected parts of the Christian life but expected tests of our faith. James and Peter exhort us to count it all joy—not because of our emotions, but because of what we know.
When we remain faithful during bitter cups of suffering, we participate in Christ's sufferings, and the Spirit of glory rests upon us. God uses every trial to develop perseverance, godly character, and spiritual maturity. The enemy attacks us not because of who we are, but because of Christ living within us. Understanding this transforms how we respond to opposition, enabling us to drink the bitter cup without allowing bitterness to take root in our hearts, ultimately leading to greater fruitfulness.
Discover why rejoicing is rooted in revelation rather than feelings, how God's glory is revealed through faithful endurance, and how every trial can deepen your relationship with Jesus, your Hero Husband.
Every person will face a bitter cup in life. The question isn't whether trials will come, but whether believers will remain faithful when they do. In episode 11 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explains that the "bitter cup" is a biblical metaphor for Christian suffering.
In our covenant relationship with Christ, we are His bride, and He is our faithful Husband. Under the Old Covenant, a wife suspected of unfaithfulness had to drink a bitter cup mixed with holy water and temple dust. If she was innocent, the bitterness would pass, and she would bear fruit with her husband. This ancient ritual becomes a powerful picture of our faith being tested through trials and afflictions. When we face persecution, hardship, or tribulation, we are drinking our own bitter cups.
Will we remain faithful to our heavenly Husband, or will we turn to the world in spiritual adultery? Jesus referred to His suffering at the cross as a cup, praying in Gethsemane that, if possible, it might pass from Him. He drank that ultimate bitter cup for us as our substitute. Now we drink cups of suffering by following His example—not as punishment, but as tests that refine our faith and deepen our loyalty to Him.
God is a jealous God, and His covenant love is revealed through one of the Bible's most misunderstood passages—the law of jealousy. Our relationship with Jesus mirrors the covenant of marriage, where He is the faithful Husband, and we are His beloved bride.
In episode 10 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff uncovers the biblical meaning of the law of jealousy found in Numbers 5 and reveals how this mysterious Old Testament law points directly to Christ and His Church. The test of a wife's faithfulness through a bitter cup becomes a powerful picture of the trials and sufferings believers face today. Rather than random hardships, these "bitter cups" reveal and strengthen our loyalty, faithfulness, and devotion to Christ.
Discover why God is called a jealous God, how friendship with the world threatens our covenant relationship with Him, and why keeping Jesus as our first love causes every other relationship to flourish. Transform how you view suffering, faithfulness, and God's unwavering commitment.
"The Holy Spirit is drawing us back as the people of God, faithful to God as our one Husband."
In Episode 9 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff reveals why faithfulness and loyalty to Jesus are essential to a thriving relationship with Him. Building on the biblical picture of Christ as our Bridegroom, he explains that friendship with the world weakens our intimacy with the Lord and divides the heart He created to belong to Him alone.
Drawing from James 4, Matthew 6, Zechariah 8, and Revelation 12, Duane shows that God's jealousy flows from His covenant love, not insecurity. Jesus is our faithful Hero Husband who will never leave us, break His promises, or forsake His bride. His loyal love calls forth our loyal response.
Discover why God fiercely opposes everything that seeks to steal, wound, or draw His people away from Him, and how growing in covenant love produces unwavering faithfulness, wholehearted devotion, and the strength to stand firm in an increasingly hostile world.
One of God's names is ‘Jealous.’ It’s not the toxic jealousy seen in broken human relationships, but the passionate, covenant love of a faithful Husband who refuses to share His bride with false gods. In Episode 8 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband," Duane Sheriff teaches that when we have been espoused to Christ as a bride to a husband, He becomes "jealous for you with Godly jealousy."
Are we treating Him like a casual acquaintance, or are we honoring the covenant marriage we've entered into? When we become friends with the world, embrace its values, or seek our identity, security, and fulfillment in anything besides Christ, we're committing spiritual adultery. Jesus loves us passionately. He pursues us with the devotion of a faithful Husband who will not share His bride with false lovers. As we turn from the world's empty promises and look to Him as our true source, our faith is transformed from a religious obligation into a passionate covenant relationship.
Have you ever wondered if our relationship with Jesus is far more intimate than we've ever imagined? In Episode 7 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff reveals that marriage is God's divine picture of Christ and His Church. Jesus is not only our Savior and Lord—He is our Bridegroom, and we are His beloved bride, betrothed to one Husband in an everlasting covenant.
Through the stories of Jeremiah, Hosea, and Ezekiel, we discover that God viewed Israel's idolatry not merely as sin but as spiritual adultery—a betrayal of their covenant relationship with Him. Yet even in Israel's unfaithfulness, God's love and commitment never failed. In Christ, that covenant is fulfilled and perfected. Because we are one spirit with the Lord—flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones—Jesus stays faithful.
This revelation transforms how we trust Him. As our faithful Husband, Jesus is our provider, protector, and source. In these last days, discover why wholehearted loyalty to Christ—not the world, our emotions, or any other substitute—is the foundation for confident faith, steadfast hope, and unshakable security in His covenant love.
What if we told you that the relationship between God and His people has always been designed as a marriage covenant? In Episode 6 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores the Old and New Testaments to reveal that God doesn't just want to be our Lord or our King—He wants to be our Husband.
The concept of spiritual adultery takes on new meaning when we realize that our loyalties to politics, emotions, family traditions, or cultural idols are not just sins—they're acts of unfaithfulness to our divine Spouse. Examining Isaiah 54, Jeremiah 3, Jeremiah 31, and 2 Corinthians 11, Duane reveals that God was Israel's Husband, entering into a covenant relationship with His people long before the New Testament.
Though Israel repeatedly proved unfaithful, God promised a new covenant fulfilled in Christ, who now invites us into that same intimate, lifelong relationship. Do we worship our emotions, feelings, or our political affiliation more than we worship God? Our call is to be faithful, loyal, and fully committed to Jesus above all, recognizing that He loves us as His own flesh, cherishes us, and has entered into an eternal covenant with us. else
"We didn't just become religious… we got married." That simple but profound statement reshapes how we understand our relationship with Christ. Salvation is more than forgiveness of sins—it is a covenant union in which believers become one spirit with Jesus, our Hero Husband. This divine reality also reveals why God's design for marriage, sexual purity, and becoming one flesh carries such eternal significance.
In Episode 5 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff uncovers the biblical mystery of one flesh, showing how the covenant between a husband and wife reflects Christ's relationship with His Church. Drawing from Ephesians 5, 1 Corinthians 6–7, and 2 Corinthians 11, he teaches why our bodies belong to the Lord, why sexual intimacy was designed exclusively for marriage, and why faithfulness to Christ is the foundation of every healthy relationship.
Discover how understanding the one-flesh covenant transforms both your marriage and your walk with Jesus, deepening your loyalty, intimacy, and devotion to your Hero Husband.
While our culture increasingly embraces confusion about gender and sexuality, the creation of male and female was God's intentional design from the very beginning. Scripture reveals that we are image-bearers of God, created to reflect His nature and His divine design for marriage.
In Episode 4 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff teaches that marriage is rooted in creation itself, where God intentionally created humanity male and female to reveal the covenant relationship between Christ and His Church. Drawing from Genesis, the teachings of Jesus, and other key passages, he explains why God's design for marriage, identity, and sexuality remains timeless, life-giving, and unchanging.
Discover how biblical marriage provides loving boundaries, why our identity is secure in our Creator rather than our feelings, and how embracing God's design leads to freedom, wholeness, and a deeper understanding of our relationship with Jesus, our Hero Husband.
We are the bride, and Jesus is our Hero Husband. Marriage isn't just a human institution—it's holy matrimony because it reflects the sacred covenant between Christ and His Church.
In Episode 3 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores the profound biblical truth that marriage was divinely ordained by God before sin entered the world, revealing Christ's covenant relationship with His bride. Drawing from Ephesians 5, Genesis, and Revelation 21, he explains why marriage is called holy matrimony and how this sacred institution points to Jesus' faithful, sacrificial love for His Church.
As the world's assault on biblical marriage continues, this message reveals that the battle is ultimately against the gospel itself and God's original design. More importantly, it reminds believers of their true identity as the bride of Christ, cherished, nourished, and forever united to their Hero Husband. As we embrace this great mystery, we find lasting security, purpose, and confidence in Christ's covenant love, allowing His truth—not the confusion of our culture—to define who we are.
What if the depth of God's love for us is far greater than we've ever imagined? In Episode 2 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores one of Scripture's greatest mysteries: Christ's covenant relationship with His Church, revealed through the institution of marriage. Drawing from Ephesians 3 and 5, he invites us to comprehend the width, length, depth, and height of God's love—a love that surpasses mere intellectual knowledge and can only be grasped by the Spirit.
Rather than measuring God's love by our emotions or circumstances, discover how it was demonstrated at the cross. As we come to understand His sacrificial, unconditional love, we are transformed and filled with the fullness of God. Through the biblical picture of marriage, we learn that Jesus loves us as He loves Himself because we are one spirit with Him, flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones. This breathtaking truth revolutionizes our relationship with God and draws us into deeper intimacy with our Hero Husband.
What if the deepest expression of God's love for us was hidden in plain sight within the institution of marriage? The Bible calls marriage "a great mystery," yet many believers have never discovered what it was designed to reveal. Behind God's design for a husband and wife is a breathtaking picture of Christ's covenant love for His Church—a revelation that transforms both our understanding of marriage and our relationship with Jesus.
In "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff uncovers this "great mystery" from Ephesians 5, revealing that the covenant relationship between Christ and His Church mirrors the sacred bond between a husband and wife. As he explains how Jesus loves, nourishes, cherishes, and remains faithful to His people, you'll discover the depth, width, length, and height of God's love in a fresh and personal way.
When this mystery is unveiled, fear gives way to confidence, intimacy with Christ deepens, and God's beautiful design for marriage is revealed. Discover the Hero Husband who will never leave you and whose covenant love changes everything.
What if the greatest move of God in our lifetime depends on one generation empowering the next instead of competing with it? Too often, churches preserve methods while neglecting the people God wants to reach.
In Acceleration Mandate, Duane Sheriff sits down with Pastor John Nuzzo to explore God's pattern for generational acceleration through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Together they reveal the difference between the unchanging Gospel and the changing methods used to reach each generation, showing why seasoned believers must pass on wisdom, experience, and resources rather than personal preferences. They also address leadership transitions, spiritual legacy, the dangers of division, and why every believer—not just pastors—has a role in accelerating the next generation.
Discover how turning hearts across generations can prepare the Church for a great awakening and a lasting Kingdom impact.
"Did you know when you get born again, you become a brand new person inside?"
When we experience the miracle of being born again, something profound happens that goes beyond simply trying harder. We become a brand-new person on the inside, completely transformed and united with Christ. Yet many believers never fully understand what took place at salvation, leaving them struggling to grow and mature in their faith.
In Episode 15 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff explores the critical transition from conversion to discipleship by uncovering the believer's new identity in Christ. Romans 5 reveals the powerful contrast between who we were in Adam and who we are in Christ. We were not made sinners because of our personal sins, but through Adam's disobedience. In the same way, we are not made righteous through our own good works, but through faith in Jesus Christ, the second Adam. Understanding this truth changes everything. Our identity in Christ connects us to God's purpose, sets the course for our lives, and restores the wholeness that sin fractured.
Discover how knowing who you are in Christ empowers you to walk in freedom, grow in spiritual maturity, and fulfill God's purpose for your life.
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Salvation is not the finish line in the Christian life—it's just the starting point.
In Episode 14 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff explores the doctrine of baptisms, one of the six foundational principles of the Doctrine of Christ found in Hebrews 6. While many believers understand salvation and water baptism, few realize that the New Testament reveals three distinct baptisms that are vital to spiritual growth and maturity.
The Holy Spirit baptizes believers into the body of Christ at salvation, water baptism serves as a public declaration of faith and obedience, and Jesus baptizes believers with the Holy Spirit for power and effective witness. This third baptism was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost and remains available to believers today.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit includes a supernatural prayer language that edifies, strengthens, and enables believers to pray mysteries directly to God. If you've ever wondered, "I'm born again—what now?" this episode reveals how to move beyond a defeated Christian life and walk in the fullness of God's provision and power.
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Did you know the Bible teaches that there are multiple baptisms?
Many Christians may not realize that Scripture speaks of not one but several baptisms, each with an important role in a believer's life. Hebrews 6 lists the doctrine of baptisms among the six elementary principles of Christ that form the foundation of our faith. Understanding these baptisms helps us grow spiritually, mature in our faith, and follow God's plan for our lives.
In Episode 13 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff explores the third elementary principle of the Doctrine of Christ—the doctrine of baptisms. First, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ at salvation, making us members of His universal church. Second, we follow Jesus in water baptism as an act of obedience and public profession of our faith—not to be saved, but because we are saved. Third, Jesus baptizes believers with the Holy Spirit, empowering them to serve God and be effective witnesses for Christ.
This foundational teaching brings clarity to a subject often clouded by confusion and denominational debate, revealing God's plan for transforming converts into mature disciples of Christ.
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“Did you know that God is a God of judgment? That's His nature.” Many believers rejoice in God's love, grace, and mercy, yet struggle to understand the biblical doctrine of eternal judgment. Christ has taken God's wrath for those who believe, yet Scripture clearly teaches that every person will one day stand before God and give an account. Understanding this truth is not intended to produce fear, but rather gratitude for the salvation Christ has provided and a sense of urgency to share the gospel with others.
In Episode 12 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff explores the sixth and final elementary principle of the Doctrine of Christ—eternal judgment. Drawing from Hebrews 6, Revelation 20, Romans 5, and other key passages, we learn that God's judgment is revealed in different ways. Christ bore God's wrath at the cross. God lovingly chastens His children. Unbelievers will face judgment in the future, and believers will one day stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Discover why eternal judgment remains a foundational doctrine, what believers have been saved from, and how understanding God's justice, mercy, and future accountability helps us become mature disciples who live with an eternal perspective.
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What does it mean to truly be part of God’s house? In "The House of God", Duane Sheriff traces the biblical picture of God’s dwelling place—from Jacob’s encounter at Bethel to the tabernacle, the temple, Jesus, and finally the Church—to reveal what God has always intended His house to be.
At its heart, God’s house is built upon two enduring pillars: a deep love for truth and a commitment to prayer. When Jacob awakened at Bethel, he realized he had found the gate of heaven—a place where heaven and earth converged, angels ascended with the needs of earth, and returned with heaven’s resources. The stone he anointed pointed prophetically to Jesus, the chief cornerstone upon whom God builds His house.
Today, believers are living stones being built together into a spiritual house. We are not meant to live as isolated Christians or consumers seeking comfort, but to gather in truth, prayer, worship, giving, and service. As the Church learns to open the right gates and close the gates of hell, God will prepare and restore His house for a coming harvest. Discover why the Church must become a house of truth rather than deception, prayer rather than complaining, giving rather than taking, and serving rather than being served.
"I know that something happens supernaturally when people of faith lay hands on people. Things are transmitted. Things are transferred. In Mark 16, Jesus said that believers would lay hands on the sick and they would recover. The power is not in our hands, but in God's presence and power working through yielded vessels."
In Episode 11 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff explores the fourth elementary principle of the Doctrine of Christ—the laying on of hands. Few understand the biblical significance of this foundational practice or the role it plays in God's supernatural work through His people.
Drawing from the ministry of Jesus, the early church, and examples throughout Scripture, we see how the laying on of hands was used to minister healing, impart spiritual gifts, transfer authority, bless children, and help believers receive the Holy Spirit. Discover how God still works through ordinary believers and why the laying on of hands remains a vital part of Christian growth, ministry, and discipleship.
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“Did you know the Bible teaches us that it is impossible to please God without faith?”
In Episode 10 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff explores the second foundational principle in the Doctrine of Christ—faith toward God. Many believers understand faith as an important part of the Christian life, but faith is not merely an option or an addition to Christianity; it is foundational to spiritual growth and maturity.
Drawing from Hebrews 11, Romans 5, Ephesians 2, and other key passages, this teaching reveals how faith is directed toward God, not ourselves, our performance, circumstances, politics, or the economy. Faith does not move God; it accesses what God has already provided through His grace. Salvation is by grace through faith; faith itself is a gift from God, and faith must be mixed with the Word of God to produce spiritual profit and maturity.
Discover the vital relationship between grace and faith and learn how salvation, God's promises, and spiritual growth are received by trusting in His faithfulness rather than relying on human effort.
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There are six elementary principles that form the foundation of our faith, called the Doctrine of Christ, upon which every believer is meant to build their life.
In Episode 9 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff reveals why so many believers struggle to grow spiritually. Although they have genuinely been born again, many have never been grounded in the foundational truths that produce a strong, stable faith. Hebrews 5 and 6 show that spiritual maturity is not automatic. Believers either grow forward or drift backward, depending on whether they continue in God's Word and learn to discern good from evil.
The first of these foundational doctrines is repentance from dead works. Dead works include both legalistic efforts to earn God's favor and sinful behaviors that contradict our new identity in Christ. True repentance is not about trying to earn God's forgiveness but about renewing our minds, turning from dead works, and living in agreement with who we already are in Christ. Establishing these foundational truths enables believers to grow from spiritual infancy to maturity and remain steadfast in their faith.
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What happens when prayer becomes more than a religious routine and becomes a powerful partnership with God? Many believers know they should pray, yet struggle because no one has ever taught them how. Prayer was never meant to be begging, complaining, or wishful thinking. It is one of God's primary means of bringing His will to the earth and helping believers grow in spiritual maturity.
In Episode 8 of “Born Again, What Now?”, Duane Sheriff teaches why prayer is the fourth spiritual food group revealed in Acts 2:42 and why it is essential for every believer's spiritual development. Drawing from Luke 11, Ephesians 1, and Colossians 1, he explains that it is not enough to simply pray—we must learn to pray effectively according to biblical principles. Through personal testimony and practical teaching, Duane reveals how Jesus taught His disciples to pray, why prayer is a partnership with God, and how believers have been given authority through Christ to bring heaven's reality into earthly circumstances.
Learn how to approach God as your Heavenly Father, and gain insight into developing a prayer life that produces wisdom, spiritual understanding, maturity, and lasting fruit.
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"God never willed for me to get saved and stuck." Many believers receive Christ, miss a devil's hell, and yet never discover the spiritual nourishment and maturity God intended for them. One of the often-overlooked keys to spiritual growth is found in the third spiritual food group revealed in Acts 2:42: the breaking of bread.
In Episode 7 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff teaches the profound significance of communion and why the breaking of bread was central to the life of the early church. Drawing from Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 11, and the biblical pattern of the Passover meal, he explains that communion is far more than a religious ritual. It is a powerful reminder of Christ's life, labor, and love, and serves as both a covenant meal and a witness to the world of Christ's death and coming return.
The symbolism of Jesus as our Passover Lamb points to Christ's complete provision, reminding us that His sacrifice secured far more than forgiveness alone. When we break bread, whether in corporate worship or intimate fellowship, we declare to the world that God is real and Jesus is returning. Duane also explores Paul's warning in 1 Corinthians 11 that many remain weak and sick because they fail to discern the Lord's body—both Christ's sacrifice and the church as His body—revealing how communion calls believers into deeper fellowship, greater spiritual awareness, and a fuller understanding of their covenant relationship with Christ.
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What happens after we're born again? God designed a spiritual growth track to take believers from conversion to maturity, and one of the keys is fellowship. Not casual Sunday handshakes, but genuine koinonia—the deep, meaningful relationships Scripture calls us to cultivate. Even Adam, living in a perfect garden with a perfect relationship with God, needed companionship. Something powerful happens when believers learn to share and communicate the good things God has done in their lives and the good things that are theirs in Christ. Their faith becomes active and effective. They move beyond passive converts and grow into mature disciples.
In Episode 6 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff teaches why fellowship is one of the four basic spiritual food groups revealed in Acts 2:42 and how it plays a vital role in spiritual maturity. While many Christians understand the importance of Bible study, fewer recognize that God created us for meaningful relationships within the body of Christ. As Duane explains, even Adam lived in a perfect world with a perfect relationship with God, yet God declared, "It is not good that you be alone."
Discover how fellowship goes beyond casual acquaintances and becomes a powerful environment for discipleship, encouragement, and spiritual growth. Learn how sharing your faith, communicating the good that is in you through Christ Jesus, and building relationships with like-minded believers can strengthen your walk and help you grow from conversion to maturity.
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"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Jesus never promised His followers an easy path—but He did promise they would be blessed.
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In the message "Blessed are the Persecuted," the final episode of the Beatitudes, Duane Sheriff explores why persecution is a normal part of following Christ and how believers can stand firm without fear, compromise, or bitterness. Jesus prepared His disciples to expect opposition for doing what is right, reminding us that faithfulness often brings resistance in a world that rejects God's truth.
Discover the difference between suffering for wrongdoing and suffering for righteousness, why soft persecution can prepare us for greater tests of faith, and how God rewards those who remain steadfast. Through passages from Matthew 5, John 15, and 1 Peter, Duane reveals how trials refine our faith, deepen our fellowship with Christ, and strengthen us to live courageously. When we understand the blessed life Jesus described, we can endure opposition with confidence, joy, and an eternal perspective.
Imagine 3,000 people being born again in a single day. That's what happened on the Day of Pentecost. But what happened next? God set a pattern for spiritual growth that takes believers from conversion to maturity in Christ, and this pattern still applies to us today.
In Episode 5 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff teaches what he calls the four basic food groups of spiritual maturity. Using Acts 2:42, he explains the growth path the early church followed after 3,000 people were added to the kingdom. Just as physical health requires a balanced diet, spiritual growth requires a steady intake of the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.
Many Christians genuinely love God but still feel spiritually immature because they have never learned how to feed their inner man. Duane explains that God's Word is spiritual food that nourishes, strengthens, and renews us from the inside. He shows why understanding the New Covenant, having fellowship, the breaking of bread, and learning to pray rightly are essential to becoming a mature disciple. Spiritual growth happens when we consistently feed on the four spiritual food groups God designed for our maturity.
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Salvation is the beginning of our spiritual journey, not the destination. But then what? What are the next steps, and how do we grow from being born again into mature disciples of Jesus Christ?
In Episode 4 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff teaches why a good church is essential to spiritual growth and maturity. Drawing from Matthew 16, Matthew 28, Hebrews 10, and other key passages, he explores the church's role as the pillar and ground for truth, the necessity of biblical teaching, and the importance of relationships.
When Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus revealed that He would build His church upon that revelation and equip His people with keys to the kingdom. These keys represent spiritual authority, discernment, and the ability to walk victoriously in a fallen world. Jesus' Great Commission was not merely to make converts but to make disciples through teaching and training.
Whether through a healthy local church or a trusted teaching ministry, believers need a growth track rooted in God's Word. Discover why a good church is one of God's primary tools for helping believers move from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity and become equipped to help others do the same.
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Are you born again but still feel discouraged? Many believers receive Christ, experience a genuine transformation, and yet never discover the growth, freedom, and maturity God intended for them. Salvation is only the beginning of the Christian journey. Without proper discipleship and a foundation in God's Word, spiritual hunger can turn into confusion, frustration, and defeat.
In Episode 3 of “Born Again, What Now?”, Duane Sheriff shares his powerful testimony—from being born again at seven years old, to years of confusion, disappointment, and spiritual struggle, and ultimately to a life-changing revelation of God's grace. Through the loss of his brother, unanswered questions, and seasons of defeat, Duane reveals how a lack of discipleship left him stuck as a convert instead of growing into a mature disciple.
Everything changed when he encountered the truth of his identity in Christ and understood the finished work of Jesus in a new way. This message highlights the importance of foundational biblical truths and reveals how understanding the gospel of grace—what God has done for us rather than what we can do for Him—transforms believers from converts into disciples who can grow, mature, and stand strong through life's challenges.
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What does it really mean to be born again? If we became a new creation in Christ, why do we still struggle with old thoughts, temptations, and weaknesses? Duane Sheriff explains, "When you get born again, you don't get a new body. You don't get a new soul or your mind, will, and emotions. You get a brand new spirit, and you're born of the Spirit."
In Episode 2 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane explores what Jesus meant when He told Nicodemus that we must be born of water and the Spirit. Drawing from John 3, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, and other key passages, he explains that salvation is the supernatural recreation of the human spirit. God removes our old, dead spirit and gives us a brand-new spirit, filled with His life and nature.
2 Corinthians 5:17 declares that those who are in Christ are new creations. Discover what actually changed when you were born again, why understanding spirit, soul, and body is essential to spiritual growth, and how this foundational truth helps believers move from spiritual infancy to maturity in Christ.
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What does it mean to be born again? Does salvation secure our place in heaven, or is it the supernatural transformation of the human spirit? Too many believers receive Christ and then become stuck—never discovering the purpose, identity, and spiritual growth God intended for them.
"In Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff lays a biblical foundation for understanding what it truly means to be born again. Drawing on John 3 and Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, he explains the triune nature of humanity—spirit, soul, and body—and reveals that being born again refers specifically to the recreation of the human spirit.
When we place our faith in Christ, our spirit is made new, declared righteous and holy, and united with the very Spirit of God. This truth is foundational to Christian growth. Like Nicodemus, many believers think only in natural terms, looking at their struggles, emotions, or imperfections and questioning whether they have truly become a new creation.
Learn what changed when you were born again, why your spirit is the key to understanding your new identity, and how this truth equips you to grow into spiritual maturity.
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This sermon explores the seventh Beatitude - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" - emphasizing that biblical peacemaking is fundamentally different from worldly concepts of peace. True peacemakers actively pursue reconciliation between God and humanity, and between warring parties, often at great personal cost. The message clarifies that peacemaking is not about appeasement, compromise, or tolerance of evil, but rather about courageously entering conflict zones to reconcile people to God's truth and to one another. Jesus is presented as the ultimate peacemaker whose reconciling work cost Him His life. The sermon challenges believers to understand that while they find peace with God through Christ, this same peace positions them for tribulation in the world. True peacemakers risk relationships, reputation, and comfort to pursue godly reconciliation without compromising Scripture, conscience, or God's holiness.
What if one of the most important leadership lessons is learning not to "spit into the wind" by repeating foolish decisions? In Episode 15 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff exposes the danger of Pharisaical thinking that can creep into our hearts and explains why leaders must "hate the Pharisee," especially the one within themselves. Jesus warned that the leaven of the Pharisees was hypocrisy—a corrupting spirit that values appearance over authenticity, tradition over truth, and legalism over mercy.
Hypocrisy is not simply falling short of our standards; it is pretending to have standards with no genuine intention of living them out. This message clarifies a crucial distinction that keeps many people away from faith communities, leading them to fear they would be hypocrites if they failed. True Christianity is not about perfection, but authentic pursuit. As Proverbs reminds us, a righteous person falls seven times and rises again. The Pharisees strained at gnats while swallowing camels—majoring on minor issues while neglecting justice, mercy, compassion, and faith. Wise leaders learn from failure, avoid repeating foolish mistakes, and guard their lives from unnecessary compromise.
What happens when insecurity, comparison, and envy quietly keep leaders from growing into the fullness of who God created them to be? In Episode 14 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff teaches that spiritual maturity begins by seeing ourselves through the lens of who we are in Christ rather than through the limitations of the flesh. Christ in us is the hope of glory, and understanding our identity in Him frees us from jealousy, inferiority, and the pressure to compare ourselves with others.
Drawing from Colossians, Corinthians, and the parable of the talents, Duane explains that God intentionally created every person unique, with different gifts, abilities, assignments, and measures of grace. Maturity is not becoming someone else—it is faithfully stewarding what God has entrusted to us. Healthy leadership flows from security in Christ, not competition with others. Learn how to embrace your God-given design, reject comparison, and grow into fruitful, joyful, and productive maturity in the kingdom of God.
What happens when our confidence is rooted in ourselves instead of Christ in us? In Episode 13 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff teaches that believers are not called to build high self-esteem, but high Christ-esteem. True confidence is not found in pride, self-promotion, or positive thinking apart from God—it is found in discovering who we are in Christ and learning to live from our new identity in Him.
Using Galatians 2, 2 Corinthians 5, and Colossians 3, Duane explains that the "old self" in Adam was crucified with Christ and that every born-again believer has become a new creation. Many insecurities, jealousies, fears, and feelings of inferiority are rooted in identifying with the flesh rather than with the new man in Christ. There is a difference between arrogance and godly confidence. Arrogance trusts in self, while true confidence trusts in Christ in us, the hope of glory. Leaders who develop a high Christ-esteem become secure, joyful, Spirit-led, and equipped to bring light, encouragement, and blessing everywhere they go.
What if denying ourselves is mistaken for self-hatred instead of embracing our identity in Christ? In Episode 12 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff teaches that understanding healthy self-love is essential to loving others. He draws on the Golden Rule, the principle of sowing and reaping, and Jesus' command to love our neighbors as ourselves. Scripture makes it clear that God never intended for us to live with self-hatred, insecurity, or unhealthy shame.
This message skillfully distinguishes between denying the old sinful nature and embracing the new creation we have become in Christ. The "old self" united to Adam was crucified with Christ, but the "new self" is righteous, holy, and filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Healthy self-love is not pride, narcissism, or self-exaltation—it is valuing the new person God created us to be in Jesus.
Duane shares personal stories from leadership, ministry, health, rest, and relationships to show how healthy self-love helps us serve others effectively, stay strong over time, and reflect Christ's love and character in everyday life.
What happens when hurt, disappointment, and unfair treatment begin poisoning our hearts and relationships? In Episode 11 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff explains why the Golden Rule is far more than a simple principle for children—it is a key to guarding our hearts, preserving our souls, and walking in the love of God. Drawing from Matthew 7, Leviticus 19, and Romans 13, Duane reveals that treating others the way we desire to be treated is the practical expression of God's love and the fulfillment of the royal law of love.
Many people live by the world's rule: treat others the way they have been treated. But Jesus taught a higher way—responding with grace, forgiveness, kindness, and love even when others fail us. Holding grudges, bitterness, and unforgiveness only corrupts the heart and damages relationships, ministries, and lives. Applying the Golden Rule will keep our hearts clean before God, protect us from offense, and produce wholeness, healing, and lasting spiritual health.
What does it really mean to have a pure heart? Many believers assume Jesus was talking about moral perfection, leaving them discouraged by their own struggles. But His words reveal something far more freeing—and life-changing.
In "Blessed Are the Pure in Heart", Duane Sheriff explores one of the most misunderstood Beatitudes and reveals that biblical purity is not sinless perfection but a single-minded devotion to God. Through Matthew 5, Matthew 6, Proverbs 4, and other key passages, we understand that a pure heart is one that is focused on God's Kingdom above all else and allowing His truth to shape our thoughts, motives, choices, and emotions.
Rather than living under guilt and condemnation, believers can recognize temptation before it takes root, bring every struggle to Christ, and receive His grace to overcome it. As we guard our hearts and keep Christ first, every area of life—from our relationships and family to our finances and purpose—is transformed.
Jesus promised that the pure in heart "shall see God." Keeping Christ as your first love enables you to experience His presence, favor, and blessing in every area of life.
What happens when offense quietly poisons our hearts and destroys relationships, ministries, and even our walk with God? In Episode 10 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff teaches why refusing offense is essential for every believer who desires to lead effectively and live victoriously. Jesus warned that offenses are unavoidable in this life, but taking offense—and becoming a vessel that spreads it—can lead to bitterness, unforgiveness, and spiritual destruction.
Drawing from Luke 17, Hebrews 12, and Matthew 18, Duane reveals how offense begins as a seed that, if left unresolved, grows into unforgiveness and eventually a root of bitterness that defiles many. Forgiveness is not forgetting, trusting, or denying emotions—it is releasing people from their debt and trusting God with justice. Unforgiveness gives Satan access to torment hearts, relationships, and ministries, while forgiveness closes the door to the enemy and opens the door for healing and freedom. This message reminds everyone to guard their hearts, quickly release offenses, and walk in the freedom and grace God has for them.
What happens when a culture no longer fears God and begins celebrating what God calls evil? In Episode 9 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff teaches that the fear of the Lord is not only reverencing God—it is about learning to hate evil and cling to what is good. Drawing from Proverbs, Romans, and Psalms, Duane explains that wisdom begins with the fear of God and that true leadership requires the courage to stand for truth in a culture that increasingly rejects God’s standards.
Biblical love is not hypocrisy—it rejoices in truth and abhors evil. This message clarifies the difference between loving people and tolerating evil. Christians are called to walk in God’s love toward everyone while refusing to celebrate, excuse, or embrace what Scripture calls sin. While cultural pressures may urge believers to compromise their convictions, Duane challenges leaders to remain steadfast in their reverence for God, to uphold righteousness, and to speak the truth in love—demonstrating both courage and compassion.
What happens when we lose the fear of God and begin letting culture, emotions, and human opinions shape our decisions instead of God's Word? In Episode 8 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff teaches why the fear of the Lord is one of the most essential foundations for effective leadership and spiritual growth. The fear of God is not a tormenting fear rooted in anxiety, rejection, or punishment. It is a healthy, reverential awe that produces wisdom, righteous judgment, peace, and unwavering loyalty to God.
Drawing from Hebrews, Proverbs, Isaiah, and 2 Peter, Duane explains how the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Jesus Himself operated in the fear of the Lord, which enabled Him to render righteous judgments and remain faithful to the Father. When believers fear God, His Word becomes the final authority above culture, human reasoning, and personal feelings. This episode reveals how fearing God delivers us from the fear of man, strengthens our faith, and equips us to become effective leaders in every area of our lives.
What happens when correction feels uncomfortable, conviction feels personal, and changing our thinking feels harder than staying the same? In Episode 7 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff teaches that repentance is not merely about sorrow over sin, but about the continual renewal of the mind and the alignment of our thoughts with God’s Word. True transformation in the Christian life happens when we allow God to reshape our thinking, correct our direction, and conform us to the image of Christ rather than the world.
Drawing from Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and Revelation, we conclude that repentance is not a one-time event, but a lifelong process of spiritual growth, maturity, and daily surrender to God’s truth. The power of the Christian life comes from the Holy Spirit, and that power flows through a renewed mind willing to receive instruction, correction, and reproof. Leaders who refuse to repent become conformed to worldly thinking, while leaders who embrace repentance experience transformation, wisdom, and the ability to walk in God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will.
How do we stay on the Highway of Grace instead of drifting toward pride, distraction, and self-dependence? In Episode 6 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff teaches that humility is the highway of God's grace in our lives, while pride—whether arrogant or falsely humble—is an off-ramp that leads to destruction. Humility means being God-centered rather than self-centered, agreeing with what God says about us rather than trusting our own feelings or the world's philosophies.
Drawing from James 4 and 1 Peter 5, Duane reveals that God gives more grace to the humble but resists the proud. Humility keeps our hearts focused on “the one thing”—our relationship with Jesus. It is not a sign of weakness or insecurity—it is teachability, submission, dependence upon God, and a willingness to yield. Using the illustration of highway on-ramps and yielding traffic, Duane demonstrates how humility allows believers to travel the pathway of God’s grace, while pride continually leads people away from God’s best. This episode encourages leaders to clothe themselves daily with humility, remain open to correction, and trust God for promotion, strength, and fulfillment in every area of life.
We often think we understand pride—recognizing it easily in arrogant, boastful people—but how many realize that false humility can be just as destructive? Pride is not only thinking we are better than everyone else; it can also be thinking we are worse than everyone else. Both are self-centered, and both can keep us from God’s promotion, wisdom, and blessing. In Episode 5 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff teaches why humility is one of the most indispensable qualities in leadership and life, and how pride can hinder leaders from reaching their full potential—even when they sincerely love God and desire to serve Him.
Many misunderstand humility, assuming it means weakness, insecurity, or thinking less of ourselves. But true humility means being God-centered rather than self-centered, agreeing with what God says about us rather than trusting our own feelings, opinions, or the philosophies of the world. Humility is the pathway to wisdom, grace, promotion, and lasting success in God’s kingdom.
What happens when serving God becomes a source of stress, frustration, and distraction instead of joy and fulfillment? In Episode 4 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff teaches why it’s important to maintain “the good part” in our relationship with Jesus. Through the story of Martha and Mary, Duane shows that while serving is important and necessary, it can become unhealthy when we neglect to sit at the feet of Jesus and cultivate a close relationship with Him.
Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen “the good part,” meaning a focused relationship with Him that would not be taken away. The “one thing” is not the only thing in life, but it is the essential thing that makes every other part of life and leadership work properly. When we lose our connection with Jesus, ministry, work, and relationships can become stressful, distracting, and driven by human effort instead of grace. This episode encourages leaders to protect their first love, develop healthy spiritual rhythms, and keep Jesus at the center of every area of life.
What happens when leaders become trapped by their past failures, distracted by yesterday’s successes, or discouraged by present opposition? In Episode 3 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff teaches the “one thing” principle found in the apostle Paul’s words: forget those things which are behind, reach forward to those things ahead, and press toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Forgetting the past does not mean spiritual amnesia but rather learning to look back with a redemptive eye—seeing God’s mercy, grace, and transforming power rather than guilt, shame, or condemnation. Many leaders sabotage their future by remaining stuck in past mistakes or former seasons of success. This message challenges believers to let go of what is behind, embrace God’s purpose ahead, and persevere through hardship, opposition, and spiritual battles with unwavering focus on Jesus. True leadership requires single-minded devotion, endurance, and a continual pursuit of intimacy with God above all else.
What is the one thing that determines whether a leader finishes strong or becomes a needless casualty? In Episode 2 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff shares that the greatest essential in leadership is not position, talent, or success—but maintaining an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Drawing from the apostle Paul’s words, “this one thing I do,” Duane affirms that every believer is called, first and foremost, to know God personally and seek Him above everything else.
When we get this one thing right—prioritizing our relationship with Jesus above all else—it brings clarity, stability, and purpose to every area of leadership and life. Our ministries are anointed, our work is fruitful, and our daily responsibilities are infused with divine purpose. True leadership flows from dependence on God rather than human effort alone. This episode challenges believers not to let busyness, ministry work, or daily tasks substitute for intimacy and fellowship with the Lord.
We are all leaders. Whether we're guiding our families, influencing our workplaces, or serving in our communities or churches, leadership is woven into the fabric of everyday life, and we all carry the mantle of leadership in some capacity. In "Essentials in Leadership", Duane Sheriff shares personal lessons he has learned through more than four decades of ministry and walking with the Lord. Leadership is not merely about position or title, but about influence, character, faith, perseverance, and following Jesus faithfully. These universal top 10 leadership truths apply to every person, regardless of their role, season of life, or sphere of influence.
In this series, Duane will explore 10 essential leadership principles that are indispensable for thriving in our God-given roles. He compares these essentials to water, food, and air—not merely good ideas, but necessities for survival. As leaders, we are called to be models of God’s grace, faith, integrity, and perseverance for others to follow. Whether you're leading at home, in ministry, or in the workplace, these truths will strengthen your walk with God, equip you to influence others for His kingdom, and help you endure faithfully without becoming a needless casualty in your spiritual race.
What if the secret to living holy is not trying harder—but trusting God more? Many sincerely desire change, yet become discouraged trying to overcome sin and weakness through human effort alone. In Episode 15 of The Fear of the Lord, Duane Sheriff explains that holiness is not achieved through willpower, religious performance, or striving in the flesh. True transformation happens as we behold the glory of God and trust the power of the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out.
Holiness is not about pretending to be perfect or earning God’s acceptance—it is the supernatural work of God’s Spirit producing His nature and character within us. Like a metamorphosis, believers are progressively transformed from glory to glory as they keep their eyes fixed on Jesus through Scripture. The liberty the Holy Spirit brings is not freedom to sin, but freedom to become who God created us to be. When we transition from trying in our own strength to trusting in God’s grace, we discover the sustainable path to holiness that religious effort can never produce.
This episode offers practical wisdom for overcoming discouragement, breaking free from condemnation, and learning to live holy by faith rather than fear, striving, or self-effort.
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Holiness is not about rules and performance, but about wisdom, love, and protecting your heart from deception. In Episode 14 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches that true holiness flows from understanding God’s nature and recognizing the deadly and deceptive consequences of sin. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and that wisdom helps believers discern how sin slowly hardens the heart, dulls spiritual sensitivity, and pulls people away from God.
Holiness is not about earning God’s love or acceptance through religious performance. Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers have already been made righteous and holy before God. Yet wisdom teaches us that sin still damages lives, harms relationships, hinders our witness, and opens the door for Satan to steal, kill, and destroy. As hearts become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, people lose sensitivity to God’s voice and become blind to the consequences of their actions.
This episode reveals how the fear of the Lord produces wisdom that guards the heart, keeps believers spiritually sensitive, and empowers them to walk in holiness out of love for God and others.
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How holy is God—and why does holiness matter? Many people misunderstand holiness or pursue it for the wrong reasons, trying to earn God’s love, blessings, or acceptance through their own performance. In Episode 13 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff distinguishes between cultural and man-made definitions of holiness and the true holiness of God revealed in Scripture. Because holiness is God’s nature, and because believers have been made righteous and holy through faith in Jesus Christ, we are now called to live lives that reflect His character.
This message dismantles performance-based Christianity and replaces it with something far more powerful: a relationship rooted in grace, love, and transformation. Duane explains that we live holy not to gain God’s favor, but because God is holy, because we are holy in Him, and because we genuinely love God and people. When we understand that sin not only offends God but also harms ourselves and others, holiness becomes an expression of love rather than a religious duty. This perspective transforms Christian living from obligation into heartfelt devotion.
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How holy is God? Scripture describes Him as a consuming fire—so pure, righteous, and glorious that no sinful person could stand in His presence apart from His mercy and grace. In Episode 12 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches that understanding God’s holiness is essential to understanding both the fear of the Lord and the greatness of salvation through Jesus by distinguishing between tormenting fear (being afraid of God) and godly fear (reverence and worship of God).
Through faith in Jesus, we are transformed from children of darkness to children of light and are clothed in Christ’s righteousness, enabling us to stand in God’s holy presence, not with terror but with confidence. Drawing from Hebrews, Thessalonians, Daniel, and other Scriptures, Duane explains how the same holy fire that brings judgment to unbelief becomes cleansing, refining, and refreshing to those who trust in Christ. The account of the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace is an example of how God’s presence burns away bondage while preserving His people.
Discover what true holiness really means—not an outward religious performance or cultural standard, but a Christ-like character formed within us through the transforming grace of God.
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What happens when sinful humanity encounters a God who is perfectly holy, pure, and described in Scripture as a consuming fire? Who can stand before such awesome holiness? God’s holiness is not merely a theological concept, but a reality that demands reverence. In Episode 11 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches that we can only stand in God’s presence by grace through faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
For those who accept God’s mercy, this same consuming fire becomes refreshing rather than tormenting. The Bible’s imagery of the three Hebrew children thrown into the fiery furnace illustrates how God’s fire burns away bondage while preserving those who trust in Him.
This message also addresses sobering biblical truths about judgment, hell, salvation, and the wrath from which Jesus came to save us. Hell was never created for humanity, but God lovingly made a way through Christ so that no one would perish. Through repentance and faith in Jesus, we can receive eternal life and stand confidently in God’s presence. Deepen your understanding of God’s holiness, grace, and the transforming power of the Gospel.
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What happens when a culture no longer fears God or recognizes the destructive power of evil? In Episode 10 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches that one of the clearest biblical definitions of the fear of the Lord is “to depart from evil.” True godly fear is not hatred toward people, but a holy reverence for God that causes us to hate what destroys lives and turn away from sin.
Drawing from Proverbs, Psalms, Job, Ephesians, and other Scriptures, Duane reveals how the fear of the Lord produces wisdom, understanding, righteous discernment, and a growing awareness of sin’s destructive consequences. Pride, compromise, and the celebration of evil are evidence of a culture losing its fear of God, while those who fear the Lord are drawn away from evil and toward God Himself.
We may not be able to simply walk away from evil in our own strength, but we can depart from evil by walking toward God. As we draw near to Him, His light pulls us out of darkness and transforms our hearts. This message also addresses righteous anger, spiritual compromise, and how sin hardens the heart and gives the enemy a foothold.
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What does it really mean to fear God in a culture that demands tolerance for virtually everything? Are Christians ever called to hate—and if so, what? In Episode 9 of The Fear of the Lord, Duane Sheriff explains that Scripture clearly teaches there are things God hates, and that a proper fear of the Lord requires us to hate what He hates and love what He loves.
Drawing from Proverbs, Psalms, and Romans, Duane teaches that the fear of the Lord is “to hate evil”—not people. He explains how modern culture’s mantra of tolerance creates a deceptive progression from compromise to acceptance, then celebration, and ultimately the legislation of evil. The life and ministry of Jesus reveal that Christ was full of love and mercy toward sinners, yet never tolerated or excused sin. Jesus forgave, healed, and restored, while also commanding, “Go and sin no more.”
This message brings clarity to the confusion between biblical love and cultural “love.” True love does not celebrate iniquity. Today’s “love is love” is a counterfeit of the truth that “God is love.” Deepen your understanding of the fear of the Lord as a reverent hatred of evil that protects, purifies, and aligns our hearts with God’s in an age of moral confusion.
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What happens when you truly encounter the holiness, majesty, and awesomeness of God? In Episode 8 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches that fearing the Lord is not a tormenting fear that drives us away from God, but a holy awe and reverence that draws us deeper into His presence.
In the book of Isaiah, the prophet sees God high and lifted up, filling the temple with His glory. In that moment of overwhelming holiness, Isaiah doesn't run away in terror. He experiences purging and cleansing when a seraphim touches his lips with a coal from the altar, and his iniquity is taken away. This is the fear of the Lord in action—it reveals our unholiness not to condemn us, but to cleanse us. We cannot see how unholy we are until we see how holy He is.
Many believers misunderstand the fear of God, associating it with condemnation and rejection rather than with grace and relationship. When we truly see God’s holiness, we will also recognize our need for His mercy and cleansing. The fear of the Lord causes us to depart from evil—not through legalism or self-effort, but by being drawn into the beauty of God’s holiness, goodness, and love.
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Why do some people grow closer to God through hardship while others pull away from Him? In Episode 7 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff defines what the fear of the Lord truly means—and why it cannot be reduced to a mere concept or religious formula. The fear of the Lord is not a tormenting fear of punishment or rejection, but a holy reverence, awe, honor, and worship that flows from a genuine revelation of who God is.
Godly fear comes through genuine encounters with God. Using examples from the lives of Jesus, Job, and Moses, along with practical illustrations from everyday life, Duane explains how the fear of the Lord produces righteous judgment, obedience, humility, worship, and intimacy with God. Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord, and Job’s response in the middle of devastating loss reveals the depth of reverence and trust that godly fear produces. When we truly see who God is, worship becomes our natural response.
This episode will help you better understand the benefits of the fear of the Lord, how it transforms your relationship with God, anchors your faith during trials, and leads to deeper spiritual wisdom and maturity.
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What fear is keeping you from fully trusting God? In Episode 6 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff exposes four major fears that paralyze believers: the fear of faces (people and peer pressure), the fear of fences (obstacles, hardships, and persecution), the fear of foes (spiritual warfare and demonic opposition), and the fear of failure (past mistakes and future uncertainties). Each of these fears represents a different battlefield where Satan attempts to accomplish his ultimate goal—separating us from the love of God and questioning whether God truly loves us.
God’s love, fully proven through the cross of Jesus Christ, is the foundation for overcoming every tormenting fear. Every trial, affliction, and persecution is not testing God’s love for us, but revealing and strengthening our love and faithfulness toward Him. Using biblical examples like David, Moses, Paul, and Timothy, Duane explains how fear of rejection, hardship, spiritual opposition, and personal failure can keep believers from fulfilling God’s purpose. This message will encourage you to trust God completely, stand firm in spiritual battles, and discover the freedom that comes from fearing God above everything else.
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Fear is one of the enemy’s greatest tools for silencing truth, trapping us in compromise, and hindering our spiritual growth. When we fear God more than people, everything changes.
In Episode 5 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches on the fear of man versus the fear of God, revealing how the fear of the Lord delivers us from the fear of rejection, intimidation, hardship, and failure. King Saul's story in 1 Samuel 15 explains how his fear of people led him to disobey God's direct command, costing him his kingdom. Saul admitted, 'I feared the people and obeyed their voice.' God's voice must always take precedence over human opinion. Following His voice leads to freedom, boldness, and unwavering faith. When we desire approval from others, we can end up compromising and disobeying God.
By developing a healthy fear of the Lord, you will find that awe and reverence for His holiness naturally replace an unhealthy dependence on human validation. This message can help you overcome fear, stand strong in the truth, and develop a deeper reverence for God that empowers you to obey Him no matter what challenges you face.
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Fear has a way of silencing truth, compromising convictions, and keeping us trapped by intimidation. But what happens when the fear of God becomes greater than the fear of people?
In Episode 4 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff reveals how God’s perfect love delivers us from the tormenting fears that paralyze our faith journey and dominate our lives. Duane identifies four major fears that hinder believers: the fear of faces (people), fences (obstacles), foes (spiritual opposition), and failure. Through biblical examples in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Joshua, he shows how the fear of man leads to compromise, while the fear of the Lord produces courage, obedience, and boldness to stand for truth.
Duane also shares personal experiences from ministry, explaining how overcoming rejection and intimidation transformed his walk with God. This message cuts to the core of why we sometimes compromise truth, remain silent when we should speak, and cave to cultural pressure. The fear of man is a snare, but when we trust in the Lord and develop a healthy fear of Him, we find safety, courage, and the freedom to live boldly for Christ.
This teaching encourages us to examine which fears control our lives, so we are no longer controlled by the opinions of others but instead find freedom by putting God first.
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Why do so many believers still fear God's judgment if Jesus already bore our punishment on the cross? In Episode 3 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff reveals the difference between the unhealthy, tormenting fear of judgment and the healthy, reverential fear of God that draws us into intimacy with Him.
Through the finished work of Jesus, we have been forgiven, made righteous, and given boldness before God instead of condemnation. Every sin we have committed—or ever will commit—was already condemned in the flesh of Jesus. This truth transforms our motivation for holy living. We serve God not out of fear of punishment, but out of genuine love for Him and others.
Duane also shares how misunderstanding God's character kept him from developing a close relationship with the Lord for years—and how the Gospel brings freedom from fear-based religion. This message will help you better understand God's mercy, the power of the cross, and the true fear of the Lord that leads to holiness, peace, and a deeper intimacy with Him.
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What kind of fear brings blessing instead of bondage? Many believers struggle to reconcile the Bible's warnings against fear with its command to fear the Lord. In Episode 2 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff reveals the critical difference between tormenting, demonic fear, and the wholesome, reverential fear of God that leads to wisdom, joy, and intimacy with Him.
Ungodly fear paralyzes and drives people away from God, while the fear of the Lord draws us into deeper trust, worship, and obedience. Through powerful teaching from Psalms, Hebrews, Proverbs, James, and Job, Duane shows how the fear of the Lord is directly connected to God's wisdom and produces lasting peace, stability, and blessing in a world filled with confusion and chaos.
If you've ever wrestled with fear, guilt, or a distorted view of God's judgment, this message will help you experience the freedom found in God's grace while developing a healthy reverence that transforms your walk with Him.
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What does it really mean to fear God? The Bible speaks about fear in seemingly contradictory ways. For many believers, the fear of the Lord is one of the most misunderstood concepts in Scripture. The Bible says God has not given us a spirit of fear and that perfect love casts out fear. Yet throughout Scripture, we are also commanded to fear the Lord, and tremendous blessings are promised to those who do.
In the new series, “The Fear of the Lord,” Duane Sheriff explains the distinction between the two types of fear found in Scripture: ungodly, tormenting fear that separates us from God, and the fear of the Lord—a wholesome, reverential fear that draws us into intimacy with Him. Understanding this distinction is critical to our spiritual lives. When we learn how God’s love through the cross has removed every reason for tormenting fear, we can approach Him with confidence, knowing we are righteous in Christ. At the same time, a healthy reverence for God’s holiness, power, and majesty keeps us from sin and draws us closer to Him.
What if one of the most important moments in history wasn’t the cross or even the resurrection, but the day Jesus ascended into heaven? In Episode 18 of "The Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff explores the sixth element from 1 Timothy 3:16—Jesus being “received up into glory.” After conquering sin, death, and the powers of darkness, Jesus didn’t merely rise from the grave—He ascended to the right hand of the Father. This ascension was essential for the coming of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to live godly lives and bear witness to the world.
Jesus’ physical departure was necessary because it allowed the Holy Spirit to be present everywhere, convicting the world of sin (unbelief), righteousness, and judgment. The ascension stands as God’s final affirmation of Jesus’ completed work and opens the door for believers to experience intimate communion with Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Discover why the ascension of Jesus matters more than many realize, how it completed His earthly mission, and what His enthronement means for your faith, authority, and hope today.
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What if the chaos, deception, and darkness rising in the world are not signs to fear—but reminders that God’s kingdom is advancing, and His angels are still ministering to His people?
In Episode 17 of "The Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff teaches from the declarations of 1 Timothy 3:16, that the gospel must be preached to all nations and believed in the world. As confusion increases in the last days, Duane explains that the answer is not panic, but proclaiming the lordship of Jesus Christ and the power of His kingdom.
When believers seek God’s kingdom first, they experience the blessings and benefits of the gospel—including the active ministry of angels sent to serve the heirs of salvation. Even in turbulent times, heaven has not withdrawn its help. God continues to protect, strengthen, and minister to His people through unseen divine assistance.
Discover why faith comes by hearing the Word of God, why the gospel is the only true answer for a broken world, and how believers can walk in confidence knowing both God’s kingdom and His angels are at work today.
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What if the message of Jesus was never meant to be contained—but to be shared with the whole world?
In Episode 16 of "The Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff teaches on the fourth declaration of 1 Timothy 3:16: Jesus was “preached unto the Gentiles,” revealing that the gospel is radically inclusive. God’s plan of salvation reaches far beyond Israel to every nation, race, and people group in the world.
Duane explains that Christ’s Great Commission was to disciple all nations through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. The supernatural power of the gospel convicts hearts, transforms lives, renews minds, and matures believers through the work of the Holy Spirit.
As darkness increases on the earth, the answer is still the same: the gospel must be preached to the whole world. Discover why your role in sharing, supporting, and living this message matters more than ever.
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What if that sudden delay, the unexpected detour, or the split-second escape wasn’t a coincidence - but a divine interaction by an angel assigned to watch over you? In Episode 15 of "The Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff explores the third declaration of 1 Timothy 3:16—“seen of angels”—to describe the role angels played in the life of Jesus and how they have been assigned to every believer. Angels witnessed every phase of Christ’s redemptive work—including His death, descent into the lower parts of the earth, and His triumph over principalities and powers—and how they now listen in as the gospel is preached.
Angels are ministering spirits assigned by God to uphold, protect, and serve those who are heirs of salvation. Duane shares his personal testimonies of angelic protection in life-and-death moments, illustrating how real and active this unseen ministry truly is. From Jacob’s vision of ascending and descending angels to the promise of divine protection in the Psalms, this message brings clarity to their ongoing role.
Discover how angels are engaged in spiritual warfare on your behalf, why their presence matters, and how understanding their ministry strengthens your faith to walk in the light where demonic powers are disarmed.
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What if the most powerful forces at work in your life are the ones you cannot see? In Episode 14 of The Mystery of Godliness, Duane Sheriff teaches on the role of angels in God's plan for humanity. Angels are “ministering spirits" sent to serve those who inherit salvation—protecting, strengthening, and assisting believers according to God's purposes.
Drawing from 1 Timothy 3:16, Duane teaches that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus were not only accomplished for us—but seen of angels, who have been actively involved in God’s redemptive work from the beginning. Hebrews reminds us that we may entertain angels unaware, challenging how we see others and revealing how closely the spiritual world overlaps with our everyday lives. Discover how understanding the reality of angels deepens your awareness of God's care, strengthens your faith, and reveals the supernatural realm surrounding your life in Christ.
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What if the resurrection of Jesus isn’t just something to celebrate—but the very truth that defines who you are, how God sees you, and how you live today? In Episode 13 of The Mystery of Godliness, Duane Sheriff teaches that the resurrection is not optional to the gospel—it is everything. Without it, our faith would be empty, our message meaningless, and we would still be trapped in our sins. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 15 and Romans 4, he reveals that Jesus was justified in the Spirit—vindicated through the resurrection—and because He lives, we have been made right with God, declared righteous, and given a new spirit that will never taste death again.
Jesus was not raised for Himself—He was raised for us. His resurrection is God’s eternal proof that sin has been defeated and that our justification is complete. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in every believer, empowering a life of true godliness. Discover why the resurrection changes everything—your identity, your victory, and your eternal hope.
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What if your struggle to overcome sin isn’t about willpower—but about understanding you were never meant to live with two identities? In Episode 12 of The Mystery of Godliness, Duane Sheriff teaches that God sees only two kinds of people in the earth—those in Adam, living in sin and death, and those in Christ, living in righteousness and eternal life. Through Scripture, we see how Adam and Jesus function as representative men—one bringing sin, death, and condemnation, and the other bringing righteousness, life, and victory.
We didn’t become sinners simply by our own actions—we were born into it through Adam. In the same way, we don’t become righteous through effort—we receive righteousness as a gift through Jesus Christ. This truth frees us from striving and anchors us in a new identity.
Discover how one man got you into sin—and how one Man has completely brought you out, into a life of righteousness, authority, and victory.
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What if your entire identity—and your authority with God—comes down to one decision: whether you are in Adam or in Christ? All of humanity exists in one of two families—either in Adam’s family, bound by sin and death, or in God’s family through Christ. In Episode 11 of "The Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff teaches how humanity transitions from being “in Adam” (the family of man) to being “in Christ” (the family of God). Jesus had to become fully God and fully man to serve as both our representative and Redeemer. Just as Adam was the representative man through whom sin and death entered the world, Jesus became the second man and last Adam through whom righteousness and life are restored.
Drawing from 1 Timothy 3:16 and Romans 5, Duane explains the foundational declarations of the gospel, including the virgin birth and incarnation. God’s plan produced a unique man—fully God and fully human—who regained the authority Adam forfeited. Discover what it means to be no longer in Adam—but alive, righteous, and reigning in Christ.
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What if the greatest struggle in your life was shaped by two men you've never met—one who brought death, and One who brought life? In Episode 10 of "The Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff teaches the profound theological truth of the Incarnation—why God had to become human in Jesus Christ to redeem humanity. Two men, Adam and Jesus, have fundamentally shaped every human destiny. Through Adam came sin, death, and the loss of dominion; through Jesus—the second man and last Adam—came righteousness, resurrection life, and restored authority in the earth.
When God gave Adam dominion over creation in Genesis, He delegated authority to humanity. When Adam surrendered that authority through sin, only a man could legally reclaim it. Jesus entered humanity not only to defeat Satan legally and spiritually, but to recover the dominion Adam lost and delegate that authority back to His body—the Church.
This message reveals why your body gives you authority in the earth, how Christ restored mankind’s divine assignment, and what it means to live now as part of His victorious new creation. Discover the mystery that transforms how you see your identity, authority, and purpose forever.
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What if the reason Jesus had to become man reveals far more than being redeemed—it reveals how God intended humanity to reign? In Episode 9 of The Mystery of Godliness, Duane Sheriff teaches that at the heart of our salvation lies a profound mystery Satan never saw coming: God became flesh. Without the incarnation, humanity could not be saved, born again, or made into new creations. "God made flesh" is the pivotal foundation of the gospel. If Jesus were only a good man, His life could redeem only one life—but because He is Creator God made flesh, His sacrifice carries the worth of all creation.
Drawing from 1 Timothy 3:16 and Genesis 3, Duane reveals that humanity's fall required humanity's restoration. The promised seed of woman pointed to the virgin birth, bypassing Adam's fallen bloodline and bringing forth a sinless Savior who could fully represent mankind. Through Christ, God not only provides forgiveness of sins, but also restores dominion, defeats Satan, and recovers the authority originally given to man—revealing redemption as the full restoration of righteousness, authority, and life through Jesus Christ.
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What if the missing key to spiritual growth isn’t trying harder—but understanding what God has already placed within you? In Episode 8 of The Mystery of Godliness, Duane Sheriff teaches that believers are not called to manufacture godliness through human effort, but to grow by adding spiritual virtues to the faith already given through Christ. Drawing from 2 Peter 1, he reveals that virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love are not requirements to earn salvation—they are the fruit of a life rooted in the mystery of Christ in us. As Duane teaches, “If we add these seven things, we will never stumble,” showing that true maturity comes not from legalism, but from grace empowered by the cross, the gospel, and the Holy Spirit.
We learn why the virgin birth was necessary and why God becoming flesh is the foundation of the gospel scheme—how He bypassed the sin nature passed through human bloodlines to bring forth a sinless Savior who could represent all humanity. Discover how understanding your identity in Christ transforms barren faith into fruitful, overcoming faith.
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What happens when evil disguises itself as virtue—and how can you discern the difference between true godliness and counterfeit righteousness? In Episode 7 of "The Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff exposes the dangerous deception of "a form of godliness" that appears moral on the outside but rejects the very power that transforms lives. Drawing from 2 Timothy 3, he reveals how false religion, cultural ideologies, and spiritual deception imitate righteousness while denying the power of the cross, the gospel, and the Holy Spirit. True godliness is not outward virtue signaling or human effort—it is the supernatural work of Christ in us.
Duane contrasts false forms of righteousness with the genuine power believers receive through the gospel: the cross as God's wisdom, the gospel as God's saving power, and the Holy Spirit as the One who empowers holy living. This message equips believers to recognize deception in the last days, where evil masquerades as righteousness, and to stand firm in the transforming truth of God's Word.
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What if the reason so many struggle to live a godly life isn’t a lack of desire—but a misunderstanding of where true power comes from? In Episode 6 of The Mystery of Godliness, Duane Sheriff teaches that godliness is not something we achieve independently but is produced by God's power at work within us. As he states, "We cannot…be holy, independent of God's power.” Unlike the world and religion that attempt goodness without God, Christianity offers genuine transformation through the cross, the gospel, and the Holy Spirit.
Duane explains that while the world has "a form of godliness," it denies the very power that makes change possible. In contrast, believers are called to embrace and celebrate that power—Christ living in us, producing holiness as a fruit, not a performance. Through Scripture, he unpacks how the mystery once hidden is now revealed: Christ in you, the hope of glory. Discover how to stop striving—and start living from the power already within you.
What if the key to real joy, peace, and lasting fulfillment isn’t found in striving for more—but in discovering what God has already provided?
In Episode 5 of "The Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff confronts our modern obsession with physical fitness, dietary extremes, and material prosperity, reminding us that while bodily exercise has some value, godliness is profitable in all things—both in this life and the life to come. True happiness is not rooted in possessions, performance, or even discipline alone, but in understanding the mystery of godliness and the gospel itself.
Through 1 Timothy, Duane explains that while natural things like exercise and provision have their place, they cannot compare to the eternal value of godliness. This message challenges common misconceptions about holiness, prosperity, and purpose, revealing that godliness is not a means of gain—but a life transformed by Christ in us.
Discover how to exercise yourself in godliness, walk in true contentment, and experience the fruit of holiness—not through human effort, but through the power of the gospel at work within you.
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"Did you know that the mysteries of God are literally hidden for our glory?" What if the very things that transform your life were never hidden from you—but intentionally hidden for you? In Episode 4 of "The Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff reveals that the gospel is a divine mystery—God's plan for complete deliverance—once concealed from the powers of darkness but now revealed to believers. This mystery, described in 1 Timothy 3:16, unfolds the full scope of Christ's work: His incarnation, resurrection, and ascension, all working together to produce godliness in us.
Duane emphasizes that this hidden wisdom was designed for our glory. Had Satan understood it, he would never have crucified Jesus. Through the cross and resurrection, God ended the old creation and birthed a new one—placing Christ within us. Discover how "Christ in you, the hope of glory" is not just a concept, but a present reality that empowers transformation, renews your mind, and equips you to live a victorious, godly life.
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What if the key to living a truly godly life has nothing to do with trying harder—but everything to do with seeing clearly what God has already done? In Episode 3 of The Mystery of Godliness, Duane Sheriff teaches that living the Christian faith is not about rules and regulations… It is about who God is and what God has done for us. Godliness is not about rules, regulations, or what we can do for God, but rather about who God is and what He accomplished through Jesus Christ.
A Christian's life flows from understanding the incarnation, the virgin birth, and Christ's substitutionary work on the cross. True transformation doesn’t come from striving—but from seeing that God became man, lived among us, and took our place. This mystery was hidden from the powers of darkness but revealed to those who fear the Lord, and it becomes the foundation for true transformation. As stewards of God's mysteries, we are called to be faithful in understanding and sharing these divine secrets that hold the power to change lives.
Discover how this mystery opens your eyes, renews your heart, and empowers you to live a life that reflects God—not by striving, but by believing.
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Imagine if everything you thought about living a godly life was upside down—and the real power to change was never in your effort to begin with. In Episode 2 of "The Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff reveals that true godliness doesn’t come from trying harder, spiritual discipline, or self-righteous effort, but from believing what God has already done for us in Christ. From 1 Timothy 3:16, he unpacks the “mystery of godliness” as the gospel scheme: Jesus’ life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension—and your personal connection to every part of it.
Through his own powerful testimony and a vivid open vision of the cross, Duane brings this truth to life in a profound way—seeing himself in Christ at the crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension. This revelation moves beyond theory, illustrating what it truly means to be in Christ and how completely our old identity has been put to death and replaced with new life in Him. In that moment, the mystery of godliness became real, personal, and transformative.
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What if the power to live a truly godly life has been hidden in plain sight all along? Scripture reveals a divine secret that transforms how we live. In this series, "The Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff teaches that godliness isn’t achieved through human effort or willpower, but through understanding and connecting to this revealed mystery—God manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received into glory.
This mystery reveals that Christ now lives in believers, empowering us to live godly lives through grace, the cross, the gospel, and the Holy Spirit. While we are not saved by works, we are saved for good works—and grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and live righteously.
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Is subtlety evil—or is it actually wisdom when used the right way? Many of us view subtlety as the enemy's crafty, deceptive tactic. After all, Genesis 3:1 says the serpent was the most subtle of all creatures.
In Episode 20 of "Wisdom," Duane Sheriff concludes the series by tackling what he calls the hardest subject in wisdom's house—subtlety. Scripture reveals there is both a negative form, seen in Satan's deception, and a positive form rooted in godly wisdom.
Drawing from 1 Corinthians 9, Matthew 10:16, and the lives of Paul and David, this episode shows how godly subtlety is not hypocrisy or compromise, but a strategic, love-driven approach to reaching others and avoiding unnecessary conflict. Like a chameleon, it adapts without losing truth—motivated not by self-preservation, but by the gospel.
Discover how to discern the difference between manipulation and wisdom, and learn how subtlety, rightly applied, can help you navigate complex situations, avoid danger, and walk in the fullness of God’s purpose.
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Is everything that’s subtle wrong—or have we misunderstood one of wisdom’s most misunderstood pillars? In Episode 19 of Wisdom, Duane Sheriff teaches on the seventh pillar, subtlety, and explains why it may be one of the most difficult aspects of living wisely. While many associate subtlety with deception and the tactics of the enemy, Scripture reveals there are two kinds: a dark, manipulative subtlety and a godly, Spirit-led subtlety that operates in the light.
Drawing from Proverbs 1:2-4 and building on the seven pillars of wisdom's house, subtlety stands alongside knowledge, understanding, judgment, justice, equity, and discretion as an essential foundation. Godly subtlety requires discernment, timing, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 10:16, Jesus instructs us to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves."
Just as there are two kinds of fear—one demonic and one godly—there are also two expressions of subtlety. The dark side manipulates and deceives, as seen in Satan’s deception of Eve. But the light side operates with wisdom and discernment, knowing when to speak boldly and when to move carefully. Like a chameleon, believers adapt—not to compromise truth, but to avoid unnecessary conflict and maximize kingdom impact. For believers navigating a hostile world as sheep among wolves, understanding how and when to apply wisdom—including subtlety—is essential.
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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where, in hindsight, you thought, “Did I really use discretion?” Discretion is being cautious, calculated, prudent, and aware. In Episode 18 of Wisdom, Duane Sheriff explores the often-overlooked pillar of wisdom—discretion—what it is, why it matters, and how it shapes every area of our lives.
Discretion is the God-given ability to think ahead, read situations, and choose the right words, actions, and attitudes at the right time. It brings self-awareness, helps us avoid unnecessary conflict, and enables us to make wise, calculated decisions that lead to a happy, successful life.
In a culture that no longer teaches restraint or prudence, it is imperative to teach our children and grandchildren discretion. From controlling our speech to managing emotions and understanding context, discretion empowers us to navigate life with wisdom.
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Have you ever thought, “That’s just not fair?” In Episode 17 of Wisdom, Duane Sheriff teaches on the fifth pillar found in Proverbs - equity. While culture promotes “fairness” as equal outcomes, Scripture reveals a different standard. True equity is not sameness, but impartiality—rightly applying judgment and justice without favoritism, according to God’s wisdom.
God's equity is different from the world's perverted understanding. While all believers are equal in salvation, inheritance, and access to God, they are not created the same; each person has unique talents, abilities, and callings. Our divine design matches our God-given purpose, and we will be held accountable as stewards of the specific gifts and grace God has given us. True equity recognizes these differences and judges righteously based on what each person has been given, rather than demanding the same outcomes for everyone.
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Today’s world is demanding justice while often practicing the opposite! In Episode 16 of Wisdom, Duane Sheriff teaches on the seven pillars of wisdom, emphasizing how justice and righteousness are inseparable and form the foundation of God’s throne (Psalm 89:14).
Culture has redefined justice by ignoring God’s moral truth, often leading to outrage, hypocrisy, and even vengeance disguised as righteousness. True biblical justice reflects God’s character and cannot be achieved through unrighteous means. It is impartial, rooted in truth, and administered with equity—rewarding righteousness, restraining evil, and bringing just consequences for both good and bad.
Romans 12:19 reminds us that vengeance belongs to God alone, not to us. Reject selective moral outrage and hypocritical love, and embrace a consistent standard of justice that applies equally to all. Will you build your life on God’s pillar of true justice, or be swept away by cultural counterfeits?
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The Bible teaches that God judges His people, but He no longer judges with wrath, curses, or anger. Today, God judges His people through chastening and correction, motivated by love rather than by wrath. In Episode 15 of "Wisdom," Duane Sheriff teaches the three dimensions of God's judgment—past, present, and future—emphasizing the difference between Old Covenant wrath and New Covenant love.
The Old Covenant brought curses and wrath for disobedience, as found in Deuteronomy 28, but Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. Past judgment was absorbed by Jesus on the cross, where God condemned our sin in Christ's flesh.
While believers are no longer under God's wrath, God still judges His people today through loving correction and discipline. Hebrews 12 reveals that God chastens those He loves as a father disciplines his children. His chastening is not punishment, but a redemptive work that produces holiness, maturity, and spiritual growth.
Discover how to respond to God's correction without fear, rightly divide His Word, and walk in the freedom of knowing you are no longer condemned. When judgment is understood through the lens of grace, it becomes a powerful expression of God's love that leads to life, peace, and lasting transformation.
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The quality of our life is shaped by the judgments we make. Today’s generation is being silenced and will eventually lose its ability to choose wisely. In Episode 14 of “Wisdom,” Duane Sheriff teaches on the critical issue of the absence of biblical accountability and righteous judgment.
As the third pillar in wisdom’s house, judgment builds on knowledge and understanding and determines the direction and outcome of our lives. Jesus commanded us in John 7:24 not to judge by appearance, but to make righteous judgments—yet many struggle to understand what that truly means.
Confusion about judgment has led to a breakdown in moral accountability within the church. Without a clear understanding of the difference between Old Testament law and New Testament grace, many fail to discern right from wrong. When judgment is neglected or distorted, compromise increases, discipline disappears, and spiritual weakness follows.
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Is it true that Christians shouldn’t judge—or have we misunderstood what Jesus actually said? In Episode 13 of "Wisdom," Duane Sheriff tackles one of the most misquoted and misunderstood teachings in Scripture and reveals why judgment is not only unavoidable but essential to spiritual maturity.
As the third pillar in wisdom’s house, judgment builds on knowledge and understanding, enabling believers to rightly divide God’s Word and apply it with clarity. Drawing from Proverbs, Isaiah 33:22, John 7:24, and Matthew 7, it becomes clear that everyone makes judgments daily—the issue is not if we judge, but how we judge.
In a culture that judges by appearance yet still says “do not judge,” this episode offers a balanced, biblical perspective by examining your own heart first and aligning your decisions with God’s Word. Learn to judge with humility, kindness, and honesty by examining your own heart first and aligning your decisions with God’s Word. When we understand judgment correctly, it brings peace and courage, helping us walk confidently with God.
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Many know Scripture, but few truly understand it. In Episode 12 of "Wisdom," Duane Sheriff teaches from the book of Proverbs that wisdom has built her house with seven pillars—and understanding is essential to our spiritual growth. Knowledge is knowing what God said, but understanding is knowing what He meant. Without understanding, we cannot apply God’s Word in our lives correctly.
Understanding is a choice requiring an intentional “ear to hear.” We must approach God with a pure, receptive heart and a single-minded desire to hear Him. As we grow in understanding, we learn to discern good from evil and progress from spiritual infancy—living on “milk”—to the maturity of handling the “solid food” of God’s Word.
In Mark 4, Jesus reveals that God is not hiding truth from us—He desires to give us light and revelation. But we must choose to listen. The sobering reality is that those who grow in understanding will receive more, but those who neglect it will lose even what they have. We are never standing still spiritually—we are either moving forward or drifting backward. In a culture that celebrates confusion, this message calls us to stay hungry, stay attentive, and continue growing in true understanding.
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Many people know what the Bible says, but few understand what God means. Knowledge of Scripture alone is not enough—we must also understand its meaning. In Episode 11 of “Wisdom,” Duane Sheriff teaches about the second pillar in the house of wisdom—understanding.
Proverbs 9:1 and Proverbs 1:2–5 reveal that wisdom is built on seven pillars, beginning with knowledge and then understanding. Knowledge is knowing the truth of what God says in the Bible. Understanding means grasping what that truth means and how it connects. Without understanding, it’s easy to misunderstand or misuse Scripture—to “read the Bible through a straw” by focusing on a single verse while ignoring its context—and end up confused about God’s Word.
Through Jesus’ example in Luke 24 and Paul’s prayers for the church, we see that true understanding is a work of the Holy Spirit opening the eyes of our hearts. As God gives both knowledge of what He has said and understanding of what He means, we move beyond information into transformation. The pillar of understanding enables us to interpret Scripture correctly, discern the times we are living in, and walk out God’s will in our daily lives.
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Today's generation is one of the most informed in human history, yet confusion and destruction are rampant. Why? Because having information without God's wisdom leaves us powerless. In Episode 10 of "Wisdom," Duane Sheriff teaches that without the knowledge of God, we are powerless.
The first pillar of wisdom is knowledge, yet many embrace the cultural lie that “what you don't know won't hurt you." Scripture teaches the opposite. Hosea 4:6 warns that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge—not a lack of information, but a lack of knowing God Himself.
Biblical knowledge is more than knowledge. In Scripture, "to know" speaks of an intimate relationship—the same word used to describe the union between husband and wife. True transformation begins not by knowing about God, but by truly knowing Him. Without the foundational pillar of experiential knowledge through a relationship with Jesus, we cannot build anything that lasts. Yet through this intimate relationship, we become one spirit with Christ and bear the spiritual fruit of love, joy, and peace.
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What if everything we're building in our lives—families, careers, ministries, and legacies—could crumble in an instant without the right foundation? In Episode 9 of "Wisdom," Duane Sheriff teaches how to become a “wise master builder” by understanding the seven pillars of wisdom revealed in Proverbs 1:2–5: knowledge, understanding, judgment, justice, equity, discretion, and subtlety.
Jesus’ teaching on the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7, along with Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 3, reveals that God is not only concerned with what we build, but how we build it. Lives built through grace, faith, and God’s wisdom endure like gold, silver, and precious stones, while works produced through human effort alone resemble wood, hay, and stubble.
These seven pillars form the framework of a life built in partnership with God—building something eternal that will endure life’s storms and survive the fire of God’s judgment.
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What does it mean to fear God? In Episode 8 of “Wisdom,” Duane Sheriff explores the biblical concept of fearing God and teaches the difference between the tormenting fear that God delivers us from and the reverential, godly fear that is the foundation of wisdom.
There are two types of fear: tormenting demonic fear and reverential godly fear. The fear of the Lord isn’t about cowering in terror, but standing in awe of God’s holiness, power, and consuming fire of purity. Reverential fear leads us to worship God, depart from evil, and develop a holy hatred for what destroys lives and souls.
In a culture that celebrates what God condemns and condemns what God celebrates, this foundational wisdom is needed more than ever. The fear of the Lord gives us quick understanding to make righteous judgments not based on feelings or appearances and enables us to love what God loves while hating what God hates—not people, but the evil that harms them.
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“Did you know there are five different places that God has hidden His wisdom from the world, but He’s given us a map to find His hidden treasures of wisdom?” In Episode 7 of "Wisdom," Duane Sheriff teaches that while the world searches for answers through human reasoning, Scripture reveals that God has intentionally concealed His wisdom from unbelief, pride, and worldly thinking. Yet through the Holy Spirit, He reveals it to those who pursue Him in faith.
In this message, Duane explores five specific places where divine wisdom can be found when we intentionally seek it. To open the door of wisdom, we must ask God in faith, walk in humility, and live in the fear of the Lord—not in terror, but in awe-filled reverence. Wisdom is not merely intellectual knowledge; it is a divine gift that brings long life, riches, honor, happiness, and promotion.
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What if the most important part of your life isn’t everything you’re doing for God—but the time you spend with Him? In "The Good Part," Duane Sheriff teaches that maintaining your first love for Jesus must remain above everything else—especially in a world pulling us in countless directions. Through the contrast of Mary and Martha, he reveals how easy it is to become distracted—even by good, godly things like serving, working, and caring for others—while neglecting to sit at Jesus’ feet. The tension between doing and being is real for all of us.
This message isn’t about abandoning responsibility, but about prioritizing what matters most rightly. Intimacy with Christ is the wellspring from which every other part of life flows. When we guard this “good part,” our marriages grow stronger, our parenting becomes more intentional, our ministries more effective, and our work more meaningful. Discover how to guard your heart against distraction, renew your first love, and build a life of lasting fruitfulness by keeping your relationship with Jesus at the center of everything.
Where do we find wisdom in a world confused about truth? In Episode 6 of "Wisdom," Duane Sheriff teaches that real wisdom is found in the Bible and in what Jesus did on the cross. Wisdom isn’t found in our culture, on college campuses, or in politics. It is revealed to us through the Bible and through Jesus, the Word made flesh.
The Holy Spirit, called the Spirit of wisdom and counsel, guides us into truth and reveals the wisdom of God throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Wisdom is found through instruction in the Word of God and through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The cross is the ultimate revelation of God’s wisdom. What the world considers foolishness becomes the power and wisdom of God to those being saved, through which God accomplished redemption and revealed His divine plan for salvation.
Discover where real wisdom is found and how looking for it can change the way you understand God’s Word, the cross, and your everyday life with Jesus.
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“Did you know wisdom has to be found?” Many people assume wisdom simply comes with age or experience, but Scripture teaches that wisdom must be intentionally pursued. In Episode 5 of “Wisdom,” Duane Sheriff teaches that wisdom is not automatic—it must be sought, embraced, and retained.
Proverbs 4 instructs believers to “get wisdom” and “get understanding,” emphasizing that we must intentionally pursue God’s wisdom rather than rely on our own understanding. In a world that tries to define good and evil without God, this teaching exposes the danger of being “wise in our own eyes.”
The books of Proverbs, Isaiah, Job, and the New Testament show that true wisdom does not come from the world, wealth, or human reasoning. Instead, God’s wisdom is found in five places: through the Bible and Jesus, understanding the message of the cross, asking God in faith, being humble, and living in the fear of the Lord.
In today’s culture, learning how to find God’s wisdom may be one of the most important journeys of our lives.
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We are constantly bombarded with advice, opinions, and what the culture calls wisdom. But did you know that there are two kinds of wisdom? And one of them is demonic. In Episode 4 of “Wisdom,” Duane Sheriff reveals the striking contrast between worldly wisdom and God's wisdom.
Worldly wisdom is based on pride, selfishness, and what we experience through our five physical senses. Many people, even believers, can unknowingly operate in a wisdom that appears intelligent but is actually earthly, sensual, and influenced by demonic thinking. This kind of wisdom produces pride, envy, strife, confusion, and destructive outcomes. It's the same temptation found in the Garden of Eden, when humanity believed they could determine good and evil apart from God.
According to the book of James, Godly wisdom produces righteousness and peace through the fruit of these eight traits: pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. These characteristics serve as a powerful test for discerning truth in our culture, relationships, and even in the church. Recognizing the difference between these two kinds of wisdom is essential for anyone who wants to live in truth and avoid the confusion dominating our culture.
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What if what we celebrate isn’t just a moment in history—but a living reality that empowers your life today?
In Godliness – The Gospel Scheme, Duane Sheriff teaches that the gospel is more than Jesus’ death and resurrection—it includes His ascension and the promise it fulfilled. Jesus didn’t just rise from the grave; He ascended to the Father so the Holy Spirit could be sent, empowering believers to live transformed, godly lives.
Through the ancient Jewish feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost, we discover powerful prophetic shadows fulfilled in Christ. Passover reveals Jesus as our ultimate sacrifice, bearing God’s wrath in our place. The Feast of Unleavened Bread unveils the stunning truth that we are now unleavened in God’s sight—our sin buried with Christ and left in the grave. First Fruits declares Jesus as the firstborn of the resurrection, guaranteeing our new life and eternal future.
Finally, we see why the ascension was necessary—not to abandon us, but to send the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, empowering us to overcome, walk in righteousness, and live as witnesses of Jesus every day.
Two houses. One storm. Only one will stand. Is your house built on shifting sand or on solid rock? Jesus taught that every life is built on one of these two foundations. In Episode 3 of "Wisdom," Duane Sheriff explains how God’s wisdom determines whether our lives stand firm or fall apart when storms come. Matthew 7 and Proverbs show that the difference between wise and foolish people is not just hearing God’s Word, but also understanding and applying it.
Storms come. The question is not if the rain will fall or the winds will blow, but what our lives are built on. True wisdom means using what God teaches us and then living it out every day. Using Biblical Scripture, Duane shows the differences between wise and foolish people, and how our relationships, choices, and attitudes shape our future. The storm will come to everyone, but only those who build on the rock will still be standing.
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Wisdom should not be optional in our lives—it should be the foundation of our very existence. In Episode 2 of “Wisdom,” Duane Sheriff teaches that God’s wisdom is the ability to understand truth, discern good from evil, and make righteous judgments, especially in today’s confused culture.
In 1 Kings 3, Solomon demonstrates that wisdom gives us understanding and the ability to judge rightly in difficult situations. His famous decision between the two mothers shows how God’s wisdom reveals truth and protects what is good. When people abandon God’s wisdom, they lose the ability to discern right from wrong—a problem becoming increasingly evident in society.
This message also explores the insight of the sons of Issachar, who understood the times in which they lived and knew what Israel should do. In the same way, we need God’s wisdom to navigate these times with discernment, stability, and courage. Wisdom is not a luxury—it is essential for discerning truth in these challenging times.
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Everyone is searching for happiness—but many are pursuing it in the wrong places. In the new series "Wisdom," Duane Sheriff reveals why Scripture calls wisdom "the principal thing" and how God's wisdom affects every area of life.
Through the example of Solomon in Proverbs, we see that when given the chance to ask God for anything, he chose wisdom above riches and power—and received honor, blessing, and lasting success as a result. Duane contrasts worldly wisdom with God's wisdom while explaining the biblical progression of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Knowledge gathers truth, understanding reveals meaning, and wisdom applies God's Word to everyday decisions.
Discover how pursuing God's wisdom brings clarity, peace, and lasting fulfillment. When wisdom becomes the principal thing, life begins to align with God's design.
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Why does lying offend us so deeply? In Episode 25 of God’s Image in Man, Duane Sheriff reveals that truth itself is part of God’s image embedded in humanity. Lying assaults both God’s character and His image in man. Though sin fractures and distorts that image, a residue of truth remains in every person—and when they’re lied to, that image is violated.
Satan's primary weapon is suppressing truth through lies and deception. Jesus declared in John 18:37 that He came into the world to bear witness to the truth, and those who are of the truth hear His voice. When we embrace Jesus as the Truth, we gain the discernment needed to recognize the lies saturating our media, education, and culture. Freedom begins when we embrace absolute truth and allow God's Word to open our eyes to the darkness around us.
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What is truth? Pontius Pilate stood face to face with Jesus and asked, “What is truth?” If he only knew that he was staring at Truth Himself. Jesus declared, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life'—not a truth, but the truth. In episode 24 of "God’s Image in Man," Duane Sheriff explores truth as the tenth and final characteristic of God’s image in humanity.
Today, we live in a cultural war that claims truth is subjective. Everyone has 'their truth,' yet we all instinctively recoil when someone lies to us. Why? Because man was created in God's image, and God is truth. It’s the divine image within us, an innate recognition of truth that is part of our spiritual DNA. The cultural war is a battle between truth and lies, between light and darkness. When we encounter absolute truth, our spirit leaps with recognition. Truth may challenge us, but only truth sets us free and restores God’s image in us.
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What if the gospel isn’t just something you believe—but a reality that transforms every part of your life? The gospel is the good news of God’s divine plan fulfilled through Jesus Christ—His incarnation, death, resurrection, and exaltation. It is not merely a message about forgiveness, but the power of God to save, change, and sanctify us, restoring us to a relationship with Him and empowering us to live godly lives.
In Part 7 of Godliness – The Gospel Scheme, Duane Sheriff unpacks “preached unto the Gentiles” and “believed on in the world” from 1 Timothy 3:16, revealing that this gospel is for every person, every nation, and every heart. But the gospel must be more than heard—it must be believed, received, and lived. As we mix faith with God’s Word, His grace produces real transformation, shaping our lives to reflect Christ.
Discover how the power of the gospel not only saves, but changes you—impacting you personally, strengthening community, transforming families, and compelling you to live with courage, love, and truth.
What does God's love truly look like in a world that constantly redefines it? In Episode 23 of God’s Image in Man, Duane Sheriff teaches that love is not an emotion or feeling that comes and goes. True love originates from God alone, and unless we're born of Him and know Him, we cannot truly comprehend or express authentic love.
God revealed true love at the cross, where He proved His love through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Love is not just something God says—it is what He did. When God’s image is restored in us through Christ, we become empowered to love as He loves and to serve as His representatives to a confused world seeking love.
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Love isn’t just something God possesses; it is His very nature and character. God is love—and being created in His image, man was meant to reflect that love. In episode 22 of "God’s Image in Man", Duane Sheriff teaches that even in a fallen world people still talk about love, pursue love, and long for love. That desire exists because love is intrinsic to humanity—it is part of God’s image in man. Yet apart from God, that image becomes broken, distorted, and perverted by sin and darkness.
Through the new birth, Jesus restores God’s image in us. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, empowering us to love with God’s kind of love—unconditional, unmerited, and rooted in His character, not our performance. Scripture, not culture, must define what love truly is.
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God’s very nature is holiness, and this quality lies at the heart of the image He created humanity to reflect. In episode 21 of "God’s Image in Man", Duane Sheriff addresses common misconceptions about holiness, separating true biblical holiness from cultural standards and self-righteous religion.
Holiness is not a list of rules or behaviors used to earn God’s favor. Ephesians 4:24 reveals that the born-again spirit already possesses God’s holiness—it is not achieved through striving or self-effort. Believers pursue holy living because God is holy, because we love Him and love others, and because holiness reflects God’s image as a powerful witness to the world. Rather than religious performance, true holiness flows naturally from our new identity in Christ, drawing others to see the Lord through our transformed lives.
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Our culture calls everything compassion—but when compassion is separated from holiness, it becomes corruption. Holiness is one of the most overlooked—yet essential—aspects of our identity as believers. In episode 20 of "God’s Image in Man", Duane Sheriff teaches that while humanity was created in God’s image to be holy, sin has perverted that image, producing counterfeit forms of holiness and self-righteousness.
Even in our fallen state, we instinctively know something is wrong with sin—because holiness is embedded in our DNA as God image-bearers. Through Jesus Christ, God restores true holiness and righteousness in believers, calling us to reflect His holy nature. This message contrasts genuine biblical holiness with the world’s distorted versions of morality, equipping believers to discern truth from deception. Holiness is not striving in our own strength—it is embracing who we have been recreated to be in Christ: truly righteous and truly holy.
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God is a just God, and justice is part of who He is. In episode 19 of "God’s Image in Man," Duane Sheriff explores how justice has become one of the most misunderstood attributes of God. Political agendas, biased media, and cultural pressures have distorted our understanding of true biblical justice. Today, we are witnessing a disturbing fracture of this image. Justice without righteousness becomes vengeance, while righteousness without justice becomes passive tolerance of evil. Biblical justice goes beyond punishment to restoration—healing what sin has damaged and torn down and recovering God’s true design.
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Angels are involved in your life more than you realize. From Genesis to Revelation, they have guarded, delivered, and ministered to God’s people—and they are still active today.
In Part 6 of Godliness – The Gospel Scheme, Duane Sheriff teaches from 1 Timothy 3:16, "seen of angels," revealing how angels are woven throughout God’s redemptive plan. From Christ’s incarnation and earthly ministry to the ongoing work of salvation, angels continually participate in God’s unfolding purpose.
When the church comes together, heaven meets earth. Angels worship with us, help us, and serve God’s purposes in our lives. Discover the authority we carry as God’s house—and how faith, prayer, and worship open the door for heaven’s power to move on earth.
Justice isn’t just something we advocate for—it’s something we’re wired for. In episode 18 of "God’s Image in Man," Duane Sheriff teaches that when we witness injustice, our hearts recoil because we bear the image of a just God. Scripture declares that righteousness and justice form the very foundation of God’s throne, making true justice inseparable from righteousness.
Justice reflects God’s image within us—it’s woven into our spiritual DNA. In today’s culture, justice is often distorted by forms of “social justice” disconnected from God’s standards. When righteousness is removed, justice devolves into vengeance and hypocrisy. Biblical justice, by contrast, is God’s judgment administered without partiality, bias, or double standards—rewarding good and restraining evil with mercy and humility.
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If there were no judgment, nothing in life would truly matter. In episode 17 of "God’s Image in Man," Duane Sheriff teaches that judgment is not something to avoid, but something to redeem. Because God is Judge, judgment itself is part of His image in humanity. The real question is not whether we judge, but how we judge. Scripture instructs believers to reject judgments based on appearance, emotion, or culture, and instead judge with righteous judgment—rooted in God’s Word and led by the Holy Spirit.
Righteous judgment discerns good from evil, truth from deception, and aligns with what God has already judged. When judgment is restored to righteousness, clarity replaces confusion, accountability replaces chaos, and God’s image is reflected in our lives.
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Everyone judges something or someone daily. The question is whether we judge righteously or unrighteously. In episode 16 of "God’s Image in Man," Duane Sheriff confronts the cultural lie that Christians should not judge and teaches that Scripture calls us to judge righteously.
God is Judge, Lawgiver, and King, and since humanity is created in His image, judgment is inevitable. There are three types of divine judgment: past judgment (fulfilled at the cross), present judgment (God's loving chastening), and future judgment (the wrath to come). Without judgment, there can be no justice, no discernment, no distinction between good and evil; justice collapses, and truth becomes subjective. We are called to discern good from evil, not by appearance or culture, but by God’s Word. Recovering biblical judgment restores clarity, protects future generations, and reflects God’s image with truth and love.
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Before Adam was given a wife, he was given a job—revealing that work is not a result of the fall, but a vital part of our humanity. In episode 15 of "God’s Image in Man," Duane Sheriff teaches that work is essential to fulfilling God’s will and purpose for our lives.
Work is an act of worship when done unto the Lord, a way we serve our families, communities, and future generations. Our identity is not found in our jobs, yet our personhood is expressed through faithful labor. We work not merely to get, but to give—reflecting God’s image through generosity, excellence, and responsibility. Teaching the next generation the value and purpose of work restores dignity and aligns us with God’s design.
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Our culture may despise work, but the Bible introduces God as a Creator who works, rests, and blesses. Work is not a curse—it is the fifth attribute of God’s image in humanity. In Episode 14 of God’s Image in Man, Duane Sheriff teaches God’s pattern of six days of work and one day of rest.
Scripture makes no distinction between “secular” and “spiritual” labor; all legitimate work is holy when done unto the Lord. Regardless of our occupation, our labor reflects God’s image when performed with excellence and faith. When we refuse to work or fail to rest, we distort God’s image within us. The value of work restores dignity, purpose, and alignment with God’s rhythm of creation, and it is important to pass these principles on to the next generation.
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Are you aware that the church is a spiritual portal - a supernatural gateway between heaven and earth? Just as Jacob saw angels ascending and descending at Bethel, believers today are living stones being built into God’s spiritual house with Christ as the cornerstone. In Part 5 of "Godliness – The Gospel Scheme," Duane Sheriff focuses on the phrase "seen of angels" and shows how angelic involvement is woven throughout God’s redemptive plan from Genesis to Revelation.
Angels intervene in human affairs by protecting God's people, delivering God’s messages, and ministering to those who serve Him. Scripture reveals angels taking part in God’s plan, such as guarding the tree of life, saving Lot, helping Elijah, announcing the birth of Jesus, helping Christ in the wilderness, and being at the empty tomb.
We are not alone. When believers gather together as the church, they become the house of God through worship, prayer, and obedience, where heaven touches earth, and angels minister in accordance with God’s purposes.
Our words are like seeds—each one spoken brings forth either life or death, blessing or cursing. In Episode 13, "God’s Image in Man," Duane Sheriff reveals the spiritual power of the words we speak and shows how wisdom or foolishness is most often revealed through the tongue.
God’s image in humanity includes speech. That image can be perverted through gossip, slander, complaining, and deceit—or celebrated through words of truth, peace, mercy, and blessing. A wise person guards their mouth, speaks with restraint, and sows words that preserve life. A fool guided by emotion and impulse speaks recklessly and reaps unnecessary destruction. We cannot speak death and expect life. Wisdom chooses words that sow peace today for a harvest of blessings tomorrow.
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God created the world by speaking, then made humanity in His image with the same capacity to speak, create, and shape the future. In Episode 12 of "God’s Image In Man," Duane Sheriff teaches that, as His image-bearers, we frame our personal reality by our words.
Words function as seeds, producing either blessing or cursing, life or death. Jesus modeled this perfectly— declaring that His words were spirit and life. Through the parable of the sower in Mark 4, we learn that God’s Word must be received into the heart, mixed with faith, and spoken in order to reproduce after its own kind. As we meditate on God’s promises and speak them in faith, a transformation takes place, and our mouths release words of life, faith, and blessing.
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From the beginning, God created everything with His words: “Let there be light,” and light appeared. Scripture reveals that the universe was shaped by God’s Word. Everything we see was created, is sustained, and is upheld by the Word of God.
Before you ever took your first breath, God knew you. He spoke over your life with purpose, intention, and power. In Episode 11 of "God’s Image In Man," Duane Sheriff teaches that God is a speaking God—whose words are spirit, life, and creative force. As image-bearers created in His likeness, our words matter. They are spiritual seeds that shape our reality, frame our future, and produce a harvest of either life or death. Set aside fear and negative words and speak words of faith, life, and God’s promises over your life.
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God's image in humanity is not silent—God speaks, and He created us to do the same. Words are a divine attribute placed within us as image-bearers of a speaking God. In episode ten of "God's Image in Man", Duane Sheriff reveals from Genesis to the Gospels, Scripture shows that God creates, sustains, and governs through His Word. When God said, “Let there be light," creation responded—and that same principle of creative speech still operates today.
Because we are made in His image, our words function as seeds. They have the power to produce life or death, blessing or destruction, depending on how they are sown. While God's Word brings immediate results, our words operate according to the principle of seedtime and harvest. Understanding this powerful truth should influence how we speak to ourselves, our families, and others.
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The desire to create, build, and invent is deeply woven into what it means to be human. From the opening words of Genesis, Scripture reveals God as Creator—bringing order out of chaos and speaking worlds into existence. That same creative nature is stamped into humanity because we are made in His image and likeness.
In episode nine of "God's Image in Man", Duane Sheriff teaches that humanity's ability to invent, design, build, and create—through art, music, architecture, and technology—flows directly from bearing God's creative image. Creativity is not rooted in education or training alone, but in our God-given personhood as image bearers.
From electricity and indoor plumbing to skyscrapers and symphonies, human innovation reflects the Creator within us. Yet this gift can be redeemed or perverted—used to bless life or to invent evil. God's image in man cannot be erased, only expressed. When God breathes His image into us, imagination becomes purpose, and invention becomes a blessing.
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What if your relationship with God depended on just one event in history—the resurrection of Jesus? In Part 4 of Godliness – The Gospel Scheme, Duane Sheriff explores the mystery of godliness found in 1 Timothy 3:16. At the heart of this mystery is the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what it means accomplished for every believer.
Scripture reveals that two men shaped the destiny of mankind—Adam and Jesus. Through Adam, sin, death, and condemnation came into the world and affected every person born into the family of man. But through Jesus, called the last Adam, God offers redemption, justification, and new life to all who believe.
Jesus did more than just die for our sins. He became our representative. When He died, we died with Him. When He was buried, our old life was buried too. And when He rose from the dead, we were raised with Him into a new identity and made right with God. The resurrection proves that we are justified and is the foundation of our victory as believers. Because Christ lives, we are no longer condemned. Instead, we are alive in Him and share in His triumph, authority, and new life.
Before culture defined us, before politics divided us, and before confusion entered the conversation, God created humanity in His image. In episode eight of "God's Image in Man", Duane Sheriff explores the profound mystery of being created in God's image as male and female.
Because God is Spirit, His image is not defined by physical anatomy but by spiritual attributes expressed through both masculine and feminine qualities. Scripture reveals a God who is strong and protective, yet also nurturing, compassionate, and wise. These attributes find their fullest earthly expression when male and female come together in covenant marriage, reflecting God's image through unity, diversity, and fruitfulness.
Understanding this reveals why marriage, gender, and the family are under such relentless attack. The cultural obsession with gender confusion is not merely social—it is a spiritual assault on the image of God itself. Today's confusion calls us back to Scripture, common sense, and God's original design. To understand who we are, we must first understand who God is—and how His image is revealed in us.
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Identity begins with creation—not culture. In episode seven of "God's Image in Man," Duane Sheriff explores the foundational truth that humanity was fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image—created male and female as part of God's divine order and design. From the moment of conception, God forms each person in the mother's womb with intention and purpose, a truth powerfully declared in Psalm 139. Every cell in the human body carries a God-given genetic code that reveals our gender—an objective reality that cannot be altered by cultural pressure or human deception.
Though sin corrupted and distorted God's image in Adam, Jesus fully restored that image within the born-again spirit. The believer's spirit is now one with the Lord, carrying the fullness of God's image within. When we understand that male and female reflect God's image, we recognize that assaults on gender are ultimately assaults on the Creator Himself. This revelation equips parents and believers to stand firm on biblical truth, guide the next generation through cultural confusion, and remind them that they are uniquely created, deeply loved, and intentionally designed by God.
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God is the author and creator of our gender, yet culture is waging a spiritual assault against God's image in humanity. In episode six of "God's Image in Man", Duane Sheriff confronts this confusion by establishing the biblical foundation of gender as an essential part of God's divine design. The creation of male and female was intentional, ordered, and purposeful—woven into creation before sin and foundational to the institution of marriage itself.
Understanding that humanity was created male and female is central to understanding what it means to bear God's image. When this truth is distorted, the attack is not merely cultural or political—it is spiritual. Scripture makes clear that gender is not a social construct or personal decision, but part of God's original, pre-fall design. From the beginning, God created humanity male and female, and together they reflect His image, order, and wisdom.
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The first and primary attribute of God's image in humanity is to take dominion. In episode five of "God's Image in Man", Duane Sheriff teaches that, as image-bearers of God, humanity has been entrusted with dominion, sovereignty, and the authority to rule and reign on earth. Matthew 18:18 and Revelation 5:10 state that we have the ability to bind and loose, to reign as kings and priests. By grace through faith, Christians are called to take authority over sin, sickness, their families, and society.
When we fail to exercise righteous dominion—whether in our homes, communities, and nation—the image of God in us becomes distorted. Stop making excuses, stop playing the victim, and take personal responsibility through faith. God cannot override our free will, as doing so would violate His image in us. We are called to fight the good fight of faith, choose life over death, and partner with God to bring His kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.
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Before God ever gave humanity a command, He gave us an assignment—to rule and reign in the earth. In episode four of “God’s Image In Man,” Duane Sheriff addresses the critical difference between what God allows and what God wills. He explains that God’s sovereignty is revealed not by controlling every outcome, but by granting humanity free will and delegated authority. When God gave Adam dominion, He bound Himself to that covenant—and God cannot break His word.
The problems in our world do not flow from God’s will, but from a failure to understand and exercise God-given dominion. This truth transforms how believers view suffering, injustice, and life’s challenges. We were never meant to live as passive victims waiting on God to act. We have been given authority to rule over sin, darkness, and Satan—not over one another. When this truth is restored, responsibility replaces blame, and believers are empowered to walk in the authority God placed in their hands.
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Two men changed the destiny of every human being—Adam and Jesus. In Part 3 of Godliness – The Gospel Scheme, Duane Sheriff teaches the mystery of godliness by exploring the connection between the first Adam and the last Adam. Adam, the first man, brought sin, death, and spiritual separation into the world through his disobedience, losing the dominion God originally entrusted to mankind.
But God’s answer was another Man. Jesus, the second man and last Adam, came as God in the flesh through the virgin birth, bypassing the sin nature passed on through human fathers. Creator God, in human form, reclaimed the dominion Adam lost through His perfect obedience, death, and resurrection.
Salvation is not achieved through human effort but is received through the new birth in Christ. Millions of believers now carry Christ’s life and authority on earth. Adam brought the fall—but Jesus brought the comeback. Through faith in Christ, we move from defeat to dominion, from brokenness to victory, and from death into the life God intended from the beginning.
Before sin ever entered the world, God gave humanity dominion over creation. This divine design means every person was created to win, overcome, and walk in victory—not to live as victims or losers. In episode three of "God's Image In Man," Duane Sheriff teaches that one of the first and most foundational attributes of God's image in humanity is dominion. While the earth belongs to the Lord, He has entrusted mankind with stewardship and delegated authority within it.
Understanding our identity as image-bearers with dominion transforms how believers approach life's challenges, parenting, and purpose in the world. This truth explains why losing feels unnatural and why something within us resists a victim mindset. We were created to overcome, to prevail, and to walk in authority—not as owners of the earth, but as faithful stewards under God’s sovereignty.
When this truth is misunderstood, people blame God for chaos He never authored. But when identity is restored, responsibility is reclaimed. You were not created to collapse under life—you were created to rule in righteousness.
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Every person is created in the image and likeness of God, carrying within themselves the spark of God's breath. In episode two of "God's Image In Man," Duane Sheriff teaches that being created in God's image is the foundation of our identity, worth, and purpose. We bear the divine image as both a reflection and a representation of God—created as image bearers of the living God.
Although sin damages and distorts God's image in humanity, salvation through Jesus Christ restores it. Restoring God's image is a primary purpose of salvation, making us a new creation in Christ. In Christ, the righteousness of God renews the image that defines our humanity, value, and worth. This truth explains why all human life is sacred and why Satan relentlessly attacks identity because God's image in man reveals our purpose, authority, and destiny.
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Being made in God's image isn't something we put on—it is the core of who we are and what it truly means to be human. We are image bearers of God, the crown jewel of all creation, carrying within us a spark of the divine that separates us from everything else God has created. In the new series, “God's Image In Man," Duane Sheriff teaches that sin shattered that mirror, distorting and damaging God's image in humanity, but through faith in Jesus and the transformative power of the cross, God's image can be restored.
Understanding what it means to be created in God's image and likeness brings clarity to today's cultural confusion, restores the sacred value of human life, and equips parents and grandparents to ground their children in truth - even as society relentlessly attacks identity and value. When God's image is restored, identity becomes clear, purpose is awakened, and being human makes sense again.
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God’s plan of redemption was a divine design strategically concealed throughout the ages and unveiled in Jesus. In Part Two of “Godliness – The Gospel Scheme,” Duane Sheriff unveils the mystery of godliness by focusing on the first and foundational truth of the gospel: God manifest in the flesh. This mystery, once hidden, is now fulfilled as Christ entered our humanity.
God did not remain distant from His creation—He entered humanity through Christ to restore what was lost and fulfill the gospel scheme hidden for generations. Through the virgin birth, the cross, and the resurrection, Jesus accomplished what no mere man could do, defeating sin and reclaiming authority for mankind. Christ became part of our humanity so we could share in His righteousness and life.
As believers grasp this revelation, they come to recognize their identity as members of Christ’s body on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s purpose. Godliness is no longer just doctrine—it becomes a living reality through Christ in you.
As believers, we are called to be stewards of God’s mysteries, training ourselves in godliness with the same discipline an athlete trains their body. In “Godliness – The Gospel Scheme,” Duane Sheriff lays the foundation for understanding one of Christianity’s most profound truths: the mystery of godliness. This mystery encompasses the entire gospel scheme—God’s divine plan, once hidden in Him and now revealed to those who seek Him.
Godliness is not a religious activity but a living connection to the power of the gospel. Drawing on 1 Timothy 3:16, Duane reveals how this mystery unfolds in six powerful movements: God manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up into glory. Each phrase connects us to Christ’s life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension—releasing supernatural power.
When we understand this mystery, godliness becomes more than effort—we experience the full power of the gospel that breaks addictions, transforms hearts, and makes us a blessing everywhere we go.
One of the most important and powerful responsibilities of parents is to bless their children and not curse them. In episode eight of “Raising Godly Warriors,” Duane Sheriff teaches that nothing shapes a child’s future more than understanding and receiving the Lord's blessing. Proverbs 10:22 explains that God’s blessing is more than material prosperity—it is His favor, grace, affirmation, and unconditional love.
Blessing is transferred to children through intentional words, loving touch, and genuine forgiveness. From God’s public affirmation of Jesus in Matthew 3 to the priestly blessing in Numbers 6 and Jesus blessing children in Mark 10, Scripture reveals a clear pattern: blessings are spoken, modeled, and imparted. When parents choose to speak life, release forgiveness, and affirm their children’s God-given identity, they don't just impact a single generation—they shape a legacy of faith, favor, and strength that will echo for years to come.
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Striking the right balance between disciplining our children and following the biblical command not to provoke them to anger can be a challenge. In episode seven of "Raising Godly Warriors," Duane Sheriff identifies ten practical ways to avoid provoking our children to anger—by being consistent, attentive, fair, and gentle, and by steering clear of neglect, harshness, humiliation, favoritism, and unreasonable discipline.
These principles reflect God’s character and the authority He gives to parents—not to tear children down, but to build them up. The Bible provides a clear plan, showing that parents have about twenty years to guide their children through three stages: training (ages 0–10, focused on obedience), teaching (ages 10–20, focused on honor), and transition (around age 20, when children move from parental authority to God’s). God’s heart for parenting is rooted in love—raising children who are Godly Warriors, equipped to fulfill their God-given destiny.
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God's Word is not just a book—it is living, powerful truth meant to be rightly understood, rightly divided, and approached with a heart that genuinely seeks God. In this message, “God's Word Is...," Duane Sheriff teaches foundational truths about how to read the Bible, interpret Scripture in context, and why understanding covenants, divisions, and the centrality of Jesus is essential to spiritual growth. The central thread running through every page is Jesus Christ—the story of humanity's fall, our utter hopelessness without God, and the divine intervention that saves us.
When we approach Scripture with reverence and a pure heart, something supernatural happens. The Word becomes more than information - it becomes transformation. It sanctifies us, cleanses our minds like a spiritual washing, and separates us from the darkness of this world. We discover that every sacrifice, every temple ritual, every prophecy was pointing to Jesus. When we understand that God's Word is truth, seed, food, and covenant all at once, we unlock a power that can literally rewire our thinking and redirect our lives.
Do you discipline your children in love or anger? What if everything we’ve been told about loving our children has been backwards? In episode six of “Raising Godly Warriors,” Duane Sheriff teaches discipline from a biblical perspective. Disciplining children is not an act of hate but an expression of God’s kind of love. Withholding discipline does not protect children—it leaves them unprepared for life’s boundaries and consequences.
Duane draws parallels between God’s discipline of His children and a parent’s responsibility to correct their own. Rooted in the wisdom of Proverbs, this teaching shows how proper correction—combined with reproof—drives foolishness from a child’s heart, teaches early consequences, builds resistance to temptation, and cultivates humility. The way we discipline today may shape not only our children’s future, but their eternal destiny.
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What if the way our culture approaches dating is actually undermining our children’s future? Recreational dating contradicts biblical principles and can lead to lasting emotional, spiritual, and relational harm. In episode five of "Raising Godly Warriors," Duane Sheriff identifies eight pitfalls of recreational dating, including the loss of parental covering, compromised sexual purity, emotional instability from repeated attachments and breakups, spiritual drift, deception, premature physical intimacy, and risks to future marital fulfillment.
Parents are challenged to reconsider their role in guiding their children through one of life’s most important decisions. Are we allowing cultural pressure to shape our parenting while warning our children not to do the same? This is not about control or fear, but wisdom, protection, and love. By presenting biblically grounded alternatives to recreational dating, this message calls parents to re-engage with purpose—helping guard their children’s hearts, preserve their spiritual integrity, and prepare them for lifelong, godly relationships.
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Many adults struggle today because they were never taught the six foundational components needed to navigate life well and build healthy, lasting relationships. In episode four of "Raising Godly Warriors," Duane Sheriff outlines six critical truths every parent must impart so that no child leaves home without them: understanding the Golden Rule, knowing God's love, developing personal faith, establishing healthy self-esteem, valuing the church community, and receiving the blessing of their parents. These essentials form the spiritual and relational framework children need to thrive. It's not just about raising well-behaved kids who turn into functional adults - it's about shaping warriors who know their sacred worth, walk confidently with God, and stand strong in a world that has lost its moral compass.
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Parenting is not merely about surviving each day—it's about preparing our children for all the relationships they will encounter throughout their lives. In episode three of "Raising Godly Warriors," Duane Sheriff outlines three fundamental principles known as the three R's: Rules, Restraints, and Relationships.
The first R, Rules, reminds us that authority structures exist everywhere in life, from school to work to marriage, and children must learn to respect authority to prosper. The second R, Restraints, teaches us about boundaries and consequences—the biblical principle of sowing and reaping found in Galatians 6. Our children must learn that actions have consequences, that delayed gratification builds character, and that love itself constrains us from harming others. The third R, Relationships, reminds us that rules and restraints without relationship leads to rebellion. Everything parents do should be rooted in connection, spending time together, and maintaining open hearts even during correction. When we understand that all of parenting is ultimately about preparing our children for a relationship with God and healthy relationships with others, everything changes.
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In episode two of "Raising Godly Warriors," Duane Sheriff teaches a biblical approach to parenting through the metaphor of an arrow in Psalm 127. There are three stages of a child's development: the feathers (ages 0-10), where we train through repetition and protection, the shaft (ages 10-20), where we teach, shape character, and strengthen identity; and the tip (age 20 and beyond), where we launch them toward their God-given target.
Scripture teaches that the biblical age of accountability begins at 20, not 18. In Numbers 14, God held those 20 years old and older accountable for Israel’s rebellion, while those younger were still considered under parental covering. This is more than historical detail—it's a spiritual warfare blueprint. Releasing our children prematurely can expose them to battles they are not yet equipped to fight, emphasizing the parental responsibility to protect, train, and prepare them until they can stand as warriors in their own right.
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The family is under spiritual attack, and a confused culture is redefining the identities of our children. The very foundations of home, marriage, and parenthood are being shaken—and the Church can no longer remain silent.
In the new series "Raising Godly Warriors," Duane Sheriff teaches that children are not accidents or burdens, but blessings—arrows in the hands of mighty warriors. Arrows must be shaped, trained, and aimed with purpose.
God’s Word makes it clear that raising godly children isn’t something we learn on the fly - it’s something we are taught and equipped for through the home and the Church. Learn how to partner with God to raise sons and daughters who know their identity in Christ and carry His truth into the world.
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Have you ever wondered why God chose to take on human form? God became man to destroy the works of the devil and restore the authority that was lost through Adam’s sin. By entering our humanity, Jesus—100% God and 100% man—reclaimed the dominion mankind had surrendered to Satan. Authority in earth was originally given to humanity, but Adam yielded that authority through sin. This is why Jesus had to be fully God and fully man: as God, His life held infinite value to ransom all creation; as man, He was able to repossess the authority Adam lost.
Through salvation, believers now have authority and power by the Holy Spirit to live godly lives and continue Christ’s work on the earth. This mystery was hidden from Satan. Had he known that crucifying Jesus would result in millions of Spirit-filled believers destroying his works worldwide, he never would have done it.
In "Great Is the Mystery of Godliness," Duane Sheriff unveils God’s divine plan of salvation by unpacking the six declarations of 1 Timothy 3:16. Every time we declare, “Jesus is alive,” we proclaim our own freedom, righteousness, and forgiveness.
What does it really mean to live a godly life in an increasingly ungodly world? As the world grows darker, some churches are drifting from biblical truth. In the message "Godliness," Duane Sheriff explores the mystery of godliness, teaching that true godly living flows from the person and finished work of Jesus Christ—His incarnation, death, resurrection, and exaltation.
Godliness is not produced by rules, self-effort, or religious arguments, but by the transforming power of grace. There is a clear distinction between a powerless form of godliness and the life-changing power found in the gospel.
Godliness is not about perfection—it is about transformation. When the mystery of the gospel grips our hearts, it empowers us to rise, walk in the light, and live in a way that reflects Christ to a watching world. It awakens a deep hunger to please God and bless others, bringing transformation not only to our own lives but to those around us.
Just as a loving father gives good gifts to his children, our Heavenly Father eagerly desires to bestow the gift of the Holy Spirit. In episode ten of "The Holy Spirit," Duane Sheriff teaches how to receive this incredible gift by asking in faith and being willing to speak in tongues. The key is to ask with confidence, believing that we receive at the moment we ask. This shift in perspective can transform our approach to spiritual growth, encouraging us to focus on Jesus as the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, rather than getting caught up in the manifestations of that gift.
Step out in faith, speak under the Spirit's anointing, and surround yourself with believers who can support and encourage you in this journey. We don’t have to beg, bargain, or wait—Jesus is eager to fill those who believe they receive when they ask. Open your heart to a deeper relationship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Unlock the power of speaking in tongues. In Acts chapter 2, the apostles spoke in tongues, declaring the wonderful works of God and revealing divine mysteries. Speaking in tongues allows our spirit to pray, communicating truths that go beyond human understanding.
In episode nine of “The Holy Spirit,” Duane Sheriff teaches the scriptural basis for speaking in tongues, emphasizing its role in spiritual edification, divine communication, and expressing God’s glory. By addressing common misconceptions, we discover the importance of tongues alongside other spiritual gifts—especially prophecy. When we pray in tongues, our spirit connects directly with God, bypassing the limits of the natural mind to receive His infinite wisdom.
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Thanksgiving is more than a seasonal expression—it is a spiritual law that releases faith, joy, and victory in the believer’s life. Gratitude is essential for spiritual growth, aligning our hearts with God’s grace and opening the door for His power to work in situations that feel overwhelming or impossible. In Part Three of "The Law of Thanksgiving," Duane Sheriff teaches how God designed gratitude to shape our perspective and anchor our trust in Him. Scripture reveals that Thanksgiving is a powerful response of faith, acknowledging God as our source even before we see the outcome.
When Thanksgiving becomes a lifestyle, it shifts our focus from problems to promises, from fear to faith, and from pressure to peace. Instead of being driven by circumstances, believers learn to stand firm in confidence, trusting God’s goodness and faithfulness while becoming more aware of His presence in every area of life.
The Holy Spirit equips every believer with divine gifts that reveal God's presence and power in the world. These gifts are available to everyone who wishes to serve in love. In episode eight of "The Holy Spirit," Duane Sheriff teaches on the nine gifts of the Spirit, emphasizing the power gifts and vocal gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. Understand the distinction between personal prayer language for private communion with God and the public gift of tongues for the edification of the Church.
The gifts are expressions of grace intended to strengthen the body of Christ and reveal His glory through us. When love guides the use of spiritual gifts, the supernatural becomes natural, and the Church stands as a living testimony of God's power on earth.
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What if the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are often considered relics of the past, were still accessible? Contrary to the belief that these gifts ceased with the early Church, they are still available today through the Holy Spirit for the edification of the entire body of Christ.
In episode seven of "The Holy Spirit,” Duane Sheriff outlines the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit from 1 Corinthians 12, dividing them into three categories: those that reveal (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits), those that act (faith, working of miracles, gifts of healings), and those that speak (various kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy).
By understanding these gifts, we can edify other believers and strengthen our faith. Open your heart, earnestly desire them, and be ready to use them as the Spirit leads.
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Acts 2-4 describes the Holy Spirit filling those gathered in the upper room through three distinct manifestations: a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire, and speaking in tongues. In episode six of "The Holy Spirit," Duane Sheriff explores the role of the Holy Spirit and addresses common misconceptions and controversies that arose during the day of Pentecost.
Despite its controversy, speaking in tongues is well-documented in the Bible. It functions as a tool for magnifying God and, contrary to some beliefs, should not be prohibited. Acts 10 and Acts 19 provide further instances of both Jews and Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. Why would God devote so much scripture to this if it were not meant to be an enduring aspect of our faith journey?
The decision to speak in tongues is personal. God does not impose His will on us; instead, we choose to believe and receive. Like other acts of faith within God's kingdom, it requires our active participation.
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Salvation is only the beginning—there’s always more of God to encounter. In episode five of “The Holy Spirit,” Duane Sheriff uncovers the power of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a distinct experience beyond salvation. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, reveals Himself through many manifestations.
Through Acts 2, 8, and 19, Duane shows how the Spirit works in different ways—from the new birth to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He compares these divine manifestations to the varied roles people play in each other’s lives, bringing clarity to the fullness of life in the Spirit.
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Bible verses in Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Acts teach that there are multiple baptisms, not just one. In episode four of "The Holy Spirit," Duane Sheriff teaches the significance of each baptism, describing how the Holy Spirit, water, and Jesus each facilitate a distinct baptism.
Under the new covenant, there are three distinct baptisms. First, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ, symbolizing our entry into the Christian faith. The second baptism is a water baptism performed by church leaders, serving as a public declaration of one's faith. The third baptism occurs when Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, enabling us to experience His power more fully.
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Discover the life-changing power of thanksgiving—a spiritual law woven throughout Scripture that determines whether we progress or decline in our walk with God. In “The Law of Thanksgiving,” Duane Sheriff teaches that gratitude magnifies God, strengthens our faith, and reframes our circumstances. It is how we enter His presence, honor His goodness, and resist the cultural pressures that distort truth and elevate emotions above Scripture. Thanksgiving is not just a response but a spiritual force we must model and pass on to the next generation, anchoring their hearts in truth while the world around them grows increasingly confused.
Our faith weakens quickly when we stop thanking God, and our confidence returns just as quickly when gratitude is restored. Duane addresses today's cultural shift toward entitlement, deception, and even a reprobate mind—revealing that the journey away from God begins with something as subtle as an unthankful heart. In a culture spiraling into darkness, thanksgiving keeps us—and our children—rooted in truth, grounded in faith, and steady in the goodness of God.
In episode three of "The Holy Spirit," Duane Sheriff explores the two roles of the Holy Spirit, using metaphors of a well and a river to illustrate His ministries. In John 4, Jesus offers the Samaritan woman "living water," symbolizing a personal well of living water within believers that springs up to eternal life. This well represents salvation and a personal relationship with God.
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In John 7, Jesus promises something more for believers - a "river" of living water flowing out of them. Unlike a well that serves believers personally, a river has power and flows outward to bless others. This river represents the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a separate experience from salvation.
A well meets spiritual needs, while a river empowers believers to minister to others. Every believer has the well, but God wants to provide a river too - His supernatural power flowing through them to touch the world around them.
What is the unpardonable sin? In episode two of "The Holy Spirit," Duane Sheriff teaches the three major functions Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would fulfill when He came. According to John 16, the Holy Spirit is our helper sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. This conviction of sin isn't about individual transgressions, but rather the sin of unbelief in Christ. The Holy Spirit reveals our righteousness through faith in Jesus' resurrection, freeing us from the burden of earning our salvation. Finally, the Holy Spirit convicts of judgment, revealing that the devil has been defeated and judged.
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There is a difference between receiving Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Godhead, equal with God the Father and Jesus Christ. In a new series, "The Holy Spirit," Duane Sheriff teaches that the Holy Spirit is not just a force, but a divine person with a crucial role in our spiritual lives.
For too long, the Holy Spirit has been misunderstood as a mystical energy or a secondary member of the Trinity. However, Scripture reveals that He is fully God, sent by Jesus to lead and guide us into all truth. Episode one will deepen your understanding and empower you to embrace the Holy Spirit's role as your guide, comforter, and advocate in this journey of life.
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Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday tradition—it is a fundamental law in God's kingdom. In the message "Thanksgiving," Duane Sheriff teaches that Scripture reveals a powerful spiritual principle: whatever we are thankful for, we retain and increase, but whatever we become unthankful for, we eventually lose. Colossians 3 places thanksgiving alongside peace, love, and forgiveness as essential to the Christian life, while Romans 1 warns that an unthankful heart is the first step toward apostasy and a corrupted mind. When people knew God but refused to glorify Him or give thanks, their hearts became darkened.
Thanksgiving, then, becomes a spiritual safeguard—preserving our faith, protecting our hearts, and anchoring us in the knowledge of God. It is also a legacy we pass to our children, teaching them to recognize the freedoms, blessings, and daily graces they easily overlook. When we enter God's gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, we activate our faith and position ourselves to walk in the fullness of His blessings.
In the final episode of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff concludes his teaching on the Parable of the Sower from Mark Chapter 4, reviewing the four types of ground which represent the conditions of our hearts. Jesus called this parable foundational. By understanding this parable, we can connect with other biblical truths.
The Word of God, as seed, faces hurdles in bearing fruit due to hardened hearts, offense from tribulation, and life's distractions such as worry and the deceitfulness of riches. Satan's deliberate strategy is to steal God's Word from our hearts. Be quick to repent from sin to keep our hearts soft, guard against offense that opens the door for the enemy, and cast our cares upon the Lord. When we cultivate good ground—hearts that hear, accept, and act on God's Word—we can expect a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundredfold return on God's precious seed.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
In the twelfth episode of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff teaches on the parable of the sower, explaining the four types of ground where God's Word can be sown and Satan's specific strategies to steal the seed from each type of heart.
The wayside ground represents hard-packed soil, similar to how sin hardens our hearts through deception. Satan steals the Word immediately by sowing confusion and lack of understanding. Stony ground refers to those who initially receive God's Word with joy but don't allow it to take root. Satan attacks through tribulation and persecution, leading to offense and causing them to abandon the seed. His primary tactic is to uproot good seed and replace it with bitterness. Thorny ground is choked by the cares of this world. Even powerful seeds cannot produce a fruitful harvest when competing with worries and worldly distractions.
Guard your heart against the enemy's tactics by becoming good ground, soil that receives God's Word, takes deep root, and produces an abundant harvest of thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
In the eleventh episode of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff teaches that Jesus' parable of the sower from Mark chapter 4 is not just a story, but a key that unlocks our understanding of how God's Word works in our lives. The Kingdom of God operates on the principle of seedtime and harvest. God's Word is seed, and our hearts are the soil.
This foundational parable is the most important one Jesus ever taught. How we receive and nurture God's Word determines the fruit we bear in our lives. There are four types of ground where seed can fall - the wayside, stony ground, thorny ground, and good ground.
Satan seeks to steal God's Word before it can take root and bear fruit. If our hearts are like the wayside, the enemy will quickly snatch away the Word before we can fully understand it. But if we have a receptive heart and good soil, God's truth will take deep root and produce a bountiful harvest.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
What does it mean to be created in God’s image? Genesis 1 reveals ten foundational attributes that define our humanity—dominion, creativity, the power of words, the dignity of work, righteous judgment, justice, and the unique design of male and female—along with the moral nature of God expressed through love, truth, and holiness. These attributes form the blueprint of our identity and reflect who God is and who we are called to be as His image-bearers.
Though sin has distorted these attributes—turning creativity toward darkness, words into weapons, and judgment into condemnation—Christ restores what was lost. In part two of “Bearing God’s Image,” Duane Sheriff explains that righteous judgment is part of God’s design and that male and female reflect God’s nature in a confused culture. When we understand these attributes, we see how every aspect of life either honors God’s image or distorts it.
In the tenth episode of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff reveals the biblical truth about the dual nature of reaping, which can be either a blessing or a hardship. While we often reap what we sow, there are also instances where we reap where we did not sow.
This dual reality, rooted in John 4:35-38, shows that when the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they reaped cities they had not built and vineyards they had not planted. This parallel helps us to recognize the unearned blessings in our lives, while also understanding our responsibility to sow good seeds.
This mystery reveals why some believers struggle with self-condemnation when facing challenges, not realizing they're experiencing casualties of living in a fallen world. Understanding this principle offers incredible freedom—no longer questioning, "what did I do wrong?" Instead, focus on sowing good seeds by faith through God's grace.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
In the ninth episode of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff reveals a profound truth about the kingdom of God that brings clarity to the confusing seasons we encounter in life. Although it's true that we reap what we sow, there's another mystery to consider - we may also reap things that we did not sow.
Drawing from the words of Jesus in John 4, we learn that we can reap a harvest from seeds that others have sown. Sometimes, we face difficulties not due to our own poor choices, but instead we are caught in a fallen world where others exercise their free will to sow destructive seeds. This insight changes how we face life's unexpected challenges. Recognizing this truth may eliminate unnecessary guilt and provide hope in God's justice and reward system.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
Healthy relationships don't happen by accident. In "4 Keys to Healthy Relationships," Duane and Sue Sheriff discuss how healthy relationships are built on intentional, godly communication. They apply biblical principles that strengthen every relationship—marriage, family, friendships, and even the Church.
Honest conversation, active listening, and Christlike love form the foundation for lasting connections. When communication breaks down, misunderstanding and division take root, but when we learn to speak the truth in love and listen with humility, healing begins. Whether you're married, single, or navigating complex relationships, these practical tools will assist you in communicating effectively, rebuilding trust, and experiencing God's design for unity and peace.
In the eighth episode of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff teaches that our hearts serve as soil for God's Word. Just as fertile soil is needed for plants to thrive, we must prepare our hearts to receive God's Word to bear spiritual fruit. The Holy Spirit serves as water to nourish the seeds.
This concept is illustrated in Mark 4, where God's Word is compared to a seed, and our hearts are likened to the ground that receives that seed. Similarly, our words and thoughts act as seeds, possessing the power to sow life or death in ourselves and others. Therefore, we must guard our hearts to ensure that only seeds of faith, truth, and life take root. By intentionally cultivating good soil in our hearts and sowing wisely, we will produce the spiritual fruit that transforms lives and advances God's kingdom.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
In the seventh episode of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff explores the profound mystery of how the condition of the ground influences the principles of sowing and reaping. While many recognize the power and potential of seeds, few understand the significance of the ground.
Drawing from Mark 4 and Genesis illustrates how everything in creation came from the ground—trees, animals, and humans. The ground, much like a mother's womb, activates and nurtures the seed, leading to a bountiful harvest. The story of Cain and Abel shows how sin affects the ground's ability to yield fruit.
Just as natural seeds need good soil to prosper, spiritual seeds require pure hearts to produce supernatural harvests. Spiritual ground determines the quality of the harvest. Keep your heart, which is your spiritual ground—pure and receptive so God's Word can activate the miraculous power of the ground in your life!
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
In the sixth episode of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff reveals the crucial principle that seeds are sown in one form but reaped in another form. In 1 Corinthians 15 and Mark 4, we uncover that many miss their harvest because they expect it to return exactly as they planted it.
God is the Lord of the harvest, and He determines the form of your return. Whether you sow money and reap opportunities or plant kindness and receive favor through different channels, the key is learning to discern when harvest time comes and having the humility to receive God's provision. Just as Jesus' physical body was sown in one form but raised in a completely different form at the resurrection, our spiritual seeds follow this same principle. Open your eyes to God's blessings in unexpected forms, and cultivate the humility, patience, and faith needed to discern and receive the full harvest of what you've sown.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
Every person was created to reflect the image and likeness of God. Unfortunately, sin has distorted that reflection and blinded many to their true worth. In part one of “Bearing God’s Image,” Duane Sheriff reveals the divine design behind humanity’s creation and the incredible value God places on every human life.
From Genesis to Colossians, Scripture declares that we are not accidents—we are image bearers of a holy and loving Creator. Sin damages God’s image in man, but righteousness through Jesus Christ restores it. Understanding this truth is essential to recovering our God-given dignity in today’s confused and broken culture.
God’s image isn’t something we put on—it’s who we were created to be!
In the fifth episode of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff explores the profound necessity of a seed's death to produce a harvest, drawing parallels between physical and spiritual seeds. John 12 reveals that seeds remain dormant until they are sown and must die to bear fruit, similar to Jesus, the promised seed, whose sacrificial death resulted in a global harvest of believers.
Just as natural seeds must literally split and die in the ground to transform from one form into something greater, our spiritual seeds require the same process. When we give, show kindness, or demonstrate mercy, these seeds only produce a harvest when we release control and let them "die" by trusting God completely. True seed death means surrendering the when, where, and how of our harvest to Jesus, the Lord of the harvest. We plant, we water through prayer, but only God gives the increase in His perfect timing.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
In the fourth episode of "The Mystery Of Seeds," Duane Sheriff teaches how to understand and cooperate with the divine law of sowing and reaping. This seemingly straightforward natural process contains deep spiritual mysteries applicable to every aspect of life.
In Genesis 1, God establishes that everything contains a seed within itself, capable of reproducing after its own kind. All of life's provisions originate with seeds, making our choices profoundly consequential. Every action, word, and thought functions as a seed that will inevitably produce a corresponding harvest. Be intentional about what you plant in your life while trusting in God's perfect timing for the harvest, knowing that we will reap what we sow.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
Everything starts with a seed. All of God's promises about you exist in a seed form, waiting for you to bring them to life. In the third episode of "The Mystery Of Seeds," Duane Sheriff reveals the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping. Galatians 6:7-9 reminds us that God is not mocked, and whatever we sow, we will reap. This immutable law applies to both our natural and spiritual lives. Consider your thoughts, words, and actions as seeds that will inevitably produce a harvest. If you sow good seeds which align with the Spirit, you will reap eternal life and blessings.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
In episode two of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff explains that the law of seeds is an unchanging principle in God's kingdom. These divine mysteries, while hidden from those with evil intentions, are revealed to believers through the Holy Spirit. Spiritual laws, like the law of seeds, reflect natural laws in their constancy, reliability, and predictability. By understanding and aligning with these principles, believers can unlock blessings and experience spiritual growth.
Every promise from God exists as a seed waiting to be planted through faith, prayer, and action. No matter what circumstances you face, God has already provided the seed for your breakthrough—you simply need the wisdom to recognize it, plant it, and patiently tend to its growth until harvest time arrives.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
God's kingdom holds deep spiritual truths revealed to those who seek Him with open hearts. In "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff explores the powerful biblical principle of sowing and reaping, uncovering the spiritual mysteries hidden within farming parallels. In Matthew 13:10-11, we learn these truths are hidden from hardened hearts but revealed to those who love and seek God.
Episode one unveils the various mysteries of seeds—how they are sown and reaped in different forms, the importance of good soil, and even reaping where one has not sown. Seeds represent potential and faith that must be planted and nurtured to produce spiritual and practical harvests. Discover how these seed principles can transform your spiritual journey.
The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries
Discipline is an essential part of parenting, but if done incorrectly, it can wound rather than train. In Part Four of Building Strong Families, Duane Sheriff teaches from Ephesians 6 about the biblical command not to provoke our children to wrath. Every parent faces moments of resistance and frustration, yet God’s Word provides wisdom for disciplining with love instead of reacting in anger.
By recognizing key attitudes like anger, inconsistency, neglect, and harshness, we can guard our children’s hearts and prevent bitterness from taking root. True love sets boundaries with patience, consistency, and grace—always aiming for restoration, not control. Parenting is not about authority alone but about reflecting the Father’s heart and preparing our children to live responsibly before Him. Through understanding, humility, and open communication, we can raise sons and daughters who are secure, respectful, and equipped to walk in God’s ways.
Every child—and every person—has a fundamental need to know and believe that God loves them unconditionally. This truth is the foundation for overcoming the fears that grip humanity. God's love is based on His character, not based on our actions.
In part three of “Building Strong Families,” Duane Sheriff teaches how unconditional love transforms families and sets children free from fear, insecurity, and the need for approval. He identifies four primary fears that often shape children’s lives—the fear of faces (people and rejection), fear of fences (obstacles and hardship), fear of failure, and fear of foes (spiritual enemies)—and explains how God’s love conquers each one.
Parents and grandparents prepare children for life's challenges by teaching them to forgive themselves when they make mistakes and training them to understand the spiritual battles they face. When we truly grasp the depth of God’s love, we realize nothing we do can change how much He loves us. Perfect love casts out all fear.
Why does God allow His people to suffer when they are doing what is right? In episode ten of "Unshakeable Faith," Duane Sheriff explores the crucial difference between Christian suffering and other forms of suffering. There are things Jesus suffered as our substitute (like God's wrath for sin), and there are other trials Christians are called to endure.
Romans 5 encourages us to "glory in tribulations." The scripture in 1 Peter reveals why suffering for righteousness sake is commendable in God's sight. These sufferings, when faced with faith and patience, develop perseverance, character, and ultimately, an unshakeable faith that can withstand any opposition.
https://pastorduane.com/unshakeable-faith/
Have you considered that the trials you are facing might be building your faith instead of breaking you? In episode nine of "Unshakeable Faith," Duane Sheriff teaches how faith works in conjunction with hope, love, and patience. The challenges of opposition, tribulation, and persecution help develop our character and the endurance necessary to live a victorious Christian life.
James 1 reminds us to "count it all joy" when our faith is tested. This process leads to completeness in our spiritual walk. Tribulation is a part of the Christian journey, not something our faith exempts us from. Jesus' words in John 16:33 encourage us to "be of good cheer" in the face of opposition, knowing that our perseverance through trials develops an unshakeable faith that can withstand any storm.
https://pastorduane.com/unshakeable-faith/
God designed the family as the foundation of society, and His Word provides clear guidance for building homes that thrive. Parenting is a responsibility given by God, involving stages of training, teaching, and transition. As parents, we shape the next generation.
In part two of “Building Strong Families,” Duane Sheriff teaches the critical importance of training our children in obedience and honor—not just for their childhood years, but as a foundation for their entire lives. The parallels drawn between child-rearing and our relationship with God are striking. Just as we guide our children, our Heavenly Father guides us. Are we helicopter parents, or are we preparing our children to fly on their own?
In a world where everything moves at lightning speed—from instant coffee to social media—patience often feels like a lost virtue. In episode eight of "Unshakeable Faith," Duane Sheriff explores the importance of patience within the ecosystem of faith and teaches how patience interconnects with hope and love.
Biblical passages from the book of Hebrews and the letter of James emphasize how patience works hand in hand with faith, hope, and love to strengthen our spiritual foundation. Patience isn't just about waiting—it's about enduring with a purpose. Through trials and hardships, our patience is refined, not as a sign of weak faith, but a path that is unshakeable!
https://pastorduane.com/unshakeable-faith/
God has the same love for us as He does for Jesus? God is love, and His love is based on His character, not your actions. God does not just love you - God is love! In episode seven of "Unshakeable Faith," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of being born again to understand God's divine, unconditional love. Understanding the depth of God's love will transform your faith, making it truly unshakeable.
https://pastorduane.com/unshakeable-faith/
God's love isn't just any love - it's unmerited. God's love for us is based on His character, not our actions. This unconditional love removes fear and doubt, which are the main obstacles to our faith. In episode six of "Unshakeable Faith," Duane Sheriff teaches that God's unconditional love is not just intellectual or like any other type of love. It is a transformative revelation that reaches deep into our hearts and dispels all fear. When we genuinely understand the depth of God's love, our faith becomes unshakeable.
https://pastorduane.com/unshakeable-faith/
Youtube: God's Promises Breathe Life
In the biblical story, Abraham and Sarah placed their faith and hope in God's promise and were able to conceive a child despite their old age. In episode five of "Unshakeable Faith," Duane Sheriff distinguishes between worldly hope and biblical hope, explaining that the latter is rooted in God's promises.
Bible hope is a crucial component of faith that's unshakable. Drawing from scriptures such as Hebrews 11:1 and Romans 4, Duane defines Biblical hope as a belief that looks to the future, complementing the present-tense aspect of faith. Hope in God's promises can breathe life into seemingly dead situations, just as it did for Abraham and Sarah.
https://pastorduane.com/unshakeable-faith/
Youtube: Hope Anchors Our Soul /
Hope plays a crucial role in our faith journey. In episode four of "Unshakeable Faith," Duane Sheriff teaches that God instilled a capacity for hope within us from birth with Scripture serving as the source. Romans 15:4 and Hebrews 6:18-19 affirm that hope comes from the Scriptures and acts as an anchor for our souls. This hope isn't based on our circumstances or feelings but is rooted in God's unwavering promises. By anchoring our hope in God's Word, we can face life's challenges with unshakeable faith and confidence in His faithfulness, even in hopeless situations.
https://pastorduane.com/unshakeable-faith/
Families are the cornerstone of both the Church and society, yet today they are bombarded with overwhelming confusion and challenges. In "Building Strong Families," Duane Sheriff teaches God's timeless blueprint for family, marriage, and raising godly offspring. Drawing from Malachi, Judges, and Psalms, Duane explains how healing the home can ultimately heal the nation.
God designed marriage as a covenant, not a contract. By aligning with His design and standing firm in the truth, we can cultivate a legacy of faith that reconnects a generation to biblical principles. Extending grace and restoration to those who have faced struggles in marriage or parenting creates an atmosphere for healing. A single family transformed by God’s love can change the course of generations to come.
How can you strengthen your spiritual foundation and become unmovable in God's promises? In "Unshakeable Faith," Duane Sheriff teaches that faith does not work alone. Instead, it depends on a divine ecosystem of hope, love, and patience. These interconnected powers work in harmony to establish a lasting, unshakeable faith.
Episode three explores the prerequisite and essential role of hope. Hope ignites the flame of faith and guides it toward a confident expectation of God's promises. Hebrews 11:1 declares that "faith is the substance of things hoped for," emphasizing that without hope, faith has nothing to bring into existence. When our hope is rooted in God's goodness, we create fertile ground for faith to manifest His promises.
https://pastorduane.com/unshakeable-faith/
What if you could see the law of faith with the same clarity as you see the law of gravity? In episode 2 of "Unshakeable Faith," Duane Sheriff teaches that just as natural laws govern our physical world, there are spiritual laws that govern faith. The law of faith is equally consistent, reliable, and non-discriminatory as the natural laws we observe in our physical world.
There are key principles that make faith effective: faith comes from hearing God's Word, faith without works is dead, it is impossible to please God without faith, and we must speak to our mountains instead of allowing our problems to speak to us.
https://pastorduane.com/unshakeable-faith/
Why does our faith crumble under pressure? In the new series "Unshakeable Faith," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of being rooted and grounded in Christ, rather than in worldly deceptions, ideologies, or traditions. Understanding the basics of faith is fundamental to salvation, justification, and living a victorious Christian life.
To withstand any storm, it's crucial to be rooted and grounded in Jesus through proper teaching and an understanding of God's Word. Your faith, not works, is the key to accessing God's promises and blessings. Discover the cooperative powers that work alongside your faith to ensure your faith is truly unshakable when life's challenges come.
https://pastorduane.com/unshakeable-faith/
What does it really take to succeed in life—God's way? Brother Duane teaches the four foundational truths that shape every story of success. In part 2 of "Four Keys to Every Success Story", Duane shares how sacrifice and experience develop strength, maturity, and success that lasts—both in life and in your walk with God.
According to Romans 12 and Philippians 3, transformation starts with surrender and the renewal of your mind. True success requires letting go of anything that hinders God's purpose and trusting Him through every experience, both good and bad. Even in failure, God can bring beauty from ashes and turn mistakes into lessons that lead to growth. These principles reveal that success in God's Kingdom isn't just about achievement—it's about character, perseverance, and allowing His wisdom to shape every part of your life.
Our world has become increasingly confused about fundamental truths. This generation is deceived by lies about identity, truth, and morality. In part two of "Wisdom – Discerning Good and Evil," Duane Sheriff exposes the deep confusion of a culture that can no longer distinguish between right and wrong.
God created men and women with divine purpose and distinction, but rejecting His design leads only to chaos and self-destruction. Duane warns of the dangers of cultural deception and challenges believers to anchor their lives in godly wisdom. By building upon the seven pillars of wisdom, we can become houses of refuge that guide a lost generation back to truth and the heart of God.
Today, the world is flooded with information but lacks wisdom. Confusion and deception are everywhere. The line between right and wrong has blurred, truth is challenged, and many believers struggle to discern the voice of God amid the noise.
In "Wisdom – Discerning Good & Evil", Duane Sheriff teaches that wisdom is more than knowledge—it’s the ability to discern between good and evil, a skill desperately needed in our complex world. The story of Solomon asking God for wisdom reminds us how to approach our spiritual journey. Just as Solomon didn’t ask for riches or long life but for understanding to lead God’s people, we too must prioritize godly wisdom above worldly pursuits.
As God restores discernment in His Church, believers are called to rise with clarity, conviction, and compassion. Pursue godly wisdom like hidden treasure—it’s time to awaken, walk in truth, and shine as lights pushing back the darkness in this generation.
What does it really take to succeed in life—God's way? Success is not limited to wealth or achievements, but is about prospering in every area of life. In "Four Keys to Every Success Story," Brother Duane teaches four practical principles to apply to your career, family, and walk with Christ.
Based on Joshua 1:8 and Ephesians 4, Duane shares that knowledge, hard work, sacrifice, and experience form the foundation for lasting prosperity. Whether you're a parent, student, professional, or ministry leader, these four principles will equip you to view your daily work as sacred, your sacrifices as seeds for growth, and even your failures as opportunities to learn and rise again.
As we navigate today's complex world, God's wisdom should serve as a compass to guard against the foolishness prevalent in our culture. In the final episode of "Safeguards Against Deception," Duane Sheriff teaches us how to obtain wisdom through prayer and introduces the concept of the seven pillars of wisdom, which provide the foundation for our lives.
God's wisdom is essential for discernment and protection. The book of James reminds us that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it. This simple act of asking in faith can transform our decision-making and discernment. Just as Solomon sought wisdom to lead God's people, we, too, can seek divine wisdom in our daily lives.
https://pastorduane.com/safeguards-against-deception/
In episode nine of "Safeguards Against Deception," Duane Sheriff teaches the power and importance of prayer. In a world filled with deception and darkness, prayer is a vital tool for communion with God. It allows Jesus, the gardener of our hearts, to cultivate truth and uproot deceit.
To enhance your prayer life, establish a consistent rhythm of prayer using scriptural passages from Ephesians and Colossians. These passages focus on seeking wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual understanding. These prayers empower believers to walk in truth, bear fruit, and remain steadfast in their faith. By focusing on God instead of the chaos of the world, prayer becomes a crucial defense against deception.
https://pastorduane.com/safeguards-against-deception/
In today's world, many people reject and even despise the truth. In episode eight of "Safeguards Against Deception," Duane Sheriff teaches that we should be lovers of the truth, not just people who respect God's Word. Being a lover of truth means having a deep love for Jesus and His Word. A love for the truth will protect our hearts from being deceived. It keeps us close to Jesus and helps us stand strong against the darkness around us. When we love truth, we love Jesus because He is the truth. You cannot separate loving Jesus from loving His commandments and teachings. In a world full of lies and deception, people need to find the truth through us.
https://pastorduane.com/safeguards-against-deception/
Authority impacts every area of life—our homes, families, churches, and even civil society. Neglecting God's divine order leads to confusion, corruption, and instability. When God's order is overturned, darkness gains ground.
In part four of "Levels of Authority," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of understanding God's authority, the church's role in discipling nations, and the need for believers to be unafraid in proclaiming the gospel, even in hostile environments.
The life and legacy of Charlie Kirk stands as a modern-day martyr of courage—one who boldly proclaimed truth in the public square and paid the ultimate price. His voice still speaks, reminding us that authority without God collapses, but authority under God brings light, order, and hope to a broken world. This is not the time to retreat in fear but to stand boldly in courage—rooted in God's authority, speaking truth in love, and shining His light in the darkest places.
In episode seven of "Safeguards Against Deception," Duane Sheriff teaches how the fear of the Lord protects believers against the deceptions and false teachings in our culture today. Fearing God is not about being afraid but about worshiping, serving, and putting God first. This Godly fear brings our hearts into alignment with God's values, cultivating a love for what He loves and a hatred for what He hates. By placing God first, we enhance our ability to discern truth from deception.
https://pastorduane.com/safeguards-against-deception/
One of the most crucial skills we can develop as "Safeguards Against Deception" is learning to discern God's voice. Yet, many struggle to hear God's voice because they believe His voice should be loud and clear. John 10 says that His sheep have the innate ability to hear and recognize the Shepherd's voice.
In episode six, Duane Sheriff teaches that understanding the language of the Holy Spirit is essential for recognizing God's voice and distinguishing it from deceptive influences. God speaks in various ways, including a still, small voice, as well as through dreams, visions, and prophecy.
https://pastorduane.com/safeguards-against-deception/
Satan has an M.O., a distinct modus operandi. His typical methods often question God's Word, promote disbelief, and offer deceptive wisdom. In "Safeguards Against Deception," Duane Sheriff states that all deception starts with "Has God said...?"
In episode five, we gain insight into Satan's tactics through the story of Eve's deception in Genesis 3. This timeless pattern conveys the critical importance of standing firm in God's Word as our ultimate authority above our opinions, emotions, or societal pressures. By understanding Satan's tactics, we can better recognize and resist deception in our own lives.
https://pastorduane.com/safeguards-against-deception/
God's Word is your first and most critical "Safeguard Against Deception." In episode four, Duane Sheriff warns about the dangers of departing from clear biblical teachings and the simplicity found in Christ, highlighting how cultural deceptions can infiltrate the church when believers prioritize worldly wisdom over God's truth.
John 8 and 2 Corinthians 11 emphasize the power of abiding in God's Word. Duane draws interesting parallels between our relationship with Christ and marriage, urging us to stay loyal to Jesus. This loyalty, combined with evaluating everything through the lens of God's Word, creates a strong defense that helps us distinguish truth from lies.
https://pastorduane.com/safeguards-against-deception/
God has provided His Word as a "Safeguard Against Deception." The Scripture warns us that in the latter times, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of devils. In episode three, Duane Sheriff shares the necessity of prioritizing God's Word above all else, including personal relationships, to maintain spiritual integrity and discernment. He addresses the challenges parents face in loving their children while remaining faithful to biblical truth, especially in the face of cultural pressures. The story of the Prodigal Son shows the importance of holding onto God's truth, even when loved one's stray.
https://pastorduane.com/safeguards-against-deception/
God has established five levels of government, each with a divine purpose. In part three of "Levels of Authority," Duane Sheriff teaches a biblical view of authority, emphasizing that all authority is ultimately granted by God.
God's authority is supreme, followed by self-governance, family, church, and civil governments. When these institutions operate under God's order, they provide blessings, protection, and stability. When authority becomes separated from God's authority, it becomes corrupt and abusive. Many choose to disengage completely from civic responsibility or place politics above their faith. Both extremes miss God's heart.
Drawing from Scripture, history, and current events, Duane encourages believers to pray for leaders, stay engaged in society, and live as salt and light. He addresses misconceptions about church and state, warning of the dangers of passivity while encouraging our responsibility for godly engagement to ensure peace, justice, and freedom.
In "Safeguards Against Deception," Duane Sheriff warns against the increasing prevalence of deception and how easily people can be deceived, even within the church, as predicted in 2 Timothy 3:13. He refers to COVID-19 as a "dress rehearsal" for future deceptions, such as those that could involve AI technology. In episode two, we examine three biblical warnings often overlooked: God's law of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7), the dangers of sexual immorality and idolatry (Ephesians 5:5-6), and sinful behaviors such as fornication, homosexuality, and theft (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). While Christians are forgiven, God saved us from sin, not to continue in it. It is essential to stay true to God's word by rejecting deception, embracing repentance, and adhering to biblical truth.
https://pastorduane.com/safeguards-against-deception/
Our culture has become permeated with lies and deception. The Bible contains over 50 warnings about deception in the last days. Jesus cautions us, "Take heed that no one deceives you" (Matthew 24:4). In the new series "Safeguards Against Deception," Duane Sheriff explores how vulnerable we are to deception and how the church is not exempt, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a wake-up call to prepare for future deceptions.
In the first episode, titled "Guard Our Hearts," Duane emphasizes the importance of partnering with Jesus, who acts as the gardener that nurtures, protects, and teaches how to guard our hearts and remain steadfast against deception.
https://pastorduane.com/safeguards-against-deception/
Every aspect of life has its own authority structures, including our homes, churches, schools, and society as a whole. When we fail to understand these levels of authority, we often end up frustrated, confused, and even rebellious. In part two of "Levels of Authority," Duane Sheriff teaches God’s divine order of authority and emphasizes why this understanding is crucial for every individual, especially our young people.
God’s government stands as the highest authority, and all other forms—self-government, family, church, and civil—flow from Him. When a lower authority attempts to overrule a higher one, corruption follows, leading to disorder and instability. Understanding authority not only provides protection but also empowers us to live with confidence and order in a culture filled with confusion.
To have great faith, you must understand authority. In "Levels of Authority," Duane Sheriff explores the concept of authority in God's kingdom and its relationship to our levels of government. Romans 13:1 reminds us that all authority comes from God. All authority is delegated and should always be accompanied by accountability.
Understanding the five levels of authority helps us navigate our roles and responsibilities, along with the limits within each sphere: God's government, self-government, family government, church authority, and civil government.
The story of the Roman centurion in Matthew 8 beautifully illustrates how great faith is connected to understanding authority. When we grasp this concept, we can make a real difference in our world. By integrating our faith into civic life, we can be salt and light, contributing to the transformation of our culture while adhering to scriptural truths.
In the tenth and final episode of "Holiness," Duane Sheriff teaches that transformation into holiness occurs progressively as we continually behold God's glory instead of focusing on our sins or the sins of others. This holiness is not achieved through self-effort or willpower but through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. We are gradually transformed into Christ's image when we shift our focus from our failures and past struggles to God's goodness and love.
https://pastorduane.com/holiness/
In the ninth episode of "Holiness," Duane Sheriff teaches that godly fear is the key to true wisdom and understanding, helping us discern beyond our physical senses and emotions. True holiness is achieved through a reverent fear of God, which is different from worldly fear. Godly fear leads to worship, wisdom, and a departure from evil.
According to 2 Corinthians 7:1, we are encouraged to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. This fear is not one of torment but rather a reverent awe that leads to worship. Cultivating a healthy fear of the Lord leads to a holy life and encourages spiritual growth.
https://pastorduane.com/holiness/
In the eighth episode of "Holiness," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of maintaining a heart sensitive to God's voice. Sin can harden the heart, making hearing and responding to God's guidance difficult. Pursuing holiness helps believers stay attuned to God's guidance and prevents spiritual deafness.
Duane draws parallels between the Israelites' rebellion in the wilderness and modern Christians' struggles with sin. We can learn from biblical examples and strive for a holy life. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we face daily choices whether to heed God's voice or allow our hearts to harden through unbelief and rebellion.
https://pastorduane.com/holiness/
What is repentance? It is believing God for "crop failure" when we've sown bad seeds. In the seventh episode of "Holiness," Duane Sheriff teaches the unchanging law of sowing and reaping, explaining how our actions are like seeds that produce either good or bad harvests in our lives. This spiritual principle demonstrates how our actions are like seeds, yielding corruption or eternal life. This episode explores the interesting parallel between this spiritual law and natural laws, such as gravity and changing seasons, emphasizing its consistency and relevance in our daily lives.
https://pastorduane.com/holiness/
Why is it important to live a holy life? In the sixth episode of "Holiness," Duane Sheriff challenges common misconceptions about holiness and presents a grace-based perspective on righteous living. Holiness is not about earning God's love or salvation but rather about living out our new nature in Christ, loving God and others, and preventing Satan from gaining influence in our lives.
This episode connects love and holiness, referencing Romans 6, which teaches that we are dead to sin and alive in Christ. Our new identity encourages us to live differently—not out of obligation but as a natural expression of our transformed selves. Holiness becomes a natural outflow of God's love in our lives rather than a burdensome list of dos and don'ts.
https://pastorduane.com/holiness/
In the fifth episode of "Holiness," Duane Sheriff explores the reasons why Christians are called to lead holy lives. John 14:15 states, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Holiness is not a burden or about earning God's love or salvation. Instead, it is a response to God's love and a reflection of our love for God and others. Duane addresses common misconceptions about holiness and provides a biblical perspective on why we should strive for holiness in our daily lives.
https://pastorduane.com/holiness/
In the fourth episode of "Holiness," Duane Sheriff teaches that a transformation occurs when you accept Jesus. Your past sinful nature (old man) is crucified and buried, and you become a new creation. You receive a new identity that is righteous and truly holy. When you realize that your old self died with Jesus, you can overcome temptation and truly live in holiness. You are no longer a slave to sin but free to live in the newness of life!
https://pastorduane.com/holiness/
Why live holy? It's not so that God will love us, bless us, or that we will go to heaven. In the third episode of "Holiness," Duane Sheriff teaches a grace-based understanding of why believers should pursue holiness. Holiness is a response to God's grace and a reflection of our new nature in Christ. This radical shift in identity encourages us to live righteously, not out of obligation, but as a reflection of who we are in Christ. Live a holy life out of gratitude and love as we eagerly anticipate Christ's return.
https://pastorduane.com/holiness/
God is holy. Whatever is set apart by God is holy. In the second episode of "Holiness," Duane Sheriff teaches that God's holiness is about beauty and its transformative power. Holiness is a beautiful attribute of God that should be celebrated rather than feared. God's holiness is a refining fire that purifies and liberates believers from sin and bondage and is a manifestation of God's love, joy, peace, and kindness.
https://pastorduane.com/holiness/
What does holiness mean? Holiness isn't about following a set of rules but about reflecting on God's character. In the new series "Holiness," Brother Duane teaches what, why, and how to be holy. We learn holiness is a result of our relationship with Christ. We become transformed from being a slave to sin into a servant of God. This transformation is a byproduct of our new nature in Him, arising from a renewed mind and a heart aligned with God's will.
https://pastorduane.com/holiness/
In our spiritual journey, we often overlook the significance of the church. The church serves as a source of inspiration, revelation, and integration, which is essential for our faith, building community, and maintaining spiritual accountability. In "The Purpose Of Church," Duane Sheriff teaches that attending church isn't just a religious obligation, but a divine commandment and offers ten compelling reasons to be actively involved in a local church.
The key scripture, Hebrews 10:24-25, reveals that the church is part of God's divine plan and emphasizes the importance of gathering together. Church is a place of inspiration, revelation, and transformation—a spiritual ecosystem where we're nurtured and equipped. Just as a plant needs to be firmly rooted to flourish, we too need to be 'planted' in a church to thrive in our faith. Attending church is not a burden, but as a blessing - a place where we're covered, protected, and prepared for the challenges of life.
In Genesis 1:26-27, God declares, "Let us make mankind in our image, according to our likeness." In part eight of "Your True Identity," Brother Duane explains that humanity's creation in God's image and likeness defines our true identity. This divine distinction separates humans from angels, animals, and all other forms of creation.
Key features of God's image include dominion and authority, the distinction between male and female, sovereignty, creativity, and the concept of work. Two aspects that spark debate are judgment and justice. The ability to judge is a fundamental aspect of God's image in humanity. Jesus instructed in John 7:24 to "judge with righteous judgment" instead of judging based on outward appearance.
Sin can damage and distort God's image in humans but it cannot eliminate it. We can either celebrate this image through righteousness in Christ or pervert it through sin. Today, many social movements that seek justice often commit injustices themselves, which distorts the image of God. Embrace "Your True Identity" and reflect God's restored image through Christ's righteousness.
In part seven of "Your True Identity," Brother Duane teaches that we were created in God's image and likeness and that this image is our true identity. Our real identity doesn't come from our feelings or personal views, but from our Creator God. Being made in God's image is what makes us human and gives us our true worth.
The attributes of God's image in people encompass several key traits: the ability to rule and have dominion, being created as male and female, having sovereignty and free will, creativity, the power of words, and the capacity to judge. He stresses that while sin can distort and damage God's image in us, it cannot change or eradicate it. The image of Jesus is a perfect example of God manifesting His image in us.
Do you feel like you are crawling through life like a worm when God has created you to soar like a butterfly? Brother Duane teaches the importance of renewing our minds as Christians. The "Spirit of Our Mind" refers to our attitude or mindset, which influences not only what we think but also how we think. This message emphasizes the need to adopt a biblical worldview rather than a secular perspective.
Exploring the metaphor of metamorphosis, we discover that transformation works from the inside out, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly or a tadpole becoming a bullfrog. By aligning our thoughts with God's truth, a metamorphosis occurs within us. This change is not the result of an external effort, but rather through God's Spirit working within us. This inner transformation renews our minds through His Word, leading to true freedom and spiritual growth.
In the tenth and final episode of "The Fundamentals of Prayer," Duane Sheriff explores the various types of prayer and why they are essential to communicating with God effectively. There is the prayer of faith, the prayer of agreement, and the prayer of petition. Approach prayer with confidence, thanksgiving, and persistence, even when an answer may seem delayed. Effective prayers help us align our hearts with God's will and promises.
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In part five of "Your True Identity," Brother Duane teaches how to discover your true identity through God's Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus discovered He was God's Son by studying Scripture at age 12, we can explore God's Word to learn who we are in Christ.
Today, too many people allow their parents, friends, society, or past mistakes to define them. But God wants to reveal your real identity through His promises. When you read the truth in Scripture, like being "more than a conqueror" or an "overcomer," the Holy Spirit can speak directly to your heart and affirm, "That's who you are."
Your confidence and purpose come from knowing your identity in Christ, not from your struggles or failures. Search God's Word and discover who God says you are through His Word. Your confidence, purpose, and destiny all flow from understanding your true identity in Christ Jesus.
In the ninth episode of "The Fundamentals of Prayer," Brother Duane teaches the importance of understanding the different kinds of prayer. Scripture focuses mainly on the prayer of faith and the prayer of agreement. In Timothy 2:1, the apostle Paul mentions supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks. Knowing how to pray is crucial to the effectiveness of our prayers.
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In the eighth episode of "The Fundamentals of Prayer," Brother Duane explores the power of praying "in the name of Jesus." It's not just a phrase we add to the end of our prayers, but a declaration of our authority and relationship with Christ. Praying in Jesus' name means praying according to His will, word, and assignment, with the full backing of Christ's authority and power. In John 14, 15, and 16, Jesus promises that whatever we ask in His name, the Father will give us. By aligning ourselves with God's will and purpose, our prayers are based not on our righteousness but on Christ's righteousness.
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In the seventh episode of "The Fundamentals of Prayer," Duane Sheriff explores the importance of praying according to God's will and understanding it through Scripture. There is a difference between praying "if it be Thy will" and knowing God's will. The story of Jesus praying three times in the garden reveals His human struggle and ultimate surrender, teaching us the importance of persistence in prayer. When God's will is unclear, seek wisdom and approach prayer with confidence, knowing that God's Word reveals His will.
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In the sixth episode of "The Fundamentals of Prayer," Duane Sheriff teaches that effective prayer is rooted in knowing and praying according to God's will revealed in His Word and promises. 1 John 5:14-15 teaches that when we pray according to God's will, we can be confident He hears us and grants our petitions. Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane is an example of praying God's will, even in a difficult circumstance. By aligning our prayers with His promises, we can approach the throne of grace with boldness and expectation.
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In the fifth episode of "The Fundamentals of Prayer," Duane Sheriff explores the power of persistence in prayer. In Luke 11:5-13, Jesus emphasizes that God values our persistence to show our faith and desire for a relationship with Him. Repeating our prayers helps us remain engaged with God and reflects our faith, even when the answer is delayed. This persistence helps us shift from doubt to confidence in God's willingness to respond to our needs.
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Every day, we face a battle whether to walk in the flesh or follow the Holy Spirit. In part four of "Your True Identity," Brother Duane teaches that your old life in Adam is gone. We have been transformed into a new creation and have a new identity in Christ. Our past sins no longer define us. We're no longer a slave to sin, darkness, and death.
God has washed us clean, made us holy, and declared us righteous through Jesus Christ. However, our flesh—our physical body and unrenewed mind—still tries to pull us back into old habits. Learn how to set your mind on spiritual things and resist Satan's attacks on your identity. Having a spiritual mindset is key to overcoming the desires of the flesh and experiencing the freedom Christ died to give us.
Every day, we face a battle whether to walk in the flesh or follow the Holy Spirit. In part four of "Your True Identity," Brother Duane teaches that your old life in Adam is gone. We have been transformed into a new creation and have a new identity in Christ. Our past sins no longer define us. We're no longer a slave to sin, darkness, and death.
God has washed us clean, made us holy, and declared us righteous through Jesus Christ. However, our flesh—our physical body and unrenewed mind—still tries to pull us back into old habits. Learn how to set your mind on spiritual things and resist Satan's attacks on your identity. Having a spiritual mindset is key to overcoming the desires of the flesh and experiencing the freedom Christ died to give us.
In the fourth episode of "The Fundamentals of Prayer," Brother Duane teaches how to pray by exploring the model prayer that Jesus provided to His disciples. There is power in praying in the name of Jesus, as prayer brings God's kingdom and will to earth. It's essential to remain persistent in prayer, as it can take time for our prayers to manifest due to hindrances in the spiritual realm. Stay steadfast and do not give up.
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In the third episode of "The Fundamentals of Prayer," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of being taught how to pray effectively. Prayer is not a religious obligation or the recital of words, but about developing a genuine relationship with our Heavenly Father. The Lord's Prayer is a model that can guide our prayer life from a routine activity into a personal encounter with God.
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In the second episode of "The Fundamentals of Prayer," Duane Sheriff teaches that the primary purposes of prayer are communication, fellowship, and partnership with God. Prayer is the lifeline that keeps us connected to Jesus, allowing His life to flow through us. Using the imagery of the vine and branches in John 15 illustrates our need to 'abide' in Christ. Without this continuous connection, we are unable to bear spiritual fruit.
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Cultivate a deep, intimate relationship with God through Prayer. God likes you and wants to spend time with you. In "The Fundamentals of Prayer," Duane Sheriff teaches that prayer is not about religious rituals but a way to connect with God and experience supernatural breakthroughs. Prayer serves as a pathway to knowing God personally, as reflected in Jesus' words in John 17:3, which states that eternal life is about knowing the Father.
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What if everything you think you know about yourself is wrong? In "Your True Identity," Brother Duane reveals the truth about your identity in Christ. Every person starts with an old identity "in Adam" - born with a sinful nature leading to bad choices and separation from God. But when you become a Christian, God completely kills that old identity and gives you a brand new nature and new life "in Christ."
As Christians, we receive a new spiritual identity, but our minds and bodies still need renewal through God's Word and the Holy Spirit. We are God's workmanship, created for good works—not saved by works, but saved FOR good works. True freedom comes from understanding your new identity in Christ rather than identifying with past sins or current struggles. Discover who God says you are!
What if everything you think you know about yourself is wrong? In "Your True Identity," Brother Duane reveals the truth about your identity in Christ. Every person starts with an old identity "in Adam" - born with a sinful nature leading to bad choices and separation from God. But when you become a Christian, God completely kills that old identity and gives you a brand new one "in Christ."
As Christians, we receive a new spiritual identity, but our minds and bodies still need renewal through God's Word and the Holy Spirit. We are God's workmanship, created for good works—not saved by works, but saved FOR good works. True freedom comes from understanding your new identity in Christ rather than identifying with past sins or current struggles. Discover who God says you are!
In the eighth and final episode of "The Purpose of Marriage," Duane Sheriff explores the unique connection between the marriage of a husband and wife and the relationship between Christ and the Church, describing it as a "great mystery" revealed in Scripture. In Ephesians 5, marriage is presented as a reflection of Christ's love for the church. The first marriage of Adam and Eve serves as a prophetic picture of Christ and His bride, the church. Just as Eve was created from Adam's rib, the church was born from Christ's wounded side on the cross.
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In the seventh episode of "The Purpose of Marriage," Duane Sheriff explores the deep spiritual significance of the husband-wife relationship as a reflection of Christ and the Church. Ephesians 5 explains that marriage is not just a natural union but also a profound spiritual mystery. Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loves the Church: sacrificially, selflessly, and unconditionally. Wives, in turn, are encouraged to submit to their husbands as the Church submits to Christ. This parallel unveils the beautiful dance of love and respect that strengthens our earthly marriages and relationship with God. Marriages are living testimonies of the Gospel, modeling Christ's love to our children and the world around us.
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In the sixth episode of "The Purpose of Marriage," Duane Sheriff explores the reasons to get married, which include companionship, sexual purity, and procreation. A key aspect of marriage is its covenant nature, intended to foster the upbringing of godly offspring. God designed marriage to create a loving and nurturing environment for children to grow in the knowledge and reverence of the Lord. This family unit, comprising a father, mother, and children, is essential to God's plan for raising children in His ways. The significance of strong marriages in raising children extends beyond the family; it impacts society, culture, and politics.
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In the fifth episode of "The Purpose of Marriage," Duane Sheriff teaches marriage is a divine institution designed for companionship, covenant, and the expression of our sexuality within safe boundaries. God created us as sexual beings with the intention that this gift be enjoyed within the haven of marriage. 1 Corinthians 7 reminds us that marriage is God's solution to sexual immorality, providing a sanctified space for intimacy. Just as water brings life within its banks but destruction when it floods, so too does our sexuality bless us within marriage but can harm us outside of it.
In the fourth episode of "The Purpose of Marriage," Brother Duane explores the purpose and divine design of marriage, tracing its origins back to creation. The biblical account of Adam and Eve reveals how woman was created from within man, symbolizing the deep unity intended in marriage.
The creation story reveals that marriage is not a human institution, but a God-ordained covenant designed to fulfill the need for companionship. God created man and woman to be partners in marriage. Eve was created from Adam's rib, emphasizing that she was "bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh." Marriage, therefore, reunites what was taken apart, with male and female becoming one flesh.
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YouTube: Living Under Grace vs. Living Under Law
Do you understand the difference between Old Testament law and New Testament grace? Duane Sheriff teaches that "You cannot serve God under New Testament grace with Old Testament law—they don't mix." If you don't understand law vs. grace, you will serve God through guilt and condemnation instead of experiencing God's unconditional love and freedom.
The purpose of the law was to reveal sin and reveal our need for a Savior, not to earn God's love or blessings. Jesus fulfilled the law on our behalf, making us righteous through faith alone, independent of works or performance. Grace produces intimacy and a relationship with God rather than guilt and condemnation. God's unconditional love empowers us to live a holy life motivated by love rather than fear of punishment. You cannot do anything to make God love you more, and you cannot do anything to make Him love you less.
1 Corinthians 15 states, "The strength of sin is the law." Duane Sheriff teaches that the Old Testament law paradoxically strengthened our sin by exposing our inability to meet God's perfect standard. When we try to be righteous through our efforts, we remain under sin's strength and the law's curse. Many mistakenly believe they can earn God's love by perfectly following the rules, but the law functions like a mirror, revealing our sinful nature and driving us to recognize our need for Jesus.
But grace is more powerful than sin! By placing our faith in Jesus instead of trusting our good works, God sees us as completely forgiven. This is grace—God's unearned love and acceptance—freeing us from the need to earn His blessings through perfect behavior. True transformation comes not from self-righteous obedience but from embracing God's grace, which overpowers sin's strength and grants us victory through Christ alone.
In the third episode of "The Purpose of Marriage," Duane Sheriff explains that marriage is a sacred institution created by God for companionship and partnership, mirroring the relationship between Christ and the Church. In Genesis 2, the story of Adam and Eve, God states that it is "not good" for man to be alone. This story emphasizes our deep-rooted desire for companionship and partnership. The creation of Eve from Adam's rib symbolizes the unity and intimacy that God intended for marriage.
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Do you live under the law, or do you live under grace? This message contrasts the concept of grace with the law and performance-based Christianity. The purpose of the law was to reveal sin, making us guilty and unable to earn God's favor through perfect behavior. Grace, however, breaks the power of sin through Jesus. While many Christians believe grace merely covers their sins, Brother Duane teaches that grace "sets the course for your life and connects you to your destiny and your authority."
Grace isn't about our performance for God - it's about what God has already done for us through Jesus Christ. Embrace grace and trust in God's promises rather than relying on your own performance.
In episode two of "The Purpose of Marriage," Duane Sheriff discusses five common misconceptions about why people get married. In a survey, he discovered that people get married to be happy, to find their value or worth, to be complete, to get out of trouble, or simply as an experiment to see how it goes. These reasons go against God's intended design for marriage. No person, place, or thing can make you happy.
Entering the institution of marriage in order to achieve happiness will actually ensure unhappiness. Instead, we are called to approach marriage from a biblical perspective and find our happiness, value, and completeness in Christ rather than in a spouse. Colossians 2:9-10 reminds us that in Jesus, all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, and we are complete in Him. This spiritual foundation is crucial before entering into marriage.
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"The Purpose of Marriage" is a divine mystery that reflects Christ's love for the church. In this episode, Duane Sheriff teaches the divine purpose of marriage and its connection to the gospel. There is a compelling parallel between traditional marriage and our spiritual union with Jesus. Marriage is not simply a contract or social institution. It is a divine institution that reflects Christ's love for the church. Today's culture and many churches often fail to grasp the true purpose of marriage. Understanding the connection between marriage and our relationship with Christ is essential to our spiritual growth.
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Discovering "Your True Identity" isn’t about your past actions or what others think of you; it’s about understanding who you are in God’s eyes. When you become a Christian, something incredible happens: you are no longer defined by your past mistakes, weaknesses, or the opinions of the world. Instead, you receive a brand-new identity directly from God—one that is full of hope, purpose, and incredible worth.
Brother Duane teaches that in Christ, you are not just forgiven; you are completely transformed! You become a child of God—chosen, loved, and empowered. This means your value does not come from your achievements, appearance, or social status. Your true identity is rooted in God’s unconditional love and the new life He offers you. You are made new, with the potential to grow, learn, and reflect God’s character in everything you do.
Understanding this identity changes everything. It gives you confidence, not in yourself, but in God’s power working through you. You are no longer trapped by old labels or limitations. Instead, you are free to live as the unique, awesome person God created you to be. You are a new person!!
In the fifteenth and final episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff explores the depth of God's forgiveness and mercy under the New Covenant. He explains that God's attitude is mercy, not wrath or punishment. Hebrews 8 reveals God's covenant promise: "I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." By understanding our complete forgiveness in Christ, we can fully appreciate God's love and a life of holiness motivated by love rather than fear. This crucial truth prompts us to reconsider our view of God's attitude towards us when we fail. Instead of wrath or punishment, we find mercy. This is not a license to sin but rather a call to serve God out of love instead of fear.
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In the fourteenth episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff explores the depth of God's love and forgiveness as demonstrated by the cross. Jesus died once as a sacrifice to provide complete and eternal forgiveness for all our sins - past, present, and future. The Old Covenant included repetitive sacrifices, while the New Covenant established Jesus' one-time, all-encompassing atonement for our sins. The book of Hebrews describes Jesus as our eternal High Priest, who offered Himself once and for all. God's love is so infinite that He forgave our sins even before we committed them.
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In the thirteenth episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff examines the concept of complete forgiveness through Christ's one-time sacrifice. God's forgiveness is not limited to our past or confessed sins but extends to all sins - past, present, and future. This radical idea challenges our traditional understanding of forgiveness. Hebrews chapter 10 serves as the scriptural foundation, contrasting the old covenant's repeated sacrifices with Christ's one-time, all-encompassing sacrifice. His incredible sacrifice transforms us for eternity, enabling us to approach God with confidence.
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In the twelfth episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff teaches that Jesus served as a ransom for the entire human race, which is the "great exchange." Christ's sacrifice at the cross was a comprehensive exchange in which Jesus took on the negative aspects of our human condition (death, curse, torment, shame, sickness, and poverty) to give believers positive attributes (life, blessing, peace, glory, health, and riches).
The cross is not just a historical event but an ultimate act of servant leadership and sacrificial love. Matthew 20:28 declares that Jesus came "to give his life as a ransom for many." Duane draws parallels between our spiritual imprisonment and a physical jailbreak, emphasizing how Christ's ransom frees us from the bondage of sin, death, and darkness.
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In the eleventh episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff explores the concept of spiritual adultery and the importance of maintaining a close, faithful relationship with God. James 4:4 warns that friendship with the world makes us an enemy of God. It's not about physical infidelity but rather spiritual unfaithfulness.
An analogy of marriage illustrates God's jealous love for us - a concept deeply rooted in Old Testament scriptures like Exodus 34:14. God desires an exclusive and intimate relationship with His people, viewing Himself as our primary source of identity, joy, and fulfillment.
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Discover the connection between "Your True Identity" and your destiny. Brother Duane teaches that there are three key sources of identity: immediate family, the family of man, and the family of God. These sources reveal that our true identity can only be found through Christ.
Our world is experiencing an identity crisis. What was once normal is called abnormal, and vice versa. Everyone struggles with identity to some degree, but God has a divine design. This confusion can keep people from fulfilling their God-given purpose. Understanding our true identity in Christ guides our lives and brings wholeness. God predetermined a beautiful, wholesome identity for you before the foundations of the world—an identity of blessing, purpose, and significance in Christ Jesus.
In the tenth episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff explores the transformative power of the cross in a Christian's life, focusing on how believers are dead to sin, dead to the law, and dead to the world through faith in Christ. Understanding our new identity in Christ enables us to overcome worldly temptations and live in the freedom of God's grace.
Galatians 6:14 beautifully expresses this idea: "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." This verse does not refer to our physical death but to a spiritual reality that empowers us to live differently. We can now embrace God's kingdom principles instead of conforming to worldly values.
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How can you be considered dead to the law while still being alive and breathing? In the ninth episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff explains that a transformation occurs during salvation. Believers die to the law and become united with Christ. Through Christ's death and resurrection, they are freed from sin and the law, enabling them to serve God through grace and faith rather than legalistic obedience.
In Romans 7, Paul uses the marriage analogy to illustrate our new covenant with Christ. Just as death releases us from the bonds of marriage, Christ's death on the cross has freed us from our 'marriage' to sin and the law. This freedom allows us to be 'married' to Christ and live in a new relationship of grace rather than legalism.
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In the eighth episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff teaches that through Christ's sacrifice, we have become a new creation. The power of God demonstrated at Calvary conquered sin and fundamentally changed our spiritual DNA. We are no longer defined by our old nature in Adam but by our new nature in Christ.
This truth goes beyond theology; it reshapes our true identity. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation." This important truth should influence how we approach our struggle with sin, perceive our self-worth, and make daily choices. God sees your new creation as righteous, holy, and beloved.
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In the seventh episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff explains that if we have already died with Christ, how can we be "dying daily"? Christians who have experienced His death, burial, and resurrection are new creations. We must renew our minds to fully embrace our new identity in Christ. God has put our old nature to death and raised us to new life in Him. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, "If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation." Instead of continually "dying daily" to sin, we need to recognize that we have already died and are resurrected with Christ.
In the sixth episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff explores the death of our "old man" in Adam and our new life in Christ, which is crucial for living a victorious Christian life. We are "dead to sin," not "dead in sin." Our old nature was crucified with Christ and buried, and a new creation has risen. The parallel between Christ's death and resurrection and our spiritual rebirth illustrates that our old sinful nature no longer enslaves us because we are a new creation in Christ.
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In the fifth episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff explains how our "old man," or sinful nature, was crucified with Christ, freeing us from the power of sin, the law, and the world. He shares his vision of seeing himself in Jesus during His crucifixion, illustrating how we are spiritually united with Christ in His death and resurrection.
Understanding the death of our old self is key to living a new life in Christ. Romans 6 emphasizes that we are "dead to sin" because of our identification with Christ's death, a truth that can transform our relationship with God. Now, as a new creation, we can embrace our new identity in Him.
In the fourth episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff teaches the connection between the Old Testament Passover meal and Jesus Christ as the ultimate Passover Lamb. God uses types and shadows in the Old Testament to foreshadow the cross, emphasizing that the mystery of salvation was hidden from Satan but revealed to believers.
Exodus 12 demonstrates how God instituted the Passover Meal to foreshadow Christ's sacrifice. The imagery of eating the lamb and applying its blood speaks to how we must internalize Christ's sacrifice and allow it to cover every aspect of our lives. The blood of the innocent lamb protected the Israelites from judgment, just as Christ's blood covers us now. This parallel illustrates that our salvation relies not on our righteousness but on our faith in the ultimate Lamb of God.
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In the third episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff explores the concept of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, which is often misunderstood as an unpardonable sin. This sin is not a specific action but rather the rejection of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.
God offers forgiveness for all sins through the sacrifice of Jesus. The Holy Spirit's role is to convict the world of unbelief in Jesus. According to Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-29, all sins can be forgiven except for the rejection of Christ's sacrifice. This episode addresses the common misconceptions about unforgivable sins and provides freedom, hope, and clarity to anyone burdened by guilt.
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In the second episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff teaches the significance of the cross and how our eternal fate is determined by our belief in what Jesus accomplished through His sacrifice. Once a symbol of terror, the cross has transformed into a symbol of hope and love. This pivotal event marks a turning point for all of history and eternity. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus and His work on the cross, not through our actions or good deeds. Jesus is the only way to God, making the "strait gate" to eternal life narrow yet full of hope for those who believe.
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Due to the sacrifice of Jesus and His blood shed on the cross, the cross has become a worldwide symbol of hope and God's love. Time is measured by the cross and divided into B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini, Latin for "In the Year of Our Lord").
In the new series, "The Cross," Duane Sheriff explores the mystery of the cross and how Jesus' sacrifice transforms our identity, freeing us from sin, legalism, addiction, and worldly influences. According to 1 Corinthians 1, the message of the cross may appear foolish to the world, but for those who believe, it is the power and wisdom of God. In this episode, Duane shares his testimony of experiencing an open vision in which he saw himself united with Jesus during His crucifixion and resurrection.
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Brother Duane teaches that Easter is not about celebrating a day but embracing a living person - Jesus Christ! The message, "From Death To Life," examines how Jesus is the proof that death is not the final word in our lives. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus offers complete freedom from sin and a new life filled with power.
The Old and New Testaments point to Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb through three components: declaring the gospel to others, receiving its truth in our hearts, and standing firm in the freedom Jesus gives us. When we place our faith in Jesus, we are completely transformed and free to live in the power of His resurrection every day!
Luke 15 describes God's relentless love for the lost. In the message "Prodigals," Duane Sheriff teaches how the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son paint an extraordinary picture of our Heavenly Father's heart. The prodigal son reveals the father's unconditional love, grace, forgiveness, and the joy of redemption.
No one is beyond God's reach or love. The shepherd leaves the 99 to find one lost sheep, and the woman diligently searches for her lost coin. Each parable challenges us to step out of our comfort zones, actively seek those who've strayed, and view each person as precious in God's sight. Each story exemplifies the value God places on every single soul.
In the tenth episode of "Christian Meditation," Brother Duane teaches how mind renewal is the work of God that comes by the finger of God and is now on the inside of you through Christ. Mind renewal comes from within, not through our efforts. It is not about willpower or struggling to change our thoughts. Instead, it's a supernatural process as we yield our minds to the Lord. Romans 12 teaches that transformation happens by renewing our minds, while Ephesians 4:22-24 instructs us to put off the old self and be renewed in the spirit of our minds. This renewal replaces old thought patterns with new ones, aligning us with God's truth.
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In the ninth episode of "Christian Meditation," Brother Duane teaches that meditation is a vital form of prayer that changes us from the inside out. Through this practice, we follow Paul's instruction in Colossians 3:1-2 to focus our thoughts on things above, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our thinking into the mind of Christ. Ephesians 4:20-24 teaches that this inner transformation through meditation allows us to put off our old self and embrace our new identity created in God's image.
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In the eighth episode of "Christian Meditation," Brother Duane teaches the transformative power of Christian meditation and mind renewal. Romans 12:2 encourages us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by renewing our minds. Like metamorphosis, this process takes time, similar to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. Just as the butterfly's wings emerge from within, our Christ-likeness reflects our renewed inner selves. This transformation enables us to function in both the natural and spiritual realms, demonstrating God's good, acceptable, and perfect will. As we meditate on God's Word, we are not merely memorizing scripture but allowing it to reshape our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions.
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In the seventh episode of "Christian Meditation," Brother Duane teaches how our thoughts become strongholds in a spiritual battle. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 discusses pulling down strongholds and taking every thought captive to Christ, revealing the spiritual warfare involved in our thinking patterns.
Many believers struggle with strongholds. A stronghold starts with a thought. Some thoughts are from us, some are from our past, and some are opinions and ideologies of the world. Strongholds are not demons but false beliefs and thought patterns that become a fortress that Satan uses to enslave us. Satan hides in our mental strongholds, but the process of meditation renews our minds and pulls down spiritual strongholds.
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In the sixth episode of "Christian Meditation," Brother Duane teaches that the Hebrew definition of meditation involves pondering, using imagination, and speaking God's truth. Our imagination is a gift from God. When we use it in meditation, we can visualize God's promises and see ourselves as God sees us—righteous and holy in Christ. Seeing ourselves in this new way can completely change how we live out our faith, empowering us to overcome challenges and live out our true identity in Christ.
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Understanding our true identity in Christ is essential to fulfilling our divine destiny. In the message "From Identity Confusion To Divine Purpose," Brother Duane teaches the importance of shedding false identities inherited from family and past experiences. He illustrates how even Jesus discovered His identity through scripture, and how we too can uncover our true selves in God's Word. Today, various external forces are attacking our identity, making it necessary to continually renew our minds to align with our new identity in Christ.
In the fifth episode of "Christian Meditation," Brother Duane teaches how pondering God's promises and feeding on His Word strengthens and encourages us to face life's challenges. In Joshua 1:7-9, God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous and to meditate on His Word day and night. This reveals the divine connection between meditation, obedience, and prosperity in our spiritual lives. Prosperity in the spiritual sense is not merely about material wealth but about thriving in the fulfillment of God's promises and purpose for one's life. In the spiritual sense, prosperity is not merely about material wealth but about thriving to fulfill God's promises and purpose for one's life.
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In the fourth episode of "Christian Meditation," Brother Duane explains how we receive spiritual nourishment by pondering, visualizing, and internalizing the biblical truths found in the Scriptures. Meditation transforms us, making us more Christ-like as we feed on His promises and blessings. The comparison of manna in the wilderness to Jesus as the bread of life illustrates how God provides for our spiritual needs daily. As we meditate on God's Word, we gain knowledge and experience a deeper connection with Jesus.
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In the third episode of "Christian Meditation," Brother Duane emphasizes that spiritual growth comes from hearing or studying God's Word and meditating on it day and night. As we meditate on Scripture, we're not just memorizing text but allowing God's truth to permeate our hearts and minds, leading to genuine transformation. This practice is essential for deepening our faith and experiencing the full power of God's Word.
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Invite God into the secret place of your heart. In the second episode of "Christian Meditation," Brother Duane describes a secret place as being alone with the Lord in our hearts. Meditation is a powerful spiritual discipline that involves pondering, imagining, and speaking God's truth. It is an essential practice for renewing your mind by replacing negative thoughts with God's promises.
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Did you know that everyone meditates? In the new series, "Christian Meditation," Brother Duane teaches that there is a proper way to meditate on the Lord using biblical principles. He shares that meditation is one of the highest forms of prayer and one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines he has implemented in his relationship with God.
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God uniquely designed your identity before your birth, and this identity is intricately woven into your purpose. It's no surprise that the world is struggling with identity confusion. Our identity in Christ is under assault in an attempt to derail our divine destiny.
In the message "Why The Enemy Attacks Your Identity," Brother Duane explores the significance of how an identity crisis can hinder our ability to fulfill our destiny. He contrasts this new identity with the fallen identity found in Adam and the radical transformation that occurs when we embrace our new identity in Christ.
Prayer is not a religious duty but an intimate dialogue with a loving God. Brother Duane teaches the foundational importance of communion with God in the Christian life, focusing on prayer, fellowship, and an intimate relationship with the Lord.
In John 15, Jesus describes Himself as the vine and believers as the branches. This imagery beautifully illustrates our connection with Christ. Through prayer, believers cultivate a personal relationship with God, allowing His presence to fill their lives and effortlessly produce spiritual fruit.
God loves us so much that He is changing us into His image. In part eight of "Unconditional Love," Brother Duane teaches the transformative power of beholding God's glory by exploring eight ways God changes us to be more Christlike. Like metamorphosis, this process of change happens from the inside out.
Holiness is not achieved through our efforts but by focusing on Christ and His finished work. 2 Corinthians 3:18 reveals that we are gradually transformed into His image as we look upon God's glory. It's not about striving or willpower but allowing God to change us from within.
Blacksmiths and fathers forge warriors. In part two of "Fatherhood," Duane Sheriff explores the metaphor of fathers as spiritual "blacksmiths" who play a vital role in shaping their children's lives and faith. He emphasizes the importance of godly masculinity, consistent discipline, and clear boundaries, which should be guided by the Holy Spirit.
Discipline should be controlled by the Holy Spirit, not as punishment, but as a loving act to prepare children for the realities of life and accountability to God. True fatherhood isn't about domination but about forging, shaping, and tempering our children for spiritual warfare and success in life.
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In part two of "Fatherhood," Duane Sheriff explores the metaphor of fathers as spiritual "blacksmiths" who play a vital role in shaping their children's lives and faith. He emphasizes the importance of godly masculinity, consistent discipline, and clear boundaries, which should be guided by the Holy Spirit.
Discipline should be controlled by the Holy Spirit, not as punishment, but as a loving act to prepare children for the realities of life and accountability to God. True fatherhood isn't about domination but about forging, shaping, and tempering our children for spiritual warfare and success in life.
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Are you aware that you are in a war? In today's culture, there is an assault against men and their role as fathers. In the message "Fatherhood," Duane Sheriff draws unique parallels between a blacksmith and a father who prepares his home for spiritual warfare.
In 1 Samuel 13:19-22, the Philistines removed Israelite blacksmiths before the battle. Israel needed their blacksmiths to make swords and other weapons to fight in the war. Likewise, fathers are the blacksmiths in their homes. Men forge, shape, and temper their children to prepare them for life's battles, protecting them from the world's negative influences.
Fathers equip children with the moral clarity, character, and strong work ethic necessary for success. This world seeks to remove or feminize the blacksmith, thereby weakening our families. Fathers must reclaim their role, not suppress their masculinity. Under God's guidance, fathers have a crucial role in ensuring their children are ready to face challenges and not become susceptible to the deceptions and hardships of the world. Fathers, be the spiritual leaders and warriors God created you to be. Embrace your divine purpose, knowing your influence shapes the next generation.
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Are you aware that you are in a war? Fathers and blacksmiths forge warriors. In today's culture, there is an assault against men and their role as fathers. In the message "Fatherhood," Duane Sheriff draws unique parallels between a blacksmith and a father who prepares his home for spiritual warfare.
In 1 Samuel 13:19-22, the Philistines removed Israelite blacksmiths before the battle. Israel needed their blacksmiths to make swords and other weapons to fight in the war. Likewise, fathers are the blacksmiths in their homes. Men forge, shape, and temper their children to prepare them for life's battles, protecting them from the world's negative influences.
Fathers equip children with the moral clarity, character, and strong work ethic necessary for success. This world seeks to remove or feminize the blacksmith, thereby weakening our families. Fathers must reclaim their role, not suppress their masculinity. Under God's guidance, fathers have a crucial role in ensuring their children are ready to face challenges and not become susceptible to the deceptions and hardships of the world. Fathers, be the spiritual leaders and warriors God created you to be. Embrace your divine purpose, knowing your influence shapes the next generation.
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In the seventh and final episode of "Who Am I?", Duane Sheriff teaches that Satan's primary strategy to derail our God-given purpose and destiny is to assault our identity, just as he did with Jesus. Jesus faced attacks on His identity both at the beginning and the end of His ministry. In Matthew 4, Satan repeatedly tempts Jesus with the phrase, "If you are the Son of God..." This reveals an important truth: our opponent knows that if he can confuse our identity, he can disrupt our future.
Jesus countered these attacks with Scripture. The parallels drawn between Jesus' temptations and our own struggles encourage us to stand firm in who God says we are, even in the face of doubt or opposition.
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In part seven of "Unconditional Love," Brother Duane teaches God's grace and its relationship to holiness. While God forgives our past, present, and future sins, sin does have consequences. Sin affects our relationships with others despite being forgiven by God.
Understanding and embracing the fear of the Lord is essential for living a holy life. There are two types of fear: demonic fear and godly fear. Demonic fear distances individuals from God, while godly fear promotes a righteous life, aligning hearts with His holiness. Demonic fear pushes people away from God, whereas godly fear leads them toward a life of righteousness.
In the sixth episode of "Who Am I?" Duane Sheriff teaches that understanding our true identity in Christ is crucial for spiritual growth and fulfilling God's purpose for our lives. Jesus discovered His identity through the Scriptures. In Luke 2:41-52, we see the 12-year-old Jesus in the temple, already aware of His divine sonship. Jesus is our model for searching the Scriptures to discover our identity as new creations in Christ.
As we immerse ourselves in God's Word, the Holy Spirit brings to light passages that define who we are in Christ. This revelation transforms how we see ourselves and empowers us to live out our destiny.
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Your thumbprint identifies WHO you are, and your spirit bears God's image! In the fifth episode of "Who Am I?", Duane Sheriff teaches about the transformation that occurs when we become new creations in Christ and explains the difference between our flesh and spirit. When we accept Jesus, our spirit becomes a new creation, which is our true self. Our spirit is made righteous and holy, while our flesh represents our old self.
To live in accordance with this new identity, we must renew our minds by connecting with the Word of God to strengthen our spirit rather than relying on our flesh and its desires. As we renew our minds with this truth, we're empowered to fulfill our God-given purpose and fully realize our identity in Christ.
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In the fourth episode of "Who Am I?", Duane Sheriff teaches that our true identity is found in Christ. He contrasts our "old self," which is tied to our sinful nature, with the "new creation" we become through faith in Jesus. This transformation happens when we embrace our authentic selves as defined by God rather than by the world's standards or our limited understanding.
We are made up of spirit, soul, and body, with our spirit being born again and perfect in Christ. This triune nature provides a profound insight into our existence as beings created in God's image. It's important to view ourselves from God's perspective and to recognize that we are righteous, holy, and united with Christ in spirit. Ephesians 4:22-24 encourages us to put off the old self and put on the new self.
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In the third episode of "Who Am I?", Duane Sheriff teaches that our true identity is found through our relationship with Jesus. To illustrate this, he introduces the concept of three families that influence who we are.
The first family is our immediate family, which consists of our parents and grandparents. They give us certain physical traits, like the color of our skin or our hair. These traits can influence how we see ourselves but don't define our true selves. In Christ, we can overcome any negative influence from our immediate family.
The second family is the family of man, which includes every human born into this world. We are all part of this family because of Adam, the first man who brought sin into the world. This connection can bring feelings of guilt or judgment, but through Jesus, we can break free from this old identity.
The third family is the family of God. When we believe in Jesus and are "born again," we join this new family. Jesus is like the father of this new creation, bringing life, righteousness, and goodness. We are no longer defined by our old life but by our new identity in Christ.
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In the second episode of "Who Am I?", Duane Sheriff teaches how our identity in Christ is connected to our divine purpose and why it is important to recognize our identity in Christ. As new creations in Christ, we are made by God, shaped in His image, likeness, and knowledge. He contrasts this new identity with the fallen identity found in Adam, emphasizing the radical transformation that occurs when we embrace our new identity in Christ. Satan seeks to confuse our sense of identity, which can result in an identity crisis that prevents us from fulfilling our true destiny.
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In part six of "Unconditional Love," Brother Duane continues his teaching on God's unconditional love and lists the reasons for the connection to holiness. Christians should live holy lives, not out of fear or to earn God's love, because they are already holy through their faith in Jesus. They don't need to be holy to make God love them more or to avoid punishment. Instead, holiness is about living according to their spiritual identity in Christ.
When Christians sin, they should repent not to earn forgiveness—which they already have—but to close the door to Satan and keep their hearts sensitive to God. Sin doesn't just give Satan a place in areas of our lives where God displaced him; it gradually hardens our hearts, dulling our ability to hear God's voice and recognize His guidance. Living holy isn't about avoiding God's wrath but experiencing the fullness of a relationship with Him.
When we accept Christ, we become a new creation and experience a radical transformation of our spiritual DNA. As stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things are or have become new." Brother Duane teaches that we are no longer defined by our past or sins but by our union with Christ. This new identity impacts every aspect of our lives - our purpose, eternity, and essence.
Our identity is shaped by what we identify with and is more than just a label – it's understanding who you are at your core. Many people today suffer from an "identity crisis" when they let external influences like family, culture, or past experiences define them. By renewing our minds to our true identity in Christ, we can break free and live victoriously to fulfill God's perfect will for our lives.
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In part five of "Unconditional Love," Brother Duane explores God's unconditional love and its connection to holiness. Holiness isn't about following strict rules to earn God's love but rather the fruit of having a close relationship with God. This shift in perspective can free us from legalism and condemnation, allowing us to embrace the beauty of God's holiness.
Romans 6 explains that when we accept Christ, we are no longer controlled by sin. This means that we don’t have to work hard to be holy to please God. Instead, holiness comes naturally when we understand how much God loves us. When we truly understand God's love for us, we often choose not to sin, not because we have to but because we want to. Our actions come from our love for God, not from trying to earn His love.
God is Love. His love is given without conditions, limits, or expectations, not based on our actions or worthiness but on His boundless grace and mercy. In part 4 of "Unconditional Love," Brother Duane explores unconditional love and teaches the what, why, and how of being Holy.
Holiness results from our relationship with God. As we experience an inner transformation through His Spirit, it becomes evident in our actions, reflecting a Christ-like character. The beauty of God's Spirit shines through when we demonstrate kindness, patience, and goodness.
The reason for living a holy life is explained in John 14:15: "If you love me, keep my commandments." Holiness arises from our love for Jesus, not a desire to earn His love or approval.
God loves you unconditionally and has forgiven all your sins. So, does that mean sin doesn't matter? Does God ignore sin? Brother Duane teaches that Christ's eternal sacrifice covers our past, present, and future sins. However, this does not mean we can ignore sin, as God desires and expects His children to pursue holiness. God's chastening and correction are expressions of His love, not His wrath, aimed at helping believers partake in His holiness.
Instead, we are loved, forgiven, and invited into a life of holiness. Examining the parallels of the Israelites' journey from Egypt as an analogy for the Christian journey, Duane connects God's unconditional love with His desire for our sanctification. Holiness is not about earning God's love but becoming more like His image.
In the tenth episode of "Children As Arrows," Duane Sheriff concludes his series by focusing on the final five principles necessary to lay a strong foundation. Parents should teach children about God's love, the importance of developing a healthy work ethic and understanding financial stewardship. He also emphasizes helping children develop a strong identity in Christ.
The parallels between child-rearing and archery highlight the intentionality and precision required to guide children into adulthood. Among his many compelling points, Duane encourages parents to make prayer simple and engaging by suggesting short, faith-filled prayers that connect children with God's heart and learn to say, "I'm sorry." Extending grace to others is essential for healthy relationships and personal growth.
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In the ninth episode of "Children As Arrows," Duane Sheriff discusses the importance of teaching foundational Christian principles to their children before they leave home. These foundational truths include God's love, His support, the fear of the Lord, the authority of Scripture, and a healthy self-esteem rooted in understanding their identity in Christ.
Our role as spiritual mentors is to communicate God's love, help our children understand their need for salvation, and guide them in embracing Jesus as Lord. Knowing God is for them, not against them, will dramatically impact how they view challenges and setbacks in life (Romans 8:31).
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In the eighth episode of "Children As Arrows," Duane Sheriff discusses the important role parents play in guiding their children's friendships and social interactions. He emphasizes the dangers of peer pressure and the necessity of parents to actively monitor and guide their children's social circles, particularly during their formative years.
According to 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Bad company corrupts good character." Children are highly susceptible to peer pressure, which can lead to destructive paths. Parents have a responsibility to monitor their children's social interactions, especially social media. Teach children to be friendly while helping them discern between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Reinforce their relationship with God and family remains constant even when friendships change.
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In the seventh episode of "Children As Arrows," Duane Sheriff discusses the challenges of raising children in today's sexualized culture, emphasizing the importance of teaching children about sexuality within the context of God's design for marriage.
In the teaching stage, we must help our children understand their identity in Christ and that God loves and accepts them. This foundation will help them resist constant peer pressure. As we prepare our children to be "arrows" launched into a dark world, it can be challenging to protect their moral innocence.
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In the sixth episode of "Children As Arrows," Duane Sheriff explains the teaching stage from ages 8 to 20. This stage equips children with essential life skills and establishes God's Word.
Hosea 4:6 warns that God's people perish for lack of knowledge. This applies to parents and mentors, not just to our children. We must instill a strong sense of God's love and acceptance, enabling our children to withstand rejection and maintain their faith and integrity despite peer and societal pressures.
Love isn't a fleeting emotion but a constant, defined by God's nature, according to Titus 2. By understanding and teaching our children divine love, we prepare our children to face life's challenges with strength, wisdom, and the confidence to seek God's approval rather than man's.
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Psalm 127 likens our children to arrows in the hands of a mighty warrior. In the fifth episode of "Children As Arrows," Duane Sheriff explains how parents are responsible for teaching their children about boundaries and consequences while avoiding provoking their children to anger. Our children are not our own but a heritage from the Lord.
We are called to be watchmen, diligently shaping and guiding these precious gifts from God. We should view parenting as a divine calling rather than a mere duty. As we nurture our children, we're not just equipping them for success in life, marriage, and careers but equipping them to be a spiritual warrior. Are we aiming them toward their destiny and God's purposes?
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In the fourth episode of "Children As Arrows," Duane Sheriff discusses the biblical approach to disciplining children, emphasizing the importance of using " the rod" of correction with love and wisdom. According to the book of Proverbs, discipline is an act of love, not hate, essential for a child's growth and future success.
Discipline is not punishment, but when applied with love and consistency, it is a crucial act of care that shapes a child's character and future. Proverbs 22:15 reminds us that "foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away."
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In the third episode of "Children As Arrows," Duane Sheriff teaches that parents have a role in training, teaching, and transitioning children into adulthood. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us to "train up a child in the way he should go."
In this episode, Duane highlights the stages of development. Stressing the importance of consistent training, especially in the early years, and the need to understand God's timeline for accountability and adulthood. The training stage is from birth to 10. The teaching stage is from the age of 10 to 20 years of age. When a child is older than 20, it is time to release them to God's direct guidance. By understanding these stages, parents can nurture their children's spiritual growth and shape them into God's "arrows."
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In the second episode of "Children As Arrows," Duane Sheriff teaches a biblical perspective on raising children, emphasizing the importance of viewing them as gifts from God and preparing them for their purpose in life.
Using Psalm 27, we explore the metaphor of children as arrows. This imagery illustrates our role as parents in shaping, aiming, and eventually releasing our children into the world. The arrow's shaft represents the time we have with our children, the tip symbolizes their God-given purpose, and the feathers signify the guiding principles we instill.
This perspective encourages us to view parenting as a sacred responsibility, shifting our focus from merely caretaking to intentional preparation. Are we actively shaping our children's character and faith, preparing them for their unique calling and destiny?
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"Children are a heritage from the Lord....like arrows in the hands of a warrior." (Psalm 127:3-4). Duane Sheriff teaches how to raise our children according to scripture and recognize the unique stages of "parenting" children through the wisdom found in Psalm 127.
Children are gifts from God, entrusted to us to raise in partnership with Him. Many churches have become silent about discussing marriage and parenting due to cultural controversies. In Genesis 18, God chose Abraham because He knew Abraham would instruct his children in His ways. God thinks and works generationally.
Duane stresses the importance of the nuclear family and highlights the significant role of parents and grandparents in nurturing and guiding children. We are called to be spiritual warriors, fighting the good fight of faith to protect our children's moral innocence.
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Nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39). Brother Duane teaches how God's perfect love can cast out the four common fears that often block our faith: fear of people, fences, foes, and failure.
The fear of faces - concern over others' opinions and rejection, leading to conformity rather than obedience to God. The fear of fences - life's obstacles and hardships that seem to block God's will. The fear of foes - spiritual opposition from demons and evil forces that can paralyze believers. The fear of failure - reluctance to step out in faith due to potential disappointment.
As 1 John 4:18 states, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear." By embracing and understanding God's unconditional love, believers can overcome the fears that everyone faces.
As we reflect on the miraculous birth of Jesus, we're reminded of the profound humility of our God. The Christmas story isn't just about a baby in a manger; it's about the Creator of the universe choosing to enter His creation in the most humble way imaginable. Born in a barn, laid in a feeding trough - this is our God, demonstrating a level of humility we can scarcely comprehend. The virgin birth, as prophesied in Isaiah, is the cornerstone of our faith. It's not just a miraculous event but the very means by which God entered the world to redeem us. As we celebrate this first advent, let's also anticipate the second one with equal joy. Just as the remnant in Israel eagerly awaited the Messiah's first coming, we too should be filled with excitement for His return. This Christmas, let's renew our wonder at God's plan of salvation and His incredible love for us. Merry Christmas!
In the tenth episode of "Kinds of Unbelief," Duane Sheriff explains that we must take control of our five physical senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell to combat unbelief.
The disciple Thomas in John 20:24-29 insisted that he felt Jesus' wound before it transformed his unbelief into belief. Even the sound of God's Word can transform doubt into faith. Romans 10:17 states: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Christians should not allow their physical senses to dominate their faith. Instead, they should align their sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell with spiritual truths. This practice will cultivate a life filled with faith and the peace of God, remaining steadfast despite the circumstances of the world around us.
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In the ninth episode of "Kinds of Unbelief," Duane Sheriff discusses the four types of unbelief: rejection of Jesus, lack of knowledge, wrong knowledge, and carnality. In this episode, he focuses on carnality, which he defines as being influenced by our five physical senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.
When we allow our physical senses to dominate our thoughts and actions, we risk falling into the trap of unbelief, preventing us from fully experiencing God's power. Romans 8:6 teaches that "to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
Carnality is a common struggle among believers, often leading them to doubt God's word. The only way to overcome this unbelief is by disciplining our senses through fasting and prayer. Shifting our focus from the physical to the spiritual aligns our hearts and minds with God's truth, allowing us to walk by faith and not be swayed by our circumstances or feelings.
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In the eighth episode of "Kinds of Unbelief," Duane Sheriff teaches from Mark 9:24, where a father cries out, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" All of us, at times, grapple with doubt. While the rejection of Jesus is the most severe form of unbelief, we can struggle from a lack of knowledge or even the wrong knowledge about God. Do we have strongholds hindering our faith or relationship with God?
Strongholds are like mental castles built in our minds through false beliefs and lies. These strongholds provide places where the enemy, Satan, can find refuge, thus preventing us from fully embracing God's truth. According to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, our battle is not against flesh and blood but against these strongholds. By embracing truth, we dismantle these strongholds. The truth exposes the lies entrenched within our minds and empowers us to trust God's promises, which leads to freedom.
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In the seventh episode of "Kinds of Unbelief," Duane Sheriff teaches three types of unbelief that can hinder our spiritual growth: the rejection of Jesus, a lack of knowledge, and the wrong knowledge. The rejection of Jesus is described in the Bible as the 'unpardonable sin,' a serious reminder of the importance of accepting Christ's sacrifice.
A lack of knowledge can be overcome through consistent exposure to God's Word, as Romans 10:17 reminds us that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." The most harmful form of unbelief is wrong knowledge. One example of wrong knowledge occurs when we accept worldly philosophies and traditions contradicting Scripture.
Colossians 2:8 warns us to "beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit." As we live out our faith, it is essential to cultivate a love for the truth and stay rooted in Christ by allowing His Word to transform our minds and hearts.
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In the sixth episode of "Kinds of Unbelief," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of overcoming unbelief through faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that "without faith, it is impossible to please God." Unbelief can be a barrier to experiencing God's power and promises.
Romans 10:17 states, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." This means that we must listen to and understand God's Word to grow in our faith. As we meditate on the teachings in the Bible, our faith increases.
Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, "But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Understanding God's promises gives us the confidence to seek Him, as He rewards those who pursue Him.
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Do you realize that God's love for us is not based on our performance or behavior but on His character and promises? Brother Duane teaches the unconditional love and complete forgiveness that God made possible through the new covenant established by Jesus Christ.
In this message, we explore the difference between the old covenant's temporary atonement and the new covenant's eternal redemption through Jesus, whose one-time sacrifice atones for all sins - past, present, and future. Even when we sin or fail, God's attitude towards us is one of mercy, not wrath or displeasure. This foundational truth allows believers to approach God boldly, without fear of condemnation, as Jesus died for us "while we were yet sinners."
In the fifth episode of "Kinds of Unbelief," Duane Sheriff teaches that two critical types of unbelief can hinder our growth and relationship with God. The first is the rejection of Jesus and the cross - a fundamental unbelief that can separate us from God's love. The second challenge many of us struggle with is a lack of knowledge.
We're reminded of the man in Mark 3:23 who cried, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." This powerful scripture illustrates our struggles and the importance of seeking God's help in overcoming our doubts. The cure for a lack of knowledge is to immerse ourselves in God's Word.
Romans 10:17 states, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." By deepening our understanding of God's love, promises, and character, we can strengthen our faith to overcome the unbelief that holds us back from experiencing the fullness of God's blessings in our lives.
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In the fourth episode of "Kinds of Unbelief," Duane Sheriff teaches that there are different kinds of unbelief and each has its cure. The most critical form of unbelief is the rejection of Jesus. The Holy Spirit's primary role is to convict the world of this sin of unbelief.
Examining a little deeper, we see that believing in Jesus is not just about avoiding condemnation but embracing the light He brings into our lives. This light represents the revelation and understanding of Jesus and what He accomplished through His death and resurrection. The parallel between light and darkness is a powerful metaphor for our spiritual journey. Are we moving toward the light of Christ or retreating into the shadows of unbelief?
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In the third episode of "Kinds of Unbelief," Duane Sheriff teaches the powerful concepts of belief and unbelief. Our faith is often tested in life's challenges, not God's ability or willingness to help. In James 1, a double-minded person who wavers between belief and unbelief is "like the sea tossed to and fro" and should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
We explore the intriguing parallel in Deuteronomy 22, about not mixing different seeds in a field, demonstrating how we should be unified in sowing faith. This imagery challenges us to examine our hearts: are we sowing seeds of faith or mixing in seeds of doubt? By examining our hearts, we consider how to cultivate a singleness of heart in our spiritual lives, trusting in God's promises even when circumstances seem dire.
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We often encounter moments where belief and unbelief coexist. Even in our faith, we may struggle with doubt. In the second episode of "Kinds of Unbelief," Duane Sheriff teaches that the key is to "believe only" and stand firm in faith despite circumstances. We sow seeds of faith through our words and actions. Avoid the pitfall of mixing faith with unbelief.
Just as Deuteronomy 22 warns against mixing different seeds or animals, we're called to cultivate pure faith. This isn't about perfection but about persistently choosing trust over doubt, thanksgiving over complaint. As we face challenges, remember words are powerful seeds. By speaking faith and gratitude, even in difficult times, we can nurture a harvest of miracles in our lives if we only believe.
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In the new series "Kinds of Unbelief," Duane Sheriff explores the complex relationship between faith and unbelief. Using Mark 9 as a foundation, we examine the story of a father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus after the disciples failed to heal him. The father's famous words, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24), illustrate how Christians often struggle with believing and doubting simultaneously.
Jesus responded to that father: "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23). This scripture reminds us that the issue is never God's ability but rather our capacity to believe. When we simultaneously believe and doubt, they neutralize each other, preventing us from fully experiencing the power of God in our lives.
Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that "without faith it is impossible to please God." Faith is essential in our relationship with the Lord. Duane shares his journey of discovering these faith principles, admitting that he wasn't always taught how faith works or its fundamental importance in pleasing God. Faith isn't about our righteousness or works, but trusting in Jesus and His finished work on the cross.
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In the invisible battlefield of spiritual warfare, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 states that our warfare is not carnal but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds. Spiritual battles require spiritual weapons. God has provided believers with an arsenal of divine power. Ephesians 6 outlines six spiritual weapons that form the armor of God: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God.
It's essential to understand that our battles involve strongholds and systems manipulated by Satan. Our fight is not with people but against spiritual wickedness. Satan may use systems and people to destroy lives, but God uses His church to save lives. Duane Sheriff teaches that the armor of God is our weapon of mass destruction that annihilates the powers of darkness.
Understanding and wearing God's armor daily will ensure our victory in spiritual battles. The first weapon is truth. Lies surround us, and putting on the truth is itself a battle. The breastplate of righteousness involves choosing God's way over man's way. Righteousness and repentance keep us from the devil's traps. Our feet must be shod with the gospel of peace—true peace that comes through Christ, not the world's false peace. The shield of faith quenches every fiery dart of the wicked one. The helmet of salvation protects our minds, while the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, allows us to strike down the enemy's schemes.
God's armor provides complete protection and power against spiritual darkness. As Matthew 16:18 states, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
In the invisible battlefield of spiritual warfare, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 states that our warfare is not carnal but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds. Spiritual battles require spiritual weapons. God has provided believers with an arsenal of divine power. Ephesians 6 outlines six spiritual weapons that form the armor of God: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God.
It's essential to understand that our battles involve strongholds and systems manipulated by Satan. Our fight is not with people but against spiritual wickedness. Satan may use systems and people to destroy lives, but God uses His church to save lives. Duane Sheriff teaches that the armor of God is our weapon of mass destruction that annihilates the powers of darkness.
Understanding and wearing God's armor daily will ensure our victory in spiritual battles. The first weapon is truth. Lies surround us, and putting on the truth is itself a battle. The breastplate of righteousness involves choosing God's way over man's way. Righteousness and repentance keep us from the devil's traps. Our feet must be shod with the gospel of peace—true peace that comes through Christ, not the world's false peace. The shield of faith quenches every fiery dart of the wicked one. The helmet of salvation protects our minds, while the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, allows us to strike down the enemy's schemes.
God's armor provides complete protection and power against spiritual darkness. Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
Spiritual strongholds impact our hearts, churches, and nations. In part 3 of "The New Reformation," Duane Sheriff teaches how strongholds are formed and the spiritual weapons we have to dismantle them. Strongholds can hinder our spiritual growth and relationship with God. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 explains that although we live in the flesh, our battles are not against flesh and blood. These weapons are not physical but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds and casting down false arguments against the knowledge of God.
Strongholds start as simple thoughts that evolve into exalted ideas, which then become arguments against God's truth and entrenched in our belief systems. Satan builds these strongholds by using philosophies, traditions, and deceits that are contrary to God's word. Strongholds are dismantled when we replace lies with God's truth.
Spiritual strongholds impact our hearts, churches, and nations. Duane explains how strongholds are created and the spiritual weapons available to dismantle them. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 explains that although we live in the flesh, our battles are not against flesh and blood. These weapons are not physical but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds and casting down false arguments against the knowledge of God.
Strongholds start as simple thoughts that evolve into exalted ideas, which then become arguments against God's truth and entrenched in our belief systems. Satan builds these strongholds by using philosophies, traditions, and deceits that are contrary to God's word. Strongholds are dismantled when we replace lies with God's truth.
Duane teaches that "The New Reformation" is occurring, and believes the church is experiencing a "third great awakening." He compares several bible stories with the same patterns to what is happening in our culture today.
When God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, it wasn't just about one sin. Ezekiel 16:49 tells us they were also guilty of pride, selfishness, and ignoring those in need. God judges a nation by the righteousness of His people, not their unrighteousness.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises to heal our land when His people humble themselves, pray, and turn from sin. Real change starts in our hearts, spreads to our families and churches, and then touches the nation. Just like Nehemiah who rebuilt Jerusalem's walls, God is raising Christian leaders today who will help rebuild our society.
In the eleventh episode of "The Power Of Truth," Duane Sheriff teaches the unwavering nature of God's Word. The church stands as the pillar and ground of truth in a world that often rejects the concept of absolute truth.
A key to absolute truth is that there is one God, and we are not Him. "The Word became flesh" is an unshakable reality, as outlined in scriptures like John 1:14. This truth underscores the divine role of Jesus, who is God-made flesh, the Creator who entered into His creation to provide salvation, regardless of personal belief.
Another absolute truth is that God's Word, the Bible, is absolute truth. It is God-breathed and not open to private interpretation. Everything was created by God's Word, sustaining all creation, and only God can truly define good and evil.
Additionally, Duane discusses the sacredness of life, noting that all life is sacred from the womb and that moral clarity is based on biblical principles. Everyone is born a sinner and must be born again to enter God's kingdom. Thus, the need for faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Anchor your life in these absolute truths to fulfill your divine purpose.
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It's time for the church to emerge from its spiritual slumber by confronting cultural corruption and becoming a transformative force of righteousness and divine love. Duane declares that the third great awakening isn't just coming - it's already here. Romans 13:11-12 calls Christians to "awake out of sleep" and cast off the "works of darkness" by putting on the "armor of light."
God reveals corruption not to condemn but to encourage repentance and change. Instead of focusing on the chaos around us, we should focus on God's activity behind the scenes. Believers are the salt and light of the world, influencing culture and politics by living out their faith boldly. Do not miss God's current visitation like Israel missed Christ's first coming.
In the tenth episode of "The Power Of Truth," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of the Armor of God in the ongoing spiritual battle between truth and lies. According to Ephesians 6:10-13, believers are to be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God to stand firm against the devil's schemes. The real fight is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces.
Each piece of the armor is significant, beginning with the girdle of truth. According to John 17:17, God's word is truth, and putting on the girdle is a daily battle against deception. The breastplate of righteousness protects believers from guilt and condemnation. Romans 8:1 assures Christians that there is no condemnation for those in Christ, and this knowledge empowers them to be bold.
The next piece of armor is having your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace, stating that genuine peace comes from living by God's word, not compromising with evil. The shield of faith is essential for quenching all the fiery darts of the wicked, emphasizing that faith grows through hearing the truth.
Finally, the last armor pieces are the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. The helmet represents the renewal of the mind, as seen in Romans 12:2, teaching believers to transform their thoughts to align with God's truth. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is a weapon for spiritual warfare. Put on the whole armor of God and engage in the cultural battle between good and evil.
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In the ninth episode of "The Power Of Truth," Duane Sheriff teaches the timeless battle between light and darkness. The story of Eve's deception in Genesis 3 is a powerful reminder of how subtle lies can lead us astray. We learn that the enemy's tactics haven't changed - questioning God's word, contradicting His truth, and sowing suspicion about His character.
Genesis 3 describes how the serpent deceived Eve by subtly questioning God's word. The serpent's method involved three steps: questioning God's command ("Hath God said?"), contradicting it and then suggesting that God is withholding something good. This approach led Eve to doubt God's intentions and ultimately disobey Him.
In John 8:31-32, Jesus says that knowing the truth will set us free. In contrast to the truth, deception enslaves and leads to tyranny. These tactics are still prevalent today, often seen in media and the cultural narratives that challenge God's truths. Our current cultural struggles today can be traced back to this ancient pattern of questioning and disregarding God's word.
The role of the Holy Spirit in John 16:13 is described as the "Spirit of truth." Unlike the devil, who leads people astray with lies, the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. Embrace the truth and become a beacon of light in a darkened world.
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In the eighth episode of "The Power Of Truth," Duane Sheriff teaches the essence of truth and its transformative power in our lives. The biblical encounter between Pilate and Jesus illustrates this concept. When Pilate asks, "What is truth?" in John 18:38, he stands before Jesus, who embodies the ultimate truth. Jesus declared in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." This powerful assertion helps us understand that truth is not merely a philosophical idea but a person—Jesus Himself.
Believers must seek and recognize truth to overcome the lies and deceptions prevalent in society. As highlighted in John 8:32, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Jesus provides liberation through truth, freeing us from the bondage of sin and falsehood.
The spirit of truth, represented by the Holy Spirit, is crucial for guiding us in this journey. In John 16:13, Jesus promises that "when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth." The Holy Spirit helps us discern truth from lies and live in the light of God's word so we can confront the cultural challenges we face today. Stand firm in a world filled with deception and become a beacon of truth and love.
In the seventh episode of "The Power Of Truth," Duane Sheriff teaches the vital connection between truth and love and how believers are called to uphold both in their lives. In John 17:17, Jesus prays, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." God's Word is the ultimate source of truth and love.
A key illustration in this teaching is the encounter between Pilate and Jesus. Pilate famously asked, "What is truth?" while Jesus stood before him as the embodiment of love and truth. This moment is a powerful reminder that truth is not just an abstract concept but is found in the person of Jesus Christ, described in John 1:14 as "full of grace and truth."
Pilate had the chance to embrace the truth and love of Jesus but chose to reject it. Don't miss your opportunity.
In the sixth episode of "The Power Of Truth," Duane Sheriff teaches the concept of objective truth as found in the Bible. God's word is the ultimate truth, bringing power and transformation into our lives. This truth is alive and eternal, as stated in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is alive and active."
While everything around us might shake, God's truth remains unshakable, a sentiment echoed in Matthew 24:35, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." Acknowledging and living by absolute truth can lead to persecution, as it did for Paul, who shared the gospel and faced opposition, as mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:12. Standing firm in truth ensures freedom—personal freedom and societal freedom.
The power of truth is also about discernment, exposing lies and deceptions, and offering spiritual wisdom, much like a guiding light in the darkness, as described in Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Embrace this truth, study it, and let it transform your life.
Today, many people misunderstand the purpose of marriage. Daune Sheriff teaches why it is important to understand God's design for marriage rather than listening to the culture's misconceptions. Marriage does not exist to make us happy, complete, or to escape troubles. Instead, it should be a relationship centered around God's principles.
According to Colossians 2:9-10, we are already complete in Christ and shouldn't look to another person to make us whole. This scripture teaches that in Jesus "dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" and "you are complete in him." Marriage will not fix our personal issues or make us whole.
Proverbs 3:13 says, "Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding." True happiness comes from wisdom and understanding, not from a spouse. Create a home centered around God, where both partners seek to follow God's guidance. Understanding and living God's purpose for marriage leads to blessings and fulfillment.
Marriage is not a human-made institution but a divine creation. Duane Sheriff teaches why God created marriage and the purpose of marriage from a biblical perspective. Genesis 2:18 God declares, "It is not good that the man should be alone" and creates a helper suitable for him - a woman. In Mark 10:6-9, Jesus affirms that "from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female" and establishes that a man shall leave his parents and be joined to his wife, becoming one flesh.
The culture has strayed from God's original purpose for marriage, resulting in the abuse, misuse, and frustration of this sacred institution. At times, the church has remained silent on these issues, allowing society to redefine marriage according to its own standards rather than God's design. By understanding God's original intent for marriage, the church can speak truth and reclaim our role as stewards of this divine mystery.
In the fifth episode of "The Power Of Truth," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of absolute truth in a world filled with deception and lies. God's Word does not just contain truth, but is truth itself, referencing John 17:17, where Jesus prays, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth."
The key focus of the message is the concept of absolute truth versus subjective truth. There is only one truth - God's truth as revealed in Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. It's not "your truth" and "my truth" that permeates today's social media and culture. Hebrews 4:12 describes God's Word as "living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword," illustrating absolute truth's penetrating and transformative nature.
Discover how the Word of God can transform your life and guide you into all truth.
In the fourth episode of "The Power Of Truth," Duane Sheriff teaches the role of sanctification. The truth of God's Word possesses the transformative power to set believers apart from the world's deceptions and lies. John 17:17, Jesus prays, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." He explains that sanctification, or being set apart, happens supernaturally through exposure to and embracing God's truth.
In John 15:1-3, Jesus speaks about being the true vine and believers being the branches. God's Word prunes and cleanses, cutting away the dead, unproductive parts of our lives to help us bear more fruit. This sanctification process might be uncomfortable, but it is essential for spiritual growth and maturity.
Ephesians 4:11-14 underscores the importance of the fivefold ministry in equipping the saints and promoting unity in faith. These ministries help believers mature and attain the fullness of Christ, no longer being tossed to and fro by deceitful doctrines. Sanctification is an ongoing, daily process facilitated by a deep, abiding relationship with God's Word, enabling believers to grow in faith and truth.
In the third episode of "The Power Of Truth," Duane Sheriff teaches the crucial role of truth in the life of a believer and the responsibility to be a guardian of truth. Drawing from 1 Timothy 3:15, the church is described as "the pillar and ground of the truth." As members of God's church, believers are the foundation for truth in a world often dominated by lies and deception.
Jesus is identified as 'the truth' in John 14:6, which says that knowing Him leads to true freedom and deliverance from the bondage of lies. In John 8:31-32, Jesus says, "If you continue in my Word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." God's Word is a formidable weapon that exposes and destroys strongholds of deceit.
As guardians of truth, we are responsible for knowing, living, and sharing God's truth in a world desperately in need of its transformative power.
In the second episode of "The Power Of Truth," Duane Sheriff teaches that God's truth is our greatest weapon against Satan's strategies of deception and fraud that have invaded our culture. Romans 1:18 explains how unrighteous individuals suppress the truth, which is evident today in media, politics, our school system, and even some churches.
In John 8:31-32, Jesus says, "If you abide in my Word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Truth is not subjective but absolute and objective, rooted in God's Word. Jesus prays in John 17:17, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth." God's Word doesn't just contain truth; it is truth itself, unchanging and eternal.
In this episode, Duane warns against believing lies about God, ourselves, and His will for our lives. By knowing the truth, we can recognize that we face a spiritual battle and use the weapon of truth to combat the lies that enslave people. It's through "The Power Of Truth" that we will be can achieve true freedom and transformation.
While we live in the physical world, our warfare is spiritual. In the new series, "The Power Of Truth," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of truth in this spiritual battle. Believers face a spiritual battle for their children, marriages, churches, and even the nation's soul. Yet, many Christians today are disengaged from this battle. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 explains how truth helps us to cast down false arguments and bring our thoughts into obedience to Christ.
This spiritual battle requires divine weapons, and truth is one of our greatest spiritual weapons. Ephesians 6:14 describes the "belt of truth" as the first piece of the armor of God. Truth is the foundation that connects all other pieces of spiritual armor. Our faith, represented by the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16), is directly linked to our knowledge of God's Word, which is truth.
While God's love is important, the truth of God's Word sets people free (John 8:32). Speak the truth in love, courageously believing its power to change lives, heal relationships, and transform society.
Do you realize that God's love for us is not based on our performance or behavior but on His character and promises? Duane teaches the unconditional love and forgiveness that God made possible through the new covenant established by Jesus Christ. Even when we sin or fail, God's attitude towards us is one of mercy, not wrath or displeasure.
In Jeremiah 31:31-34, God promised to make a new covenant to replace the old covenant. In this new covenant, God writes His laws on the hearts and minds of His people. He will be their God while they are His people. This is an intimate, internal relationship with God rather than an external set of rules.
Hebrews 8:7-12 explains that God will show mercy for their unrighteousness and will remember their sins no more. Under this new covenant, there are no more mediators or barriers between God and His people. Everyone can have a personal, direct relationship with Him. God's love is steadfast, and His mercy endures forever.
In the ninth and final episode of "No Condemnation," Duane Sheriff concludes his series by addressing the fourth source of condemnation: the law. Many Christians unknowingly subject themselves to guilt and condemnation by trying to serve God under Old Testament law rather than New Testament grace.
In 2 Corinthians 3:7-9, Paul compares the old and new covenants. The Old Testament law, while glorious, was a "ministry of death" and "ministry of condemnation." In contrast, the New Testament is a "ministry of the Spirit" and "ministry of righteousness," far exceeding the old in glory.
The purpose of the law was not to make people righteous or reveal God's nature. Instead, as Romans 3:19-20 states, the law was given to make everyone guilty before God and bring knowledge of sin. Once a person accepts Christ, they no longer live under the law. Romans 6:14 says, "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace."
In the eighth episode of "No Condemnation," Duane Sheriff focuses on the third source of condemnation: others. While God doesn't condemn us, we often face condemnation from people around us, including family, friends, coworkers, and even the media.
2 Corinthians 7:2-3 reveals how Paul dealt with condemnation. Paul urged the church to open their hearts to him, stating that he had not wronged anyone and only had love for them. Even though others might try to condemn us, we must remain steadfast in our faith and committed to love, just as Paul did.
Romans 8:31-34 reminds believers that no one can successfully stand against us if God is for us. Therefore, we shouldn't let others' condemnation affect our relationship with Him. Proverbs 17:15 reminds us that it is an abomination to condemn the just.
Isaiah 54:17 proclaims that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. Other people's words can be like weapons aiming to condemn us. But with God's righteousness on our side, we can counter these attacks through faith and condemnation of wrongful accusations. Live boldly and righteously, regardless of the condemnation from the world.
In the seventh episode of "No Condemnation," Duane Sheriff teaches how our own hearts can be a source of condemnation. While God doesn't condemn us, we often struggle with feelings of unworthiness and guilt. 1 John 3:18-22 reveals how our hearts can condemn or give us confidence before God.
Living in love and truth assures our hearts, but sin can defile our conscience and lead to self-condemnation. Hebrews 9:14 speaks about how the blood of Christ cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Unlike the old covenant sacrifices, which provided only temporary relief, Christ's sacrifice offers eternal redemption and the ability to purge our conscience continually.
Repentance isn't about earning God's love or forgiveness but cleansing our conscience and aligning our hearts with God's truth. God is greater than our hearts and knows all things (1 John 3:20). Even when our hearts condemn us, we can trust in God's love, forgiveness, and acceptance, allowing us to move forward in our faith with confidence.
In the sixth episode of "No Condemnation," Duane Sheriff teaches how accusations affect Christians. Romans 8:1 explains that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Yet many Christians live under a cloud of condemnation despite God's assurance that He is not the one condemning them.
By exploring the four sources of condemnation - Satan, our own hearts, others, and the law - Duane emphasizes the importance of understanding our authority in Jesus Christ, especially against Satan, whom Revelation 12:10 calls the accuser of the brethren. Through the resurrection of Jesus, believers have been given the power to resist and rebuke the enemy.
Matthew 28:18-20 reveals our responsibility to exercise this authority and live free from guilt and shame. There is a difference between conviction and condemnation. When God convicts us, it is to bring us closer to Him. When Satan condemns us, it pushes us away from God.
Duane encourages believers to take an active role in spiritual warfare by submitting to God and resisting the devil, as instructed in James 4:7. He shares practical steps to rebuke Satan's lies and reminds us that through Jesus, we have the power to overcome. Christians must stand firm in their identity and authority in Christ and live free from condemnation, full of God's grace and truth.
In the fifth episode of "No Condemnation," Duane Sheriff teaches that Christians face four main sources of condemnation. God is not the source of condemnation for believers; as stated in Romans 8:1-2, there are sources we must learn to recognize and overcome.
The sources of condemnation are the devil, our own hearts, others, and the law. In Revelation 12:10-11, the devil is described as our accuser. Satan uses accusation, guilt, and shame to try to silence and paralyze Christians. We can overcome these accusations by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and not loving our lives unto death.
Understanding our God-given authority as believers is crucial. It allows us to rebuke the devil and exercise the power to bind and loose on earth, as mentioned in Matthew 18:18. We are not meant to be passive recipients of God's grace but active participants in His plan. By standing firm in our faith, speaking the truth in love, and refusing to be silenced by the enemy's accusations, we can exercise our spiritual authority, overcome condemnation, and make a difference.
In part four of "True Grit," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of having spiritual endurance, which he calls "grit." He emphasizes that while believers are called to fight "the good fight of faith," they must understand that there are different types of suffering. Persecution and opposition often come because of living righteously, not despite it.
In Mark 10:29-30, Jesus promises a hundredfold return to those who have left everything for the gospel's sake, "with persecutions." Blessings and opposition often go hand in hand in the Christian walk. Not all suffering comes from God; rather, some suffering Jesus took as our substitute, while other forms of suffering are an example for us.
The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:16-18 that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." While suffering for righteousness is part of the Christian journey, the eternal rewards far outweigh temporary trials. We must maintain our faith and integrity even when facing opposition. Standing for truth in today's culture will inevitably bring resistance, but God's promises remain faithful.
In the fourth episode of "No Condemnation," Duane Sheriff teaches how God's love frees us from guilt and shame. He emphasizes that understanding God's unconditional love is crucial for overcoming various forms of condemnation.
Romans 8:1-2 states, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." This verse assures believers that God is not condemning them, regardless of their past mistakes or struggles.
In Luke 2:14, angels proclaim, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." Through the sacrifice of Jesus, God has made peace with humanity and desires only good for His children.
There may be misconceptions about God's attitude toward us, but God is not the source of condemnation or ill will in our lives. Instead, His love is abundant and sufficient to cover all our sins, offering us reassurance and comfort. In Christ, we are new creations, and our past does not define our present or future.
In the third episode of "No Condemnation," Duane Sheriff teaches
the "good news" of Jesus. According to Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." Believers are free from God's wrath and judgment.
All the punishments and curses of the old covenant law were placed on Jesus at the cross. By accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are set free from the condemnation that was once due to you. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death, as mentioned in Romans 8:2, empowering us with hope and a new life.
Galatians 3:13 states Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law, saying, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us." Jesus bore our curses so we can live free from fear and punishment. God's covenant of peace with His people was prophesied in Isaiah 54:10.
Reject the false belief that God is out to punish you and embrace the truth that He loves you and desires to be in a close relationship with you. By focusing on God's grace and love, you can move forward with confidence and joy.
In the second episode of "No Condemnation," Duane Sheriff teaches about God's love and forgiveness, emphasizing that there is no condemnation for those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. He explores the profound implications of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and how it frees believers from sin and punishment.
Romans 8:1-4 explains that those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord are no longer under condemnation. God is not punishing believers because He poured out His wrath on Jesus at the cross. This sacrifice fulfilled the law's righteous requirements that we could never meet on our own.
The prophetic description in Isaiah 53 describes Jesus' suffering and sacrifice, highlighting how Jesus bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, and was wounded for our transgressions. This powerful passage of scripture underscores the depth of God's love and the completeness of our redemption through Christ.
God is not the source of our troubles or sorrows, but rather the one who has provided healing and restoration, which challenges the common misconceptions about God's character. God is a loving Father rather than an angry judge. In Isaiah 54:7-9, God promises His everlasting kindness and mercy. The rainbow symbolizes God's promise never to flood the earth again and shows His mercy and loving-kindness. Every time you see the rainbow, you should think of God.
Do you struggle with guilt, shame, and fear of God's judgment? In a new series, "No Condemnation," Duane Sheriff teaches that believers in Christ are free from condemnation. Romans 8:1 and Galatians 3:13 speak of God's incredible love and grace.
Romans 8:1 '"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Jesus condemned sin in his flesh so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us.
Similarly, Galatians 3:13 reveals, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us." Jesus bore our sins and took on the punishment we deserved, making us righteous before God.
There is a difference between God's correction and His wrath. While God does correct His children, it is out of love and not anger or wrath. By understanding the depth of Christ's sacrifice and the truth that God is not condemning us, believers can overcome other sources of condemnation, whether from the enemy or self-inflicted.
1 John 4:17-18 emphasizes the perfection of love, stating that it allows us to be bold in the day of judgment because we are like Him in this world. The passage also highlights that there is no fear in love, as perfect love drives out fear. A deeper revelation of God's love and your identity in Christ will free you from condemnation.
In the tenth episode of "God Killed My Old Man," Duane Sheriff teaches the role of the law in revealing sin and our need for Christ. Understanding our new nature in Christ is crucial to overcome sin and live a victorious Christian life.
Referencing Romans 7:7-12, Paul explains that the law is not sin but reveals sin. Duane uses the analogy of mud in a pond to illustrate how the law stirs up and exposes the sin already present in our hearts. In Romans 7:14-25, Paul describes the internal struggle between wanting to do good and the sinful nature. This struggle occurs when we try to live the Christian life through our efforts (the flesh) rather than relying on our new nature in Christ.
Romans 8:1-4 declares that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. While we are no longer "in the flesh" (our old sinful nature), we can still choose to "walk after the flesh" instead of the Spirit. The key to victory is to walk according to the Spirit, renew our minds to our new identity in Christ, and remember God has killed our old man.
In this message, Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of developing spiritual "grit" during today's challenging times. Grit is defined as patience, perseverance, and endurance, especially in the face of hardship. While the word "grit" isn't in the Bible, all the heroes of faith demonstrated this quality.
Acts 14:22 emphasizes the need to endure tribulations to enter the Kingdom of God. It illustrates Paul's return to the cities that persecuted him after being stoned in order to strengthen the disciples. This biblical account is a profound example of endurance in facing persecution. As Christians, we must be prepared to face afflictions, as Jesus warned in John 16:33.
Duane warns that difficult times are coming, and believers must be prepared to stand firm for truth and righteousness. There is a need for the church to be a "counterculture" rather than a "subculture," resisting evil while showing Christ's love. Defend biblical values in areas like gender, marriage, and the sanctity of life.
As we navigate these turbulent times, we are called to be kingdom-minded, understanding that while we may face opposition, we are part of a greater purpose. Are we ready to stand firm in our convictions, even when it's difficult? Are we prepared to be the salt and light in a world that often rejects godly values?
In the ninth episode of "God Killed My Old Man," Duane Sheriff teaches about our relationship with Christ. The apostle Paul illustrates our release from the old covenant and union with Christ by using the analogy of marriage to explain our spiritual transformation in Romans 7:1-6.
Before salvation, we were "married" to our old sinful nature, bound by the law. However, God put our old self to death, freeing us to be "married" to Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul says, "I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." We can't be married to both our old sinful nature and Christ simultaneously - it's spiritual adultery. God killed our old man so we can be united with Jesus.
Ephesians 5:25-32 highlights the relationship between husbands and wives, comparing it to Christ and the church. Verse 30 emphasizes the intimate connection to Christ, stating, "For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones."
In the eighth episode of "God Killed My Old Man," Duane Sheriff teaches about God's incredible mercy and forgiveness under the New Covenant. Understanding this truth is another key to living a victorious Christian life. Hebrews 8:12 states, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more." This verse reveals God's attitude towards believers when they sin - one of mercy, not wrath or punishment.
Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was a one-time event that covered all sins - past, present, and future. Hebrews 10:12-14 shows that Christ's single offering has perfected believers forever. This means that God has already forgiven our sins, even those we haven't committed yet.
In Romans 4:6-8 David describes the blessedness of having righteousness imputed without works. Good works don't make us righteous, and bad works don't rob us of our righteousness in Christ. Understanding this truth should motivate us to live holy lives out of love and gratitude, not fear of punishment.
In the seventh episode of "God Killed My Old Man," Duane Sheriff teaches about the profound shift in our spiritual allegiance from being servants of sin to servants of righteousness. Understanding this change is crucial for living a victorious Christian life. Romans 6:18 states, "Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness." This transition is a result of God's work in killing our old sinful nature and giving us a new nature in Christ.
Romans 6:20 contrasts our old and new nature: "When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness." Being a servant of sin meant that even our good deeds couldn't change our sinful nature or earn salvation. Similarly, being servants of righteousness means that our occasional failings don't negate our righteous identity in Christ.
As servants of righteousness, we're not striving for holiness through our efforts. Instead, holiness becomes a natural fruit of our new nature in Christ. Hebrews 8:12 illustrates God's merciful attitude towards us under the New Covenant: "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
As servants of righteousness, we're free to approach God boldly, even when we stumble, because our identity is secure in Christ. This new relationship empowers us to overcome sin and live out our righteous nature.
In the sixth episode of "God Killed My Old Man," Duane Sheriff teaches freedom from sin through our new identity in Christ. Christians no longer have two natures battling within them but only one new nature in Christ.
Romans 6:11 instructs believers to "reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." Understanding and having faith in our old sinful nature's death is crucial for overcoming sin and living in righteousness.
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul lists various sinful lifestyles and states that such people will not inherit God's kingdom. Verse 11: "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." Our old sinful identities have been put to death, and we now have a new, righteous nature in Christ.
Yield your body as an instrument of righteousness (Romans 6:13) rather than an instrument of sin. While we may still struggle with sin, it's no longer our true identity. Instead, we should renew our minds to our new nature in Christ and live accordingly.
In the fifth episode of "God Killed My Old Man," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of living a holy life as a Christian. Understanding our new nature in Christ is key to overcoming sin and living righteously.
Romans 6:14 states, "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Being free from the law and having our old sinful nature crucified with Christ doesn't mean we should continue in sin. Instead, it empowers us to live righteously.
Five reasons why Christians should pursue holiness:
Because God is holy (1 Peter 1:16).
Because it reflects our new nature in Christ (Ephesians 4:22-24).
Because we are saved for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Because holiness is a witness to others.
Because sin gives the devil a foothold and damages our relationship with God.
Living a holy life is not about earning God's love or salvation but reflecting our true identity in Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18 explains that we are transformed by beholding God's glory and renewing our minds to our new identity in Christ. Embrace the new nature in Christ and live out the holiness that God has already placed within us.
In part two of this message, Duane focuses on the three sources of condemnation: our hearts (conscience), others, and the devil.
It is our heart that condemns us, according to 1 John 3:20-21. While our hearts may condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. The cure for this self-condemnation is repentance and receiving forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.
The second source of condemnation comes from other people. Duane encourages us not to allow the culture, politicians, or even family members to condemn us. Stand firm in faith and do not be ashamed of the gospel, referencing Romans 1:16. Isaiah 54:17 states that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, including words used as weapons.
The final source of condemnation is the devil. Revelation 12:10-11 describes Satan as the "accuser of our brethren," and believers overcome the devil through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Live a holy life, not out of obligation or fear, but because of your new nature in Christ. Understanding our identity in Christ helps us refrain from yielding to condemnation from any source. Reject condemnation and embrace the freedom and victory found in Jesus Christ.
In this message, Duane teaches the purpose of the law and its relationship to condemnation and the grace we have in Christ. Referencing Romans 8:1-2 states there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Duane shares a personal testimony of once living under guilt and discouragement, believing the lies that he was unworthy before he learned that God does not condemn those who are in His Son.
There is a difference between condemnation, often stemming from the law and resulting in feeling distant from God, and conviction, which is God's way of gently guiding believers back to righteousness. The law was given to make sin known, not to reveal God's nature.
Romans 3:19-20 states that the purpose of the law is to make everyone guilty before God and give us knowledge of sin. This explanation helps believers acknowledge their need for a Savior and guards against self-righteousness.
There are four sources of condemnation, but the primary source is the law. The purpose of the law is not to make people righteous but to reveal sin and lead people to Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 describes the old covenant as a "ministry of death" and "condemnation," while the new covenant in Christ is a "ministry of the Spirit" and "righteousness." Christians are called to live in peace and righteousness through faith in Jesus rather than struggling under condemnation.
In the fourth episode of "God Killed My Old Man," Duane Sheriff teaches the transformative power of our new nature in Christ. Understanding this new identity is the key to embracing our new nature and living a victorious Christian life.
When we accept Christ, a radical change occurs. According to Ephesians 2:1-5, we were once "dead in trespasses and sins," but now we have been made alive in Christ. This change is not just an improvement of our old selves, but a complete replacement. Our old sinful nature has been crucified, and we have been given a new nature that is "righteous and truly holy."
Romans 6:11 instructs us to "reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." This verse is not about constantly struggling against sin but about embracing our new identity in Christ. We are not trying to become righteous; in our new nature, we already are righteous.
Living out our new nature isn't about willpower or following rules. Instead, it's about understanding who we are in Christ and allowing that truth to transform our lives. As we renew our minds and grasp the reality of our new nature, we'll naturally desire to live holy lives that reflect our true identity in Christ.
Are you in the "Addams Family?" In the third episode of "God Killed My Old Man," Duane Sheriff teaches how to understand the Christian faith and live victorious in Christ.
Many believers struggle to walk in the newness of life because they don't fully grasp this essential truth. When we accept Christ, our old sinful nature (the "old man") is crucified with Him. Galatians 2:20 states, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." This death of our old self is the key to experiencing freedom from sin and living in the power of Christ.
Romans 5 contrasts our former state in Adam with our new identity in Christ. Verse 19 says, "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Just as we inherited sin from Adam, we now inherit righteousness from Christ through faith.
In the second episode of "God Killed My Old Man," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of understanding our new identity in Christ. It is vital to grasp the concept that our previous old sinful nature died with Christ, and now we are raised to new life in Him.
Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." This verse illustrates how our old self has died, and we now live through Christ's life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." This transformation occurs in our spirit while our soul and body are still in the process of renewal.
We have a three-part nature - spirit, soul, and body - as described in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Our spirit is instantly transformed at salvation. In contrast, our soul (mind, will, and emotions) is being renewed, and our body will be fully redeemed at Christ's return. Set your mind on things above because you have died with Christ, and your life is now hidden with Him.
"God Killed My Old Man" is a brand new series by Duane Sheriff that explores our identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. This understanding is crucial for Christians to walk in the power of the gospel and overcome sin.
Duane shares a personal experience of an open vision of Jesus on the cross. In this vision, he saw himself united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. This revelation led him to search the Scriptures and discover the truth about our identity in Christ.
There is a difference between the "old man" in Adam, who has a sinful nature, and the "new man" in Christ, who is righteous and holy. God has crucified our old man with Christ, as stated in Romans 6:6: "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."
Even though God has killed the old man, we still need to change our behavior and mindset. This transformation requires us to renew our minds, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:22-24: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Understanding and embracing our new identity in Christ empowers Christians to overcome sin and live a renewed life.
In the eighteenth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff concludes his teaching on the importance of Multiple Witnesses in discerning God's voice and direction. In His love for us, God provides various confirmations to assure us that we hear His voice correctly and follow His will.
It is a believer's birthright to be led by the Spirit of God, referencing Romans 8:14: "For all who the Spirit of God leads are children of God." God wants us to have confidence and boldness in our faith, knowing we truly hear from Him. God confirms His word and leads through multiple witnesses.
To illustrate the concept of multiple witnesses, we can look at examples from biblical stories, such as Gideon's fleece test (Judges 6:36-40) and Elijah's reliance on divine signs. Gideon's request for supernatural confirmation before leading Israel into battle is a significant illustration of seeking assurance in high-risk decisions. We are not to be led by circumstances alone, but circumstantial evidence can confirm God's will when interpreted correctly.
Christian meditation involves developing a personal connection with God's word, transforming how you think and live. Christian meditation is essential to renew our minds. Duane Sheriff teaches that there is a difference between simply memorizing scripture and allowing it to renew your mind through meditation.
Mind renewal isn't about trying harder; it's about allowing God to transform you in the secret place of your heart. The secret place is where you commune with God, shutting out the world's noise and worries and creating a space for His love and transformation. In this sacred space, you learn to ponder, visualize, and reflect on His words, letting them sink deep into your heart.
This message connects the old and new covenants by explaining how God wrote the Ten Commandments with His finger on stone tablets in Exodus, just as God writes His laws on our minds and hearts in the New Covenant. When we meditate on God's Word, we allow Him to renew our minds from within, aligning our thoughts and emotions with His will.
In this message, Duane Sheriff teaches that "True Grit" is an essential quality that is needed for leaders to face today's challenges and persevere in their calling.
Although the word "grit" isn't in the Bible, biblical figures such as Noah, David, and Elijah exhibited the same qualities of perseverance, firm character, and courage vital to living out God's calling. The story of David charging Goliath shows the same true grit of courage and faith rather than fear and intimidation.
Grit is required to resist evil and overcome challenges with the strength God provides. 2 Corinthians 4:16, where Paul encourages believers not to lose heart, assuring them that their trials are temporary and will result in eternal glory. This scripture reinforces that enduring hardships lead to our spiritual growth and strength.
Philippians 3:10 highlights the three M's in ministry: man, method, and message. These components are necessary to grow through challenges, maintain a relationship with God, partner with His power, and adapt methods without compromising the message.
This is not the hour to lose heart or quit. Jesus is coming soon to strengthen His church. This message calls for a revival of grit in the churches as we stand firm against cultural pressures. Leaders are to be trumpets and reclaim the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the seventeenth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sherif teaches how circumstantial evidence is a secondary witness to God's leading. While the Holy Spirit primarily leads us, God often uses our circumstances to confirm His will and direction. We should consider them as supporting evidence that the Holy Spirit is already communicating to us internally.
Using the example of the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 17, God used circumstances to guide Elijah's steps. When the brook Cherith dried up, it was a sign for Elijah to prepare for change. However, Elijah didn't move until he heard directly from God to go to Zarephath, demonstrating the balance between circumstantial evidence and direct divine instruction.
Believers should be attentive to the Holy Spirit's internal leading and the external circumstances that God may use. When we truly follow God's will, there will often be supernatural manifestations in our circumstances, such as provision, open doors, or miraculous events. This balanced approach helps believers to discern God's guidance more effectively in their daily lives.
In the sixteenth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sherif continues teaching in part two how God's provision is a witness to His leading in our lives. Duane shares his experience of financial hardship early in his ministry, recalling when he was down to the last meal with his family. When he contemplated getting a secular job, God spoke to him, promising supernatural provisions before the day was over.
True to His word, God sent a woman with groceries just before midnight, confirming His direction for Duane to continue in full-time ministry. This experience taught him a valuable lesson about trusting God's voice and recognizing His provision as a witness to His will.
In Genesis 22:8, Abraham tells Isaac, "God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." This scripture illustrates how God's provision often comes ahead of our obedience, waiting to be discovered as we step out in faith. While we should not base our decisions solely on financial provision, God often uses it as a confirming witness to His leading.
In the fifteenth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches that God's provision is a key to confirming His will for our lives. God confirms His word to us through multiple witnesses, and one of these vital witnesses is provision. 2 Corinthians 13:1 says, "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."
God's provisions are signs that confirm His guidance in our lives. One compelling example of provision is the story of Elijah from 1 Kings 17. God instructs Elijah to hide by the Brook Cherith, promising that ravens would provide him with food. Later, God sends Elijah to a widow in Zarephath, who also provides for him miraculously. In both cases, Elijah finds provisions waiting for him, affirming that he is on the right path.
When we obey God's guidance, even when it seems challenging or unclear, His provision will always be ahead of us, just as it was for Elijah. Duane shares how following God's leading has resulted in miraculous provisions in his life. When we're in God's will, He will supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19).
In the fourteenth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of godly counsel. While the Holy Spirit speaks to believers directly, God often confirms His leading through multiple witnesses, including wise and mature counsel from fellow Christians. Proverbs 15:22 highlights, "Without counsel, purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counselors they are established." This scripture emphasizes the importance of seeking counsel from godly individuals when making important decisions.
Duane shares his personal experiences, including how godly counsel helped him navigate challenges in his ministry and confirmed his decision to marry his wife, Sue. Solely relying on one's understanding may be influenced by worldly thinking. Instead, believers should seek out mature believers who have fruit in the area where guidance is needed. As Proverbs 19:20 states, "Hear counsel and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end."
Christians have the responsibility not only to seek godly counsel but also to become wise counselors. As believers mature in their faith, they should be able to help each other discern God's voice and offer sound, scripture-based advice to others, always pointing them toward God's will.
In this message, Duane Sheriff explores how biblical figures like Noah, Abraham, and Moses exemplified "True Grit" amidst trials and hardships. Grit is defined as perseverance, endurance, and steadfastness of character. These same qualities are essential for believers today.
James 1:2-4 reminds us to "count it all joy" when facing trials, knowing that testing our faith produces perseverance. It is not the trials that perfect us, but our response of submitting to God and resisting the devil.
According to Romans 5:3-5, tribulations produce perseverance, character, and hope. Developing true grit involves opposing evil and maintaining faith rather than passively accepting adversity. It's about standing up against adversity, not just accepting it.
Using "vivid" imagery and examples of how to be bold in our faith, Duane references the movie "True Grit" and John Wayne's character. He illustrates how spiritual warfare is like charging into a physical battle with determination and courage.
Take a stand against corruption, immorality, and injustice by participating in your community, school, and government. Rely on God's strength with true grit. Your courage will inspire others to do the same.
In the thirteenth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches about being led by the Holy Spirit, focusing on desire and godly counsel. These are some key indicators that we hear God's voice.
When we delight in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). This doesn't mean God grants our selfish wishes, but rather that He aligns our desires with His will as we seek Him. As we draw closer to God, our desires naturally change and match His plan.
Duane shares from his personal experience how his desires shifted from pursuing a tennis career to wanting to attend Bible school and teach the gospel. He encourages listeners that as they focus on their relationship with Jesus, God will place His desires in their hearts.
Godly counsel is a confirmation of God's leading. Proverbs 11:14 states, "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." While the Holy Spirit should lead us, godly counsel can help confirm what God is saying to us, especially for significant life decisions.
Seek the Lord in the secret place of your heart. Duane Sheriff teaches that Christian meditation is vital to our spiritual growth and understanding of God's Word. Meditation is not a mental exercise but a spiritual discipline that involves pondering, imagining, and speaking God's truth.
Psalm 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord." This verse highlights how meditation involves both our thoughts and our words. Everyone meditates on something all the time - the key is choosing to meditate on God's truth rather than worries or lies.
Psalm 1:1-3 describes those who meditate on God's Word day and night are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in season and prospering in all they do. Christian meditation is not about emptying one's mind but filling it with God's truth. Take time to ponder, imagine, and speak God's Word to allow it to transform your thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
In the twelfth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches how Godly desires play a crucial role in discerning God's will for our lives. God is committed to leading and guiding believers into all truth and good decision-making, which significantly impacts the quality of our lives.
One of the key ways God speaks to us is through our desires. Psalm 37:4-5 states, "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust Him, and He shall bring it to pass." This scripture reveals that when we truly delight in God and seek Him, He will align our desires with His will for our lives.
The message challenges the misconception that God's will is always something we don't want to do. Instead, as we grow closer to God and delight in Him, He transforms our hearts, replacing worldly desires with godly ones that reflect His plans for us. This process makes following God's will an exciting and joyful adventure rather than a burdensome obligation.
Peace and joy are the main indicators of God's leading. Colossians 3:15 instructs us to let the peace of God rule in our hearts. This peace serves as an "umpire," helping us discern whether we're hearing from God and following His guidance. By focusing on developing godly desires through a close relationship with God, believers can experience the joy of serving Him while fulfilling His purposes for their lives.
In the eleventh episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches Kingdom Protocol and how it helps us discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. We can confirm God's voice by recognizing three vital witnesses: righteousness, peace, and joy. God always speaks in righteousness. In Isaiah 45:19, God says, "I have not spoken in secret." Everything God says aligns with righteousness, making this a key marker to identify His voice.
In Psalms 23:3, the scripture reveals that the Lord leads us in "paths of righteousness" for His name's sake. The second witness is peace. Colossians 3:15 tells us to let the peace of God rule in our hearts. This peace acts like an umpire, helping us make decisions that align with God's will. Duane shares a personal experience where his loss of peace served as a sign from God to alter his path, illustrating how peace can be a powerful indicator of divine guidance.
Lastly, joy is a significant witness of the Holy Spirit's voice. Nehemiah 8:10 says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." We will experience a deep, abiding joy when we align with God's will. Joy comes from making righteous and peaceful decisions, which pleases the Holy Spirit. By understanding and applying these Kingdom Protocols—righteousness, peace, and joy—we can confidently navigate our spiritual journey and grow closer to God.
In the tenth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of being led by the Holy Spirit and discerning God's voice. He shares his experiences of initially dismissing the Holy Spirit's leading but then learning to recognize and follow it.
God leads us through an "inner witness" in our spirit and provides several witnesses to confirm this inner leading. The first witness is the Word of God - the Holy Spirit will never contradict clear biblical principles. The second witness is the love of God, as 1 John 4:8 states that "God is love." Anything that violates God's nature of unconditional love is not from Him.
The kingdom protocol in Romans 14:17 states that the kingdom of God is characterized by "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." God's voice will always align with these spiritual realities, not just selfish desires or unrighteous actions. Isaiah 45:19, "I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right." When God speaks, it will align with what is morally upright and just. He cautions against following voices that contradict God's word or promote unrighteous behavior, even if they claim to be from God.
Develop an ear to hear God's voice, test it against Scripture, and respond in faith. By learning to discern and obey the Holy Spirit's leading, believers can experience God's power and see lives transformed.
In the ninth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches the crucial role of the Holy Spirit in guiding our lives. The Holy Spirit acts as a witness within us, directing us according to God's will. Acts 2 describes the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled the apostles, enabling them to speak in other tongues. This event marked the beginning of the Holy Spirit's work in the lives of believers.
In Acts 18:5, Paul is 'compelled by the Spirit' to preach to the Jews, showing how the Spirit leads us in our mission and actions. Hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit is not always about audibly hearing God's voice. Often, it's a small, still voice inside us, a feeling, or a vision.
The episode emphasizes learning to heed the Holy Spirit's lead, even when the guidance seems subtle. Romans 8:14 states, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Being attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance is part of our identity as a Christian. God is speaking to you. Test the impressions and visions you receive, as God will use these moments to guide and bless us.
In the eighth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches about the vital principle of Multiple Witnesses and Jesus to understand God's guidance. God guides us into all truth, especially in our personal lives and spiritual journey. God wants to confirm His word through multiple witnesses. 2 Corinthians 13:1 states, "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."
Even Jesus did not claim His identity based on His testimony alone. In John 5:31, Jesus said, "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true," highlighting the need for additional witnesses. Jesus then pointed to John the Baptist, His miraculous works, and the Father Himself as witnesses to His divine nature. Jesus' baptism in Matthew 3:16-17 supports this when God's voice from heaven declared Jesus as His beloved Son.
God speaks to us through dreams, visions, and inner promptings. To ensure that we truly hear from God, rely on 1 John 4:1 to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God." This process of seeking confirmation through multiple witnesses is crucial, especially when making high-stakes decisions. This teaching teaches us that God desires to confirm His guidance in our lives through various means. By understanding and applying the principle of Multiple Witnesses, we can better discern God's voice and direction in our lives.
Christian meditation is more than just reading the Bible or saying prayers. It's about connecting deeply with God through focused thought and reflection. Duane Sheriff teaches how meditation is a profound discipline that aids personal growth in our walk with the Lord.
Psalm 5:1 says, "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation," highlighting that meditation is similar to a conversation with God. Romans 12:2 talks about renewing the mind. Renewal doesn't come from simply hearing God's word but from meditating on it daily, letting it transform our thoughts and actions. Christian meditation helps us dwell on God's truths and promises, shifting our mindset from worldly problems to divine solutions.
Jesus states in Matthew 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Just as bread nourishes the body, God's word nourishes the soul, and through meditation, we can deeply absorb and benefit from it. Regardless of our daily busyness, we can find time to meditate on God's word.
Christian meditation involves pondering, imagining, and muttering scripture, thereby letting God's word penetrate deeply into our hearts, transforming us from the inside out. Psalm 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord." Meditation involves both our thoughts and our words. Everyone meditates on something all the time - the key is choosing to meditate on God's truth rather than worries or lies. Through this practice, we learn to set our minds on things above and live lives that reflect our faith and God's love.
In the seventh episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches about discerning God's voice through multiple witnesses. God provides several ways to confirm that you are hearing Him correctly. These witnesses include the Word of God, the love of God, and the peace of God.
Duane emphasizes the importance of the Word of God as a witness. As stated in Romans 8:14, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we learn to recognize God's voice more clearly. The Bible sharpens our ability to discern His guidance.
The love of God is another witness. Romans 13:10 reveals, "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." When God speaks, His direction will always align with His nature of love. Anything that contradicts love is not from God.
Thirdly, the peace of God is a vital witness for divine guidance. In Colossians 3:15, we are encouraged to "let the peace of God rule in your hearts." A lack of peace indicates that a specific decision is not from God. Peace acts as an umpire, signifying divine approval or disapproval.
Understanding these witnesses will help believers walk confidently in God's will. Stay rooted in the Word, dwell in God's love, and seek His peace as confirming signs of His voice. We will effectively discern and follow divine guidance by learning to recognize these witnesses.
In the sixth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of recognizing God's voice and following His divine guidance. God speaks and guides us, but we must learn to discern His voice and heed the Holy Spirit's guidance.
The primary way God communicates with us is through His Word. Psalm 119:105 states, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." This Scripture highlights how God's Word provides direction and illumination. The Bible is not just a collection of ancient texts but a living, powerful force that can transform our lives and decisions.
The Holy Spirit will never lead us contrary to Scripture. Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." This verse underscores the power of God's Word to help us distinguish between our thoughts and God's voice.
It is crucial to immerse ourselves in Scripture. We will recognize His voice through familiarity with God's Word. Pursue truth and reject the lies in the media, politics, and personal relationships.
In the fifth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches how to be led by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 states, "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God." Many Christians struggle to discern God's voice. Understanding the language of the Holy Spirit can transform one's spiritual journey. The Holy Spirit often communicates through an internal witness, described as a 'still small voice,' and not necessarily audibly. Discerning this voice is pivotal for making righteous decisions and aligning with God's will.
Colossians 1:13 explains believers have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of Jesus. This spiritual transition requires learning the language of the new kingdom – the language of the Holy Spirit, rooted fundamentally in truth. By recognizing the truth as the primary dialect of the Holy Spirit, believers can effectively tune out deceptive influences and align themselves with God's guidance. Understanding this heavenly language empowers Christians to navigate their spiritual journeys with confidence and clarity.
In the fourth episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches how God speaks to His children. According to Romans 8:14, being led by the Spirit of God is a birthright for those born again. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, ensuring believers can hear God's voice.
Duane emphasizes that hearing God's voice is not just for a select few but for all who follow Christ. He warns against the misleading representation by mainstream media that may cause doubt and disbelief. Using examples from the Bible, such as the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, God's voice is often a still, small voice that requires us to quiet our surroundings and inner turmoil to hear Him clearly.
God may speak in a whisper—because He is so close to us that a loud voice would be overwhelming. Duane also addresses the issue of 'dead religion' and how some teachings wrongly advocate for a God who doesn't speak to manipulate. God does not require obedience.
A direct relationship eliminates the need for any mediator between us and God. Through prayer, fasting, and a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit, believers can tune in to God's guidance and avoid the deceptive voices that try to lead us astray. By learning to recognize God's voice, you will be better equipped to follow His lead and experience the blessings He has prepared for you.
In the third episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches how to hear God's voice. Mark chapter 4 highlights the importance of choosing to hear God's voice and how it can lead us to wise decisions that bring healing and prosperity into our lives. Romans 8:14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God."
If you are born again, it is your birthright to be led by the Lord. Even though God constantly speaks and leads, it is not automatic and requires faith. Duane references biblical examples to illustrate that God has always talked to His people, from Adam and Eve to Enoch, Noah, and beyond.
Discern God's voice and heed His guidance in every aspect of life – for your occupation, relationships, or personal decisions. Sin does not stop God's voice. Instead, He calls us to repentance and closer fellowship. God's guidance is always available; we must learn to recognize and respond to it.
Understand the cause and cure of strife as Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of maintaining a strife-free heart, home, and church. Strife can destroy relationships and open doors to every evil work, as stated in James 3:16. Believers must guard their hearts against contention and division while relying on Jesus as the ultimate gardener of their hearts.
Proverbs 17:14 compares the beginning of strife to letting out water. Like a small leak in a dam, strife should be addressed before it causes widespread damage. Christians are to be peacemakers and avoid meddling in others' quarrels, as suggested in Proverbs 26:17.
The "unity of the spirit" and the "unity of the faith," as referenced in Ephesians 4:3 and 4:13, are keys to avoiding strife. Believers should strive to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace while growing towards the unity of the faith. Show love and forbearance to one another, even when disagreements arise over unimportant issues.
Examine your heart for hidden pride, the root cause of contention. Repent when strife arises and focus on maintaining peace in your relationships. The power of unity releases God's blessings versus the destruction of division. Believers should prioritize peace and unity in their personal lives, families, and church communities.
In the second episode of "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches how God leads and guides us through our inner spirit. Romans 8:14 states, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." It is crucial to discern and follow the inner voice of the Holy Spirit.
God doesn't just lead us by external circumstances but primarily speaks to us from within. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is like a GPS system, urging us to heed the corrections and directions given by God. Even when we make mistakes or stray from God's path, the Holy Spirit guides us back in the right direction.
The Holy Spirit, God's divine guidance system, is indwelling within you. He never leaves or forsakes you and is always speaking through the inner witness. Even when we dismiss or override His guidance, He prompts us to repent and recalculates our route to guide us back to His will.
In the brand new series, "Divine Guidance," Duane Sheriff teaches how God leads us, how God speaks to us, and how to confirm the inner witness of the Lord's leading in your life. How can you differentiate between God speaking, your imagination, or your own desires independent of His will?
Nothing is more critical in a believer's life than being led by the Lord, knowing the voice of God, and discerning, recognizing, and obeying His voice. Many grew up in church seeking the Lord but were never taught how to discern the inner witness, the voice of God. This series will help you learn the language of the Holy Spirit.
Every kingdom has a language, and the Holy Spirit speaks in a unique, inner way within the Kingdom of God. The decisions we make, influenced by the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, determine the quality of life we will live. Decisions made independently of God's will lead to forms of death, depression, and discouragement.
In the final episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff emphasizes the importance of understanding one's identity in Christ and compares it with the limitations of the flesh. It is crucial to realize that our true identity is found in Christ, which requires revelation and faith. Living according to the flesh leads to spiritual death, encompassing negative emotions and experiences like depression and unfruitfulness.
We should look to God and remember our origin from Him and our past without Him. Verses such as John 15:5, Philippians 4:13, and 1 Corinthians 4:6-7 illustrate that without God, we can do nothing, possess nothing, and know nothing of true value. On the other hand, in Christ, we can achieve all things, have everything we need, and possess divine wisdom.
Beware of the dangers of pride and self-reliance, especially in today's culture, where many believe they can be good, do good, and know good without God. Pride stems from human knowledge and results in an inflated sense of self. Instead, humility and dependence on God's wisdom are encouraged. Romans 7:18 teaches believers to put no confidence in the flesh. It's important to recognize the need for God and live a life of thanksgiving and humility. Through grace, believers are made new and equipped to fulfill God's will.
In the nineteenth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches how our spiritual identity can be stolen, manipulated, or misunderstood, leading to a life that does not reflect the true potential God has planned for each individual. Spiritual identity theft occurs when individuals allow negative influences, such as peer pressure, societal expectations, and personal failures, to define who they are.
According to the Bible, each person is uniquely created in the image of God and endowed with specific gifts and purposes. Ephesians 2:10 states that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Jeremiah 29:11 assures believers of God’s plan for their future, filled with hope and purpose. Reclaim your spiritual identity by immersing yourself in God’s word, seeking a supportive Christian community, and engaging in regular prayer. By doing so, you can counteract the negative influences trying to steal your spiritual identity and instead live a life that is true to God’s design.
In the eighteenth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches how to understand our new identity in Christ. Just as Jesus discovered who He was through the scriptures and the Holy Spirit, we must also seek our true identity in the Bible. Jesus understood His purpose as the Messiah through ancient Hebrew scriptures. Believers should search the scriptures to learn who they are in Jesus. By following the Spirit and not weak, fleshly desires, we can overcome sin and live in righteousness.
Human strength or wisdom is insignificant compared to God's wisdom and strength. God often chooses the weak and despised to show His power and glory. Pride and self-righteousness hinder many from seeing their need for God. True strength comes from acknowledging our weaknesses and relying on God's power. Live by the Spirit, understand God's righteousness, and reject the fleshly desires to reflect His love and justice in the world.
In Part 2 of "Strife - Satan's Underground," Duane Sheriff teaches the harmful effects of strife and how to overcome it. Acknowledging the importance of avoiding strife, especially in marriage, family, business, and church communities, is essential.
James 3:16 highlights that where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and every evil work. This verse underscores the dangerous nature of strife and why it must be avoided. Identifying the root cause of strife is pride. Proverbs 13:10 states, 'Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.' This scripture helps to clarify that pride leads to arguments and conflicts. Addressing pride in our hearts is key to reducing strife in our relationships and environments. Humility cures strife.
Jesus teaches us to humbly serve others, which helps prevent pride and the resulting conflicts. In Luke 22:26, Jesus says, "But you shall not be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." The Bible shows that living humbly and avoiding conflict can lead to peaceful and loving relationships. Embrace humility, consider others, and manage your pride to promote a healthier community and personal life.
In the seventeenth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches how to discover one's identity in Christ. Our true identity cannot be found by merely looking in a mirror or through physical senses and emotions. Spiritual truth is revealed through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
Faith is a key to connecting with one's spirit and understanding the spiritual realities of who we are in Jesus. John 4:24 emphasizes that God is spirit; therefore, Christians must worship Him in spirit and truth, a practice that not only requires faith but also deepens our spiritual connection with God. While humanity in Adam is steeped in sin and condemnation, the new identity in Christ brings renewal and freedom.
2 Corinthians 5:14-17 highlights that believers are a new creation in Christ. Old things have passed away, and all things have become new in one's born-again spirit. Understanding one's identity in Christ equips believers to resist cultural and satanic attacks. Just as Jesus discovered His identity in the scriptures, Christians must search the Bible and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal their true selves and God's purpose.
In the sixteenth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches that the devil incessantly targets a believer's sense of identity, just as he attacked Jesus's identity at the beginning and end of His ministry. Knowing your identity in Christ will connect you to your purpose and ignite your passion for life.
In our modern culture, many claim to seek their 'authentic self.' However, our 'authentic self' without Jesus is a sinner under God's judgment. After accepting Christ, believers gain a new authentic self that is righteous and holy. This new identity is critical for fulfilling God's will and purpose in their lives. Satan's primary tactic is to create confusion about identity. By sowing doubt and promoting identity amnesia, Satan aims to derail believers from their God-given purpose. Jesus's confrontations with Satan in the wilderness serve as a prime example—Satan repeatedly questioned Jesus's identity to tempt Him.
Believers today face similar trials, where their identity in Christ is often assaulted. Understanding and affirming one's identity in Christ is a defense against these attacks. When believers root their identity in Jesus, they find purpose and the strength to resist temptations and trials. Duane calls for believers, especially the youth, to resist the identity confusion propagated by the world. Embrace your true identity in Christ to overcome challenges and pursue your God-given assignments with clarity and confidence.
In the fifteenth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches that we are united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection as believers. This unity signifies that Christ lives in us, giving us hope and a new life through faith. Colossians 1:27 states that "Christ in us" is the hope of glory, and Galatians 2:20 speaks about being crucified with Christ and living by faith in Him.
Through baptism, believers are spiritually united with Christ's death and raised to new life, as highlighted in Romans 6 and Ephesians 2. Apostle Paul discusses in Philippians 1 his struggles between living on Earth or departing to be with Christ. Our physical bodies give us authority on Earth to empower us to carry out God's work, spreading the gospel and overcoming sin, the flesh, and Satan.
Duane shares his revelation of comparing our unity with Christ to the process of making tea. Tea bags are infused with water, making them indistinguishable from the tea. In the same way, believers are so infused with Christ that we are one with Him in spirit. This profound union means we carry Christ within us and are called to live out His life through our actions. Our role as the "bride of Christ" involves a spiritual marriage with Jesus. This union requires loyalty, faithfulness, and a commitment to living a life that honors God's grace and truth.
In the fourteenth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches about identity theft and spiritual strife. Many believers struggle with understanding their true identity in Christ, which can lead to inner conflict and spiritual immaturity.
Many Christians experience an internal struggle because they do not fully grasp their new identity in Christ. Believers have died with Christ, been buried with Him, and raised to new life. Identifying with Christ's death and resurrection is critical to maturity, overcoming spiritual struggles, and living victorious Christian lives.
In the thirteenth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches the concept of identity theft in a spiritual context. Satan stole Adam's identity in the Garden of Eden when Adam ate from the Tree of Disobedience and plunged humanity into an identity crisis. Thus, all people are born into this fallen identity.
Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the "second Adam," partook of the Tree of Obedience through his death on the cross. This act reversed the consequences of Adam's disobedience, offering righteousness and eternal life to believers. Our new identity in Christ transcends earthly distinctions such as race, gender, or social status.
All believers are fully forgiven of all sins - past, present, and future - through Christ's redemption. Embrace your identity as a saint rather than seeing yourself as a sinner saved by grace. Understanding our new identity in Christ is crucial for our spiritual growth and overcoming sin.
In Part 3 of the "Culture of the Word," Duane teaches the importance of absolute truth in the Christian faith. Absolute truths are unchanging and eternal, grounded in the Word of God. As Jesus prays in John 17:17, 'Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.' The Bible is our ultimate source of truth.
Understanding absolute truth is essential for our spiritual journey. God's Word provides a solid foundation to navigate the challenges and lies of our modern culture. By embracing absolute truth, we acknowledge that there is a definitive right and wrong, as defined by God's teachings.
Absolute truth is not relative or subjective; God determines it. 2 Thessalonians 2 states that in the end times, many will be deceived because they lack a love for the truth. Using personal anecdotes and biblical examples, Duane illustrates the danger of neglecting this truth and falling into deception.
There is an ongoing battle between good and evil. It is vital to teach these truths to the next generation to shield them from the increasing deception of the world. By embracing God's truth, we will find the strength to overcome the lies and challenges of our time.
In the twelfth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane teaches about our new identity in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5 explains how believers are now members of the family of God and should focus on their spiritual identity, not their fleshly one. The transformation that happens when someone becomes a new creature in Christ.
Our old identity, which can include our family background and physical traits, should not define us. Instead, as Paul states in Romans 7:18, walking after the flesh results in spiritual death and negative emotions like guilt and depression. Our true identity is found in Jesus, who gave us a new life and purpose.
The fleeting nature of short-term and long-term identities associated with our immediate families and the family of man traces back to Adam. Galatians 6:14-15 emphasizes that what truly matters is being a new creation in Christ and not any earthly or fleshly markers.
Our new identity in Christ liberates us from the curses and limitations of our old selves. Understanding this enables believers to experience God's blessings, achieve victory over their circumstances, and maintain spiritual health and prosperity, as mentioned in 3 John 2. Let go of your past identity and embrace the transformative power of your new life in Christ.
In the eleventh episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches our new identification in Christ from a spiritual perspective. Christians have a new identity through our association with Jesus, and it's essential to understand and embrace this truth.
Many people, including Christians, suffer from "identity amnesia," forgetting who they truly are in Christ. Believers must break free from imposed identities that may come from family, peers, or society and instead embrace our new identity as children of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." This verse underscores the transformative power of our identification with Christ, emphasizing that we are entirely new creations in Him.
Romans 12:2 warns against conforming to the world's standards and instead encourages believers to be transformed by renewing their minds. This renewal process involves understanding and living out our new identity in Christ. Our actions flow from our identity. If we continue to see ourselves as "sinners saved by grace" rather than as righteous new creations in Christ, it will affect our behavior and spiritual growth.
In the tenth episode of Identity Theft, Duane Sheriff teaches that if you are born again, you are no longer in Adam but in Christ, and you have been radically transformed. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains that Jesus became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God.
Our righteousness in Christ is not something we earn but is a free gift, as stated in Romans 5. Adam's sin made us all sinners, but Jesus's obedience makes us righteous and sanctified. It's crucial to renew our minds to this new identity in Christ and teach others. Ephesians 4:22-24 instructs us to put off the old self and put on the new self, created to be righteous and holy. In Christ, we have a new nature. Even when we sin, we do not lose our new identity.
Colossians 3:9-10 urges us to put off the old man with its deeds and put on the new man, renewed in knowledge, after the image of Christ. When we were in Adam, we were dominated by the flesh, driven by our physical senses and carnal minds. However, in Christ, we walk after the Spirit, not the flesh, and there is no condemnation, as Romans 8:1-2 assures us.
This new law of the Spirit gives us the power to overcome sin and live a victorious life."Identity Theft" is a call to embrace our new identity in Christ, recognizing that we are no longer sinners but the righteousness of God. We're empowered to walk in holiness and truth.
In the ninth episode of Identity Theft, Duane Sheriff compares our new identity in Christ to our old identity in Adam. As believers, we are no longer in Adam, where we were made sinners, but we are now in Christ and made righteous with His righteousness.
Focusing on Romans 5:17- 19, we can see how we were made sinners through Adam's disobedience and are now righteous through Christ's obedience. Just as we did not become sinners by our actions, we do not become righteous by our works. Instead, it's a gift received through faith in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17 proclaims, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" This transformation begins in our spirit at the moment of rebirth. At the same time, our soul (mind, will, and emotions) is being renewed daily, offering us a continuous source of hope and encouragement, and our body awaits future redemption.
While Christians may still sin, they are no longer sinners by nature. 2 Corinthians 5:21 shows how Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. This exchange allows believers to stand righteous before God, not through their efforts, but through Christ's finished work on the cross.
In the eighth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches the contrast between Adam's disobedience and Christ's obedience and how it affects believers today. Citing Romans 5, he explains how Adam's sin brought death and condemnation to all humanity, while Jesus' righteousness brings life and justification to those who believe.
Just as we were born into sin through Adam, we can be born again into righteousness through Jesus Christ. Through our new identity in Christ, believers are now righteous, holy, and more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). God brought forth Jesus through the virgin birth, bypassing man's sin nature. 1 Peter 1:23 describes how believers are born again of incorruptible seed through the Word of God.
Isaiah 9:6 prophesies Jesus as both a child born and a son given. While Jesus had a beginning in His humanity, He is eternal as the Son of God. Jesus is the "everlasting Father" of the new creation, not to be confused with God the Father. Through our faith in Jesus, believers can overcome sin, sickness, and the challenges of this world.
In this message, Duane teaches the importance of truth and cultivating a culture of the word in the life of a believer. A culture of the word reflects Jesus, honors Him and focuses on Him. This culture embodies both grace and truth without compromising either.
Duane stresses the significance of absolute truth in a world increasingly embracing relativism. He points to Jesus' words in John 18:37, where Christ declares, "For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Believers should love and seek truth while warning against rejecting God's word as the ultimate authority.
A culture of the word places high value and reverence on Scripture. It makes God's word a priority in daily life, even when it's challenging to understand or obey. This culture recognizes the Bible as a sure foundation, absolute truth, and final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
God's word is "God-breathed" and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Scripture works in believers' lives by teaching, reproving, correcting, and instructing them in righteousness. Duane reveals the remarkable prophetic accuracy of the Bible, with over 300 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ, providing strong evidence of the divine inspiration and trustworthiness of Scripture.
God's word is absolute truth. Live according to its teachings and share the gospel with others. This will help embody and spread a culture of the word in a world that desperately needs it.
In the seventh episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff continues teaching our new identity in Christ. Drawing from the teachings of Apostle Paul, we explore the contrast between the first man, Adam, and Jesus Christ, the last Adam, to reveal the profound changes that Christ has brought into our lives.
Romans 5:14-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 illustrate how Adam's disobedience introduced sin and death into the world and how Jesus' obedience and sacrifice brought righteousness and new life to believers. Adam's sin had widespread effects on humanity; Jesus' obedience offers a solution that restores and renews our lives.
In Jesus, we are no longer under the curse of sin but are born again into righteousness, justification, and holiness. This powerful message emphasizes the importance of understanding our identity in Christ to overcome challenges and thrive in life. Isaiah 9:6 states the prophetic declaration of Jesus as the everlasting Father of the new creation, revealing the divine plan of salvation and the transition from the old creation to the new.
This episode aims to inspire believers to recognize their spiritual heritage and embrace the authority and freedom that come with their new identity in Christ. It offers a deeper understanding of biblical truths about identity and encourages living victoriously, empowered by God's grace and Jesus' finished work on the cross.
In the sixth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches on the critical issue of identity confusion, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's true identity in Christ. Satan targets people's identities to disrupt God's purpose for their lives, which leads to unprecedented levels of confusion prevalent in our society today, especially among young people.
Christians need to teach their children about their God-given identity, including their gender as created by God. In Genesis 1:26-28 and Mark 10, Jesus affirms that God created humans male and female. Conforming to worldly identities contradicts one's new identity in Christ, citing Romans 12:2: "And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."
Psalm 139 tells us that God created us in our mother's womb, and Genesis 1:26-28, reminds us that God made humans in His image, male and female. Identity confusion is not a new tactic of Satan but seems to be at an all-time high in today's culture. Many people live their lives under a false identity or an imposed identity, which can hinder God's purpose for their lives.
There are various forms of false identities, including imposed identities from family or society and the dangers of identity politics that divide people based on race, gender, or sexual orientation. Romans 12:2 shows how we need to renew our minds to avoid being conformed to the world but be transformed by discovering and living out God's will for us. Believers should reject these worldly classifications and instead embrace their spiritual identity in Christ.
In the fifth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff continues to teach about our new identity in Christ, highlighting God's incredible grace. He compares the significant impact of two men on humanity through God's master copy: Adam and Jesus Christ. While Adam's sin brought death and condemnation to all, Jesus' sacrifice brought righteousness and life through God's grace.
Romans 5:12-19 illustrates how Adam, as the first representative of humanity, introduced sin into the world. However, Jesus, as the second and last Adam, became the perfect representative, offering salvation through His obedience and sacrifice.
We inherited sin from Adam but can now inherit righteousness from Christ. This righteousness is not based on our efforts but on God's grace through faith in Jesus. Romans 5:17 states, "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!"
We are no longer defined by Adam's sin but by Christ's righteousness, saved by grace. Believers are encouraged to embrace their new identity in Christ and to live boldly in the grace and righteousness provided through Him. This new identity in Christ shapes our purpose and destiny in life.
In the fourth episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches about our new identity in Christ and its importance for today's generation. He stresses that our children and grandchildren face an identity crisis fueled by a culture that promotes confusion and chaos. This crisis is misleading young minds and targeting their very purpose and destiny. As Christians, we must protect our children's identities and teach them their true identity in Jesus.
Our spiritual identity transforms from being tied to Adam, as described in Romans 5:14, to being renewed in Christ. Duane explains that while we inherit sin and death through Adam, we gain righteousness and new life through Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). This new creation is not just a theological idea but a real change in our spirit.
Recognizing ourselves and others through the lens of Christ's spirit rather than the flesh is crucial. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 highlights that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has passed away, and new life has begun. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 explains the transformation of the spirit, soul, and body, urging believers to renew their minds and live out their new identity in Christ."
Duane encourages parents and grandparents to be proactive in teaching their children these truths to ensure they understand their worth and purpose in Jesus.
In the third episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff teaches a powerful message on the topic of identity in Christ from his book, 'Identity Theft.' He emphasizes the importance of understanding our new nature as believers. Many people today, especially young people, are facing an identity crisis, and Satan uses this to steal, kill, and destroy their purpose and divine design.
We have three types of identity: short-term (our immediate family), long-term (either in Adam or in Christ), and eternal (our new identity in Christ). According to Romans 7:18, there is no good thing in our flesh. We are to know ourselves after the Spirit and the Word of God.
Duane passionately shares his own revelation of the cross and how it transformed his understanding of Galatians 2:20, where the old self is crucified, and Christ lives within us. Christians should no longer see themselves or others 'according to the flesh' as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:16. We should know each other by our new identity in Christ, breaking down divisions caused by race or the flesh.
Duane teaches the danger and impact of strife in our relationships and spiritual lives. Strife is an issue that many people do not recognize in their lives, and it can be as destructive as sins like adultery. Strife can ruin marriages, churches, and personal relationships, causing confusion and hindering the manifestation of God's word in our lives.
Strife is often rooted in envy and pride, creating an environment where every evil work can flourish. James Chapter 3 illustrates how strife stems from self-seeking and bitter envy, leading to confusion and disorder. Strife and self-centeredness open the door to demonic influences and every evil practice. To overcome this, believers must learn to recognize conflict, avoid it, and pursue wisdom that is pure, peaceful, gentle, and full of mercy.
God's wisdom promotes peace and unity, recognized by purity, gentleness, willingness to yield, and mercy. In contrast, earthly wisdom is recognized by bitterness, jealousy, and strife. Believers should be God-centered and others-minded rather than self-seeking to nurture better relationships. Utilizing God's wisdom will avoid conflict in marriages, church leadership, and everyday relationships, manifesting heavenly blessings and peace. On the other hand, the earthly wisdom of this world is bitterness, jealousy, and strife.
Striving for harmony and rejecting divisive behavior are crucial. Love, as demonstrated by Jesus, seeks to avoid harm and create a conflict-free environment, allowing the Holy Spirit to move freely and bless the congregation. The unwavering commitment to God's principles of love, unity, and wisdom from above is the key to combating strife.
In the second episode of "Identity Theft," Duane Sheriff shares his transformative experience of encountering Christ and receiving a revelation of the cross. He describes an open vision he had in May 1980, in which he saw himself inside Jesus on the cross, dying with Him, being buried, and then rising to new life. This vision dramatically changed his life, giving him a deep understanding of his new identity in Christ.
This revelation aligns with Scripture. Galatians 2:20 states, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me," Romans 6 speaks of being buried with Christ in baptism and raised to new life. Ephesians 2 describes how believers are seated with Christ in heavenly places.
There are three types of identity that people deal with:
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Short-term identity: traits inherited from immediate family.
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Long-term identity: our connection to Adam and the sin nature.
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New identity in Christ: received through the new birth.
Duane emphasizes how understanding our new identity in Christ can help overcome insecurities, complexes, and negative self-images rooted in our old nature. He contrasts the idea of having a "high self-esteem" with developing a "high Christ-esteem," encouraging believers to see themselves as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Jesus is the "second man" and "last Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45-47), which explains how Christ came to reverse the effects of Adam's sin and provide a new master copy for humanity. Through faith in Christ, believers can now live in a "kingdom of justification and righteousness," continually renewing their minds to align with their new identity in Him (Romans 12:2).
Our culture is suffering from an identity crisis. Duane Sheriff teaches the concept of identity and the spiritual battle against identity theft orchestrated by Satan. Duane explains how crucial it is for believers to understand their true identity in Christ to fulfill God's purpose for their lives. John 10:10 reveals Satan's desire to steal, kill, and destroy, especially targeting our new identity in Christ.
There are three key reasons why understanding our identity is crucial:
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It connects us to our purpose.
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It sets the course for our life.
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It affects the wholeness of our personhood.
Duane shares his testimony, recounting a transformative vision in May 1980 where he saw the death of his old self on the cross and his new identity in the resurrected Christ. This vision changed the course of his life, emphasizing the power of knowing who we are in Christ as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Identity is who we are or who we believe ourselves to be. Our identity connects us to our divine purpose and sets the course for our life. By understanding the death of our old identity in Christ and embracing our new identity in His resurrection, we can move forward with purpose and clarity.
Duane teaches the importance of developing a "Culture Of The Word" in the church and our personal life. During challenging times like the 2019 shutdown, churches with a strong foundation in God's Word thrived, while those lacking this foundation struggled or closed.
A Word-Centered Culture embraces these five elements: 1. Value and reverence Scripture (Psalm 19:10). 2. Prioritize God's Word above everything else (Psalm 138:2). 3. Build a strong foundation on the Word (Matthew 7:24-27). 4. Acknowledge the Bible as absolute truth. 5. Submit to the authority of Scripture.
Prioritize Scripture over personal opinions, emotions, and cultural trends. Stand firm on biblical truth, even in the face of opposition, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform rather than trying to bend God's Word to fit preferences. By embracing a "Culture Of The Word," believers can become a counterculture to the prevalent lies and corruption in society, ultimately reflecting the love, grace, and truth of Jesus Christ.
Duane recaps each speaker's message during the week of Jubilee. He intricately weaves the week's themes with creative humor and anecdotes as he discerns what God is saying through other speakers.
This year, Duane heard "Grit." In the dictionary, 'grit' means having firmness of character and an indomitable spirit, which believers must embody to succeed in the 'third great awakening. Acting with grit will be essential for standing against forthcoming challenges and being a light in the world. Grit will be the key to taking risks, like praying for others, standing firm in faith, and overcoming life's obstacles.
Duane challenges everyone to embrace true grit, charging forward in faith to positively impact the world, like the examples of true grit in the Bible and history. Believers are encouraged to stand firm in their identity, rooted in God's truth, and seek a personal relationship with God through prayer and scripture.
Duane continues teaching about the "Culture of Excellence" and pursuing excellence in our church, personal, and business lives. God is a God of excellence, and believers should desire and embody the characteristic of excellence in every aspect of their lives.
Excellence is not legalism or perfectionism but a consistent effort to do and be our best with what we have and know. The Greek definition of excellence is 'to carry through,' illustrating that excellence serves as a bridge between God and people (Philippians 1:10).
With anecdotes from his ministerial experiences, Duane illustrates that continual self-assessment and the willingness to learn from mistakes are vital for growth. 2 Corinthians 3:18 explains how we are transformed 'from glory to glory' by the Spirit of the Lord through consistent self-improvement and dedication to God. By doing so, they will better themselves and effectively transport God's presence into the world and bring people closer to Him.
Duane teaches the importance of cultivating a "Culture of Excellence" within the church and personal life. Excellence should not be confused with perfectionism. Excellence is about doing the best we can with what we have and know, making our work and actions reflect God's nature.
Drawing from Philippians 1:9-10, Duane explains how love should abound in knowledge and discernment. Excellence is not just about outward actions but also about maintaining an excellent spirit, as seen in Daniel 6:3. Excellence impacts behavior, attitudes, and work ethic. Believers are encouraged to be consistent in everything they do.
Psalms 8:1 praises the Excellence of God's name, and Psalms 36:7 emphasizes God's excellent loving-kindness. The purpose of Excellence is to carry and reflect God's glory to others, to be a bridge that transports people to God and vice versa.
In this message, Brother Duane teaches the importance of staying rooted in God's Word and being loyal to Jesus in the world of deception. He emphasizes that true love for Jesus is demonstrated through obedience to His teachings, as stated in John 14:15: "If you love me, keep my commandments."
Using the parable of the Good Samaritan as an illustration, he reveals how Jesus is our neighbor, the one we must love to inherit eternal life. He explains that just as the Good Samaritan poured oil and wine into the wounded man's injuries, we need the oil of salvation, the wine of the Holy Spirit, and the bread of God's Word.
Many Christians today are easily deceived and lack the discernment that comes from studying Scripture. Hebrews 5:14 speaks of mature believers who have "their senses trained to discern good and evil" through the constant use of God's Word.
There is a growing hostility towards Christians in society, but we should be reminded of Jesus' words in John 15:20: "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." Duane encourages believers to recommit themselves to Jesus, His Word, and His truth to stand firm in their faith, even when facing opposition from the world.
John 8:31-32 states: "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." In these deceptive days, it is critical to cultivate a disciplined habit of studying Scripture to sharpen our spiritual discernment and deepen our faith.
Brother Duane teaches a profound message about the parable of the Good Samaritan, revealing its deeper meaning as a representation of God's redemptive plan for humanity. In Luke 10, Jesus masterfully presents the entire gospel story in just a few verses (Luke 10:25-37).
The parable reveals how the man who fell among thieves represents Adam and all of humanity, stripped of righteousness and left spiritually half-dead due to sin. The priest and Levite, representing the law, cannot save the man, just as the law cannot save us from our fallen state.
The Good Samaritan is Jesus, who comes on a journey to rescue us. He binds our wounds, pours in oil and wine (representing the Holy Spirit), and takes us to the inn (the church) for care. The two pennies given to the innkeeper symbolize the approximately 2,000 years between Christ's first and second coming, with the promise of His return.
Remember to stay focused on the return of Jesus and do not be swayed by fear or false predictions. Be filled with both the "oil" (new birth) and "wine" (empowerment) of the Holy Spirit to prepare for challenging times ahead. Strengthen your heart with God's Word (Psalm 104:15), and be prepared to stand firm in faith. Believers are to be neighbors to those in need, just as Christ is our neighbor, and to rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance in these last days.
In part four of "Money Talks," Brother Duane shares revelation on giving, focusing on the importance of tithing under New Testament grace. He distinguishes between tithing under the Old Testament law and New Testament grace, emphasizing that tithing wasn't just a practice tied to the Law of Moses but a principle that started before the law with Abraham and Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7 describes Jesus as our High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. We now tithe to Jesus, not to an earthly priesthood. Tithing should be a joyful and willing act, not a response to obligation or fear of curses. In Malachi 3:10-11, God promises to "open the windows of heaven" and "rebuke the devourer" for those who tithe faithfully. This blessing is God's favor, wisdom, and protection over our finances and lives.
Malachi 3:10-12 illustrates God's promise to bless those who bring their tithes into the storehouse. Tithing reflects loyalty, faith, and an acknowledgment of God's provision. Tithing and offerings are not about legalistic obligations but about understanding and honoring God with what He has given us.
Brother Duane ties New Testament tithing to the principle of sowing and reaping (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). He encourages believers to give generously and cheerfully, believing that God will provide and bless their faithfulness.
In the sixth episode of "Love Beyond Measure," Duane teaches the Holy Spirit has a crucial role in helping us understand and experience God's love. According to Romans 5:5 (ESV), "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."). We cannot discern God's love through our circumstances, feelings, or human reasoning.
Instead, the Holy Spirit reveals and sheds light on the depth of God's love for us. The Holy Spirit helps us understand the profound love demonstrated through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, where He took the punishment for our sins upon Himself.
2 Corinthians 5:21 states, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (ESV). Through Christ's death, we are made righteous in God's sight, not by our efforts but by His love and grace. God's love is not dependent on our performance or worthiness. This incredible act of love demonstrates God's unwavering commitment to reconciling us to Himself, regardless of our condition.
The Holy Spirit is vital in helping us grasp the immensity of God's love and apply it to our lives. As we yield to the Spirit's guidance and allow Him to reveal the truth of God's love, our faith is strengthened, and we experience the transformative power of His grace.
In the fifth episode of "Love Beyond Measure," Duane teaches about the profound depths of God's love and its essential attributes, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. These sixteen characteristics are not just guidelines for believers to follow but also a reflection of God's very nature, for "God is love" (1 John 4:8).
This love is not dependent on performance but on God's unchanging character. It is a love that bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things, never failing (1 Corinthians 13:7-8). It's important to meditate on these attributes as a revelation of how God loves us unconditionally. God loves His children with the same love He has for His Son, Jesus (John 17:23).
By truly knowing and believing in God's love, believers can experience wholeness, develop a healthy self-love, and extend that same love to others around them. God's love is immeasurable, unconditional, and unchanging. It's this love that empowers believers to live abundantly and love others as God has loved them.
In the fourth episode of "Love Beyond Measure," Duane explores the unfathomable depth of God's love for us, demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross.
1 John 4:9-10 states, "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
God's love is not based on our circumstances or conduct but on His unchanging character and nature. Love is an inherent attribute of who God is, and He loves us unconditionally, regardless of our failures or shortcomings. God's love was displayed in the most profound way when Jesus, the sinless Son of God, took upon Himself the punishment for our sins on the cross, becoming the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our transgressions.
Through the cross, God's love was made manifest, providing a way for us to be forgiven, redeemed, and reconciled to Him. When we truly understand and embrace this love, it casts out fear and gives us boldness, even in the face of judgment or rejection from the world.
In the third part of the series "Money Talks," Brother Duane teaches the four pillars of biblical prosperity: work, stewardship, discipline, and giving. These principles work together to create a balanced approach to financial blessing, focusing on cultivating a giving heart.
The first pillar, work, is presented as a God-given principle for prosperity. Brother Duane emphasizes the importance of developing a strong work ethic, especially when teaching children and grandchildren.
Stewardship, the second pillar, involves wisely managing what one has and controlling desires for what one doesn't have. Good stewardship applies to both possessions and attitudes.
The third pillar, discipline, illustrated in Proverbs 6:6-11, encourages readers to learn diligence from the work ethic of an ant. There is a for financial discipline, including budgeting, saving, and avoiding unnecessary debt.
The fourth pillar, giving, is a supernatural principle that leads to blessing. Proverbs 11:24-25 states that those who give generously will prosper. In Acts 10:1-4, Cornelius' prayers and almsgiving are described as a "memorial before God."
Giving is not just about money but about the attitude of the heart. Tithing under the New Covenant is not about legalism but honoring Jesus as our High Priest "after the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 7).
Brother Duane encourages believers to apply these principles in their lives. God blesses those who follow His financial wisdom. Giving not only blesses others but also lays up treasures in heaven, as taught in Matthew 6:20.
In the third episode of "Love Beyond Measure," Duane teaches about the depth of God's love by emphasizing the importance of truly understanding God's love beyond mere intellectual knowledge. According to 1 John 4:7-8, there are three fundamental truths about God's love:
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Love originates from God, not from the world or our human nature. True love is a divine attribute from God and cannot be fully understood or defined by the world.
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To truly love, one must be born of God and have an intimate knowledge of Him. The term "know" in the Bible refers to a deep, personal relationship, similar to the intimacy between a husband and wife. Therefore, we need a close personal relationship with God to experience and express His love.
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God is love. Love is not just something God possesses; it is His essential nature. God's love for us is limitless, immeasurable, and unchanging, regardless of our actions or circumstances.
Duane emphasizes that many believers struggle to fully grasp God's love because they rely on the world's distorted understanding or measure God's love based on their performance. Ephesians 3:17-19 reveals that by being deeply rooted and grounded in God's love, we can comprehend its vastness and experience it fully. Growing in a deep revelation of God's love will provide a firm foundation during trials and enable us to love others.
In the second episode of "Love Beyond Measure," Duane teaches the importance of knowing God's love for us and how the Holy Spirit primarily reveals this love. There are four foundational truths from 1 John 4:7-9 about God's love:
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Love is of God, not of this world or our flesh (v. 7).
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To love with God's love, one must be born of God and know God (v. 7).
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God is love; it is His nature and character (v. 8).
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God's love was manifested by sending His Son, Jesus, to be the propitiation (satisfactory sacrifice) for our sins (v. 9).
Duane shares his powerful testimony of having an open vision of the cross, where he saw himself in Christ, crucified with Him, buried, and raised to new life. This revelation of the cross showed him God's unconditional, unmerited love, satisfying God's righteous judgment against sin through Christ's sacrifice, and his faith exploded.
Not everyone has such a dramatic experience, but the Holy Spirit can reveal the same truth through the Word of God (Romans 5:8, 1 John 3:16). The cross is the primary way we know God's love, as He demonstrated His love by sending His Son to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
God loves you so much! Many Christians do not fully comprehend the depth of God's love and how it impacts their faith. Duane teaches that understanding God's love is crucial to our faith.
In Ephesians 3:16-19, Paul pleads for believers to comprehend the vast dimensions of God's love - its breadth, length, depth, and height. This love is not just intellectual knowledge but a revelation from the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures. To be firmly established in God's love, our faith will soar, and we can love God and others more fully (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10).
According to 1 John 4:18, perfect love casts out fear. When we truly grasp the immensity of God's love for us, it dispels anxiety and worry, even the fear of death itself. God's love is not based on our performance or conduct but on God's unchanging character and nature.
Knowing God's love for us will transform our lives and help us to love God and others. This message will deepen your understanding of God's immeasurable love and how embracing that love can strengthen both your faith and relationships.
In the final episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches that maturity is the sixth defense in guarding against deception, especially in the Christian faith. One of the primary reasons many people depart from the faith is immaturity - being carnally minded and lacking spiritual discernment.
How can professing Christians embrace immorality, vote for leaders who oppose biblical values, and support unbiblical ideologies that celebrate sinful behaviors? The root cause of this departure often lies in a lack of genuine salvation and spiritual rebirth. Some attend church and try to live a moral life, mistakenly believing that this alone secures their salvation. True Christianity, however, involves a spiritual transformation through being born again, with God's Spirit dwelling within and empowering a new life in Christ.
Even among those genuinely born again, many fail to transition from being new converts to becoming mature disciples of Christ. They remain spiritual infants, unable to properly understand and apply the deep truths of God's Word. The path to maturity requires humility – acknowledging one's limitations, remaining teachable, and submitting to God's ways rather than pridefully clinging to one's own understanding. As the Apostle Paul affirmed, when he became a man, he put away childish things, recognizing and discarding immature thought patterns and behaviors.
Ultimately, maturity is not the absence of all immaturity but the ability to discern and willingly lay aside immature mindsets and actions. It is a lifelong process of growth, enabled by God's grace, as believers press on to know Christ more intimately and become conformed to His image.
In the nineteenth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches that the fifth defense against deception is to be a "doer of the word" and not just a "hearer only." This means actively living out and applying the teachings of the Bible, rather than simply listening or reading without putting them into practice (James 1:21-25).
If you hear or read the Bible without mixing faith and obedience, it will not lead to transformation in your life. Someone who hears the word but does not act upon it is like a person who looks in a mirror, sees their reflection, but immediately forgets what they look like when they walk away.
True faith requires doing "the work" by living out the teachings of Jesus and the principles found in God's Word. This obedience and application of Scripture is a vital safeguard against deception, helping believers stay grounded in the "simplicity of Jesus" rather than being led astray.
In this compelling message on money and prosperity, Brother Duane teaches that God desires to bless His people. However, prosperity involves more than just finances. There are four key components of biblical prosperity: work, stewardship, discipline, and giving.
Having a solid work ethic is essential. Thessalonians 3:10 states: "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." Work is part of God's image in mankind and vital in providing for oneself and others.
Duane explores Jesus' parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16:9. In this parable, Jesus says to "make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon," explaining that we should use money to further God's kingdom and save souls. Duane underscores that how we handle money tests our faithfulness in spiritual matters.
Discipline is the third component that can be challenging in today's digital age. True prosperity comes from God's perspective on money. Proverbs 10:22 says, "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it."
The power of giving is the fourth component. Be a faithful steward so you can use your resources to bless others and further God's kingdom. In Acts 10, Cornelius' giving and prayers were a "memorial before God," even before he was saved, demonstrating the spiritual impact of generosity.
In the eighteenth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches how the Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus throughout the Scriptures, revealing Him as the fulfillment and embodiment of God's promises. Jesus is also the firstborn of fullness from which all spiritual blessings come (Ephesians 1:3, 1 John 2:24). The Holy Spirit shows us Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) regarding our need for God.
The Spirit reveals Jesus as the answer to the human condition – our deep spiritual bankruptcy, separation from God due to sin (Romans 3:23). Scripture testifies that humanity was spiritually destitute and hopeless before the grace of God through Christ's sacrifice (Ephesians 2:12). It reveals all people, even spiritual people like Abraham, David, and Paul, were spiritually bankrupt and in desperate need of divine rescue from sin's dominion (Romans 3:10; 9:16; 11:32).
The Holy Spirit revealed God's supreme expression of love – He so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son to deliver us from sin's dominion (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8). This salvation requires a response to the Spirit's conviction, repentance, and turning from sin's depravity through embracing the light of the Cross (Ephesians 2:8).
The Spirit reveals we were spiritually naked, bankrupt, doomed to judgment (Ephesians 2:11-12). Yet, Christ's full pardon came through His sacrifice, providing grace wherein our response can be sincere. By embracing His light, repenting, and receiving His pardon, we become spiritually alive from the dead - like Jesus bodily raised from spiritual death (Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-8; Ezekiel 36:26-27). But for those who embrace and obey this way, we will live, co-reigned with Christ forevermore (Revelation 22:3-5, Romans 8:17).
In the seventeenth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches the importance of understanding the simplicity of Jesus as a defense against deception. He emphasizes that the Bible and scriptures should always lead us to Jesus. Studying the Bible without focusing on its author and subject, Jesus is like memorizing a restaurant menu without ordering a meal.
People often focus solely on the literal interpretation of the word, missing the spiritual and life-giving aspects found in Jesus. This can lead to legalism, unkindness, and deception by not allowing the word to lead them to intimacy with Christ. Doctrines and traditions should guide us to Jesus.
Only by keeping a simple focus on Jesus can we avoid being led astray. Believers should have a child-like, simple faith centered on Jesus as the living Word. Doctrines, traditions, and even the Scriptures themselves are meant to continually guide us to the person of Christ and abiding in Him, our sure defense against deception.
In the sixteenth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane stresses the importance of making God's Word the ultimate authority in our lives. In a world with conflicting voices from our culture, leaders, and personal experiences, it's crucial to let God's Word be the ultimate truth.
The simplicity of Jesus is a powerful defense against deception. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul expresses concern that believers might be led astray from the simplicity that is in Christ, just as the serpent's cunning deceived Eve. This simplicity is not about lacking depth but about focusing on the fundamental truths of the gospel. Jesus' teachings are straightforward: love God, love your neighbor, and trust in His sacrifice for our salvation. Complexity can lead to deception.
When we add to or complicate God's instructions, we open the door to misunderstanding and falsehood. For instance, in the Garden of Eden, Satan's tactic was to question and complicate God's simple command to Adam and Eve. By doubting and adding to God's words, they fell into deception. Keeping it simple means adhering to the core gospel message without allowing cultural or intellectual additions to distort it.
Obeying God's straightforward commandments, such as loving others and living righteously, is the essence of faith. The simplicity of Jesus focuses on His love, His teachings, and His sacrifice.
In the fifteenth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane continues teaching on the third defense against deception—the fear of the Lord. Our culture has become so saturated with deception that it has infected many in the church because they lack discernment. We need an awakening to come out from darkness and be separate as children of light.
The first defense covered was the Word of God. The second defense was discerning the voice of God. This episode focuses on the third critical defense - the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord causes us to depart from evil rather than depart from the faith into deception.
Jesus equated fearing the Lord with worshipping and serving Him alone (Matthew 4:10). Fearing God means being in awe of His glory, majesty, and greatness, as exemplified in the Psalms. It produces a thankful, worshipful heart.
According to Proverbs 8:13, the fear of the Lord means hating evil, pride, arrogance, and perverse speech. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists things the Lord hates:
A proud look
A lying tongue
Murdering the innocent, wicked imaginations
Eagerness for evil
A false witness
Sowing discord
The fear of God aligns our hatred with His hatred of these evils that destroy people.
Many people, even in churches, do not truly fear God by hating evil. Instead, they deny God's holy wrath and justice against sin. Some wrongly claim a God of love could never send people to hell, failing to understand people choose hell themselves by rejecting God's love and sacrifice.
God's wrath flows from His love, as He hates anything that harms His beloved people. Just as a loving parent warns their child against danger, our loving God warns against the eternal danger of embracing evil.
Romans 12:9 commands believers to hate evil and cling to good with sincere love. We are to hate evil deeds, not people. Developing a healthy, reverential fear of the Lord protects us from being deceived onto the path of darkness and a reprobate mind. Instead, it aligns our hearts with God's heart to love what is good and hate what is evil.
In the fourteenth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane continues his teaching on defenses against deception. The first defense is the Word of God. The second defense is discerning the voice of God. This episode focuses on the third defense - the fear of the Lord.
Fearing the Lord means worshiping Him alone, as Jesus taught in Matthew 4:10. Worship acknowledges who God is - His love, holiness, and righteousness. As we gain revelatory knowledge of God's nature through Worship, we become more like Him.
The fear of the Lord produces a thankful heart that glorifies Him even amid problems. Brother Duane acknowledges injustices have happened to him, but he chooses to see God's faithfulness because of his reverential fear of the Lord.
We will ultimately face judgment before God—either the Great White Throne for unbelievers or the judgment seat of Christ for believers. No one will unjustly go to hell without clearly rejecting the knowledge of God revealed to them.
The fear of the Lord protects us from being deceived onto the path of deception. Discerning God's truth from satanic lies requires humbly fearing, glorifying, and thanking our holy, just Creator and Savior.
This powerful message addresses the often controversial topic of finances from a Biblical perspective. Brother Duane teaches that money is not just a natural issue but a spiritual one that impacts every area of life. There are common misconceptions about wealth and poverty, but scripture indicates that God desires to prosper His people.
3 John 1:2 states, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants. Duane presents a holistic approach to biblical prosperity, highlighting four key components: work, stewardship, discipline, and charity. Stressing the importance of developing a strong work ethic, managing resources wisely, practicing self-discipline, and generous giving, he cautions against both the worldly pursuit of wealth and the religious notion that poverty is virtuous.
Deuteronomy 8:18 says: "And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day." It's God that gives us the power to gain wealth.
Brother Duane encourages believers to seek God's perspective on finances rather than adopting worldly or religious extremes. He challenges listeners to teach these principles to the next generation, ensuring a legacy of biblical prosperity that honors God and blesses others.
In the thirteenth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches about the fear of the Lord as a crucial defense against deception. Understanding and embracing the fear of the Lord is vital for believers to maintain their faith and avoid falling into deception.
The fear of the Lord is not a tormenting fear but a reverent and holy respect for God. This reverence is essential for guarding against the prevalent deception in the world and within the church. To clarify the fear of the Lord, Duane refers to Jesus' response to Satan during His temptation in the wilderness.
In Matthew 4:10, Jesus rebukes Satan, saying, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 6:13, which states, "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him." Jesus equates the fear of the Lord with worshiping God, highlighting that to fear God is to worship Him and have a deep reverence for His holiness and authority.
Reverence for God is crucial for believers. It leads them to depart from evil and align their lives with God's will. Job 28:28 declares, "The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." This verse underscores that fearing God grants wisdom and understanding, enabling believers to recognize and avoid evil.
The fear of the Lord is foundational for acquiring true wisdom and knowledge. Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." By fearing God, believers start their journey toward wisdom and insight into God's nature and His expectations for righteous living.
Duane contrasts the fear of the Lord with the fear of man or the world, which often leads to deception and sin. A proper fear of God includes an awareness of His holiness and justice. This fear motivates believers to live righteously, avoiding behaviors contradicting God's commandments. It also brings a deep respect for God's word, which is a defense against false teachings and cultural pressures that lead away from the truth.
In the twelfth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane emphasizes the crucial role of God's provisions in countering pervasive deception in society and the church. The supernatural joy from the Holy Spirit and the reverent fear of the Lord stand out as key defenses.
Joy is one of the core "protocols" or languages of God's Kingdom, along with righteousness and peace. When believers experience a supernatural joy rising up within, that reflects the voice and pleasure of God leading them. This godly joy serves as an inward guide showing His approved path.
The Bible states in Nehemiah 8:10 that the joy of the Lord is our strength. As we obey God and walk in His ways, we will sense a divine joy that strengthens and affirms we are following His voice. However, when we operate in disobedience, that joy is grieved and absent from our spirits.
Philippians 2:12-13 reveals that God works in believers "both to will and to do for His good pleasure." We can discern His good pleasure toward our actions by monitoring this supernatural joy. When it rises, we bring Him joy by doing His will. But when the joy fades, we have grieved His Spirit through disobedience.
This divine joy becomes God's inward voice, leading and guiding us from the inside out. It provides an intuitive sense of His approval versus displeasure with our choices and behaviors. Learning to be sensitive to the presence or absence of this joy helps keep us from being deceived.
The second defense is the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Proper, reverential fear and awe of God prevent us from casually giving in to deception or departing from faith. That is why the Apostle Paul instructed believers to work out their salvation with "fear and trembling" in Philippians 2:12.
When we walk in the fear of the Lord, we will take our obedience seriously and be on guard against anything displeasing to God. This breeds a sobriety and spiritual vigilance that protects us from deception's snares. The fear of the Lord provides a restraining, convicting influence that keeps us from being misled.
By cultivating awareness of both the joy and the fear of the Lord within our spirits, we can be attuned to His voice and leading. These two defenses work in tandem to expose deception and keep us securely following the truth.
In the eleventh episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches that God has provided several defenses to protect believers from being deceived in our culture filled with deception. One of the most important defenses is understanding the protocols and language of God's Kingdom.
Just like every earthly kingdom has its own protocols, laws, and language, the Kingdom of God operates by specific principles. Romans 14:17 lays out three core protocols of God's Kingdom - righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. These form the "language" by which God speaks to His people.
Righteousness is how God communicates what is right and wrong. When making decisions, God's voice will align with what is righteous according to His standards in Scripture. Anything promoting unrighteousness, like immorality, hatred, or harm, comes from the voice of the deceiver, not God's voice.
Peace is another way God guides believers. The supernatural peace of God ruling in our hearts serves as an "umpire," showing God's path versus the wrong one. When we have an inward sense of peace about a decision, that indicates God's approval. But if our peace leaves, that signals a wrong direction from God's will.
The third Kingdom protocol is joy. The Bible describes having supernatural joy from the Holy Spirit, even amid difficult circumstances. This joy becomes the voice of God leading and strengthening us. When we sense that joy rising up within, it reflects God's pleasure and good path for our lives.
The Kingdom protocols - righteousness, peace, and joy - form the actual language of the Holy Spirit guiding believers from the inside out. God's will is not something "out there" to be found but is worked out from within us as He prompts our wills and desires according to His good pleasure.
We can walk in God's truth rather than being deceived by learning to discern and yield to this inward voice of righteousness, peace, and joy. These Kingdom protocols provide a powerful defense against the rampant deception in society and even the church today.
In the tenth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches the importance of God's Word and the peace of God as defenses against deception. God's Word is the first and foremost defense against deception, and it must be exalted above human reasoning, philosophies, and cultural influences. When the Word of God is neglected or rare, it becomes challenging to discern God's voice.
A second defense is the peace of God. According to Colossians 3:15, believers are instructed to let the peace of God rule in their hearts. Peace is one of the primary ways God speaks and leads His people.
There is a difference between being at peace with God and having the peace of God. Being at peace with God is the result of God making peace with us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. However, having the peace of God is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that dwells within the born-again human spirit.
The peace of God acts as an umpire or a voice of guidance in decision-making. When believers are about to make a wrong choice or stray from the path of light, they will lose their inner peace. Conversely, when they have peace about a decision, God's voice confirms that they are safe to proceed.
Peace is God's umpire within believers, making the judgment call when decisions need to be made. Just as an umpire's call in baseball is final, the peace of God within is God's authoritative voice guiding our choices.
God's Word and His peace are interconnected. When the Word of Christ dwells richly within believers, as instructed in Colossians 3:16, it heightens your spiritual discernment and sensitivity to the Lord's voice, including the voice of His peace. By exalting the Scriptures and yielding to the umpire of peace, believers can walk in the path of righteousness and avoid being misled.
In the ninth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches that God has provided two critical safeguards to protect believers from deception. God's Word is the first defense against deception, which must be exalted above human reasoning, philosophies, and cultural influences. When there is a lack of God's Word, it becomes difficult to discern His voice, as seen in the story of young Samuel.
The second defense is recognizing the voice of the Lord. According to Romans 8:14, believers must be led by the Spirit of God. However, many Christians struggle to recognize God's voice. God's voice is often a still, small voice within and may not always be in English. The language of the Holy Spirit includes dreams, visions, impressions, and a sense of peace. These are ways in which God speaks to His people. Believers should expect to receive dreams and visions from the Lord, as these are the primary language of the Holy Spirit.
Additionally, God can speak through prophecy, godly counsel, spiritual leaders, and impressions or gut feelings. The Holy Spirit may also grieve within us when we are about to make a wrong choice, which is another way God guides us.
One of the main ways God speaks is through His peace. Colossians 3:15 instructs believers to let the peace of God rule in their hearts. When we are about to be misled or stray from the path of light, we will lose our inner peace, God's voice warning us.
When we are grounded in God's Word, it heightens spiritual discernment and sensitivity to the Lord's voice. However, when the Word of God is rare or neglected, it becomes harder to recognize God's voice. Believers must immerse themselves in the Scriptures to become attuned to how the Holy Spirit speaks and leads them so they will not be deceived.
In the eighth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches the importance of hearing God's voice as a defense against deception. God has provided safeguards in Scripture to equip us against being deceived. Satan has a history of questioning God's word, as seen with Eve, and deception can appear harmless but have harmful intentions, as described in Revelation 13. Believers can and should hear God's voice, but many struggle to recognize it.
In John 10, Jesus said that His sheep hear His voice and know it. However, like Thomas, who said he didn't know the way, we may not consciously recognize what we already know in our spirits. We may dismiss or not discern God's voice without realizing it.
God's voice is often a still, small voice within and is not always in English. The language of the Spirit includes dreams, visions, impressions, and a sense of peace. Believers have the capacity to hear God's voice and discern it from the voice of the stranger or the devil.
Romans 8 explains that believers are led by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God. Even when we stray, the Holy Spirit leads us to repentance, guiding us back to the intended path, just as a GPS system does.
By learning to tune in and heed the Holy Spirit's leading, we can stay on the straight and narrow path. When we stumble, God's voice calls us to repent, change our minds, and get back on track, as He is committed to guiding us to our destination.
In the seventh episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches the importance of having the proper and final authority in one's life, which he identifies as God and God's Word. He stresses that this is a crucial defense against the increasing deception and darkness infiltrating society and the church.
The New Testament repeatedly commands believers to "be not deceived" (1 Corinthians 15:33, Galatians 6:7), indicating it is possible to fall into deception. This deception grows worse and worse, often directly or indirectly enabled by Christians who have compromised the truth.
The first line of defense is to exalt God's Word as absolute, objective truth and final authority over every other voice, such as government, media, feelings, etc. Those who prosper spiritually all uplift Scripture's authority in their lives. There must be a final authority, and only God and His Word can rightly claim that position of supreme truth.
A second vital defense is cultivating sensitivity to the Lord's still, small voice within (1 Kings 19:12). When Jacob deceived Isaac, Isaac heard Jacob's voice but was led astray by his physical senses of touch, taste, and smell, which overrode that inner witness. Similarly, Sheriff laments how often people let their feelings trump God's clear Word when he tries to counsel them as Jesus' followers.
Using Revelation 13:11, Sheriff illustrates how the spirit of deception makes things appear lamb-like and loving on the surface while masking the dragon's voice of destruction underneath. Immorality, perversion, and ideologies contrary to biblical truth are deceptively packaged as "love" and pushed on society and even churches. But God's kind of love never harms or violates His laws.
Discerning the dragon's voice from the Shepherd's voice is crucial in this age of deception. Christians must mature in God's Word as the final authority, humbly cultivate hearing His still, small voice, and not be deceived by their senses or the persuasive yet destructive rhetoric of the world. Only by applying these divinely-given defenses can they remain undeceived.
In the sixth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches the importance of guarding against deception, as God has provided multiple defenses against it. The New Testament repeated warnings about deceivers and being deceived, showing it is possible even for believers to fall into deception. The first defense God has given is His Word. If believers abide or continue in God's Word, Jesus said they are His disciples who will know the truth that brings freedom (John 8:31-32). By disciplining oneself in Scripture, one's discernment increases to recognize the fingerprints of the enemy versus the Holy Spirit.
The story of Eve being deceived by the serpent in Genesis 3 illustrates how deception operates. Satan's tactic was first to question God's Word, get Eve to dismiss it, and then outright contradict it, tempting her to disobey by doubting God's goodness and care. This shows how compromising God's Word opens the door to deception.
The Scripture of Jacob deceiving his father Isaac in Genesis 27 is also an example. A telltale sign of deception was the haste and pressure Jacob used—faith never operates under an anxious hurry. Another red flag was Jacob claiming "God blessed me" to justify his deceit, which is "dropping the God card" to wrongly use God to approve one's desired course.
Isaac was led astray by his feelings - the hands "felt" like Esau's, though they were goatskins. How often do people let their feelings trump God's clear truth and Word when he tries to guide them as Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life? They fail to realize that only obedience to God's Word, not rejecting it, leads to true wisdom.
Discernment comes through knowing God's Word combined with patience and walking by faith, not feelings or hastiness. Professing believers who end up embracing abominations and departing from the faith have been deceived by not applying these safeguards against the deception that God has provided in Scripture.
In the fifth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane warns about the increasing darkness and deception infiltrating the world and even the church. Many people, including believers, have departed from the faith by heeding deceiving spirits and doctrines of devils, just as the apostle Paul warned Timothy in 1 Timothy 4.
According to 1 Timothy 3:15, the church is supposed to be the pillar and ground of truth. However, the church often propagates deception and doctrines contrary to God's nature, Judeo-Christian values, and a biblical worldview. This happens because people do not know the truth and are easily influenced by lies, fraud, and corruption from the world.
The key defense against such deception is the Word of God. As Romans 1:18 states, God's wrath is revealed against those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Unrighteous people reject God's truth not just for themselves but actively work to suppress it. This is what is behind cancel culture - canceling and suppressing truth. Just as the devil accuses others of what he is guilty of himself, those embracing darkness accuse truth-tellers of spreading misinformation when they are the real purveyors of lies and deception. They gaslight and become such skilled liars that they start believing their own lies if one does not know the truth of God's Word.
Even many pastors do not properly teach biblical truth anymore.
So where are people, especially young people, supposed to find the truth -not from biased news media, corrupt politicians, or indoctrinating college professors? This is why knowing Scripture is so vital to identifying deception and remaining free in Christ's truth. As Jesus stated in John 8:31-32, it is by abiding or continuing in His Word that one is truly His disciple who will know the truth that brings freedom.
In contrast, Duane explains how systems like Marxism, socialism, and communism - though claiming justice and equity - are rooted in the antichrist spirit that always leads to slavery, tyranny, and despotism by suppressing freedoms of thought, speech, and movement. The truth is that Christ alone brings true liberty, which is why societies built on Judeo-Christian principles protect against government tyranny. An entire generation is being deceived by the encroaching darkness. The church must wake up, know God's Word as the pillar of truth, and help shine light into this deepening societal darkness.
In the fourth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane warns about the dangers of deception and darkness in the world today. Many of God's people have fallen into deception, leading to self-destruction in their Christian walk. Jesus Christ warns in Matthew 24:4 to "take heed that no man deceive you." Many false messiahs and deceivers will come and lead many astray. However, Christians can guard their hearts against deception by understanding how Satan operates and learning to discern good from evil based on a biblical worldview.
The key defense against deception is the Word of God. In 1 Timothy 4, the Bible expressly states that in the last days, some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of devils instead of sound doctrine from Christ. The world is becoming darker, but Christians must resist being dragged into that darkness through deception.
As 2 Timothy 3:13 states, "Evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." While the Bible warns that things will get darker in the world, Christians need not agree with or be consumed by that ever-increasing darkness. They are called to be lights shining brightly in the midst of gross darkness.
Deception is infiltrating churches today. Many Christians embrace outright abominations and justify them, not realizing they have been deceived because they do not know the Scriptures well enough. Moral issues like abortion, gender ideology, and anti-Semitism have led Christians astray from God's Word.
The Scriptures, inspired by God, can make one wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Knowing the Holy Scriptures is the first roadblock and greatest defense against all deception. It equips Christians with doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness so that the person of God may be complete and equipped for every good work.
Duane urges Christians to continue in the things they have learned from the Scriptures and been assured of, knowing the truth, such as the fact that all have sinned, there is no other way to salvation except through Jesus Christ, and one must be born again to see the kingdom of God. Pastors especially must dedicate themselves to understanding the Scriptures to properly feed God's people with wisdom from His Word. Only then can Christians be kept from the path of deception and remain on the path of light, righteousness, and life in Christ.
This powerful message expounds on the righteousness of the law and how it relates to God's grace through Jesus Christ. The purpose of the law was not to reveal God but to expose our sinful nature and inability to keep it perfectly. James 2:10 highlights the law's demand for absolute perfection, stating, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it," making it impossible for anyone to be justified by works alone.
Duane teaches that this realization of our imperfection drives us to put our faith in Jesus, who fulfilled the law's righteous demands on our behalf. Galatians 3:11 emphasizes, "Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because 'the righteous will live by faith.'"
Righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not by adhering to the law. Christians should not try to serve God under the Old Covenant law but rather embrace the New Covenant grace. Jesus accomplished three pivotal things: He kept the law perfectly, paid the penalty for our lawbreaking, and made us righteous before God through faith (Galatians 3:13-14).
Romans 8:1-4 explains that the law could not make us righteous because of our sinful nature. However, Jesus fulfilled the righteousness the law demanded by living a perfect life (Galatians 3:10-13). His death paid the penalty for our lawbreaking. By faith, we receive his perfect righteousness, which the law could not provide.
Like Abraham, we are justified by faith, not works (Galatians 3:6-9, Romans 4:4-5). Trying to earn righteousness by the law is sinful, as grace and works cannot be mixed (Romans 11:6). Our blessings flow from Christ's righteousness imputed to us by faith, not our imperfect law-keeping (Deuteronomy 28:1-2 & 15).
True righteousness comes through faith in Christ rather than by the works of the law. Christ liberates us from the futile pursuit of self-righteousness and empowers us to embrace the grace of God's unconditional love and acceptance.
In the third episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane Sheriff warns that the influence of Satan, "the father of lies," is increasing and stresses the importance of being able to discern deception. In Matthew 24, Jesus warned his followers not to be deceived.
The Word provides crucial roadblocks to caution against being misled by "empty words," "deceiving spirits," and "doctrines of devils." However, the inability of many believers today to identify these deceptive spirits or false doctrines, such as multiple genders, gender reassignment surgery, man-made climate change, and governmental overreach during the pandemic, can lead to serious consequences.
Loss of freedoms and governmental persecution of dissenting views can pave the way for the Antichrist prophesied in the Bible. Believers must remain vigilant to avoid being led astray by deceptive agendas and stand firm for godly values despite facing persecution and censorship.
There is an intense battle raging between the freedom found in Christ's gospel and the deceptive agenda of the world, which seeks to enslave people with lies. In the second episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane Sheriff teaches the dangers of being deceived and the importance of guarding our hearts against deception. In Matthew 24, Jesus cautions that many deceivers will come and deceive multitudes.
The New Testament instructs believers not to be deceived. Galatians 6:7 states, "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, he will also reap." This scripture shows that deception is possible, so God warns against it.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 lists fornication, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, thievery, and drunkenness and states, Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Yet some Christians seem to believe that unrighteous people embracing these sinful lifestyles can still go to heaven.
That's the danger of deception. Once you accept one lie, it paves the way for more lies and greater deception. A "spirit of antichrist" is working through today's world systems, governments, corporations, and individuals to strip away humanity's God-given freedoms. As society rejects God's moral foundations as "hateful" or "misinformation," the Bible itself may become banned.
Jesus came to set people free and give them abundant life. The gospel brings freedom of thought, speech, and movement - liberties the deceptive agenda of the antichrist seeks to steal. Satan's lies may promise freedom but ultimately leads to enslavement of the mind, soul, and spirit.
With so many lies bombarding us from the world and even seeping into the church, we must remain watchful and discerning. The spiritual well-being of future generations depends on boldly living out the freedom and abundant life found in the Gospel of Christ.
In episode one of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane reveals that God has provided safeguards in His Word so we can judge our hearts against the spirit of the antichrist, which can lead to deception. Deception and lies are becoming increasingly common in our society.
Matthew 24 warns of the arrival of many deceivers who will mislead multitudes of people. Rampant idolatry and false gods are being worshipped in our society today. They stem from Satan's deceptions, which try to lure people away from the true God.
If Christians cannot recognize the spirit of the antichrist in the world, they will not be able to identify it infiltrating the church either. Duane reveals that all deceptions are gateways to greater deceptions. Many Christians fell for the deceptions surrounding COVID-19, such as fraudulent information, oppressive mandates, and violations of personal freedoms.
This was a "dress rehearsal" for greater enslavement under the spirit of the antichrist who craves power and control. Once someone becomes deceived on one issue, they become vulnerable to falling for the next lie. Believers must learn defenses and safeguards to avoid deception—not just for ourselves but also to protect future generations from having their minds warped by a controlling agenda.
There is a deceptive agenda to strip away human rights and freedom of movement, speech, and thought. These agendas include carbon tracking, the digital currency system, and "climate change" hysteria. In the future, the Bible itself may become banned as "hate speech" or "misinformation."
More than 50 references in the New Testament warn about deception, deceivers, and being deceived. Failing to discern deception makes us and our children susceptible to the spirit of the antichrist.
In the nineteenth and final episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane emphasizes the power of prayer, the different types of prayers, and the principles behind them. He stresses the importance of praying correctly to ensure prayers are not just uttered but answered. Duane highlights that while many Christians pray, not all understand the dynamics of different prayers and their appropriate applications.
Learning to pray effectively is crucial and does not come automatically. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, indicating that effective prayer needs to be learned. There are several types of prayers, including the prayer of faith, the prayer of agreement, the prayer of petition, and the prayer of consecration, emphasizing that each type serves specific purposes and is suitable for different situations. This private devotion helps to develop a personal relationship with God and ensures that prayers are heartfelt communications, not just empty words.
In Matthew 6, Jesus instructs us to pray in a private setting where personal communication with God can occur without the distractions of public display. This teaching reinforces the concept that prayer is a personal dialogue with God, not a public performance. The essence of prayer is not in the quantity of words but in the quality of faith and sincerity behind them. Jesus' teachings on prayer advocate for simplicity, sincerity, and clarity in communicating with God.
To deepen the understanding of effective prayer, Duane explains that Jesus' model prayer, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer, is not just a script to be repeated mindlessly but a guideline on how to structure one's prayers. The Lord's Prayer encompasses adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, which are key components of a well-rounded prayer.
In the eighteenth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane emphasizes the vital role of prayer in the spiritual maturation process. Drawing from Acts 2:42, Duane explains the different types of prayers and their significance in a believer's life. He stresses that understanding and practicing various forms of prayer can significantly enhance one's spiritual journey and relationship with God.
Duane shares his struggles with prayer during his early spiritual journey with personal anecdotes to illustrate how a lack of proper teaching on prayer led to years of unproductive prayers. This reflection emphasizes the importance of learning to pray effectively, just as Jesus and John the Baptist taught the disciples.
Prayer is a particular activity that requires varying approaches depending on the situation. Some believers face difficulty receiving answers to their prayers because they are unaware of the different types of prayers suitable for different circumstances. Having insufficient knowledge about these variations can significantly affect one's prayer life.
In Acts 2:42, the early Christians engaged in prayers together. The Lord's Prayer is a model for personal communication with God. This collective approach not only bolstered their faith but also strengthened their community. Modern churches should foster a similar environment where believers can learn and grow together in their prayer lives.
Physical nourishment requires different food groups. Spiritual nourishment through prayer is multi-faceted and requires a well-rounded approach. Believers are encouraged to view prayer as more than a ritual and instead as a dynamic interaction with God that involves sincerity, consistency, and understanding.
In the seventeenth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane explores the processes that help believers evolve from converts to disciples. He uses the early church model from Acts 2:42 as a foundation. He emphasizes the importance of consistent engagement in four spiritual practices: the Apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.
The Apostles' doctrine highlights the essential teaching that grounds believers in their faith. Understanding these doctrines is crucial for preventing doctrinal errors and building a robust spiritual life. The New Testament's transformative power explains and fulfills the Old Testament, providing clarity and direction for contemporary Christian living.
Next is fellowship, which is essential for spiritual growth. Fellowship in the Christian context goes beyond mere socializing; it involves creating deep, meaningful relationships that support and enhance one's spiritual journey. This social intimacy, termed "Konania" in Greek, is about developing real connections that are not shallow but rich in spiritual substance.
The third practice is the breaking of bread, which includes both communion and shared meals among believers. In the early church and Jewish tradition, meals were not just about eating but were considered mini-covenants that expressed community and unity. These meals, whether part of communion or regular shared dining, hold a significant spiritual and relational meaning, reinforcing the bonds among believers.
The role of prayer in personal and community settings should be diverse and adapted to various situations, serving as a critical spiritual tool that supports all other aspects of spiritual life.
Throughout this episode, Duane illustrates how these practices are not outdated rituals but essential activities that foster deep spiritual maturity. He encourages believers to participate in these activities and support others in their spiritual journey, helping them transition from new converts to mature disciples.
These teachings emphasize the importance of having a balanced spiritual diet to promote growth. Just like physical health requires a variety of nutrients, spiritual health requires various practices. By consistently following the Apostles' doctrine, participating in fellowship, breaking bread together, and praying, believers ensure their personal growth and contribute to the health and growth of the larger Christian community. This session encourages believers to adopt these foundational practices and promote individual and communal spiritual development.
In the sixteenth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane discusses the process of spiritual growth and the essential steps and practices that guide believers from early stages to mature discipleship. He highlights the deliberate nature of spiritual growth, which requires intentional efforts and practices similar to physical, mental, and social development.
Spiritual maturity, like physical growth, does not happen by accident but requires a balanced diet of spiritual practices that are encapsulated in Acts 2:42. These practices are as follows:
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Apostles' Doctrine: Understanding the New Testament's revelation of grace, which sheds light on the Old Testament law, is crucial for preventing doctrinal errors and building a solid faith.
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Fellowship: Engaging in meaningful relationships with other believers is essential for personal, social, and spiritual development.
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Breaking of Bread: This practice, including both communion and shared meals, symbolizes unity and shared life among believers. It is vital for building community and strengthening bonds within the church, similar to family meals fostering closeness in a household.
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Prayers: In its various forms, prayer is crucial for personal communication with God and corporate spiritual engagement. It supports all other aspects of spiritual life, anchoring the believer's relationship with God and their effectiveness in spiritual warfare.
These practices are not about legalism but about establishing a growth track, a structured pathway that facilitates steady spiritual development. Believers engage in these practices and actively support others in their spiritual journey, helping them transition from new converts to disciplined followers of Christ.
Duane addresses the challenge of spiritual growth in a world that often opposes biblical values, emphasizing the uphill nature of the spiritual journey in a culture that is metaphorically going downhill. He warns against passivity that leads to stagnation and challenges believers to adopt a proactive stance in their spiritual development.
In the fifteenth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane discusses how believers can progress from spiritual infancy to mature discipleship in Christ. He highlights the importance of consistently engaging in four foundational spiritual activities, which he compares to essential food groups in a balanced spiritual diet. These activities are based on Acts 2:42 and include the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
The significance of the apostles' doctrine provides the theological framework necessary for understanding and living out New Testament truths. This doctrine is vital for believers to accurately interpret and apply biblical principles in their lives. Christians risk falling prey to misconceptions and false teachings without a solid grasp of apostolic teachings.
Fellowship is the second component, and it is crucial for spiritual growth. Duane compares spiritual growth to natural maturity, explaining how just as marriage and family life can accelerate personal maturity in the natural realm, spiritual fellowship—consistent, deep interaction with other believers—facilitates spiritual growth. He suggests that isolation can hinder one's spiritual development and expose one to the risks of falling into error or heresy. Fellowship provides the support, accountability, and encouragement needed to navigate the complexities of life and faith.
The third component, the breaking of bread, encompasses both communion and shared meals among believers. Sharing meals fosters intimacy and community among Christians, echoing the practices of the early church. This act of communion is not only a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice but also a celebration of the unity and mutual care within the body of Christ.
The fourth and final component is prayer. Various types of prayers are available for different circumstances and needs. Effective prayer life is taught and learned within the community of faith and is essential for personal communion with God and corporate spiritual warfare.
In order to grow, believers should balance these practices and consistently engage in them. They should apply these principles and live them out, promoting both personal and communal spiritual development.
In the fourteenth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane emphasizes practical steps for personal development and helping others grow spiritually. He draws heavily on the early church practices outlined in Acts 2:42, where the community of believers engaged in four fundamental activities that fostered their spiritual development.
Four "spiritual food groups" are essential for personal spiritual growth and the health and growth of the church community. These practices include the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers—each contributing uniquely to the believer's spiritual journey.
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Apostles' Doctrine: This refers to the apostles' teachings, which are crucial for understanding and applying New Testament truths. Duane stresses the importance of grounding in the apostles' doctrine to avoid confusion and misinterpretation of the Scriptures, notably how the New Testament clarifies and fulfills the Old Testament.
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Fellowship: The value of fellowship sharpens believers and keeps them grounded in truth. It involves mature believers helping less experienced believers navigate their spiritual journey, ensuring they avoid falling into erroneous beliefs or practices.
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Breaking of Bread: Sharing meals is a mini-covenant, fostering closeness and openness among believers, similar to how families bond over meals at home.
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Prayers: Teaching new believers how to pray effectively is crucial, as there are different kinds of prayers for various situations.
These practices are not just rituals but vital activities that helped the early church members grow from new converts into mature disciples. Modern believers should adopt these practices, ensuring they are part of a balanced spiritual diet that promotes continuous growth.
Duane uses the analogy of natural food groups to explain how each spiritual activity nourishes and builds up the believer's faith. He encourages believers to engage in these practices and help integrate them into the lives of others, thereby fostering a healthy, growing community of faith. These practices provide a blueprint for spiritual growth modeled after the early church, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach that combines learning, community, worship, and prayer.
In the thirteenth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane discusses the importance of a balanced spiritual diet that helps believers transition from spiritual infancy to maturity. This diet contains crucial components that help believers evolve from mere converts to disciplined disciples of Christ.
The four spiritual food groups based on Acts 2:42, which the early church followed steadfastly to grow spiritually. These groups are the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. The early believers strengthened their faith and deepened their communal bonds by engaging in these practices.
The first food group, the apostles' doctrine, pertains to the apostles' teachings, focusing on the New Testament. It explains the significance of Jesus' fulfillment of the Old Testament's types and shadows. Understanding the apostles' doctrine is crucial for believers to correctly interpret biblical principles and avoid confusion that might arise from misinterpreting the Old Testament.
Fellowship, the second group, highlights the importance of community among believers. Growth often happens in the context of relationships and shared experiences among the faithful. By regularly engaging in fellowship, believers can support each other's development, encourage one another, and build a strong, supportive community that mirrors the early church.
The third group, the breaking of bread, refers to the act of communion, which serves as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice and promotes a deep connection spiritually and with one another. This act is a profound expression of unity and remembrance of what Jesus did for humanity.
Prayers, the fourth group, are essential for personal communication with God and corporate spiritual warfare. Through prayer, believers align their will with God's, seek His guidance, and invoke His power in their lives and community.
Just like a diet in the natural world requires a balance of nutrients, spiritual growth necessitates a comprehensive approach that incorporates teaching, community, worship, and prayer. A holistic approach to spiritual growth like that modeled by the early church. This approach requires a balanced intake of scriptural teachings, communal support, sacramental participation, and fervent prayer. By following these practices, believers can ensure they consume the milk of fundamental doctrines and the solid food necessary for a mature faith, leading to an practical Christian life.
This message expounds on the paradox of the Christian life, emphasizing the contrast between who we are in the flesh and who we are in Christ. Drawing from Isaiah 51:1, Duane reminds us to "look to the rock from which you were hewn and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug."
Without Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5), have nothing (1 Corinthians 4:6-7), and know nothing (1 Corinthians 8:2). However, in Christ, we have everything – we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), and possessing the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 reminds us that our identity is no longer defined by our past sin but by our new life in Christ. We are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we must live accordingly, putting off the deeds of the flesh.
Duane challenges us to recognize our total dependence on God and to walk in the newness of life He has given us, remembering "the pit" from which we were dug and "the rock" to which we are now grafted by faith.
In the twelfth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane emphasizes the critical need for discernment and maturity in the Christian faith. He particularly highlights the dangers of spiritual immaturity in discerning good and evil. These biblical principles and real-world applications are necessary for believers to understand and navigate the complexities of modern society.
Every believer must make the essential transition from spiritual infancy, where one is primarily nourished by the 'milk' of basic Christian doctrines, to a more robust and mature faith characterized by the 'meat' of deeper, more complex teachings. While new believers start with fundamental understandings of faith, true spiritual growth involves advancing to a more advanced stage where they can handle and discern more profound truths.
A significant part of this growth process involves recognizing the influence of the cultural and spiritual warfare surrounding believers. Society often mimics the biblical account of eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, resulting in fatalities and devastation rather than growth and affluence. This metaphor illustrates how modern cultural norms often contradict biblical teachings, leading people to label evil as good and good as evil based on misguided or uninformed perspectives.
Just as children rely on their parents to make sense of the world around them, spiritually immature believers need guidance from mature Christians to navigate their faith in a complex world. This guidance is crucial for personal growth, contributing positively to society and countering destructive cultural trends.
Believers should move beyond the basics and embrace the challenging aspects of their faith. By developing a mature, discerning faith, believers can navigate their spiritual journeys more effectively and positively impact the world around them. They can reflect the true character of Christ in all aspects of life.
In the eleventh episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane explores the importance of moving from spiritual immaturity to maturity. He emphasizes the critical role of discernment in articulating how discernment is not only about recognizing what is from God and what isn't but also about understanding deeper spiritual truths and applying them to daily life.
Spiritual maturity is characterized by a believer's capacity to move beyond the basic principles of their faith ("milk") and grasp deeper, more complex concepts ("meat"). Milk refers to the basic teachings of Christianity, which are necessary for new believers to build a foundation in their faith. Meanwhile, meat refers to more profound and substantial teachings that challenge and grow a Christian's faith, enabling them to handle complex spiritual and moral issues effectively.
A significant aspect of maturity is the ability to discern good from evil. Many believers struggle because they remain at a basic level of spiritual understanding, only consuming milk. Consuming meat requires mature senses trained through experience and deep engagement with the Word of God. This maturity allows believers to navigate and interpret life's challenges in alignment with God's wisdom.
The inability to discern can lead to regression instead of progression in spiritual life. The writer of Hebrews criticizes his audience for their need to relearn basic principles instead of advancing their understanding. This scenario mirrors the broader condition in many churches today, with a prevalent lack of deep scriptural understanding and application.
Duane delves into the implications of lacking discernment, discussing how it affects societal and cultural perceptions and actions. He explains how a superficial understanding of good and evil can lead people to label evil as good and vice versa, influenced by cultural norms and pressures rather than scriptural truth.
This episode calls for a deeper commitment and engagement with Christ's teachings. Going beyond the elementary teachings and embracing the solid food of the Gospel equips believers to discern wisely and live righteously. By developing a mature, discerning faith, believers can navigate their spiritual journeys more effectively and positively impact the world around them, reflecting Christ's true character.
In the tenth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane highlights the importance of discernment in spiritual maturity. He explains that spiritual growth is more than attending church or gaining knowledge; it also involves the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil—which are the hallmarks of a mature believer.
Discernment is an essential element of spiritual development that is frequently disregarded. Many tend to focus on the basics of faith or the mechanics of church life. However, discernment requires a deeper level of wisdom that allows believers to navigate life's complexities effectively. It's a crucial skill because, like young children, immature believers often struggle to make sound judgments, especially in situations that require a nuanced understanding of spirituality and morality.
Duane uses examples from daily life to illustrate the need for discernment. Just as parents make decisions for their young children, spiritual leaders, and mature Christians must guide less mature believers and help them understand spiritual truths while steering them away from potential pitfalls.
In Hebrews 5, the writer laments the readers' regression to needing "milk" instead of "solid food." This regression is symptomatic of a lack of discernment, where even basic principles of Christianity need constant reiteration because the deeper truths are too challenging for the immature.
Discernment is a crucial indicator of spiritual maturity. It requires more than just knowing right from wrong; it involves actively applying that knowledge in real-world situations. Believers must strive for maturity, which involves a robust understanding of God's word, a deep sense of discernment, and the ability to apply biblical principles in everyday life. This growth strengthens the individual and fortifies the broader Christian community by promoting collective maturity and understanding.
In episode nine of his series, "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane focuses on the journey that Christians undertake from spiritual infancy to maturity. This journey is transformative and involves much more than gaining knowledge or performing religious duties. Christians are called to become true image bearers of Christ, reflecting His love and grace in every aspect of life.
The shift from being a "convert" to becoming a "disciple" is marked by a deepening relationship with God and a commitment to live out Christian values. This involves growing from immaturity to maturity. Entering the Kingdom of God is only the beginning; the real challenge and goal is to grow within the kingdom. This means embracing and embodying the attributes of Christ.
The discussion revolves around the concepts of spiritual "milk" and "meat." These terms differentiate between elementary and more complex doctrines of Christianity. Milk represents basic teachings necessary for new believers to understand their faith, while meat involves deeper, more challenging teachings that require a mature understanding and a strong faith foundation. Sheriff stresses that maturity in the Christian life means moving beyond the basics and grappling with more profound truths, which enable believers to handle life's complexities with wisdom and grace.
Duane emphasizes the necessity of love in the growth process. Spiritual maturity isn't just about what believers know but how they apply that knowledge in their relationships and daily lives. True maturity manifests through love — a love that echoes Christ's unconditional love for us. This kind of love involves forgiveness, patience, kindness, and a host of other qualities that Jesus exemplified during His time on earth.
The role of believers as image bearers of Christ emphasizes that to truly reflect Christ, believers must exhibit His character in their actions, decisions, and treatment of others. Being an image bearer means more than outward religious observance; it involves inner transformation that shines outwardly, positively impacting others.
Believers can become "dull of hearing," losing their eagerness to learn and grow, which leads to regression rather than progression in their spiritual lives. Nurturing spiritual growth is a call to Christians to a higher living standard that truly reflects Christ's love and grace. It's a call to grow in knowledge and become profound embodiments of that knowledge through love. This transformation turns believers into genuine image-bearers of Christ who can stand strong and shine brightly in a world that desperately needs the light of the gospel.
In the eighth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane discusses the differences between spiritual maturity and immaturity. He focuses on the biblical analogy of milk and solid food, as described in 1 Corinthians 3. This metaphor explains the journey from basic, foundational teachings (milk) to more profound, actionable insights (solid food) that embody true spiritual maturity.
Transitioning from spiritual infancy to maturity is essential for a fulfilling Christian life. The reference to "milk" represents the elementary principles of Christianity, such as fundamental truths about Jesus, God's love, and our identity as believers. These fundamental truths are crucial for new believers to understand and embrace as they lay the groundwork for their faith.
While these basics are necessary, they are just the beginning. Actual spiritual growth, or "eating solid food," means applying these foundational truths in real life. Maturity involves moving beyond knowing that God loves us to actively loving God and others. It's about making faith an actionable part of our daily lives, demonstrating God's love through our actions, decisions, and how we treat those around us.
Duane uses the concept of forgiveness as a powerful illustration. He explains that comprehending God's forgiveness towards us is like drinking milk, which is easy to swallow. However, forgiving others in the same manner that we have been forgiven is like consuming solid food, which requires more effort. This demonstrates a mature expression of our faith in our relationships with others and symbolizes authentic spiritual growth.
Believers can sometimes become "dull of hearing," stagnant, and lose enthusiasm for deeper truths, which results in a lack of growth. This stagnation can lead to a decline in spiritual life instead of progression. To avoid this, believers must continuously seek growth, be eager to learn more than just the basic teachings, and strive towards understanding and living out the more challenging aspects of their faith.
The role of the community in spiritual growth is crucial. It involves mature Christians taking up the responsibility of guiding the less mature ones through their spiritual journey and helping them understand and apply the deeper truths of the Bible. This communal aspect of growth ensures that the entire body of Christ moves towards maturity together, supporting one another in love and good deeds.
The message speaks to the importance of raising children in a way that prepares them to thrive in adulthood. Duane uses a scriptural analogy from Psalm 127:3-5, comparing children to arrows in the hands of a warrior. Just as an arrow has different components (feathers, shaft, and arrowhead), Duane highlights three stages of parenting and their significance.
The feathers (ages 0-10) represent laying the foundational principles of life, such as moral clarity, absolute truth in Jesus, and faith (Psalm 127:4). The shaft (ages 10-20) is the time for teaching wisdom and preparing them for marriage, careers, and handling responsibilities (Proverbs 1:8, Ephesians 6:4). The arrowhead represents the target or purpose of raising children, which is to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37-39).
Using the example of Abraham (Genesis 18:17-19), Duane emphasizes the need to command children to keep the ways of the Lord, do righteousness and justice, and pass down God's promises generationally. The speaker warns against the danger of failing to pass down the knowledge and works of God, which can lead to paganism in just one generation (Judges 2:10-12).
Duane also provides practical advice for relating to your children once they become adults, such as showing interest in their lives, asking questions (as Jesus did with his disciples), giving advice (only when asked), listening well (James 1:19), praying for laborers (Matthew 9:38), being a laborer to someone else's prayers, and more.
In the seventh episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane emphasizes the importance of Christian maturity and urges believers to grow into the likeness of Christ in every aspect of their lives. Spiritual maturity is not only about obtaining salvation and securing a place in heaven but also about living out heavenly principles here on earth. This means demonstrating behaviors that align with being citizens of heaven rather than reflecting our old, sinful natures.
In 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul speaks about putting away childish things when becoming a man. This metaphor describes the journey from spiritual childhood to adulthood, highlighting that maturity involves more than aging or having spiritual gifts. Possessing spiritual gifts does not necessarily equate to maturity, as gifts can be misused if character and love do not accompany them.
The true measure of spiritual maturity is characterized by love and the correct use of God's gifts. It's possible for believers to operate in gifts of the Spirit and still be immature if they lack the foundational love of God, which should direct all actions. Immaturity can lead to misusing spiritual gifts, potentially causing harm to oneself and others. This misuse demonstrates a lack of spiritual development, which should ideally blend the operation of gifts with a mature character formed by God's love.
1 Corinthians 13, famously known as the "love chapter," underscores that spiritual gifts must operate out of love to be genuinely effective and beneficial. This love is not just an abstract feeling but a concrete force that should guide all interactions and the exercise of spiritual gifts.
Duane also addresses the concept of spiritual food in terms of "milk" and "meat." He explains that spiritual milk represents the basic, foundational teachings of Christianity essential for new believers, while spiritual meat involves doing God's will. Just as physical children grow from milk to solid food, spiritual believers must progress from elementary teachings to more profound truths.
In the sixth episode, "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane emphasizes the importance of personal growth and helping others. Spiritual maturity is not just about an individual's growth but also involves creating an environment where everyone can mature, particularly within the church community.
Many believers who think they have achieved maturity still show signs of immaturity, such as judging or looking down on less mature individuals. True maturity involves recognizing these immature tendencies and actively working to overcome them.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul draws a distinction between spiritual and carnal believers. Paul characterizes carnal believers as those who are still like "babes in Christ," lacking the ability to grasp more profound spiritual teachings. On the other hand, mature Christians can adapt their messages based on the spiritual readiness of their audience, which helps to prevent unnecessary conflict and division.
One key sign of immaturity is the tendency to create divisions within the church based on personal preferences or loyalties to different leaders. Such behavior is carnal and not indicative of a mature believer. We should examine our behaviors and attitudes, especially those that might contribute to envy, strife, and division, as these are signs of immaturity. Mature believers should focus on unity and the collective growth of the community rather than promoting division.
The truth may inherently offend, but it should not be a weapon to harm others. Instead, mature believers should aim to communicate by speaking truthfully and with love, which promotes understanding and growth, even when the topics are challenging.
Duane takes a compassionate and nurturing approach to spiritual growth, personally and within the church. He calls on all believers to mature in their faith and assist others in their spiritual journey, emphasizing that this is key to building a strong, unified, loving community that reflects Christ's teachings.
In the fifth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane discusses the concepts of wisdom, spiritual immaturity, and maturity. He focuses on how believers can grow from simple converts to mature disciples of Christ by providing a roadmap for their spiritual development based on biblical teachings.
Wisdom is crucial for personal growth in the life of a believer. It involves knowledge and applying God's word in everyday situations. Wisdom is necessary to discern right from wrong and make decisions that align with God's will.
Duane describes spiritual immaturity as a stage in which believers are learning the basic principles of faith. He likens new believers to children who are just beginning to understand the world around them. In this stage, individuals may struggle with fundamental concepts such as faith, grace, and redemption. Spiritual immaturity is not a negative phase but a necessary step in growth. However, staying in this phase for too long can lead to stagnation and vulnerability to false doctrines.
Maturity in faith means that believers can handle the "meat" of the scripture, which includes complex doctrines and teachings that require a higher level of spiritual comprehension. Mature believers are not swayed by every new teaching or trend but rather grounded in their faith, capable of teaching others, and effective in applying biblical principles to life's challenges.
In the fourth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane discusses how to nurture our spiritual development individually and within the community of believers. As Christians, our ultimate goal is to become more like Jesus Christ, reflecting His character and virtues in our everyday lives.
Romans Chapter 8 focuses on God's plan for believers to become more like Christ. This transformation is not only for personal growth but also to reflect Christ's virtues in our relationships with others. God wants all of us to embody His attributes and carry His glory, which was His original intention in creation but was disrupted by sin. However, Christ can reconcile and restore us to our intended purpose.
Duane also talks about the process of spiritual maturation using the metaphor of newborn babies who must desire the pure milk of the Word to grow (1 Peter 2:2). This growth involves more than just increasing in knowledge; it's about transforming our mindsets and behaviors to align more closely with God's will. The 'renewing of the mind' is portrayed as essential for this transformation, enabling believers to discern and live out the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Often, Christians are distracted by debates around predestination and salvation, focusing too narrowly on whether actions lead to heaven or hell rather than embracing the broader, more impactful purpose of reflecting God's love and righteousness. We need to see beyond these debates and focus on living out our faith through acts of love and service, nurturing our spiritual growth.
The focus should be on the practical aspects of spiritual growth, such as the importance of community and how we treat each other. In Matthew 25 and Acts 9, Jesus takes a personal interest in how we treat other members of the body of Christ. Acts of kindness and love towards fellow believers are seen by Christ as done unto Him, emphasizing the profound connection between personal spirituality and communal responsibility.
Believers should continually assess and elevate their understanding of God's Word and His purposes. Spiritual maturity involves an ongoing process of learning, applying, and manifesting the principles of God's Kingdom in every life area, leading to holistic and fulfilling Christian living.
This teaching calls for a deep and reflective Christianity that seeks personal salvation and a desire to positively impact the world by genuinely expressing Christ's love and truth. Nurturing spiritual growth is a personal endeavor and a communal responsibility that enriches the individual believer and the broader Christian community.
In the third episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane discusses spiritual growth from a Christian perspective. He emphasizes that spiritual growth is more about internal transformation than external conformity. Duane also discusses the importance of believers being image-bearers of Christ and explores the concepts of predestination and God's will in Christians' lives.
Christians often have questions about God's will for their lives, such as career choices or personal decisions. While these decisions are essential, they are secondary compared to God's primary will, which is for believers to be transformed into the image of Christ. This transformation involves how believers reflect Christ's image in every aspect of their lives.
The concept of predestination is often misunderstood. Predestination in the biblical context refers not to a predetermined fate of salvation or condemnation but to God's plan for believers to conform to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. This idea is foundational to understanding spiritual growth because it aligns with God's purpose for every believer—becoming like Christ in character and action.
Sin can hinder transformation, which distorts God's image in people. Jesus restores our image and relationship with God, allowing us to reflect God's glory. Romans 8:28-29 explains that God's foreknowledge and predestination involve shaping believers to mirror Christ's image, which is the ultimate goal of Christian growth.
The process of transformation involves the renewal of the mind, as stated in Romans 12:2. Believers should change their thinking, aligning it with God's truths to demonstrate the reality of God's kingdom on Earth. This mental renewal is crucial because it affects how believers understand and live out their faith in practical terms.
Duane cautions against the dangers of conforming to the world's values, often contrary to God's principles. He stresses that societal pressures to adapt to secular standards can lead believers away from the truth of Scripture and hinder their spiritual growth. Instead, he encourages believers to stand firm in their faith and pursue a life that reflects Christ's love and righteousness.
Believers are encouraged to rise above cultural and personal challenges by focusing on the transformative power of Christ's love and renewing their minds. By doing so, they will grow in faith and become effective ambassadors of Christ's kingdom on Earth. This process involves learning about God and living in a way that genuinely reflects His love and truth to the world.
This message speaks to the importance of raising children according to biblical principles and the challenges parents face in a culture that is increasingly hostile towards Biblical values. Children are a gift from God, and the Bible compares them to arrows in the hands of a warrior (Psalm 127:3-5), suggesting that parents are warriors engaged in a spiritual battle for their children.
This message outlines three stages of parenting: the training stage (0-10 years), the teaching stage (10-20 years), and the transition stage (20+ years), and how parents are meant to relate to their children during each of these phases of life.
Using the parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the prodigal son from Luke 15, Duane encourages parents to remain steadfast in their faith and values, even when their children go astray. The father in the parable of the prodigal son stayed true to his principles while waiting for his son to "come to his senses" (Luke 15:17).
Some of our children may rebel against their upbringing, but there is hope that they will eventually return to the truth, as the prodigal son did. Duane encourages parents to pray for their children, trust God, and not compromise the truth of God's word.
It is crucial that we learn what Scripture teaches us about parenting, discipline, and remaining faithful to God, even when our children go astray. It offers encouragement to parents struggling with rebellious children, reminding them of God's love and the hope that their children will return home, just as the prodigal son did.
In the second episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane emphasizes the importance of spiritual maturity in a believer's life and how every Christian needs to transition from spiritual infancy to maturity, as it is God's will. This transition is a growth process that involves a deeper understanding and application of God's Word, aiming to mold believers into true image-bearers of Christ.
When believers enter the kingdom of God, they are spiritually reborn, possessing a fully mature, righteous, and holy spirit due to the sanctifying work of Christ. However, new believers often lack knowledge and practical application of the Bible, similar to newborn babies who are entirely dependent on milk for nourishment.
To address this gap, Duane discusses the necessity for believers to be nurtured with the "milk" of basic biblical teachings before they can handle the "meat" of more profound doctrines. This spiritual nourishment is crucial for their growth, enabling them to gradually develop the capacity to apply God's Word in their lives to reflect Christ's character and love.
Spiritual maturity involves more than personal holiness; it also encompasses how believers interact with the world around them. Mature believers should manifest Christ's traits in their actions, attitudes, and interactions with others, effectively displaying the gospel's transformative power.
Ephesians 4 explains the role of the fivefold ministry – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These ministry gifts are given to equip the saints for service and build up the body of Christ until all attain unity in faith and knowledge of Jesus. This unity is crucial for the church's collective maturity, reaching the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Duane warns against the dangers of spiritual immaturity, which can leave believers susceptible to being misled by false doctrines and deceitful teachings. He emphasizes the importance of community in the church, where mature believers help to nurture and guide the less mature, promoting growth and stability in faith.
Believers should continuously strive for spiritual growth, not settling for mere infancy in their faith but pressing on toward the fullness of maturity that God desires for them. This journey requires intentionality, commitment, and a deep engagement with God's Word, ensuring that believers are not just hearers but doers. Spiritual growth is a progressive journey that every believer is called to embark on, with the ultimate goal of being conformed to the image of Christ and effectively impacting the world with the gospel's truth.
In this episode, Duane discusses spiritual growth, emphasizing the journey from immaturity to maturity in the Christian faith. He explains that this growth is about increasing knowledge, deepening character, and becoming more like Christ. This process involves moving from spiritual immaturity, where believers may be easily swayed by incorrect teachings or worldly influences, to a mature understanding and application of biblical truths.
Spiritual immaturity is like being a child in faith. Like young children, new believers need simple, foundational teachings, which he compares to milk. These basics are essential for starting their spiritual journey. However, staying in this stage too long can lead to a lack of depth and susceptibility to being misled. As in the physical world, where children grow and develop, spiritual growth requires moving beyond the basics to tackle more complex and substantial "food," Duane calls meat.
Transitioning to spiritual maturity involves embracing and applying deeper biblical teachings—meat. Maturity is a believer's ability to handle complex situations with wisdom, reflect Christ's character in daily actions, and positively influence others toward Christ. Mature believers should not only focus on their growth but also support and mentor less mature ones, helping them grow in their faith and understanding.
Christians are expected to grow from spiritual infants to mature adults in their faith. This growth is not just for personal benefit but is essential to discern truth and fulfill God's purpose for each believer, which is to reflect Christ's image to the world.
Mature Christians navigate life's challenges effectively and help others do the same. The goal of every believer should be to reach a point where they are not just consuming spiritual milk but are also capable of digesting spiritual meat, thereby achieving a deeper understanding and application of God's word.
In the final message, Duane teaches that "Our Identity" and worth should not come from our abilities or accomplishments in the flesh but from our relationship with God and who we are in Christ. According to scripture, we can do nothing of value or significance without God. We have no reason to boast or take pride in our flesh, for everything we have and our talent or ability is a gift from God.
No one is wise, mighty, or noble in their own strength or by their own merits (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Instead, God has chosen the foolish, weak, and despised things of the world to confound the wise and mighty so that no flesh can boast or glory in His presence. We are nothing without God, and any knowledge, skills, or achievements we possess are ultimately from Him.
Our natural, carnal mind is at enmity with God and cannot please Him. Only by abiding in Christ, the true vine, can we bear spiritual fruit and live lives that glorify God. Apart from Him, we can accomplish nothing of lasting value. Even our best efforts and supposedly good deeds are like filthy rags without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
When believers embrace their weaknesses and inadequacies, they become strong in the Lord. By acknowledging our utter dependence on God and His grace, we are driven to live by faith and rely on Christ's strength rather than our own. Our boasting and confidence must be in the Lord alone, for He alone is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise.
In the third session of the "Our Identity Conference," Duane explores the transformative power of understanding one's identity in Christ by contrasting the lives and impacts of two men: Adam and Christ.
Adam, the first man, disobeyed God, which led to sin entering the world. In contrast, Jesus Christ, through His ultimate sacrifice, brought salvation and righteousness to humanity. This comparison is foundational to understanding redemption and transformation.
Adam's disobedience led to sin and death spreading to all humanity, creating a separation between humanity and God, marking every human as inherently sinful from birth. Jesus, the "second" or "last Adam," signifies a new beginning for humanity. His life, death, and resurrection offer hope and a new nature to those who believe in Him. By His obedience and sacrifice, Jesus reversed Adam's curse, providing a path to righteousness that is not based on human efforts but on grace.
Jesus' act was a free gift, bringing justification and life, whereas Adam's act brought judgment and condemnation. This contrast is crucial for believers to understand their new identity in Christ. Believers are no longer defined by their sins or human nature but by faith in Christ and rebirth as new creations.
The practical application of this teaching is a life transformed by the renewing of the mind. Believers are called to live out their new identities, not conforming to the sinful patterns of the world but embracing the holiness and righteousness imparted by Christ. This transformation is not instantaneous but is a progressive journey of aligning one's thoughts and actions with the truth of God's word.
Believers should fully embrace this new identity, letting it transform every aspect of their lives. This involves a continuous effort to renew one's mind, allowing the truth of God's word to replace old, sinful thought patterns and behaviors.
In this message, Duane teaches the great mystery of Christ and the Church, as illustrated through marriage, to provide a deep understanding of our identity and relationship with Jesus.
In Ephesians 5:31-32 Paul compares the marriage relationship between a husband and wife to that of Christ and the Church. This analogy helps believers understand their union with Christ and the depth of His love and commitment to them.
Just as a husband and wife become one flesh in marriage, believers become one spirit with Christ. This union is a spiritual reality that reflects the intimate and unbreakable bond between Christ and His followers. The marriage analogy illustrates how believers are to submit to Christ and how Christ, as the husband, loves and cares for the Church.
Old Testament prophecies foreshadow this mystery. In Isaiah 9:6, Jesus is called the "Everlasting Father," signifying His role as the progenitor of the new creation. Unlike Adam, who brought sin and death into the world, Jesus, the second Adam, brings righteousness and eternal life. This new creation in Christ forms a spiritual family, a grace race that transcends all earthly divisions and identities.
Eve was taken out of Adam, symbolizing that she was always a part of him. This act foreshadows how the Church, taken out of Christ through His sacrifice, is intimately connected to Him. The opening of Jesus' side on the cross, from which blood and water flowed, parallels the creation of Eve from Adam's side and symbolizes the birth of the Church.
This mystery of marriage and union with Christ reveals God's profound love and commitment to His people. It also highlights the spiritual reality that believers, as the Bride of Christ, are called to live in holiness and unity with Him. This relationship is not a temporary affiliation but an eternal bond culminating in ruling and reigning with Christ in the new heaven and earth.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says that those who are in Christ are completely new creations. Their old sinful selves have passed away, and they have been made brand new in their spiritual nature. In this message, Duane teaches that although our physical bodies and minds did not literally become new at salvation, our spirits were recreated and made righteous before God through faith in Jesus.
Many believers still view themselves solely based on their physical characteristics and fleshly nature instead of their new spiritual reality. The Bible says we are no longer to regard anyone from a merely human perspective but through the lens of who we have become through the transforming work of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:16). Our true identity comes not from our family heritage, ethnic background, or any other natural factors, but from our spiritual rebirth in Christ.
Jesus discovered His identity as the Son of God by having the Scriptures revealed to Him through the Holy Spirit. As Jesus read the Old Testament, the Spirit revealed the prophecies and symbols that were speaking about Him. The same applies to believers - as we study the Bible, the Holy Spirit will reveal how the descriptions of who we are in Christ are relevant to us. Just as Jesus saw Himself in the Scriptures, we will recognize our new identity through God's word.
According to Romans 5, we were all born into sin because of Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Because of his one trespass, we were all made sinners by nature from conception. However, through Jesus' perfect obedience and sacrificial death, those who put their faith in Christ have been made righteous before God (Romans 5:19). Our sin was imputed to Jesus on the cross, and His righteousness has now been imputed to us.
Believers are no longer sinners but have been made the very righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Understanding this truth about our identity transforms how we view ourselves. When we realize we have been made completely righteous through Christ, we repent and turn from sin because it no longer matches who we really are as new creations in Christ.
In this message, Duane teaches that we are all born with a fallen identity because of sin entering the world. Many people struggle with their fallen identity and try to pretend to be something they are not. Others have had false identities imposed on them by family or society. The world also tries to confuse people's identities for its hidden agendas and purposes.
However, when we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we receive a brand new identity as God's children. This identity is not based on our physical body or external circumstances but on our reborn spirit. The Bible teaches that when we accept Christ, we are crucified, buried, and raised with Him to new life (Galatians 2:20, Romans 6). Our old sinful self died with Christ, and we are made into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Understanding this new identity in Christ is extremely important because it connects us to our true purpose in life. When we know who we really are in Christ, it gives us a passion to live for Him. Our identity sets the course for how we think, feel, and act. Just as Jesus was attacked about His identity as the Son of God, Satan also tries to confuse believers about who they are in Christ. The devil wants to derail us from living out our God-given identity and purpose.
The Apostle Paul emphasizes that believers must regard themselves and others based on this new spiritual reality, not on external appearances (2 Corinthians 5:16). Though we live in physical bodies, our true life is hidden in Christ. Colossians 1:27 calls this the "mystery" that Christ actually lives inside those who follow Him!
Just as we use mirrors to see our physical appearance, we must use the Bible as a mirror to see our true spiritual identity. As we renew our minds according to the truth of God's Word, we experience the power of becoming who we already are in Christ. Though it is ultimately a spiritual mystery, knowing our new creation identity is the key to living with passion and purpose for God's glory.
Duane Sheriff teaches a powerful sermon about the difference between our spirit and flesh as believers in Christ. It's essential to understand that while our flesh is still weak and incapable, Christ Himself lives in our spirit through the Holy Spirit.
"Christ is in my spirit. And while I have a spirit united to Christ, I have this soul, mind, will, and emotions, but I live in this body." Because of this reality, we should not be condemned or confused by the weakness we experience in our flesh. Instead, we must learn to depend on Christ's power in our spirit.
Duane outlined four fundamental truths we need to understand about our flesh:
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Without God, we can accomplish nothing of eternal value. "Without Him, I can do nothing" (John 15:5). "But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
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Without God, we have nothing good in ourselves to boast about. "Without Him, I have nothing...Everything I have is by the grace of God." We should never be arrogant because our gifts and abilities come from God's grace.
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Without God's wisdom, we truly know nothing as we ought to know. "If anyone thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know" (1 Corinthians 8:2). Only God can give us true knowledge and understanding.
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In our flesh, we are inherently unworthy. "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy of being called an apostle" (1 Corinthians 15:9). Yet by God's grace, Paul could say, "I labored more abundantly than they all" (v.10). Despite our fleshly weaknesses, we must believe the reality that Christ dwells in our spirit.
Duane uses the analogy of tea to illustrate how Christ has infused our spirit. Though remaining distinct from us, just as you call water "tea," once the tea bag has steeped in it, God calls us the "body of Christ" because Christ has infused our spirit through salvation.
Believers should not be arrogant or condemning but walk with humble dependence on God's grace. We should continually look to Christ's power in our spirit, not our fleshly efforts, which accomplish nothing. As Paul said, "I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).
God desires to revive the hearts of believers with the Truth, and we should eagerly seek after and be passionate for the Truth. Duane uses the example of Pilate, who stood before the embodiment of Truth itself but chose to reject and condemn Truth due to external pressures and personal denial. The story of Pilate is a reflection of society's struggle with Truth, where we confront it every day but often choose to deny, reject, or even condemn it for various reasons, such as seeking comfort, conforming to societal norms, or due to ignorance. This impactful teaching highlights the importance of recognizing and embracing the Truth, especially in the face of opposition, to break free from the chains of lies and experience genuine freedom.
Duane Sheriff emphasizes that eternal life is not just about existing forever but about having an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ guided by the Holy Spirit. This relationship with God goes beyond just existing in eternity and instead embodies a deep connection and union with God. At the heart of eternal life is a relationship steeped in love, nurtured through learning of Him.
Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of Jesus as the Passover Lamb. Jesus's sacrifice on the cross fulfills the prophecy of the Passover Lamb in the Old Testament. The lamb's blood was used to symbolize salvation and protection for the Israelites in Egypt. Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus fulfills this prophecy by providing salvation and forgiveness of sins to anyone who believes. This momentous event in history serves as the foundation for personal faith and spiritual growth, bridging the gap between humans and God.
Duane Sheriff teaches the transformative power of grace and emphasizes the significance of developing spiritual habits that will lead to victory and peace. True humility involves denying oneself, prioritizing others, aligning with God's will, and cultivating a deep and more intimate relationship with Jesus, transforming knowledge of God into a direct experiential understanding that fosters spiritual growth, peace, and a more grace-filled life.
Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of meekness and humility in our lives. Meekness is not a passive trait but a powerful quality that attracts grace and transforms lives. Being meek or humble can foster a deep connection with God and help us face life's challenges with peace and resilience. Jesus invites us to learn from His meek and humble heart, presenting it as a key to finding rest for our souls. If we embrace humility, it has the power to transform our relationship with God, which is marked by peace, submission, and spiritual growth.
Duane Sheriff teaches the significance of drawing near to God, submitting to His will, and acknowledging the depth of His jealous love. God desires an intimate relationship. His divine jealousy is not rooted in insecurity or possessiveness but in a profound love and longing for undivided devotion. God's holy jealousy starkly contrasts human envy, highlighting the pure, passionate commitment God yearns for from us. We must recognize and cherish God's unique love for each of us and strive for a deeper, more faithful engagement with Him, free from the distractions and allegiances that often entangle our hearts and minds.
Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of humility as a crucial aspect of fully experiencing God's grace. Jesus invites us to learn from Him and to seek an intimate knowledge of God, which goes beyond mere knowledge about Him. Humility is a defining attribute of God's character, contrasting with humanity's prideful nature and false gods. God is approachable, humble, and involved in our lives, challenging us to cultivate a deep, personal relationship. Understanding and practicing humility is the cornerstone for living a life of grace, leading to peace, rest, and freedom.
Duane Sheriff teaches the difference between the yoke of grace and the yoke of the law. The yoke of Jesus is not a burden but a source of rest and freedom, which starkly contrasts the yoke of the law described as bondage. There is transformative power in coming to Jesus, taking His yoke upon ourselves, and learning from Him. True rest for our souls is found in a relationship with Christ, not in adherence to the law or religious practices. When we understand this concept, we can live a life of grace, free from guilt, condemnation, and the relentless pursuit of self-righteousness.
Duane Sheriff teaches about the depth of God's love. God's love is not just about acceptance but also involves correction and protection. It manifests through both tenderness and righteous anger. God's love is all-encompassing, forgiving our past, present, and future sins and saving us from the wrath to come. This journey from judgment to grace highlights God's profound love for us.
Duane Sheriff teaches that God gave us the law out of love. The law reveals our sins so that we may be saved. It acts as a mirror, showing our need for salvation and leading us towards faith in Christ. By highlighting our inability to attain righteousness on our own, the law emphasizes the significance of Jesus' fulfillment of the law on our behalf. This revelation of sin through the law is a necessary step towards embracing God's grace, ultimately leading us to a life of freedom and grace.
Duane Sheriff explains the purpose of the law given to humanity. It reflects our inability to achieve righteousness through our own efforts, emphasizing our need for grace and redemption. The law reveals our spiritual condition, but grace provides the cure. Through grace, we receive the power to live a life that pleases God, not by our own strength but by the righteousness imparted to us through faith in Jesus Christ.
Duane Sheriff teaches how grace has the power to break the power of sin. When we understand and embrace the concept of grace, it liberates us from the tyranny of sin. Grace frees us from the burdens and obligations of living under the law. Christianity is a relationship rooted in grace rather than legalism. This illustrates the contrast between living under the heavy yoke of the law and experiencing the light, restful yoke of grace, which enables believers to live in freedom and joy.
Duane Sheriff teaches the concept of freedom from the law through grace. He emphasizes how grace liberates us from the constraints and demands of legalism, offering a life characterized by peace and rest. By focusing on Jesus' teachings and the grace offered through His sacrifice, we transition from living under the law to living in the freedom of grace. By embracing the restorative power of grace, we live freely and fully in the light of Christ's love.
Duane Sheriff teaches about the transformative power of coming to Jesus amidst life's burdens. Through God's grace, we can be freed from fear, worry, and the overwhelming pressures of life. One of the three principles of Rhythms of Grace is "Come to Me," which offers rest and liberation. By aligning ourselves with Jesus, we can navigate the complexities of life with peace and resilience, embracing a journey toward spiritual growth and freedom.
Duane Sheriff teaches how God's correction and chastening differ from human punishment. He explains that every act of divine correction is rooted in God's desire for our ultimate good, aiming to foster spiritual maturity, holiness, and a deeper relationship with Him. This perspective encourages a receptive attitude towards God's loving discipline, recognizing it as a vital component of our spiritual journey.
Duane Sheriff teaches that the power of grace can transform our lives and enable us to fulfill our divine calling. We can find rest in Jesus with a deep relationship with Christ. Duane addresses fear, worry, anxiety, and stress, advocating for a faith-driven approach to overcome these challenges. We can achieve spiritual maturity and resilience by following the three rhythms of grace: coming to Jesus, taking His yoke, and learning from Him. By living a life marked by peace, purpose, and power in God's grace, we can fulfill our divine calling.
Duane Sheriff explains how grace is intricately found in Jesus. Jesus is the epitome of divine grace made manifest. Through Jesus, grace is not just an abstract concept but a tangible reality experienced by believers. His life, teachings, and sacrificial love on the cross exemplify the depth of God's grace. This offers redemption, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life to all who believe. There is a transformative power in encountering Jesus, where grace becomes the lens through which we view God, ourselves, and our purpose in the world. Through Jesus, grace is lived, received, and extended, embodying the heart of the Gospel message.
"Amazing Grace" is a divine gift that goes beyond human understanding and has the power to change lives. It liberates us from our past burdens, allowing us to embrace a hopeful and promising future. In this teaching, Duane Sheriff provides practical guidance on incorporating grace rhythms into our daily lives. He emphasizes the importance of solitude, silence, and meditation on scripture to nurture our connection with God. By combining these practices, we can experience personal renewal and spiritual growth. Engaging in these disciplines has a transformative power, which can lead to a more profound and grace-filled life.
Duane Sheriff teaches that, as Christians, we have been delivered from fear, worry, anxiety, and stress. Our lives are anchored in the grace and love of God, and our focus should be on our identity, transformation, and wholeness in Christ. The term "rhythms of grace" refers to an intimate and transformative relationship with God, where His divine presence flows into every aspect of our lives with love, healing, and renewal. Instead of striving, we learn to rest in the assurance of His provision and guidance.
How wide, long, deep, and high is God's love? God's love is immeasurable, with four dimensions depicted not just as an emotion but also as a guiding principle for actions and relationships. It is rooted deeply in God's nature and manifested through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. This sacrifice offers forgiveness and redemption to all humanity. Understanding and experiencing God's love transforms how we view ourselves and others, leading to a life of compassion, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice.
Today, we face a collapsing culture, and many immoral acts are justified under the guise of love. Duane Sheriff teaches that you have to know God's kind of love to love one another with God's kind of love. According to Paul in scripture, there are four dimensions to God's love, and we must not limit our understanding to just one aspect. God's love has length, width, depth, and height.
Duane Sheriff teaches the profound impact of prayer, emphasizing the synergy between faith, love, and healing. He explores the biblical foundation for the anointing with oil in prayer, symbolizing the Holy Spirit's presence and power in the healing process. Duane underscores the importance of developing a personal relationship with God. Through this relationship, prayer becomes not just a request but a deep communion with the divine. This connection fosters a fertile ground for miracles, underpinned by unwavering faith and the loving intent behind every prayer.
Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of following instructions on how to pray, what to pray for, and when to pray. Faith-filled prayer is effective, and it highlights the unshakable power of invoking Jesus' name for healing and restoration. He emphasizes that faith, when aligned with the will of God and expressed through love, becomes the foundation for miraculous transformations in one’s life and relationships. Prayer is more than just a ritual; it is an act of love and a channel through which God's mercy and healing flow, affirming the believer’s relationship with the divine through the name of Jesus.
Duane Sheriff teaches that the name of Jesus is the most powerful name under heaven. Effective prayer is not just about repeating Jesus' name but understanding and embracing the authority that comes with it. To pray effectively, we need to align our requests with God's will and use the powerful name of Jesus. This approach to prayer requires a personal relationship with Jesus, ensuring that our requests are in harmony with God's desires and plans. Duane encourages believers to approach prayer with faith, gratitude, and a heart aligned with Jesus' teachings, highlighting that effective prayer stems from a genuine connection with Jesus rather than the mechanical use of His name.
Duane Sheriff teaches the significance of prayer, power, and belief in the name of Jesus. Jesus granted this authority to believers, as evidenced by the Holy Spirit's empowerment, to perform miracles and act on His behalf. Duane draws examples from the book of Acts and the teachings of Jesus to illustrate that praying in Jesus' name requires alignment with His will and character, not just a verbal acknowledgment. A genuine relationship with Jesus, obedience to His commandments, and the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers are all necessary. Faith in the transformative power of prayer in the name of Jesus goes beyond mere ritual or formula.
Duane Sheriff teaches that when we pray or heal in the name of Jesus, we are accessing His authority and acting on His behalf, as if He were doing it. In the Bible, the apostles prayed and healed a man using only the name of Jesus, emphasizing that true power and miracles come not from our merit but from our faith in Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross.
God is love. To truly love and understand love, you must be born again, born of God, and have a personal relationship with God. This message focuses on the significance of God's love, as written in Ephesians. Duane emphasizes the importance of the older generation teaching the younger generation to recognize and distinguish divine love from mere attraction or lust. It's crucial to understand that the world's definition of love differs from God's definition, and this understanding is essential to our faith because our faith works through love.
Duane Sheriff teaches that we should rely on God as the ultimate source of our needs. We should pray to God and ask for His wisdom, blessings, and guidance in our lives. Looking for fulfillment outside of God is equivalent to spiritual unfaithfulness, which emphasizes the importance of maintaining a pure relationship with God and avoiding worldly temptations. Through prayer, we develop a close relationship with God, recognizing Him as the only provider of our happiness and contentment and avoiding selfish desires that lead us away from our divine purpose.
In this personal and inspiring message, Sue Sheriff shares testimonies of times that tested her faith and resilience. Facing financial difficulties, unexpected pregnancy, health scares among her children, and questioning her role as a pastor's wife, Sue navigates these challenges with a reliance on God's grace and guidance. Through her testimony, she emphasizes the importance of faith, the power of prayer, and the support of the church community in overcoming life's obstacles. This message encourages listeners to trust in God's plan, seek Him in every circumstance, and find strength in their spiritual walk, even in the face of adversity.
Duane Sheriff delves into the fundamentals of prayer, emphasizing its transformative power in our relationship with the Lord. He underscores the necessity of being taught how to pray effectively, just as the disciples sought guidance from Jesus. Through exploring different kinds of prayer, as revealed in the Bible, Duane illuminates the journey from discouragement in unanswered prayers to the encouragement of witnessing God's responses. Highlighting wisdom from the book of James, he stresses the importance of praying with pure motives and faith, without doubting, to navigate life's trials and receive God's guidance and blessings. This message is a call to deepen our prayer life, ensuring it aligns with God's will, thereby becoming more effectual and fulfilling.
Prayer is a voluntary act that we choose to do. It involves opening our hearts to seek God's will, and when we do so, God draws closer to us, and His grace becomes available to us. Duane Sheriff teaches that we should pray for God's will instead of our own. If we do not know God's will or His promises for our daily decisions, we should pray for His wisdom.
Duane Sheriff teaches that if we pray according to God's will, God will hear us, and if He hears us, we can be confident that we will receive the petitions we ask for. God's will is found in His promises contained in the Word.
Prayer is a powerful part of our relationship with the Lord. Duane Sheriff teaches that when you pray, you are to pray in faith without ceasing. That means that you do not abort your prayer in doubt and unbelief. Trust God and give him thanks. The prayer of Thanksgiving effects all other kinds and types of prayer.
Duane Sheriff teaches the transformative process of growing in God's Word and maturity by emphasizing the importance of transitioning from "milk" to "meat" and from being a convert to a disciple so we can hear and discern the voice of God. By understanding our identity as the salt of the earth, a city on a hill, and the light of the world, we can recognize the significance of our personal growth in benefiting those around us. As we mature, we are able to shine a light in a world that is often filled with darkness and become a positive influence on those around us.
According to 1 Corinthians, when we are immature, our way of thinking, speaking, and understanding is like that of a child. Immaturity can hinder our personal and spiritual growth and prevent blessings intended for our lives. Duane Sheriff teaches that we will not know how to discern good from evil if we remain immature. Recognizing the signs of immaturity, such as irresponsible speech, thoughts, and understanding, is essential. Instead, we should hunger and thirst for the will of God, growing in our faith and developing a Christlike mindset in preparation for future challenges.
Duane Sheriff teaches on the topic of spiritual growth and the transitioning into a mature believer. God has a specific plan for spiritual maturity, which involves transitioning and transforming our lives through the washing of the water of the Word. We are called to transition from an immature believer to a mature one, from a convert to a disciple, and from spiritual infancy to a mature relationship with Christ. Through this process, we become Christ-like and are prepared to be the mature bride of Christ, ready for His return and equipped to love others.
Duane Sheriff teaches that if you pray in accordance with God's promises and His will, the scripture states that God will hear you. Therefore, if God hears you, you should believe you will receive what you asked for when you pray. However, the manifestation of answered prayer is not always instant, so it is essential to be persistent in prayer and to stand in faith.
God has granted us the authority and keys to bind and loose things on this earth to fulfill His will. God's power is released on earth when we collaborate with Him and pray according to His will. In his teachings, Duane Sheriff emphasizes the importance of seeking God's Kingdom and righteousness first, and he explains the significance of praying in the name of Jesus. We pray as the representative of Jesus, and it is through Him that our prayers are answered.
Duane Sheriff teaches that our prayers don't need to be long to be effective. The key is to mix faith with our prayers. God has granted us authority and keys to bind and loose things on this earth to fulfill His will. When we partner with God and pray for His will to be done, His power is released on earth.
Duane Sheriff shares why to pray, how to pray, and what to pray to receive answers to our prayers. Prayer is a way to connect with God and see His kingdom manifest, but unforgiveness or offense hinders our prayers.
Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of understanding why we pray and why the motives behind our prayers are important. Duane examines the teachings of Jesus, which instructs us to refrain from praying to be noticed by others like hypocrites do. Instead, we should focus on our intentions and align our prayers with the teachings of Jesus.
God's plan for all of us is to be transformed into the image of Christ. This means that we should have Christ in our hearts and strive to become more like Him so we can be a blessing to everyone we meet. Brother Duane teaches us about the difference between spiritual immaturity and maturity. He encourages us to grow in our faith and stand firm amidst the moral challenges of today's culture.
Brother Duane teaches that operating in spiritual gifts should be done with love and with the intent to glorify Jesus. Operating in spiritual gifts should not be used for personal ambition and does not mean we are spiritually mature. We become mature by learning the foundational doctrines of Christ. As we grow in wisdom and knowledge, we can fulfill God's plan for our lives and have an impact on others, our church, and our community.
The Lord warns deception in the last days will cause believers to depart from the faith through false teachings, deceiving spirits, and doctrines of devils. Brother Duane teaches how to safeguard ourselves against this deception through the fear of the Lord. This fear enables us to discern and resist evil and ultimately thrive in wisdom and righteousness. The fear of the Lord is reverential and empowers us, compared to the debilitating fear of man.
Many misconceptions about fear exist, such as the idea that misfortune is always self-inflicted. The story of Job is a great example of how to worship God even when our friends have misguided judgments. A lifestyle of true worship nurtures a relationship with God anchored in reverence and obedience. It is a safeguard against deception and an example that integrity can be maintained even through life's fiercest storms.
As we mature from a convert to a disciple, we become a reflection of Christ.
Duane Sheriff teaches us how to shift the focus from being self-centered to being dedicated to God's will. We forgive others as freely as God forgives us. "The Parable of the Sower" helps us understand how different people respond to the same message, as seeds grow differently depending on the soil. God's word flourishes when we have a receptive heart.
Duane's honest aversion to changing his children's diapers teaches a profound lesson in spiritual maturity through humor.
Spiritual formation is the journey of becoming a convert to a disciple, from immaturity to maturity. The distinction between spiritual immaturity and maturity is that the immature do not realize they think, speak, and understand like a child. Brother Duane teaches that to grow in maturity, we must first recognize and overcome our child-like behaviors of immaturity and make wise decisions. Not everything that happens is an act of God.
According to 1 Timothy chapter 4, believers will depart from their faith due to deceiving spirits and the doctrines of devils in the later days. Brother Duane teaches that God has provided Safeguards Against Deception to protect believers so they will be able to stand firm in their beliefs. Today, our lack of reverence is leading to a crisis of equity and justice. Believers should seek God's judgment and mercy with a righteous heart. They should promote unity rather than division and distinguish between the fear that imprisons and the reverential fear that empowers.
After accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, the next step is to become a mature believer. Duane Sheriff teaches there are three cooperative powers - hope, love, and patience - that, when combined with faith, will help us become a mature believer and be a blessing to others.
According to Ephesians 2:8, we are saved by grace through faith. Duane Sheriff teaches that faith toward God is the second foundational truth or elementary principle of the Doctrine of Christ. Faith is our response to the God of grace. Faith is how we access grace and how we receive God's blessings and love.
What Now? Your born again spirit is not a baby, but your understanding and experience in applying the word of God is that of a child. Duane Sheriff teaches six fundamental principles that must be understood to transition from a convert to a disciple of Jesus. Faith in God is one of these elementary principles essential to the Christian faith.
How do we safeguard against deception and the departure from faith when we are bombarded by deceiving spirits and doctrines of devils? Brother Duane teaches that God's voice is not hidden. The language of God's Kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy. A distinction can be made between the 'voice of the lamb,' which guides us toward recognizing our blessings, and the 'voice of the dragon,' which promotes negativity and unthankfulness. Learn to recognize divine whispers amidst life's noise.
Before accepting Christ and becoming born again, the power of sin enslaved us. Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of repentance. After we become born again and accept Christ as our savior, we may be tempted to sin, but we are no longer a slave to sin. The power of grace is greater and releases us from the power of sin.
Duane Sheriff teaches that to mature spiritually, we must apply six elementary principles that lay a foundation. One of these principles is repentance from dead works. Repentance means to change your mind and change your direction. Some examples of dead works include self-righteousness, sins of our flesh, and religious works.
Duane Sheriff teaches that four major food groups help a convert mature into a disciple. The first food group is the Apostles' Creed, which trains a believer in their new identity in Christ. The second food group is fellowship, which builds faith when believers share who they are in Christ. The third food group is breaking bread, which involves sharing a meal with others and building intimacy. The last major food group is prayer. Different kinds of prayers are effective for different situations.
The Lord's spiritual diet consists of four spiritual food groups that can help us grow and mature spiritually in our faith. These groups are the apostle's doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. Duane Sheriff explains that the apostle's doctrine refers to the scripture that is inspired by God. It is beneficial for teaching, correcting, reproving, and instructing in righteousness.
When you are born again, your spirit man is united to Christ, but your understanding of Christ is as a newborn baby. Duane Sheriff teaches that the first step in figuring out "what now" is reading, studying, and meditating on the Bible. God's word is like nourishing food for your spirit, and it will help you gain a deeper understanding of Christ.
Today, we face the perils of deceptive narratives that hijack the true meaning of love and justice. Brother Duane teaches the importance of spiritual maturity, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the critical role of biblical teachings to discern the truth. Scriptures provide essential safeguards to equip our children and grandchildren with the armor of wisdom. The story of Samuel parallels our present-day challenges and the urgency to discern God's voice amid global concerns. It is vital to respond righteously and align with our divine purpose for a life of fulfillment and impact.
Our first birth is physically created by two flesh and blood parents. When you are born again, you experience a spiritual rebirth created by God, who is spirit. The new birth is made possible by the word of God, which is an incorruptible seed that will remain forever. The spirit part of you becomes born again and becomes "new" inside of you, righteous and holy.
What does it mean to be born again? Duane Sheriff shares his personal testimony when he accepted Christ at the age of seven. New believers are often faced without instruction on how to live their new life in Christ. They have many questions and little guidance, causing them to feel confused or revert to their former life before accepting Christ.
Brother Duane teaches how the Word of God is our spiritual armor for discerning truth from falsehoods in today's deception. In the Genesis account, we learn a profound lesson on the very first deception that humanity faced. Eve's encounter with the serpent reveals the importance of adhering strictly to God's Word and the dangers of adding to or subtracting from it. This ancient deception mirrors the challenges we face today in discerning God's true voice among the lies. This message is a must for parents instilling faith in their children and anyone who has struggled with doubt.
The New Testament warns against deception, which typically begins with questioning the authenticity of God's word, "Has God said?" Brother Duane teaches believers how to recognize the warning signs of deception, the importance of discerning truth, and the role of personal responsibility in guarding against deception. We cannot accurately distinguish between good and evil without God. In a culture that censors truth, turning to God's word as our ultimate guide is crucial.
Duane Sheriff explains the spiritual significance of foot washing and its cleansing power. This act by Jesus reveals profound love, humility, and forgiveness, even towards those who would betray him. By allowing Jesus to wash away our guilt and shame, we can forgive others as we are forgiven. We become clean through the finished work of Christ and can love one another as Jesus loved us.
Brother Duane explains the spiritual significance of foot washing and its cleansing power. This act by Jesus reveals profound love, humility, and forgiveness, even towards those who would betray him. By allowing Jesus to wash away our guilt and shame, we can forgive others as we are forgiven. We become clean through the finished work of Christ and can love one another as Jesus loved us.
Our faith will be tested. Trusting God in our problems will develop our maturity. Duane Sheriff encourages us to believe the Word of God and trust God when our faith is tested.
Brother Duane reveals the profound spiritual significance of foot washing, an act steeped in mystery and divine power. Jesus' ultimate sacrifice washes and cleanses us by the Word of God, and through Jesus' sacrifice, our deepest transgressions are pardoned, unveiling God's profound love for us.
Duane Sheriff reveals that it is possible to learn to stand firm in faith during difficult times by speaking to your mountains, circumstances, and emotions rather than allowing them to speak to you. Your faith is tested in difficult times, and we grow in our faith when facing and overcoming problems.
Duane Sheriff reviews the three cooperative powers of faith: hope, love, and patience. The testing of your faith in trials produces patience, and patience is what develops your character. The maturity of your character will help you endure in the days ahead.
Patience is vital to the answer of prayer manifesting in your life. Duane Sheriff encourages believers to know that through their faith and patience, they will inherit the promises of God. Something supernatural happens when you trust God, and a spiritual battle begins to test your faith to give up.
Patience is the third cooperative power in the ecosystem that operates in God's kind of faith. Duane Sheriff reveals that it takes patience to see the manifestation of our prayers. Often, when we pray, there is a battle between heaven and hell, and our weapon in this battle is our shield of faith. During that time, we can waiver, and our faith can be tested.
Duane Sheriff reveals that God loved us so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to bear our penalty for sin. Jesus bore God's wrath and punishment for our sins in his body on the Cross so we could be made righteous by his sacrifice. It is so important that we understand the beauty and simplicity of the Cross. It is the very foundation of our faith.
Brother Duane uncovers the spiritual significance of foot washing, as Jesus demonstrated by washing the disciples' feet with water and a towel. Through this act, we see the mirror image of the spiritual cleansing of our minds and bodies, the concept of being born again, and the Holy Spirit's constant renewal of our inner selves. The cleansing power of God's Word purifies and sanctifies us, serving as the ultimate truth against the deceiving philosophies of this world.
God is love. Love is the second cooperative power that works in the ecosystem of faith. Duane Sheriff shares the simplicity of love written by the Apostle Paul: to love, you must be born of God and know God. If you do not love, you do not know God. Duane says having faith is easy if you know how much God loves you.
Duane Sheriff teaches that love is a cooperative power in the ecosystem of faith. He encourages us to be rooted in God's love and utilizes several scriptures as an example of how we are to teach others how to love.
In the ecosystem of faith, three cooperative powers are interconnected: hope, love, and patience. Duane Sheriff helps us understand that our faith strengthens as we grow in our revelation of God's love for us. Love is who God is. We receive a knowledge of God's love for us through His word and the Holy Spirit, not by our feelings.
Even Abraham, the father of faith, lost hope. Duane Sheriff explains how to regain your hope. Do not consider yourself, your circumstances, or your mistakes. Give thanks and set your focus on the promises of God, who is faithful to accomplish all His promises.
We are living in challenging times. Things are changing at an alarming rate. The church is unprepared for the manipulation and the darkness ahead. Brother Duane encourages the church to prepare our hearts for more deception in the days ahead.
Hope, love, and patience make up the ecosystem of faith. Duane Sheriff emphasizes the importance of hope and how hope is a powerful force in our lives. There is a battle for your hope. Losing hope can lead to a shipwreck of faith. Put your hope in the promises of God and not in the world.
Love, hope, and patience are principles connected in the ecosystem of faith. Duane Sheriff explores the importance of hope in our lives and that our hope should be in God. Abraham's life is an example of hope, and is considered the father of faith.
Have you ever wondered why faith matters in our relationship with God? Brother Duane unravels this mystery together as we journey through the enlightening spiritual ecosystem of faith, hope, love, and patience. Discover how hope, even in the face of challenges, can fuel our faith and sustain our lives.
Duane Sheriff explains that there is an ecosystem of faith and how things are connected to your faith. There are laws and principles of faith. Your prayers will become more effective once you understand how these things are connected to your faith.
Brother Duane challenges you to awaken from the lies and deceit that pervade our world today and to prepare our hearts to seek the Lord. We reflect on how manipulation of the news media is overcharging our hearts, illustrating this with a shocking example of the New York Times article that nearly sparked World War III. Remember, not recognizing evil for what it is has dire consequences. So, let's learn how to love our enemies, call out evil, renew our minds with the Word of God, and prepare our hearts to seek the Lord.
True humility accepts that we are nothing without Christ, but through Christ, we are His workmanship. Duane Sheriff shares the four attributes of humility so we can judge our hearts. Without God: 1) we are nothing, 2) we have nothing, 3) we know nothing, 4) we can do nothing. All our abilities, talents, gifts, and blessings come from God.
Through faith, grace is how we enter God's Kingdom and how we live in God's Kingdom. Grace is God's power to be who we are and God's power to do what we do. Grace is God's power in our human weakness. Duane Sheriff explains that it is our human weakness that keeps us humble and dependent on God.
The church must discern good from evil in a day filled with lies, fraud, and deception. Brother Duane shares the truth regarding today's headlines and provides five vital instructions.
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Why does God resist the proud? Pride was the original sin of Lucifer. Duane Sheriff contrasts the attributes of humility and the attributes of pride. Humility is God-centered and focuses on others, whereas pride is self-centered and focuses on self.
Grace is the power to do all God has called us to do. When we humble ourselves, we receive more of God's grace. But when pride is in our lives, God will resist us. Duane Sheriff contrasts humility and pride so we can experience God's grace.
Humility allows us to receive more grace in our lives, but pride can hinder grace in our lives. Duane Sheriff shares the attributes of humility and what humility looks like, as well as the attributes of grace and what grace looks like. Grace empowers us to be the salt of the world, the light of the world, and a blessing to everyone we know.
We are saved by grace through faith, and grace is a gift from God. Duane Sheriff shares the basics of grace, where to find grace, and when to find grace. Grace is God's power in human weakness and can only be found in a relationship with Jesus in our time of need.
Grace is God's power in human weakness. Grace is found in Jesus and a relationship with Jesus. Duane Sheriff teaches that overcoming today's sins, weaknesses, and addictions is impossible without Jesus.
The scripture in 1 John says that if we pray in accordance with God's will, He hears us. And if we know God hears us, then we know we have the petitions of our hearts have been granted. But how do we know what to pray for? According to Brother Duane, we need to learn to pray God's will, and God's will is His Word. When we pray in accordance with God's will, He takes pleasure in answering our prayers. This not only brings glory to Him but also serves as a testimony to non-believers.
Duane Sheriff received a calling from God when he was just seven years old. However, due to a family tragedy, he decided to go his own way until he had an open vision of the cross. Duane saw all of his sins being absorbed into the body of Jesus, dying with Him, being resurrected with him, ascending, and finally being seated at the right hand of God. This vision helps remind Duane to rely on Jesus - the Rock and not the pit he was in before the vision of the cross.
Duane Sheriff's testimony of his open vision of the cross inspires reliance on Jesus rather than the flesh. Four things we are not after the flesh: 1) Without Jesus, we can do nothing. 2) Without Him, we have nothing. 3) Without Him, we know nothing. 4) Without Him, we are nothing.
Grace is God's power in our lives to become the children of God. By grace, we are saved through faith; it is the gift of God. Duane Sheriff explains that our work, effort, or self-righteousness can not save us. We must mix faith with the word of grace for God's power to be released in our lives.
When you embrace Jesus - you embrace grace and truth. Grace makes us who we are in the Kingdom. Duane Sheriff teaches that Grace is the power of God to be all you were created to be and do all God has called you to do.
The basics of God's grace is vital to our walk with the Lord, understanding our salvation, and receiving all of God's promises. Duane Sheriff teaches foundational truths and the basics of grace to reveal the "amazing" in amazing grace.
Through the "new birth," God's divine design is for believers to change into His image. We will either change for "bad," which happens naturally, or change for "good," which can only happen supernaturally. Duane Sheriff reviews the nine processes of change described in 2 Corinthians.
We do not have to try harder to change. Change comes from God's power, not our willpower. Supernatural change happens, and we become transformed into the image of the Lord when we set our minds on God. Duane Sheriff shares that our dominant thoughts will define our lives for the good or the bad.
No matter how long we have had a relationship with the Lord, we can always grow in the area of prayer. In this message, Brother Duane shares the basics of prayer - why to pray, how to pray, and what to pray.
Although it is important to learn steps and principles in ministry, Duane Sheriff teaches that those principles should point you to a relationship with Jesus. Three rhythm of grace principles are: 1) learn to come unto Jesus, 2) learn to take His Yoke, and 3) learn of Him. When we develop disciplines that become a natural rhythm, ministry will come from a place of supernatural rest.
God wills for you to experience supernatural change or effortless change, but it is not automatic. You have to mix faith with the Word of God. Duane Sheriff examines the nine declarations that reveal God's promises for supernatural change.
Why do we struggle with supernatural change when the scriptures promise us, empower us, and provide the process for change? Change comes by the Spirit of the Lord. Duane Sheriff explains that change is our divine design to be transformed into God's image and looks at why we struggle to change.
God has promised believers supernatural change. We were predestined for change to be conformed to the image of Christ. So why do we struggle with change? Duane Sheriff reminds us that God loves us the way we are but loves us too much to allow us to stay the way we are.
Through his personal testimony, Duane Sheriff shares how he developed an unforced rhythm of grace. And just like in physical activities, there is a muscle memory aspect to our spiritual journey with God. If we consistently and intentionally develop our muscle memory by walking with Christ, we will be prepared to respond to the enemy's attacks without having to think about it. To build our spiritual muscle memory, we come to Jesus, take His yoke, and learn of Him.
We were created to have fellowship with God. We fellowship with God through prayer. In this message, Brother Duane explores how to pray, what to pray, and why to pray.
Knowing God's will and purpose for your life is simple. Part of God's covenant plan was to write His will on the tablet of our hearts. You were created for God's pleasure.
According to Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish..." In this message, Brother Duane explores the power and provision of vision.
It is essential to "imagine" and see God's will for your life. In this message, Brother Duane shares his personal testimony and photos of his grandson Urias.
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God speaks in dreams and visions, and words paint pictures. What do you see Abraham, Haggai, and Gehazi?
Both faith and unbelief have an attitude. An attitude is your perspective on how you think. Brother Duane contrasts the attitude of the Israelites versus the attitude of Joshua and Caleb.
As believers, we all have been forgiven of a debt we can not pay. Duane Sheriff explains when we forgive; we are submitting to God and releasing the debt so we will not be turned over to tormenters as described in the parable of the servant who owed money he could not pay.
Forgiveness is not ignoring a trespass. Duane Sheriff shares the biblical process of forgiveness. The Bible instructs believers to go alone and confront their brother. If the brother hears you, you gain your brother. If he does not listen to you, take 2 to 3 independent witnesses to help each party be reconciled.
In this message, Duane Sheriff shares that we should not let our past define our present or sabotage our future and clarifies what forgiveness is not. Forgiveness is not an emotion. Forgiveness is not trust. Forgiveness is not reconciliation. Forgiveness is not a memory loss. It is possible to forgive and not forget.
In this message, Brother Duane reviews the five offenses that prevented the Israelites from entering the promised land. He encourages believers to avoid these offenses and to mix grace and faith, which gives them the power to overcome.
In this message, Duane Sheriff discusses God's promise of healing, acknowledging that not everyone desires it. He explains that Adam's sin brought sickness into the world, but the righteousness of Jesus provides healing.
Murmuring and complaining is the voice of unbelief. In this message, Brother Duane shares several passages regarding the deadliness of murmuring and complaining. Murmuring and complaining is one of the five offenses.
In this message, Brother Duane helps us to understand the deadliness and consequences of murmuring and complaining while sharing the benefits of a thankful heart.
In this message, Brother Duane shares that our hearts are not built for worry, stress and anxiety. God has made your heart for truth. According to the biblical definition - the heart is a combination of the soul and spirit.
In this message, Brother Duane reviews each speaker during Jubilee and summarizes their message.
In this message, Brother Duane explains the three stages of raising our children and the importance of honor.
Watch Brother Duane continue teaching "What is Jubilee?" live from Woodland Park, CO.
Duane Sheriff is the founding pastor and senior elder of Victory Life Church. His passion for sharing the truth of God’s word helps people develop a personal relationship with Jesus as they discover their identity to become all God created them to be.
We hope Duane’s message has been a blessing to you. Please like, share, and subscribe.
To learn more about Duane Sheriff’s Ministry, you can visit our website at https://pastorduane.com/
To make a one-time gift or become an impact partner with DSM: https://pastorduane.com/partnership/
In this message, Duane explains how the six pieces of God's armor are offensive weapons to counter Satan's weapons in the culture. The last piece of God's armor is the sword of the spirit. The sword of the spirit is the Word of God.
In this message, Duane addresses the fifth piece of God's armor- the helmet of salvation. The spiritual battle is won or lost in the battlefield of our mind. It is imperative to take our thoughts captive.
In this message, Duane continues to share that God has called us to engage in a spiritual battle. By putting on the six pieces of God's armor, we have the spiritual weapons to become the counterculture.
In this message, Duane discusses the next piece of the armor of God that is above all the other spiritual weapons -- the shield of faith. Understanding the basics of faith is vital in the spiritual battle.
We engage in spiritual warfare by putting on the armor of God, also called the armor of light. In this message, Duane explores the next piece of armor -- the gospel of peace.
When you speak the truth, you become a target in a culture permeated with lies and deception. In this message, Duane explains the cultural battle taking place is God's definition of good versus man's definition of good.
The second piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness.
We engage in spiritual warfare by putting on the six pieces of armor. God's Word is Truth. By sharing the truth, we utilize the girdle of truth and become a counterculture to lies and deception.
In this message, Duane reviews the six pieces of armor God has provided that are our weapons in this spiritual battle. The six armor pieces are the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit.
In this message, Duane shares how God's Armor brings God's ability to every battle in our lives, but we do not fight against flesh and blood. The battle is spiritual, not physical. It is essential to understand and put on the Armor of God. The six pieces of armor are the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is God's Word.
Darkness is excelling due to the church's lack of awareness regarding the ongoing spiritual battle. In this episode, Duane sheds light on the fact that we are engaged in a spiritual battle and that sin and darkness must be pushed back. The Armor of God is the powerful weapon that should be used in this spiritual battle.
In this message, Duane empowers us to become a counterculture by reminding us of the words of Jesus, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
In Romans, Paul instructs followers to put on the armor of light.
The church needs to recognize the spiritual battle within our current culture. We have a responsibility to be a counterculture and address the cultural issues that threaten the eternal life of individuals and the assault on family, marriage, and our language.
In this message, Duane urges the church to embody a culture of humility rather than pride. He emphasizes that the church should be a house of humility and describes the attributes of humility as well as the consequences of pride.
God is humble and believers should reflect His image. In this message, Duane describes the attributes of humility and how humility is God's nature in man. We also examine the effects of pride.
God is love. In this message, Duane continues to dive deeper into God's kind of love and how it looks different than the culture's definition of love. The holy spirit reveals God's love through the Spirit, the Cross, and the Word. Get rooted and grounded in God's kind of love.
God is love. Believers should be a counterculture of love to a culture of hate. In this message, Duane defines love and explains what God's culture of love looks like. All God's children are called to love.
In this message, Duane defines culture and continues to explore the signs & symptoms of a grace culture and its importance. Grace leads to giving and mercy.
The church is called to be a Counter Culture. Will believers be equipped to withstand persecution, prosecution, and in some countries, even execution? Or, will we compromise to get along with the culture of hate, darkness, and death? In this message, Duane encourages the body of Christ to be agents of light in a world corrupted by darkness.
The dominant culture in America has become hate, darkness, and death. God wants to use the church in the third great awakening. We must learn how to express God’s Culture of love to counter hate. In the next few sessions, we will define God’s kind of Love. Because the church at large has forgotten what love is, we will revisit biblically God’s Culture of love. What does love look like, what does love act like, and what does love sound like?
Luke 10:16-20
As we fulfill our Ministry to the Lost - we are called to be a witness and witnessing is just sharing your faith. Luke 10:16 “He who hears you hears me, he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects Him who sent me.” Share the truth in love and the Holy Spirit is the one that will convince, convict, and convert. Learn your authority.
Culture - Woke or Awake - Part 2
The Church needs to develop a Kingdom Culture. Learn the seven basic building blocks in developing a Kingdom Culture: Values, Priorities (Matt 6:33, 2 Tim 3:16-17), Behavior (1 Tim 3:15, 2 Corn 3:1-2, Standards – Plumbline (Rom 13:10, Amos 7:7-8), Celebrations, Morality – Moral Law 10 Commandments, Relationships (Prov 13:20, 1 Corn 15:33).
The Believer’s Ministry - Part 3: There are three different Ministries that God wants to develop in the life of a believer.
Minister to the Lord. We are called to minister to the Lord. Acts 13:2, Exod 40:13-15; 1 Sam13:1; 1 Peter 2:9
Minister to the Body of Christ. We are called to encourage one another. Eph 4:12-16, 1 Corn 12:12-30; Rom 12:3-8.
Minister to the Lost. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ. 2 Corn 5:17-21, 1 Tim 2:9.
Culture is a group's way of life, beliefs, and values. Culture is by design, and if you don't purposely develop a culture that's healthy, you'll have a negative culture. We must build a culture that is kingdom centered.
As believers, we are all called to be Kings and Priests. We need to learn how to rebuke the devil, speak to our mountains, confess our healing, lay hands on the sick, overcome peer pressure and stand during times of trouble.
In the name of Jesus, we have authority and anointing to share the Truth in love as we minister to the Lord, minister to the body (church) and in the ministry of reconciliation.
God has called his people who are willing to stand and fight—gladiators who are informed and equipped with His armor to war against darkness. To be exalted in light and truth.
Gladiators are trained fighters. God's gladiators defend and declare the gospel of the kingdom, and engage in spiritual warfare.
Continually beholding the glory of God will supernaturally bring change in a believer's life. In this message Brother Duane teaches about the 8 attributes of God's glory
We are called to be God's children of light; this is an ongoing process of changing into the image of Jesus.
Change is a constant and God has promised to be with us through this ongoing transformation process for His glory.
God has given us the power and grace to change and we have to mix our faith with God's promise of change.
God has given us all the power needed to change, or be transformed into the image of Jesus just as He has predestined for us.
God's predestination is that we are conformed into the image of Jesus. This is the appointment with destiny that we all have.
God created us on purpose, for a purpose. It is God's divine design for us to know our purpose individually, and corporately as the body of Christ.
God's thoughts of you are always happy. He has good plans for you and has predestined nothing but success for you.
It is our predestination to be conformed into the image of Jesus
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29
There is a supernatural change that takes place within us after we make Jesus the Lord of our lives. This changing is an ongoing process that takes place when we yield to God and allow Him to change us. Everyone and everything changes, but God never does.
How does God change us, save us, and transform us? In this message, Duane teaches us about the process of change and how we are not to be conformed to this world but transformed by renewing our minds.
There is one thing vital to our understanding and in our relationship with the Lord and Jesus is that one thing, the focus of our life.
We need to understand that Jesus is the one necessary thing we need to live life as Christ. Everything comes from Jesus, and everything comes back to Jesus, the one thing.
Do you know God? Grace is multiplied by knowing God and we can only know God through a deep, personal relationship with Him.
Do you have an understanding of our times and of what is happening in our world? We need to have understanding and wisdom to fulfill our purpose and not be compromised in the last days.
Can God trust you to stay in faith? Faith in God will equip you to overcome anything and to fight the good fight (I Timothy 6:12). We must fight to maintain our righteousness and our healing. We must fight against sickness just as we fight against sin. In this message Brother Duane teaches us the eternal truths to healing we must understand.
God is raising an army of people who know how to fight, who to fight, and when to fight, whose passion for Jesus cannot be quenched, and whose loyalty cannot be compromised.
There is a gravitational pull to religion we need to resist. The rhythms of God's grace keep us focused on a relationship with Jesus VS with law or religion.
The richness of grace is the strength of God to be what we don't have the strength to do on our own without Christ.
We can live in, and from the grace of God throughout our lives by walking in faith and staying in relationship with Him, trusting Him always.
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
We are coming into a new understanding of God's amazing grace which has made us alive together in Christ.
We are living a life free of the law and should also be living free of guilt and condemnation associated with the law. We must understand that we are sinners to be free, but God doesn't want us living under condemnation and guilt for our sins.
Jesus told us that if we come to Him, He will give us rest. We live in a world that is full of stress and we need to learn when we have a relationship with Jesus and enter into that rhythm of grace, we will find rest.
In life, we face many problems but they do not come from God. God is the answer, not the problem. God never temps us or does bad things to us. When troubles come we need to run toward God, and not away.
God is faithful and not guilty of death, darkness, or pain. Because we live in a fallen world we will experience evil and tribulations. This comes by sin, not the will of God.
We are stewards of the kingdom of God and it is our responsibility to pass the things of God down to each and every generation. We have to be fully present to God and be generational people of God, His word, and His works.
Have we been faithful in stewarding God's Kingdom for the next generation? God is a generational God and has called us to be generational stewards of His kingdom. It is our responsibility to value the old while recognizing the value of the new, and pass down the things of God, generation after generation.
Between "I believe, I receive" and received is where we must endure and be thankful. Thankfulness is where our endurance grows. The Bible says to thank God IN all things, not for all things and we must have an attitude of gratitude despite challenges. Pastor Duane teaches us to thank God always, in all things.
The body of Christ should be a people of faith and courage who know to trust God. In this message Pastor Duane teaches to prepare for a great awakening by resisting fear and by abounding in faith.
Look at the world around you. What do you see? Hate? Death? Darkness? Or, are you walking in faith and seeing the Kingdom? God's Kingdom is here and cannot be destroyed. We have to walk by faith, not by sight until the day of Jesus appears; manifesting with Him the one and only Kingdom of God.
We have to understand that all authority comes from God and is delegated with boundaries. If we can not understand how authority works, we will live an unfulfilled, unsuccessful life.
Are you saved and stuck? Have you just been waiting around for the kingdom? The kingdom of God is here now and is greater than any kingdom of this world. We need to grow and mature to understand the cost of seeking the kingdom. Pastor Duane teaches us how to endure the opposition that comes with seeking His kingdom
Success is directly connected to how we relate to authority, the authority we are under, and the authority we have. Brother Duane teaches us how to understand authority in faith and not abuse our authority.
The post Ecosystem of Faith | Love | Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Why is it that so many seem to be struggling with simple faith? Pastor Duane teaches that there is an ecosystem that makes up our faith environment. We need to understand this ecosystem so we can build up and strengthen our faith to live a life free from fear and full of hope.
The post Ecosystem of Faith | Hope | Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The world can’t discern truth because they are being consumed by darkness. Even in The Church, there is deception, and we need discernment to live in God’s will and lead people to the truth and light of the world which is Jesus Christ. We need to listen with open ears as Pastor Duane teaches us […]
The post Discernment of The Times appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
God wants us as his people and as the bride of Jesus to know who we are in Christ and to have a firm foundation of our identity in Him.
The post A New Identity appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The Lord is near the broken hearted and it is His will for full restoration in all our hearts. In this message Pastor Duane teaches on two kinds of sorrow and how we need to repent for our sins and be receptive to His forgiveness.
The post Restoring The Brokenhearted | Part 5 “God’s Comfort” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
It’s God’s will and pleasure to see us healed. We need to connect to Him in faith to manifest the many ways He makes healing available to us. In this message Pastor Duane teaches us eight ways we can receive healing.
The post The God Who Heals | Part 4 “Ways To Receive” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
God wills to make us whole in our spirit, soul and body and the scriptures say, “He is close to the broken hearted.” There are many components to healing the broken of heart, but this message takes a look at three specific ones that God has chosen to use to help us get to a […]
The post Restoring The Brokenhearted | Part 4 “How To Be Healed” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this third teaching Pastor Duane addresses many questions people have in relation to sin, sickness and healing. Questions like; where does sickness come from, what is the source of sickness and how do I get healed? This message looks at 3 sources of sickness and their relation to sin. Sin should never stop the […]
The post The God Who Heals | Part 3 “Go and Sin No More” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this message we take a look at God’s heart to restore us when we are brokenhearted. We also see how He not only wants to restore us, He desires to bring good out of the bad things that happen in this life.
The post Restoring The Brokenhearted | Part 3 “Beauty For Ashes” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
This message takes a look back into the old testament and particularly the story of the Passover Meal and how it relates to healing for us today.
The post The God Who Heals | Part 2 “Passover Meal” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
There are many things that happen in life that we have no answers for. When the unexplainable happens, it can be absolutely devastating to the human heart. Then, when brokenness goes unresolved, it leads to a negative harvest in our lives. It is essential to guard our hearts with all diligence and to turn to […]
The post Restoring The Brokenhearted | Part 2 “Wholeness of Heart” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this message Pastor Duane talks about how it is God’s will to heal all the time every time. How do we know it’s God’s will to heal? We take a look at 5 biblical truths about God that can be found in his word in many scriptures that can sure up our foundation and […]
The post The God Who Heals | Part 1 “The Atonement” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We all at one time or another have experienced pain, hurt, and hardship because of the effects of sin in our world. Learning to turn to Jesus during these difficult times is crucial. A lot of people’s suffering comes from either their own broken heart, or the brokenness of another person who hasn’t properly healed. […]
The post Restoring The Brokenhearted | Part 1 “Earthen Vessels” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
This message takes a look at 4 types of unbelief that can go masked in our lives. it is important to identify the disguises of unbelief so that we can properly cast it out and operate in the full measure of faith we have been given.
The post Kinds Of Unbelief | Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Faith is vital to our walk with Christ and the enemy of our faith is unbelief. This message looks at 4 different kinds of unbelief and what the cure is for each of them. As believers, we need to be confident that God has equipped us to overcome any unbelief that is warring against our […]
The post Kinds Of Unbelief | Part 1 “Different Kinds and Forms of Unbelief” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
For a believer Jesus has removed the sting of death and the strength of the law over us by bearing our sins on the cross. If we can get a deeper revelation of this truth it will grow our love for the Lord and reveal His incredible love for us.
The post The Sting of Death appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, scripture says that his family and friends had to loose him of his grave clothes. This message talks about what “grave clothes” are and looks at how to remove the garments of death off of our lives. Our old sin nature can try to cling to us when […]
The post Grave Clothes | Part 2 “Staying Free” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, scripture says that his family and friends had to loose him of his grave clothes. This message talks about what “grave clothes” are and looks at how to remove the garments of death off of our lives. Our old sin nature can try to cling to us when […]
The post Grave Clothes | Removing The Garments Of Death appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event, it can be a personal experience with Christ when mixed with faith. When we get a new revelation of what Jesus really did for us on the cross and how we can now leave the tombs in our lives because of His resurrection we can […]
The post The Empty Tomb appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
This teaching focuses on David’s life and how he was a man after Gods own heart as well as fulfilling all of Gods will even though he had committed great sins. When we look at his life and his mistakes we can see the redemptive power of Gods loving kindness for us even when have […]
The post The Life Of David appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Our identity as the church is the body and Christ is the head. This message looks at another part of our identity as being the bride. The bride testifies of Gods passionate love and pursuit of us a his people. Marriage is a type and a shadow of our relationship with Jesus as our husband […]
The post The Glorious Church | Part 6 “The Bride” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
God is gathering his people together and assembling them to fulfill a divine purpose in our world. We all need each other in the body of Christ to grow and mature in the things of God.
The post Being Assembled | Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In a previous message we learned that communication is one of the anchor lines to being happily married and this session focuses on that anchor line. Pastor Duane gives us 4 elements involved in effective communication and explains each one and shows us how to apply them to our relationships and marriages.
The post Happily Married | Part 4 “Anchor Lines” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
God is gathering his people together and assembling them to fulfill a divine purpose in our world. We all need each other in the body of Christ to grow and mature in the things of God.
The post Being Assembled | Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The Bible addresses the number one need in marriage for husbands and wives in Ephesians 5:30-33 and it simply breaks down to men needing respect and wives needing to be loved. This message looks and how we can do these things and some of the roles that God has shown us in scripture that we […]
The post Happily Married | Part 3 “Husbands & Wives” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
This message reviews the 4 keys to every success story and how it applies to marriage. Then Pastor Duane gives 5 building blocks of marriage that are eternal truths from the Bible and are generational constants.
The post Happily Married | Part 2 “Five Building Blocks” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Marriage is a beautiful thing designed by God and He intended it to be nothing but a blessing to us. It is something we should always be working on and seeking knowledge about, not just when it is in trouble. So what is the purpose of marriage? How do I be happily married? These are […]
The post Happily Married | Part 1 “Origins and Foundations” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
This message talks about 4 different tabernacles that are in the scriptures and how all of them speak to something we need understand in the Kingdom of God. Pastor Duane shows us each one and explains what each tabernacle was a type and shadow of and how it relates to Jesus and His church today […]
The post The Glorious Church | Part 5 “The Tabernacle of Jesus” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In part 4 of this series we look at how we are living stones built upon Jesus who is the cornerstone to make up the building of the Church. Each of us are given grace gifts that are for the edifying of the Church and we have to see our need for each other.
The post The Glorious Church | Part 4 “The Building” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
God has a plan for you individually and it is important to discover and fulfill that, but often we do not see our purpose in the church and how it fits with the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. This message takes a look at how we are each given gifts that are for building […]
The post The Glorious Church | Part 3 – “The General Assembly” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We as the people of God have a corporate identity as the church and it is for a divine purpose. How do we progress toward manifesting this purpose? One way is by understanding three parts of the church The head , The body , and The Bride. This message looks at the body and goes […]
The post The Glorious Church | Part 2 – “The Body” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
What does it mean to be a glorious church? What might that look like? This message breaks down 3 descriptions of the church that are used in the bible and pastor Duane helps us understand what our roles are as members. He also looks at the role of Pastors and what part Jesus plays in […]
The post The Glorious Church | Part 1 – “The Head” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The Kingdom of God is Heaven on Earth: God’s will being done in the earth. We have to come to a place where we understand that we have God’s Kingdom on the inside of us and we forget that we are supposed to be the ones that change the culture. We keep wanting our workplaces […]
The post Seek First The Kingdom | Part 2 | Opposition To Entering The Kingdom appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We tend to get consumed by the worries of this world and they are important things, like being fed and clothed. However, we so often forget to seek God’s Kingdom FIRST and at the same time remember that “these things shall be added” to us. (Matthew 6:31-34)
The post Seek First The Kingdom | Part 1 | Kingdom Focus vs. Worldly Worries appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In part 2 of this series, we learned that faith is voice activated and that it speaks. So what does the voice of faith sound like? It’s edifying, encouraging and saturated with thanksgiving. The same principle applies to unbelief and that voice sounds like murmuring and complaining. Pastor Duane looks at both of these principles […]
The post Thanksgiving Activates Faith | Part 3 | Retain And Increase appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Proverbs 1:7 says, “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” So to learn anything we have to start with a reverential worship of God. When we get wisdom and instruction from the Lord it is pure and not based on our feelings or emotions which can […]
The post Discernment | Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The world at large is in an era of darkness and supernatural blindness to the things around them and it can be difficult to discern truth from lie, right from wrong and good from evil. Pastor Duane wants to show us how to develop the ability to discern these things and to be able to […]
The post Discernment | Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Faith requires action. One way we can act is when we choose to trust God and simply be thankful. In this session we look at the people of Israel and the five dangers that God told them to avoid. One of those dangers is complaining. Pastor Duane explains why complaining is so dangerous and actually […]
The post Thanksgiving Activates Faith | Part 2 | Murmuring & Complaining appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this message, Pastor Duane talks about one of the actions of Faith which is Thanksgiving! We as people must learn how to activate our faith and train our children and others to activate their faith by modeling an attitude of gratitude.
The post Thanksgiving Activates Faith | Part 1 | Unthankfulness appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
First thing to know—nothing can separate you from the Love of God. God will never leave you, He will never forsake you, and He will be nothing less than faithful to you. He is always looking for relationship with you— no matter how far you have ran or drifted away from Him. There is only […]
The post The Cup Of Reconciliation appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
If you don’t have a lot of money, you can still have the love of money in your heart! Money is a poor master but it is a tool in our hands to serve the true King of our heart. Pastor Duane talks more about God’s Word on prosperity. We can trust God with our […]
The post God’s Word On Prosperity | Part 5 | Rich Young Ruler appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
God has laid before us a choice of good or evil, life or death. Not only that, He also gives us the answer – choose LIFE! Most of the time we get it wrong and choose evil, but if we remain in fellowship with God and meditate on His Word, then by His Spirit we […]
The post The Knowledge Of Good & Evil | Part 5 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
What is the Spirit of Antichrist? How can we recognize it? How do we not let ourselves be deceived by it? These can be deep questions, but more simple to answer than we may think. In this message Pastor Duane takes us to several scriptures that help break down these questions in a simple way […]
The post The Knowledge Of Good & Evil | Part 4 | Spirit of Antichrist appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Man today believes he can know good from evil independent of God. In the last days it will be impossible to discern things without a relationship with God and a love for His Word. We as God’s people need to see and understand the times we are in so that we can be a blessing […]
The post The Knowledge Of Good & Evil | Part 3 | There’s No Good Without God appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
It is God’s will that we as believers know how to discern good from evil. So why were Adam and Eve given a commandment to not eat of the tree of “the knowledge of good and evil”? Did God not want them to know right from wrong? In this message we go back to the […]
The post The Knowledge Of Good & Evil | Part 2 | Knowledge Of God appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We live in a world that easily confuses good and evil. So how do we as believers keep ourselves from being deceived and have the ability to see right from wrong? This series searches the word of God to help us discover how to guard our hearts and to supernaturally be able to discern good […]
The post The Knowledge Of Good & Evil | Part 1 | Discernment appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Most people would say Jesus came to save us from our sins. While that is correct it is incomplete. Part of the reason Jesus came to the earth was to reveal God’s true nature and character to us so that we could know him. Eternal life is knowing God and it is intimate and it […]
The post Jesus – God’s Selfie | Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
How does God identify? He identifies himself through Jesus. Jesus is God’s “selfie”. He is a perfect and pure picture of the true and living God and He came to establish the character of God in the earth. How we perceive God effects everything in our life and it will be how we reflect God […]
The post Jesus – God’s Selfie | Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
There are many temptations and dangers that can come with accumulating wealth. It’s important that we guard our hearts in the area of finances and possessions and stay yielded to God so that we don’t become unbalanced in our relationship to riches.
The post God’s Word on Prosperity | Part 4 – A Balance On Riches appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever had someone do something for you and then they expect to be able to “cash in” on it from you later? Pastor Duane talks about where the harvest comes from, what the harvest is, and the timing of the harvest when we sow into other people. Just a hint: Don’t try and control […]
The post Giving With Love and Grace appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The post God’s Word on Prosperity | Part 3 – Treasures In Heaven appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever had someone do something for you and then they expect to be able to “cash in” on it from you later? Pastor Duane talks about where the harvest comes from, what the harvest is, and the timing of the harvest when we sow into other people. Just a hint: Don’t try and […]
The post God’s Word on Prosperity | Part 2 – Love & Grace appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We tend to have our own opinions on money and prosperity, but how often do we actually look at what Jesus really says about money? We all have our own convictions about how to steward money or how to give, but it is important that we challenge ourselves to look to the Word for guidance.
The post God’s Word On Prosperity | Part 1 – Foundational Truths appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Immaturity keeps us from growing into mature disciples who see the truth in today’s world. Pastor Duane teaches us how to have eyes that see and ears that hear the truth and not go by what we see or feel in the natural.
The post The Great Awakening | Part 4 – Maturity appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We cannot know good without God. We need discernment from God to be mature disciples in this third great awakening.
The post The Great Awakening | Part 3 – Good and Evil appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
A great awakening happens when believers are transformed from converts to disciples. Pastor Duane teaches us how we need to discern between good and evil and be the disciples of the great awakening movement.
The post The Great Awakening | Part 2 – Discern The Times appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are at the beginning stages of a third Great Awakening and we as the church are called to be the salt and light of the world. It is time for us to wake up and learn to discern the times and stand up to corruption.
The post The Great Awakening | Part 1 – Wake Up appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Sin is not just a vertical issue, it is horizontal too! What does that mean? Your sins do not only affect you, they have an effect on all of us. God’s grace and forgiveness does not mean we should just keep sinning. His grace and forgiveness empowers us to live better and live healed! We […]
The post A Better Covenant | Part 4 – I Will Remember No More appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Did you know that we have sins that we don’t even know we are doing? If we were still under the old covenant, we would have to offer up so many sacrifices to atone for just our known sins. Then once a year, there was a sacrifice just for all the unknown sins! In the […]
The post A Better Covenant | Part 3 – Complete Forgiveness appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Some people are stuck in immaturity; unaware that they are asleep. A healthy church transitions the sleeping to the awakened, the immature to the mature.
The post Minister’s Conference | Part 3 – Disciplines appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this message, Pastor Duane explains how to build healthy churches that walk in maturity and that raise up healthy church members, families, cities and ultimately a healthy nation.
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A healthy church needs to be a church set apart from today’s culture. A church that is prepared for a harvest and raising up disciples for His purpose.
The post Minister’s Conference | Part 1 – Discernment appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Sometimes, we as parents make promises that are conditional like “if you clean your room, we can go get chicken nuggets at McDonalds”, which bases the promise upon the child’s behavior instead of our character. But God does not do that in the New Covenant. He keeps His promise because of His character, in spite […]
The post A Better Covenant | Part 2 – One Sacrifice appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Yes, God divorced Israel, but Pastor Duane is great at telling the story of why and how that was a part of creating a better covenant! Pastor Duane even talks about how he got in trouble with a group of people when he said there are things God cannot do, like break a promise. We […]
The post A Better Covenant | Part 1 – A Biblical Worldview appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this message, Pastor Duane talks about fulfilling God’s will for our lives even in the most challenging times. Although we fail at times, if we remain steadfast in our faith, we are victorious in Him!
The post Destiny Conference | Part 4 – How To Fulfill Your Purpose appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this message, Pastor Duane teaches us how to discover God’s purpose and perfect will for our lives. God has instilled a unique predestined appointment within each one of us and we do not want to miss out on all that He has for us!
The post Destiny Conference | Part 3 – How To Discover Your Purpose appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
God is for you and has predestined a primary and a secondary purpose for you that is unique to you alone. Until we understand God’s will for us, we will live an unfulfilled life.
The post Destiny Conference | Part 2 – Primary vs. Secondary Purpose appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
God has a purpose and a plan for your life. In this session at the Destiny Conference, Pastor Duane reveals how God is living big within us and that He has designed us with a specific purpose in mind.
The post Destiny Conference | Part 1 – What Is Destiny? appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The word of God is seed and your heart is ground. If you are openly receiving Gods word, your heart is good ground. But if you’ve let your heart grow hard, you cant bear good fruit. What are you letting take root in your ground?
The post The Mystery of Seeds | Part 7 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
One of the most important steps a farmer takes is preparing the ground for planting. Our hearts are like soil and we are “good ground” but we need to prepare our hearts to grow the good seeds and reject the bad ones. Pastor Duane teaches us to prepare our hearts for the harvest!
The post The Mystery of Seeds | Part 6 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Pastor Duane shows us that we need to look only to Jesus as The Solution. We are in a critical time where we are hearing multiple groups come up with all kinds of “solutions” for living well, none of which are sustainable. We cannot afford to forget the grace that only Jesus has provided!
The post Critical GRACE Theory | Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Pastor Duane warns us not to buy into cultural thinking and into critical race ideology. The only path towards true equality is rooted in the Gospel and in the Cross. It is Critical GRACE Theory and we must understand it and share it with a world that’s in desperate need.
The post Critical GRACE Theory | Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
How do you identify? It’s a prevalent question being asked in our culture today. Without Christ, people will look to their flesh to find some sort of identity and purpose in this life. With Christ, however, we now know that our identity has nothing to do with our flesh. Instead, it has everything to do […]
The post A New Identity In Christ | Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We live in a time where everything in the church and in our culture is being shaken. When the dust settles, only that which is of the Kingdom will remain. This is why it’s so critical that believers understand their new identity in Christ and are building lives that are Kingdom-focused rather than rooted in […]
The post A New Identity In Christ | Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Work is a form of worship and a part of the image of God. Without saying, “live long and prosper”, Pastor Duane shows us how mixing faith with our work gives us a prosperous mindset!
The post The Mystery of Seeds | Part 5 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Our words, if spoken in faith, have the power to change the trajectory of our lives. Jesus said that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, and the scriptures give many examples of how Jesus would sow seeds of faith and see an instant harvest. And though we may not always see […]
The post The Mystery of Seeds | Part 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Words are seeds! What kind of spiritual seeds are you planting with your words? We tend to forget the power of what we say, but Pastor Duane reminds us that what we say has such potential to grow into something big, whether good or bad. This message will inspire you to start planting the spiritual […]
The post The Mystery of Seeds | Part 3 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
God’s Word is like a seed. It carries life and has the power to grow exponentially and produce nourishing fruit. But seed only grows when planted in soil! You must plant it and trust that your soil has been given everything it needs to produce good fruit in your life
The post The Mystery of Seeds | Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Good in, good out: Bad in, bad out. It is a simple enough principle, especially in gardening. If you plant good seeds in good soil, you will get good crops. If you plant bad seeds, even in good soil, you will get bad crops. So, what are you planting in your life?
The post The Mystery of Seeds | Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
A balanced diet is just as important in spiritual development and growth as it is in the natural! Each part of the diet is important for certain parts of development, so one neither replaces nor stands more important than the other. And just as we go through different phases of what and in what form […]
The post Immaturity – A Trojan Horse | Part 6 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Words of correction from the Father are cleansing and redeeming. They sanctify us. When we receive his chastening, and apply it to our lives, we find a peace that passes all understanding.
The post The Chastening of the Lord | Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Maturity takes a lot of work, a lot of learning and a lot of support! The Bible calls for the mature in the faith to act as spiritual parents to the immature in the faith; not to be overbearing know-it-alls but to lovingly guide and teach the Word of God. This takes patience and grace, […]
The post Immaturity – A Trojan Horse | Part 5 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Just as a good father should, the Lord disciplines us to teach us how to be healthy, mature believers. His correction is not punishment or wrath, but rather, it’s an extension of mercy from a loving Father.
The post The Chastening of the Lord | Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
True understanding comes with maturity. It’s not a given for a child. It takes years before a child can hear and actually understand why they should not put that piece of metal in the electric outlet or put random objects in their mouth. And while as adults we are likely not doing any of those […]
The post Immaturity – A Trojan Horse | Part 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
While we may not have our fingers in our ears, there are things that we may have experienced, or are experiencing, that keep us from hearing clearly. Our hurts, history and hang ups can keep us from growing up! God is always talking and revealing things to us, we need only to clear the noise […]
The post Immaturity – A Trojan Horse | Part 3 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
No one likes changing a dirty diaper, but babies can’t clean up their own messes. They need a grown-up to clean them and then train them for a time. Immaturity is ok for a season, but we can’t allow it to continue in our lives as if we are adults walking around with diapers on. […]
The post Immaturity – A Trojan Horse | Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
It may be hard to believe but we actually do not know everything! Humility is so important in seeing where we truly are in our growth. Immaturity can keep us from stepping into a greater understanding, a greater reasoning and a greater relationship with Jesus.
The post Immaturity – A Trojan Horse | Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Join Pastor Duane & Sue as they discuss his new book “Better Together” and share some of the triumphs and failures of their own 40-year marriage. They also play games to test how well they’ve gotten to know each other over the years and answer questions from the audience.
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Life can be overwhelming. Is the weight of it keeping you down? The Good News is there is one who provides the strength and hope to stand and walk tall. There is one who has been through hell and back again so that you would not have to. Through Jesus, we are more than conquerors! […]
The post Good News | Part 2 | Easter Sunday appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We all need Good News, especially in a time where bad news runs rampant. The strength, wisdom, wholeness, and hope we need to live well in this life is found in the truth and sovereignty of Jesus. Take some time to hear the Good News, share it and truly live from it!
The post Good News | Part 1 | Palm Sunday appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The term “news” is often abused and misunderstood in society today. However, the Gospel is described in Scripture as “Good News”; and those that have heard and experienced the power of the Gospel are called to share it with others. In this message, Pastor Duane breaks down the “Good News” of the Gospel and equips […]
The post The Gospel is Good News appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We cannot live in denial or be afraid of spiritual warfare in our lives. We have to be awake and attuned to the Spirit of the Lord to fight the good fight of faith in these challenging times. In this series, Pastor Duane teaches us how to follow the mind of Christ in our Spirit […]
The post Spiritual Battles | Part 3 | God’s Armor appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We cannot live in denial or be afraid of spiritual warfare in our lives. We have to be awake and attuned to the Spirit of the Lord to fight the good fight of faith in these challenging times. In this series, Pastor Duane teaches us how to follow the mind of Christ in our Spirit […]
The post Spiritual Battles | Part 2 | Ear to Hear appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We cannot live in denial or be afraid of spiritual warfare in our lives. We have to be awake and attuned to the Spirit of the Lord to fight the good fight of faith in these challenging times. In this series, Pastor Duane teaches us how to follow the mind of Christ in our Spirit […]
The post Spiritual Battles | Part 1 | Immaturity appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The power of God’s people standing in His will, can take down any foe, any enemy. It is the Armor of God that equips us to stand and gives us the wisdom of when and how to take a stand. It’s time to suit up and take a stand!
The post Time to Stand | Part 4 – God’s Armor appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The Devil never takes a day off from the battle to destroy mankind. He is clever and never appears as we think he will, as he often comes masquerading in what seems right and good. We know that God will win the battle! But we need to stand and fight for the moral influence in […]
The post Time to Stand | Part 3 – The Battle is the Lord’s appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The power of God’s people standing in His will, can take down any foe, any enemy. But we need to learn what to fight, when to fight, why to fight and who we fight. In part 2 of this series, Pastor Duane shares on the importance of knowing who we are wrestling with, the enemy’s […]
The post Time to Stand | Part 2 – Spiritual Battles appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The power of God’s people standing in His will, can take down any foe, any enemy. But we need to learn what to fight, when to fight, why to fight and who we fight. Pastor Duane begins this short series on taking a stand and getting in the fight for God.
The post Time to Stand | Part 1 – Get In The Fight appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
During Christmas we do not celebrate a day on the calendar but the coming of Jesus and we remember to place our hope on what is yet to come. We celebrate that God loved us so much that He chose to live among us through Jesus. Check out this message from Pastor Duane on this […]
The post Christmas 2020 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Marriage is the oldest institution known to man. It is the glue that holds our communities and churches together. In this series, Pastor Duane dives into the parallels between the institution of marriage and how that relates to the Church and our relationship with Jesus.
The post Marriage | A Supernatural Institution | Part 5 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Marriage is the oldest institution known to man. It is the glue that holds our communities and churches together. In this series, Pastor Duane dives into the parallels between the institution of marriage and how that relates to the Church and our relationship with Jesus.
The post Marriage | A Supernatural Institution | Part 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Marriage is the oldest institution known to man. It is the glue that holds our communities and churches together. In this series, Pastor Duane dives into the parallels between the institution of marriage and how that relates to the Church and our relationship with Jesus.
The post Marriage | A Supernatural Institution | Part 3 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Marriage is the oldest institution known to man. It is the glue that holds our communities and churches together. In this series, Pastor Duane dives into the parallels between the institution of marriage and how that relates to the Church and our relationship with Jesus.
The post Marriage | A Supernatural Institution | Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Marriage is the oldest institution known to man. It is the glue that holds our communities and churches together. In this series, Pastor Duane dives into the parallels between the institution of marriage and how that relates to the Church and our relationship with Jesus.
The post Marriage | A Supernatural Institution | Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
“Thanksgiving”
The post Be Encouraged, Not Dismayed – Part 5 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
“Faith is Victory”
The post Be Encouraged, Not Dismayed – Part 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this message Pastor Duane walks us through the balance of Grace and Faith. We must set our minds on God, stand on His Grace in a position of Victory, and see the Salvation of God.
The post Be Encouraged, Not Dismayed – Part 3 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
When we go through challenging times, when bad or evil things happen, our hearts can become burdened and overloaded. But we do not have to be discouraged or dismayed! God is still in control. In this part of the series, Pastor Duane shares on how to live by faith, staying actively engaged in this world […]
The post Be Encouraged, Not Dismayed – Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
When we go through challenging times, when bad or evil things happen, our hearts can become burdened and overloaded. But we do not have to be discouraged or dismayed! God is still in control. Pastor Duane shares on how to live by faith, in relationship with one another until Jesus returns again.
The post Be Encouraged, Not Dismayed – Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Did you know that we have sins that we don’t even know we are doing? If we were still under the old covenant, we would have to offer up so many sacrifices to atone for just our known sins. Then once a year, there was a sacrifice just for all the unknown sins! In the […]
The post Complete Forgiveness appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are to be a people of life, light, and love in a culture of death, darkness, and hate. Too many topics in our culture get labeled as off-limits for discussion but we need to learn what the Bible says about all things and be able to stand up for what God says is right […]
The post Counter Culture 2 – Part 3 “What are we to do?” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are to be a people of life, light, and love in a culture of death, darkness, and hate. Too many topics in our culture get labeled as off-limits for discussion but we need to learn what the Bible says about all things and be able to stand up for what God says is right […]
The post Counter Culture 2 – Part 2 “Socialism / Communism / Marxism 2” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are to be a people of life, light, and love in a culture of death, darkness, and hate. Too many topics in our culture get labeled as off-limits for discussion but we need to learn what the Bible says about all things and be able to stand up for what God says is right […]
The post Counter Culture 2 – Part 1 “Socialism / Communism / Marxism” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The post Jubilee 2020 – Saturday Night – Duane Sheriff appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The post Online Family Conference 2020 – Session 5 – Leading Your Family Through Loss appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
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The post Jubilee 2020 – Friday Night – Jacob Sheriff appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The post Jubilee 2020 – Thursday Night – Mark Price appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are a Counter Culture of life, light and love to a culture of death, darkness and hate. All human life is sacred to God and created with divine purpose.
The post Counter Culture – Part 6 – Culture of Light appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are a Counter Culture of life, light and love to a culture of death, darkness and hate. All human life is sacred to God and created with divine purpose.
The post Counter Culture – Part 5 – The Sanctity of Life appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are a Counter Culture of life, light and love to a culture of death, darkness and hate. It is only through knowing and living according to the Word of God that we can bring life into this world of death.
The post Counter Culture – Part 4 – The Choice of Life appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are a Counter Culture of life, light and love to a culture of death, darkness and hate. God is able to do great things when we have faith and love working in our hearts. Understanding God’s love is vital and comes from a life saturated with the Spirit, the Cross, and the Word of […]
The post Counter Culture – Part 3 – The Culture Of Love appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are a Counter Culture of life, light and love to a culture of death, darkness and hate. God is able to do great things when we have faith and love working in our hearts. It is fear and hate that empowers Satan to steal kill and destroy.
The post Counter Culture – Part 2 Faith Works By Love appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
As Christians, we can Fight the Good Fight through boldly living by and speaking from our Faith. We fight through prayer, living in faith over fear, reverencing God, and voting for freedom.
The post The Good Fight Of Faith – Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
As Christians, we can Fight the Good Fight through staying informed of the world around us and knowing when it is time to change from a posture of submission to one of opposition. We fight through prayer, living in faith over fear, reverencing God, and voting for freedom.
The post The Good Fight Of Faith – Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
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The transformative power released this day, as the tomb sat empty and Jesus defeated death, is available for all who choose to Follow Jesus. Jesus broke the bond of sin, shame and death, freeing us to live unafraid. He brought the kingdom of heaven to earth, and to live under his authority is to step […]
The post Pastor Duane and Jacob Sheriff – Easter 2020 “Follow Me” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
As we walk through storms in our lives, Psalm 23 can be a great comfort. Jesus is our shepherd who leads us faithfully and safely through any path in life. God is always with us and always in control in every storm!
The post Psalm 23 – Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
As we walk through storms in our lives, Psalm 23 can be a great comfort. Jesus is our shepherd who leads us faithfully and safely through any path in life. God is always with us and always in control in every storm!
The post Psalm 23 – Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are to be a people of life, light and love in a culture of death, darkness and hate. Too many topics in our culture get labeled as off limits for discussion but we need to learn what the Bible says about all things and be able to stand up for what God says is […]
The post Counter Culture – Part 1 God’s Love appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The power of the Christian life comes from the spirit, through the soul, expressed in the body. Surrendering our lives to Jesus doesn’t mean we become perfect overnight and will never struggle with sin. Our best life comes from refusing to conform to the ways of this world, refusing to give in to the temptations […]
The post Made Whole By God – Part 5 The Body appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The power of the Christian life comes from the spirit, through the soul, expressed in the body. Surrendering our lives to Jesus doesn’t mean we become perfect overnight and will never struggle with sin. Our best life comes from refusing to conform to the ways of this world, refusing to give in to the temptations […]
The post Made Whole By God – Part 4 The Soul and Body appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jesus came that we would be Made Whole – body, soul and spirit. Our spirit is renewed when we surrender to Jesus, and it becomes united to His Spirit. Our soul is continually renewed as we yield to our spirit rather than temptations. Our body connects us to this world where we are to exercise […]
The post Made Whole By God – Part 3 The Temple appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Man was created in the image of God, with three distinct parts making up the whole: Body, Soul and Spirit. Sin destroyed our Spirit and took control of our Soul and Body, but Jesus came that we would be Made Whole.
The post Made Whole By God – Part 2 Spirit appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Man was created in the image of God, with three distinct parts making up the whole: Body, Soul and Spirit. Sin destroyed our Spirit and took control of our Soul and Body, but Jesus came that we would be Made Whole.
The post Made Whole By God – Part 1 Spirit, Soul and Body appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Too often we fall for the trap that we need to be better or do more to be considered holy, but it is not something we earn by willpower or specific actions. Holiness is the by-product of our relationship with Christ. It is the result of our yielding our control to Him and allowing Him […]
The post Made Holy With Christ – Part 6 The What, Why and How of Holiness appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
God does not require us to do anything, any works, to earn our righteousness or holiness. We receive that only through faith! But our faith is a faith of action not just of words. Through our good works, we show love to God and others and put His glory on display for all the world.
The post Made Holy With Christ – Part 5 Good Works appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
It is through faith that we are saved and Made Holy with Christ, but how we live our lives matter. For we may not be saved by our works, but we are saved for good works. God’s holiness at work within us continuously reveals and purges us of our sinful nature.
The post Made Holy With Christ – Part 4 Holy Smoke appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
How we live in relationship to God matters and it is a choice everyone must make. In this part of the series, we look at what it truly means to be separated and purified for God’s purposes – to be Made Holy.
The post Made Holy With Christ – Part 3 The God Who Separates appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
With Christ, we are sanctified, set a part, consecrated – Made Holy. In order to truly understand what that means, we must look at this attribute of God. In the this part of the series, we continue to look at God’s holiness and how it brings forth a jealousy and wrath against anything that would […]
The post Made Holy With Christ – Part 2 Consuming Fire appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
With Christ, we are sanctified, set apart, consecrated – Made Holy. In order to truly understand what that means, we must look at this attribute of God. In the first part of this series, we look at God’s holiness and how it brings forth jealousy and wrath against anything that would come against us and […]
The post Made Holy With Christ – Part 1 Sacred Space appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We have been Made Free from any religious law or standards that would keep us bound to guilt and shame. There is no rule we can keep, nothing we can do or not do, that could earn us God’s grace. Living according to rules and standards may keep us doing what is right, but it […]
The post Made Free From The Law – Part 6 Cured From Guilt and Shame appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
A message brought by Pastor Duane’s Friend James Brown. In the huddle, Football players determine their next play, or action, with the goal of advancing the ball. Each player gets their assignment and then they break to run the play. For Christians, the church is our huddle where we get new challenges and direction. We […]
The post Break The Huddle And Run The Play appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The law revealed our sin so that we would be driven towards Christ. There is no rule we can keep, nothing we can do or not do, that could earn us God’s grace. We are Made Free when we realize our need for Christ to live righteously.
The post Made Free From The Law – Part 5 No Condemnation appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The law revealed our sin so that we would be driven towards Christ. There is no rule we can keep, nothing we can do or not do, that could earn us God’s grace. We are Made Free when we realize our need for Christ to live righteously.
The post Made Free From The Law – Part 4 Condemnation and Death appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We have been Made Free from any religious law or standards that would keep us bound to guilt and shame. There is no rule we can keep, nothing we can do or not do, that could earn us God’s grace. Living according to rules and standards may keep us doing what is right, but it […]
The post Made Free From The Law – Part 3 Before The Law appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We have been Made Free from any religious law or standards that would keep us bound to guilt and shame. There is no rule we can keep, nothing we can do or not do, that could earn us God’s grace. Living according to rules and standards may keep us doing what is right, but it […]
The post Made Free From The Law – Part 2 Why The Law appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We have been Made Free from any religious law or standards that would keep us bound to guilt and shame. There is no rule we can keep, nothing we can do or not do, that could earn us God’s grace. Living according to rules and standards may keep us doing what is right, but it […]
The post Made Free From The Law – Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
No one is perfect on their own merit. We will all make mistakes, but Jesus paid the price for past, present and future sin. We are Made Right by God’s Grace and Mercy. By His Mercy we do not get what we do deserve and by His Grace we get what we do not deserve.
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Our sin is not counted against us once we have been Made Right. We are made righteous and perfected in Jesus forever. Does that mean we are free to continue sinning? No, but we can purge our conscience when we make mistakes. God does not want us to be conscious of sin. He wants us […]
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We are Made Right by faith alone, not by our works. Christ paid for ALL of our sins on the cross – past, present and future. We must not let Satan, others or ourselves blind us from the complete and perfect, unending forgiveness we have received.
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We are Made Right by God’s grace, not by anything we have done or not done. We cannot earn it, it is a gift we only need to receive. While we are not saved BY works, we are saved FOR works, because the world should see God through how we live our lives.
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Self-righteousness blinds us to the fullness of the blessings of grace, to the full access of God’s righteousness, because we are focused on our own efforts to bring about change. When we see our inability to earn favor and humble ourselves enough to seek God’s help, we can fully be Made Right. We must be […]
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We are not Made Right with God through anything we do, or don’t do. Righteousness is not earned, it is revealed. It was afforded us through the price Christ paid on the cross and all we need to do is believe in order to receive it.
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How can a person be Made Right with God? Grace or the Law? Only by God’s Grace and forgiveness can one be made righteous.
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We should never cease to be amazed by the Grace of God in our lives; by His goodness and His active work through His Spirit in our lives, and in the lives of those around us. No matter how long we’ve been in relationship with God, how many miracles we’ve seen or answered prayers we’ve […]
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Jesus was the perfect balance of grace and truth. We don’t need to pick grace over truth, or truth over grace – we need only to be like Jesus. God’s Word says that we can have more Grace given to us. But how? In part 7, Pastor Duane shares how we can receive more Grace through […]
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Jesus was the perfect balance of grace and truth. We don’t need to pick grace over truth, or truth over grace – we need only to be like Jesus. God’s grace covers our sin, but it does not condone it. In Part 6, Pastor Duane goes through the book of Jude and teaches about not […]
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Jesus was the perfect balance of grace and truth. We don’t need to pick grace over truth, or truth over grace – we need only to be like Jesus. God’s grace reconciled all the world to Him and covered every sin, but one. In this part, Pastor Duane talks about the truth of the unforgivable sin.
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Jesus was the perfect balance of grace and truth. We don’t need to pick grace over truth, or truth over grace – we need only to be like Jesus. We can’t earn grace, we don’t deserve grace, but you need to find it in relationship and communion with God. The only sin not covered on the […]
The post Grace and Truth – Part 4 The Unforgivable Sin appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jesus was the perfect balance of grace and truth. We don’t need to pick grace over truth, or truth over grace – we need only to be like Jesus. We can’t earn grace, we don’t deserve grace, but you need to find it in relationship and communion with God.
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Jesus was the perfect balance of grace and truth. We don’t need to pick grace over truth, or truth over grace – we need only to be like Jesus.
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Jesus was the perfect balance of grace and truth. We don’t need to pick grace over truth, or truth over grace – we need only to be like Jesus. In Part 1, Pastor Duane touches on the grace given for three areas in our lives: Forgiveness, Health and Finances.
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For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7). Fear is ever present in our lives and can consume and dominate us if we let it, but God intends for us to mix faith with the word of God and […]
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Voting should never be about Republican or Democrat or identity politics. Vote for those who are the closest to biblical principles and values. In this message, Pastor Duane shares some tips on how to vote.
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We need a passion for Jesus, for the Word and for truth because the only way to combat Satan’s lies is with the Word and truth. We need to be more concerned with being Biblically correct than politically correct, ensuring it is God’s Kingdom that is leavening our lives and not the leaven of Herod.
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God’s Word speaks to every area in our lives. We need to apply what we believe to our politics instead of allowing what we believe to be changed by our politics. We need to have a passion to please God above all else and speak in His Grace and Truth.
The post Passion, Politics and the Pulpit – Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Our parenting sets the rhythms of our children’s relationship with God. We must carefully train our children to honor and obey, not treat them in such a way as to provoke them to anger. In this message, Pastor Duane shares 10 of the things we should avoid in training and correcting our children.
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God blesses us through his promises because what he promises he delivers – based off of his character, not our performance. Parents will bless their children the same way. In this message, Pastor Duane shares 7 key promises each parent should make to their children.
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Jesus said that the meaning of all the law and prophets is contained in love God and love others as yourself. Parents need to keep it as simple as making sure their kids think through this lens. Instead of making an ever mounting list of rules, simply ask is it kind, respectful and helpful.
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God does not require or expect perfection from us. We need to stop demanding perfection from ourselves, our kids, and from others. There are 10 life skills no child or parent should be without. You can hear skills 1-5 in (Children As Arrows – Part 3 Survival Skills A) In this message: 6. How to […]
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God does not require or expect perfection from us. We need to stop demanding perfection from ourselves, our kids, and from others. There are 10 life skills no child or parent should be without. In this message: 1. Fear God 2. Healthy Self Esteem 3. Good Work Ethic 4. Financial Rhythms 5. Love for the […]
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We are all called to train and teach the next generation. There are four basic principles that must intentionally be applied to each child’s life so that the trajectory of their life stays straight and on the right path. 1. Obey and honor parents and authorities in life. 2. The importance of training and teaching, […]
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God is generational. Learn to think and live generationally. Partner with God, embrace the journey and enjoy your kids.
The post Children As Arrows – Part 1 – Weapons Of Mass Instruction appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Most people are called to leadership on some level. Leadership begins with relationships. We can never correct or hold accountable people we don’t love. We not only have to love people, with our words, but with our actions. People have to feel and know they are loved.
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Mature leadership must be developed to build a healthy home, business or church. Healthy teams cannot be built with immature leadership. For God’s purposes to be established on the earth He needs mature people.
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Mature leaders learn to recognize immaturity and know how to put away childish things, envy, strife and division. It’s not a matter of never encountering immaturity, it’s a matter of how it is walked out.
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The only safe sex is sex within marriage. Sex should be an expression of our love for one another. Sex is not love, but rather an expression of love. There is sex without love; but no love in marriage without intimacy.
The post Better Together – Part 8 – Sex appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are called to cleave to our partner Intimacy and romance in marriage is God ordained
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Roles in marriage are divinely designed. Husbands are to love wives as themselves and wives are to respect husbands.
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There are three important things to remember about marriage and finances. Create and maintain a simplistic budget. While borrowing is not a sin; it’s not always wise. If you can’t be at peace without it, you won’t be at peace with it.
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What is true communication? Did you know, you cannot hear if you are angry, hurt or defensive. Learn how to communicate within your marriage, home and life successfully.
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Good communication is about unity and mutual understanding, not about who is right or wrong.
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What is true communication? Did you know, you cannot hear if you are angry, hurt or defensive. Learn how to communicate within your marriage, home, and life successfully.
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Every marriage must be built on shared commitment and understanding. The assurance someone will love and value you for a life time. A knowing and constant awareness that whatever the problem, with God’s help, we will overcome.
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Easter 2018
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The journey we are on with God is progressive. We have to intentionally choose to use God’s Word as a mirror of the spiritual world. There are nine elements of change to help guide you on this journey of supernatural progressive change.
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Meditation is yielding our minds over to God as He writes His Word on the tablets of our hearts.
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A truly God-oriented life is positioning our lives around God’s character, word, presence, and power. We are not just orienting our “spiritual lives” around Him, but our whole lives.
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Mind renewal is a journey. Everyone starts in different places and ways, but the concepts are the same. Start from where you are at right now. Remember, what you think about comes about. As you think, so you are. To renew your mind, you need to change your mind. Change does not mean wrong, it […]
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Do you know who you really are? Your true identity. There is more to you than what you see in the mirror. The thumb print of God is through out your DNA. Listen and discover who you really are.
The post Getting To Know The Real You – Part 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Do you know who you really are? Your true identity. There is more to you than what you see in the mirror. The thumb print of God is through out your DNA. Listen and discover who you really are.
The post Getting To Know The Real You – Part 3 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Do you know who you really are? Your true identity. There is more to you than what you see in the mirror. The thumb print of God is through out your DNA. Listen and discover who you really are.
The post Getting To Know The Real You – Part 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Do you know who you really are? Your true identity. There is more to you than what you see in the mirror. The thumb print of God is through out your DNA. Listen and discover who you really are.
The post Getting To Know The Real You – Part 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Mind renewal takes us from immaturity to maturity. This change is a process, not instant, and comes from within not from without.
The post Mind Renewal – Part 2 – Transformed appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Every choice comes with the need for mind renewal. Mind renewal is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, it’s not natural, but rather spiritual. The power of the Christian life does not come from the mind, but it does flow thru the mind. The choices you make impact how life unfolds. You […]
The post Mind Renewal – Part 1 – Choice appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
After the flesh and independent of God, we are nothing and we know nothing. Through Jesus, we know all things and can do all things.
The post Who Am I – Part 8 “High Christ Esteem” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are the temple of God, that houses the very Shekinah Glory of God’s presence and person. Through God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit we are complete in spirit, soul and body.
The post Who Am I – Part 7 “Spirit, Soul & Body” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Surrendering to Jesus means you are more than a conqueror. That you reap all the benefits, promises and blessings of Jesus’ life, love and labor by faith. Fight to believe Jesus and His word over your five senses and circumstances.
The post Who Am I – Part 6 “More Than Conquerors” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jesus is the light of the world. Illuminate your world by doing the right thing, living for God. Everything you do is a witness of what you believe. Spread the light, by exposing and expelling darkness share what you believe with those around you.
The post Who Am I – Part 5 “Light Of The World” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Good works shine God’s goodness before men. We are to be salt that flavors the world with the goodness of God. Preserving God’s character and nature as the works of the enemy are destroyed.
The post Who Am I – Part 4 “You Are Salt” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
We are called human beings, not human doings. All of our doing comes out of our being. We don’t do good works to be made righteous. Because of who we are, now we do good works. We love because we are loved. We bless others because we are blessed.
The post Who Am I – Part 3 “Identity Vs Purpose” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Your identity is who or what you believe you are as an individual and is shaped by what or who you identify with.
The post Who Am I – Part 2 “New Identity” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Your identity is who or what you believe you are as an individual and is shaped by what or who you identify with.
The post Who Am I – Part 1 “Identity” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Rather than ignoring unhealthy behaviors or accepting disconnection in relationships, Courageously and Lovingly take a step toward confrontation.
The post The Process of Forgiveness – Part 6 “Confrontation” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Sometimes we need to apologize and be forgiven, other times we need to accept apologies and forgive. We must receive forgiveness from God, we must forgive ourselves and we must forgive others.
The post The Process of Forgiveness – Part 5 “How To Reconcile” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Because God values relationship, reconciliation is justice because of the cross. Jesus loves you so much, he would have died on the cross for just you. Reconciliation is made possible through forgiveness. God has already reconciled with His creation through the cross. Choose to be reconciled with God and others you encounter on a daily […]
The post The Process of Forgiveness – Part 4 “Reconciliation” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Session 3: God’s justice is defined by reconciliation (reunion, mending) not retribution (punishment, penalty). Every choice and decision you make sets you on a path. Forgiveness is a choice to end the cycle of revenge and retribution and leave justice in the hands of God.
The post The Process of Forgiveness – Part 3 “Reconciliation or Retribution?” (Jacob Sheriff) appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Choose to forgive…period, no excuses and let the process of healing and freedom begin – regardless of others responses.
The post The Process of Forgiveness – Part 2 “Forgiveness Vs Reconciliation” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Debunk the myths that surround true forgiveness. Learn the first step of living in forgiveness.
The post The Process of Forgiveness – Part 1 “Un-forgiveness” appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Part 6 – Four Types of Ground We choose to hear (Ask, Seek, Knock) “he that has an ear to hear, let him hear”. Paying attention to the truth (seed) making sure it is accepted not rejected. The Word (seed) will change us and our lives if we choose to hear, and understand, The Word […]
The post Gardening The Heart – Part 6 – Four Types of Ground appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Part 5– The Parable of the Sower Learn the power of God’s Word and how to guard your heart as you prepare for seed and sow into the ground around you.
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Part 4 – The Mystery of Seeds Staying aware of the needs that are around each of us, what seeds are available to sow and what ground is available to sow into can be challenging. Listen to find out the most simplistic way to discover true needs, seeds, and available ground.
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Part 3 – Words are Seeds Words are containers (seeds) with life or death in them. Gardening the heart involves: The seed we sow The seed we allow others to sow How we water those seeds How we allow others water those seeds.
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Part 2 – Divine Design All creation works on the seed principle. Listen and find out God’s divine design and how to apply seeds of faith, which produce life, and not seeds of doubt, which produce death. Do you want God increasing the seed you are currently sowing? – Think about it!
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Part 1 – The Power of Seeds Your choices matter. Your harvest is produced by what you say, your thoughts and actions. What kind of crop are you planting?
The post Gardening The Heart – Part 1 – The Power of Seeds appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The post Jubilee 2017 – Leadership Conference – Willie George appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
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Duane Sheriff – Knowing the Holy Spirit – Part 8 – Prophecy
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Duane Sheriff – Knowing the Holy Spirit – Part 7 – God’s Love
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Knowing the Holy Spirit – Part 6 – The Purpose of Tongues
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Knowing the Holy Spirit – Part 5 – Pentecost
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Knowing the Holy Spirit – Part 4 – Baptism with the Holy Spirit
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Knowing the Holy Spirit – Part 3 – Three Baptisms
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Knowing the Holy Spirit – Part 2 – The Wind
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Knowing the Holy Spirit – 1 – A Person
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Structure Change
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Baptism service 2017
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Easter 2017
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The Joy of God’s Will – Part 4 – Doing the Obvious
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The Joy of God’s Will – Part 3 – Observations of Simplicity
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The Joy of God’s Will – Part 2 – Being vs. Doing
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The Joy of God’s Will – Part 1 – The Journey
The post The Joy of God’s Will – Part 1 of 4 – The Journey appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
A three part series that answers one of the toughest questions that many wrestle with – why do bad things happen to good people? God gave man dominion on the earth, what He allows may not necessarily be His will.
The post God’s Good- Part 3 of 3 – Man’s Will; God’s Sovereignty appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
A three part series that answers one of the toughest questions that many wrestle with – why do bad things happen to good people? God gave man dominion on the earth, what He allows may not necessarily be His will.
The post God’s Good- Part 2 of 3 – God Wills Nothing but Good appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
A three part series that answers one of the toughest questions that many wrestle with – why do bad things happen to good people? God gave man dominion on the earth, what He allows may not necessarily be His will.
The post God’s Good- Part 1 of 3 – There’s No Doubt appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Duane Sheriff – Fully Persuaded
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The Beauty of Holiness – Part 2 – Why Holiness
The post The Beauty of Holiness – Part 2 of 2 – Why Holiness appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Everlasting-Love-part-8
The post Everlasting Love – Part 8 of 8 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The Beauty of Holiness – Part 1
The post The Beauty of Holiness – Part 1 of 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Excellence is a process and not a place of arrival. We are called to be a people of excellence in all that we do. In this four part series, you will be introduced to the four steps to excellence as well as its three enemies.
The post The Pursuit and Process of Excellence – Part 4 of 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Excellence is a process and not a place of arrival. We are called to be a people of excellence in all that we do. In this four part series, you will be introduced to the four steps to excellence as well as its three enemies.
The post The Pursuit and Process of Excellence – Part 3 of 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Excellence is a process and not a place of arrival. We are called to be a people of excellence in all that we do. In this four part series, you will be introduced to the four steps to excellence as well as its three enemies.
The post The Pursuit of Excellence – Part 2 of 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Excellence is a process and not a place of arrival. We are called to be a people of excellence in all that we do. In this four part series, you will be introduced to the four steps to excellence as well as its three enemies.
The post The Pursuit and Process of Excellence – Part 1 of 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
It may be surprising that Jesus talked about money more than any other topic, but when you think about it, it’s not that big of a shock. Money matters more than we’d like to admit. If we’re honest all anyone would need to do is look at our finances to be able to tell what […]
The post Money Matters – Part 7 of 7 – The Discipline of Tithing – 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
It may be surprising that Jesus talked about money more than any other topic, but when you think about it, it’s not that big of a shock. Money matters more than we’d like to admit. If we’re honest all anyone would need to do is look at our finances to be able to tell what […]
The post Money Matters – Part 6 of 7 – The Discipline of Tithing – 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
It may be surprising that Jesus talked about money more than any other topic, but when you think about it, it’s not that big of a shock. Money matters more than we’d like to admit. If we’re honest all anyone would need to do is look at our finances to be able to tell what […]
The post Money Matters – Part 5 of 7 – Where, When and How to Give appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
It may be surprising that Jesus talked about money more than any other topic, but when you think about it, it’s not that big of a shock. Money matters more than we’d like to admit. If we’re honest all anyone would need to do is look at our finances to be able to tell what […]
The post Money Matters- Part 4 of 7 – The Disciplines of Giving appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
It may be surprising that Jesus talked about money more than any other topic, but when you think about it, it’s not that big of a shock. Money matters more than we’d like to admit. If we’re honest all anyone would need to do is look at our finances to be able to tell what […]
The post Money Matters- Part 3 of 7- Partnership appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
As citizens of God’s Kingdom and as citizens of our country, we have a responsibility to understand the proper role of government in our our lives. In this four part series you will be helped to understand the five levels of government and their different functions in our lives.
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As citizens of God’s Kingdom and as citizens of our country, we have a responsibility to understand the proper role of government in our our lives. In this four part series you will be helped to understand the five levels of government and their different functions in our lives.
The post Five Levels of Government – 3 of 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
As citizens of God’s Kingdom and as citizens of our country, we have a responsibility to understand the proper role of government in our our lives. In this four part series you will be helped to understand the five levels of government and their different functions in our lives.
The post Five Levels of Government – 2 of 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
As citizens of God’s Kingdom and as citizens of our country, we have a responsibility to understand the proper role of government in our our lives. In this four part series you will be helped to understand the five levels of government and their different functions in our lives.
The post Five Levels of Government – 1 of 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this series, Pastor Duane speaks candidly about the Crisis we are facing in America today. What are we to do in a world where government corruption, immorality, social unrest, racism, and the dangerous ideology of Political Correctness have become the new normal? As Christians, we must have the wisdom to discern the truth from […]
The post America In Crisis – Part 5 of 5 – Forms And Levels Of Government – Part 2 of 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this series, Pastor Duane speaks candidly about the Crisis we are facing in America today. What are we to do in a world where government corruption, immorality, social unrest, racism, and the dangerous ideology of Political Correctness have become the new normal? As Christians, we must have the wisdom to discern the truth from […]
The post America In Crisis – Part 4 of 5 – Forms And Levels Of Government – Part 1 of 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this series, Pastor Duane speaks candidly about the Crisis we are facing in America today. What are we to do in a world where government corruption, immorality, social unrest, racism, and the dangerous ideology of Political Correctness have become the new normal? As Christians, we must have the wisdom to discern the truth from […]
The post America In Crisis – Part 3 of 5 – Lesser of 3 Evils appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
With God, nothing is impossible when we believe, learn to trust, yield, cooperate, and live in communion with Him! We may be headed for hard times but Jesus is still Lord. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is […]
The post Basics of Faith – Part 4 of 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
With God, nothing is impossible when we believe, learn to trust, yield, cooperate, and live in communion with Him! We may be headed for hard times but Jesus is still Lord. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is […]
The post Basics of Faith – Part 3 of 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
With God, nothing is impossible when we believe, learn to trust, yield, cooperate, and live in communion with Him! We may be headed for hard times but Jesus is still Lord. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is […]
The post Basics of Faith – Part 2 of 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
With God, nothing is impossible when we believe, learn to trust, yield, cooperate, and live in communion with Him! We may be headed for hard times but Jesus is still Lord. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is […]
The post Basics of Faith – Part 1 of 4 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this series, Pastor Duane speaks candidly about the Crisis we are facing in America today. What are we to do in a world where government corruption, immorality, social unrest, racism, and the dangerous ideology of Political Correctness have become the new normal? As Christians, we must have the wisdom to discern the truth from […]
The post America In Crisis – Part 2 of 5 – Political Correctness vs Biblical Correctness appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
In this series, Pastor Duane speaks candidly about the Crisis we are facing in America today. What are we to do in a world where government corruption, immorality, social unrest, racism, and the dangerous ideology of Political Correctness have become the new normal? As Christians, we must have the wisdom to discern the truth from […]
The post America In Crisis – Part 1 of 5 – Political Correctness appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
It may be surprising that Jesus talked about money more than any other topic, but when you think about it, it’s not that big of a shock. Money matters more than we’d like to admit. If we’re honest all anyone would need to do is look at our finances to be able to tell what […]
The post Money Matters – Part 2 of 7 – The Prosperous Man appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
It may be surprising that Jesus talked about money more than any other topic, but when you think about it, it’s not that big of a shock. Money matters more than we’d like to admit. If we’re honest all anyone would need to do is look at our finances to be able to tell what […]
The post Money Matters – Part 1 of 7 – Finances and our Hearts appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jesus is in the business of making all things new and the Church is the body of Christ. Our world is broken and in desperate need of hope. In this series, discover how Jesus and His Church are the hope of the world.
The post Jesus and His Church – Part 6 of 6 – The Bride appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jesus is in the business of making all things new and the Church is the body of Christ. Our world is broken and in desperate need of hope. In this series, discover how Jesus and His Church are the hope of the world.
The post Jesus and His Church – Part 5 of 6 – The Building appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jesus is in the business of making all things new and the Church is the body of Christ. Our world is broken and in desperate need of hope. In this series, discover how Jesus and His Church are the hope of the world.
The post Jesus and His Church – Part 4 of 6 – The Body 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jesus is in the business of making all things new and the Church is the body of Christ. Our world is broken and in desperate need of hope. In this series, discover how Jesus and His Church are the hope of the world.
The post Jesus and His Church – Part 3 of 6 – The Body 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jesus is in the business of making all things new and the Church is the body of Christ. Our world is broken and in desperate need of hope. In this series, discover how Jesus and His Church are the hope of the world.
The post Jesus and His Church – Part 2 of 6 – The Head appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jesus is in the business of making all things new and the Church is the body of Christ. Our world is broken and in desperate need of hope. In this series, discover how Jesus and His Church are the hope of the world.
The post Jesus and His Church – Part 1 of 6 – Christ Is Supreme appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The post Leadership Conference 2016 – Friday – Session 3 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
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The post Leadership Conference 2016 – Friday – Session 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
The post Leadership Conference 2016 – Thursday – Session 3 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
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The post Leadership Conference 2016 – Thursday – Session 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jubilee is a very special time of the year for our church. We dedicate a whole week to worship God and hear His direction for us. We give thanks, we align ourselves to His plan, and we look forward to the future He has for us. Our jubilee theme this year is “ONE”. ONE church. […]
The post Jubilee 2016 – Duane Sheriff appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jubilee is a very special time of the year for our church. We dedicate a whole week to worship God and hear His direction for us. We give thanks, we align ourselves to His plan, and we look forward to the future He has for us. Our jubilee theme this year is “ONE”. ONE church. […]
The post Jubilee 2016 – Whit George appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jubilee is a very special time of the year for our church. We dedicate a whole week to worship God and hear His direction for us. We give thanks, we align ourselves to His plan, and we look forward to the future He has for us. Our jubilee theme this year is “ONE”. ONE church. […]
The post Jubilee 2016 – John Donnelly appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jubilee is a very special time of the year for our church. We dedicate a whole week to worship God and hear His direction for us. We give thanks, we align ourselves to His plan, and we look forward to the future He has for us. Our jubilee theme this year is “ONE”. ONE church. […]
The post Jubilee 2016 – John Nuzzo appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jubilee is a very special time of the year for our church. We dedicate a whole week to worship God and hear His direction for us. We give thanks, we align ourselves to His plan, and we look forward to the future He has for us. Our jubilee theme this year is “ONE”. ONE church. […]
The post Jubilee 2016 – Mark Price appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever considered how important visions and dreams are in your life? They give us boundaries to live by, a purpose for labor, and general direction for our lives. Vision creates passion and motivation. It gives us a reason to work hard. God’s promises (His Word) are His visions and dreams for us. We […]
The post Visions And Dreams – 5, Dream Killers – 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Jubilee is a very special time of the year for our church. We dedicate a whole week to worship God and hear His direction for us. We give thanks, we align ourselves to His plan, and we look forward to the future He has for us. Our jubilee theme this year is “ONE”. ONE church. […]
The post Jubilee 2016 – Jack Taylor appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever considered how important visions and dreams are in your life? They give us boundaries to live by, a purpose for labor, and general direction for our lives. Vision creates passion and motivation. It gives us a reason to work hard. God’s promises (His Word) are His visions and dreams for us. We […]
The post Visions And Dreams – 4, Dream Killers – 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever considered how important visions and dreams are in your life? They give us boundaries to live by, a purpose for labor, and general direction for our lives. Vision creates passion and motivation. It gives us a reason to work hard. God’s promises (His Word) are His visions and dreams for us. We […]
The post Visions And Dreams – 3, Watchman On The Wall appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever considered how important visions and dreams are in your life? They give us boundaries to live by, a purpose for labor, and general direction for our lives. Vision creates passion and motivation. It gives us a reason to work hard. God’s promises (His Word) are His visions and dreams for us. We […]
The post Visions And Dreams – 2, Write It Down appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever considered how important visions and dreams are in your life? They give us boundaries to live by, a purpose for labor, and general direction for our lives. Vision creates passion and motivation. It gives us a reason to work hard. God’s promises (His Word) are His visions and dreams for us. We […]
The post Visions And Dreams – 1, What Do You See appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever wandered through life with no real sense of purpose? Often we feel like we are spectators in our lives, just watching life happen around us. God has more for us than that. In this series, learn how to discover your God-Given Purpose.
The post On Purpose – Part 6 Of 6 – Ten Top Clues appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) God never condemns us because Christ redeemed us from our sins by bearing them on the cross. He was our sacrificial lamb, once and for all “That the righteousness of […]
The post Righteousness By Faith – 3 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) God never condemns us because Christ redeemed us from our sins by bearing them on the cross. He was our sacrificial lamb, once and for all “That the righteousness of […]
The post Righteousness By Faith – 2 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) God never condemns us because Christ redeemed us from our sins by bearing them on the cross. He was our sacrificial lamb, once and for all “That the righteousness of […]
The post Righteousness By Faith – 1 appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever wandered through life with no real sense of purpose? Often we feel like we are spectators in our lives, just watching life happen around us. God has more for us than that. In this series, learn how to discover your God-Given Purpose.
The post On Purpose – Part 5 Of 6 – Clues Pointing To Purpose appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever wandered through life with no real sense of purpose? Often we feel like we are spectators in our lives, just watching life happen around us. God has more for us than that. In this series, learn how to discover your God-Given Purpose.
The post On Purpose – Part 4 Of 6 – God’s Image In Man appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever wandered through life with no real sense of purpose? Often we feel like we are spectators in our lives, just watching life happen around us. God has more for us than that. In this series, learn how to discover your God-Given Purpose.
The post On Purpose – Part 3 Of 6 – God Is Working appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever wandered through life with no real sense of purpose? Often we feel like we are spectators in our lives, just watching life happen around us. God has more for us than that. In this series, learn how to discover your God-Given Purpose.
The post On Purpose – Part 2 Of 6 – Three Vital Questions appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.
Have you ever wandered through life with no real sense of purpose? Often we feel like we are spectators in our lives, just watching life happen around us. God has more for us than that. In this series, learn how to discover your God-Given Purpose.
The post On Purpose – Part 1 Of 6 – Wonderfully Complex appeared first on Duane Sheriff Ministries.