Abundant Life Church's Podcast: Recent Episodes
Abundant Life Church
Pastor Richard W. Beatty
The Type of Person God Uses
Text:Luke 1:26-55
- God is looking for people to use!
II Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”
- God choose Mary above all other women because she trusted Him!
- Mary had fears, but she did not let her fears control her!
Luke 1:30“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”
3 THINGS TO BUILD INTO YOUR LIFE TO BE USED BY GOD…
- God uses people who desire to do His will!
Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Pastor Richard W. Beatty
Seize the Moment
Luke 1:38Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
- All of the characters in the Christmas story were given an opportunity and they seized the moment to be used of God!
- Recognizing opportunity and having faith in God to seize the moments of life leads to success.
HOW TO SEIZE THE MOMENT AND MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES…
1. Learn to value your moments of opportunity.
Psalm 68:19 “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!”
Psalm 103:2 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…”
2. Be willing to pay the price for success.
Hebrews 11:1 [...]
Pastor Scott Hornsby
God’s Providence
Romans 8:28-29 NLT –And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
1Corinthians 2:8-9 NIV –None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him.
- His perspective differed from others.
1 Samuel 17:25 KJV – And the men of Israel said, Have ye s [...]
Pastor Greg Beatty
“Be Thankful”
Luke 16:11 “And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the TRUE RICHES of heaven?”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Chronicles 29:16 “Everything has come from You; everything belongs to You.”
· Be thankful to God for the grace He has shown you.
Ephesians 2:8 “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”
Psalm 103:2-5, 8-11
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me.
3He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
4He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5He fills my life with good things. My youth [...]
Pastor Greg Beatty
“Be Content”
Luke 16:11 “And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”
Philippians 4:12 “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…”
Ecclesiastes 6:9 “It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else.”
The damaging effects of always wanting more:
· Wanting more brings more fatigue.
Proverbs 23:4 “Do not wear yourself out to be rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.”
· Wanting more brings more expense.
Proverbs 14:30 “It’s healthy to be content, but envy will eat you up.”
Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
· Wanting more brings more worr [...]
Pastor Greg Beatty
Luke 16:11 “And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”
1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”
18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
· Don’t trust in riches but in Him who richly provides.
1 Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everythin [...]
Pastor Carlos Flores
RUN TO THE ROAR
Luke 24:13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.
19 What things? Jesus asked.
27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he we [...]
Pastor Greg Beatty
LIFE’S TOO SHORT…TO WASTE
The Bible compares our life to…
ü Life is as a shadow that disappears - 1 Chronicles 29:15
ü It’s as a cloud that vanishes - Job 7:9
ü It’s as a flower that fades - Job 14:2
ü It’s as a dream that flies away - Job 20:8
ü It’s as a mere breath, as nothing - Psalm 39:5
ü It’s as the wind that passes - Psalm 78:39
ü It’s as a vapor that vanishes - James 4:14
ü It’s as grass that withers - 1 Peter 1:24-25
Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Mark 8:36 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?”
Three undeniable truths about life…
· Life is short.
< [...]
Pastor Greg Beatty
LIFE’S TOO SHORT…TO BE NEGATIVE
Ephesians 5:15-17 “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”
Proverbs 10:11 “The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.”
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”
John 10:10b “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” ~ Jesus
Proverbs 18:8 “The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.”
Numbers 13:23,25-33 Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of [...]
Tyler Lafauci
The Secret Kingdom #9
The Law of Miracles
This Law governs the question of God’s willingness to disrupt His natural order to accomplish His purpose. God expected His followers to do even greater miracles than He did. John 14:12; Matt 8:10.
Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God”.
Rules of Miracles:
- We are to take our eyes off the circumstances and impossibilities. Look at Joshua and Caleb, and the 10 other spies report in Numbers 13 and 14. Also look at 1 Sam 14:1-15, when Jonathan defeated the Philistine camp.
- We are not to doubt in our hearts. For miracles to happen through us, God’s will must first be transmitted by the Holy Spirit to our spirits. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. Rom4:20-21.
The voice is very important in relation to miracles. Mk 4:39; Matt 9:23-24; Lk 7:11-16; Jn 11:34; Mk 9:25; Matt 8:3, 13.
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Pastor Richard W. Beatty
“Life’s Too Short…to Worry”
Ephesians 5:15-16 “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity…”
What is worry?The inner distress over the unknown or the uncontrollable future.
- Worry is future focused. It cannot change or control the future.
- Worry is negative faith believing the worst will happen.
Jesus told us not to worry! Matthew 6:25-30
How to keep from worrying. Philippians 4:7
- Refuse to worry about anything! Philippians 4:6
Worry is unreasonable. Matthew 6:25
Worry is unnatural. [...]
Tyler Lafauci
The Secret Kingdom #8
Law of Dominion
Question—What was the one thing that God wanted? What did God truly want from His creation from the beginning until now? The answer can be found in Gen 1:26-27. That was the Lord’s purpose for man, then and now.
At the time of creation, man exercised authority, under God’s sovereignty, over everything.
Man was to rule and subdue, under God’s direction. God did not actually take the dominion away from man. He simply took away man’s access to Him, because of sin. Man still had dominion, but he lost the relationship and understanding necessary to exercise it properly.
Gen 1:29. Man has failed. Heb 2:14-15.
Mark 16:20; 2 Cor 5:20; 2 Cor 6:1…Man is God’s fellow workers.
Matt 28: 18-19—God’s people could move out to accomplish their worldwide task because He had restored man’s domi [...]
Pastor Greg Beatty
LIFE’S TOO SHORT
Title: “Life’s too short…Not to Fish”
Ephesians 5:15-17 “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.16 Make the most of every opportunity…”
Matthew 4:18-19 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fisherman. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”
Four characteristics of real fisherman…
· Fisherman have real purpose.
Matthew 9:37-38 He said to His disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more w [...]
Tyler Lafauci
The Secret Kingdom #7
Law of Perseverance
Heb 12:1; Matt 7:7-8; Rom 8:18-21
God’s principle of The Law of Perseverance is critical to success in life generally and to the life in the Kingdom of God especially.
Expect trials: Acts 14:21-22; His peace– Phil 4:6-7; His presence– Matt 28:20.
To refuse to struggle is to stand still and stagnate.
Matt 7:7-11. Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking!
You can find an illustration of perseverance in Lk 18: 1-8.
Matt 11:12 shows us something about our attitude toward perseverance. It does not come easily.
Look at the examples of Jacob, Abraham, and the people of Judah.
Luke 11: 5-8. Jesus knew men and their tendency to give up quickly, to become inconsistent, and lackadaisical, Yet He pleads with us to per [...]
Pastor Richard W. Beatty
September 24, 2017
The Freedom of the Cross
Galatians 6:14 “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.”
- the cross delivers from legalism.
Legalism = “keeping man made rules to obtain righteousness with God and acceptance by men.” God hates legalism!
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
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The cross delivers from false concepts about god.
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Your concept of God will determine how you serve [...]
Tyler Lafauci
The Secret Kingdom #6
Law of Reciprocity
Reciprocity—is from the Latin word—reciprocus—meaning –returning the same way. The definition of reciprocity is: a situation or relationship in which 2 people or groups agree to do something similar for each other…to allow each other to have the same rights.
The Law of Reciprocity is revealed in Luke 6:27-38. God anticipates that His people will be generous. His generosity towards us is to be reflected in our generosity toward others and toward His work.
James 1:5, 17 states that God gives generously to all without reproach.
Eph 2:8-10. Generosity is not demanded in order to be a Christian, but generosity is anticipated because we are Christians, generosity will be reflected through our life.
Ps 37:21, 112:5; Pr 14:21, 31
What has God given you? He has given you all that He is and is seen in His names.
Ps 46;1; Zeph 3:17
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Pastor Greg Beatty
September 17, 2017
Title: “Faith for a Miracle”
Mark 6:34-44 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
35When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour Is late.
36Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”
37But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread (half a year’s wage!) and give them something to eat?”
38But He said to them, [...]
Tyler Lafauci
The Secret Kingdom #5
The Law of Use
We need to understand how important God views our use of what He has given us.
If you are willing to use what He has given you, you will have more.
It you are not willing to use what He has given you, you will lose it.
This applies to all areas of your life: physical, mental, spiritual, financial, emotional, etc.
This is not an instant solution but a long process.
This parable overall warns us that our place and service in
heaven will depend on the faithfulness of our lives and service here on this earth.
A talent represents our abilities, time, resources and opportunities to serve God while on this earth.
We are here to work and do God’s business. Eph 4:7-8 says that, “when He ascended on high, He gave gifts to men”.
It is not the [...]
Pastor Richard W. Beatty
September 10, 2017
“Faith to Wait on God”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
What to remember while waiting on God…
- There is a natural delay between planting and harvest. Ecclesiastes 3:15
- There is an unseen battle going on. 6:12, Daniel 10:11-13
- God is preparing you for His blessing. I Peter 1:6-7
- You are in good company when waiting on God. Hebrews 11:2, Deuteronomy 11:2, Psalm 119:33
- God always keeps His promises! Habakkuk 2:3
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Tyler Lafauci
The Secret Kingdom #4
Law of Unity
Unity is the central to the way the world works. It is from the beginning of time. Gen 1:26
Gen 3:22-23. Judgment also flowed from unity.
Matt 6:10 UNITY
The Kingdom of God demands unity. Matt 18:19-20. John 17:20-26—Jesus knew how critical unity was and is.
Unity is powerful for good and for evil. Gen 11:8
Unity must begin with the individual.
You must have internal harmony. Matt 6:32-33.
Internal unity: My thoughts—His thoughts; My desires—His desires; My will—His will.
James 1:6-8.
Matt 12:25. Unity produces strength. Disunity produces weakness.
Jesus knew that the fulfillment of the purposes of God would require unity. Without it, there would be no flow of power to save the world and to perfect the peop [...]