Vertical Vision with Ernest Finklea: Recent Episodes
Ernest Finklea
Vertical Vision is a weekly podcast of in-depth Bible teaching and short devotionals to help view and deal with life from God's perspective.
The second half of Galatians chapter 2 is an account of Paul confronting Peter and other Jewish Christians for their hypocrisy. In this passage, we see the damage that different gospels and false teaching can do among Christians. But we also see the freedom and unity that comes from simply living by faith in Jesus.
It is interesting that the people Paul called out as false teachers, promoting a different and divergent gospel, accused Paul of promoting a different gospel. As Paul gives his defense to the Galatian Christians, we see two key principles about the Gospel and how to validate teachings and doctrines.
The book of Galatians is filled with some wonderful truths about what God has for us as his children. It also addresses different gospels that aim to rob us of the very freedom and power that He has provided for us and steer people away from the true gospel of salvation. Today's episode examines the danger of these gospels as we begin a new study through Galatians.
When a champion of atheism proclaims the value of Christianity, it should make us take notice and wonder why. As our world is spiraling out of control, people are seeing the value of Christianity. But what they need to see even more is the value and necessity of Jesus Christ. In today's episode, we will look at what it means to be a Christian so that we can be light in the world around us and show people the way to Jesus.
As Christians, we are ready to meet Jesus because we have put our trust in Him and what He did for us on the Cross. But will we be ready for Jesus to assess and reward the way we lived our lives? Today's episode addresses living in a way that stores up treasure in Heaven as Jesus told us to do.
The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the most important event in history. Check out today's episode to find out why.
The greatest commandment is for us to love the Lord with our whole being. But have you ever wondered why and how? This is what today's episode dives into.
Spiritual heart disease is similar to regular heart disease in that most people don't realize they have it even though it is impacting their quality of life. Today we will look at the cause and the cure for spiritual heart disease so that we can be better connected with Jesus in every aspect of our lives.
How do you live with Jesus when He isn't physically present? That's the topic of this week's episode.
Jesus said that He came to give us life and life in abundance. But at times, we may find ourselves wanting more out of our relationship with Jesus. In today's episode, we will look at a key element of having an abundant life in Christ. It is the element of sowing and reaping, what is being sown into our lives and what we are sowing into with our lives.
It's good to have ambition and we can be ambitious for many things. But the greatest ambition we can ever have is to please the Lord in everything we do. Why? Because His ways are the best ways and by walking in step with the Lord, we will enjoy blessings now and in Eternity.
At Christmas, we remember the birth of Jesus; the incarnation of the Son of God. Jesus came to deal with our sin and restore us to a relationship with God. In John's account of Jesus' birth in John 1:14, we see that Jesus came to dwell with us and have a relationship with us. Keeping Him at the center of our lives allows that relationship to flourish.
If you ever feel like your prayer life isn't very effective, today's episode will give perspective and encouragement to help you grow in your prayer life.
Today's episode is an overview of the book of Revelation and its relevance for us today.
This episode covers the books of 2 Timothy, 2 Peter, 1, 2, 3 John and Jude. The times were chaotic. The Church was undergoing heavy persecution and the Roman Empire was on the verge of civil war. These books of the Bible provided courage and comfort to the saints then and to us as well as we face the times we live in today.
The Christian life is intended to be a life of rest; and that rest is in Jesus Christ. We can rest in His finished work of salvation on the Cross. We can rest in His power, His faithfulness, His love, and so much more.
The city of Philippi was a Roman colony. Visiting there was almost as good as being in Rome. the language, culture, architecture and everything else was Roman. The book of Philippians has this as a backdrop to teach us that as Christians, we are citizens of Heaven. We are ambassadors. And as Philippi gave a good representation of Rome, the Church should give a good representation of Heaven.
The book of Ephesians has been called the Alps of theNew Testament. From its heights, we see the glory of God and the glory we possess in Christ.
Today, as has been the case throughout Church history, false doctrines have crept into the Church, weakening it by causing Believers to pursue things other than Jesus. The book of Colossians addresses false doctrines that devalue the Person and work of Jesus and exhorts us to hold fast to Jesus alone.
2 Corinthians and Romans are filled with encouragement and instruction about what Christ has done for us and how we can live to glorify Him and build one another up.
In today's episode, we examine the churches of Thessalonica and Corinth. One was beset by tribulation and persecution; the other by pride, self-centeredness, and progressivism. One was strong and loving; the other, weak and divisive. There is much for us to learn from them.
While it is known as the Acts of the Apostles, the book of Acts is really the Acts of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to those who believed in Him and Acts is the history of the Holy Spirit's work in the Church. He is still with us and in us today, and still empowers His people to live for Christ.
At the heart of the Gospel are the historical events of the crucifixion, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus. Jesus paid for our sin with His own life and rose from the dead as proof that our debt before God has been paid in full.
Last week, we learned that Jesus is our source for everything. Today, we learn why it is vital to be connected to Jesus, and how to do it.
Corrie Ten Boom made the statement that, "We realize that Jesus is all we need when Jesus is all we have." Today's study looks at how Jesus is the Source of everything we need.
Jesus teaches us to be and to make disciples. A disciple of Jesus is someone who patterns his or her way of thinking and living after the example and teaching of Jesus. It can be said that there are many converts and members in churches today; but disciples are few. Discipleship is a narrow road to walk, but we can do it in the power and grace of the Holy Spirit and enjoy a deeper relationship with Jesus.
The Old Testament has a continuous thread, sometimes called the Scarlet Thread, and is ever pointing to Jesus. The New Testament begins with the declaration that salvation is found in Jesus alone. He is the promised King and Savior.
The Old Testament period is coming to a close and the stage is set for the coming of Jesus. A remnant of God's people have returned to Judah. The Temple and Jerusalem have been rebuilt. And God prepares to begin the next chapter in the redemption of humanity.
The books of Daniel, Ezra, Zechariah, and Haggai reveal the power and presence of God in the world. They also reveal that God an do anything in us, through us, or for us because it is by His Spirit at work in our lives.
Most of us desire a closer relationship with the Lord. How do we achieve this? What things get in the way? This week's episode gives us four keys to help us.
We are living in troubled times, and they are not really different form the troubled times of the fall of Jerusalem. As followers of Jesus, how can we live in such a way to shine brightly in the midst of the darkness? The prophets Habakkuk and Jeremiah give us some insight.
Because the Lord loves us, He tells us what we need to hear. He does this to show us our sin, our wandering, and to help us get right with Him. He only wants what is best for us. He loves to bless us and rejoices over us.
God created us to have an intimate relationship with Him but sin broke that relationship. In His pursuit of us, the Father sent Jesus to make a way for us to be reconciled to Himself. Today's episode reveals how it was accomplished.
When Jerusalem faced impossible odds from the invading Assyrian Empire, God told the people to put their trust in Him and they would find comfort in Him. God went on to defeat the Assyrian army and proclaimed that it is His hand that put the stars in place and measures the expanse of the universe, and that same hand holds us firmly in its grip. Like Jerusalem, that is where we find comfort in the midst of the hardships and trials of life.
We know that the Lord loves us. but sometimes it can be hard to wrap our minds around hw deep and committed His love for is. In today's episode, God gives us incredible insight to the love He has for us through the prophets Isaiah and Hosea.
As God reveals Israel's future through His prophets, we see how God's word came to pass. Because of this, we can be confident that His word will come to pass in the future. Because the Lord is the Great King, we can have hope for today and forever.
As Christians, Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Today we will see examples of how to do that in the lives of three Old Testament prophets.
Jesus tells us to find rest by wearing His yoke. It may sound strange, but once we understand what Jesus is saying in Matthew 11:28-30, it makes perfect sense.
The book of Ecclesiastes addresses the purpose of our lives on Earth and what to do to enjoy the time we are here. Although Solomon wrote the book, he failed to follow the wisdom God gave him. He and the other kings of Israel and Judah show us why having an undivided heart towards God is so important.
The Church is called the Bride of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit. As we continue in our study through the Bible, the Song of Solomon and 1 Kings gives us some insight into these two illustrations of the Church.
At the end of David's life, we was focused on preparing a temple for the Lord and preparing the people and Solomon to grow in their relationship with Him. These passages encourage us to build into our own lives, which are temples of the Holy Spirit, and to build up the Body of Christ, which is also His temple.
Though sin may seem controllable, the ripple effect of it can cause immense damage. Such was the case with David. But fortunately for us, along with the consequences that come with sin, we also see that there is grace for the repentant heart.
God provided more for Israel than they took hold of, God gave Saul everything he needed for success, but Saul didn't fully take hold what God had provided. We may not realize it, but God wants more for us than we know and all we need to do is abide with Him.
We can find ourselves in some pretty tough and discouraging times as we walk our journey of life. These are times we want to give up. Times we are tired and broken. Like David, we say to God, "How long is this going to continue?"As we look at the struggle between David and Saul, we will see in David's psalms how to stay focused and stay the course as God works everything for our good.
Ordinary people with ordinary lives can do extraordinary things, and be a part of an extraordinary plan, when yielded to an extraordinary God.
God delivered Israel out of Egypt to bring them into a land of blessing. But fear, doubt, and disobedience caused many to never take possession of what God had already given them. In the same way, there are many Christians who never take possession of the abundant life that Jesus provided for us. The book of Joshua is an instruction manual for us on taking possession of the life that Christ has given to us.
A key theme in the book of Deuteronomy is to love God with our whole person. Why? One reason is because He is God who has given so much for us and to us. He is worthy of all our love. But it is also because He loves us so much and doesn't want us to end up hurt, wandering, or being disciplined for chasing after empty and sinful things.
When Israel set out to enter Canaan, an 11 day journey turned into a 40 year journey. There were enemies within and without the camp thet were bent on hindering or even destroying what God had for His people. And so it is with us. As we move towards God blessings and purposes for us, there are enemies that want to hold us back or stop us all together.
When Israel was about to set out for the Promised Land, Moses told God that His presence with Israel distinguished them from everyone else. As Christians, our lives should be different because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Can people see God's presence in our lives?
One of God's purposes for our redemption is to open the door for us to have a personal, intimate relationship with Him. Israel's exodus from Egypt is a picture of the start of the journey from a life in the world and in bondage to sin into a life with God.
When we are in dark and difficult times, it is easy to think that God isn't there. Today's episode focuses on the fact that not only is God there, but He is in control and want to use those times to make us into what He wants us to be. W see in the end that the battles become blessings and the trials become triumphs.
How do we respond when someone says Jesus isn't the only way to God? This episode provides some points that can help others, and ourselves, consider what we believe about Jesus.
As human beings, we are created in the image of God and God intends that we live our lives in tandem with Him. In Genesis 16-37, we see how trying to live for God and serve God in our own strength rather than His only makes a mess of things. But through it all, God is faithful, and can use it all for our good and His glory.
We live in two realms; the natural and the spiritual; and God's work in and through our lives touches both spheres. The stories of each of our lives are bigger than we may realize and we see this played out in the lives of Job and Abram in our study today of the Book of Job and Genesis 12-15.
On today's episode, we are examining God's goal for our salvation, how to get there, and why it is important.
I think most Christians want to have stronger faith, but how do we get that? Let's look at God's Word for some simple steps to grow our faith.
The Bible is full of comfort food and food that can be tough to swallow. We need a healthy balance to grow strong in our spiritual life.
What we focus on influences the impact of fear and anxiety in our lives. Here are a couple of examples of how this works and things we can do to make sure our focus is in the right place and on the right things.
God knows everything and transcends time and space. So how can He choose to not remember my sin?
Sorrow, pain, and suffering are a part of the human experience. Finding hope and strength in the midst of it can be challenging. Sometimes, it seems impossible. I hope that today's program is a source of hope and comfort for you if you are going through tough times.
As Christians, we are citizens of Heaven. But we are also citizens of Earth, and of our country. With this in mind, what should our attitude be towards our leaders and people in general?
As Christians, we must live our lives in a manner that glorifies God and is a light to the people around us.
Stress in people's lives is growing at an alarming rate. It makes dealing with the challenges of like even more burdensome. But Jesus gives us insight on how to live a life of rest, even in the midst of challenging and difficult times.
If you have ever been disappointed with the church, you're not alone. It's common not to want to go to church. Many people today are leaving church behind. Why is this happening? Why is attending church important? How do we recover from being hurt and fix the problems? These are the issues of today's podcast.
Jesus made the exclusive statement that He is the only way to God. What about people who have never heard of Him? How do they get to God? Is there hope? Absolutely!
Jesus made the claim the He is the Light of the world. What does that mean? What does it mean for the world and for Believers in Christ?
In the book of John, Jesus makes seven I AM statements where He reveals to us key truths about Himself. As the Bread of Life, Jesus shows us what life is about, that He alone provides life and eternal life, and that He helps us live life to the fullest.
Jesus served God and us by becoming the sacrifice for our sins. Because of His sacrifice, we have become the righteousness of God in Him.
What is the power and security we have in Jesus as our Great High Priest? Let's dig into the book of Hebrews to find out.
Is what I believe true? This is a question probably every Christian faces at some point in their life. Here are a few things to help strengthen your relationship with the Lord and provide a stronger foundation to stand on when the storms of doubt come.
This episode addresses a question that almost every Christian wrestles with at least once in their lives... how can I be sure that I am saved?
Most people think that when they die, they will face God for judgment. The question is... which God? The God of the Bible? Of our own making or preference? In today's episode, we examine Jesus' statement that it is Himself who will judge humanity.
This episode examines Jesus as our Good Shepherd in the light of Psalm 22 and Psalm 23. The two reveal the depth of the love that Jesus has for us.
This week's episode is a short devotional on how the Lord shows us compassion because He knows first hand what we're made of.
Jesus was a human being just like us, going through everything we go through. And in Him we find compassion, mercy, and help for daily life. Moreover, because He lived life as we do, we will see that we can live life as He did.
This episode looks at appearances of Jesus in the Old Testament how He worked in people's lives before His incarnation.
How we understand a person impacts our relationship with them. In this series on Jesus, we pursue a greater understanding of who He is and this episode focuses on the deity of Jesus.