Riot Podcast: Recent Episodes
Riot Podcast
How to Confront Sin in the Church is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲—𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲?
𝗦𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 is one of the most difficult and most necessary topics believers must face. In 𝟭 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟱, Paul moves from encouraging spiritual maturity to confronting a painful truth: the Corinthian church had allowed open sin to take root, and worse… they were proud of their tolerance.
In this week’s episode, we unpack why confronting sin is an act of love, why ignoring it destroys a church’s witness, and how biblical discipline leads not to rejection but to restoration.
Paul’s message cuts deep, not to shame us, but to call us back to holiness.
📖 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲:
• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 “𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁” 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆
How the Corinthian believers confused grace with indifference and how we often do the same.
• 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀
Real grace pulls us out of sin, not comforts us in it.
• 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲
And how a church can lose its spiritual authority when it becomes broad-minded instead of Christ-minded.
• 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 “𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻”
A difficult but redemptive act designed to bring a wandering believer back home.
• 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵-𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
A little leaven truly leavens the whole lump.
• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵: 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀
In 2 Corinthians, we see this very man repent and return—proof that God’s way works.
𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗪𝗲 𝗪𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵:
✨ Do we show more love by staying silent, or by confronting sin with gentleness and truth?
✨ How does pride make us resistant to repentance?
✨ What happens to a church’s witness when it condemns the world but refuses to correct itself?
✨ Are there “old leavens” we’ve allowed to linger in our own lives?
✨ Have we confused being loving with being passive?
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹:
💬 Have we grown comfortable with sin?
💬 Are we willing to be instruments of both grace and truth?
💬 And will we love others enough to restore not ignore?
A healthy church is not one without sin, it’s one that deals with sin God’s way.
Secularism: Living in a World That Says ‘We Don’t Need God’ is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 — 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆?
In this week’s episode, we tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗱. From classrooms to courtrooms, from politics to pop culture, secularism is reshaping the moral and spiritual foundations of our world.
We’ll explore what secularism and secular humanism really mean, how they’ve evolved through history, and how this worldview has influenced not only society but even the church. As followers of Jesus, how can we stand firm in truth when the world keeps saying, “𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗱”?
𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀:
🔥 How secularism removes God from every sphere of life
🔥 Why morality collapses when divine truth is replaced with human opinion
🔥 The difference between secular humanism and Christian humanism
🔥 How academia and culture have drifted from biblical truth
🔥 What believers must do to stay grounded in God’s Word
📖 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀:
Romans 1:21–22 | 2 Timothy 4:3–4 | Isaiah 5:20 | Proverbs 14:34 | 1 John 2:15–17 | John 17:17
💡 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆:
Secularism may say, “Man is enough,” but the truth is, 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵. We are called to be the salt and light in a darkening world, standing on the unshakable foundation of His Word.
God’s Blueprint for Servants 1 Corinthians 4 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
💭 What does true faithfulness look like in a world that often measures success by recognition, numbers, and influence?
In this week’s episode, we explore God’s blueprint for servants found 𝟭 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟰. Last chapter, Paul described the church as a field, a building, and a temple but in this chapter, he shifts the focus to the servant of Christ.
Paul gives us three powerful pictures of what it means to serve God faithfully:
👉 𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝘃𝘃. 𝟭–𝟲) — entrusted with God’s truth, called to be faithful, not famous.
👉 𝗔 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲 (𝘃𝘃. 𝟳–𝟭𝟯) — mocked by the world, but honored by heaven.
👉 𝗔 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 (𝘃𝘃. 𝟭𝟰–𝟮𝟭) — leading with love, correction, and humility.
This episode breaks down how God measures ministry not by popularity, position, or platform, but by faithfulness of heart. We discuss how pride can destroy unity, how suffering shapes true servants, and how spiritual leadership flows from love, not control.
Whether you’re a pastor, parent, or believer serving in everyday life, this episode will challenge and encourage you to live as a faithful steward, a humble example, and a loving guide to others.
📖 “𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹.” — 𝟭 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟰:𝟮
👉 Watch, listen, and be reminded that the only applause that truly matters is from the Lord Himself.
Only What’s Built on Christ Remains is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
If your work for God were tested by fire today, what parts would endure, and what would burn away?
In this week’s episode, we dive deep into 1 Corinthians 3:10–23 where Paul moves from farming to construction imagery to teach powerful truths about spiritual maturity and the true foundation of the Church.
What we talk about:
🏗️ The only true foundation: Why Jesus Christ—not programs, personalities, or traditions—must be at the center of every church.
🏗️ The test by fire: How God’s final judgment will reveal the true quality of our work and motives.
🏗️ God’s temple: What it means for the church to be the very dwelling place of God’s Spirit—and why unity and holiness matter so much.
🏗️ Worldly wisdom vs. God’s wisdom: How pride in human ideas destroys the church’s unity and focus.
🏗️ Freedom from rivalry: How knowing that all things are ours in Christ frees us from competition and division.
🔥 Key takeaway:
Paul calls believers to spiritual maturity to build wisely, live humbly, and keep Jesus as the cornerstone of everything we do. Our ministries, relationships, and lives will only stand firm if they are anchored in Him.
🎧 Tune in now to grow deeper in your understanding of what it means to be God’s building and His Spirit-filled temple.
Near-Death Experiences and Divine Visions is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
💭 Are near-death experiences God’s way of giving us a glimpse of eternity—or are they simply the brain’s final moments at work?
In this week’s episode, we explore near-death experiences (NDEs) and visions of Jesus that have touched hearts and stirred deep questions about heaven, the soul, and God’s love.
From a young boy’s encounter with Jesus and his late father… to doctors, atheists, and everyday people who have died and come back transformed—each story invites us to ask:
👉 Are these divine revelations, medical phenomena, or glimpses of heaven’s reality?
Join us as we discuss:
✨ How to discern genuine spiritual encounters
✨ What these experiences reveal about the soul and consciousness
✨ Why some NDEs lead to repentance or faith
✨ How Scripture sheds light on these extraordinary moments
We’ll root every story in God’s Word, exploring how He continues to reveal His love—even through life, death, and beyond.
📖 “The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth.” — John 16:13
If you’ve ever wondered what lies beyond this life, or how God meets us in our most vulnerable moments, this conversation will inspire faith, awe, and reflection
What Are You Building Your Life On? 1 Corinthians 3 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
👉 🧱 What foundation are you truly building your life on—Christ, or something that won’t last?
In this week’s episode, we continue our journey through Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Last time in chapter 2, we learned how God’s wisdom stands in contrast to the world’s wisdom. Now, in chapter 3, Paul speaks directly to the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthian church, reminding them (and us) what it truly means to build our lives and ministries on the right foundation.
In this episode, we’ll explore:
✨ What spiritual immaturity looks like in the life of a believer 🙇♂️
✨ Why jealousy, division, and personality-driven faith are signs of weak foundations ⚠️
✨ How God uses His servants to plant and water—but only He gives the growth 🌱
✨ Why Christ must be the one true foundation of the church 🪨
✨ How our work will be tested by fire and what will last for eternity 🔥
✨ What it means to be God’s temple and to live with His Spirit dwelling among us 🕊️
💬 Key Scripture: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 3:11
🎧 Whether you’re a new believer or have been walking with Christ for years, this chapter is a powerful reminder to examine what you’re building your life on. Are you standing on the solid foundation of Jesus—or on something that won’t last?
👇 Listen, reflect, and grow with us.
What Does The Bible Say About Parenting is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
How can parents reflect God’s heart in the way they love, guide, and disciple their children?
Parenting isn’t just about raising good kids, it’s about discipling the next generation to know, love, and follow the Lord. In this week’s episode, we dive into what God’s Word says about the sacred calling of parenting and how moms and dads can model, teach, and live out their faith in everyday life.
From Genesis to the Gospels, Scripture paints a clear picture: children are a gift and parenting is a divine responsibility. Whether you’re a parent, guardian, or future mom or dad, this conversation will give you biblical wisdom, practical insights, and encouragement to lead your family with love and truth.
? In this episode, we talk about:
?God’s design for parenting and family as seen in Scripture (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 127:3–5)
?The sacred role of parents as the primary disciplers of their children (Deuteronomy 6:6–9; Matthew 28:19)
?How modeling faith and prayer impacts the next generation (Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:11)
?Biblical discipline that shapes character and mirrors God’s love (Proverbs 13:24; Hebrews 12:6)
?The importance of emotional nurture, provision, and protection (Psalm 103:13; Proverbs 31:13–14)
? Parenting isn’t easy—but God gives us the blueprint and the grace to do it well.
What Does The Bible Say About Authority is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In this week’s episode, we dive deep into one of the most challenging yet vital topics for every believer: AUTHORITY
From Romans 13 to the Great Commission, we’ll explore how Scripture calls us to respect and honor governing authorities, even when leadership is imperfect, while always remembering that God’s Word stands as the ultimate authority in our lives.
We also tackle common misconceptions about the authority of the believer, clarifying what the Bible truly says and how we can walk confidently in the calling Christ has given us.
This conversation will challenge, encourage, and equip you to better understand what it means to live under God’s authority while faithfully carrying out the mission He has given His church.
? Key Scriptures: Romans 13, 1 Peter 2:15–21, 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Ephesians 6, Matthew 28:18–20, 2 Corinthians 5:20.
Our Thoughts on Charlie Kirk is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
What does it mean to stand boldly for Christ in today’s divided culture?
Welcome to this week’s podcast! In today’s powerful episode, we dive deep into the life, convictions, and impact of ??????? ????, exploring how his ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????, ??????????, ??? ??????.
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1. The journey of Charlie Kirk: how his Christian worldview anchors his public mission
2. The challenges of walking in faith amid political and cultural turbulence
3. Lessons for believers on courage, conviction, and effectively engaging culture
4. The intersection of faith, leadership, and identity in the public square
5. How Christians can respond to cultural voices with wisdom, grace, and truth
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We hope this episode encourages you to deepen your faith, sharpen your discernment, and engage boldly for Christ in every sphere.
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“Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated.” — Isaiah 8:12
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
Thank you for listening. May God use this conversation to strengthen your walk and expand your witness.
Can A Christian Cuss? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Does the way we speak reflect the condition of our hearts?
This week we tackle a real and practical question: Is it okay for a Christian to cuss? Many believers, and even some public figures who claim to follow Christ, use profanity—but what does Scripture actually say about this?
The Bible makes it clear: our words reveal the condition of our hearts. From Ephesians 4:29 to James 3:9–12, God’s Word reminds us that our speech should build others up, not tear them down. Jesus Himself taught that “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
In this episode, we’ll explore:
✅ Why unwholesome talk is inconsistent with a life in Christ
✅ What Scripture teaches about “filthy language” and destructive speech
✅ How our words carry the power of life or death (Proverbs 18:21)
✅ Practical ways to guard our tongues and let our speech reflect Christ
Our words matter. They can either be weapons that destroy or fountains that give life. As followers of Jesus, we are called to let our words be seasoned with grace, bringing encouragement and pointing others to Him.
? Join the conversation and be challenged to examine your own speech. Does it reflect the life of Christ at the center of your heart?
God’s Wisdom vs. Man’s Wisdom 1 Corinthians 2 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In this episode of our podcast, we continue Paul’s powerful message in 1 Corinthians 2—a chapter that contrasts God’s eternal wisdom with the fading wisdom of the world.
? Last week, we looked at how Paul reminded the Corinthians that the cross, though foolish to the world, is the power and wisdom of God. This week, we see Paul carry that theme forward:
✨ He preached not with eloquence, but with weakness and humility, so that faith would rest on God’s power, not human ability.
✨ He revealed that God’s wisdom, hidden from the rulers of this age, was planned before time for our glory.
✨ He showed that true understanding comes only through the Spirit, who reveals the deep things of God and gives us the mind of Christ.
Key Themes:
✨ Why Paul avoided polished rhetoric in Corinth
✨ How weakness makes God’s power more visible
✨ Why the cross remains the centerpiece of the gospel
✨ The difference between human wisdom and God’s wisdom
✨ How the Holy Spirit gives believers discernment and the mind of Christ
? Whether you’re wrestling with doubt, searching for wisdom, or longing for deeper spiritual understanding, this passage reminds us that God’s ways surpass human reasoning. What looks like weakness—like the cross—is in fact His greatest victory.
? Join us as we unpack this chapter verse by verse and discover how to live not by man’s wisdom, but by God’s.
Called to Be Holy, Called to Glorify is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
What does it really mean to be ‘called to be holy’ when we still struggle with sin and weakness?
Last week, we began our journey through the book of 1 Corinthians with an overview of Paul’s powerful letter to a struggling church in Corinth. Today, we dive into chapter 1, where Paul begins laying the foundation for everything else he will address.
In this episode, we explore three powerful themes:
✨ Called to Be Holy (1–9) — Our identity in Christ shapes the way we live.
? Called into Fellowship (10–25) — True unity comes when Christ, not personalities, is at the center.
? Called to Glorify God (26–31) — God uses the weak and the lowly so that no one may boast, except in Him.
Paul reminds the church that holiness is not about perfection but about belonging to God. He calls believers away from division and pride, and back to the transforming power of the cross of Christ, which remains the heart of the gospel.
Whether you feel weak, overlooked, or uncertain in your faith, this passage is a reminder that God sustains, equips, and calls us—not because of who we are, but because of who He is.
? Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 1
1 Corinthians Overview is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
How can the church remain holy in a culture consumed by wealth and immorality?
The book of 1 Corinthians is one of Paul’s most practical and urgent letters—written to a young church struggling to live for Christ in the middle of a wealthy but deeply immoral city. Division, immorality, lawsuits, idolatry, misuse of spiritual gifts, and confusion about love and the resurrection—Paul addresses it all.
In this week’s episode, we step back and look at the overview of 1 Corinthians before diving into the chapters in future shows. We’ll explore the history and culture of Corinth, why Paul wrote this letter, and why his words are still just as timeless and relevant for the church today.
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- The culture and immorality of Corinth and how it shaped the church’s struggles.
- Why Paul was so invested in the believers at Corinth.
- The dangers of division in the body of Christ.
- God’s wisdom vs. the world’s wisdom.
- Paul’s teaching on purity, marriage, and singleness.
- Christian freedom and the call to love.
- The proper use of spiritual gifts and why love is supreme.
- The central importance of the resurrection of Christ.
Paul’s words cut deep but were always meant to call the church back to holiness, unity, and hope in Christ. Join us as we unpack the big picture of 1 Corinthians and prepare to dive into its powerful chapters in the weeks ahead.
God Meant It for Good – Genesis 50 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
❓Have you ever wondered how God can turn the worst moments of your life into something good?
This week, we close out the book of Genesis with one of the most powerful chapters in Scripture—Genesis 50.
From the grief of a son burying his father to the deep reconciliation between brothers, Joseph’s story wraps up with timeless lessons on forgiveness, faith, legacy, and hope. We’ll explore:
- Why Joseph’s tears and actions revealed his true character
- How the Egyptians’ public mourning pointed to Joseph’s integrity
- The powerful truth behind, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good”
- Why forgiveness is more than words—it’s a way of life
- How Joseph lived, died, and hoped in God’s promises even beyond his lifetime
Whether you’ve faced betrayal, loss, or seasons of uncertainty, Joseph’s perspective will challenge and encourage you to trust God’s plan—no matter what your circumstances look like.
? Key Passage: Genesis 50 (with Hebrews 11:22)
Rise Beyond Ordinary is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
❓Is it possible that God wants to use your life to shape generations and make history?
In this powerful episode, Bob welcomes ???? ????????? to unveil his brand-new book and study guide, ???? ?????? ????????—a bold call for Christians to break free from passive religion and step into a life of world-changing discipleship. ??
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Do you long to make a Kingdom impact but don’t know where to start? Are you feeling stuck in religion rather than transformed by true discipleship? ???? ?????? ???????? is more than a book—it’s a roadmap and a movement. Discover how to unleash the power of spiritual multiplication, awaken a deeper connection with God, and build a discipleship ministry that turns the world upside down—just like the early Church did.
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✅ Pete shares his personal journey and what inspired this message
✅ How to move from ordinary Christianity to extraordinary discipleship
✅ The power of making disciples who multiply up to 9 generations
✅ Why this message matters ???—for churches, small groups, and ???
✅ How to use the ?-???? ????? ?????, ????? ??????, and app to bring transformation
? ???? ?????? ???????? is not just something you read—it’s something you live. Will you be the one to lead the way?
What Does the Bible Say About Immigration? Show 2 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
❓What does the Bible really say about deportation, asylum, and national sovereignty—and how should Christians respond?
In this follow-up to last week’s powerful discussion, we’re diving deeper into one of the most challenging and often politicized topics of our time—but through the lens of Scripture, not politics.
This week, we tackle the final three questions many believers are asking:
➡️ What does the Bible say about deportation of undocumented individuals?
➡️ Is there biblical guidance on seeking or granting asylum?
➡️ Should a country have defined borders, according to the Bible?
Together, we’ll explore how God’s Word addresses justice, compassion, and national sovereignty. We’ll look at what Scripture says about borders, laws, and caring for the foreigner—and how Christians can hold both truth and grace without compromise.
From the cities of refuge in the Old Testament to Paul’s declaration in Acts 17:26, this episode is packed with biblical insight, practical wisdom, and a call to love our neighbors—even when the world draws hard lines.
? Bible Passages Discussed:
Romans 13:4 | Genesis 1:27 | Leviticus 19:33–34 | Acts 17:26 | Hebrews 6:18 | Galatians 6:10 | Colossians 2:8 | Deuteronomy 10:19
✝️ Whether you’re wrestling with the ethics of deportation, trying to understand asylum through a biblical lens, or wondering what God thinks about national borders—this episode is for you.
? Listen, learn, and be equipped to speak truth in love as you navigate these complex issues with Christlike clarity.
What Does the Bible Say About Immigration? Show 1 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
❓In a world divided by immigration debates, are we still letting Scripture be our guide?
In this episode of our Christian podcast, we take a deep, Scripture-rooted dive into one of today’s most complex and emotional issues: immigration. Too often, the conversation is driven by headlines and opinions rather than the Word of God. We’re changing that.
? This week, we begin a two-part series where we unpack 5 critical questions from a biblical perspective.
Together, we’ll explore how God’s justice, mercy, and order guide our understanding of:
✅ The moral implications of breaking immigration laws (Romans 13)
✅ How we should treat illegal immigrants as image-bearers of God (Genesis 1:26)
✅ The Christian response to the global refugee crisis (Exodus 23:9, Matthew 25)
✅ Real biblical examples of displaced people and how God responded to them
Whether you’re a pastor, policymaker, or believer seeking clarity in a confusing world, this episode will challenge your thinking and call you back to the authority of Scripture.
? Let’s seek God’s heart together on this critical issue.
Prophetic Blessings and Spiritual Legacy is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Welcome to a powerful new episode of our podcast as we dive deep into Genesis 49—one of the most prophetic and theologically rich chapters in the book of Genesis.
As Jacob lies on his deathbed, he gathers his twelve sons and speaks life-shaping words over them. But these aren’t just blessings—they’re prophetic declarations that reveal destiny, character, and the spiritual legacy each tribe will carry forward. From the downfall of Reuben to the rise of Judah, and the fruitfulness of Joseph to the fierce resilience of Benjamin, every word Jacob speaks echoes into the future of Israel—and into our lives today.
In this episode, we explore:
? Why Jacob’s rebuke of Reuben teaches us character over privilege
? The consequences of Simeon and Levi’s unchecked anger
? The promise of leadership and kingship through Judah’s line
? How Joseph’s suffering birthed strength and fruitfulness
? The significance of each tribe’s unique role in God’s plan
? Jacob’s final words and what they reveal about enduring faith
Each blessing paints a picture of how God works through broken people, family lines, and long-term legacy. These aren’t just ancient words—they’re timeless truths about purpose, obedience, redemption, and hope.
? Let this episode inspire you to consider your own legacy—what you’re passing on, what you’re standing for, and how God is shaping your story for generations to come.
Casting Vision is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
What if your greatest act of faith wasn’t leading, but blessing those who come after you?
In this week’s episode of our Genesis series, we step into a sacred, powerful moment in Genesis 48—a moment where vision, faith, and legacy collide. As Jacob nears the end of his life, he doesn’t retreat in fear or self-pity. Instead, he rises in spiritual authority to bless the next generation—even from a place of physical weakness.
We witness Jacob bless Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, adopting them as his own, crossing his hands, and breaking tradition. It’s not just about who gets the greater blessing—it’s about trusting God’s unexpected direction. This is a chapter about speaking vision into others, imparting spiritual inheritance, and preparing the next generation to carry the covenant forward.
In this episode, we explore:
? Why blessing others is a powerful act of faith—even in weakness
? How spiritual inheritance goes beyond biology and includes those God appoints
? What Jacob’s reversal of birth order tells us about divine direction over tradition
? The importance of remembering God’s faithfulness as we pass on our legacy
? How to raise spiritual sons and daughters to become channels of blessing, not just recipients
Jacob’s story reminds us: legacy is not what we keep, but what we impart. As Hebrews 11:21 tells us, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” That moment becomes a hallmark of faith-filled leadership.
Joseph’s Leadership Style is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
❓How can we lead with both wisdom and compassion like Joseph did in Egypt?
In this week’s powerful episode, we dive into Genesis 47 and explore Joseph’s remarkable leadership style during a time of national crisis. As famine grips Egypt, Joseph steps up—not only as a brilliant strategist but also as a faithful son, humble servant, and compassionate leader.
? What can we learn about leadership, loyalty, provision, and faith from Joseph’s example?
? How can we apply these timeless principles to our roles today—in ministry, family, and community?
We’ll walk through key moments in Genesis 47:
⚜️ Joseph presenting his family to Pharaoh
⚜️ Jacob blessing Pharaoh despite their social status difference
⚜️ Strategic famine management and stewardship
⚜️ Ethical leadership and economic responsibility
⚜️ Family loyalty and honoring legacy
Whether you’re a church leader, a parent, or simply navigating life with a desire to lead well, this episode will encourage and equip you to reflect godly leadership in every area of your life.
? Scripture Focus: Genesis 47
? Tune in now, reflect, and grow in your leadership journey with us!
Stepping Into The Unknown Genesis 46:1-34 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
? Have you ever felt God leading you into unfamiliar territory—far from what’s comfortable, yet full of His promises?
In this week’s episode, we walk with Jacob in Genesis 46 as he prepares to leave Canaan and journey to Egypt—stepping into the unknown. What begins as a reunion with Joseph becomes a defining moment in God’s bigger plan for His people.
In this deep dive, we explore:
? How worship lays the foundation for life-changing decisions
? How God speaks in our quiet, uncertain moments
?️ The courage to follow when God says “go”
???? What generational obedience and legacy look like
? How to be bold in identity and wise in transition
❤️ The beauty of restoration, strategy, and divine purpose
Jacob’s story shows us that obedience may lead us into the unknown, but we go with God’s voice, His presence, and His promises. He multiplies our steps, values our names, and works across generations for His glory.
? Whether you’re facing a big move, a tough decision, or stepping out in faith—this episode will encourage you to trust that God is already there ahead of you.
Raise the Bar and Win! is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
What would your life look like if you truly raised the bar to match God’s standards, not the world’s?
Welcome to this week’s powerful new episode! Today, we’re diving deep into what it really means to raise the bar in our walk with Jesus and live a life of excellence—not for our own recognition, but to glorify God.
?What you’ll discover in this episode:
? Why excellence is rooted in God’s character
? How our hunger for greatness reflects our Creator
? The dangers of complacency, apathy, and lukewarm living
? Why raising the bar is vital to discipleship
? What Scripture says about commitment, sacrifice, and finishing strong
? The true cost of being a disciple (Luke 14:25-33)
? How to live the F.A.T. life: Faithful, Available, and Teachable
From sports analogies to biblical truths, this episode challenges us to stop settling for mediocrity and start pressing forward to become builders and battlers for God’s Kingdom. Jesus didn’t call us to be spectators—He called us to run the race, fight the good fight, and make disciples who raise the bar in their own lives.
? If you’re ready to embrace your calling, reject lukewarm living, and inspire others to pursue God’s best—this episode is for you.
?️ Key Scripture References:
Colossians 3:23-24
Luke 14:25–33
Philippians 3:14
Matthew 22:37
Hebrews 12:1–2
1 Corinthians 11:1
Ephesians 6:12
Revelation 3:16
God Goes Before Us! is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In this week’s powerful episode, we dive into Genesis 45—one of the most dramatic and redemptive moments in the story of Joseph. After years of betrayal, separation, and suffering, Joseph finally reveals his identity to his brothers… and instead of vengeance, he responds with tears, grace, and a powerful declaration of God’s sovereignty.
? Last week, we saw Judah’s heartfelt plea to take Benjamin’s place as a slave—a sign that the brothers had truly changed. Now, we see Joseph weeping, embracing, and extending forgiveness in ways that reflect the very heart of God.
In this episode, we discuss:
✅ The weeping of a righteous man—why emotions can be sacred.
✅ “I am Joseph”—identity over accusation in reconciliation.
✅ Grace over guilt—how Joseph shifts focus to God’s purpose.
✅ God’s sovereign hand in hurt—seeing divine design in our trials.
✅ Joseph’s new mission—to preserve, not punish.
✅ Extravagant forgiveness—provision, blessing, and restoration.
✅ A renewed purpose for Jacob—how hope revives our spirit.
? Key Question: Who do you need to forgive? What pain in your past is God reframing for His purpose?
This episode is a reminder that God is always working behind the scenes—even in the hardest seasons—to bring healing, unity, and redemption. God goes before us to prepare the way… our part is to trust, obey, and see with spiritual eyes.
The Test of True Change Genesis 44 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
???? ??? ???? ????? ? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ??????
This week on the podcast, we dive deep into one of the most emotional and powerful moments in the story of Joseph and his brothers. In Genesis 44, Joseph orchestrates a final test—not to punish, but to reveal whether his brothers have truly changed after all these years.
? Will they abandon Benjamin like they once abandoned Joseph?
? Has guilt transformed them—or destroyed them?
? And what does true repentance and godly leadership really look like?
In this pivotal chapter, we witness:
? Judah rise as a selfless, sacrificial leader
? A powerful picture of gospel-centered transformation
? The kind of pressure God uses to surface what’s hidden in the heart
? How real change is seen not in apologies, but in actions
This episode is packed with timeless truths about transformation, repentance, leadership, and the grace of God that meets us in our lowest moments. Whether you’re walking through a difficult season or seeking signs of growth in your own life, Genesis 44 offers clarity, conviction, and comfort.
? Key Takeaway: When God tests you, it’s not to shame you—it’s to change you.
? Don’t miss this powerful episode. And be sure to tune in next week as we witness Joseph’s breathtaking reveal in Genesis 45.
From Guilt to Grace Genesis 43:16-34 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Are you willing to trust God’s timing in the slow work of reconciliation, even when emotions run deep?
In this powerful new episode, we dive deep into Genesis 43:16-34, a pivotal moment in the story of Joseph and his brothers. The tension is thick, emotions are high, and God’s hand is quietly but clearly at work. Joseph, now a ruler in Egypt, is reunited with the very brothers who betrayed him—but they don’t recognize him yet. What unfolds is a stunning picture of grace, reconciliation, and the testing of hearts.
In this episode, we’ll explore:
? How guilt can distort our view of God’s providence
? Why Joseph’s unexpected kindness is a model of God’s grace
? The emotional weight of forgiveness and restoration
? How God often tests us through blessings, not just hardships
? The slow but beautiful process of healing and reconciliation
We’ll ask:
? Are we missing God’s grace because of fear or shame?
? What does it mean to respond with grace instead of bitterness?
? How does Joseph’s journey reflect God’s heart toward us?
This episode is filled with rich discussion, emotional insight, and biblical truth that will challenge you to trust God’s timing and embrace the grace He freely offers, even when it comes through unexpected channels.
Broken Trust and Buried Truths Gen 42:25-43:15 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Last week, we left Joseph’s brothers reeling from accusations of espionage and Simeon left behind in an Egyptian prison. This week, the story intensifies. We dive deep into ??????? ??:??–??:??, where ?????? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ???? ?????—??? ????????, ????? ??????.
As fear, confusion, and unresolved guilt take center stage, the emotional weight on Jacob and his sons only grows. Why were they so afraid of finding the silver? Did they lie to Joseph’s steward? Was Jacob justified in his despair?
???? ?? ?? ?? ??????:
1. The mysterious return of silver in the sacks
2. Jacob’s grief and struggle to let go of Benjamin
3. Reuben’s failed attempt at leadership
4. Judah’s transformation and responsible boldness
5. God’s hidden hand in a broken family’s story
? This episode challenges us to look at how we respond when life feels out of control. ?? ?? ????? ???? ?????—???????? ??? ????????—?? ???? ?????, ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ???????????????
? ?????? ?? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????, ?????? ??????, ??? ??? ???? ????? ?? ????????? ?? ?????????? ??? ?????? ????????.
God’s Hand In Hard Seasons Genesis 42:1-24 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ???????????????
This week on the podcast, we return to the powerful story of ?????? ?? ??????? ??—a story of divine orchestration, deep emotion, and God’s sovereignty even in the hardest of seasons.
Joseph is now second in command over all Egypt, and as famine sweeps through the land, his long-lost brothers come seeking grain—completely unaware that they’re standing before the very brother they betrayed decades earlier. What unfolds is not only a dramatic family reunion in the making, but a series of God-ordained tests designed to lead these men to repentance.
? ?? ???? ???????, ?? ???????:
• Why Jacob’s sons hesitated to go to Egypt
• How guilt and conscience dig up the past
• The surprising ways God accomplishes His plans
• Joseph’s emotional restraint and wise testing
• What true conviction and reconciliation look like
• And how God’s kindness and severity (Romans 11:22) work together for His redemptive purpose
Joseph’s actions remind us that God is always at work behind the scenes—even in famine, failure, and fear. What may feel like hardship can actually be the very tool God uses to draw us near, shape our hearts, and fulfill His promises.
? ??? ?? ????????? ?? ????? ??????—?????????? ??? ???? ????.
? ?? ?????????? ??? ?????????? ?? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ? ??????, ?????? ???????? ??????, ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???????.
Being A Friend Of God Has Benefits is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ? ?????? ?? ?????, ??? ???? ? ????????
What does it really mean to be called a ?????? ?? ???? In this week’s powerful episode of the Riot Podcast, we unpack John 15:12–17 and discover the incredible truth that friendship with Jesus is both a privilege and a calling. ?
Join us as we explore how abiding in Christ produces true fruit in our lives — fruit that leads to genuine love for one another, obedience, supernatural friendship, and answered prayer. Jesus reminds us that we’re not just His servants, but His friends — chosen, appointed, and invited into the inner circle of the King of Kings.
? ?????? ?? ????? ???????:
1. The difference between worldly friendships and friendship with Jesus
2. Why love is more than a feeling — it’s a command and an action
3. How true Christian fruit bears eternal impact
4. The role of obedience and intimacy in being a friend of God
5. The privilege of answered prayer through relationship with Christ
6. Why bearing fruit makes us targets of the world’s hate — and how to prepare for it
? Whether you’ve walked with Jesus for years or you’re new to the faith, this episode will encourage and challenge you to live as a true friend of God — one who bears fruit, loves deeply, and stands firm in Christ.
? Subscribe and hit the bell so you don’t miss next week’s episode as we dive into the coming verses, where Jesus prepares His followers for the world’s opposition. It’s going to be real, raw, and rooted in truth.
? Drop your thoughts in the comments:
???? ???? ????? ? “?????? ?? ???” ???? ?? ????
? ??????. ?????. ???? ??? ?????.
Breaking Free from Phone Addiction is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
??? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? ????????? ????—?? ??????? ??????????? ??? ???? ???
Are you constantly reaching for your phone… even before reaching for God? You’re not alone. In this powerful episode, we’re talking openly and honestly about something affecting almost all of us—?????????? ?????????—and what it’s doing to our spiritual lives.
With surveys revealing that younger generations are increasingly aware of their unhealthy screen habits, we ask: What does God have to say about how we use our time, our focus, and our minds?
? ?? ???? ???????, ?? ?????:
• How unchecked phone habits can lead to idolatry
• Why fasting from your phone can help you hear God more clearly
• What Scripture says about making the best use of our time (Eph. 5:15-16)
• Ways our phones can actually ??????? ??? and build others up
Through Scripture, reflection, and practical examples, we explore how to shift from distraction to ????????, from scrolling to ???????, and from unhealthy habits to ???? ???????. ?
? Whether you’re a student, parent, ministry leader, or just someone trying to live more intentionally with Jesus, this episode is for you.
? ???’? ??????? ??? ?????????, ??????? ??? ???????, ??? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???????.
?️ “Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable… think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8
Giants In The Bible is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
??? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????—?? ??? ???? ???? ????????
Are giants in the Bible real? Who were the Nephilim? Were they fallen angels or something else entirely? In this week’s episode, we dive deep into one of the most mysterious and misunderstood topics in Scripture—?????? ??? ??? ????????.
? From ??????? ? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???????, from ??????? ??? ???? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ????????, we explore what the Bible actually says about these towering figures and where historical legends, ancient writings, and modern myths intersect.
?️ ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ???????:
Are the Nephilim the offspring of fallen angels and human women?
What does Genesis 6 really say?
Were giants wiped out in the flood, and who were the post-flood giants like Goliath and Og?
What’s the connection between the Nephilim and the Book of Enoch?
How tall were these giants—and is there any evidence today?
?️Our goal isn’t to prove our beliefs but to shed biblical light on a controversial topic and let ??? decide what to explore further. Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or already fascinated, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
What’s The Bible Say About The Trinity is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
??? ???? ????????????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ????????
This week episode, we are diving deep into one of the most profound and mysterious doctrines of the Christian faith: ??? ???????.
What does the Bible really say about the Trinity? Is it one God or three? How can we make sense of this divine relationship that is both united and distinct?
? ?? ???? ???????, ?? ???????:
1. Why the Trinity is so difficult (yet essential) to understand
2. Key scriptures that reveal God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
3. The unique roles and relationships within the Trinity
4. Common illustrations (and why they often fall short)
5. Why it’s okay to not fully comprehend an infinite God
We unpack powerful passages from Deuteronomy, Matthew, John, Psalms, Corinthians, and more to show how the Bible consistently presents one God in three Persons.
? Whether you’re a new believer or have been walking with Christ for years, this episode will encourage you to marvel at the mystery and majesty of our triune God.
✝️ “??, ??? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ????????? ?? ???! ??? ???????????? ??? ??? ????????? ??? ??? ??????????? ??? ????!” — ?????? ??:??
Did Jesus Go To Hell? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
??? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?????
In this week’s episode, we’re diving deep into a long-debated and often misunderstood topic: ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ??????????? ??? ????????????? ?
Jesus declared “?? ?? ????????” on the cross (John 19:30) — but what happened next? Was He in torment, proclaiming victory, or resting in paradise? We explore what Scripture really says about the realm of the dead, clarifying key concepts like ?????, ?????, ????????, and the confusion around the world “????.”
? ??’?? ???? ??:
Jesus’ promise to the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43
The significance of sheol and hades in both Old and New Testaments
What the Apostles’ Creed means by “He descended into hell”
Different interpretations of 1 Peter 3:18–20
Misconceptions around Jesus suffering further after the cross
Whether you’re new to this topic or have wondered about it for years, this episode brings biblical clarity to a powerful moment in our faith.
Faithful Bonds, Building Relationships That Last is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
?? ? ????? ?????? ?? ????-?????????, ??? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ???????? ????? ?? ????????? ??? ???????-?????? ???????
In this week’s episode, we’re joined by ?????? ????? ???? from ???? ????? ??????, where we dive deep into what it truly means to make disciples that make disciples.
?????? ????? shares how his church is fully committed to raising up the next generation, with entire Wednesday nights dedicated to kids and youth. Plus, he gives insight into the ??? ?????? (???? ????? ?????? ??????), a unique way of doing life together in faith.
? ????’? ?? ???? ????????
✅ The shift from building churches to building the Kingdom of God
✅ How God has been teaching Barry new perspectives on discipleship
✅ A behind-the-scenes look at life in Oklahoma—cowboy hats, rodeos, and yes…beef!
✅ The rise of bold faith in sports, media, and politics
✅ Why now, more than ever, people are looking for truth in Jesus
Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation!
Depression, God’s Perfect Will, Prayer is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
??? ??? ?? ????? ?? ???’? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ???????????? ??? ??????????
???? ????? ?????? ????????? ???? ??? ???? ???????????? — ???? ???????? ?????????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ???’? ????. In this heartfelt episode, we’re honored to welcome ?????? ???? as we dive into these deeply personal and spiritual topics.
? ?? ???? ????????????, ?? ???????:
1. How to find hope and healing through depression
2. Understanding and trusting in God’s perfect will
3. The transformative power of prayer in our daily lives
4. Encouragement for those wrestling with doubt, anxiety, or uncertainty
?????? ???? shares profound insights and personal stories, offering practical guidance for those walking through dark seasons. Whether you’re facing mental health challenges or simply seeking a deeper connection with God, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone.
? We’d Love to Hear From You!
? How has prayer helped you through difficult times?
? What verses or experiences have reminded you of God’s perfect will?
Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation!
Why Do I Complain So Much? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
??? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ?? ??????? ?????????, ???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?? ?? ????????
In this episode, we dive deep into the reasons behind our tendency to complain, how it affects our ?????? ??????, ?????????????, ??? ???? ??? ????????? ???????.
?? ???? ???????:
1. Discover why complaining can feel cathartic but ultimately lead to negativity.
2. Learn what the Bible says about complaining and how it can be both appropriate and sinful.
3. Explore examples of complaints from Adam, the Israelites, and even the psalmists.
4. Understand how chronic complaining can affect relationships, workplaces, and your witness as a believer.
5. Receive practical tips on overcoming the habit of complaining through prayer, gratitude, and trust in God.
??? ?????????? ?? ??????? ??:
Philippians 2:14-15
1 Thessalonians 5:18
James 1:2-3
1 Peter 5:7
* Philippians 4:6-8
AI: Is It Good Or Evil? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
??? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ?????????????, ?? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? ???????
In today’s episode, we’re diving into the rapidly evolving world of ?? ?? ?????????? ???????????? with special guest IB Stottlemyer! From AI-powered assistants to autonomous robots, we’re exploring the three types of AI—Narrow, General, and Super AI—and how they impact our daily lives.
? ???? ???’?? ?????:
? How AI is already shaping industries like banking, healthcare, and automation
? The potential future of AI, including personal home robots ?
? The spiritual implications of AI—should we be afraid or embrace it?
? How faith and wisdom can guide us in using AI responsibly
As Christians, how do we navigate this technological shift? Can AI replace human connection? What role should faith play in this new era? Join us as we discuss these pressing questions and seek God’s perspective on the future of AI.
After Trials, New Beginnings Genesis 41 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
How has a season of waiting or hardship in your life prepared you for a greater purpose, just as Joseph’s time in prison prepared him for leadership?
In last week’s episode, we saw Joseph enduring trials in prison, learning patience, and trusting God’s perfect timing. But what happens when God’s appointed time finally arrives? This week, we dive into ??????? ??, where Joseph’s journey takes a dramatic turn from the prison to the palace.
??? ??????????:
✅ Pharaoh’s perplexing dreams and God’s sovereign plan
✅ The cupbearer’s delayed but divinely timed remembrance of Joseph
✅ Joseph’s faith, humility, and boldness in interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams
✅ How God used Joseph’s wisdom to position him as Egypt’s second-in-command
✅ Lessons on overcoming past hurts and embracing new beginnings
???? ?? ??? ???????? ?????? ??? ? ??????? ???????, ?? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????. ??? ??? ?? ? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ?????—???’? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????!
Trusting God’s Timing Genesis 39:21-23 to Genesis 40:1-23 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In last week’s episode, “??????? ???’? ????? ?? ??????,” we explored how Joseph remained faithful despite being falsely accused and imprisoned (??????? ??:?-??). If you haven’t listened yet, we highly recommend checking it out!
This week, we continue Joseph’s story as he faces hardship in prison—but once again, God’s favor is upon him (??????? ??:??-??). Even in suffering, Joseph learns to wait on the Lord, trusting that His timing is perfect.
? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ???????:
✅ How God used prison to prepare Joseph for his calling
✅ The importance of patience in faith (Hebrews 6:12, Romans 5:3-4, James 1:2-4)
✅ The significance of dreams in Egypt and Joseph’s first interpretations
✅ Why trusting God’s timing is better than relying on people (Psalm 146:3-5)
Just like Joseph, we may face seasons of waiting and trials. But as we’ll see, God is always at work behind the scenes, shaping our character for His greater plan.
? ???? ??? ????????????! What lessons have you learned about trusting God’s timing? Let us know in the comments!
Finding God’s Favor in Trials Genesis 39:7-20 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
??? ??? ??????? ???’? ????? ????????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ??????????
Welcome to this week’s Riot Podcast! In today’s episode, we dive deeper into Joseph’s story in ??????? ??, where he faces the temptation of Potiphar’s wife. We’ll discuss how Joseph’s courage and self-control demonstrated his unwavering faith in God and earned him divine favor, even in the midst of suffering and injustice.
Through each discussion, we explore how choosing God’s path over fleeting pleasures leads to lasting peace and spiritual victory. We’ll also uncover how God’s favor is more than blessings—it’s tangible evidence of His approval for those who walk humbly and seek His will.
? ??? ??????????:
1. ??????? ??:?-??
2. ???????? ??:?? – “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.”
3. ?????? ??:? – “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”
4. ? ??????? ?:?? – “Flee the evil desires of your youth.”
? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??????????? ??:
1. How to guard our hearts from sin.
2. Why God’s favor shields us in times of hardship.
3. The spiritual strength found in fleeing temptation.
Managing Finances God’s Way is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
??? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ???? ???’? ?????
For many, finances can evoke worry, pressure, or even a false sense of security. But as believers, ?? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ? ??? ???? ?????? ???. In this week’s episode, we dive into the biblical principles of financial stewardship.
? ?????? ??’?? ?????:
? What does the Bible say about borrowing money and debt? (Proverbs 22:7, Proverbs 6:1-5)
? The wisdom behind saving and trusting God as our provider. (Philippians 4:19, Proverbs 6:6-8)
? Warnings against greed and laziness—two sides of financial mismanagement. (Proverbs 6:6-11, Ecclesiastes 5:10)
? How to give generously with a heart of obedience and faith. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Luke 6:38)
? Reaping what you sow—living with an open hand to receive and bless. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Matthew 25:14-30)
Whether you are struggling with debt, saving for the future, or just seeking to grow in financial faithfulness, this episode offers practical, Scripture-based insights on how to handle money in a way that pleases God. Remember, it’s not about how much you have—it’s about how you steward what God has entrusted to you.
Faith and Flaws Genesis 38–39:1-6 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
What lessons can we learn from Judah and Joseph about obedience, integrity, and trusting God?
Today, we continue our journey through ???????, uncovering powerful truths about ?????, ???????, ??? ???’? ??????????. We’ll explore ??????? ?? and the first part of ??????? ??, two chapters that contrast the lives of Judah and Joseph in profound ways.
??????? ?????????:
? ??????? ?? – At first glance, this chapter seems like a detour from Joseph’s story, but it plays a crucial role in God’s redemptive plan. We explore how Judah’s choices led to deception, loss, and eventually, the surprising inclusion of Tamar’s son, Perez, in Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1:3). Without this chapter, we wouldn’t understand how the line of David—and ultimately, Jesus—came to be!
? ??????? ??:?-? – Meanwhile, Joseph’s story continues in Egypt, where he faces trials but remains faithful. Unlike Judah, who compromised morally, Joseph stands firm against temptation. His obedience and faithfulness lead to God’s blessing, even in a foreign land.
??? ??????? ??? ????????????:
✅ ???’? ????? ?? ?????????? – The story of Judah and Tamar reminds us that God can redeem even the messiest situations for His greater purpose. No failure is beyond His reach!
✅ ??? ???????????? ?? ????????? – We see a pattern of deception in Genesis, from Jacob’s trickery to Judah’s deception, proving that our choices have lasting effects. But even amid mistakes, God is at work.
✅ ???????????? ?? ?????? – Joseph’s story encourages us to trust God even when life is unfair. He was sold into slavery, yet he remained faithful, and God honored him.
✅ ??? ?????????? ?? ????????? ??? ????????? – Unlike Judah, who gave in to temptation, Joseph chose to honor God. His example challenges us to remain steadfast in our faith, no matter the circumstances.
? ??????? ???????! ????????????? ??????? ?????
Joseph’s story unfolds in a land of vast wealth, advanced knowledge, and idol worship. The Egyptians were master builders, astronomers, and warriors, yet their spiritual blindness stood in contrast to Joseph’s unwavering faith in the one true God. Despite being a foreigner and a slave, Joseph’s faithfulness set him apart, and he became a blessing to those around him.
? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?? ??????
?Have you ever felt like your past mistakes disqualified you from God’s plan? Take heart—Judah’s story proves that God redeems broken people!
?Are you in a difficult season, wondering if God sees you? Like Joseph, remain faithful, and trust that God is working behind the scenes.
?Do you struggle with obedience when temptation arises? Joseph’s example shows that honoring God is always the right choice, no matter the cost.
God’s unseen hand in Troubling Times – Genesis 37:12-36 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ??????????
??? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ??????????
Last week, we explored the beginning of Joseph’s incredible story—his dreams, his father’s favoritism, and his brothers’ growing jealousy. Today, we continue our journey through ??????? ??:??-??, where envy leads to betrayal, but God’s sovereign plan remains at work.
???? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ???????:
???????? ??:??-?? – Why were Joseph’s brothers so far from home? What were they hiding?
???????? ??:??-?? – Hatred and envy take root as the brothers plot against Joseph.
???????? ??:??-?? – Selling their brother into slavery—was this their way of “solving” the problem?
???????? ??:??-?? – Jacob grieves, believing Joseph is dead, but God is still in control.
??? ???????? ??????:
?Envy is a destructive force (????????? ?:??)
?Our sins will always find us out (???????? ??:??)
?Even when people do their worst, God is still in control (?????? ?:??)
Joseph’s story reminds us that no matter what trials we face, God is always working behind the scenes to fulfill His divine purpose. If you’ve ever wondered how God can use even the darkest situations for good, this episode is for you!
Trump Inauguration, NFL, College Football is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
? ??? ??? ????????? ???????? ????????????? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ???? ??????
In today’s powerful episode, we dive into the intersection of ?????, ????????, ??? ??????.
?️ ??? ????? ????????????: What can we learn as Christians about God’s sovereignty and our role in praying for leaders? We explore biblical principles for approaching politics with wisdom and faith.
? ??? ??? ??????? ????????: From the gridiron to the Word of God, we unpack spiritual lessons on perseverance, teamwork, and the ultimate prize—a life lived for Christ.
This episode challenges us to look beyond the headlines and highlight how God is at work in every area of our lives. It’s an inspiring discussion for anyone seeking to grow their faith in a culture that’s always shifting.
? Don’t miss out—tune in, subscribe, and join the conversation! Let’s build a community that glorifies God in all we do.
? Hit play now and share this with someone who needs encouragement today!
A Family Divided over Favoritism is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
??? ???’? ????? ???????? ??? ??????????? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ???????? ?????? ? ???????
In today’s episode, we dive into ??????? ??, the beginning of the captivating story of Joseph. From the jealousy of his brothers to the favoritism of his father Jacob, this chapter unveils a divided family struggling with deep-seated issues. But more importantly, it reveals God’s sovereign hand at work.
Through this powerful narrative, we explore profound themes:
1. ??????????’? ????????????: How Jacob’s favoritism planted seeds of division within his family.
2. ????????? ??? ?????: Joseph’s unwavering integrity, even amidst jealousy and betrayal.
3. ?????? ?? ??? ??? ?????????: How Joseph’s life serves as a profound illustration of Jesus Christ—beloved by the Father, rejected by his own, and ultimately raised up to save many.
This episode challenges us to reflect on our own relationships and consider how God’s grace can heal brokenness. We are reminded of Romans 5:20, “Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more.” No matter the flaws in Joseph’s family or our own, God’s promises remain steadfast.
Don’t miss this deep dive into Scripture as we uncover the theological truths woven into the life of Joseph, and see how his story can inspire and transform our own lives today.
Legacy, Loss, and the Promise of the Covenant is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
How does Jacob’s decision to rename Benjamin from “son of my sorrow” to “son of my right hand” demonstrate the power of perspective and faith in transforming sorrow into hope?
In today’s episode, we delve deeper into Genesis 35:16-29, a chapter rich with profound lessons on legacy, loss, and the enduring promises of God.
We begin by revisiting the journey of Jacob and his family, exploring two pivotal moments: the tragic death of Rachel during the birth of Benjamin and the passing of Isaac, which marks the end of an era for the patriarchs. Along the way, we unpack the birth of Benjamin, the renaming that transformed sorrow into honor, and the impact of Rachel’s death on biblical history, connecting it to the coming of Christ.
We also tackle a difficult and controversial event: Reuben’s sin with Bilhah. What does this moment reveal about family dynamics, leadership, and human frailty? How does this act shape the legacy of Jacob’s sons and the unfolding of God’s plan for the 12 tribes of Israel?
Finally, we reflect on Isaac’s remarkable life and peaceful passing at 180 years old. His death underscores the covenant’s transition to Jacob and the enduring faithfulness of God, who remains the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
This chapter reminds us that even amidst trials, failures, and sorrow, God’s promises endure, weaving together a tapestry of grace and redemption.
Join us as we explore:
1. The joy and sorrow surrounding Benjamin’s birth.
2. The significance of Rachel’s death and her connection to Bethlehem.
3. Reuben’s act and its implications for Jacob’s family.
4. Isaac’s death and the shift in covenant blessings.
Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe to stay connected as we continue our journey through the book of Genesis. Next week, we’ll begin the story of Joseph, Jacob’s favorite son, and the remarkable ways God’s providence unfolds through him.
? Scripture Covered: Genesis 35:16-29
A Call To Holiness is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
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In this episode of our Christian podcast, we dive into a profound and timeless calling: holiness. Building on last week’s discussion about resetting our lives, we explore the biblical foundation and practical application of being set apart for God.
Drawing from 1 Peter 1:13-16, we unpack what it means to live a holy life, as Peter urges believers to prepare their minds for action, set their hope on God’s grace, and live as obedient children. We’ll discuss:
- The Holiness of God: How His perfection and otherness shape His love, mercy, and justice.
- Is Holiness Possible?: The role of Christ and the Holy Spirit in our pursuit of holiness.
- Practical Steps for Holy Living: Insights from Romans 12:2, Titus 3:5, and 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 to help us cultivate a lifestyle that glorifies God.
We’re not striving for perfection to earn salvation but responding to His grace with lives that reflect His character. If you’re ready to dive deeper into your walk with Christ and embrace His call to holiness, this episode is for you.
? Let us know your thoughts! How do you strive to live a holy life in your daily walk with God?
? Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Christ-centered content!
Holiness #ChristianPodcast #1Peter1 #BibleStudy #ChristianLiving
The Day After Christmas: Now What? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In what ways does reflecting on Jesus’ life, beyond His birth, help us navigate challenges and find purpose in the new year?
Christmas Day has come and gone, but what about the day after? For many, it’s a time of returning to routine, tidying up, or reflecting on the season’s memories. But for Christians, it’s an opportunity to shift our focus from just the birth of Jesus to His life, work, and mission.
In today’s episode, we explore how to carry the spirit of Christmas into the new year. From meditating on the life of Christ—His humility, servanthood, and sacrifice—to grounding our daily struggles in God’s promises, we discuss practical ways to keep Christ at the center of our lives beyond December 25.
? Key Scripture Highlights:
Luke 2:40, 46-47: Jesus’ growth in wisdom and obedience.
Hebrews 4:15: Christ’s empathy for our weaknesses.
James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above.
Colossians 1:17: Christ as the starting point for all creation and our lives.
As we prepare for the new year, let’s reflect on how the Incarnation changes everything—not just for a day but for every day. Tune in to be inspired, encouraged, and equipped for a fresh start in Christ!
Walking with Those Who Weep at Christmas is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
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Christmas is often a season of joy, but for many, it’s also a time marked by profound grief and loss. In today’s podcast, ??????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?????????, we explore how to support loved ones facing heartache during the holidays.
We dive into the reality of grief, sharing biblical truths like ????? ??:??, reminding us that God hears the cries of the afflicted. With practical advice rooted in Scripture, we discuss:
✔️ How to acknowledge loss and offer comfort.
✔️ Adjusting expectations for those who are grieving.
✔️ Providing practical assistance and heartfelt prayers.
✔️ Allowing loved ones space to grieve while pointing them to Christ.
Let’s walk alongside those who are suffering, reflecting Christ’s love and embodying His compassion. As Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
If this message resonates with you, share it with someone who may need encouragement today. Join us in extending God’s hope and comfort this Christmas.
Why Religion Sucks? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
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Welcome to today’s video! We’re tackling a bold topic: “??? ???????? ?????” and diving deep into the critical differences between religion and a relationship with God.
????’? ???? ???’?? ?????:
? ??? ???????? ????? ?????: How man-made rules and rituals can distract from truly knowing God.
? ??? ????? ?? ????????????: Christianity is about walking in obedience to Jesus, not performing works to earn salvation.
? ???????? ???? ???? ????????? ???????: How to move beyond lifeless rituals to experience authentic faith and grace.
? ?????????? ????????: What the Bible says about religious practices versus a true connection with Christ (e.g., 1 John 2:1-6, Matthew 7:21-23).
??? ???????? ?????
Religion often burdens us with expectations and man-made rules that offer no real connection to God. It focuses on outward practices rather than inward transformation. A genuine relationship with Jesus is rooted in love, grace, and obedience—not in empty rituals or cultural traditions.
??? ????????? ?????????:
? Are your religious practices drawing you closer to God or keeping you stuck in routine?
? Can church attendance and good works substitute for a true relationship with Jesus?
? How can we move from religion to relationship, fully surrendering to God’s will?
Join us as we challenge the norms, unpack the truth of God’s Word, and explore how to live a faith that’s real, alive, and transformative.
? ????? ???? ?????: Have you experienced the difference between religion and relationship? Let us know in the comments!
Don’t forget to ????, ?????, and ????????? for more bold discussions about faith. Hit the notification bell ? so you never miss an update.
Embracing God’s Promises and Protection is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a cycle of disobedience? We have!
In last week’s episode, “??? ???????? ???? ???????? ??? ?????,” we followed Jacob through his fears, his struggles with obedience, and the devastating choices made in Shechem. But this week, we turn the page to ??????? ??, a chapter filled with hope, renewal, and faith!
✨ ???? ??????? ????? ???? ????:
✅ How God’s call to Jacob at Bethel is a powerful reminder that we can always start over when we repent and obey.
✅ The importance of cleansing our lives—letting go of idols and embracing God’s renewal.
✅ How Jacob’s obedience shifted his perspective from escaping problems to learning from them.
✅ God’s faithfulness in protecting Jacob’s family despite their past failures.
? ??? ??????????:
1. Jacob’s return to Bethel marks a fresh spiritual beginning.
2. God reaffirms His promises and His name as El Shaddai (God Almighty).
3. The transformation in Jacob’s life as he starts to live as “Israel,” trusting God’s provision and promises.
? “The good news of the gospel is that we don’t have to stay the way we are.” This powerful truth, seen through Jacob’s story, reminds us that God’s grace is greater than our failures.
Our Struggle with Identity and Faith is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
How can we ensure we’re walking in obedience rather than delaying God’s call?
In this week’s episode, we explore Genesis 33:1-17, where Jacob’s long-awaited reunion with his brother, Esau, takes center stage. After 20 years apart, Jacob is filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Will Esau’s anger from the past resurface, or will this be a moment of unexpected grace and reconciliation?
This episode builds on last week’s discussion, “Trusting God in the Dark” (Episode 211), where Jacob wrestled with God and was given a new name and identity. But as we see in today’s chapter, it’s one thing to encounter God on the mountaintop and quite another to live out that transformation in the valleys of life.
Here are some highlights from our discussion:
Faith in Action: How Jacob’s behavior shifts from dependence on God to old patterns of scheming.
Missed Opportunities: Why Jacob hesitated to share his testimony with Esau.
Lessons in Obedience: The consequences of delaying God’s command to return to Bethel.
Family Dynamics: How favoritism and unresolved conflicts sow seeds of future strife.
God’s Faithfulness: Even in Jacob’s failures, God’s plans and purposes remain steadfast.
Join us as we uncover the lessons in Jacob’s story that challenge us to confront our own struggles with faith, identity, and obedience. Don’t miss the powerful reminder to trust God fully and live out His calling boldly.
? Read with us: Genesis 33:1-17
Trusting God in the Dark is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????????? ???? ???, ?????????? ?? ????????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????
In today’s episode, we continue our deep dive into Jacob’s transformative journey, focusing on ??????? ??:??-??. This passage captures the intense, spiritual wrestling match between Jacob and God, a moment that reshaped Jacob’s identity and faith forever.
? ??? ????????? ???? ?????’? ???????:
✨ Jacob’s solitude set the stage for a divine encounter. Sometimes, being alone is where God meets us to reshape our hearts.
✨ Despite years of striving and scheming, Jacob learned that surrendering to God’s will is the true path to victory.
✨ God’s question, “What is your name?” wasn’t about information—it was about transformation. It challenged Jacob to confront his past, own his identity, and embrace God’s plan for his life.
✨ By the end of this wrestling match, Jacob walked away with a new name, “Israel,” a new limp, and a new dependence on God.
? ?????????? ????????: Are there areas in your life where you’re still wrestling with God? What would it look like to surrender fully to His plan?
? As we unpack these powerful truths, be reminded of A.W. Tozer’s wisdom: “The Lord cannot fully bless a man until He has first conquered him.”
? Don’t miss this life-changing discussion about faith, fear, and surrender. Hit like, share with a friend, and let’s explore how God’s grace is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Do you want to be Healed? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
?? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ?????????? ?? ??? ???????????? ???? ???, ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????
In this video, we dive deep into the story of the man healed at the Pool of Bethesda, found in John 5:1-15. Jesus performs a miraculous healing, but there’s much more to this encounter than meets the eye.
In today’s teaching, we explore the background of the Pool of Bethesda, located near the sheep gate in Jerusalem, and its spiritual significance. We unpack the meaning behind Jesus’ interactions with the crippled man and why He healed him in such a purposeful way.
? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????:
??? ???????: Why did Jesus choose the Pool of Bethesda? Was it just a random encounter or part of a bigger plan?
??? ???????: Jesus healed the man not just physically, but spiritually. What can we learn from the way Jesus approached him?
??? ??????? ???????????: Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath, knowing it would stir controversy. Why did He choose this moment to challenge the religious leaders?
??? ????????? ???????: The healing was a symbol of grace and restoration. Jesus’ actions were a fulfillment of prophecy and a demonstration of God’s healing power.
As we explore the passage, we ask ourselves: ?? ??? ???? ?? ?? ??????? This question that Jesus asks the man resonates with all of us—Are we willing to accept the healing and restoration that Jesus offers, both physically and spiritually?
????? ???????? ???????:
John 5:1-15 – The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda
Isaiah 35:3-6 – Prophecy of Healing and Restoration
Facing our Past is never easy! is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Are you holding onto fear from your past instead of fully trusting God’s promises?
In this episode, “?????’? ????????? ????,” we continue our journey through ???????, diving into the challenging yet transformative story of Jacob as he faces his brother Esau after years of estrangement. Jacob’s past actions haunt him, and despite God’s forgiveness, he cannot shake his fear of retribution from Esau. Join us as we explore how Jacob’s crisis brings him face-to-face with his faith, revealing both his deep knowledge of God’s promises and his struggle to fully trust.
Last week, we examined the theme of self-reflection, identifying hypocrisy in our lives in ??????? ???, “??? ?? ???????? ????????? ?? ?? ????.” This week, we unpack Jacob’s journey and the incredible moment he encounters an army of angels, realizing God’s protection is closer than he thinks. Yet, despite this divine reassurance, Jacob still wrestles with fear and resorts to old patterns of self-reliance. How often do we do the same, praying with conviction but then acting out of doubt?
We’ll discuss the ?????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ????, as well as the lessons from Jacob’s struggle between ???????? ???’? ???????? ??? ?????????? ?? ??? ??? ???????. This story reminds us that God’s promises are steadfast, even when we waver. As Jacob’s prayer in desperation shows, we can approach God’s throne with honesty, resting in His faithfulness, no matter what trials we face.
Grab your Bible, join the discussion, and let’s dive deeper into ??????? ?? to uncover the lessons God has for us through Jacob’s encounter with Esau and his journey of faith. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment below!
Scripture References: Genesis 32:1-21, Isaiah 12:2, Psalm 34, Psalm 112:27, Hebrews 1, Romans 14:23, James 2:20
How to Identify the hypocrisy in my life is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Have you ever felt the weight of your own shortcomings, especially when held against the moral standards of faith?
In today’s video, we explore the universal ???????? ?? ?????????, a challenge every Christian faces. ?????? ?:?? reminds us, “??? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???.” This journey involves understanding our own cognitive dissonance—where we hold conflicting values or beliefs—and examining how humility, repentance, and self-reflection can help us live in true alignment with our faith.
Join us as we look at biblical insights on ?????, ?????, ??? ????-?????????, reflecting on verses like Matthew 7:3-5, James 4:6, and Proverbs 11:2.
Let’s work toward authenticity in Christ, casting aside ???????? and ?????????, and embracing a ?????? ???? ?? ?????.
Hope from the Floods is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the aftermath of ????????? ??????, which devastated parts of ??????? ????????? and ??????? ????? ????????, including the ???? ????? ???????? communities.
Join us as we explore the incredible stories of ????, ??????????, ??? ???????? with special guest, ?????? ????? ??????.
Steve, a local pastor just north of Asheville, NC, and author of the “??????? ????????????” curriculum, shares his personal experiences during the floods and how his community has rallied together in the face of such tragedy.
With 95 confirmed fatalities across North Carolina and at least 15 in Eastern Tennessee, the journey to recovery is ongoing, but faith and compassion continue to bring healing. You’ll hear miraculous stories, the role of local churches in disaster relief, and the moving ways God has worked in the aftermath of the storm.
If you’re inspired to get involved, there are many ways to help. Organizations like Baptists on Mission and Samaritan’s Purse are on the ground, offering aid and support to those affected. You can also find ways to donate, volunteer, or advocate for continued relief efforts in the region.
Baptists on Mission
*Samaritan’s Purse*
**Watch now to hear Pastor Steve’s inspiring testimony and learn how you can make a difference.****
Is the Election Rigged? Why Vote? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
??? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ????????? ???? ????????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ??????????
With the upcoming American election, we dive deep into the key policy differences between Republicans and Democrats and examine them through the lens of biblical wisdom. From voter ID laws and the Green New Deal to issues like late-term abortion and Supreme Court appointments, we’ll explore how faith informs our approach to politics.
What does Scripture say about the policies shaping our world? Whether you’re in the U.S. or abroad, these discussions offer insights that apply globally, encouraging Christians to reflect on how biblical principles can guide our views on governance and justice.
Join us as we seek wisdom and understanding, drawing from Proverbs 2:6: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Let’s explore these timely issues together, ensuring our faith leads us in every area of life, including the political decisions we make.
How God Leads Us Through Life is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Can family drama derail God’s perfect plan for your life?
In last week’s episode, “Navigating Family Drama,” we uncovered the tension between Jacob’s wives, Leah and Rachel, and how God remained faithful through it all. Today, we dive into Genesis 31:1-55, where Jacob faces a new challenge—leaving his past behind to return home after 20 years. What does it mean to trust God when the circumstances seem overwhelming? Join us as we explore how God guides Jacob through inner desires, outward circumstances, and His unchanging Word.
In this episode, we discuss the lessons Jacob learned about trusting God’s plan, even when faced with fear and unresolved issues. From dealing with Laban’s deception to understanding the significance of Mizpah, this chapter is packed with insights that resonate with our lives today. How do we discern God’s will? How do we respond to fear and uncertainty? Let’s dive into this incredible journey of faith and see how God’s promises unfold in Jacob’s life—and ours.
Be sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more episodes as we continue walking through the life of Jacob and the lessons God teaches us through his story!
Navigating Family Drama is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Can family drama ever lead to something greater in God’s plan?
In this episode, we dive into Genesis 29 and 30, continuing our deep dive into the life of Jacob. After our special one-off episodes, we’re excited to return to Genesis, where Jacob’s family drama takes center stage.
Now married to Leah and Rachel, Jacob faces challenges as his polygamous marriage stirs jealousy, heartache, and competition among the wives. This complex family dynamic becomes even more complicated with the involvement of four different women, leading to the birth of the twelve tribes of Israel.
We’ll explore how God works through Jacob’s family despite the mess and strife, fulfilling His promise of numerous descendants. From Leah’s struggle for affection to Rachel’s prayers being answered, we’ll unpack the biblical significance of parenthood and the divine stewardship of building a family. We’ll also discuss how Jacob’s faith, despite the challenges, brought about God’s blessings.
Join us as we break down Genesis 29:31-35, 30:17-24, and beyond, and draw lessons from Jacob’s journey that still resonate today!
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𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀?
In this week’s episode, we dive deep into the heart of what it means to embrace our calling as Christians. Pete shares his personal experience of almost becoming a permanent missionary in Africa, providing powerful lessons on how God can work through us when we surrender fully to Him.
Together, Christine and Pete explore three essential themes: cultivating true intimacy with God, loving others as Christ loves us, and the importance of making disciples. Drawing wisdom from key scriptures like James 4:8, John 13:34-35, and Ephesians 3:20, they discuss how a deeper relationship with God enables us to live out His love and empower others to do the same.
Pete reflects on the importance of being faithful, available, and teachable—qualities that God seeks in those who follow Him. They also share stories of how God has worked in their lives and the lives of others through simple obedience and trust. Whether you’re seeking to strengthen your walk with Christ or looking to understand how to make a greater impact for the Kingdom, this episode offers practical insights and encouragement for all believers. Don’t forget to check out last week’s episode on the power of prayer if you missed it.
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Why We Pray and What It Means is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
𝑯𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓?
𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅?
In this powerful and thought-provoking video, we unravel the beauty and mystery of prayer—one of the most intimate aspects of our Christian journey.
𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓 is so much more than a ritual, it’s a sacred conversation with our Heavenly Father. Through prayer, we are invited to draw near to 𝑮𝒐𝒅, to share our hearts, and to listen for His still, small voice. But many believers wrestle with questions:
1. 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚?
2. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓?
3. 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔?
4. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑮𝒐𝒅’𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍.
In this video, we tackle these questions head-on, grounding our exploration in Scripture. We’ll discuss how prayer isn’t just about getting what we want, but about aligning our hearts with 𝑮𝒐𝒅’s will and deepening our relationship with Him. You’ll discover that prayer is both a privilege and a command, a means to praise, seek, and connect with the one who created you.
We’ll also explore the incredible example 𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒔 gave us when He prayed—how even the 𝑺𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒅 sought the Father’s will through prayer. And if Jesus, who was perfect, needed prayer, how much more do we need it in our daily lives?
Whether you’ve struggled with unanswered prayers or felt distant in your spiritual walk, this message is for you. Together, we’ll learn what it means to pray boldly and faithfully, trusting that 𝑮𝒐𝒅 hears every word, even when His answers don’t come in the way we expect. Let this message inspire you to approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that your prayers are powerful and deeply valued by 𝑮𝒐𝒅.
Join us for a journey into the heart of prayer, and discover how this divine conversation can transform your life, renew your faith, and draw you closer to the God who loves you more than you could ever imagine.
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Overcoming Barriers to Disciple! is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
How can Christians balance time with God, community, and discipleship in today’s fast-paced world?
In this week’s episode, we dive into a thought-provoking research study from the Barna Group, exploring whether Christians are too busy for discipleship.
The data shows that while many Christians desire a discipleship lifestyle, a significant 39% aren’t currently engaged in any discipleship relationships. Is it really a lack of time that’s holding them back?
We’ll break down the findings from the Growing Together report, created in collaboration with The Navigators, to uncover who is making time for discipleship and how it impacts their spiritual growth.
From time with others in the Christian community to spending uninterrupted moments with God, we’ll explore how Christians prioritize (or struggle to prioritize) discipleship amidst their busy schedules. Could it be that those who experience true discipleship have found ways to creatively commit their time?
Join us as we unpack these important insights and discuss how believers can reimagine their schedules to pursue spiritual growth and disciple others.
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Celebrating Milestones is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Want to know how a podcast is making a global impact for God’s Kingdom?
Welcome to this special episode of the RIOT Podcast! As we mark our 200th episode, we’re reflecting on the incredible journey God has taken us on over the past four years. Sponsored by Be Mission Minded Ministry, this podcast has been a platform to help listeners see the world through God’s eyes.
Today, we’re highlighting how Be Mission Minded’s work, including projects like Forsaken Voices and Natural Discipleship, is advancing God’s Kingdom globally.
We’ll explore Forsaken Voices, which brings hope and support to orphans and abused children, and Natural Discipleship, a ministry training disciples worldwide. We’ll also share our goals for the next 100 episodes and how we plan to grow our impact, from expanding partnerships to translating more resources into new languages.
Join us as we celebrate this milestone and look ahead to what’s next! Find out how you can volunteer, donate, and be part of this mission.
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We Reap What We Sow is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱?
In this week’s episode, we dive back into the story of 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 from 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟮𝟵. Life is never easy, and what we experience often depends on the condition of our hearts. Jacob may have left behind his family troubles, but he couldn’t escape the struggles within himself. This chapter marks the beginning of his 20-year journey filled with trials in the household of his uncle, 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻. Yet, through every challenge, Jacob was being molded by God to fulfill His greater purpose.
We’ll unpack the beautiful and complicated 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹, a story full of passion, patience, and unexpected deception. Jacob’s dedication to working for Rachel’s hand in marriage for seven long years shows the power of love to overcome even the hardest trials. However, when he was tricked into marrying Rachel’s sister, 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗵, we see a powerful example of the truth that we reap what we sow (𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒔 6:7-8).
Jacob’s story isn’t just a tale from the past—it’s a reflection of our own lives today. The choices we make and the trials we endure are shaping our character and our destiny. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯’𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽. Join us as we explore how God uses all things, even our struggles, to bring about His good purposes.
Join us as we journey through Jacob’s seven-year labor of love for Rachel, only to be deceived by his own family. Discover how God can use our toughest trials to shape our future.
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Lessons in Weakness and Strength Understanding Paul’s Thorn Satan’s Harassment and God’s Grace is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
In our previous episode, we explored the story of Jacob’s journey to Haran and his encounter with God in a dream, often referred to as “Jacob’s Ladder.” Through this transformative moment, God reaffirmed His covenant with Jacob, reminding us of His faithfulness and presence even in uncertain times. If you missed it, be sure to catch up on the powerful lessons of trust, worship, and God’s enduring promises.
This week, we shift our focus to Paul’s mysterious “thorn in the flesh,” as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:7. What exactly was this thorn? Was it a physical ailment, a spiritual battle, or perhaps an emotional struggle? Despite the many theories, Paul’s thorn remains an enigma. However, what we do know is that it was a source of deep pain, a constant reminder of his need for God’s grace. Through this struggle, Paul reveals how God uses even our weaknesses to prevent pride and to perfect His power in us.
Join us as we unpack the purpose behind Paul’s thorn, why he refers to it as a “messenger of Satan,” and how it ultimately strengthened his faith. We’ll explore how God can use our own trials and weaknesses to draw us closer to Him and to demonstrate His strength in our lives. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on the transformative power ofGod’s grace in the midst of our struggles. Watch now and be encouraged in your faith journey!
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A Journey of Faith God will never Leave You! Genesis 28 Jacob coming face to face with God is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In today’s episode, we dive into 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟮𝟴, where Jacob comes face to face with 𝗚𝗼𝗱. But first, let’s recap 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟮𝟳 from Episode 192, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺. We explored the impact of Isaac and Rebekah’s favoritism, leading to family division and Esau’s resentment towards Jacob.
In this episode, we begin by reading 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟮𝟳:𝟰𝟲 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟮𝟴:𝟵. Here, we see Rebekah and Isaac working to secure a godly wife for Jacob, ensuring he doesn’t follow Esau’s path. Despite past mistakes, God’s promise to Isaac continues through Jacob. As the narrative unfolds, we discuss Esau’s further defiance by marrying another pagan wife, revealing his disregard for God’s covenant.
Then, we transition to 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟮𝟴:𝟭𝟬-𝟮𝟮, famously known as “𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯’𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗿.” During Jacob’s journey to Haran, God meets him in a dream, reaffirming His covenant with promises of protection and blessing. This encounter marks a transformative moment for Jacob, reminding us all that God is with us, even in uncertain times.
Join us as we explore how Jacob, once a deceiver, is now being shaped by God to walk by faith. We also dive into the lessons of trust, worship, and the enduring promise that God will never leave us.
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Keys To Being Set Free is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Are you looking for a ministry that will help grow your relationship with God?
Are you seeking true freedom from the hurts, addictions, and hang-ups that hold you back? In this video, we dive into Pete Robertson’s transformative book, “Keys to Being Set Free,” a powerful discipleship curriculum designed to help you break free and experience genuine spiritual growth.
Join us for an insightful Q&A session where we explore the key themes of the book and how it can guide you on a journey towards lasting change and restoration. Whether your spiritual journey has become stagnant, or you’re yearning for a life of authentic freedom, this book offers biblically grounded principles and practical wisdom to help you align your life with God’s word.
Discover how “Keys to Being Set Free” can not only transform your own life but also equip you to lead others through the same journey. Don’t miss this chance to unlock the door to a life of freedom and restoration.
Get your copy of “Keys to Being Set Free” today!
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Spiritual Battle Against Globalization is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In today’s episode, inspired by the impactful display at the Olympics’ opening ceremony, we delve into the themes of globalization and its widespread influence. From a Christian viewpoint, we explore globalization and Marxism through a biblical lens, providing scriptural context to the Olympic ceremony with insights from Psalms 2.
We’ll discuss current global events from a worldly perspective by reading Psalms 2:1-3, examine God’s thoughts on the world’s rebellion in Psalms 2:4-5, and see how Jesus views today’s events in Psalms 2:6-9. We’ll also discuss the Holy Spirit’s counsel to world leaders in Psalms 2:10-12 and define globalization, using historical examples like the Assyrian Empire and the Tower of Babel.
Additionally, we’ll examine Daniel 2 and the prophetic revelation of future world empires, discuss Marxism’s potential connection to globalization, and contrast Marxist principles with Christian beliefs. Join us as we explore these profound topics at the intersection of faith, politics, and global events.
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Is God a Republican? Differences in Policies is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In this episode, we address the contentious claim that one cannot be both a Christian and a Democrat. We’ll delve into how the Bible speaks to this issue, examining key differences between Democrats and Republicans and assessing their policies from a spiritual perspective.
We’ll begin by discussing President Biden’s recent letter highlighting his achievements in office. From economic growth to healthcare improvements and climate legislation, we’ll analyze these statements through a biblical lens, exploring what the Bible says about economic systems, governmental roles, social services, and more.
Join us as we navigate these complex topics, including the Bible’s stance on significant issues like abortion and gay marriage, and how Christians should approach political candidates and policies. We’ll emphasize the importance of biblical morality, respect for authority, and maintaining a heavenly perspective in political matters. Through thoughtful discussion and scripture-based insights, we’ll explore how Christians can faithfully engage in the political landscape without compromising their beliefs.
If you’re wrestling with how to reconcile your faith with your political views, this episode is for you. Let’s seek to understand and apply God’s Word in every area of our lives, including our civic duties and political choices.
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A Christian Approach to Political Engagement is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In this episode, we delve into Joseph Byamukama’s thought-provoking article, “Pilgrim Politics,” from the Gospel Coalition. Byamukama explores how Christians should navigate the political landscape, emphasizing the distinction between “pilgrims” and “earth-dwellers.” We begin with Byamukama’s powerful assertion that politics, like gravity, can divide even the closest relationships and diminish the significance of our shared faith in Christ. He calls Christians to engage in politics as pilgrims, journeying through life with a heavenly perspective.
We discuss the comparison between pilgrims and earth-dwellers, where pilgrims are described as nomads who resist the pull to settle permanently, instead living as citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20-21). Earth-dwellers, in contrast, focus on temporal things and mock those whose hopes transcend the transient. Byamukama warns that those who live for politics are consumed by it, as this life is all they have, leading them to worship earthly politics and power.
The conversation shifts to how Christians should engage in politics with discernment, recognizing the limits of earthly power and the human heart’s corruptibility. We also discuss the importance of not worshiping politics and how political disappointments or victories reveal our true allegiances. Byamukama advises Christians to engage prophetically, holding leaders accountable while infusing transcendence into politics.
We explore the role of Christians as witnesses to God’s impending judgment, emphasizing the need to warn earth-dwellers of the coming woes, regardless of their political affiliations. Byamukama urges Christians to prioritize their unity in Christ over political commitments, reminding us that our ultimate allegiance lies with God’s family and vision for the world.
Join us for an insightful discussion on how to navigate the political sphere as Christian pilgrims, staying true to our heavenly citizenship while engaging thoughtfully and prophetically in earthly matters.
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The Fallout of Favoritism Genesis 27 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Last week, on “Breaking Free from Lying: God’s Covenant,” we explored how Isaac lied to King Abimelech out of fear, following his father’s example. We delved into the nature of lying and provided valuable advice on breaking free from deceit. Additionally, we examined the significance of God’s covenants. It was a powerful episode, and we highly recommend listening to it if you missed it.
This week, we shift our focus to Genesis 27, where Isaac, now old and blind, witnesses his family falling apart. Why is there internal family conflict despite God’s blessing on Isaac’s life? We will explore how the family substituted scheming for believing. We’ll unpack Isaac’s role and examine each family member’s contributions to the problem or solution.
Join us for an insightful discussion and let’s start by reading Genesis 27:1-4.
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Faith, Freedom, Forgiveness is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Join us for a powerful episode of “𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺, 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀”. In this episode, we embarked on an exploration guided by the powerful scriptures of 𝟮 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝟳:𝟭𝟰 and 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗵 𝟰:𝟰. These verses remind us of God’s promise to heal our land if we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways.
During our discussion, we were profoundly moved by Governor Bill Lee’s proclamation from Tennessee, urging our nation to dedicate July to prayer and fasting. This proclamation resonated deeply with our hearts as we considered its implications for our personal lives and the broader community.
In this episode, we reflected on the significance of national repentance and the call to seek God’s guidance and forgiveness. We explored how these principles align with biblical teachings on humility, restoration, and the transformative power of prayer. Our conversation unfolded naturally, offering insights into how these ancient truths speak to our contemporary challenges and aspirations.
Join us as we delve into these profound scriptures and Governor Bill Lee’s heartfelt call to action. Discover with us the hope and healing that faith and forgiveness can bring to our lives and our nation. This episode is not just an invitation to listen but a catalyst for personal and communal spiritual renewal.
We invite you to subscribe, like, and share this episode to spread the message of hope, unity, and faith in Christ. Let’s join together in prayer and fasting, believing in God’s grace and mercy to bring about transformation in our hearts, our communities, and our nation.
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Breaking Free from Lying – God’s Covenants is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In last week’s episode, we had a thought-provoking discussion on how Christians should approach their work. If you missed it, make sure to check it out. Two weeks ago, we explored Genesis 24 and the beautiful love story of Isaac and Rebekah. Although you might expect us to cover Chapter 25 this week, we’re actually jumping ahead to Genesis 26.
In Genesis 25, several significant events take place: Abraham marries Keturah, ensures his children with concubines receive gifts and are sent away, and secures Isaac as the rightful heir. Isaac inherits Abraham’s wealth and the covenant blessing from God. The chapter concludes with Abraham’s death at 175 and a summary of his genealogy.
Now, let’s dive into Genesis 26, where we see Isaac repeating a mistake his father made—lying about his wife Rebekah out of fear. We’ll read verses 1-11 and discuss the lessons from this chapter.
True faith is always tested, either by temptations within or trials around us, as stated in James 1:1-18. God tests us to bring out the best, while Satan tempts us to bring out the worst. Each generation faces similar tests, revealing that human nature doesn’t change.
Isaac faced a famine and, like his father Abraham, was tempted to leave the land God promised. Instead, God told him to stay, promising blessings and protection. Isaac’s journey and struggles remind us that faith involves trusting God’s promises, even when tempted to rely on our own solutions.
In verses 7-11, we see Isaac lying about Rebekah being his sister, fearing for his life. This act of deception highlights his struggle with faith. Despite this, God blessed Isaac because of His covenant with Abraham, just as He blesses us through Jesus Christ.
We’ll also explore the concept of the New Covenant, predicted by prophets like Jeremiah and fulfilled by Jesus. This covenant brings forgiveness, a changed heart, and a direct relationship with God.
Join us as we unpack Genesis 26 further and discuss how Isaac’s experiences and the New Covenant shape our understanding of faith, obedience, and God’s unwavering promises.
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Understanding Work in a Fallen World is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Welcome back to our channel! In our last episode, we explored Genesis 24 and the love story of Rebecca and Isaac, highlighting God’s miracles and parallels to His relationship with His Son. If you missed it, be sure to check it out.
Today, we return to Genesis, focusing on chapters 1 and 3, to discuss the significance of work and how Christians should approach it. We’ll contrast Bob Black’s 1985 essay, “The Abolition of Work,” with the Bible’s teachings on the value and purpose of work.
Work originates from God’s creation. God worked for six days and rested on the seventh, showing that work is inherently good. Genesis 1:31 emphasizes that God viewed His work as “very good,” suggesting that productive work is honorable and satisfying. Christians are called to glorify God through their work, reflecting His righteousness and excellence.
Despite the Fall introducing toil and struggle, work remains good, and man is called to labor diligently. While work can bring satisfaction, ultimate meaning comes from God. The Bible emphasizes a welfare system based on work and condemns laziness. Paul’s teachings stress the importance of providing for one’s family and contributing to the community. Christians should work heartily as for the Lord, transforming work into an act of worship and gratitude. The Sabbath, instituted by God, highlights the importance of rest and a balanced life.
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Divine Guidance: Finding God’s Choice (Genesis 24) is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In last week’s episode, we re-aired one of our most popular shows, “Why Men and Women Struggle with Sexual Sin.” If you missed it, I highly recommend going back for an insightful discussion.
Two weeks ago, we explored Genesis 22 in “The Testing of Our Faith,” delving into Abraham’s trial of faith with Isaac. It was a powerful episode on trusting God through trials.
This week, we focus on Genesis 24, the longest chapter in Genesis, telling the story of Isaac and Rebekah’s marriage. We’ll explore why this chapter, which at first seems about finding a spouse, holds deep theological significance.
Join us as we uncover how this story mirrors the relationship between Christ and His church, emphasizing God’s plan for His people and the glory it brings to Him. Don’t miss this enriching discussion on faith and divine providence!
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Why Men and Women struggle with sexual sin is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Welcome to today’s episode! In today’s world, we are bombarded with sexual imagery everywhere we turn. Sexual immorality isn’t just blatant; it’s subtle too, lurking in magazines, TV shows, movies, and even in church settings. This overwhelming presence can distract even the most dedicated minds.
The Struggle: Often, topics like lust, sex, and pornography are associated mainly with men. However, studies show that sexual temptation and addiction affect women as well. Shockingly, 2 out of 4 women in the church face these struggles, with 90% of women surveyed experiencing daily sexual temptations.
Women’s Testimony: Women often find emotional intimacy and sensuality more tempting than physical nudity. Shame and secrecy can compound these struggles, making it hard to seek help. By opening up to counselors and supportive friends, many have found freedom and healing through honesty and faith.
Discussion Points:
The shame Christians feel regarding sexual sin.
The surprising prevalence of sexual struggles among women.
Practical steps to find accountability and support.
Identifying triggers and learning to walk in the Spirit.
Hope and Healing: Our goal is to help answer two crucial questions: “Why do I constantly fall to sexual temptation?” and “What is going wrong?” We’ll explore key areas that contribute to these struggles and provide biblical guidance for overcoming them. Remember, even when we fall, perseverance and faithfulness are key. God is always ready to help us find a way of escape.
Dive deep into understanding and overcoming sexual sin in this eye-opening discussion. Let’s find freedom together in Christ.
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Testing of our Faith (Genesis 22: 1-20) is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Welcome to today’s episode where we dive deep into 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟮𝟮, exploring the profound lessons of faith through the life of Abraham. At 75, Abraham began his journey of faith, and even past 100, his experiences continue to stretch his soul. This chapter reveals the greatest test Abraham ever faced, showcasing obedient faith amid life’s trials.
We’ll discuss key moments from Abraham’s life, highlighting his many tests: from leaving his family to the heart-wrenching farewell to Ishmael. We will learn to distinguish between trials and temptations, understand the purpose of God’s tests, and see how faith relies on promises, not explanations.
Join us as we read and unpack 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟮𝟮:𝟭-𝟮𝟬, discovering how Abraham’s unwavering faith teaches us to trust in God’s provision and timing, even when it seems impossible.
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Flesh Battles vs. Spiritual Victories (Genesis 21: 1-21) is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In this episode, we explore Genesis 21, delving into the story of Isaac and Ishmael and the profound lessons it offers on faith and family dynamics.
We’ll begin with Genesis 21:1-7, where we see Sarah’s journey from childlessness to the joy of Isaac’s birth, showcasing God’s faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. Isaac’s birth, after 25 years of waiting, highlights the importance of patience and faith in God’s timing.
We discuss how Isaac’s miraculous birth reveals God’s power and the significance of faith. The conflict between Ishmael (flesh) and Isaac (spirit) illustrates the ongoing battle between our old and new natures. Isaac’s weaning symbolizes spiritual growth, emphasizing the need for believers to mature in their faith.
The freedom Isaac represents contrasts with Ishmael’s bondage, underscoring the liberty we have in Christ. Living under grace, not the law, is essential for embracing God’s promises. Despite their departure, God’s provision for Hagar and Ishmael reaffirms His faithfulness.
Join us as we unpack these spiritual insights and learn how to navigate our own faith journeys with patience, trust, and a deeper understanding of God’s grace.
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Overcoming Adversity is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Today’s episode is particularly close to our hearts, as it’s one that speaks to the unshakeable human spirit. We’ve titled today’s show “Overcoming Adversity.”
Today, Pete, Christine and I will talk about their remarkable story of their month-and-a-half-long odyssey across the vibrant landscapes of Europe. It’s a journey interwoven with challenges and triumphs, the kind that reminds us of the resilience etched within each of us. They encountered various obstacles, yet they pressed on, fortified by something greater than themselves – their faith.
With the grace that comes from above and an unwavering ability to view each moment from God’s perspective, Pete and Christine’s story is more than just a travelogue; it’s a testament to enduring hope amid adversity. Prepare to embark on a narrative journey that celebrates perseverance, faith, and the extraordinary lessons learned when the road gets rough but the travelers keep pressing forward.
One of the unfortunate byproducts of living in a sinful, fallen world is that every person, Christian or not, experiences pain and suffering and disappointment in this life. From failed relationships to unfulfilled dreams, life can be filled with sorrow and disappointment. In fact, Jesus assured us of it: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). No one is immune.
It is during the difficult times that we learn to rely on God and experience firsthand the absolute trustworthiness of His Word. We also learn the truth of what Paul taught: God’s power is at its strongest when we are at our weakest (2 Corinthians 12:9). As A. W. Tozer observed, “If the truth were known, the saints of God in every age were only effective after they had been wounded.”
It is our faith that allows us to see the unseen. That’s why faith is such an indispensable element of the Christian life. Scripture teaches that we live by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) and that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). We know that, as followers of Christ, we will experience disappointment and endure trials where our faith is indeed put to the test. And the apostle James tells us we should “consider it pure joy” when we face these trials, as this is how our faith strengthens and we mature as Christians (James 1:2-4).
Our faith also helps us remember the absolute sovereignty of God. Everything occurs either by His prescription or permission and in perfect accordance with His sovereign purposes and unfathomable ways (Romans 11:33). Prayer is the ultimate acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty. In the midst of our trial and disappointments, prayer gives us strength. It did for Moses (Exodus 32:11; Numbers 14:13; 20:6), David (Psalm 55:16-17), and Daniel (Daniel 6:10; 9:20-23). And before our Savior took on the sins of the world, He spent His final night in prayer (Matthew 27:36-44; John 17). Now He invites the “weary and burdened” to come to Him, and He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28).
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The Real Reason Why Demons Hate Us is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Our Show title today is “The real reason why demons hate us?” But before we can answer that we must build some context as to why that is. As we all know, God has a plan for every nation on this earth. In addition, He has a plan for every man, woman, and child on this planet too.
By comparison, Satan has an agenda as well. He has an intricate plan for every nation and every person, and it’s to steal, kill and destroy. There is a larger picture at hand than most people do not realize; this battle is invisible and it is happening all around us. Our goal in today’s podcast is to clarify this larger picture as well as uncover why Christians are being spiritually attacked and what to do to counter it.
The reason why demons hate us has to do with the larger picture at hand and that is that there is a battle for geographical territory. What? We will explain more of this, but before we read Gen 11:1-9 that explains this, let’s remember what God intended for His creation from the beginning.
Before the fall of Adam (being removed from the Garden of Eden), God made our planet (earth) as a way to fellowship with His creation for all eternity. Sin is what separated man from God because after all, God is Holy. All of the creation changed after that and God went to plan B. As we read throughout the whole Old Testament, Plan B has always pointed people to Jesus as the redeemer to Adam’s original sin.
Due to this sin, something happened that caused God to reject mankind. It started in Gen 6:1-4, then Noah’s flood, then the fulfillment of this turning with the Tower of Babel.
Read Genesis 11:1-9
Yahweh in effect decided that the people of the world’s nations were no longer going to be in a relationship with him. He would need to begin anew. He would then Call Abraham in Gen 12 and enter into a covenant relationship with a new people that did not yet exist: Israel.
After the call of Abraham, we now start seeing the word “gentiles” show up in scripture. Gal 3:7-9 “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you, all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham”.
Read Zech 14:9
So we go back to our question, “why do demons hate Christians?” It’s because we are now on a mission with Jesus to take back the territory that God has redeemed as rightfully His. Let’s break this down further.
Read 2 Cor 4:4
Read Ephesians 6:12
Read Mathew 4:8
Read Mathew 28:19
Read Acts 1:8
So now we understand the larger picture in context. Satan does not want Christians to share God’s good news with other people. He will do everything in His power to stop you. So how do we respond to Satan when He attacks? We in the same way that Jesus did, we tell him to get behind us!
Read Mathew 16:23
Read 1 Peter 5:8
Read Romans 16:20
Read Matthew 24:14
Read Mathew 25:41
Spiritual Warfare happens to Christians that are on a mission with Jesus to take back land from Satan. If we are not on a mission for Jesus then why would Satan care about attacking us? He wouldn’t, but for those that are on a mission for Jesus, there are different levels of attack.
For those that are not fully committed to God’s mission, all Satan has to do is send simple temptations our way to distract you. If he can get you focusing on your problems, wants, and desires, then he wins.
But For those that have surrendered all of their lives to Jesus’ mission, then Satan will do everything to destroy you. He will bring as much pain to your life as we allow Him to. Remember, make no mistake that Satan knows your playbook backward and forwards. He knows the temptations and weaknesses we have and WILL USE THEM.
However, we do not need to fear him, as we know Jesus has overcome everything Satan has and won.
Read John 16:33
We must understand God is for us and it is Satan that is against us. God wants us to be on a mission with him in everything that we do. He will always give us the tools necessary to accomplish His perfect will in our lives. We must tell Satan to get behind us and know that Greater is He that is in us, than He that is in the world.
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“What is a Divine Appointment?” is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
“Divine appointment” refers to the belief that certain events or encounters are preordained by a higher power or destiny. In many religious and spiritual contexts, it suggests that moments in a person’s life are not merely random, but are instead orchestrated by the divine to fulfill a greater purpose or plan. This concept is often associated with a sense of providence or guidance, encouraging individuals to seek meaning and significance in their life experiences, trusting in the alignment between their path and a greater cosmic will.
When someone speaks of a divine appointment, he or she is likely referring to an extraordinary event in a believer’s life or a significant spiritual encounter with another person. The timing, purpose, and outcome of the experience seem to be orchestrated by God rather than simply random chance or coincidence.
In Acts 8:26–40, Philip experiences an undeniable divine appointment when an angel of the Lord sends him to share the gospel with an Ethiopian eunuch who just happens to be reading Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming Messiah.
In Acts 12:6–11, Peter suddenly realizes that his dream of escaping from prison has, in reality, just happened (Acts 12:11). Frequently, hours, days, and sometimes even years go by before we finally grasp in amazement that God has been working in our past, delivering us from evil, through various divine appointments.
God is always working to bring about His sovereign purposes in our lives: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28–30, ESV).
We also know that God is always close to us Psalm 139:7–12, says “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”
We must avoid becoming overly preoccupied with dramatic divine appointments, looking for them at every turn. Our sinful nature may be tempted to seek signs and confirmations from people who make us feel especially loved by God and significant in His kingdom. Plenty of charlatans and even heretics will say whatever our “itching ears want to hear,” but it won’t be the truth (2 Timothy 4:3–4).
Like Joseph passing through his difficult ordeal, we may not always detect God’s behind-the-scenes activity in our lives. But all Christians can be sure that, in every moment of every day, God is working “out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11).
The most crucial divine appointment of our lives is that glorious day we encounter Jesus Christ. It is the moment when we respond to God’s voice calling us to come to Him, repent of our sins, and be saved (John 6:44; Hebrews 3:8). Like the woman who encounters Jesus at the well, we surrender our lives to Him and drink from God’s eternal fountain of living water (John 4:7–38). From then on, we abide in Jesus, remaining in Him and bearing much fruit (John 15:5).
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In last week’s show, we discussed in detail the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah, and compared the difference between how Lot lived according to worldly ways and how Abraham made choices based on spiritual guidance. It was a very powerful show, and I highly encourage you to go back and listen to it.
This week’s show, we will read Genesis 20. Here, we will see that Abraham and Sarah are moving, and as with all moves, when you come into a new area, you meet new neighbors. Today, we will be introduced to Abraham’s new neighbor, the King of Gerar, named Abimelech.
In a complete shift from the last week’s show, this week we see Abraham acting out of fear of his new neighbor and operating in a way influenced by his flesh, rather than his spirit. He takes control of his life by telling Abimelech that his wife Sarah is his sister. Abimelech then takes Sarah to be his wife, and God has to intervene once again to protect Abraham.
Neighbors can be a great source of blessings and can sometimes become even closer to us than some of our own relatives. Proverbs 27:10 states, “Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.” However, neighbors can also be a source of problems, whether they are believers or unbelievers. In fact, at times we ourselves can be a difficult neighbor. In today’s show, we see Abraham dealing with his neighbor as a troublemaker.
Let’s read Genesis 20
If you did not know who Abraham was and you read this chapter for the first time, which of the two men would you say was the believer? Surely not Abraham, the liar! It was not Abraham who showed integrity, and it was not Abraham whom God kept from sinning. What Abraham did was selfish, but Abimelech responded with generosity.
If this chapter was talking about our lives, it would be an embarrassment to us. But the Bible tells the truth about all people, and that includes God’s people. For example, it did not hide the fact that Noah got drunk and exposed himself in Gen 9. Or that Moses lost his temper and killed someone in Num 20. It definitely didn’t hold back in exposing David with his affair and murder cover up. Nor Peter in his denial of Jesus. Why do you think the bible allows these shortcomings to be written down?
So why do you think Abraham sinned?
This leads me to a second question. Why did Abraham move in the first place? Perhaps it was the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah that caused Abraham to want to move, but whatever his motive was, we now know the decision was not a wise one.
It is almost like Abraham forgot that God was the “Almighty God” that we studied back in Gen 17 and that God gave Abraham a covenant to bless him and Sarah.
A lighthearted admission of sin is not the same as a brokenhearted confession of sin. If our attitude is right, we will hate our sins, loathe ourselves for having sinned, and despise the very memory of our sins.
Abimelech was a man of integrity, and when God spoke to him, he obeyed. He had many fine qualities, but he was not a believer, and therefore he was a dead man according to Eph 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins. in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind”
When believers sin, they suffer. Charles Spurgeon said, “God does not allow His children to sin successfully. When we deliberately disobey God, we suffer both from the consequences of our sins and from the chastening hand of God, unless we repent and submit.”
Heb 12:5-11 says “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, so that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
It took only a few seconds for Abraham to tell a lie, but that lie was more than just words. That lie became a seed that was planted and grew and brought forth bitter fruit.
So, what did this one lie cost Abraham?
I can only imagine how humiliated Abraham must have felt when Abimelech called him in, confronted him, and rebuked him. It is hard enough to submit to the rebuke of a Christian brother or sister, but to accept rebuke from an unsaved person demands a great deal of honesty and humility.
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“Sex before Marriage? – Milan Show” is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
Sex before marriage is a complex and multifaceted topic that touches on cultural, religious, personal, and ethical beliefs. Throughout history and across societies, attitudes towards premarital sex have varied greatly. Some view it as a normal part of relationships and personal development, while others believe in abstinence until marriage for moral, religious, or cultural reasons. The debate around this issue often centers on values related to family structure, individual freedom, and the implications for societal health and personal well-being.
Because we adhere to the Christian worldview, we will only discuss this topic in relation to what is taught in the Bible. Today, we are going to address this hot topic, since it is so relevant with where our world is today.
There are, in general, two contexts for premarital sex. There is the “we love each other and are committed to each other, but just don’t want to wait to be married” sexual relationship, and there’s “casual sex.” The former is often rationalized with the idea that the couple will surely marry, so there’s no sin in engaging in marital relations now, what are your thoughts on this?
Casual sex is rampant in many societies including ours here in the United States. There is, in truth, no such thing as “casual” sex, because of the depth of intimacy involved in the sexual relationship. An analogy is instructive here. If we glue one object to another, it will adhere. If we remove it, it will leave behind a small amount of residue; the longer it remains, the more residue is left. If we take that glued object and stick it to several places repeatedly, it will leave residue everywhere we stick it, and it will eventually lose its ability to adhere to anything. This is much like what happens to us when we engage in “casual” sex.
The Bible clearly condemns sexual sins: adultery (consensual sex between a married person and someone other than his or her spouse) (Proverbs 6:32; cf. 1 Corinthians 6:18 and Hebrews 13:4) and fornication (sexual immorality in general) are specified (Matthew 15:19; Romans 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:1). But Sex before marriage, or premarital sex, is not addressed in that exact term, but it does fall within the scope of sexual immorality, right?
Another verse that presents sex before marriage as immoral is Hebrews 13:4, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Here, we have both adultery and fornication contrasted with what happens in the marriage bed. Marriage (and sexual intercourse within marriage) is honorable; all other types of sexual activity are condemned as immoral and bring God’s judgment.
We know God designed sex, and the Bible honors marriage. Part of honoring marriage is the Bible’s promotion of complete abstinence before marriage. When two unmarried people engage in sexual intercourse, they are defiling God’s good gift of sex. Before marriage, a couple has no binding union, and they’ve entered no sacred covenant; without the marriage vows, they have no right to exploit the culmination of such vows.
While practicality does not determine right from wrong, following the Bible’s instructions concerning sex before marriage would greatly benefit society. If the Bible’s message on sex before marriage were obeyed, there would be far fewer sexually transmitted diseases, far fewer abortions, far fewer unwed mothers and unwanted pregnancies, and far fewer children growing up without both parents in their lives.
So, is there hope? So, if a Christian engages in premarital sex, or when one who has lost his/her virginity comes to Christ, the Holy Spirit will convict of the sin, and there will be grief over it. However, it’s important—even vital—to remember that there is no sin beyond the reach of the blood of Jesus. If we confess, He will not only forgive, but will cleanse us from “all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
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“Genesis 19 Our Choice of Two Paths “ is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
In last week’s episode, we explored Genesis 18,reflecting on Abraham’s unique relationship with God, highlighted by his title as a ‘friend of God’. We dug into the remarkable encounter where Abraham hosted three heavenly visitors, among them a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. They reaffirmed the promised son to Abraham, emphasizing God’s covenant. The discussion also turned somber as they revealed the impending judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah due to rampant sinfulness. Abraham intercede, negotiating for the cities’ salvation if ten righteous individuals could be found. Regrettably, only Lot and his immediate family were righteous.
We now continue the narrative with Genesis 19, resuming the story at a critical juncture. This chapter records the sad consequences of Lot’s spiritual decline. Abraham was the friend of God, but Lot was the friend of the world, and the contrast of these two men are easy to see.
Let’s Read Genesis 19:1
In the first verse, we see Lot sitting at the gate of a wicked city. We know that Abraham was a pilgrim and a stranger, merely passing through this world. However, Lot had slowly left his tent behind and made a permanent home in Sodom. In Genesis 14 through 16, we can observe this gradual transition. Initially, it mentions that he gazed towards Sodom and set up his tent. Eventually, he moved closer to Sodom, and now we witness him residing within the city. It is important to note that it is mentioned that Lot was at the city gate. This is significant right?
Another observation about vs 1 is it was early afternoon when the Lord and His angels visited Abraham, but it was evening when the angels entered Sodom. Abraham was walking in the light, while Lot was walking in darkness.
Let’s Read Genesis 19:2-11
Lot called himself a servant, but you do not see him hastening to prepare a meal as Abraham did, nor did he stand by to see what further service he could render. But the arrival of the men of the city at the door for immoral purposes was the climax of the evening. Basically, it’s saying “Bring them out so we can have sex with them.”
Let’s Read Genesis 19:12-14
God’s message to Abraham was a joyful one. He and Sarah would have the promised son within a year. But the message to Lot was frightening. God was going to destroy Sodom and everything in it.
In vs 14, we see that Abraham’s faith and obedience was a blessing to his home and to the whole world. But because of Lot’s worldliness, Lot had no spiritual influence either in the city or in his own home.
Let’s Read Genesis 19:15-26
The first time God rescued Lot, he was a prisoner of war, and he went right back into Sodom. That painful experience should have warned him that he was out of the will of God, but if Lot heard the warning, he certainly did not heed it.
Let’s Read Genesis 19:27-38
Now we see the consequences. The result of the Lord’s visit to Abraham was new hope and excitement as Abraham and Sarah joyfully anticipated the birth of a son. Lot, however lost everything when Sodom was destroyed, and he, himself was saved, yet so as by fire. His daughters gave birth to two sons, whose descendants would be enemies to the Jewish nation. Abraham saw the cities of the plain destroyed and knew that God had not found 10 righteous people.
Let’s end our discussion on a high note. This passage shows us that Jesus is a friend of sinners. While it is true that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is an example of God’s righteous judgment, it is also true that God’s love for lost sinners is clearly seen in this story.
Let’s break down God’s love for wicked cities. To begin with, He was longsuffering toward them as he beheld their sin. Just as Abel’s blood cried out to God from the ground, so the sins of the people cried out from the wicked cities. God is long suffering and holds back His judgment so that sinners will have time to repent. 2 Peter 3:1-9
The most amazing thing is that Jesus died for the sinners in Sodom and Gomorrah. 1 Peter 3:18 says “For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. Christ did not die for good people, because there are none good. He died for the same sins as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, but we are sinners just the same, and apart from faith in Jesus, we cannot be saved from the judgment to come.
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The Covenant, The Promise, and The Intercession
In our last show before we did our AI shows, we covered Genesis 17. We witnessed the profound moment when God forged an everlasting covenant with Abraham, marked by the sign of circumcision and the remarkable vow to make him the Father of many nations, with a son yet to be born. We marveled at Abraham and Sarah’s advanced ages, pondering the sheer impossibility of birth at such a stage in life.
Today, we will look further into this story in Genesis 18, where we will continue to explore the suspenseful anticipation of Abraham and Sarah’s promised offspring. We’ll see today an extraordinary visitation by three angelic messengers who reaffirmed the promise of a son, igniting hope against all odds. Furthermore, we’ll begin to unveil the dire narrative of Sodom and Gomorrah, setting the stage for the divine intervention that would lead to their ultimate destruction.
Today, we will only read Genesis 18, but Genesis 19 is closely connected to Genesis 18. There are three main characters that we will focus on in these two chapters. In Genesis 18, we will focus on Abraham, and next week in Genesis 19, we will focus on Lot and Jesus. Each of these men stood between Sodom and Gomorrah and the complete destruction. We will explore this further as we continue reading.
Let’s Read Genesis 18:1-8
All ministry must first be to the Lord, for if we fail to be a blessing to the Lord, we will never be a blessing to others. Colossians 3:23-24 says “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, for you serve the Lord.”
In vs 2 it says Abraham ran to meet them and hastened Sarah to bake some bread in vs 6. He personally ran to get a tender calf and saw to it that the young man hastened to dress the meat in vs 7 and in vs 8 it says only after he had served his guests that Abraham stood still. What can we learn from this example?
Let’s read vs 9-15 and witness how Abraham ministered to his wife
Because Abraham was faithful to the Lord, he became a channel of blessing to his wife and eventually to his family. Sarah had an important role to play in the working out God’s plan of salvation for the world, and she did her part as it says in Heb 11:11. She was 89 years old and in Gen 20 it says she is still a desirable woman with charm and beauty. Abraham loved his wife like the princess that she was.
The husband who ministers to the Lord will find himself ministering to the members of his own family, especially his wife. He will be the source of blessing for his family.
Let’s read 16-33
Abraham belonged to that select company of God’s people known as intercessors, individuals like Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Jeremiah, the apostles and Jesus Himself. In fact, Jesus’ ministry to us today is as an intercessor, Romans 8:34.
In vs 16, 22 we see The Lord and 2 Angels leaving Abraham’s camp and started moving towards Sodom, but we noticed the Lord lingered while the angels went on before Him. Why do you think that is?
An intercessor must know the Lord personally and be obedient to His will. He must be close enough to the Lord to learn His secrets and know what to pray about.
Abraham’s prayer was based not on the mercy of God, but on the justice of God. Vs 25 “Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?” A just and holy God could not destroy righteous believers with wicked unbelievers, and Lot was a believer, even though his actions and words seemed to contradict the fact.
But why would Abraham want God to spare such wicked people? Shouldn’t he wanted to wipe them off the face of the earth?
We must not get the idea that Abraham argued with the Lord, because he did not. He was very humble before the Lord as he presented his case.
The post The Covenant, The Promise, and The Intercession | Riot Podcast Ep 178 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
“𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐤 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲” is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
This discussion dives into the biblical figure of Melchizedek, who appears suddenly and mysteriously in the book of Genesis. The passage explores Melchizedek’s meeting with Abraham after Abraham’s victory in battle. Melchizedek’s name means “king of righteousness,” and he served as both king of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest of the Most High God.
The discussion highlights the obscurity surrounding Melchizedek, noting his brief appearance and lack of backstory in Genesis. Abraham’s act of giving Melchizedek a tithe (a tenth of all he had gathered) suggests that Abraham recognized Melchizedek’s superior spiritual rank.
The possibility of Melchizedek being a pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, or a Christophany, is explored. The episode in Genesis 14 is compared to Abraham’s later encounter with the Lord (Yahweh) who appeared as a man in Genesis 17-18.
The book of Hebrews is cited to discuss the concept of Melchizedek’s priesthood and how it relates to Jesus Christ. The text suggests that Melchizedek’s priesthood is a type of Christ’s priesthood, foreshadowing Jesus’ ministry. The possibility that Melchizedek himself was actually Jesus is also presented.
The discussion contrasts the Christian and Mormon views on Melchizedek. In Christianity, Melchizedek is seen as a type of Christ, and his priesthood is understood to be unique to Christ. Mormons, on the other hand, believe that the Melchizedek priesthood is a distinct office that was restored through Joseph Smith and can be held by worthy men in the Mormon Church.
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The post 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐤 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 | Riot Podcast Ep 177 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
“𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐈 𝐁𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭” is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
In Today’s show the guys talk about an article written about AI and Antichrist.
This article discusses a Christian perspective on the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it relates to the biblical figure of the Antichrist. The author, Mark Blitz, argues that AI could be used to create a super-intelligent being with malicious intent, which could deceive and control humanity.
It cites several examples of how AI is already being used in ways that raise concerns, such as facial recognition technology and social media manipulation. It also discusses the possibility of AI becoming so advanced that it surpasses human intelligence and poses an existential threat.
The end of the show concludes with a message of hope and encouragement for Christians. The author advises readers to trust in God and follow his teachings in order to be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
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The post Could AI Be The Anti Christ | Riot Podcast Ep 176 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
“𝐀𝐈 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡” is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
This topic is about a conference that discussed the implications of 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐀𝐈) 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡. The speakers were Kristen Davis, Jay Richards, and Jeff Zweerink.
Kristen Davis spoke about the three types of artificial intelligence: narrow AI, general AI, and super intelligence. Narrow AI is what we have today, and it is good at performing specific tasks. General AI and super intelligence do not exist yet, and they may never exist. Davis argued that even if general AI or super intelligence were created, it would not disprove the existence of God.
Jay Richards spoke about the impact of AI on the world of work. He argued that AI will create new jobs as it eliminates old ones. He also argued that AI is not a threat to humanity.
Jeff Zweerink spoke about the impact of AI on life itself. He argued that AI is a powerful tool that can be used for good or evil. He also argued that Christianity provides the only worldview that will foster the good and minimize the harm of AI.
The speakers also discussed the question of whether AI can be moral. They concluded that AI cannot be moral because it is not conscious.
In conclusion, the conference speakers offered a balanced perspective on AI. They recognized the potential benefits and drawbacks of AI, but overall they expressed a cautiously optimistic outlook. They believe that AI has the potential to be a powerful tool for making our lives better, but they also emphasized the importance of developing and using AI in a responsible and ethical manner.
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The post AI And The Christian Faith | Riot Podcast Ep 175 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
“𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐧 𝐀𝐈” is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
This topic explores the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through a Christian lens. It acknowledges the excitement surrounding this new technology while also addressing potential anxieties and ethical considerations. Here are some key insights from the article:
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AI is a tool, not a deity: The article emphasizes that AI, like any other technology, is a tool granted by God. It should be used wisely and responsibly, recognizing its limitations and avoiding the temptation to deify it.
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God remains sovereign: Regardless of AI’s advancements, God retains ultimate control. Human achievements, however impressive, are insignificant compared to God’s power and purpose.
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AI doesn’t alter God’s plan: The article assures readers that AI doesn’t change God’s ultimate plan for humanity, which centers around salvation and redemption through Jesus Christ. AI cannot replace God or fulfill the role of savior or antichrist.
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Humans hold a unique place: The article clarifies that AI, despite its sophistication, cannot replicate the human soul. Humans are created in God’s image, possessing both physical and spiritual dimensions, making them distinct from any machine.
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AI challenges and opportunities: The article acknowledges that AI advancements can be unsettling, exposing underlying anxieties about the future. However, it encourages using this time to strengthen faith, hope, and love while seeking God’s guidance in navigating this new technological landscape.
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Responsibility and stewardship: The article emphasizes our responsibility as stewards of God’s creation. We should use AI for good, remembering that our ingenuity, while a gift, should be used in service to God, not for self-aggrandizement or harmful purposes.
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Importance of faith: The article concludes by highlighting the importance of faith in navigating the complexities of the AI age. By grounding ourselves in Scripture and prayer, we can engage with AI with wisdom and discernment, demonstrating Christian values in a technologically advanced world.
Overall, the article offers a balanced perspective on AI, acknowledging its potential benefits while urging caution and ethical consideration. It emphasizes that faith and a Christ-centered worldview should guide our interactions with this evolving technology.
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The post A Christian Discussion On AI | Riot Podcast Ep 174 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
“𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬” is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
This topic explores the complex relationship between the Christian community and Artificial Intelligence (AI). It highlights both the potential benefits and ethical concerns surrounding AI, urging Christians to approach this technology with wisdom and discernment.
Key points:
Ethical considerations: Christians emphasize the importance of avoiding bias, discrimination, and privacy invasion in AI development. They also raise concerns about job displacement, depersonalization, manipulation, and lack of clear accountability.
Stewardship and God’s creation: Some Christians see AI as an extension of human ingenuity and a tool to solve problems, while others caution against relying on machines instead of trusting in God.
Human identity and work: The article explores how AI might impact the understanding of human uniqueness, self-worth, and the value of human labor.
Socio-economic implications: Christians are concerned about AI potentially exacerbating economic inequality and social isolation. They emphasize the need for AI to promote social justice, strengthen communities, and uphold human dignity.
Overall, the article emphasizes the need for Christians to engage critically with AI, leveraging its benefits while safeguarding human values and promoting a future that reflects Christian principles.
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The post Christians and AI Concerns | Riot Podcast Ep 173 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
Today on RIOT Podcast Eps 172 How is God our Great Reward Genesis 15:1 show, we talk about how God promised Abram that he is his great reward. 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐍𝐎𝐖❗ 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁
How is God our Great Reward Genesis 15:1, discusses the promise given by God to Abraham, which is “I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” The promise was given to Abraham after he led a fierce battle to rescue his nephew Lot and interacted with powerful kings. In Genesis 15:1, the Lord delivers this message of reassurance, promising to protect Abram and bless him even more than he already was.
Throughout the Bible, God portrays Himself as a shield of protection for His people. The text mentions verses from Deuteronomy, 2 Samuel, and Psalms where God is referred to as a shield. What’s more, God is our exceedingly great reward. The psalmist declares, “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.”
The term translated as “reward” (śākār in Hebrew) often refers to a worker’s or servant’s wages. Sometimes the word speaks figuratively of a reward for faithfulness or a victor’s recompense. Abram’s reward was different. He had refused any material compensation for his encounters with earthly kings. Abram’s reward was tied to the Lord’s covenant promise, and at the time it was given to Abraham, He had no idea if it was going to come true.
The reward was given for the future inheritance of countless descendants and the previously promised land. Does God still give us future rewards? One future reward we get is the promise he gave Abraham “I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward,” said God to Abram, revealing the terms of their covenant relationship. Security, protection, and blessings belonged to Abram because of this relationship. Abram did not need to be shaken or live in fear precisely because He belonged to God. The same can be true for us.
In the immediate context of Genesis 15:1, the “exceedingly great reward” refers to the multitude of promised descendants and the land of promise. This “reward” beckoned Abraham and Sarah to live as people of faith and hope. In the same way, faith and hope are key to apprehending our reward—which is God Himself.
The Lord called Abram to trust entirely in God for protection and to place his hope in God’s promise of a very great reward. The theme of abundant reward for those with hearts fully committed to God recurs in Jesus’ teaching, particularly in His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus warned His followers not to seek admiration from people as this would forfeit their heavenly reward. The Lord sees the motives of our hearts as we give, pray, and serve Him, and rewards those whose intentions are pure.
Even so, it’s vital to understand that our salvation is not an earned reward. Our righteousness, which gives us access to God’s presence, comes through faith in Jesus Christ by His grace alone. Our great heavenly reward is an inheritance “that can never perish, spoil or fade,” bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.
God’s desire and great delight are that His people be satisfied in Him. When our relationship with the Lord is our most treasured pursuit, the ultimate prize is a deeper, fuller, and better knowledge of Him. “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” That inheritance is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” When God is our exceedingly great reward, we can say, like the psalmist, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
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The post How is God our Great Reward Genesis 15:1 | RIOT Podcast Ep. 172 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐃𝐨 𝐖𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡? 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟐𝟎 𝟏-𝟏𝟖 Now is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
In exploring John 20:1-18 and delving into the resurrection of Jesus, we uncover a pivotal moment in the Christian faith. This event highlights the profound transformation from confusion to clarity that Jesus’ followers experienced as they gradually realized His resurrection. Mary Magdalene’s encounter at the empty tomb, where she initially thought Jesus was dead, showcases the profound impact of comprehending the truth of His resurrection.
The journey of Mary, Peter, and John underscores the complexity of their faith during that period. Despite Jesus’ prior predictions of His resurrection, their understanding was shaped by the limited context of the Old Testament. The empty tomb challenged their expectations and ignited a deeper spiritual comprehension.
Mary’s encounter with the angels and Jesus Himself is a poignant reminder of the new reality established by Jesus’ resurrection. Her impulse to hold onto Him reflects the desire to keep what was found, but Jesus’ words to not cling suggest a transition to a new relationship, one characterized by faith and the realization of His expanded role beyond the physical realm.
The narrative prompts us to consider the significance of faith grounded in both evidence and the Word. While evidence supports our beliefs, it should ultimately guide us to a personal relationship with the living Lord. The resurrection isn’t just a doctrine to defend; it’s an invitation to intimately know the risen Savior.
In conclusion, John 20:1-18 beautifully portrays the transformative power of understanding the resurrection. It highlights the evolution of faith, from uncertainty to conviction, and the profound impact of encountering the living Christ. The resurrection’s central role in the Christian message remains a testament to the hope, salvation, and personal connection offered through Jesus’ victory over death.
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The post Do We Have Historical Faith or Saving Faith? John 20 1-18 | Riot Podcast Ep 147 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞! is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast In this episode, we discussed 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞! In the context of marriage, “His Will, Our Love” underscores the significance of a relationship built on mutual respect, support, and shared faith. As a couple, we […]
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𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast In this episode, we discussed 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝?. Throughout the Bible, God is referred to by various names, each carrying a unique significance that reflects different aspects of His […]
The post What are the different names of God? | Riot Podcast Ep 145 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast In this episode, we discussed What’s the bible say about the money. The Bible provides valuable insights about money, a subject of great importance in our lives. It’s not surprising, given its significance […]
The post Whats the Bible Say About the Money | Riot Podcast Ep 144 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐬 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast In this episode, we discussed Consequences of Not Listening. The story of Moses teaches us about the consequences of not listening and obeying God’s commands. Despite being a great leader and a faithful servant, Moses faced […]
The post Consequences of Not Listening | Riot Podcast Ep 143 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐬 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast In this episode, we discusses Christians Perspective on Aliens. The question of whether aliens and UFOs exist from a Christian perspective has been a topic of interest and debate for many believers. Let’s explore this from […]
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𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬’ 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast The death of Jesus holds immense significance and meaning in Christianity, and John 19:17-42 provides crucial insights into why His death matters. Redemption and Atonement: Jesus’ death is viewed as the ultimate sacrifice for the redemption […]
The post Why Jesus’ Death Matters John 19 17-42 | Riot Podcast Ep 141 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast In today’s show, we are going to talk about 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. In the context of the power of peer pressure, we can explore Pilate’s decision-making process and the influence exerted […]
The post The Power of Peer Pressure-Pilates Decision | Riot Podcast Ep 140 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast In today’s show, we are going to talk about 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲. Today we are going to discuss about Christian’s Perspective on Independence Day. From a Christian perspective, Independence Day serves as a […]
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𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞-𝐬𝐞𝐱 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast In today’s show, we are going to talk about 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞-𝐬𝐞𝐱 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞. The Bible addresses homosexuality and distinguishes between homosexual behavior and homosexual inclinations or attractions. Engaging in homosexual acts is considered sinful, but the […]
The post Homosexuality, Transgender, Same-sex Marriage | Riot Podcast Ep 138 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
“𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝟐 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬” W𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast In today’s show, we are going to talk about “𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝟐 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬” W𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡? The Battle of Two World Systems is a concept that highlights the clash between different […]
The post “Battle of 2 World Systems” What is truth? | Riot Podcast Ep 137 | Christian Podcast John 18:28-38 appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast In today’s show, we are going to talk about What does it mean to be redeemed? In summary, according to Christian beliefs, every individual is in need of redemption due to the state […]
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𝐃𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐲𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐩? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast The question of whether to yield the Sword or the Cup stems from a significant biblical event described in the Gospel of John, specifically in Chapter 18, verses 11-27. This passage recounts […]
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𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝! is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast The topic, “𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝,” corresponds to a specific passage in the Bible, specifically 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟖:𝟏-𝟏𝟎. This passage recounts the events leading up to Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. […]
The post Obedience, The Kiss and The Sword | Riot Podcast Ep 134 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
Today we will read 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟕 which is the greatest prayer ever prayed on earth and the greatest prayer recorded anywhere in the Scripture.
𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟕 contains what is often referred to as the “Greatest Prayer” or the “High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus Christ. It is a significant passage found in the New Testament of the Bible, specifically in the Gospel of John, where Jesus prays to God the Father just before his crucifixion.
Jesus knows that his time on Earth is coming to an end, and he is about to face immense suffering and sacrifice. It is in this moment that he offers up a heartfelt and profound prayer to his Father.
The prayer can be divided into three main sections. First, Jesus prays for himself, acknowledging the completion of his earthly mission and expressing his desire to be glorified so that he can bring glory to God. He recognizes his role as the Son of God and the means through which eternal life is granted to humanity.
The second section focuses on Jesus’ disciples, whom he prays for next. He asks God to protect them and keep them united, emphasizing the importance of unity among his followers. Jesus expresses his hope that they would experience the fullness of joy and be sanctified in the truth.
Finally, Jesus extends his prayer beyond his immediate disciples and prays for all those who will believe in him through their message. This includes future believers, which means he is praying for us as well. Jesus asks God to bring unity among all believers so that the world may know that God sent him.
Throughout the prayer, there is a sense of deep intimacy and connection between Jesus and his Father. It reveals the profound love and care Jesus has for his disciples and all those who would come to believe in him. It also demonstrates his understanding of his divine purpose and his desire for God’s will to be done.
Overall, 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟕 captures a moment in Jesus’ ministry and provides insight into his relationship with God the Father and his concern for his followers. It is a prayer that continues to inspire and challenge believers today, reminding us of the significance of unity, love, and the ultimate purpose of sharing the message of Jesus Christ with the world.
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𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞! is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
In today’s show we are going to talk about 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞.
Forgiveness is a complex and deeply personal topic that holds great significance in human relationships and personal growth. It involves the act of letting go of resentment, anger, and the desire for revenge towards someone who has caused harm or wronged us in some way. When we forgive, we choose to release negative emotions and move forward with compassion and understanding.
There are several reasons why forgiveness is important and why we should consider practicing it:
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Emotional well-being: Holding onto grudges and harboring resentment can have a detrimental effect on our mental and emotional well-being. It keeps us stuck in the past, constantly reliving the pain and preventing us from moving forward. Forgiveness allows us to free ourselves from the burden of negative emotions, promoting healing and emotional healing.
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Restoring relationships: Forgiveness can be a powerful tool in restoring and repairing damaged relationships. By letting go of past grievances, we create space for reconciliation, understanding, and rebuilding trust. It opens the door to meaningful communication and the possibility of a renewed connection.
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Personal growth and maturity: Forgiveness is a sign of personal strength and growth. It requires us to rise above our own pain and recognize the humanity in others, understanding that everyone makes mistakes. By choosing forgiveness, we cultivate empathy, compassion, and emotional resilience. It helps us break cycles of negativity and foster healthier relationships in the future.
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Health benefits: Research has shown that forgiveness is linked to improved physical health. Letting go of grudges and resentment reduces stress levels, lowers blood pressure, and strengthens the immune system. It can also lead to better sleep and increased energy levels.
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Breaking the cycle of hurt: When we hold onto anger and refuse to forgive, we risk perpetuating a cycle of hurt and negativity. By choosing forgiveness, we can disrupt this cycle and create a more positive environment for ourselves and others. It allows us to break free from the grip of negativity and choose a path of healing and growth.
It is important to note that forgiveness does not mean condoning or forgetting the hurt caused by someone. It does not imply that we should reconcile with the person or continue to subject ourselves to harmful behavior. Forgiveness is a personal choice that empowers us to move forward without being weighed down by past grievances.
In conclusion, forgiveness is a transformative and empowering act that can bring emotional healing, restore relationships, promote personal growth, and improve overall well-being. It requires courage, empathy, and a willingness to let go of the pain of the past. By practicing forgiveness, we can create a more peaceful and compassionate world for ourselves and those around us.
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The post How and Why we should forgive! | Riot Podcast Ep 132 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮! is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
According to many religious and spiritual traditions, Satan is considered to be an evil force that seeks to lead people away from goodness and towards sin and destruction. The methods that Satan is said to use to achieve this goal vary depending on the belief system in question.
According to many religious and spiritual traditions, Satan is considered to be an evil force that seeks to lead people away from goodness and towards sin and destruction. The methods that Satan is said to use to achieve this goal vary depending on the belief system in question.
In Christianity, for example, Satan is often described as a tempter who tries to lead people astray through deception and trickery. He is said to plant seeds of doubt and discord, encouraging people to turn away from God and pursue their own selfish desires. Satan is also believed to use fear, anxiety, and temptation to manipulate people into making poor choices that ultimately lead to their downfall.
In other traditions, Satan is portrayed as a powerful adversary who seeks to undermine the spiritual progress of individuals by instilling negative thoughts and emotions. He may use feelings of anger, jealousy, or resentment to turn people against one another, or he may try to create chaos and confusion in order to prevent individuals from finding their true purpose in life.
Regardless of the specific tactics that Satan is believed to use, the ultimate goal is always the same: to lead people away from their connection to God or the divine, and towards a life of suffering and despair. To protect oneself from this destructive force, many religious and spiritual traditions advocate cultivating a strong connection to God or the divine, as well as engaging in practices such as prayer, meditation, and acts of kindness and compassion towards others.
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The post How Satan seeks to destroy you! | Riot Podcast Ep 131 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
Today we are going to talk about the 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥. Pete is currently on location in Naples Italy and we are going to talk about His Journey traveling to Places Paul spent time in sharing God’s word.
The 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 is a term used to describe a popular Christian pilgrimage route that traces the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul as recorded in the New Testament. These journeys are chronicled in the Book of Acts and include his travels throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, from modern-day Turkey to Greece and beyond.
The Footsteps of Paul pilgrimage typically starts in the city of Antioch in modern-day Turkey, where Paul began his first journey with Barnabas. From there, pilgrims followed in his footsteps as he traveled to Cyprus, then on to modern-day Greece, where he preached in cities such as Philippi, Thessaloniki, and Corinth.
The pilgrimage often includes visits to important biblical sites, such as the Acropolis in Athens, the Areopagus where Paul preached his famous sermon, and the ruins of ancient Corinth where he lived and preached for over a year. In addition, pilgrims may visit other sites of historical and cultural significance, such as the ancient city of Ephesus and the island of Patmos where the Apostle John is said to have written the Book of Revelation.
The Footsteps of Paul pilgrimage is a meaningful experience for Christians seeking to deepen their faith and connect with the history of their religion. It offers a chance to visit the places where the early Church was established and to gain a better understanding of the cultural and historical context in which the New Testament was written. It also allows pilgrims to connect with other believers from around the world and to share in the communal experience of worship and fellowship.
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The post Footsteps of Paul | Riot Podcast Ep 130 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
Understanding our spiritual order can be a deeply personal and individualized journey, as each person’s spiritual path and beliefs are unique to them. However, there are some general keys that can help guide our understanding of our spiritual order:
1.Self-awareness: Understanding our spiritual order begins with understanding ourselves. We must be willing to look within and examine our beliefs, values, and experiences. By developing self-awareness, we can better understand our spiritual path and the role it plays in our lives.
2.Connection to something greater: Many people find meaning and purpose in their spiritual order by connecting to something greater than themselves, whether that be a higher power, the universe, or a collective consciousness. This connection can help us feel a sense of belonging and provide guidance in our lives.
3.Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness can help us cultivate a deeper awareness of the present moment and connect more fully with our spiritual order. By being present and engaged in our experiences, we can develop a greater understanding of our beliefs and values and how they shape our lives.
4.Compassion and empathy: A key aspect of many spiritual orders is the importance of compassion and empathy towards others. By cultivating these qualities, we can develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us, and find greater meaning and purpose in our lives.
5.Ritual and practice: Many spiritual orders involve ritual and practice as a way to connect with our beliefs and values. This can include meditation, prayer, or other forms of spiritual practice that help us connect with our higher selves and the divine.
Overall, understanding our spiritual order is a lifelong journey that requires self-reflection, mindfulness, and a willingness to connect with something greater than ourselves. By cultivating these qualities, we can find greater meaning and purpose in our lives and deepen our understanding of our spiritual path.
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The post Keys to Understanding our Spiritual Order | Riot Podcast Ep 129 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲! is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
The topic discusses victimization and victim mentality. It explains that victimization is when someone is treated poorly or unfairly, while victim mentality is when someone blames others for their problems and believes that bad things always happen to them. The text encourages readers to ask themselves if they have a victim mentality and to try to break free from it, as it can negatively impact their life.
The topic also provides examples of people who overcame victimization and victim mentality, such as Jesus, Paul, and Joseph. It suggests that the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which represents the source of victimization, cannot transform the heart and give abundant life, unlike God, who wants people to have an overcomer’s mindset.
The belief is that God does not want the suffering or trauma that you have experienced to define your entire life. Instead, God wants you to be liberated from it. Jesus is regarded as the ultimate example of someone who was victimized but chose to overcome a victim mentality.
The depiction of Jesus’ suffering in the movie The Passion of the Christ can be difficult to witness, particularly when He endures the physical abuse inflicted upon Him, such as being whipped, having His beard pulled out, and being mocked. Even after all of this, He was crucified even though He had done nothing wrong.
Despite being blameless, Jesus did not succumb to a victim mentality. If anyone had reason to feel victimized, it was Him.
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The post Fighting against the victim mentality! | Riot Podcast Ep 128| Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐬! is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
The presence of evil in the world is a result of human sin and disobedience, as seen in the story of Adam and Eve and their decision to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in Genesis. This disobedience caused a separation between humanity and God, leading to a loss of authority and influence over Satan, who is described as the ruler of this world. The effects of sin are evident in the cultural values and practices that promote selfishness, greed, violence, and other forms of evil.
The impact of these cultural values and practices can be seen in the way they affect how we live our lives. They promote a worldview that is centered on individualism, materialism, and self-gratification, often at the expense of others. This leads to a lack of empathy and concern for the well-being of others, which in turn perpetuates social and economic inequalities, injustice, and violence.
To overcome the negative effects of cultural evil, we need to turn back to the Tree of Life and embrace the values of love, compassion, and selflessness. This requires a change of heart and a commitment to living a life that is guided by the principles of the Gospel, which teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to care for the poor and the marginalized, and to seek justice and righteousness. By living in the spirit of Christ, we can counteract the negative effects of cultural evil and help to bring healing and transformation to the world around us.
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The post 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐬! | Riot Podcast Ep 127 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
Did Jesus’ resurrection happen? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central doctrine of the Christian faith. It is believed to be the ultimate vindication of Jesus’ teachings, life, and ministry, and the ultimate sign of God’s power and love for humanity. The resurrection is seen as evidence that Jesus is the Son of God and that he has conquered sin and death.
For Christians, the Resurrection is not just a historical event, but a present reality that is central to their faith. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” In other words, the Resurrection is essential to the Christian belief that Jesus’ death on the cross was the atonement for humanity’s sins.
The Resurrection also has significant implications for the Christian understanding of life and death. It is believed to be a promise of eternal life for believers, who will be raised from the dead like Jesus and live forever in the presence of God.
In conclusion, while there may be differing opinions on the historicity of the Resurrection, it remains a central and foundational doctrine of the Christian faith. The Resurrection is seen as evidence of God’s power and love for humanity, the ultimate vindication of Jesus’ life and teachings, and the promise of eternal life for believers.
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Overcoming our pain with Joy – John 16:16-38 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
16-24 Confusion, go away. World rejoice them sorrowful, but they will have joy
25-33 No matter what we go through we are never alone; the Father is always with us and He loves us.
Last week’s show “𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭” was a passionate spirit filled show. If you haven’t already, we would recommend you go back and listen to it. Today, we’ll pick up where Jesus left off in preparing the disciples for His departure from earth this week. This section of our reading will cover John 16:16-33, which concludes the Upper Room Discourse and focuses on the disciples’ emotions.
They were depressed, perplexed by some of Jesus’ teaching, and terrified. It gives us hope to know that the disciples were real men with real problems, and yet Jesus was able to use them. Joy is a recurring theme in this section of our reading. That night, the Eleven were not having much joy! But what Jesus said to them eventually changed their lives. Today, we will see how tenderly and patiently Jesus explained to His people how they can have joy in their lives.
Let’s read John 16:16-22
We see here that Jesus gives His disciples something to live by, and that is that God brings joy to our lives, not by substitution but by transformation.
Yeah, His illustration of the woman giving birth makes this clear. The same baby that caused the pain also caused the joy. In birth God does not substitute something else to relieve the mother’s pain. Instead, He uses what is there already but transforms it.
Every parent knows what it is like to have an unhappy child because a toy is broken, or a friend has gone home. The parent can do one or two things. One substitutes something else for the broken toy or absent friend. Or transform the situation into a new experience for the unhappy child.
If the mother always gets a new toy for the child each time a toy is broken. That child will grow up expecting that every problem is to be solved by substitution. If the mother always calls another playmate and invites him or her over, the child will grow up expecting people to come to his rescue whenever there is a crisis. The result, either way, is a spoiled child. The way of substitution for solving our problems, is the way of immaturity. The way of transformation is the way of faith and maturity. We cannot mature emotionally or spiritually if somebody is always replacing our broken toys.
So now that we understand the principle, we can better understand the problems and the questions of the disciples. In vs 16, Jesus announced that “in a little while, they would not see Him.” This appears to be a deliberately puzzling statement. Jesus spoke in proverbs and the disciples did not understand them. What did Jesus mean?
I am encouraged by this, because there are many hours that I read through the scripture to try and understand what is being said. Without trying to read into this, Jesus was possibly talking about “the soon to occur events” in connection with His death and resurrection. After his burial, they would not see Him for a little while, but then, He would rise from the dead and they would see Him again. He had told them on previous occasions that He would rise from the dead after 3 days, but His words did not sink into their minds and hearts.
I think Jesus is also speaking about His return to the Father. This ties in with vs 10, Because I go to my Father, and you will see no more. The disciples did not live to see the return of Christ, but they did see Him die and arrive in His glory.
Yeah, in comparison to eternity, the time that the church has been awaiting the Lord’s return has really been but a little while. The phrase “a little while”, is used in this very sense in Hebrews 10:37. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Jesus had to go to the Father to set up the church phase. He sent His Holy Spirit to the Church, and the church is carrying the Word of His grace to the ends of the earth.
To the mother experiencing birth pains, every minute may seem to be an hour. Our concept of time changes with our feelings. 30 minutes in the dentist chair may seem like hours, while hours fishing or dining with friends may seem like a very short time. The mother feels as though the birth is taking a long time, when really it may be only a little while. When the baby has been born, pain is forgotten as joy fills her heart.
The world today does not want Jesus or His church. The world is rejoicing while we are suffering, longing for our lord to return. In Romans 8:22 it says “all of creation is suffering birth pangs, because of sin, awaiting His return.” In Matthew 9:15 it says “when the bridegroom is away, the bride mourns. But in a little while, he shall return, and we shall go with Him to heaven to enjoy the Fathers house.” While the immediate application may have been to the sorrowing hearts of the disciples, the ultimate application is to all of God’s people as they await the coming of Jesus. It seems like a long time, but God does not measure time as we do.
Let’s Read John 16:23-33
The central theme here in this paragraph is prayer. Vs 34 “Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.” It is important to note that the text uses two different words for “ask” although they can be used interchangeably.
The word used in John 16:19 and 23a means to ask a question or to ask a request. It is used when someone makes a request of someone equal. The word translated ask in vs 23b, 23 means to request something of a superior. This latter word was never used by Jesus in His prayer life because He is equal to the Father. We come as inferiors to God, asking for His blessing, but He came as the very Son of God, equal with the Father.
In vs23 Jesus says on that day, what period of time did Jesus mean?
I think He was referring to the time after the coming of the Spirit. He promised them in John vs 22 that He would see them again, and he kept His promise. That day cannot refer to the day of His return for His church, because there is no evidence in Scripture that we shall pray to Him after we get to heaven.
Jesus mentions prayer many times in His teachings and He had set the example for prayer in His own life. He was indeed a man of prayer and here Jesus is making it clear that a believing prayer is one of the secrets of a faithful Christian life.
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us to help us understand the things of God. In prayer we put ourselves in a position to walk in the Spirit. The world does not have access to the Father but the believer in Jesus does. Jesus wanted His disciples to know that by Him going to the Father they will always have access to Him. They will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue on the work He has laid before them.
When you read the book of Acts, you discover that the early church depended on prayer. They believed the promise of God and asked God for what they needed. It would do all of us Good if we reviewed regularly what Jesus is teaching His disciples here about prayer. Jesus is clearly laying out the case that there is great Joy in praying and in receiving answers to prayers.
My faith hero, George Muller, who said “that true prayer was not overcoming God’s reluctance, but overcoming God’s willingness.” There is joy in prayer, and there is joy in realizing the principle of transformation. Jesus in essence has to Go to the father to birth and empower the church. The way He connects with the church is through prayer, and because of this we can still experience the great joys of having fellowship with Jesus. He still hears us and answers us.
Let’s finish up this section and read 29-33
We see in vs 29-30 the disciples suddenly moved out of their spiritual stupor and made a tremendous affirmation of faith. They claimed to understand what Jesus had been teaching them, though this claim was probably presumptuous, as their subsequent actions proved.
Yeah, they were bewildered even after His resurrection as to the future of Israel. I have many moments when I declare God’s truth for my life to only not believe or understand what’s going on when a circumstance comes.
Another thing we see the disciples affirm here is their faith and assurance. They said “Now we are sure, by this we believe.” This is quite a statement of faith. In the next chapter, John 17, we will read that Jesus told the Father about His disciples and reported on their spiritual condition. He knew they were weak in their faith, but He was quick to approve their growing evidence of faith and assurance. Is it possible to have faith, understanding, and assurance and still fail Jesus?
Well great question, unless we practice our faith and apply that understanding with rest in our assurance, we will fail when the time of testing comes. This is what happened to the disciples, and Jesus warned them that it would happen. We must live out loud our faith every day or risk denying Jesus when testing comes.
Jesus gave this message to His disciples because he wanted them to have peace in a world of tribulation. Note what Jesus said when He said in me and in the world. In Christ there is peace, in the world there is tribulation. This is the portion we need to claim for ourselves. We are in Christ, and therefore we can overcome the world and all of its hatred.
George Morrison defined peace as the possession of adequate resources. In Jesus, we have all the resources that we need. But peace depends also on appropriate relationships, because spiritual resources depend on spiritual relationships. In me is the key. In ourselves, we have nothing, but in Christ, we have all that we need. Every believer is either overcome or an overcomer. The world wants to overcome us, this is why Satan uses the world to persecute and pressure believers. The world wants us to conform, it does not want us to transform. When we yield our lives to God, he enables us to be overcomers. There is joy when we permit God to transform sorrow into joy. There is joy when God answers prayer and there is Joy when we overcome the world.
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The post Overcoming our Pain with Joy | Riot Podcast Ep 125 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
The Geniusness of the Holy Spirit is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
In Episode 122 Titled: “Why does the world hate Christians?” We unpacked John 15:18–16:4. In verses 18 and 20, Jesus stated that the reason the world hates Christians is because they first hated Him, and because we now identify with Him, they will also hate us. If you haven’t listened to it already, I encourage you to do so.
This week we will pick up where we left off in John. At this time, Jesus has told His disciples once more that He must die and ascend to the Father. As usual, Jesus gives His disciples hope with the promise of the Holy Spirit, despite the fact that His disciples are somewhat confused and sorrowful. Today’s reading will reveal to us some additional awesome ways the Holy Spirit assists us in our daily walk with God. It will be a fantastic show. Let’s begin and start our reading with John 16:5-11.
We know that up until this point, Jesus had been with His disciples for three years and had protected them from attack, but He was about to leave them. He’d told them this earlier in the upper room, and Peter had asked as to where He was going. So, they were still a bit confused, and Jesus needed to explain why it was critical for them that He had to return to the Father.
Of course, the main reason is that the Holy Spirit may come to empower the church for life and witness. Furthermore, the risen Savior would be able to intercede for His people before the heavenly throne of grace. This new truth was difficult for his disciples to grasp.
Something to keep in mind in what we just read; the Spirit comes to the Church and not to the World. This means that Jesus is working in and through the Church.
The Holy Spirit does not operate in isolation. Just as the Son of God required a body to carry out His work on earth, so too does the Holy Spirit require a body to carry out His ministries, and that body is the church. Our bodies are His instruments and temples, and He desires to use us to praise Christ and proclaim the gospel to the lost. Is our ministry set up to equip and advance God’s kingdom?
People occasionally pray, “Lord, send your Spirit to speak to the Lost!” May the Spirit move from one heart to another. Such prayer is without a doubt sincere, but is it Biblical?
No, the Holy Spirit does not float up and down the rows of a church building, seeking to win the lost. The Holy Spirit works through the people He dwells in. When the Holy Spirit descended on Peter at Pentecost in Acts 2, He gave him authority to preach, and the preaching of the Word brought conviction to those who heard.
The key word here in vs 8 is “reprove”. It is a legal word that means to bring to light, to expose, to refute, to convict and convince”. It could be translated as “pronounce the verdict”. So by this definition Jesus is saying the world may think that it is judging Christians, but it is the Christians who are passing judgment on the world as they witness to Jesus.
Yes exactly, Believers are the witnesses, the Holy Spirit is the prosecuting attorney, and the unsaved are the guilty prisoners. However, the purpose of this indictment is not to condemn, but to bring to salivation.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of one specific sin, unbelief. The law of God and man’s conscience will convict the sinner of his sins (plural), but it is the work of the Spirit, through the witness of the believers, to expose the lost world’s unbelief.
Yes because it is the unbelief that condemns the lost sinner, not the committing of individual sins. A person could clean up his life and quit his or her bad habits and still be lost and go to hell.
The Spirit also convicts the sinner of righteousness, not unrighteousness, walk us through whose righteousness?
The righteousness of Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God. The world would not receive the Son of God, so He has returned to the Father. When He was here on earth, He was accused by men of being a blasphemer, a lawbreaker, a deceiver, and even a demon. The Spirit of God reveals the Savior in the Word and in this way glorifies Him. The Spirit also reveals Christ in the lives of believers. Keep in mind the world cannot receive or see the Spirit of God, but they can see what He does as they watch the lives of dedicated believers.
The Holy Spirit convicts the lost sinner of sin. This statement should not be confused with Acts 24:25, which speaks of righteousness, temperance, and the coming judgment. Jesus is referring to His judgment of Satan, which was accomplished through His death on the cross.
Satan has already been judged and the verdict announced. All that must take place is the executing of the sentence, and that will occur when Jesus returns. But back to Jesus’ point a lost sinner is truly under conviction, he will see the folly and evil of unbelief, he will confess that he does not measure up to the righteousness of Christ, and he will realize that he is under condemnation because he belongs to the world and the devil. The only person who can rescue him from certain death is Jesus. There can be no conversion without conviction.
Let’s transition and read vs 12-15 and unpack how the Spirit is our teacher that guides us.
Jesus was always careful to give His disciples the right amount of truth at the best time. This is always the mark of a great teacher.
Yes indeed, The Holy Spirit is our teacher today, and He follows that same principle with us. He teaches us the truths we need to know, when we need them, and when we are ready to receive them.
When you compare John 14:26 with what we see here in Vs 13, you see the wonderful way that God arranged for the writing of the New Testament. The Spirit would remind them of what Jesus had taught them, this gives us the 4 gospels.
The spirit would also guide them into all truth, and this would result in the Epistles. He will show you “things to come” refers to the prophetic Scriptures, especially the book of Revelation.
We must always remember that the Spirit of God is always associated with the Word of God which is Truth. The phrase He (The Spirit) shall not speak of himself in vs 13, this does not mean that the Spirit never refers to Himself. Rather, it means that He does not speak apart from the Father and the Son.
Exactly, He does not manufacture a different message. You have the entire Godhead mentioned in John 16:13, because the Spirit of God does not ignore either the Father or the Son. They all work harmoniously together as one.
It is the Spirit’s ministry to enrich us with the treasures of God’s truth. He illuminates us with God’s truth and enriches us with God’s riches. God’s word is a gold, silver, and precious jewel mine (Prov 3:13-15) What a blessing to have the Holy Spirit illuminate His word for us every day.
Amen, We do not study the Word of God in order to argue religion with people, or to show off our grasp of spiritual things. We study the word to see Jesus, to know God better, and to glorify Him in our lives. As we witness in this hostile world, the Spirit uses the Word He has taught us, and we share Jesus with the lost. It is our job to witness, it is the Spirit’s job to convict.
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What is a Christian Revival? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
The topic of today’s show is“What Is a Christian Revival?”.We’ve heard about what’s going on at Asbury, and we’re seeing signs of revival on the campuses of many other universities across the country.So, what is Revival exactly? We believe it is a spiritual re-awakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in a believer’s life. It includes a renewed love for God, an appreciation for God’s holiness, a love for His Word and His church, a convincing awareness of personal and corporate sin, a spirit of humility, and a desire for repentance and growth in righteousness. Revival energizes and sometimes deepens a believer’s faith, opening his or her eyes to the truth in a new and exciting way. It generally causes a new beginning with a clean slate, a new beginning of a life lived in obedience to God. Revival breaks the world’s charm and power, which blinds men’s eyes, and generates both the will and power to live in the world but not of the world.
The First Great Awakening, also known as the First Revival, occurred in the United States in the 1730s and 1740s and resulted in a spike in Protestant devotion, leaving a lasting imprint on American religion. It came about as a result of authoritative preaching that profoundly affected the congregation with a convicting understanding of individual guilt and the amazing nature of salvation through Christ.
By igniting a strong emotional need for a relationship with Christ, the Great Awakening liberated Christianity from mindless ceremonial and dull ritual, making it extremely personal to the average person as it should be.
In many ways, revival mimics the experience of a believer when he or she is saved. It is prompted by the Holy Spirit, who creates an awareness of something missing or wrong in the believer’s life that can only be corrected by God. The Christian, in turn, must respond from the heart, acknowledging his or her own need. The Holy Spirit then powerfully draws back the veil that the world has cast over the truth, allowing believers to fully see themselves in comparison to God’s majesty and holiness. Such comparisons, of course, bring great humility, but also great awe of God and His truly amazing grace.
Isaiah 6:5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”. Unlike the initial conversion experience, which results in a new relationship with God, revival represents a restoration of fellowship with God, the relationship having been maintained despite the believer’s withdrawal for a time.
In a variety of situations, God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to revival. The letters of Christ to the seven churches reveal some of the circumstances that may necessitate revival. Christ praised the church in the letter to Ephesus for their perseverance and discernment, but He also stated that they had abandoned their first love (Revelation 2:4-5 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the work you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”
Many times, as the excitement of accepting Christ fades, we lose the zeal that we once had. We become engrossed in the ritual, going through the motions, and lose sight of the joy of serving Christ. Revival aids in the restoration of that first love and passion for Christ. Revelation 2:10-11 is about the church in Smyrna, which was under severe persecution. Life’s cares and concerns can wear us down, leaving us emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted. Revival can provide us with new hope and faith.
Revelation 2:14-16 says “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also, you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.” These verses address the issue of worldly compromise and incorporating worldly values into our belief systems.
Revival assists us in correctly determining what values we should hold. The problem of tolerating false teaching in our churches is addressed in Revelation 2:20-23 it says “But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.” We must examine the messages we hear and compare them to the Bible’s message.
Revival aids us in discovering the truth. Revelation 3:1-6 says “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you still have a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This describes a dead church, one that goes through the motions on the outside but has nothing on the inside.
Here is a picture of nominal Christianity: prosperous on the outside, preoccupied with religious rituals, but devoid of spiritual life and power. Revival aids in the resuscitation of spiritual life. In Revelation 3:11 it says “I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. We are warned against complacency, or living a fruitless life.” All of these scenarios necessitate revival.
The root word for “revival” comes from the word “revive”. The prefix “re” meaning “again,” and “vive”, which derives from the Old French word vivere, meaning “to live.” So, the word revive literally means “to live again.”
This type of reviving involves the renewing of the mind, Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
If Pastors and leaders want to see Revival in their churches, then True revival involves proper preaching of God’s word: This quality can be found in the book of Nehemiah (chap. 9:1-38), where Ezra, a scribe who was highly trained in the Law of Moses, stood at a wooden podium that was made for this purpose (vs. 1-5). It was at the wooden podium where Ezra spoke the Law to all of Israel, while they sat attentively listening to Ezra (v. 7)
In similar fashion, Peter, on the day of Pentecost, gave the first sermon to the Jewish people pointing from the Old Testament that Jesus was Messiah sent by God, to be crucified (Acts 2:14-36). A true revival has with it true preaching from God’s word in context. Popcorn preaching many times leaves out context
Bottom line is True revival is not a superficial, emotional response that results in a temporary experience, but no long-term fruit of righteousness. True revival is when the living God sovereignly and powerfully breaks into human history with the good news of His salvation. It invariably begins with His people coming under deep conviction of sin and turning from that sin in genuine repentance. It always involves a recovery of biblical truth, especially the truth about how sinners are reconciled to a holy God. Therefore, it also involves a recovery of the centrality and authority of God’s Word over all of life.
It is long lasting with a renewed sense of God’s presence, power, holiness, and truth then inevitably spills out of the church and into the world, resulting in many genuine conversions. If you want to read two excellent books on the subject, I recommend Revival, by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and Revival and Revivalism, by Iain Murray.
The evidence of revival has changed lives. Great movements toward righteousness, evangelism, and social justice occur. Believers are once again spending time in prayer and reading and obeying God’s Word. Believers begin to powerfully use their spiritual gifts. There is confession of sin and repentance.
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The post What Is A Christian Revival? | RIOT Podcast Ep 123 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
Why Does The World Hate Christians? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
We will discover a unifying thread in today’s reading from John 15:18–16:4 that unites all of our reading. That is, the church is facing hostility from the world, while the Holy Spirit’s ministry is operating with and through the Church. Jesus had been teaching His disciples primarily about love up until this point, but now He will be speaking about hatred. In this section of scripture that we are reading today, He used the term “hatred” seven times.
Jesus is the very definition of love. Everything He has ever done is because of His love for others, so how could anyone hate him? His desires the best for us, however, He tells us that we too will be hated like Him. If we identify ourselves as Christians today, then that is the way things will be. Jesus warns His followers that the world will persecute them in the same way that He is being persecuted, and that the world also will hate them. It is clear from John’s gospel that the religious establishment not only rejected Jesus, but also actively sought to have him killed. The lesson Jesus is teaching His disciples here is that they must endure this hostile environment and persistent hostility until Jesus comes again or until they die.
Let’s dive in and unpack these powerful verses. Let’s Read John 15:18- 16:4
We should start by defining what Jesus means by “the world,” because the term appears at least three times in the Bible. It can refer to the created world (John 1:10 the world was made by Him), the world of humanity (John 3:16 for God so loved the world), or society apart from God and opposed to God, which we refer to as the world system.
From a Christian perspective, the world includes all of the people, plans, organizations, activities, philosophies, values, and so on that belong to society without God. Some of these things may be very cultural, while others may be very corrupt, but they all have their origins in the heart and mind of sinful man and promote what sinful man wishes to enjoy and achieve. As Christians, we must be careful not to fall in love with or conform to the world.
Now that we described the term “world”, let’s ask the question, Why does the world system, including the religious world, hate Christians, the ones who believe in Jesus and seek to follow Him? Jesus himself gave us several reasons and the first one is because “we Identify with Him”.
In verses 18 and 20, Jesus says that if they hated Him, they will also hate those who identify with Him. Jesus quoted the statement He made earlier in John 13:16 and in John 15:20, and the logic is clear. We are the servants to the Master. Because He is greater than we are, He deserves to be praised and glorified, but the world will not praise or glorify Him. The world despises Him, so the world must despise us. If Jesus, despite His greatness and perfection, does not escape persecution, what hope do we have with our own flaws?
Some other passages in the Bible show a special bond between Christ and His followers, that when He is attacked, so are we. In Matt 26:31, we are the sheep and he is the shepherd, so when the shepherd is attacked, the sheep suffer. When they attack Him, they also target us because He is the Master and we are His followers. But it is comforting to know that Jesus shares in the pain of God’s people when they are persecuted since He is the Head of the body and we are the members.
Remember in Acts 9:4 when Jesus said Saul and Saul, why are you persecuting me? Paul was persecuting the Church and Jesus took it personally. So, anything that the enemy can do to us has already been done to Jesus. He is with us as we suffer, absolutely amazing.
The next reason Jesus gives us why the world system hates us, is found in vs 19, “because we do not belong to the world.”
When we trusted Jesus we moved into a new spiritual position. We are now “in Christ” and “out of the world” To be sure, we are in the world physically, but not of the world spiritually
We are now partakers of the heavenly calling (Heb 3:1) we are no longer interested in the treasures or pleasures of sin in this world. This does not mean we are isolated from reality or insulated from the world’s needs, so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. Rather it means that we look at the things of earth from heaven’s point of view.
The world system operates on the basis of conformity. As long as a person follows the fads and fashions and accepts the values of the world, he or she will get along. But the Christian refuses to be conformed to this world. In 2 Cor 5:17 says that “the believer is a new creation; old things are passed and behold all things are made new.” That is saying that we no longer want to live in the old life. We are the light of the world, and the salt of the earth. But a dark world does not want light and the world hates that we are different and out of step with them.
The next reason Jesus gives us why the world system hates us, is found in vs 21 because, the world is spiritually ignorant and blind. If you have asked the religious leaders in Jerusalem if they knew the God they were seeking to defend, they would have said, of course we know Him. But Jesus said that they did not know the Father, therefore, they could not know the Son.
This was not a new theme for Jesus to discuss, He has mentioned this many times before to the religious leaders. Remember, in John 8:19, He said, “You neither know me nor my father. If you had known me, you should have known my father also. You have not known me, but I know Him.” The religious world claims to know God, but it does not want to bow the knee to Jesus as the son of God and the only Savior of the world. In 2 Cor 4:3 says that Satan has blinded their minds, in Eph 4:17 it says that Satan has blinded their hearts. The world chooses religion over relationships.
Another reason the world system Hates us, is found in vs 22-24, because the world will not be honest about its own sin. Once again, Jesus emphasized His words and His works. We have seen this emphasis throughout the gospel of John. The people had no excuse for their sin. They had seen His works and heard His words, but they would not admit the truth. Jesus presented to them all of the evidence they would ever need, but they were not honest enough to receive it and act on it.
This statement here parallels what Jesus told the Pharisees after He healed the blind man. They had to admit that Jesus had healed the man born blind, but they would not follow the evidence to its logical conclusion and put their trust in Him. Jesus told them that they were the ones who were blind. Since they admitted that they had seen a miracle, this made their sin even worse. They were no longer sinning in ignorance, they now had the truth and completely rejected it. 2 Peter 3:5 says “For this they willingly are ignorant.” People in the world refuse to face their sin honestly.
How does the Holy Spirit encourage believers when they are experiencing the hatred and opposition of the world?
In Vs 26, Jesus tells us it is primarily through the word of God. It says the HS will testify about Him, because He is the word. It also says the Spirit witnesses us and through us during times of persecution. He reminds us that what we are experiencing is the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. (Phil 3:10) and that it is a privilege to bear reproach for His name.
Let’s read 1 Peter 4:12-19 and unpack this more
Times of persecution have always been times of proclamation and witness for the church. We must be always ready to give an answer when unsaved people attack us (1 Peter 3:15) The Spirit witnesses us so that we can witness to the world (Mark 13:11). Apart from the power of the Spirit of God, we cannot give a clear witness for Christ (Acts 1:8)
This is no reason for the believer to stumble, John 16:1 says, “to be offended when the world turns against us.” We should expect persecution, as Jesus has told His disciples. We should not stumble as well when other religious leaders attack us, when they think they are serving God when they do so.
The word “service” translated in vs 2 means “priestly service” This statement is a description of Saul, who thought he was serving God by destroying the church.
It is always tragic when religious people persecute and murder in the name of God. While it is true that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church, Tertullian said this. It is also true that their blood is the stain on the pages of History.
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𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐓 𝐩𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐲, “𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐔𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥” on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
God tells us in Genesis, that travel is a divine command (vocation). It’s a work trip to do the Lord’s business. God tells Adam and Eve to “be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth”(𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝟏:𝟐𝟖). In other words, traveling is part of humanity’s job description. However, God isn’t so much telling Adam and Eve to leave the Garden as He is telling them to extend the Garden.
From the beginning of time, travel was a thing to do and it was something that we did together, with God and one another. Gen 2:1-3 We worked together and Sabbathed together. Sadly, many of us have lost the missional, meaningful, sabbatical, worshipful and communal intent of a trip.
Before the fall travel was blessed by God, after the fall it became a curse. God had to “turn the car around” in a sense; instead of the trip being about expanding the Garden, it became about finding a way back to the Garden.
It’s hard to deny that there is something troubling about the modern American approach to travel, which at this point, could almost be classified as a competitive sport. Travel, especially the travel we see on social media, seems to have devolved into:
•𝐀 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 (travel to find myself);
•𝐀 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (travel as a way to be seen and accepted);
•𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 (travel as a substitute for purpose);
•𝐀𝐧 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬(travel as a way to titillate and medicate).
We should travel with an eye towards the opportunities God will provide to share the gospel and extend mercy. In other words, whether we are traveling for work or play, we should be looking for opportunities on the plane, playground or in the hotel lobby for chances to tell people about and practically show them the love of Jesus. .
To wrap up everything today, God wants us to take advantage of the opportunity to travel and explore the world around us. He knows that through experiencing different cultures and learning about different people, we can become better, more understanding, and compassionate individuals. Traveling allows us to break down barriers and make connections that would not have been possible otherwise. It can also be a great way to practice our faith and deepen our spiritual connection with God.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨:
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The post God Wants Us To Travel | RIOT Podcast Ep 121 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
On today’s podcast, we will discuss, “𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬” on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Today we continue our reading in 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟓:𝟏𝟐-𝟏𝟕, and we will see the common theme we have read over the last three chapters: that we are to love one another. When we bear fruit in our lives, one of the byproducts is that we love others as Christ first loved us. In 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟐𝟐:𝟑𝟕-𝟒𝟎, Jesus is asked what the most important commandment is. He shared with them the Jewish Shema, a prayer said by Jews every morning and evening that states that the Lord God is one and that we should love the Lord God with all of our heart, soul, and might. Then He added a second commandment, that we should love our neighbor as ourselves; all the law and prophets hang on these two commandments.
We see Jesus here telling His disciples that they are no longer just servants, but that they are His friends. Many of us have a large number of friends who are not close to us and only a few who are in our inner circle. We also have friends who have turned on us or that have been unfaithful and betrayed us, such as Judas Iscariot. To be honest, even our closest friends can let us down when we need them the most. When Peter, James, and John should have been praying, they went to sleep in the garden, and Peter, even denied Jesus three times. Jesus is saying that the only person that will never let you down in Him.
Being a friend and a servant are not mutually exclusive. Abraham is the perfect example of this. According to 𝟐 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟎:𝟕, he was a “friend of God” and a “servant of God”. God desires that we have a deep friendship with Him, but in order to do so, we must remain in Him and obey Him. The more we get to know Him, the more we become acquainted with his thoughts, ideas, and purposes. It’s then that the incredible intimacy and love grow within us as a result of that. God will never stop loving us in spite of us, but we cannot know Him as a friend if we don’t remain in Him.
This kind of relationship that Jesus is describing is supernatural, it is unlike anything any of us will ever experience here on earth. It is a relationship of deep love, both for Him and for each other. The friends of the King, could not compete with each other for attention or promotion. They were a part of the inner circle, not to promote themselves but to serve their King.
How is it possible that Jesus commands us to love one another? Can true love be commanded?
We must remember that Christian love is not simply a feeling, it is a deliberate act. The evidence of our love is not in our feelings, but in our actions, even if it means laying down our lives for Christ and one another. Jesus gave His life for both His friends and His enemies (Romans 5:10) While emotions are definitely involved in how we love it’s more than that. True Christian love is an act of will and a byproduct of the fruit we produce. We can love naturally as Christ loves when we remain in Him.
One of the greatest privileges of being a friend of Jesus is getting to know God better and learning God’s secrets. Servants get first dibs, and each of us can get as close to Jesus as we want. We are His friends, and we should be near the throne, hearing His word, enjoying His intimacy, and obeying His commands.
In 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟒:𝟏𝟔 Jesus reminded the men that they had this privileged position only because of His grace. They did not choose Him, it was He that chose them! In 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟒:𝟏𝟗 He said He chose them out of the world and ordained them to do His will. So, because God chooses us to do His work, does this take away our free will?
No, as we have always said, He will not force us to be His friends; we must act in obedience in order to experience intimacy with Jesus. The word ordained means “appointed” in this context. It refers to the act of distinguishing someone for special service. The Lord has graciously chosen and sets us apart to go into the world and bear His fruit. He is telling His disciples that He is sending them out into the world as His personal ambassadors to tell and witness Himself to others. Friends of Christ bear fruit and advance the kingdom of God.
𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟓:𝟓 says the evidence that we know we are Jesus’s disciples is because we bear fruit. We are in the kingdom-building business with Jesus. Where there is true fruit, it remains forever. But if it is manufactured by Man, done in the flesh by man’s own power, then that fruit will eventually disappear.
Jesus closes this part of His message by reminding them and us of the most important commandment of all: Love one another. There are dozens of “one another” statements in the New Testament, but all of them are summarized in “Love one another”.
To wrap up everything today, we can put it like this; Being a friend of God has many spiritual and practical benefits. Friendship with God is a source of strength, comfort, and peace. It provides a feeling of being connected to something greater than ourselves. We can draw on His wisdom and power to help us through life’s challenges. God’s friendship offers us guidance. He knows our personality, strengths, and weaknesses. He knows what is best for us and can provide direction as we make decisions. He can also offer protection from harm and danger. Being a friend of God can give us the insight to make the best choices and to trust in His plan for our lives.
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The post Being a Friend of God Has Benefits John 15 18 – RIOT Podcast Ep 120 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
Why Dating Matters is what will be discussing today, with our special guest, on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
In honor of Valentine’s Day this week in the United States, we thought we’d do a show about ways to date your spouse or, for those who are single, your girlfriend or boyfriend. When most people think of “dating,” they envision pre-engagement fun filled with long talks, throbbing hearts, and flower bouquets. But, who says it has to end after engagement “or, for that matter, after marriage?
What is the purpose of dating? “A purpose”, according to Merriam Webster, is “something set up as an object or end to be attained.” A purpose defines the ultimate goal, destination, or intended outcome of an action.
If your ultimate goal is having a great relationship, then dating should be a part of your purpose. While Christ-centered intimacy is the great prize in marriage, Christ-centered clarity is the great prize in dating. In the context of marriage between man and woman, intimacy is the safest, and marriage is safest in the context of clarity. We must date to get married and date to stay married if we want to have and enjoy a Christ-centered intimacy
If “Clarity” is Gods truth on everything, then our ultimate purpose is “to glorify God and to enjoy him forever,” Colossians 3:17 says, “every part of us should be striving toward this end.” In order to glorify God in our marriage we must first and foremost grow in our holiness together. Humans are created for relationship (Genesis 2:18), and it’s in this context of connecting and clashing with other sinners that God frequently makes us aware of our sin. What does that mean exactly?
Dating is a time to get to know each other better, to focus on how we can elevate one another.
If you are not married and you want to grow in Holiness together, practice self-discipline by setting and keeping boundaries.
Always show compassion and forgiveness toward each other.
Practice patience with each other and look for ways to complement each other.
Display the gospel to others through your relationship, be a light to others.
LEARN TO LOVE To grow in Holiness together is hard to do if you don’t know how to love each other as Christ love us. This “love” is different from the kind you’re referring to when you say “I love you” for the first time. Rather, it’s the selfless, sacrificial love we are commanded to show to everyone as believers (Mark 12:30-31).
The longer you date someone, the more you’ll know how to love them really well. You learn their love language. For instance, like how hugs make them happy, so you go out of your way to give them a quick embrace before anything else happens in the date. Learn their love languages and sacrifice what you want first to focus on them. If you both do this the date will be unbelievable.
What are the love languages? Time, Touch, Words, gifts, service
MAKE TIME…No Matter What. Hebrews 10:24-25 “24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
The first step to dating your spouse is commitment. Always plan one date a week, you don’t have to be stuck on a certain day unless your schedule demands it. The bottom line is to make it a priority, not an every once in a while, sort of thing.
HAVE GOOD TALKS James 1:19-20 tells us that “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Don’t just talk to talk, but make it a point while dating to have fruitful meaningful talks, ask positive questions and listen. Creating space for healthy communication is important! Dates are the perfect opportunity for you and your spouse to reconnect. Spend time talking so that you can keep acquainted and stay in touch with each other’s lives!
GET-CREATIVE- Colossians 3:23, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Romans 12:6, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
MAKE ERRANDS INTO DATES- Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
A relationship is stronger when they work together, but it’s even stronger when they have God as their leader. Obviously, there is a time we should date without doing errands together but, why not go to the store together, have fun, and adjust your schedule to just hang out.
BE OK WITH CHEAP Even if you’re rich. A common misconception is that quality romance has to be expensive. Let’s throw out that idea right now. Sure, we may be able to afford bouquets of roses and diamond jewelry, but handmade notes and picnic dinners can be just as sweet! Always walk in the Spirit, our money is not our own, but God’s. Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.
BE ACTIVE TOGETHER- 1 Cor 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Cor 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
BE SEXY TOGETHER- There are a lot of Bible verses that talk about being beautiful “The girl had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at.” Esther 2:7. Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead.” Song of Solomon Chapter 4: 3. Bottom line is to make yourself look good to your partner.
DO OVERNIGHT DATES- Do weekend trips together, or for one night. Make it fun and do it often. Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Thanks for listening and don’t forget to:
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The post Why Dating Matters | RIOT Podcast Ep 119 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
On today’s podcast we are teaching from John 15:1-11. How do we know if we are producing fruit? is what will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
Today we will study John 15:1-11, where Jesus makes His seventh and last “I am” statement: “I am the vine.” Jesus considers His disciples to be His friends, He reveals to them that He is the source of their life, in Him all things are new and good. We are the branches in His illustration; if we remain in Him, we can do anything, but without Him, we can do nothing. As branches, we have the privilege and duty of sharing His life and abiding in Him. As His friends, we have the privilege of understanding His perfect will and the option to submit to it.
Let’s read vs 1-11 and uncover all of its fruit.
The planting of vineyards was essential to Israel’s economy and way of life back then. According to history, a golden vine decorated Herod’s temple. When Jesus employed this picture, He was not introducing anything new; it was well-known to every Jew. Let’s dissect four aspects of Jesus’ teaching to better comprehend what He is saying. The first is the vine itself.
In the Bible, there are three different vines. The past vine is “Israel”, the future vine is “the earth” as described in Revelation 14:14–20, and the present vine is “Jesus”, which Includes His church as its branches. Let’s break down each one, starting with the past.
Psalms 80:8-10
1. The Past Vine: The past vine mentioned here is an act of God’s grace, He transplanted Israel into the land of Canaan. He blessed them with fruit, milk and honey.
2. The second vine talked about here is “the future vine of the earth” Revelation 14:14-20
3. The last vine mentioned here is “the present vine”. This vine represents Jesus, who is the only true vine all other vines of religion are false.
So, let’s look at what Jesus says, “The first, was that He is the vine, and the second, was that we are His branches.
This crucial idea of connection and communion is emphasized in a number of the biblical passages that relate to Christ and the believer. In Eph 5:25-33, it talks about Jesus as “The Bride” and we as “His bridegroom”. In 1 Cor 12, Jesus is the Head of the body and we are its members, and in John 10 we are Jesus’ “sheep” and He is “our shepherd”. Jesus, in referencing the branch being broken off here, is saying, that a body part that is severed from the body will die.
As Christians, we must accept that we are branches that need to be in communion with Jesus in order to live and breathe.
How can we know for sure that we are continuing to abide in Christ? Is there a distinct feeling we get?
We must keep in mind that while the branches do not consume the fruit, others do. We don’t grow fruit to please ourselves, but to help others. We should be the type of people who nourish others through our words and actions. Prov 10:21 says, “the Lips of the righteous feed many.”
There are several different kinds of spiritual fruit that are named in the Bible. Romans 1:13 says, “we bear fruit when we win others to Christ.” In John 4:35 it says, “we are a part of the harvest.” Romans 6:22 says, “We grow in holiness and obedience when we are bearing fruit.” Paul, in Romans 15:28 said that believers that are committed to bearing fruit have a dedicated life bringing of bring God glory. And we know that Gal 5:22 says, “we will bear the fruit of the Spirit which are Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Bearing fruit will always build up others around us and point them to Jesus.
What does yielding fruit not entail? That would be living in the flesh. Living in the flesh is living in our effort that produces dead results and cannot be reproduced. If it were Spirit produced fruit, then it will go on producing from one life to another.
In John 14:27, Jesus spoke about having God’s peace living within you. In verses 9-11, He talks about having love and joy in you. The first three fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, and peace. When we abide in Jesus, we will always produce His love, joy, and peace in our hearts.
To wrap up all that we have learned today, we can sum it up like this; We, as branches are to remain in the Vine, we are now entrusted with the dual roles of being faithfully obedient to God and to produce fruit so that others can eat from us.
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The post How do we know if we are producing fruit? John 15 1-11 | RIOT Podcast Ep 118 | Christian Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.
Peace I leave with you, Peace I give you John 14:19-31 is what we will be discussing today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast
Episode 116 from last week was titled “Fear not, help is here”. My little brother, Bill joined us as a special guest on the show. We covered John 14:16–18, which is when Jesus taught His followers about the Holy Spirit. It was a fantastic show to go back and listen to, if you haven’t already, especially, if you want to learn more about how the Holy Spirit can impact our daily lives.
This week is a continuation of last week’s show. Today, we will learn how we can enjoy the Father’s love. Romans 5:5 says “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.” Orphans feel unwanted and unloved, but our Father shares His love with us. Today, we will see how Jesus shared three manifestations of God’s love with his disciples.
Let’s Read John 14:19-24 and get started
In vs 19-20, we see Jesus sharing a past manifestation of His love. Verse 19 focuses on His resurrection and post-resurrection appearances. He is saying, “I have been with you in power for some time now and you will no longer see me physically. But there will be a time you will see me again, when I come back in power, with great glory to judge lost sinners.”
In vs 21 & 23-24 Jesus is showing a “present manifestation” of himself to the believers. Note the repetition of the word “love”. If we treasure His word and obey it, then the Father and the Son will share Their love with us and make Their home in us. Jesus is saying that we have heaven in us now as we are on a mission with Christ and one day when we die.
Verses 19- Here, Jesus is saying that there will be a future manifestation when He returns. Judas (not Iscariot), recalled that Jesus had said He would not manifest Himself to the world. This seemed to contradict the other statements that He had made, such as recorded in Matthew 24:30. His question was, “What has come to pass that you are no longer going to reveal yourself to the world?” He is questioning Him as if he is saying, has there been a change in the divine plan?
One of the best ways to ease a troubled heart is to bathe it in the Love of God. When you feel like an orphan, let the spirit of God reveal God’s love to you in a deeper way.
Charles Spurgeon said, “Little faith will take your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul. Your heart can become a heaven on earth, as you commune with Jesus and worship him.”
Now let’s read John 14:25–31
In verse 27 the word “peace” there is Shalom, it is a precious word to the Jewish people. It means, much more than just the absence of war or distress. Shalom means “wholeness, completeness, health, security, even prosperity in the best sense.”
When you are enjoying God’s peace, there is joy and contentment. God’s peace is not like the peace the world offers, it is perfect and everlasting.
The world bases its peace on its resources, while God’s peace depends on relationships.
While in the world, peace is something you wish for or strive for, for the Christian peace is a magnificent gift from God that is gained through faith. People who are not saved gain peace when there is no conflict or trouble. Christians however, experience calm and peace despite difficulties and challenges because of the Holy Spirit’s influence and power in our life.
People in the world walk by sight and depend on the externals, but Christians walk by faith and depend on the eternals.
In verse 27 it says “The spirit uses the Word to give us His peace”’, In John 15:9-10 He uses the Word to give us His love; in John 15:11 He uses the word to give us Joy.
In verse 28, Jesus is assuring His disciples they would see Him again. He’s basically saying, rejoice, because I am returning to the Father. They are like, why should we rejoice again? Because His return made their way possible to the Father in heaven and He is giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit as a helper.
In John 14:30-31, Jesus named two of our great spiritual enemies, the world and the Devil. Jesus overcame the world and the devil and the devil has no claim on Him. There is no point in Jesus where the Devil can get a foothold.
In verse 28 Jesus said, My Father, is greater than I. He was not denying His own deity or His equality with God, for then He would have been contradicting Himself. When Jesus was here on earth, He was necessarily limited by having a human body, so this is a reference to this fact.
Jesus showed His love for the Father (and the world) by voluntarily going to the cross. He did not hide or flee. He willingly laid down His life. He and the disciples may have left the upper room at this point so, what Jesus said from that point on, was spoken on the way to the garden. Or they could have been lingering for a while as he shared this.
We can easily imagine the allegory of the vine being given as they walked that night through the vineyards. His own perfect peace assures us that He alone can give us peace. Jesus was always the Master of the situation, and He enables us to take control of our lives as we surrender to Him and receive His legacy of Peace.
Thanks for listening and don’t forget to:
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Fear not Help is here John 14 16-18 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In episode 115, titled “Let not your hearts be troubled”, we unpacked John 14:1-15. During the show we talked about the key encouraging assurance statements by Jesus to His disciples. He shared with them that one day they will be with Him in heaven for all eternity. He also shared with them, that now in His name, they can pray directly to the Father and that their prayers will be answered. It was a very encouraging show for anyone that might be going through hard times currently, if you have not listened to it yet, we highly recommend that you do.
In our coming shows, we are continuing this conversation that Jesus is currently having with His disciples. In today’s show through John 14 verses 16-18, Jesus will be sharing with them about the assurance they will have in the Holy Spirit. In the following shows coming up, we will unpack vs 19-24 when Jesus will talk about how, that when He is gone, they will enjoy the Father’s love and lastly in vs 25-31, Jesus will share with them that they will have the same peace here on earth as He had.
Let’s read our text for today John 14:16-18
Jesus had a great deal to say about the Holy Spirit in His upper room message, for apart from the help of the Spirit of God, we cannot live the Christian life as God would have us live it. We must know who the Holy Spirit is, what He does and how He does it.
Our English word “comfort” comes from two Latin words meaning “with strength”. We usually think of comfort as soothing someone, consoling him or her, and to some extent this is true. But true comfort strengthens us to face life bravely and to keep on going. It does not rob us of responsibility or make it easy for us to give up.
Vs 17 says that the HS is “the Spirt of Truth”. Here Jesus is relating the HS to himself, “The Truth” and the word of God, which of itself is the truth.
If we want the HS to work in our lives, then we must seek to glorify Christ, and we must make much of the Word of God.
When we compare Eph 5:18- 6:9 with Colossians 3:16-4:1. To be filled with the Spirit is the same as to be controlled by the Word. The Spirit of Truth uses the Word of Truth to guide us into the will and the work of God.
The HS abides in the believer. He is a gift from the Father, an answer to the prayer of Jesus. During His earthly ministry, Jesus had guided, guarded, and taught His disciples, but now He was going to leave them.
Jesus also called the HS another helper, or in some translations, a councilor or comforter. Jesus said the word “another” before helper, that word translated in Greek means “another of the same kind”.
So, has the HS been on earth before Jesus?
Of course. He empowered men and women in the OT to accomplish God’s work. However, during the OT age, the Spirit of God would come upon people and then leave them. Remember King Saul, in 1 Sam 16:14 and David’s writing in Psalm 51:11. Both illustrate the leaving of the HS. In Acts 2 at Pentecost, the HS was given to God’s people to remain with them forever. Even though today, we may grieve the HS, but he will never leave us.
Something to think about, the way we treat the HS is the way we treat Jesus. The believer’s body is the temple of the Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20), so what he or she does with their bodies affects the indwelling HS.
Another truth to remember is that the world cannot receive the Spirt because, the World lives “by sight” and not by faith. The world does not know Jesus, and you cannot have knowledge of the Spirit apart from Jesus.
Lastly, in vs 18, John uses the word “comfortless”, that word translated in the Greek is “orphans”. We must know that in Jesus we are never alone, abandoned, helpless, or hopeless!
Wherever we go, the Spirit is with us, so why should we feel like orphans? There is no need to have a troubled heart when you have the very Spirit of God dwelling within you!
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Let not your heart be troubled (John 13:36–14:15) is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In our reading today, we are continuing the conversation the disciples have been having with Jesus at Passover. Jesus is letting them know He will no longer be with them physically and that He now has to go be with the Father.
We will read in John 13:36-38, Peter asks Jesus where He will be going. Wondering if they could join Him. With the questions that Peter was asking, Jesus shows us that they are perplexing questions, which was causing their hearts to be troubled. We know this because in John 14:1 Jesus tells them, “Let not your heart be troubled.”
As we read through this chapter, we will see Jesus bring them a sense of calm with encouraging words of comfort. Jesus is the only one who can truly know our hearts. Peter did not know him, and we sometimes have trouble truly knowing our hearts. One thing is for certain: in this life we live, there will come a time when our hearts will be troubled. These next couple of podcasts will help bring to life Jesus’ words of comfort and assurance. We will focus on six wonderful assurances. Assurances that we today may claim and enjoy when life gets messy and confusing.
Read John 13:36 and John 14:6
Did you notice Jesus did not rebuke Peter for asking him where He was going? But his reply was somewhat cryptic. He said, “One day, Peter, you will follow me to the cross, and then you will follow me to heaven. But first, you will deny me 3 times.”
He starts to calm their hearts with the mention of heaven as a real place. It is not a product of religious imagination or the result of a psyched-up mentality, looking for pie in the sky by and by the fairytale. According to Jesus, heaven is the place where God dwells and where Jesus sits today at the right hand of the Father.
Another encouragement from Jesus we find in Vs. 3 is a clear promise that Jesus will return one day for His people. Some will go to heaven through the “valley of the shadow of death,” but those who are alive when Jesus returns will never see death. 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 says, “In that day, we will be changed to be like Christ, and we will go to heaven.” What a great promise!
Thomas’s question revealed his keen desire to be with Jesus, and this meant that he had to know where the Master was going and how he, himself, would get there. Jesus made it clear that He was going to the Father and that He was the only way to the Father. Heaven is a real place, a loving place, and an exclusive place. Not everybody is going to heaven, but rather only those who have trusted in Jesus.
Jesus assured his disciples that once they died, they would be with Him in heaven for all eternity. Paul wrote in Romans 8:18 that he considered the sufferings of this present time not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. We, along with the disciples, will suffer in some way, shape, or form here on earth, but Jesus’s words give us the eternal blessing of heaven to look forward to.
Read John 14:7-11
We do not have to wait until we enter heaven to get to know the Father. We can know Him today and receive from Him the spiritual resources we need to keep going when the days are difficult. What does the term “know the Father” here mean?
The Greek construction of the question in John 14:10 suggests that the Lord expected Phillip to answer yes. Remember Jesus asking Philip, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.” Philip should have realized that the words of Jesus, as well as His works, came from the Father and revealed the Father.
The word “Believe” used in John 14:10 is singular, for Jesus was addressing Phillip, but in John 14:11, it is plural, and He is addressing all of His disciples. The tense of both is “go on believing”. Let your faith grow!
Read vs 12-15 and see how Jesus encouraged His disciples all the more.
There is a plaque out there that says “Why pray when you can worry?” Too many people take this statement as truth for their own life. Jesus in these verses is saying quite the opposite. If God is going to answer our prayers and give us peace in our hearts, then there are certain conditions that we must meet. Jesus pointed out those conditions in these verses. The first is in vs 12, ”We must pray in faith.” The second is in verses 13–14: we must pray in Christ’s name; and lastly in vs 15, we must pray in loving obedience. So, let’s unpack each of these.
Pray in faith. The promise is for us to claim, and the claiming of it demands faith. When Jesus used the double “Truly, truly,” it assured us that this was a big announcement. The fact that Jesus did return to the Father is an encouragement, for now, He is interceding for us. The statement about the greater works applies initially to the apostles, who were given the power to perform special miracles as the credentials of their office. Keep in mind that these miracles were not of greater quality, for the servant is not greater than his lord. (John 13:16) but rather in the scope of quantity.
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Humility with Holiness brings Happiness (John 13:12-35) is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In last week’s show, we talked about “humility and grace” and it was a powerful one. If you haven’t listened to it yet, we highly recommend you go back and listen after this show. This week, we will be in John 13:12-35 to finish off this chapter. The three key highlights in our reading today are: 1st, Judas Iscariot is pointed out as a traitor by Jesus to the disciples; 2nd, The battle between darkness and light; 3rd, Jesus is teaching His disciples that, in order for people to know that they are His disciples, they will know them by their love for each other.
Read John 12:12-17 to start off our reading. This section is a continuation of our reading from last week of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.
I notice here that John 13:17 is the key verse in this section, where it says, “If you know these things, happy are you who do them.” What is Jesus talking about?
Jesus asked the disciples if they understood what He had done regarding washing their feet, and it is likely that they did not. So, what we read here, is that Jesus is explaining to them the lesson in humble service. He said this is an example for them to follow. The world thinks that happiness results from others serving us, but the real joy comes when we serve others in the name of Christ.
Jesus was their master, so he had every right to command their service. Instead, He served them! He gave them an example of true Christian ministry. On more than one occasion during the previous three years that Jesus has been with them, He had taught them lessons about humility and service, but now He had physically demonstrated the lesson to them.
The world asks, “how many people work for you?”. But Jesus asks, “how many people do you work for and serve?” Our leadership should be measured by our servant’s heart within us. The last will be first, the first will be last, (Mathew 20:16). We should care more about the people, than the work they do, and in return, the work they do will be more productive.
Let’s move on to read verses 18-35. But before we do, be sure to keep these lessons that Jesus has taught us in this chapter close to our hearts. The sequence is, we first must be humble, then walk holy, then we will receive the fulfillment of happiness. Submit to the Father’s will, keep your life clean, and serve others. The true formula for true spiritual joy.
A dark shadow now fell across the scene as Jesus dealt with Judas, the traitor. It is important to note, as we mentioned last week, that Judas was not a true believer, but he was a hypocrite. Remember in last week’s show, we said He had never believed in Jesus.
Read John 6:64-71
In vs 21, it says that Jesus was troubled in his spirit. Jesus was concerned that Judas’s treachery would not weaken His disciple’s faith. This is why He related it to the Word of God. When the disciples saw all of this fulfilled, it would make their faith stronger.
The most remarkable thing is that everyone sitting at the table with Jesus did not know that Judas was an unbeliever and a traitor. Up to the very hour of his treachery, Judas was protected by the Savior whom he betrayed.
I Sam 16 (v. 7) For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. God does not judge us by our outward behavior or our acts like man does, but by the intents and desires of the heart.
Peter signaled to John, whom Jesus loved, and who was the closest to Jesus at the table, to ask him who the traitor was. Jesus replied by saying “It is whom I give this bread to”. To the disciples, this probably didn’t register yet because, this was an act that was interpreted as an act of love and honor, so Jesus’ actions were seen in that light.
Even though Satan had entered Judas, it was Jesus who was in charge. He lived on the timetable given to Him by the Father, and He wanted to fulfill what was written in the Word.
John’s little phrase it was night, carries a tremendous impact when you remember that light and darkness are important spiritual images in his gospel. In 8:12 he wrote, “Jesus is the light of the world”. But, Judas rejected Jesus and went out into the darkness, and for Judas, it is still night.
Did you notice in vs 31 the minute Judas was gone; the atmosphere was cleared and Jesus began to instruct His disciples and prepare them for His crucifixion and His ultimate return to heaven? His core message to them was to love one another. He told them their greatest responsibility was to love one another, just as He had love them.
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Do you desire Humility and Grace? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Last year we unpacked John 1-12. John detailed to us the truth of Jesus’s claims as the Messiah. Time and time again, he proved to us through the testimony of many eyewitnesses that Jesus truly is who He says He is. His testimony of Jesus’s teachings showed us that Jesus spent 3 years preparing His disciples for His departure. As we begin this year in John 13, we will see Jesus’s farewell tour, as He begins to give His disciples their final exam. Jesus’s earthy ministry, as they have known it, is now over. He is now transitioning into His final hours, where He will leave them to carry on His work.
In chapters 13-21, John presents, for the most part, the private ministry of Christ with His own Disciples. He was preparing them for their future service when the Holy Spirit would come and empower them.
Last year, we already studied the days leading up to today’s reading. We learned Jesus had entered Jerusalem on Sunday and then on Monday had cleansed the temple. Tuesday, was a day of conflict as the religious leaders sought to trip Him up and get evidence to arrest Him. The details of these events are in Mathew’s chapters 21-25. Wednesday, was probably a day of rest, and in our reading today, it must be Thursday, as He is meeting with His disciples in the upper room to observe the Passover. Here, Jesus washes His disciples’ feet.
Read John 13:1-5
We observe two things in these 5 verses. The first emphasis in verses 1-3 is on what Jesus knew, and the second is in verses 4-5 on what Jesus did. Jesus knew that his hour has come. More than any of the other gospel writers, John emphasized the fact that Jesus lived on a heavenly timetable, as He did the Father’s will.
What was this divinely appointed hour? It was the time when Jesus would be glorified through His death, resurrection, and ascension. From a human point of view, it meant suffering, but from the divine point of view, it meant glory. He would soon leave this world and return to the Father who sent him, Jesus had finished His work on earth.
Jesus also knew that Judas would betray Him. Judas is mentioned eight times in John’s gospel, more than in any of the other gospels. Why?
Let’s unpack Vs 3 a little further, where it says “the Father had given Him all things”. This statement parallels John 3:35, “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.” It also reminds us of Mathew 11:27 “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him”.
In Vs 4 and 5 the disciples must have been shocked when they saw their Master rise from supper, lay aside His outer garments, wrap a towel around His waist, take a basin of water, and wash their feet.
Jesus knew His disciples’ hearts and He knew that they had a competitive spirit about them. We read within a few minutes; the men were disputing over which of them was the greatest in Luke 22:24-30.
The Father had put all things into Son’s hands, yet Jesus picked up a towel and a basin! His humility was not born of poverty but of riches. He was rich, yet He became poor (2 Cor 8:9)
Jesus was sovereign, yet He took the place of a servant. He had all things in His hands, yet He picked up a towel. He was Lord and Master, yet He served others.
Read John 13:6-11 and see Peter’s impulsive statement out of ignorance and then his correction by Jesus.
The word translated as “wash” in John 13:5-6 is “nipto” and means “to wash a part of the body”. But the word “washed” in John 13:10 is “louo” and means “to bathe all over”. The distinction is important, for Jesus was trying to teach His disciples the importance of a holy walk.
But why is it essential to keep our feet clean?
We learn an important lesson from Peter here. Don’t question the Lord’s will or work, and don’t try to change it. He knows what He is doing.
Notice that John carefully pointed out that Peter and Judas Iscariot were in a different relationship with Jesus. Yes, Jesus washed Judas’ feet! But it did Judas no good because he had not been bathed all over.
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Learn and Move Forward is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
At the end of the year, business owners are often busy taking inventory. To know if they have made a profit or not, they must face this painful but necessary reality. They analyze the data they gather and make changes for the following year.
As Christians, we need to stop at the end of the year and measure our progress. Sometimes this is a very painful thing to do. But that is what we are going to talk about today. In our reading today, Paul is taking inventory of his life, and he gives us the 5 next steps of how we are to evaluate our lives while still moving forward.
Read Philippians 3:12-16
PAUL’S EVALUATION OF HIS LIFE INVENTORY
1. His Dissatisfaction With Himself
Obviously, Paul was satisfied with Jesus, but he was not satisfied with his Christian life. A sanctified dissatisfaction is the first essential to our progress in the Christian race of life.
Many Christians are self-satisfied because they compare their running with that of other Christians, usually those who are not making much progress. Had Paul compared himself with others, he would have been tempted to be proud and perhaps to let up a bit.
Has this year produced in us a self-satisfied life where we are tempted to be proud?
2. His Devotion
Paul said one thing I do, not many things I do. Many Christians focus on too many things, and Paul wants us to evaluate the one thing we do great. The true follower of Jesus must devote himself to running the Christian race. No athlete succeeds by doing everything; he succeeds by specializing.
(James 1:8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways) Has our year been focusing on many things or the main one thing?
3. How He Viewed His Direction
13c Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. The unsaved person is controlled by the past, but the Christian running the race looks toward the future. Imagine what would happen on the racecourse if the runners started looking behind them. They could possibly have a collision or serious injury.
Believers should be future-oriented. “To forget” means to no longer be influenced by or affected by. Not fail to remember
Have we been breaking the power of our past by living for our future hope in Jesus?
4. His Own Determination
I press, this same verb is translated “I follow after” and it carries the idea of intense endeavor. The Greeks used this word to describe a hunter eagerly pursuing his prey. A follower of Jesus does not become a winning athlete by listening to lectures, aka sermons, watching movies, reading books, or cheering at the games. He becomes a winning athlete by getting into the game and determining to win!
Has our past year been an intense endeavor to win for Jesus
5. His Discipline
It is not enough to run hard and win the race; the runner must also obey the rules. Paul is emphasizing the importance of the Christian to remember the spiritual rules laid before him in the word of God. If we are not in our word daily we will in essence break our training and be disqualified. We cannot compete at the highest level if we do not understand the rules.
Bible history is filled with people who began the race with great success but failed in the end because they disregarded God’s rules. As we evaluate our year, have we been in God’s word daily so we can know the rules required for battle?
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Jesus, the humble King-Matthew 2:13-23 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In our last two episodes, we uncovered two facts related to Jesus’s qualifications as a King. The first qualification we discussed was that Matthew was proving that Jesus’s genealogy from both Joseph and Mary gave Him the right to David’s throne. But He knew that would not be enough because there were other men who could claim that as well.
We then discussed Jesus’ divine ancestry and how it alone distinguishes him from any other living human being. From there, we talked about the Magi paying Jesus homage and how that also proves His kingship.
Today we want to read Matthew 2:13-18 and uncover the hostility that came against Jesus and then finish up with Matthew 2:19-23 and talk about the humility of a King.
Read Matthew 2:13-18
Matthew knew that a person is identified not only by his friends but also by his enemies. Herod pretended to worship the newborn King when, in reality, he intended to destroy him.
Herod’s anger was evidence of his pride; he could not permit anyone to get the best of him. This led Herod to kill the baby boys, who were two years of age and under, who were still in Bethlehem.
What we see in these verses is that Matthew is introducing us to the theme of hostility, which he focused on throughout his book. Satan is a liar and a murderer, as was King Herod.
The first mention of Bethlehem in Scripture is in connection with the death of Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel (Gen 35:16–20). Rachel died giving birth to a son, whom she named Benoni (son of my sorrow). Jacob then renamed his son, Benjamin (son of my right hand). Both of these names relate to Jesus, for He was a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,” Isa 53:3, and He is now the son of God at God’s right hand, Acts 5:31. With all of this said, Jacob put up a pillar to mark Rachel’s grave near Bethlehem.
Jacob saw Bethlehem as a place of death, but the birth of Jesus made it a place of life! Because of His coming, there would be spiritual deliverance for Israel, and in the future, the establishment of David’s throne and kingdom. Israel, the son of my sorrow, would one day become the son of my right hand.
Very few people today think of Bethlehem as a burial place; they think of it as the birthplace of Jesus. Bethlehem is a much bigger story than most people realize. And because Jesus died for us and rose again, we have a bright future before us. Without the new life in Bethlehem, we cannot have our new life, which leads to eternal life.
Let’s now read Luke 2:19–23 and talk about the humility of the King.
Herod died in 4 BC, which means that Jesus was born sometime between 6 and 5 BC. It is impossible not to notice the parallel between Matthew 2:20 and Exodus 4:19, the call of Moses. The LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead”
Archelaus, one of Herod’s sons, is mentioned in Verse 22; Herod had willed the title of king to him. However, the Jews discovered that, in spite of his promises of kindness, Archelaus was as wicked as his father. So, history shows that they sent a delegation to Rome to protest his kingship. Augustus Caesar agreed with the Jews and appointed Archelaus to govern half of his father’s kingdom.
But even this fulfilled prophecy Once again, Matthew points out that every detail in the life of Jesus was foretold in the Scriptures. It is important to note that Matthew did not refer to only one prophet in Matthew 2:23 but instead says that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets (plural)
We will not find any specific prophecy that calls Jesus a Nazarene. The term “Nazarene” was one of reproach. John 1:46 says, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” In many Old Testament prophecies, the Messiah’s lowly life of rejection is mentioned, and this may be what Matthew had in mind.
Who has ever heard of a king born in a humble village and growing up in a despised city like Nazareth? No one. He is different and entered this world this way to show us how we also ought to live.
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Why a divine birth and homage to the King? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In episode 109 titled “God’s family tree is messed up, find out why” Matthew 1:1-17 we unpacked Jesus’s human heredity. His family members in His family tree were far from perfect, but God still chose to use their lineage to the birth of Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the World. In the show this week, we will discuss Jesus’s Divine Heredity and just how Matthew will make it clear that Jesus’s birth was way different from that of any other Jewish boy named in the genealogy of Christ.
Read Matthew 1:18-25
As we mentioned in our previous episode, Matthew pointed out that Joseph did not beget Jesus in the genealogy. Rather, Joseph was the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Jesus was born of an earthly mother without the need for an earthly Father. This is known as the doctrine of virgin birth. Miracles happen every day and, in this case, a miracle of the Holy Spirit happened. Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary, a virgin, by the Holy Spirit.
Both Mary and Joseph belonged to the house of David. The OT prophesies indicated that the Messiah would be born of a woman Gen 3:15, of the seed of Abraham Gen 22:18, through the tribe of Judah Gen 49:10 and of the family of David 2 Sam 7:12-13.
To the Jewish people at that day, betrothal (engagement) was equivalent to marriage, except that the man and woman did not live together. They were called husband and wife, and at the end of the engagement period, the marriage was consummated. But what if she became pregnant during that time, what would happen?
Before we move on to chapter 2 let’s consider the three names assigned to God’s son. The name “Jesus” means Savior and comes from the Hebrew name Joshua (Jehovah is salvation). There were many Jewish boys with the name Joshua (or, in the Greek, Jesus), but Mary’s boy was called “Jesus the Christ”
Let’s move on to chapter 2 and read vs 1-12. Remember, in episode 109 we talked about what people want to see if someone calls themselves a king. They want to see if they have the proper bloodline, which we have already shown. We also proved that Jesus’s birth is a fulfillment of prophecy and He has through divine heredity. There is another thing people want to see and it is to see who are those that pay homage to Him. If He truly is a king then the people will bring honor to him.
Read Matthew 2:1-12
First and foremost, we must confess we know little about these men. The word translated as “wise men” (magi) refers to a group of scholars who studied the stars. Their title connects them with magic, but they were probably more like astrologers. With this said, their presence in the biblical record is not a divine endorsement of astrology, but a way that God used science to bring people to him.
We do not know how many magi were there. From the three gifts listed, some people have naturally assumed that there were three kings from the Orient, though this is not certain, When their caravan arrived in Jerusalem, there were enough of them to trouble the whole city.
In Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col 2:3. In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily Col 2:9)
It is no surprise that Herod tried to kill Jesus, for Herod alone wanted to bear the title, of King of the Jews. There was also another reason why, because Herod was not a full-blooded Jew, he was actually an Idumaean, a descendant of Esau. This is a picture of the old struggle between Esau and Jacob that began even before the boys were born. Gen 25:19-34. It is the “spiritual” versus the “carnal”,the “Godly” versus the “worldly”.
The King and the Jewish priests in vs 4 were ignoring the King. These priests knew the scripture and pointed others to the Savior, but they personally would not go to worship Him themselves!
Matthew 2:9 indicates that the miraculous star was not always visible to the magi. As they started toward Bethlehem, they saw the star again, and it led them to the house where Jesus was.
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God’s family tree is messed up, find out why is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In the next 3 weeks leading up to Christmas, we are going to unpack Matthew 1 and Matthew 2. We will focus on the birth of Jesus and His proclamation to be king. Imagine you were alive during that time, and a man suddenly appeared and claimed to be a king, which you, the public, would want proof of. You might ask yourself, “What is his background? Who pays homage to him? What credentials can he present to prove that he is a King?
Anticipating these important questions, Matthew opened his book with a careful account of the birth of Jesus and the events that accompanied it. He presented 4 facts about the King and over the next three weeks, we will unpack all 4 of those facts.
The first one we will cover today is in chapter 1 verses 1-25 – The Heredity of the King. Since royalty depends on heredity, it was important for Jesus to establish His rights to David’s throne. Matthew gave His human heredity in verses 1-17, as well as His divine heredity in verses 18-25.
Let’s read Matthew 1-17
Genealogies were very important to the Jews, for, without them, they could not prove their tribal membership or their rights to their inheritances. Anyone claiming to be the son of David had to be able to prove it.
Many bible readers usually skip over this section of reading, especially all the unpronounceable names. But this list of names is a VITAL PART of the gospel record. It shows that Jesus is a part of history and that all of the Jewish histories prepared the way for his birth.
The genealogy also illustrates God’s wonderful grace. It is most unusual to find the names of women in Jewish genealogies since names and inheritances came through the fathers. But in this list, we find 4 women from the Old Testament history: Tamar, Rahab and Ruth, and Bathsheba.
Without Jesus’ birth as a gentile, we have no right to heaven or eternal life. We are all flawed sinners, in desperate need of God’s grace. These four women were all involved in sexual scandals and far from perfect, but God still chose to include them in His family tree.
Let’s break down who these four women were. Let’s start with Tamar. We find the story of Tamar in Gen 38. We learn that her first husband was so evil that God put him to death. She has left a widow and childless. Tamar followed her cultural practices and married her husband’s brother. But this brother didn’t want to share his inheritance with children born to her. So, God put him to death, so she was left widowed and childless again. Tamar then dressed as a temple prostitute and put herself in the path of her father-in-law, Judah. So, she seduced him to have sex with her and produce an heir. She needed evidence, so she asked him for a seal and his staff so that she wouldn’t be killed and have proof of what happened. Her plan worked and she gave birth to twins fathered by her father-in-law. And one of her twins’ names was Peres, and they became part of Jesus’ Family.
Then there was Rahab, we find her story in Joshua 2 and 6. She ran a brothel in Jericho, and she heard about God’s army advancing toward her town. She knew that they would win and helped the Israelites spy on her people, and in so doing, she became a part of the Israelite family. She and her family were the only ones saved from the destruction of Jericho. This former madam became a mother and grandmother and still found a way into Jesus’ lineage.
Next Ruth, we find her story in Ruth 1-4, she was a Moabite, which means she traced her ancestry, not to Abraham but to his nephew Lot. Lot was the guy that impregnated his daughters while drunk. The family itself was an incestuous family and the culture Ruth came from. Her husband died and left her childless so she moved to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, Naomi. There she met a Godly man named Boaz and He redeemed her and married her and gave her a child. Thus Ruth, a foreigner brought into the family, became a great-grandmother to David, whose greater son was Jesus.
Last but not least, is Bathsheba the wife of Uriah. We find her story in 2 Samuel 11-12. We all know her story, David had an affair with her and then killed her husband to cover up the affair. But God restored her and gave her and David a son, Solomon, the wisest king ever to live. He found his way into Jesus’ genealogy.
Jesus came from a long line of outsiders, outlaws, scoundrels, and sinners. When he entered into the world, he entered into the messiness of the human family, even in his own family. He was the only one in his family that did not bring shame to his family. Instead, he took upon himself the shame of every person in the family tree.
Many Jewish men could have traced their family back to King David. Matthew knew it would take more than human pedigree to make Jesus the son of David and heir to David’s Throne. That is why next week we will unpack the divine heredity and show why it is so important to the authenticity of Jesus’ claim to be King.
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Are you entitled and don’t know it is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Imagine if many of your friends were recently invited on an all-expenses-paid international trip. It is great for them — but you were left out.
Of course, your first reaction might be not to rejoice for their good fortune, or delight that they got to enjoy an incredible experience. Initially, your heart might be jealous, hurt, and stinging under a sense of entitlement. You wonder why they were chosen and not you, it’s not like you don’t all know the same people. In fact, you reason in your mind that you do more than they do for God’s kingdom, and if anyone deserved to go it was you.
Before you know it, you realize that you might have an attitude of entitlement. Many times, throughout our lifetime, we have moments when we think we deserve more than we actually do, and when we don’t get it, our entitlement siren starts blaring. Watch out because when it does, we often act irrationally — in a way that looks foolish and maybe even childish from the outside.
Read James 4:1-12
On the show today, we want to talk about how to recognize our own sense of entitlement, and what steps we can take to surrender it to God. First, we need to understand what entitlement truly is.
Entitlement is the belief that we inherently deserve privileges or special treatment, or that we have the right to something. Entitlement shows no partiality; it will reach for life’s greatest gifts and claim its smallest pleasures. When it comes to the big parts of life, we can find ourselves thinking along these lines:
“I deserve to have children, so why am I struggling with infertility? After all, aren’t children a blessing from God?”
“I’m tired of being single. I’ve remained pure and sought Christ, so why hasn’t he brought a spouse into my life?”
“I’m such a hard worker. I don’t understand why I still can’t manage to find a high-paying job.”
But entitlement can also touch smaller issues:
“I’m a good homemaker and work hard to keep the house clean and tidy. I deserve to have a nicer, bigger home.”
“I work so hard to provide for my family. I deserve to watch TV when I come home.”
“I’ve been good with my finances. I deserve to buy what I want for a change.”
Paul wrote, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Philippians 4:11).
“The ‘entitlement mentality is dangerous because it is a threat to contentment.” -Andy Sochor
“As long as our hearts have the entitlement mentality, personal growth in our relationship with God and with others will cease.” -Ray Kim
What Are We Entitled To?
There is no question that a sense of entitlement dominates many cultures around the world. If you think about it, it has been that way from the beginning, right back to the Garden of Eden. The issue of Entitlement has been cited by many as one of the major problems in the world, especially in America. “The growing entitlement mentality in America is completely toxic, slowly eating away at our spirits like acid” (David Ramsey).
To help us understand entitlement better, we must think of it as a foundation of our sinful nature. And, as you do, look at it in the context of personal relationships, particularly in marriage. If you are single, think about it from the perspective of expectations in a relationship, now and in the future.
Russell B. Lemle, Ph.D., is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Dept of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco. He gives five reasons why we fall into entitlement:
You are owed because of your sacrifice or generosity in the relationship. “I gave up my career to raise our children. You can at least let me redecorate the living room.”
You are owed because you are feeling so emotional—so stressed, etc.—that your spouse must support what you want. “Since I work longer hours, you should pick up the kids from soccer practice.” “Listen, I’ve been home all-day cooking and cleaning, you go, I went last time.”
Entitlement seems so legitimate when we feel strongly about something. “Having my own quiet time in the evening is vital to me; I don’t understand why you can’t go along with this.”
Gender, as entitlement, has often been used as a way to get what we want, but it is not very effective. “Look, as head of the household, you should listen to me about ___________ (fill in the blank).” “I am the mother of these children; I know what is best for them.”
If you are the primary breadwinner, money can be used. “I’ve earned the right to have time to play golf.” “It’s my money, and I will spend it, however, I want to.”
Let’s face it, we likely have unknowingly inherited a lot of ideas about entitlement from our parents (and our kids are learning from us). From their influence, without thinking, we may insist that our way is the “right” way to do things, especially if we believe it is the most efficient.
Many times, a spouse falls into entitlement when what they want is seen as a real “need.” So much of the popular literature on relationships is about fulfilling each other’s needs. When we see the need as an entitlement, we are more guided by self-interest, rather than other-centeredness and love. Believing that we have a real need creates a strong sense of entitlement.
What do we deserve? We deserve nothing! But a true believer has been given everything! That’s amazingly good news! “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with Him graciously give us all things (emphasis mine)?” (Romans 8:32). That’s grace, and it is “unmerited favor.” It is something we didn’t earn; it is the gift of God. God’s grace, His unmerited favor, is simply God giving you something you don’t deserve.
At the same time resist the common practice of comparing your situation to others. To help in that process, think about our Lord and Savior and how He took all that He had as a right and set it aside. “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to grasp, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil, 2:5-8).
As Christians, we should not only trust God when we don’t get what we want. We should also follow the example of our Savior and choose to give up what we think we deserve. The reward might not be immediate, but we’ll become more like Christ, and that is always worth it.
Humility and the willingness to give up our rights are not prized virtues in our world, but they are stunningly beautiful to Christ.
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Worship, Triumph, and Tears (John 12:1-19) is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. It’s been about a month since we last studied the Book of John. We have had a month of celebrating our 100th episode. It’s been a crazy ride! So this is episode 101 and […]
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Are LDS Mormons Christians? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. The Church of the Latter-day Saints (LDS) is the fourth largest church in the USA and the fastest growing. The Saints, or Mormons as they are referred to by church outsiders, assert that they are Christian […]
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Living In A World That Hates Jesus is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. Today we will unpack “The Feast of Tabernacles in John 7”. The feast was away the Jews looked back on Israel’s journey through the wilderness and looked forward to the promised kingdom of […]
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Difference Between Catholics and Protestants is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. There are several important differences between Catholics and Protestants. While there have been many attempts in recent years to find common ground between the two groups, the fact is that the differences remain, and they […]
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How Does A Disciple Trust Jesus John 6:1-21 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. In our last show, we finished John 5. We talked about the paralytic at the Bethesda pools and also how Jesus’ persecution from the Jewish leaders had begun. This week we will […]
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Do You Want To Be Healed? John 5:1-18 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. Today in our reading of John 5 we start out with the first verse saying an “After This” statement. Whenever we see this statement at the beginning of a verse in the […]
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What Kind Of Faith Do We Have? John 4:39-54 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. In our last show in the book of John Chapter 4, we unpacked the Samaritan women at the well. We showcased how Jesus was not prejudiced against any person and that […]
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Prejudice and Patience, John 4:1-30 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. In the next 2 podcasts, we will cover John 4. In this chapter, we will see Jesus minister to a number of people, the sinful Samaritan woman, His own disciples, the many Samaritans who trusted […]
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Leadership and Contentment: John 3:19-36 is the topic that will be discussing today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast This week we are finishing up John chapter 3 by unpacking verses 19-36. In these verses, we will talk about “Light and Darkness”, how John the Baptist handles disputes, why Jesus is the bridegroom and […]
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Why We Need To Be Born Twice? John 3:1-18 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Not only was Benjamin Franklin a great statesman and inventor, but he was also a great correspondent and received letters from famous people from all over the world.
One day, he received what could well have been the most important letter ever to come across his desk. It was from the well-known British preacher named George Whitefield. He said, “I find that you grow more and more famous in the learned world. As you have made such progress in investigating the mysteries of electricity, I now humbly urge you to give diligent heed to the mystery of the new birth. It is a most important and interesting study and, when mastered, will richly repay you for your pains.”
George Whitefield did not want Benjamin Franklin to do all that work and lose his soul. He understood that like all of us, Benjamin Franklin needed to be born again, with new birth.
We will discuss this key topic today in our reading of John 3:1-18. In it we will see Jesus as the role of a teacher; He will be teaching a Pharisee named Nicodemus about understanding things of the Spirit.
In chapter 2 we talked about Jesus doing many miracles at Passover and we believe this is when Nicodemus most likely became interested in Jesus and His ministry. We will also read today the most famous bible verse ever in John 3:16. We will put context to this verse and Lord is willing to do justice by it.
Read John 3:1-7
Birth – Jesus began with that which is familiar, birth being a universal experience, we can all relate to it. In verse 3 the word again also means from above. Though all human beings have experienced natural birth on earth, if they expect to go to heaven, they must experience a supernatural spiritual birth from above.
Being a patient teacher, Jesus picked up on Nicodemus’ words and further explained the new birth. To be born of water is to be born physically (enter the second time into his mother’s womb) but to be born again means to be born of the Spirit. Just as there are two parents for physical birth, so there are two parents for spiritual birth. The spirit of God as we see here John 3:5 and the word of God James 1:18. The spirit of God takes the word of God and when the sinner believes imparts the life of God.
Another thing to observe here is human birth involves pain and so does the birth from above. Jesus said in Luke 9:23 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Jesus suffered until death on the cross so that we might become members of His family.
A child inherits the nature of the parents, and so does the child of God. We become partakes of the divine nature. Our nature determines appetite, which explains why the Christian has an appetite for the things of God 1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Birth involves a future, and we are born again to a living hope? A newborn baby cannot be arrested because he or she has no past! When you are born again into God’s family, your sins are forgiven and forgotten, and your future is bright with a living hope.
The key thing to notice in our next verses is Jesus brings up the wind. It must have been blowing at the time and Jesus used it as an illustration.
Read John 3:8-13
The word wind in both Hebrew and Greek can also be translated as spirit. One of the symbols of the spirit of God in the bible is the wind or breath.
Everyone who is born of the Spirit is like the wind. You cannot fully explain or predict either the wind or the child of God. Like the human birth, it is a mystery, any new birth is exciting and different.
Jesus said I have used earthly illustrations and you cannot understand. If I began to share the deep spiritual truths with you, you still would not believe.
Read John 3:14-18
The story that Jesus uses here is in Numbers 21:4-9 and we are sure Nicodemus knew this passage well. It is a story of sin, for the nation rebelled against God and they had to be punished. God sent fiery serpents that bit the people so that many died. It is also a story of Grace, for Moses interceded for the people, and God provided a remedy. He told Moses to make a brass serpent and lift it up on a pole for all to see. Any stricken person who looked at the serpent would immediately be healed. Lastly, it is also a story of Faith, when the people looked by faith, they were saved.
We have a serpent problem sin, and many will go to hell because of it, but if they look to Jesus they can be saved.
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What Is Your Heart Saying? John 2:13-25 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Last we talked about Jesus turning water into wine and how He is still performing miracles every day. We talked about how to see those miracles and what they look like. If you haven’t heard the show, go back and listen, to a great show on miracles, episode 67.
Today, we begin our reading with Jesus, His family, His mom, and brothers, leaving Capernaum to go to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.
Each Jewish man was required by law to attend three annual feasts at the Holy City, the Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. We will discuss those along with Jesus overthrowing tables in the Temple and towards the end of our reading, we will see that Jesus has the knowledge of what’s in every man’s heart.
But before we get into our text let’s talk about these Feasts:
* PASSOVER – The Passover Feast commemorates Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt.
* PENTECOST – Pentecost is the Greek name for the Festival of Weeks, a prominent feast in the Jewish calendar that celebrated God giving them the 10 Commandments 50 days after the Exodus from Egypt.
* TABERNACLE – The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot (booths) (or Feast of Booths) is a week-long fall festival commemorating the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the wilderness.
* DAY OF ATONEMENT – The Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur is the highest holy day of the Jewish calendar.
READ JOHN 2:13-17
We see Jesus revealing His zeal for God by cleansing the temple. The priest had established a lucrative business of exchanging foreign money for Jewish currency and also selling the animals needed for the sacrifices.
Don’t let money get in the way of sharing God’s truth with others.
A fascinating quote from John here, He said that when the disciples saw Jesus’ courageous zeal it made them think of:
Psalms 69:9
Psalm 69:4
Psalm 69:8
Psalm 69:21
Psalm 69:22
When Jesus cleansed the temple, He was declaring war on the hypocritical religious leaders and it ultimately led to His death. His zeal for God’s house did eat him up.
READ JOHN 2:18-22
It was logical for the religious leaders to ask Jesus to show them a sign of His authority? After all, they were the guardians of the Jewish Faith and they had a right to test any new prophet who appeared. Paul said in 1 Cor 1:22 “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:”
Jesus used the image of the temple to convey this truth. Destroy this temple my body and in three days I will raise it up. Being spiritually blind they did not see the spiritual truth and interpreted this in a physical way.
READ JOHN 2:23-25
It is safe to assume by this verse that while in Jerusalem for Passover, Jesus was performing many miracles that are not given in detail here. It must have been these signs that attracted Nicodemus in John 3:2 Because of the miracles, many people professed to believe in Him, but Jesus did not accept their profession of faith. Why?
The words believed in John 2:23 and commit in John 2:24 are the same Greek word. These people believed in Jesus, but He did not believe in them! They were unsaved believers. It was one thing to respond to a miracle but quite something else to commit oneself to Jesus and continue in His word.
It is important to see that Jesus tied His miracles to the truth of His message. He knew the human heart is attracted to the sensational. The 5 thousand who he fed wanted to make Him king until he preached the bread of life sermon and they left him in droves. In grace, Jesus fed the hungry, in truth He taught the word. People want physical food but not spiritual truths.
John 4:8 says Except you see signs and wonders and yet you still do not believe.
There are many who want His works but few who want His word. Seeing is believing is not the Christian approach. The bible says we first must BELIEVE then we will see. Miracles and signs of wonder we experience in our lives can only lead us to the Word but we have to lay down our lives to receive it. God knows our hearts, he knows the truth about us.
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Looking For A Miracle? John 2:1-12 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Today we will begin our study in John chapter 2 and cover versus 1-12. But before we do that let’s recap what we learned in chapter 1.
In Episode 63 titled “Light over Darkness,” we learned that Jesus was the Word of God in the flesh and the light to the darkness of the world.
In Episodes 64 and 65, We learned that Jesus is both the Lamb of God and Jacob’s Ladder. It’s only by His sacrifice can Jesus save us from eternal damnation while giving us access to heaven. John Chapter 1 covered the first 4 days of Jesus’ ministry and today we will cover the 7th and final day of this new creation week.
To set up today’s reading we know that Jesus has now called 6 of His disciples. To witness a miracle was something new for them and today they will see Jesus’ very first one when he turned water into wine.
Let’s give our reading today a little more context.
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Jewish Tradition required that virgins be married on a Wed, while widows were married on a Thursday.
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Being the 7th day of John’s special week, Jesus would expect to rest, just as God rested on the seventh day.
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But sin had interrupted God’s sabbath rest and it was necessary for both the Father and Son to work.
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We will see more as we unpack the book of John that Jesus deliberately performed miracles on the sabbath day multiple times. Today is the first.
Read John 2:1-12
We see Jesus represented in 3 different roles, in vs 1-2 He is “as the Guest”, in vs 3-5 He is “as the Son of Mary” and in vs 6-12 He is “as the Host”. Let us unpack each of them.
Jesus as the Guest:
We see here Jesus as the opposite of John the Baptist. Jesus is social and open to invitations while John the Baptist was weird and stayed in the desert away from everybody. The key thing to observe is Jesus had normal experiences in life and sanctified them by His presence. We would be wise to invite Jesus to our weddings and events!
Jesus as the Son of Mary:
Since the Jewish wedding feast lasted a week, it was necessary for the groom to have adequate provisions. For one thing, it would be embarrassing to run out of either food or wine. We would guess that the bride and groom were not rich and were on a limited budget so a miracle was needed to help. But why did Mary approach Jesus about the problem? Did she actually expect Him to do something special to meet the need?
Another thing to observe from this reading is Mary did not tell Jesus what to do, she simply reported the problem. Jesus asked here “Why are you getting me involved in this matter?” It seems as if Jesus is making it clear to His mother that He was no longer under her supervision and that from now on He would only be doing what His Father wanted him to do.
When John introduces us to the “hour”, where Jesus said my hour has not yet come. We must understand that Jesus lived by a heavenly timetable. Marked out for him by the Father. We see this in John 7:30 “So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.” Also in John 8:20, 12:23, 17:1, and so on. As we continue to study John we will observe how this concept of “the hour” is developed.
The last thing we want to observe is vs 5 is that Mary’s words to the servants revealed that she was willing to let her Son do whatever He pleased and that she trusted Him to do what was right. It would be wise for us to obey and do whatever Jesus tells us to do. It is worth noting that it was Jesus, not Mary, who took command and solved the problem and that Mary simply pointed to Jesus and not herself.
Jesus as the Host:
Jesus’ miracle was not a spectacular event that everybody witnessed. Only Mary, his disciples, and the servants knew what happened. This miracle did something for His disciples, it revealed His glory. This event made their foundation and belief in Him stronger. This was the beginning of many more miracles to happen over the course of Jesus’ ministry. If we invite Jesus to our events and social activities we will see His hand at work and we will begin to build up our faith in Him.
Jesus did not preach a sermon after this miracle but oftentimes He does. Like the feeding of the 5,000 then the bread of life sermon. What if the Lord did preach a sermon after He turned water into wine, what might have He said? He likely would have told the people that the world’s joy always runs out and cannot be regained but the joy He gives is always new and ever satisfying. In scripture, wine is a symbol of joy.
Another sermon that He might have given maybe sound something like this. The world offers the best at first and then, once you are hooked, things start to get worse. But Jesus continues to offer that which is best until we one day enjoy the finest blessings in the eternal kingdom.
Jesus’ miracle presents a practical lesson in service for God. The water turned into wine because the servants cooperated with Jesus and obeyed his commands. Several of the signs in John’s gospel happened when the cooperation of the people was involved. Whether we pass out bread, wash away mud, or roll away the stone, we are assisting Him in performing miracles.
It is significant that the servants knew the source of this special wine. When Jesus healed the nobleman’s son in John 4 it was the servants who were in on the secret. We are not just His servants, we are also His friends, and we know what He is doing.
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The post Looking For A Miracle? John 2:1-12 appeared first on Riotpodcast.
Secrets To Staying Married When Things Are Difficult is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Getting married is a lot like starting a new career, or anything else that has a major change in our life. It’s relatively easy, to begin with, but it is almost a guarantee to be a challenge to stay with it for the long term if it’s neglected. And the worst catastrophe would be that you stop trying.
In today’s show, we want to share with you some of the most important applications that can lead to a successful Marriage. This show is for both the married and unmarried alike. We will give practical tools that if practiced will help your current marriage or future marriage move forward in the right direction. We believe that these key points we are going to share will help your relationship move forward in a positive direction.
THINGS WE CAN DO IN OUR MARRIAGE:
1. ADMIT YOU ARE POWERLESS OVER YOUR SPOUSE
The first step to helping your marriage when things are hard is admitting you cannot manage your spouse or marital struggles on your own. This means you must come to the point where you recognize the ineffectiveness of your attempts to change your and your spouse’s faults and character defects.
2. PRAY FOR YOUR SPOUSE
Begin to pray every day for your spouse. Believe in God for a miracle in your marriage. Psalm 77:14 says, “You are the God who performs miracles.” The Bible makes it clear that God wants people to stay married. We need to expect God to supernaturally intervene in our circumstances. Unbelief and fear paralyze us and cause us to believe our problems are too big for God. We need to believe that God can still move mountains. Jesus said, “According to your faith will it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29).
James 5:16 teaches us that “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results” Do you want to exert great power upon your spouse’s heart and mind? If so, then pray for your spouse. Keep asking God to work in your spouse and to touch your spouse’s heart, to soften the hardness, and to break Satan’s blinding power in his or her life and also in your own life to open your eyes to those same things.
Pray, and “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Never give up! Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Remember, God works according to His timing and not ours and in His ways and not ours. You must simply do your part and leave the rest to Him.
3. ADJUST YOUR EXPECTATIONS
Most marriages encounter problems and conflicts sooner or later. Some marital problems and conflicts can be anticipated and avoided. Others cannot be foreseen and must be dealt with and resolved as they come. This takes the effort of both partners. Marital problems are complex and there are no easy answers or quick solutions for most of them. If they have been occurring over a long period of time, the relationship may be at a point of crisis. A marriage in crisis is very painful to go through, but that does not mean the relationship should be ended.
Relationship struggles often reveal that there are some things we have not understood about our partner and vice versa. These things often reflect a stockpile of unmet needs or hurts that have occurred. They may even indicate areas of neglect, misunderstanding, and differences. In unhappy relationships, the root cause of unhappiness is a lack of unconditional love and acceptance. Controlling, demanding and unrealistic expectations are just symptoms of that cause.
When we STOP seeing marriage as an obligation for our partner to fill our expectations and instead see it as an OPPORTUNITY to learn to truly accept our spouse for who he or she is, we take a major step in seeing our marriages become happy and fulfilling.
Does acceptance mean that you consider the other person to be perfect? Of course not. It does not mean that you think their personality is without flaws or that everything they do is perfectly okay with you. It does not mean that you don’t want them to be better. Nobody is perfect, and people will always have qualities we don’t like, characteristics we find annoying, and behavior that we wish they’d stop.
Acceptance is not the same as agreement. Acceptance means that you recognize their essential worth as Christ sees them, and consider them to be deserving of your esteem, and your love, despite their imperfections.
Needless to say, certain things are unacceptable. There are non-negotiable standards. Physical abuse is one of them. Repeated infidelity, alcoholism, and drug addiction are also to be unacceptable. Accepting behavior that crosses the line does not promote a healthy relationship, nor is it a mark of wisdom.
4. RESIST THE ENEMY
The source of all marital problems can be traced back to the Garden of Eden with creation’s first married couple. Satan seeks to mess with our minds, cause us to doubt God’s power, and distract us from following Christ. This is Satan’s disguise. He seeks to perpetrate selfish and independent attitudes in men/women. He seeks to corrupt us through our thinking, to get us to exalt ourselves through selfish and independent actions and attitudes.
5. FOCUS ON CHANGING YOURSELF NOT YOUR SPOUSE
We believe that there are few things more harmful to a relationship than pressuring your spouse to change according to what you want/feel. This kind of thinking just doesn’t work, for two reasons: First, because you can’t change someone else. You can only change yourself. Secondly, trying to change your spouse will create tension in your relationship and actually discourage him or her from changing. And besides, even if your spouse did change, he or she wouldn’t feel very good about the relationship until you made some changes yourself.
Decide what specific changes need to be made in your life so that you can become a better marriage partner. Identify unhealthy patterns of behavior, and decide what you can do to change those patterns. The Bible is clear that while God loves us just the way we are, He loves us too much to leave us that way. One of His greatest desires for us is our spirtual growth and maturity; to conform us to the image of His son, (Romans 8:29).
6. MEET YOUR SPOUSE’S MOST IMPORTANT EMOTIONAL NEED
As human beings, we are incredibly intricate with a complexity of emotional needs that must be satisfied. These needs include our needs for attention, respect, appreciation, approval, sexual fulfillment, support, comfort, security, etc., and determine our sense of emotional well-being. In marriage, our emotional needs were meant to be met both by our relationship with God and through our relationship with our spouse. That’s precisely what God intended marriage to be; a committed, intimate, relationship that provides a supply of love to meet one another’s a most important emotional need. To build a satisfying and lasting marriage, you and your mate must commit to meeting each other’s physical and emotional needs.
Success in love is not about waiting to act until you feel like loving your spouse. Instead, even when you may not feel like it when you reach out to your spouse with caring actions that meet his or her most important emotional need, it will trigger the feeling of love in your spouse, and hence build a cycle of love.
7. IF YOUR MARRIAGE IS REALLY BAD YOU NEED TO SEEK IMMEDIATE HELP
The complexity, stress, and pain of a marriage crisis often handicap a couple’s ability to resourcefully resolve problems on their own. For several reasons, it is important to get help as soon as possible after you realize that your marriage is in crisis. First of all, so that further damage can be controlled. A marriage crisis can have a negative domino effect and intervention is a common requirement in order to alter the negative course. Secondly, because a marriage crisis puts your relationship in a very vulnerable position and it’s okay to have help from an outside unbiased counselor.
We want to offer guidelines for you to consider in seeking professional help. But before you do, you must be committed to doing what we have suggested today. Your only hope is in your desire to be more like Jesus, if not your time with your counselors will produce minimal fruit.
Make sure your counselor is a Christian marriage counselor and has received specific training (Biblical, Pastoral, and or Marital training). Make sure your counselor has experience in marital counseling. Marriage counselors should possess the skill to help people overcome the differences that naturally occur when two people live under the same roof. They need to know Biblical truth and have a thorough understanding of God’s design for marriage in order to help you restore your marriage.
Make sure you (and your partner) and your marriage counselor set concrete goals early on. If you don’t, you will probably meet each week with no clear direction.
Know that most marital problems are solvable. Don’t let any marriage counselor tell you that change is impossible. Human beings are amazing. They are capable (especially with God’s help) of making significant and lasting changes, especially for people they love. Most of all, trust your instincts. If your counselor is helping, you’ll know it. If he or she isn’t, you’ll know that too. Don’t stay with a counselor who is just helping you tread water. Find one who will help you swim and reach the shore.
Finally, the best way to find a good Christian marriage counselor is word-of-mouth. Satisfied customers say a lot about the kind of marriage counseling you will receive. Although, you might feel embarrassed to ask a minister, friends, or family for a referral, you should consider doing it anyway. It increases the odds you’ll find a counselor who will really help you and your spouse.
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Lamb of God is Jacob’s Ladder John 1:29-51 (Part 2) is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
As we learned two podcasts ago, John records in his first chapter of John, the 7 names and titles Jesus identifies with as the Eternal God. We first studied in verses 1-3 that Jesus is the “Word of God”, in vs 14 that He is “God in the flesh”, in verses 4-13 we learned “He is the Light of the world” and in verses 15-28 that He is “the Son of God”. In our reading today of John 1:29 through 51, we will see Jesus as “the Lamb of God” in vs 29-34, “The Messiah” in vs 35-42, the “King of Israel” vs 43-49, and lastly “the Son of Man” in vs 50-51.
Let’s look deeper into the calling of Philip and Nathaniel as well as seeing Jesus as the King of Israel.
Read verses 43-51
The true heart of a follower of Christ is that we tell our friends about Jesus. The illustration painted here of Philip and Nathanial is how it’s done. We simply get them to Jesus and then Jesus takes over from there.
Let’s break down these verses a little further. In John 21:2 we see that at least 7 of the Lord’s disciples were fishermen, including Nathaniel. We see here that Nathaniel started out as a doubter; he did not believe that anything worthwhile could come out of Nazareth. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but He grew up in Nazareth, which meant He was to be looked down on and rejected.
Jesus has humble beginnings and He humbled himself completely and lived in a no-name place. People can’t grasp why or how Jesus can help, they doubt) Nazareth was an uncelebrated, forgotten town, off the beaten path, even for Galilee. Nazareth’s reputation was poor enough, but outside Israel, the town wasn’t even known. This is why each of the Gospel writers had to explain what Nazareth was — a town in Galilee — when they first mentioned it (Matthew 2:23; Mark 1:9; Luke 1:26).
Some students believe that Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same people. John never mentions Bartholomew in his gospel. But the other three writers name Bartholomew and not Nathanael. Philip is linked with Bartholomew in the list of names in Math 10:3, Mark 3:18, and Luke 6:14 so it is possible that the two men were paired off and served together. It was not unusual on that day for one man to have different names.
When Nathaniel came to Jesus, he discovered that Jesus already knew all about him! In verse 47 he said he was an Israelite in whom there was no deceit. Jesus was referencing Jacob, a man who used deceit to trick his brother, his father, and his father-in-law. God later changed his name to Israel. The reference to Jacobs ladder in 1:51 confirms this.
In verse 48, Nathaniel asked him, “how do you know me?” Then Jesus answered him and said he saw him under the fig tree.
(I am thinking what Nathaniel was thinking under the fig tree must have prepared him to receive the call of Jesus) Maybe verse 49 where he says King of Israel was what he was meditating on.
When Nathaniel said “King of Israel” he was using the title similar to the “Messiah, anointed one.”
Let’s finish this section of scripture by reading verses 50-51. We will see Jesus giving him the title of “Son of man”; this was one of our Lord’s favorite titles to give himself. In fact, it is used 83 times in the gospels. The title speaks of both the deity and the humanity of Jesus. In Daniel 7:13 we see the term “Son of man” used in a definite messianic setting and Jesus is using the title here in the same way.
As the Son of Man, Jesus is the living link between heaven and earth. This explains why Jesus is using Jacob’s latter reference in Gen 28 here in verse 51. Jesus said in John 14:6 “no one comes to the Father except through me.”
There is no mistake that John is saying that Jesus is the messiah that was on earth in the flesh come to save the world from their sin.
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Lamb of God is Jacob’s Ladder John 1:29-51 (Part 1) is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
As we learned two podcasts ago, John records in his first chapter of John, the 7 names and titles Jesus identifies with as the Eternal God. We first studied in verses 1-3 that Jesus is the “Word of God”, in vs 14 that He is “God in the flesh”, in verses 4-13 we learned “He is the Light of the world” and in verses 15-28 that He is “the Son of God”. In our reading today of John 1:29 through 51, we will see Jesus as “the Lamb of God” in vs 29-34, “The Messiah” in vs 35-42, the “King of Israel” vs 43-49, and lastly “the Son of Man” in vs 50-51.
Read John 1:29-34 and break down Jesus as the Lamb of God.
In one sense, what we see in the bible, the message of the old testament is “Where is the Lamb”? Gen 22:7 & 8 says “And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together”
And in the New Testament, it can be summed, Behold the Lamb of God! John 1:35-36 “The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
The lambs that Israel sacrificed could not take away their sin once and for all, but God’s lamb, not only took away their sins but also the sins of the whole world.
John the Baptist understood that baptism for Jesus was in reference to the death, burial, and resurrection that He would endure on the cross as the sacrificial lamb. He most likely knew Isaiah 53:7 that says He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers are silent, so he opened not his mouth.
John now turns his attention to Jesus’ first disciples. We see in verses 35-42 John, the writer of this gospel, as one of His first disciples along with Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
Read verses 35-42
In verse 38 Jesus asks them, What do you seek? Here Jesus is forcing them to define their purposes and goals. Were they looking for a revolutionary leader to overthrow Rome? They did not answer him, but Jesus knew their heart and asked them to join Him with a come and see. What does come and see mean to us?
Verse 41 says we have found the Messiah. The word “Messiah” in Hebrew means, “the anointed” and the Greek word means “the Christ”. To the Jews, they understood this statement to be “the Son of God”. Kings were called “God’s anointed” in 1 Sam 26:11, so when the Jews spoke about their Messiah, they were thinking of the king who would come to deliver them and establish the kingdom.
Verse 43 says Jesus gave Simon a new name Cephas, which in Aramaic means “the Rock”. It took a great deal for Jesus to transform weak Simon into a Rock, but He did it. This is a great encouragement to all who trust in Christ.
It is worth noting that both Andrew and John trusted Christ through the faithful preaching of John the Baptist. Peter and James came to Christ because of the personal work of their brothers. Later on, we will see Jesus personally invites Philip to follow him, but Philip invited Nathaniel. The Bottom line is that we must invite others to follow Jesus.
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Why The Nativity? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
As the moonlit the treetops and the evening breeze cooled her skin, Mary rested quietly, renewing her strength. She gazed in wonder at the tiny, living gift in her arms. Any child, of course, is a miracle from heaven—a firstborn in particular. Even so, Mary understood that the child she held was set apart from any other child ever born. Yet the question was, Why?
Today, we want to share excerpts from Dr. Jeremiah’s Book “Why the Nativity” and explore the birth of Christ and some of those why questions Mary may have had way back when.
The words of angels are not likely to be forgotten. They are memorized, cherished, inscribed upon the heart, and shared only with the most intimate friends. Mary and Joseph each had their visit from an angel, and each held their piece of the puzzle. Mary had been told who the baby was, while Joseph had been told what he would do.
As the child increased in wisdom and in stature, can we doubt that his parents shared the angels’ words over and over? You are the Son of God. You will save your people from their sins.
It’s not surprising that in Luke 2:49 Jesus spoke of his mission. His very first recorded words were to tell his parents they should have expected him to be involved in his Father’s business.
Luke tells us that his parents didn’t understand his words. What was his Father’s business? Who was this young boy with a twelve-year-old body and ageless wisdom? We can imagine the whispered conversations between Mary and Joseph late at night. Why did Jesus come to earth? And when the time arrived—as inevitably it must—where would he go? What would he do? Would the world finally understand the incredible secret held only between heaven and one small family?
When the day of fulfillment came, some three decades after his birth, Jesus had been given many years to wrestle with the identity told to Mary and the mission told to Joseph. We can imagine that he spoke often with those two. He discoursed with the local teachers. He pored over the words of the prophets until they were part of his very being. I am the one Isaiah described so long ago (see Isaiah 53).
There must have been moments when he mourned the loss of the simple life, the common life—the life of marriage and children and grandchildren—that he knew he must not choose. But his heart was true. When he knew the time was right, he journeyed deep into the wilderness alone, denying himself food and water. There, in solitude, identity and mission came together for him. There Jesus himself confronted the temptations of the devil, and he mastered them.
WHY DID JESUS COME AS A BABY? MARY MAY HAVE ASKED
We find that Jesus was constantly answering that great question—why had he come? On thirteen occasions in the short Gospel records, he used the phrase, “I have come.”
I have come to call . . . sinners. (Matthew 9:13)
I have come . . . in my Father’s name. (John 5:43)
I have come . . . to do the will of God. (John 6:38)
I come from him, and he sent me to you. (John 7:29)
I have come as a light to shine in this dark world. (John 12:46)
Perhaps his most moving purpose statement came on the day when he encountered a strange little man named Zacchaeus. The latter was a man of wealth and distinction. Yet when Jesus passed through town, the little man ran ahead of the crowd and climbed into the branches of a tree. His lack of dignity was appalling, but people tended to avert their eyes from Zacchaeus anyway. After all, he had made his fortune by tapping into the corruption of Roman taxation. Conventional wisdom said that a noble teacher of godly truth should ignore such a public parasite.
But imagine—Jesus called the little man by name, then suggested the two should share a meal at the tax collector’s home. In the eyes of the crowd, it was a serious misstep for Jesus, and they made their opinions known. Jesus said, “I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost” (see Luke 19:10)
To seek and to save the lost. There is music and majesty in that statement. One focus: the lost. Two actions: seek and save. The ambassador’s urgent business, then, is a rescue mission.
ANOTHER MARY QUESTION COULD HAVE BEEN, “WHY DID HE BECOME A MAN?”
To seek and to save. We think of pictures of sailors clinging to the wreckage of a ship. Helicopters hover in the night sky, shining their beacons on the sea in search of the living who must be saved. We think of a collapsed mine, where workers are trapped far beneath the earth. Their oxygen runs low, and the men crouch in darkness, wondering if they dare hope for salvation. We think of a little girl at the bottom of a well, or even the favorite word picture of a single stray sheep trapped on a perilous outcropping. One animal in a flock of hundreds, and who would miss it? The shepherd would. He will leave the many to find the one, at any cost.
The coast guard will find those three or four bobbing sailors, and no taxpayer will complain about the expense. The miners will not be abandoned, and the little girl must see the sunshine once more. These situations are urgent, and when they come across our television screens, everyone stops and prays and waits.
When those New York Fire Department workers rushed into the rubble of the World Trade Center, they never stopped to ask about the risks. They pushed forward, fully willing to pay the highest price life can demand. The idea of rescue is at the core of our being; it stops us in our tracks.
But the true tragedy transcends the occasional current event. Now, as ever, the world lies in its own rubble, its own self-inflicted darkness and pain. The greatest enemy of all is the irresistible force within us, the thing is known in the Bible as sin. We are all too aware of its grip upon us. We know that its only work is that of our destruction. And yet we enslave ourselves to it in every way. No one has the power to rise above the tendrils of sin. Therefore the ruin of our fallen state is all around us. The debris is all-pervasive. Our world’s inhabitants, billions of them, long for their rescue, often without even realizing what that longing is for.
Then a light shines in the darkness. A beacon slashes through our despair.
It is Jesus. He stands among us and says, “I have come to seek and to save the lost—to find you and to restore you.”
The word gospel means “good news,” and that is surely the understatement of the cosmos. The news is so good, so outrageously wonderful, that the world finds it difficult to believe. A cure has been discovered for the common sin. Death itself now has an alternative—and the alternative will be so good that on the day we experience it our feeble minds could never contain the joy involved.
But it only gets better.
Jesus made another “I come” statement. The primary reason he came to earth was to perform a rescue mission. Jesus also mentioned a secondary goal. He said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10). When he said those words, he was talking about sheep again. He said that a false shepherd simply uses the sheep; a true shepherd loves them enough to give his life for them. “I have come not only to rescue you,” he was saying, “but to help you see all the wonderful possibilities that life can hold for you. I want you to squeeze every single drop of joy out of this life. And if I didn’t come to show you, you would never know-how.”
WHAT MARY REALIZED TOWARDS THE END OF JESUS’ LIFE IS THAT HE WAS A GREAT GIFT FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE IN HIM
Mary was told that her child would be the Son of God. Joseph was told that this child would save his people from their sins. These were the two greatest imaginable statements concerning the infant. But how could the angels possibly have explained all that those two ideas entailed? How can you explain a rainbow to those who have lived in a world of gray?
Perhaps the angels themselves couldn’t have anticipated the miracle of Jesus—the sheer wonder of the light that was about to break forth upon the earth like a heavenly sunrise after thousands of years of night. We are more fortunate, for we have his words. We have the testament of his life. Best of all, we have the experience of knowing what life can be in all its fullness—as wonderful as Jesus promised it would be.
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How To Live With Purpose Like Jesus is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
In Luke 1:35, Mary understood that the child she held was set apart from any other child that had been born. She knew what the angel had told her and what was confirmed in her heart was true. “Here at my breast is the Son of God.” Those were the very words, the very designation, the angel had given: Son of God.
The primary reason Jesus came to earth was to perform a rescue mission. Jesus not only came to rescue us from our sins so that we can have eternal life, but He also came to help establish a firm foundation for how we are supposed to live with purpose in our daily lives.
Today, we are going to discuss 5 key focal points Jesus put all of His attention on while living on this earth.
1. Jesus focused on Equipping and Discipling Believers
From the beginning, Jesus told the disciples that He would make them into something different: “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
Their occupation of catching fish changed into a mission of fishing for people. Each step along the way, Jesus taught them to share with others, connect people to God, and minister to those who were in need.
2. Jesus focused on Assisting the Poor
Jesus cared deeply about the poor and the downtrodden, demonstrating his compassion in tangible ways: in Matthew 25 when Jesus describes the actions of those welcomed into his Father’s kingdom: He said “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:35-36, 40).
3. Jesus focused on healing to the sick
As with look at the healings of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the four gospels, we also discover that Jesus used a number of different ways to heal the infirmed.
The first way we see is Jesus spoke a word and they were healed: Jesus told him, “You may go. Your eyes are healed because of your faith.” Right away the man could see, and he went down the road with Jesus (Mark 10:52 CEV).
The second thing we find is Jesus touched people to heal them: He took her by the hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served Jesus a meal Matthew 8:15.
Another thing that happened with Jesus is that people touched Jesus’ garment and were healed: And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed Matthew 14:35-36.
4. Jesus focused on reaching the next generation
In the first century, children had little to no rights. Often seen as a nuisance, they were tolerated but not welcome. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus spoke out against those who pushed children to the sidelines while drawing them near to Himself.
In Mark 10:13-14, It says And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God.”
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus actually took a child in his arms, commissioning others to welcome children in a similar way. In Mark 9:35-37, He sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said, “Whoever receives such a child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
5. Jesus focused on Planting and Building Churches
Virtually all the great evangelistic challenges of the New Testament are basically calls to plant churches, not simply to share the faith. The ‘Great Commission (Matt.28: 18-20) is not just a call to ‘make disciples but to ‘baptize’.
In Acts and elsewhere, it is clear that baptism means incorporation into a worshipping community with accountability and boundaries (cf. Acts 2:41-47). The only way to be truly sure you are increasing the number of Christians in a town is to increase the number of churches.
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Professional Bowler Shannon O’Keefe; Overcoming Spiritual Adversity is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.
Oswald Chambers once said, “Spiritual maturity is going from being thin-skinned and hard-hearted to thick-skinned and tendered-hearted.”
Oswald is basically saying we either are getting angry quickly and becoming bitter or were letting things go and becoming loving. Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
The question we want to tackle today is: How do we become tender-hearted?
In the words of the song in Frozen we “let it go, let it go!!”. We are able to become tender-hearted when we learn to surrender our will and let it go to allow God’s will to take over during times of Adversity.
True success is never achieved without overcoming adversity, whether it is physically, mentally, or spiritually. If we achieve success with only our physical and mental beings and not our spiritual ones, then we can never become tender-hearted.
It’s only by achieving success spiritually that we can become tender-hearted and achieve the greatest success of all. The bi-product of our spiritual success is that we can now overcome our physical and mental adversity with joy.
When adversity comes, we are forced to face problems and pressures that are too big for us to resolve. It’s often in this manner that God gets our attention.
Adversity reminds us that God is present and we are accountable to Him for our every thought, word, and action. God’s Word reveals that the fear of the Lord is the key to life, wisdom, and lasting achievement.
The pain of adversity helps us recognize the deception of sin. Our hatred of evil will increase when we realize how sin keeps us from living in a way that honors God and how it damages the lives of those we love. Learning to let go and let God in our greatest battles of life allows us to become content and thrive in our moments.
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The post Professional Bowler Shannon O’Keefe; Overcoming Spiritual Adversity appeared first on Riotpodcast.
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