Ignition Ministries: Recent Episodes
Melissa Gaona
Buckle up for some spiritual truth and a good laugh while Melissa Gaona and guests navigate life from a biblical perspective. Whether it’s battling addiction, difficult circumstances, or dating/married life, Ignition Podcast explores every day struggles and dives into Jesus for direction. Listeners will also find personal testimonies of failures and perseverance.
Christians are not immune to sin and still possess the ability to "drift away" according to the book of Hebrews. Think about bitterness that lives inside a Believer...if it goes un-surrendered it will have detrimental damage, not only inside the Christian, but carry wide-range effects on an entire church body. So, how does drifting happen to someone who is saved? The author of Hebrews had a heart for discipleship and ministry which is why it is filled with many warnings for Christians. In this episode, Melissa Gaona and Pastor Josh break down seven warnings for believers and dig into the scriptures for answers.
Whether you believe in Jesus or not, life comes with problems. The most important fight we will face is not physical or mental; it is spiritual. How are you fighting your battles? Often times, we fight the wrong way, with the wrong weapons, and in our own power. When we make the decision to follow Christ, we are graciously given spiritual gifts to fight every battle. While we can not predict the outcome, in the end, we still get the victory through Jesus.
1 Corinthians 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"
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Despite the fact that yoga is a historical Hindu spiritual practice, many Christians take part for its physical benefits. So does this make it okay? Can you have one without the other? Melissa is joined by former yoga expert, Saralyn Hamilton, to share her powerful testimony "Christian Yoga to Christ Alone." Saralyn discusses the attraction to yoga, what the poses actually mean, and the moment God spoke and gave her a great conviction over it.
**From Saralyn Hamilton: "The Lord opened my eyes to the truth about spiritual warfare. He taught me how to listen to His voice. He gifted me with spiritual healing. And He opened my eyes to the truth about yoga. Please know that this is my conviction and I never want to throw it on someone else. I ask that if this has you in question, go to the Lord and read the Scriptures."
https://ignitionministries.org/
Despite the fact that yoga is a historical Hindu spiritual practice, many Christians take part for its physical benefits. So does this make it okay? Can you have one without the other? Melissa is joined by former yoga expert, Saralyn Hamilton, to share her powerful testimony "Christian Yoga to Christ Alone." Saralyn discusses the attraction to yoga, what the poses actually mean, and the moment God spoke and gave her a great conviction over it.
**From Saralyn Hamilton: "The Lord opened my eyes to the truth about spiritual warfare. He taught me how to listen to His voice. He gifted me with spiritual healing. And He opened my eyes to the truth about yoga. Please know that this is my conviction and I never want to throw it on someone else. I ask that if this has you in question, go to the Lord and read the Scriptures."
https://ignitionministries.org/
There are some who view christianity as boring and the bible as just a set of rules. While following Jesus requires self-denial and greater responsibility, it is far from dull and unfulfilling. Melissa and Pastor Josh sit down with Logan and Taylor Sherrill to discuss their own personal testimonies on the subject. Pain, tragedy, and letdown are inevitable. But when we are truly living a life for Christ, it is the most rewarding and purpose-filled journey one will experience...and the rewards are eternal!
There are some who view christianity as boring and the bible as just a set of rules. While following Jesus requires self-denial and greater responsibility, it is far from dull and unfulfilling. Melissa and Pastor Josh sit down with Logan and Taylor Sherrill to discuss their own personal testimonies on the subject. Pain, tragedy, and letdown are inevitable . But when we are truly living a life for Christ, it is the most rewarding and purpose-filled journey one will experience...and the rewards are eternal!
Is Christmas a pagan holiday? Why even celebrate? The world portrays the Christmas culture as a time for gifts, family, and food. While none of these things are "bad", they can still leave one feeling let down, lonely, and unsatisfied. Depression numbers increase around this time of year. Is that a coincidence, or is there a real enemy attacking us when we are most vulnerable? Melissa Gaona and Pastor Josh discuss the true meaning of Christmas and how Jesus understands our grief, hears our cries, and can turn our pain into true joy!
Jesus loved to use fishermen in the Bible! When Jesus first met Peter and Andrew they were fishing. Jesus approached them and said, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." Melissa Gaona sits down with her brother, expert fisherman, and founder of a popular YouTube channel 'Set That Hook' to discuss family, fishing, and faith.
If the bible says we should have no fellowship with darkness, it's important to know how to identify darkness. From the very beginning in Genesis chapter 1, we see God separating darkness from light. If we live in a dark world, how do we overcome darkness? The truth is, some of us do not realize we're in the dark. Others need a solution but they turn to the wrong power source. The only thing that will overpower darkness is LIGHT. Jesus said of Himself, "I am the light of the world."
Whether Christians choose to celebrate Halloween or not, it seems to be a controversial decision either way. As followers of Jesus, we must determine if we are walking as a chosen race who are representing the light, or are we walking in fellowship with darkness? What can we take away from the Word of God? Melissa and Josh discuss how they spent the day and why their family decided not to take part in the traditional festivities.
We can all relate to running a race; there's a prize and there's a winner. Along the way, there are obstacles, but a runner will condition themselves if they want to finish well. All of these things parallel to our spiritual race. Except in this race, it's more like a marathon and our prize is imperishable! The Bible says we must lay aside every weight and sin that so easily clings to us. How do you run the spiritual race and do it victoriously?
Our entire lives we've heard the saying 'follow your heart'. However, the more we get to know our Heavenly Father the more we realize that all of our worldly wisdom is off. It's wrong. In Jeremiah 11:8, we see that the heart is evil and we're advised to not follow it because it leads us astray. In Jeremiah 12:9-10, the Lord is telling Jeremiah following your heart is prideful. In Jeremiah 4:4, the Lord talks about circumcising the heart to illustrate a radical change in the total inner being. Our hearts are sick and if we want true direction we must follow Jesus, our Healer.
A whirlwind of a weekend traveling to a destination wedding came with a stop in the emergency room. While in excruciating pain, Melissa begs God to heal her arm....God wanted to heal her heart for a bigger assignment. Being a child of God is not an easy task. It comes with warfare, persecution, and getting uncomfortable. But joy and hope in Jesus through hardship is unmatched! God has an assignment for His kids and in order to execute we don't need a good arm, we need a pure heart!
Random fact: Studies show women like hot showers and men are not the best listeners. So, Melissa surprises her husband with a quiz. The Bible says true wisdom comes at a cost. What's the purpose of wisdom outside of God? Whether it's relationships, career, talents, or hobbies, what is the impact we're hoping for if it does not lead to eternal life? The Bible says it's all for the glory of God! Melissa shares her struggle with biblical boundaries, while Pastor Josh is frustrated stores run out of pumpkin spice in early September.
The battle is often won or lost in the mind. The Bible tell us to take every thought into captivity and make it obedient to Christ. But how do we put this into action? Melissa and Josh discuss how to discern between the voice of God and the voice of the enemy as well as some practical takeaways to put 2 Corinthian 10:5 into action.
Believing in Jesus is one thing, but surrendering, obeying, then submitting is a whole other power combo! Whew! The Bible clearly command believers to surrender to God, obey His Word, and submit to His will. Why? Because this is the recipe to true freedom. Moriah Joy joins Melissa on how to execute these commandments, hear from God, and learn His will for your life.
Everyone has been hurt by a friend. Forgiveness goes against our flesh, but it is a crucial commandment for followers of Jesus. How do you cultivate godly friendships while setting healthy guardrails? Do our friendships grow us deeper in our relationship with Jesus? Or do they consist of gossip, unforgiveness, discord, jealousy, and resentment? Worship leader Jill Obaugh joins Melissa for a discussion on what the Bible has to say about friendships.
Are you on the sidelines or in the game? Are you watching the battle or are you battling on the frontlines? Sideline Christians are those who believe in Jesus but their walk looks similar to the world. Melissa and Pastor Josh break down how to get away from sideline christianity and be more of a spiritual sniper. If you're ready to get off the sidelines and fight the enemy with effective weapons this episode is for you!
Life is tough. People suck. But Jesus is THE ROCK and never fails.
Where do you turn when life gets hard? Who do you run to when you feel empty? Friends, family, and even professionals are good to have but we must remember that our ultimate hope must come from Jesus alone. Even those who love us deeply can unintentionally hurt us. Jesus is the only firm foundation.
Melissa Gaona sits down with Amanda Mitchell for a focused episode on testimony. Amanda shares a raw and honest truth about how degrading and perverted music influenced her with a self-obsessed mentality, especially at the gym. When God convicted her to switch to Christian music, she witnessed a powerful transformation.
Melissa Gaona and Pastor Josh continue the conversation on the power of Christian music and how it plays a vital role in our walk with Jesus. Even when we don't want to give up music that is not good for us, the book of Romans says the Holy Spirit has the power to change our desires. Transformation in Christ should be in every aspect of our life, including music.
Ever been late to church...on purpose? Some people, although they may not admit it, struggle with the worship portion of a church service. In this episode, Melissa Gaona and her husband Josh look at why music is so powerful and why there is a direct attack on worshiping the Lord through song.
A popular lie from Satan is that you're "saved" so there's no need for sanctification. Meaning you don't have to grow as a Christian and look more like Christ because you're already going to Heaven. But the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." In this episode, Melissa Gaona talks to Taylor Sherrill about her personal experience with a lukewarm walk and why accountability in Christian friendships is so crucial.
Religion never saved anyone...only a relationship with Jesus brings true salvation. Religion can be exhausting, divisive, and boring. In this episode Melissa and her husband Joshua seek to decipher the difference between religion and relationship.
Can God use you? Are you good enough? Unworthiness, fear, doubt, and anger are just a few feelings that can make us want God to 'go away'. In Luke 5, Peter falls down by Jesus' knees saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" What would cause Peter, a man who believes in Jesus and follows Him, to say such a thing? Despite Peter's actions, Jesus still used Peter in a mighty way! He wants to do the same in our lives...if we'll allow Him.
Melissa and Moriah continue the conversation on the freedom that comes when you confess your sins. Many people get saved and begin to question their salvation when they find themselves still wrapped up in sin. Learn one true sign that you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you.
We were never meant to carry the weight of our sin. Harboring our mess ups is too heavy for anyone to bear alone and can lead to isolation. From the beginning of time, God desires our confession that Jesus is the Son of God. God also calls us to a confession of our sin. When we confess our wrongdoings, it displays a humble heart and that is where God wants to work. If we want to be free, confession is where it begins.
Melissa shares more about how Ignition Ministries began. She recalls the moment God challenged her to ‘level up’. Hear more about the heart behind the ministry and where she feels the Lord is leading.
Melissa shares more about how Ignition Ministries began. She recalls the moment God challenged her to ‘level up’. Hear more about the heart behind the ministry and where she feels the Lord is leading.
Melissa shares more about how Ignition Ministries began. She recalls the moment God challenged her to ‘level up’ and how the refining process was painful but necessary. Hear more about her plan and purpose for the ministry and where she feels the Lord is leading.