Jordan and Kristen Pray for You: Recent Episodes
Jordan Rickards and Kristen Rickards
Join us for life-altering teachings along with prayer for you and your needs! As the Bible teaches us in Matthew 18:19-20: "If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." So please feel free to submit your prayer requests (preferably through the Facebook page), and Jordan and Kristen will pray over them personally.
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Should married couples keep separate bank accounts? Should they talk about money? Should they make financial decisions together? Join us on the Jordan and Kristen Rickards Show as we tackle the controversial question: should Christian couples keep their finances separate? With personal anecdotes and biblical insights, we explore the vital role of openness and unity in financial matters. Learn how the concept of a husband as a provider extends beyond dollars and cents, offering a sense of security that fuels marital success. This episode promises a thought-provoking discussion on how financial secrecy might hint at deeper issues, and why togetherness is key.
From navigating significant purchases to merging financial habits, we share strategies for effective money management in marriage. We also dive into the societal pressures of gender roles and how they affect financial responsibilities within a relationship. Communication and collaboration emerge as essential tools in ensuring harmony and minimizing financial stress.
Facing financial challenges can test even the strongest marriages, but they can also be a time for growth and unity. Jordan and Kristen recount our own experiences with financial hardships, from sleepless nights worrying about payroll to the pressures of job loss, emphasizing the importance of saving and financial discipline. This episode also includes a heartfelt prayer for financial blessings, urging listeners to embrace a spirit of generosity, and concludes with a moving reflection on the biblical story of the widow’s offering, reminding us that the heart behind a gift is what truly counts. Tune in for practical advice and spiritual encouragement to strengthen your marriage through financial unity.
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Can true Christian love mean staying silent about sin? On this episode of the Jordan and Kristen Rickards Show, we challenge the popular notion that compassion equates to permissiveness. Kristen recounts a fiery response to a friend's Facebook post that suggested Christians should refrain from speaking out on issues like abortion and religious beliefs. We dive into the heart of this controversy, questioning whether love can truly exist without truth, and how silence can lead to harmful consequences.
We tackle the misconception that being kind and creating relationships means we can't also stand firm in our beliefs. Kristen passionately argues that genuine love involves guiding others away from destructive paths, much like a parent would protect a child from danger. Tune in as we discuss how to speak the truth in love without alienating others, and why it's crucial for believers to balance compassion with the courage to express their convictions. This episode is a must-listen for anyone grappling with how to address sin in today's society while maintaining loving relationships.
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Should Christians drink alcohol? This provocative question is at the heart of our latest episode, where Jordan and Kristen dive deep into the biblical and personal dimensions of alcohol consumption. Kristen starts with a heartfelt prayer, expressing gratitude and seeking comfort for those in hardship. She then shares her personal disdain for alcohol, highlighting its destructive impact on families and the risks of dependency. Jordan offers a counterpoint by referencing biblical texts that indicate wine in biblical times contained alcohol and was consumed openly. Together, they explore the nuanced view that while drinking may not be inherently sinful, it carries significant societal and personal risks. They discuss the unnecessary dangers related to alcohol consumption and the potential benefits of choosing to abstain.
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Should divorced individuals hold leadership positions within the church? Join us on this profound episode of the Jordan and Kristen Rickards show, where we tackle this pressing question head-on. Kristen opens with a heartfelt prayer for wisdom and peace, setting a reflective atmosphere for our discussion. We delve into the complex realities of divorce, drawing a crucial distinction between those who initiate it and those thrust into it by circumstances like abuse or abandonment. Kristen emphasizes the need for a period of restoration and healing before assuming leadership roles, while Jordan offers his perspective as a divorce attorney, highlighting that victims of abusive marriages shouldn’t be barred from leadership after suitable healing. Both agree that elective divorces for non-emergency reasons, such as midlife crises, require a different consideration for leadership roles.
Moreover, we explore the delicate balance of grace, accountability, and leadership within Christian communities. By delving into Jesus’ teachings on marriage and divorce, we stress the importance of accountability in church leadership, but also the necessity of grace and forgiveness. Through real-life examples of influential Christian leaders who have experienced divorce, we assert that repentance and personal growth are essential for anyone aspiring to leadership. We also touch on the challenges of setting church policies and the critical importance of leading by example to uphold moral standards. Tune in for a thoughtful and engaging discussion that promises to offer wisdom and clarity on this nuanced topic.
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What happens when relentless suffering makes you feel forsaken by God? In this deeply moving episode, we explore Kristen's poignant journey through severe health issues. Despite enduring constant pain, Kristen's unwavering commitment to praise God amidst her trials offers a compelling testament to the power of faith. She opens up about her battles with doubt and despair, reminding us that even in the depths of suffering, there's room for gratitude and hope for eventual healing.
Drawing inspiration from the biblical story of Job, we delve into how hardships can lead to a profound intimacy with God. This episode emphasizes shifting our perspective to recognize and be grateful for even the smallest blessings, and to understand that challenges do not negate God's promise or presence. We also discuss the enemy's tactics and encourage listeners to stay steadfast in their faith, surrendering their struggles to God for both physical and emotional healing. Concluding with a heartfelt prayer, this episode aims to renew your strength and belief that through God's power, any obstacle can be overcome. Tune in and share this message of hope with those who need it most.
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Can creative liberties in faith-based storytelling go too far? Join us for a special edition of the Jordan and Kristen Rickards show as we tackle a controversial plot twist from The Chosen's latest season. We start with a heartfelt prayer for guidance and then dive deep into the shocking moment where Thomas's fiancée, Ramah, is murdered by a Roman soldier, with Jesus seemingly allowing it to happen. Is this creative choice consistent with Biblical teachings, or does it blur the lines between scripture and fiction too much?
We share our profound admiration for The Chosen's impact on spreading the gospel but express serious concerns about the theological implications of introducing such dramatic, non-Biblical events. Does this scene risk confusing viewers about what is truly Biblical? Throughout our discussion, we highlight the balance that must be struck between creative storytelling and Biblical fidelity, touching on the risks and rewards involved. Despite our criticisms, we remain hopeful for the show's continued success and positive influence, and we conclude with a prayer for its enduring mission to bring people to Christ. Don't miss this engaging and thought-provoking episode!
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When Kristen faced a daunting health diagnosis, her world seemed to topple, but through faith, she found an unexpected source of resilience. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and a cornerstone of our heartfelt discussion on navigating life's tumultuous seas. In this episode, we lay bare the often-unspoken truth: life's trials spare no one, righteous or otherwise. Yet, it's not about seeking a life devoid of problems but finding solace in the promise of divine support. Drawn from the wisdom of Psalms and Isaiah, our conversation turns personal as we share narratives of struggle and the discovery that prayer and unwavering faith can be the instruments of profound personal growth and fortitude.
Reflecting on the extraordinary faith of Horatio Spafford, we unravel the myth that we are only given what we can bear. Instead, we shed light on the idea that it's through God's strength we find the ability to endure and emerge stronger. Challenging the 'It Gets Better' sentiment, we emphasize the significance of welcoming life's challenges as mechanisms for building a more resilient self. We discuss how children who gradually face adversity often grow into well-adjusted adults, illustrating the importance of not shying away from life's tests. Our episode culminates with an open invitation to listeners to seek companionship and strength in their spiritual walk, reinforcing that the journey of faith is marked not by the absence of storms but by the courage to sail through them.
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If your heart has been shattered by the storm of adultery, you might wonder if the pieces can ever be put back together. We're here to walk with you through the valley of healing and share the hopeful possibility of a renewed marriage. In the sanctuary of our latest episode, we open up about the painstaking journey from betrayal to forgiveness, underpinned by both spiritual wisdom and practical guidance. We delve into the prerequisites for reconciliation—genuine repentance and a steadfast commitment to change. It's not just about weathering the storm; it's about learning to dance in the rain, discovering self-trust, and allowing God to be the cornerstone of a new beginning for your relationship.
Let's embark on a quest for solace and strength, exploring how to rebuild the fortress of trust that infidelity has breached. Real repentance isn't just about ceasing wrongful acts, but actively cultivating positive ones that foster healing and prevent future missteps. We also extend an olive branch to those yearning for spiritual renewal, guiding listeners through a heartfelt prayer of salvation. Whether you're navigating the aftermath of an affair or seeking to fortify your faith, this discussion is a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards an enduring commitment, both to your partner and to the divine. Join us, and let the transformation begin.
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Can a marriage emerge stronger after the storm of infidelity? That's the heart-rending question Jordan and Kristen tackle through the lens of biblical stories like that of Hosea, examining the raw realities of betrayal and the healing potential of forgiveness within the context of a sacred covenant. With Jordan's background as a divorce attorney and their shared Christian faith, Jordan and Kristen navigate the complexities of adultery—a frequent catalyst for divorce—and discuss the arduous journey towards possible reconciliation. From the tangible acts of unfaithfulness to the less visible, yet equally damaging, emotional betrayals in the digital age, we confront the profound impacts on relationships. Yet, in the midst of the pain, we underscore the transformative might of repentance and the boundless grace offered by the Gospel, holding onto the belief that with genuine remorse and open hearts, marriages can find a path to restoration.
Moving to the frontlines of marital defense, this episode also lays out strategies to preemptively shield your union from the perils of infidelity. Jordan and Kristen dissect the dangerous cocktail of pride and the misconception of self-imperviousness, emphasizing that simply professing immunity to temptation is far from sufficient. They share the critical importance of establishing clear boundaries in all facets of life to avert the smallest lapse that could lead to significant transgressions, and reveal how spiritual fortitude, daily prayer, and cultivating a deep connection with your spouse act as bulwarks against external enticements. As we offer these insights, we hold firm to the belief that prevention is key, and while God can mend a marriage fractured by betrayal, the path is often smoother when fortified by proactive measures and a shared commitment to fidelity.
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Cohabitation before marriage: society seems to tout it as a compatibility litmus test, but what if that's not the whole story? Join Jordan and Kristen as they pull back the curtain on this modern-day relationship rite, sharing personal experiences and societal insights that challenge the perceived wisdom of living together pre-nuptials. We navigate through the complex layers of commitment, contrasting the deep-rooted vows of marriage with the impermanent nature of an unmarried couple's shared domicile. With the aid of intriguing stats and thought-provoking discussion, we aim to present why skipping the home trial might just pave the way for a stronger, more lasting partnership.
As we wrap up this candid episode, we extend a heartfelt thank you to you—our faithful listeners—for journeying with us through these often-taboo topics. Looking ahead, we're preparing to bare our own marital tales of joy and tribulation, an intimate conversation you won't want to miss. Until our paths cross again, remember to seek us out on JordanAndKristen.com, our YouTube channel, and our Spotify offerings for more heartfelt discussions. Keep sending those prayer requests, and as you step into your week, may it brim with grace and the excitement of deepening connections with Jordan and Kristen Ministries.
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When your steps seemed shrouded in uncertainty, it is the unexpected calm amidst chaos that whispers of a higher plan. This episode is a journey into the heart of such divine guidance, where we explore the transformative power of tuning into God's gentle nudges. We dissect the echoes of peace that often signal His direction, sharing candid moments when that still, small voice has led us through life's tumultuous seas. Far from being an exclusive dialogue for the spiritually elite, we reveal that God's communication lines are open to each one of us, patiently waiting for us to listen.
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Few things are more destructive than a critical spirit. Join us as we unravel the complexities of criticism, revealing how it can forge paths to personal growth or, when misused, create barriers in relationships. There's an important line between well-meaning feedback and damaging jabs. Our candid discussion serves as a reminder to tread carefully on the tightrope of critique, aiming always to uplift rather than undercut. Whether you're the giver or receiver of criticism, this episode promises to equip you with a renewed perspective on feedback and set the stage for a year marked by kindness and self-improvement.
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Should the church remain politically neutral? Join Jordan and Kristen as they break down the complexities of faith entwined with politics, spurred by feedback from those who feel the church has become a shadow of political parties, especially within American evangelical circles. They're taking on the challenge of dissecting whether our faith communities have strayed too far into partisan territories or if there's a moral imperative to stand firm on issues that align with our spiritual convictions. Expect an honest, no-holds-barred conversation about the role of the church in an era where political affiliation seems as integral to identity as religious belief.
Through prayer and thought-provoking discussion, we grapple with the image of Jesus in the realm of modern politics and the difficulty of being His followers amidst today's morally charged political landscape. Should the church be a bastion of peace, untouched by the chaos of the political world, or does it have a duty to address the pressing matters that affect our moral compass? Tune in as we explore the delicate balance between advocating for what's right and avoiding the pitfalls of becoming entangled in political strife, all the while seeking to honor our convictions without succumbing to the divisive nature of partisanship.
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Prepare to sift through the complexities of the prosperity doctrine with us—unveiling the rich tapestry of Biblical wisdom that treasures our holistic well-being above mere material wealth. Through the lens of our personal financial voyages, we expose the dangers of prosperity becoming an idol and reaffirm our commitment to prioritizing God in our lives. You'll be navigated through the murky waters of skepticism towards miracles and divine intervention, all while we anchor our hearts to the unwavering promise of God's will as the true north of prosperity.
This episode isn't just about abundance; it's an invitation to weave the golden threads of health and happiness with the sturdy fibers of faith. As we traverse the Biblical landscape of responsible wealth management and the pure elation of generosity, you're called to join us in a prayerful celebration of thanksgiving. We challenge you to embrace a spirit of giving that transcends the confines of the wallet, encouraging acts of kindness that resonate throughout the holiday season and ripple into a bounteous new year. With every story shared and scripture pondered, we hope to light your way to a richer, more generous life in the Kingdom of God.
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What if you held the power to revive the church? That's right, the journey towards restoring the Christian influence in today's world starts with you. Each one of us has the potential to spark a spiritual renaissance, and this episode is all about harnessing that power to enact meaningful change. We're not just waiting for miracles – we're making them happen. Through sharing the love and message of Christ intentionally, and understanding the profound impact our actions can hold, we can turn the tides on the declining church. Inspired by a powerful meme from our friend, Cliff, we delve into the transformative influence that each individual can have, potentially touching a billion lives.
Even as we get practical, we never lose sight of the spiritual core of our faith. As Christmas draws near, we're reminded of the need to be a beacon of hope and positivity in a world that often seems dark. More than just celebrating, we're embracing the Holy Spirit – letting it fill us up and flow outwards, touching the lives of those around us. So, join us as we navigate the complexities of prayer, the beauty of blessings, and the joy of being a light in the world. We wish you a Merry Christmas, but more importantly, we implore you to not just receive blessings, but to become one yourself. Tune in and let's light up this world with love, one person at a time.
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We're posing a question you may not want to hear - why is the Church in decline in the United States, and what can we do to address this unsettling reality? We're not here to sugarcoat the situation, but rather to explore the sobering statistics and uncover the roots of the problem, particularly the disconnection among the younger generation. Kristen, with her insightful observations and personal experiences, opens an intriguing discussion on the fundamental human need for belonging, an area where some churches appear to fall short.
Join us as we wrestle with the hard truths and navigate through the potential solutions. No stone is left unturned, from the stark decrease in church membership and religious affiliation to the shift in key cultural influencers like Hollywood, media, government, and academia. As we grapple with this challenging topic, we invite you to tune in. We may not have all the answers, but we're committed to igniting the conversations that matter. Through prayer and trust in God, we are hopeful to reveal a beacon of light in these seemingly dark times.
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Have you ever felt the pressure of curating the perfect holiday gathering, only to feel stretched thin by trying to meet everybody's expectations? Ever wondered how to keep your marriage a priority amidst the holiday chaos? Join us, Jordan and Kristen, as we share personal stories and strategies for managing these seasonal stressors. We highlight the importance of presence over perfection, embracing traditions without losing sight of joy, and finding the balance through compromise.
Moving forward, we dissect the art of safeguarding your relationship during the holiday rush. We delve into the essence of compromise, the beauty of quality time over quantity, and the significance of placing God at the center of our decisions. We encourage you to see holidays as an opportunity to foster unity with a focus on Christ, rather than a stress-filled event. As we conclude, we underscore the transformative power of prayer for our families and loved ones during the festive season. With love and warmth, we wish you a joyous holiday rooted in God's love.
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Anxiety affects all of us, and for some, it truly limits our lives. You don't have to live with it. In this video, Jordan and Kristen share their personal experiences with anxiety and how they overcame it.
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Jordan and Kristen discuss Jordan's experience as a divorce attorney, along with the tell-tale signs that a divorce may be coming, and how to prevent divorce from happening to your marriage.
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Ever wrestled with the jagged edges of forgiveness? You're not alone. On this week's episode, we're pulling back the curtain on this challenging concept with the same warmth and laughter you've come to love us for. Kicking off with Kristen's heartfelt prayer for anyone experiencing tough times, we're reminded that even in the face of uncertainty, there's strength to be found in God's love.
Strap in for a thought-provoking journey where we explore the bumps and bruises that come with practicing forgiveness. We question the depth of our own forgiveness when past grievances rear their ugly heads and propose a different perspective - could forgiveness be a decision rather than an emotion? We'll discuss the physical and emotional toll associated with the process of forgiving, and why it's so essential for our wellbeing. Join us in this intimate conversation, as we share, learn, and grow together. You'll want to be part of this enlightening discussion, trust us!
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Are we doing enough to address the rising issue of suicide, especially among children and teens? Today, we tackle this heavy question head-on, leaving no stone unturned. We discuss the disturbing increase in suicide rates and the complex factors contributing to this trend. The impact of social media, the disintegration of traditional family structures, and the failure of institutions like schools and churches to provide adequate support are just a few of the issues we examine. From the personal choices we make to the traps laid by the enemy, we confront the harsh realities that can push someone towards this drastic act.
But this conversation isn't just about understanding the causes; it's about finding hope and extending support. In a world that seems increasingly cold and indifferent, we believe in the transformative power of love and understanding. Whether you're the one battling these dark thoughts or you know someone who is, we want you to know - you are not alone. We're here for you, ready to lend an ear, a shoulder, a helping hand. We care about you and your well-being. So, join us in spreading this message of hope and support. Together, we can make a world of difference.
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One of the misconceptions about Christianity is that by becoming more Christ-like we have to give up our individualism. Nothing can be further from the truth. The body of Christ has to be unified, but that body has many different parts that serve many different purposes. God wants us to be more of ourselves, and that happens by not conforming to the world but transforming ourselves to Christ.
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Marriage is designed to be freeing and empowering, to help both partners live their best life and achieve to their fullest. But marriage is under attack in our culture, and as part of that attack it's become fashionable to complain how marriage is oppressive, in particular to women. That's nonsense. In this episode, Jordan and Kristen explain how the entire purpose of marriage is for both husband and wife to thrive.
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Can a marriage survive adultery? Should it? In this video, Jordan and Kristen discuss, amongst other things: the story of Hosea, who God strangely commanded to marry the sluttiest girl he could find (and what happened when he did); the extent to which adultery in marriage can be overcome; and what God requires, and does not require, of the spouse who is cheated on.
The Bible says we should "fear the Lord our God." But why should we fear someone who loves us? How do we reconcile these two competing emotions, and what are the real-world implications of it?
In this special episode, Kristen interviews April Barber, who talks about her daughter's heart condition. April's daughter was born with a heart defect that had doctors convinced she would not live. But ten years and numerous surgeries later, her daughter continues to defy the odds, and God continues to be faithful. In this interview, April tells her story of faith, hope, and answered prayers.
Having recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary, Jordan and Kristen discuss the lessons they've learned from their first year of marriage.
We live in a society where being offended is a favorite hobby. No wonder we have no idea how to be successful in relationships! Every relationship has in it opportunities to be offended. Successful relationships are those where both partners choose instead to think the best of the other person.
In our last episode, we discussed how many people don't even know how to love themselves. In this episode, we discuss a key to loving another person: humility, because without humility there can be no growth, and if you're not growing together than you're growing apart. Humility is what causes us to reflect on how we can improve for the other person, and just as importantly, for ourselves.
Why do so many marriages and relationships fail? It's no surprise that so many of us don't know how to love each other, when so few of us know how, or even why, to love ourselves.
God accepts us the way we are, but He doesn't want to leave us the way we are. He wants to give us new life, conformed to His will, because he values us, as we are each unique and irreplaceable.
We all want divine appointments: meeting the love of our life, or someone with an exciting opportunity, or someone else who will propel us forward. But whether we realize it or not, we probably have countless divine appointments every day, and it's important to make the most out of those as well, as we wait for the ones we're believing for.
In order to get the good things that God has for us, we need to transition from "God give me" to "God use me."
A lot of people like the philosophical elements of Christianity, but have difficulty with the miracles, in particular Christ's resurrection. Some even wonder aloud whether the resurrection is a necessary component to Christianity. Why, is it not enough, to simply follow Christ's teachings? Because Jesus was not simply presenting a way of life, He was presenting Himself as life.
Last week we spoke about the importance of letting God take control. We continue with that theme this week, explaining how the best way to stop controlling things is to understand who God is, and what his promises are.
Marriage is like two people trying to use their own pieces from their own puzzles to put a single puzzle together, on a table that sometimes seems too small. The problem is not the dream, the problem is trying to control what God wants to do. The key to success is submission, and letting God take over the process.
We can't always be everything to our spouse, but we can always be faithful, just as God is faithful to us.
When we pray for healing, it's important to remember the importance of praying for forgiveness as well. Sickness is not punishment for sin, but it's sometimes linked to sin, and even more than that, is an opportunity that God uses to get our attention, and display His glory.
Most people are familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son, and the main lesson, which is that God welcomes us back when we repent. But there are two other lessons just as important to learn.
Successful relationships require that both parties speak boldly to each other. But that's often misunderstood.
We all want something better, but oftentimes, we're afraid to leave the old thing behind before the new thing arrives.
You may have heard of the "five love languages": acts of service, gift giving, quality time, physical touch, and words of affirmation. But there's a sixth love language that's even more important than the first five combined, because without it the others fail: personal growth. When Paul writes his famous "love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy" verses, he ends by reminding us that we have to put aside childish things and grow, and that's true in our relationship with our partner and with our God.
Relationships are often easiest and happiest in the beginning when couples fall in love. But too often, that feeling fades, and when that happens the relationship is at risk of decay, and often people look for new partners to get that “in love” feeling back. The cycle then repeats itself when that relationship loses its newness. It doesn’t have to be that way. God is a God of renewal, who wants to constantly refresh our love for Him, and by extension, with our partners.
Accepting Christ doesn't just redeem us from our past, it actually puts to death the old person and replaces it with an entirely new one. As the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, and the new has come." So not only are we washed clean of our sins, we are made totally new creatures who have never had a sinful life in the first place.
We all want the ideal spouse, kids, job, house, vacations, even the ideal day. That's fine, but not when our happiness, and by extension our faith and our relationship with God, is tied to the perfection of those ideals. Only God is perfect, therefore, only God should be our ideal. When we demand perfection from other things, we're replacing our perfect God with imperfect idols, and we set ourselves up for disappointment and failure. Remember: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." -- Isaiah 55:8-9
The Bible says "Delight yourself int he Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." What's important when you read a verse like that is to see what it's not saying as well. It does not say God will give you the desires of your flesh. In this video, we discuss this important, and commonly overlooked distinction.
One of the worst habits people have is to hoard junk, and we don't just mean material things, but rather petty resentments and grievances which, by themselves, aren't worth much of anything, but when accumulated over the course of years or decades, are fatal to a relationship. Instead, discard the silly annoyances when they occur, and hoard the positive things your partner does for you. As the Bible says: "whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
Do you ever feel like you've come up against an insurmountable wall, even after doing all the right things? You prayed for deliverance, you followed God, you were totally obedient, and still you've reached a point where you feel like you've wandered into the middle of nowhere, with a wall in front of you preventing further progress. The Israelites must have felt the same way when they were brought out of Egypt, only to have their progress stopped by the Red Sea, with Pharoah's army right behind them. They even lamented having left slavery in Egypt and wished to go back! When you reach the obstacle, that's not the time to look back, it's the time to stretch out in faith, with expectation that God did not bring you this far to leave you or forsake you, but to deliver you.
When Jesus explains how to pray in his famous "Lord's Prayer" speech, one of the things He tells us to pray for is "our daily bread." We take that to mean, all too often, material blessings, even if only in the form of our basic necessities. But it should be understood to mean provision for all things that we need to get through the day, at the emotional, physical, and in particular spiritual level as well.
There are two types of people who come to Christianity: The first type is the person who knows that he's living life the wrong way, he knows that what the world sold him is junk food, and, like a patient who goes to a doctor knowing he needs to change his diet and lifestyle habits to be physically healthy, this Christian knows that he needs to change himself in order to fill the holes in his life and live life to the fullest. Then there's the other kind, the kind who thinks that nothing about them has to change, but that Christianity is about changing everyone and everything around them. Guess which group Christianity works for and which group it doesn't?
In Deuteronomy, God says to His people: “I put before you life and death. Choose life.” I love that verse because it tells us there’s no middle ground. You can choose life and prosperity, or you can choose death and destruction. Too often in our world we want to have one foot in and one foot out. For example, we are quick to denounce violence whenever the media highlights one group or another being attacked, and we congratulate ourselves for putting up some silly hashtag slogan (#StopHate!) as though that accomplishes anything, but then we celebrate musicians who make violent music, and actors who make violent movies and television shows, and we buy their products to reward them with wealth, and we mourn them when they die like they're heroes, and we act like there’s no connection whatsoever between the violent culture that we support, and violence in our communities that we condemn. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. God hates a lukewarm people. Choose one way or the other. Choose life.
We don't often think of humility as something we'd want. We associate it with the word "humiliation," and the requirement to be humble sounds like one of those rules that the Bible imposes arbitrarily that we just don't want to follow, like turning the other cheek, or forgiving those who wronged us, or praying for our enemies. But each of those has a purpose and benefit for us. Those aren't rules imposed because God likes to impose rules, but rather because each of them make us better and stronger and more reliable and trustworthy people who God is therefore better able to bless and prosper. Humility is no different, and it's not something to avoid, but something to seek out desperately, like we do prosperity, because humility is a key to prosperity as it is the antidote to pride, which causes all sorts of bad judgment.
It's not enough to rebuke negative thoughts and behaviors, we have to replace them with something positive. Bad habits have to be replaced with good habits, bad thoughts have to be replaced with positive thoughts, and the enemy's lies have to be replaced with God's truth. Otherwise, you're just leaving a vacuum to be filled by the very thing you're trying to get rid of. Jesus talks about this in Matthew, when he says "“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first." So to prevent against that, you have to make sure that the space you are clearing out is not left empty, but is replaced with God, His Word, and His promises.
One of the great misconceptions that people have is that God exists to place unreasonable restrictions on us, and He's just waiting for us to trip up and punish us. Nothing could be further from the truth. God isn't an angry police officer, He's a loving father, and whereas criminal laws are designed to condemn and impose a price to pay, the Bible says "there is no condemnation in Christ," who has already paid the price for us.
God wants to have a relationship with us that is akin to that of a married couple. But what does that mean? It means a full-time relationship of intimacy, and communication, and definitely not idolatry.
Nobody likes to do something for someone else, and then have that person take all the credit for it. God doesn't either. Just as God gives seed to the sower, he gives blessings to those who give Him the credit. Proverbs 22:4 says "The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life." And Luke 14:11 says "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” So when we are blessed by God, we have two choices: take the credit for ourselves, in which case don't expect much else, or give God the honor and praise, in which case He will multiply our blessings because He knows He will be glorified through them.
I know what it's like to be a loner. It's not fun. But what I did not understand was that often, feeling like an outsider is what happens when God sets us apart.
Peter is an interesting character in the Bible, because he's both very flawed, and very revered. He tries to send Jesus away, telling him "depart from me, I am a sinful man," he denies Jesus three times, and Jesus rebuked him more sharply than any other person, saying "Get the behind me, Satan." And yet, it's Peter upon whom Jesus decided to build his church. Why would God choose such a flawed person? Maybe because Peter was the only one who had the faith to step out of the boat and walk on water towards Jesus. That's the sort of faith we need to see breakthroughs in the spirit and in the natural.
If you could have others describe you in one word, what would you want it to be? Most people would not say "merciful," but that's perhaps the quality above all else that God wants us to exhibit, probably because that's the quality He has to exhibit the most, and He wants us to be like Him. So when Jesus says that God "desires mercy, not sacrifice, understand that he was talking about those people who go through the motions of ritualistic religious practice just for the sake of doing so, who thought that godliness was keeping this long set of legalistic rules, and how He would rather us demonstrate His love for others by exercise patience, kindness, and forgiveness with each other.
We've spoken a lot about the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But it's equally important to be able to identify what the fruits of the flesh, in other words, the sinful nature we need to overcome in order to achieve God's purpose and fulfillment for our lives. Galatians 5:19 tells us "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Look at some of those, in particular starting with hatred and ending with envy, and it's not hard to identify in this verse exactly what's going on in today's climate.
If we plant apple seeds, we don't expect to get watermelons. Likewise, if we have a specific need that we are praying for, there are specific seeds we need to sow to get what we're looking for. Financial blessings require a seed of charity to be sown. Power requires a seed of meekness. Wisdom requires a seed of humility. And love requires a seed of servitude.
There was a famous song by the band Depeche Mode that talks about being someone else's personal Jesus: "someone to hear your prayers, someone who's there, someone who cares." And yes, we should all endeavor to be Jesus to everyone else, to be the most honest, reliable, helpful, and caring we can be. But we should also have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ himself, as we abide in Him and He in us.
Let no day go wasted. Every day, we withdraw one day of life from our savings account. Determine that you will be a better person by the end of the day than when you began. If you do that, you'll begin to see life's challenges as opportunities instead of annoyances.
Giving the gift of love isn't necessarily what we think it is. Giving presents is great and all, but the ultimate love present is to give your partner the gift of grace. Love is when your partner messes up, and instead of punishing him, and being angry, you remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:4 -- "love is patient, love is kind, it does not boast, it is not proud, it does not keep a record of wrongdoings." And it means that when we mess up, we're contrite, and committed to change.
Nobody likes to wait for their prayers to be answered. The waiting does serve a purpose, though. But good news, there are prayers that will get answered very quickly.
No relationship can be very successful if the two people in it have to go through a third party to communicate with each other. Relationships require intimacy, not remoteness. Fortunately, God tells us that we have direct access to Him and His throne room, through Jesus, the ultimate high priest (Hebrew 4:14-16), so we don't need to go through a human priest or pope to have access to God. Understanding that is the key to understanding the kind of relationship God wants to have with you
Everyone wants the fairytale romance, and that’s fine: having an ideal, searching for it, and ultimately finding it is one of life’s most rewarding experiences. But that’s just the beginning. While fairytales bring us together, building the relationship is what keeps us together. The same is true in our spiritual lives. Finding God and becoming born again isn’t the end game, it’s the beginning, the start of your relationship with God, which needs to be built every day.
Just because an idea makes sense to you doesn't mean it's what God wants for you, and if you follow it, you're not going to like the results.
It's easy to lay our problems down at God's feet, but what about our hopes and our talents?
A lot of times, even after someone accepts Christ, they feel, as the band U2 said, they still haven't found what they're looking for. This is common. In this episode, we explain what's happening and what the solution is.
1) Few things stand in the way of promotion like pride. God isn’t going to promote you if it will result in you falling into sin. But the key to defeating pride is thankfulness. 2) Don’t expect God to trust you with great responsibility until you show Him you can be trusted with what He’s already given you. 3) Make sure your promotion is primarily for the benefit of others and exclusively the glory of God, not your own betterment.
Psalms 103 says God separates our sin as far as the east is from the west. That doesn't just mean He forgives and forgets our sins, it means he separates us from the power of sin.
We all know communication is important for relationships to succeed, but it's equally important to communicate so that you can identify the wrong relationships.
Self-pity isn't a harmless emotion, it's a very deadly poison. In this message, we talk about how to overcome it.
It's no use praying for God to open a door, if you're not ready to walk through it when it does open. Too many people today act with no sense of urgency. But just as we don't like to wait on God, He certainly doesn't want to wait on us.
Don't be afraid to step out in faith. Even though you might doubt the outcome, never doubt God's faithfulness.
No relationship is successful if one partner tries to put the other in a box, and make that person less than what they are. It's true of our relationship with God. Just as we shouldn't try to put Him in a box, He doesn't want us to be less than what we are. If anything, he wants you to shed some of the weights that are holding you down (even though you might think they're essential parts of you), and raise you to greater heights than you've ever imagined.
God doesn't exist to perform magic tricks for us and just make our problems go away like a genie. God's purpose is to perform a good work in us so he can work through us.
There's no substitute for spending time with God, and indeed, including Him in all things.
The key to successful prayer is to get the focus off of you, and on to God. We do that through thanksgiving, praise and worship.
God does not go in and out of love. God loves us always, even when we don't treat him especially well. Don't expect the same from your partner. Being destined for one another is not a license to treat each other poorly and expect the relationship to work.
For a relationship to be successful, both partners must be jealous for each other -- not jealous OF each other -- just as God is jealous for us.
The Bible say Jesus was tempted in all things and sinned not. You can overcome temptation too, but the key is not simply to struggle against it, but to submit your will to God.
Death and tragedy are a part of life. That's true for the believer and unbeliever. The difference is that we as believers have hope. God doesn't promise us that we'll never lose anyone or anything. He promises us that we'll never be alone. God doesn't promise us that we'll never lose anyone or anything. He promises us that we'll never be alone. As Psalm 34:18 says "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
There are certain rules of and principles of general application that we should all follow. But sometimes, God convicts us of some things for which He doesn't seem to convict other people. Some people think they should do nothing but pray on the Sabbath. Others like to relax and watch football. Some couples spend every moment of their lives together. Others spend time apart here and there. Don't focus on them, focus on yourself, and how God is guiding you. This is nothing new. In Romans, the Apostle Paul tells believers not to worry about whether it's right for other believers to eat meat or not, nor whether one day of the week should be considered holier than others, saying "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God." So don't get hung up on things like this. Just focus on what God wants for and requires of you.
The world's economy might look grim, but we don't participate in the world's economy, we participate in God's economy. The world concerns itself with supply and demand. But God's supply is endless. He is an exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or imagine God, who gives us rivers in the desert, and who wants to prosper us in all things, even as our soul prospers.
Laziness probably gets the least attention of any of the seven deadly sins, but it is no less deadly.
Life does not get easier with time. Responsibilities become more serious, loved ones pass away, and we eventually have to face our own mortality. God does not promise that we won't face difficulties. He promises that he will strengthen us and harden us to them.
Rejection is the mother of all maladies because it triggers so many others: insecurities, depression, substance abuse, self-harm, and anxiety, to say nothing of all sorts of all the self-destructive, high risk behaviors in which people often engage in the search for acceptance. But God accepts what the world rejects. He is a father to the fatherless, and a friend to the friendless. As Jesus said: "Whoever comes to me I will never drive away."
God hates divorce, but He loves you. If you've gone through a divorce, know that there is no condemnation in Christ. God forgave that whole situation before it ever happened. Now He wants to help you get past that, work miracles for you to help put your life back together, and propel you forward into His fullness. Don't let the enemy convince you that you are a second-class citizen, when God calls you chosen, forgiven, and righteous, regardless of your past.
The enemy wants to label us as damaged goods, and wants to use our past against us: you're an addict, you're a divorcee, you're a criminal, you've hurt people, you dropped out of school and can't keep a job, you were sexually immoral. And even a lot of people in church will try to make us feel this way. But Jesus was known as a friend of sinners, and He wants to cleanse you from any feelings of guilty and condemnation.
Self-harm and self-abuse are often ignored, not only in church, but society as a whole. If you're suffering from that, understand that God wants to set you free from it. You are not damaged goods. You are a son or daughter of the one true, living God, and He wants to remove that pain from you and replace it with love, joy, and peace.
As part of our overcoming darkness series, I want to talk tonight about overcoming depression. And let me be clear at the outset: God wants you to overcome depression. God says the fruits of the spirit are “love, joy, and peace.” If you ever read through Psalms, you see David is constantly in distress, and yet God comes to comfort Him. Jesus is constantly wiping away the tears of the mournful and sorrowful. And the Bible talks in Isaiah about overcoming a spirit of heaviness. So at the outset, understand that God wants to replace depression, with joy and freedom.
If you want to have a totally unfulfilled life, characterized by broken relationships and self-hatred, a pornography habit is a good place to start. But God wants to set you free of that. The Bible says "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." In this lesson, we explain how, through confession of sins, praying, resisting, replacing the flesh with the Holy Spirit, and learning to hate sin, you can overcome pornography.
We all want instant success, and it can be frustrating when God's put a big goal or dream on our heart, and we move forward as best we can, but it seems like we're not making any progress, and where we are is just very far short of where we expected to be. The enemy wants to use that opportunity to become discouraged so you miss your destiny, but God wants you to push forward in faith to you achieve your dreams. The Bible says "Despite not the day of small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices when the work begins!"
It's not enough to pray for your needs. If you want to have your needs met, you need to receive God's blessings as well, and that's done through thankfulness.
You have enemies? Congratulations, join the club. Everyone who has ever stood for anything has had enemies. The Bible doesn't say you won't have any, but it does say that God will defeat your enemies for you, if you are obedient.
Obedience is a necessary component of receiving God's blessings, but the enemy wants us to hold ourselves to the unrealistic standards so that we think we are forever short of God and his blessings.
God rarely gives us something that we don't ask for. The Bible says “you have not because you ask not,” but “ask, and it shall be given, seek, and you shall find, knock, and it will be opened unto you.” And this is true of spiritual increase, but it's also true of all of the many blessings that God wants you to come into, whether in your health, in your finances, in your relationships, God places a high premium on asking.
We often find ourselves in places we don't want to be, either where we live, or maybe where we work, where the world and its backwards ways are more prevalent and Christianity is disdained. But God doesn't need his brightest lights in the places that are already well lit, he needs us in the dark places to spread his light to the rest of the world.
Believe it or not, there are a lot of suicides in the Bible. This makes sense, considering the enemy's job is to "steal, kill, and destroy." But God did not make a mistake when He made us. His Word says He has a plan for us, to give us a hope and a future, and to never abandon or forsake us.
Every relationship -- whether it be between you and your partner, or you and God -- requires three essential elements: recognition, repentance, and receiving of forgiveness.
In video games, a "power-up" is something the player looks for to make his character stronger, faster, healthier, and overall more powerful. We are presented with power-ups everyday in the form of challenges, usually involving other people -- people who annoy us, or bother us, or try to get under our skin -- but we see them burdens. We need to see them instead as opportunities to exercise and practice the fruits of the Spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control -- and grow stronger.
Addictions are spiritual strongholds that God wants us to overcome, and which can be overcome with His power.
God wants to empower you to do good works and overcome evil. But He's not going to give you power if you can't be trusted with it, and you can't be trusted with it if it's going to cause pride, or if you're going to abuse the power. The enemy uses thoughts of vengeance in order to make you untrustworthy precisely so that God will not give you power, because the last thing the enemy wants is an army of believers empowered to destroy his plans.
One of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible is "Vengeance is mine, thus sayeth the Lord." We think of that as God saying he gets to have the enjoyment of retribution. But really, He's saying He'll take the burden of it off of us, so that we can live a life of love, joy, and peace.
Everybody knows it's important to communicate, but a lot of times when we think about communicating, we just think it's important for people to express how they're feeling. And that's a big part of it, but in order for that to be effective, and in order to encourage that kind of expression, both partners have to to commit to creating a safe environment where they both know can express themselves, and actually be heard and understood and received, without fear of being shot down or shut down by the other person. That's creating the good ground for each other.
The enemy wants you to remember your sin. He wants you to remember your addiction. He wants you to remember all your shortcomings and failures and times you’ve hurt other people: all those are the things that God has forgotten and wants you to be free from. But the enemy wants us to forget all the lessons we’ve learned and all the lies he’s told us, and more than that, all the good God has done for us, because that goes directly to the heart of our faith, and our praise, and our love for God.
When we're facing a major decision in life, it’s natural to try to figure it out. But the Bible doesn’t say a righteous man figures out what to do, it says the steps of the righteous man are ordered by the Lord. God already has it figured out. You just have to discern His will. Put another way, it’s not about understanding, it’s about inquiring and listening.
Prosperity doctrine gets a bad name from people who abuse it, but make no mistake: the Bible tells us time and again that God wants us "to prosper in all things, even as our soul prospers." But prosperity is conditioned on obedience.
In Genesis, we learn about the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers and later became the Prime Minister of Egypt. He forgave his brothers, saying that what they intended for evil, God intended for good. When we face awful times in our lives, we need to understand that somehow, God intends those for good as well. But it's not enough to pray defensively. When the enemy attacks you, turn his plans on their head and attack back.
All of us face mountains in our way at times, in the form of seemingly insurmountable challenges, whether it's a bad report from the doctor, a financial problem, or maybe a struggle in your relationships. This is especially true for people suffering anxiety, who see mountains all over. The good news is that Jesus says that if you have the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains. But He adds three conditions: do not doubt, receive your blessings, and remove any unforgiveness from your life.
Tonight we continue the anxiety series, talking about Gideon, with two important lessons: see yourself the way God sees you, and trust God to be in control.
Anxiety is an inward emotion. To conquer it, you need to get outside of yourself. Focus on what other people need, not what you're experiencing.
People who haven't suffered through real anxiety don't understand that it's more than nervousness, it's a seroius problem that can severely impact your quality of life, and even your ability to experience life. Today we begin a series on overcoming anxiety, emphasizing the importance of not pouring negativity into your mind (through bad movies, music, people, whatever), but rather focusing on Paul's admonition in Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworth -- think about such things... And the God of peace will be with you."
Don't think that God will only ask you to do things that you want. Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh, and remember what happened to him? You can't always do what you love, but you can love what you do, if you delight yourself in the Lord.
One of the more trendy things to say (especially, it seems, in America), is that people are into "relationship, not religion," meaning they want to know God, but don't especially want all the rules that we typically associate with our faith. We definitely agree that a relationship with God should be the goal -- indeed, that's the entire point of Christianity -- but you'll find that if you do not follow God's rules for our lives that sin will stand in the way of that relationship, and you will not grow int that relationship and experience the fullness of what God has for you: love, joy, peace, prosperity, and victory.
It's easy to pray for ourselves and our loved ones. That's important. But God expects us to pray for total strangers, and even people we don't like.
God uses the differences between men and women in general, to develop what the Bible calls the fruits of the Spirit. W did a video on the fruits of the Spirit before. And for those of you who watched it, you'll remember there are nine spiritual characteristics that come with the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those are the characteristics that you'll develop, out of necessity, in a Holy Spirit-filled relationship.
One of the misconceptions a lot of people have of God is that He’s this angry police officer, waiting around corners, trying to catch you committing a sin. In reality, it’s the enemy that wants to accuse us of sin, whereas God wants to separate you from sin and overlook your sin. That’s why He sent Christ to die on the cross, to take away our sins, and to separate us from those sins “as far as the east is from the west.” But that doesn’t mean that living a sinful life doesn’t have consequences. Behaving badly, doing things we know we shouldn’t do, will lead to bad results in life, like it or not. God disciplines those He loves not because He doesn’t want us having any fun, but because he can see past that “fun” to the consequences of it, and He doesn’t want us to fall victim to those consequences, not the least of which is separation from Him.
There's an article in today's Wall Street Journal which talks about how science acknowledges the many physical and mental benefits to prayer. That's all well and good, but prayer is not about clearing your mind and thinking positively, it's about communicating with a loving God who wants to have and build a relationship with you, who cares about you, and wants you to prosper in all things, even as your soul prospers.
Many people know the world is a lie, they just don't know that God offers them truth, love, and life.
Tonight's message is about the importance of fighting for your relationship, as opposed to fighting in your relationship.
Continuing with our relationship series, today we talk about the importance of giving praise to your partner, and to God. Praise isn't just singing songs to God. The basics of praising God are similar to praising someone you love. And it's important because praise takes the focus off of us and puts it onto God, which allows God's glory to flow through us and into other people, whereas pride halts God's glory and keeps the glory to ourselves.
Compatibility doesn't mean that you and your partner are carbon copies of one another. Yes, you should have a lot of overlap, but God doesn't put people together who are identical, He puts people together who complement each other's strengths and weaknesses, and who are able to rub the rough edges off the other. In the same way, God made you in His image, but He wants to use your relationship with Him, and with others, to perfect you in Christ.
Today we continue our relationship series, emphasizing the importance of constantly learning more about the other person, and God.
Today we continue our relationship series, emphasizing the importance of going deep in a relationship.
God wants to know that you love Him for who He is, not for what He can do for you. But when you draw near to God, God can't help but bless you because you get all of Him, and being a blessing is central to who He is.
The best relationships are about gain, not about giving up. It's true in our personal relationships, and with God as well.
Today we're continuing our relationship series. One of the most important principles of being in a relationship — whether it’s with another person or with God — is you have to keep growing. God is a God of renewal. He constantly wants you to grow in Him, and in your relationship with others, not fall out of love over time, or “grow apart.”
Today we continue our relationship series. It's important when you're in a relationship to remember that you're God's gift to the opposite sex, but you are God's gift to one member of the opposite sex: your partner. You have to understand that you represent God's blessing to that person, so you have an obligation to be the best representative of God's goodness that you can be.
Today we continue our relationship series. Why do we wait until we mess something up and have to apologize before we promise to improve? Whether in our personal relationships, or in our relationship with God, we should constantly work to be a better version of ourselves.
Today's the one-year anniversary of Jordan and Kristen's first date, so tonight they share the inspirational story of how they met, followed by their usual prayers.
The Bible cautions believers to never let the Enemy establish even a toehold (Ephesians 4:27), which is a very small grip on your life. Toeholds can be many different things: lustfulness deceitfulness, anger, and fear are perhaps the most common. Each of those deserves its own devotional, but what’s important for this lesson is to appreciate the importance of not giving space to even the smallest amount of the enemy’s weapons.
Today's lesson is "Don't make God a stranger." God is not a respecter of persons, but we’re not all equally close to Him, either. The Bible says draw near to God and He will draw near to you. It says that God is a rewarder not of everybody, but of those who diligently seek Him. That’s different than people who just show up when they need something. That's not a relationship. To have a relationship, we’re told we have to “abide in Christ and Christ has to abide in us.” That’s a permanency.
It's easy to rejoice in the good times, but the Bible says to rejoice in all things, even the bad times. But we don't rejoice at the bad event, we rejoice at the greatness of our God. If anything, rejoicing when we get bad news is even more important, because praise stills the avenger.
The enemy loves hypotheticals, because he wants to move your focus away from God’s reality, to something fearful. Fear is his ultimate weapon, because it works to defeat faith.
An idol is anything that you put ahead of God. The last thing you want to do in a relationship is make a false idol out of your partner, or of the relationship itself. Be grateful for your partner and for the great work God has done in your lives, but remember always to worship the Creator, not the creation.
The Bible says “pride comes before the fall.” Few things stand in the way of God elevating you more than pride, because God wants to elevate people who will exalt Him, not themselves.
God disciplines those He loves, but it's better not to have to be disciplined in the first place.
We spend a lot of time feeling like we're under attack and on defense, but Jesus says we're supposed to attack the gates of hell, and it will not prevail against us.
Jordan and Kristen invite you to take communion with them. So get your bread or cracker or cookie and juice ready, and join us for this special communion episode.
Tonight's message is about the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The book of James has two great verses in it that impress upon us the importance of not just receiving the Word, but also acting on it and spreading it. James tells us "Be ye not just hearers of the Word, but doers," and reminds us that "Faith without works is dead." So don't just listen to our messages, be bold and spread the good news of Christ.
Don't expect God to bless you if you are robbing from Him. God loves a cheerful giver, and those who don't give shouldn't expect much in return.
God loves a cheerful giver, and He also loves a cheerful receiver. If you want to pray effectively, the Bible says "enter His gates with with thanksgiving in your heart, enter His courts with praise." When we give someone a gift and they're glad to receive it, it makes us want to give them even more. God is the same way. Be thankful in the big things and the small things, and you'll begin to see God's blessings hunt you down and overtake you.
A lot of us, especially new Christians, want to focus on the things that we get out of Christianity. What is in this for me, almost like we're interviewing God for a position, right? “If you want to be my God, I need to know your position on financial increase.” And don’t get me wrong, God wants to bless you, and the more you understand about Him, the more you’ll realize He can’t help but bless you as you draw closer to Him, because He is blessing. That’s His nature. But to draw closer to Him, you need to remove barriers in your life, and there are at least three areas where God says if you want this specific thing, make sure you’re also giving this specific thing to others: If you want mercy, you have to give mercy. If you want financial blessings, you have to bless others financially. And if you want forgiveness, and that’s going to be the subject of tonight’s talk, you need to forgive others. Because not doing so can not only mess up your mental health, and keep you from God’s blessings, but it can keep you out of heaven too.
You might think that forgiveness and mercy are basically the same thing. They are related, and there's a lot of overlap, but there is a distinction. Mercy is specific to when the person in a position to forgive also has power over the other person. And make no mistake about it, God calls us to be powerful. He wants to give you power. We are not here to be weak, to be victims. The Bible says ours is not a spirit of weakness, but of power, love, and a sound mind. We have to be powerful to take on the enemy and advance the Kingdom of God, and do all the things God wants us to do: heal the sick, clothe the poor, feed the hungry, and spread the good news of Christ. So God wants you to be powerful, to be the head and not the tail, to be above and not beneath. But he's not going to give you power if you're going to exercise it like a tyrant, instead of being merciful.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul says “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” In other words, God wants to bless you financially, so you can bless others, so that people will thank him, because God loves praise and thanksgiving. So this idea that we serve a poor, stingy God, who pinches pennies and doesn’t want to bless you financially is just wrong. But just like with forgiveness and mercy, you need to give to receive.
If you focus on what you lack instead of what you have going for you, not only will you fall out of your joy -- and we spoke about the importance of joy yesterday -- but you'll talk yourself out of doing the things that you should be doing, that God needs you to do in order to move forward, the things that God put you on the earth to do. You’ll miss your destiny. You’ll miss that opportunity God wants to open up for you. You’ll miss that career change, that move to a different neighborhood, that spouse that you’ve been praying for if you focus on why you can’t instead of why you can.
The Bible says "The joy of the Lord is our strength." Without joy, we lose praise and we lose thanksgiving, and those are essential to answered pray. That's why the enemy wants to steal your joy, and why it's essential that you not let him.
Today we're starting our relationship series. There is a strong parallel between our relationships with other people and our relationship with God. In fact, I would suggest that God uses our personal relationships with each other in order to teach us what our relationship with him should look like.
None of us like it when we're generous to someone and they're not thankful. It makes us not want to give to that person anymore. On the other hand, when someone is thankful, especially in the small things, it makes us want to be even more generous. It's no different with God. Be thankful in the small things so He will bless you with big things.
Resistance training is key to growth. The Bible says resist the enemy and he will flee. Resist the temptation to become impatient. Resist the temptation to become annoyed. Resist the temptation to be short with somebody. Resist the temptation to give into fear, and doubt, and depression and anger and laziness. Whatever it is. The enemy's number one weapon is temptation. The only answer to temptation is resistance. And when you do that, you’ll find that not only will you frustrate the enemy’s plans and live a much happier life, you’ll find that you’re much stronger and more complete, and ready for God to promote you.
Tonight's message is about trading in the counterfeit thing the enemy has for you, for the valuable things God has for you.
Don't treat any day as "routine." The Bible says this is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. And also it continuously impresses upon us that we're supposed to be diligent. In Psalms 39, David says “LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered–how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” A vapor in the wind. We're supposed to make the most of every moment of life, and see the things that challenge us every day as an opportunity to grow. That’s why the Bible, in Ephesians, says “Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times.”
The Bible says "to whom much is given, much is required." That's a good thing. The extra responsibility is part of the blessing, because that's what gives life meaning.
The Bible says "A fool says in his heart there is no God." We need always to be ready to defend our faith on a rational basis, to explain in real terms why we believe what we believe.
Tonight's message is about how to distinguish God's voice from all the other noise in your mind. For a lot of believers, the challenge isn't so much hearing God's voice, but distinguishing it from all the other thoughts and distractions in their head.
Tonight's message is about how to read the Bible, especially for a new believer. Even if you've been a Christian for a while, it's important to understand how to bring new people to the faith, and set them on a strong course. Simply handing someone a Bible and telling them to read it probably won't get them very far. Start with the Book of John, and go from there.
Tonight's message is about taking communion as part of your prayer for healing. When you drink the blood, you're symbolizing Christ's cleansing power over your sins and along with it, the laws of sin and death, which by extension are what lead to sickness in the first place. It's the cleansing blood of Christ that your using to cleanse out really your body and your spirit. The breaking of the bread, on the other hand symbolizes Jesus's broken body and it evokes actually an old Testament verse Isaiah 53 where Isaiah says of Jesus, “surely he bore our sicknesses and carried our pains, literally our infirmities. Yet we are. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our sins. And by his stripes, we are healed.”
If pride serves to keep God from elevating us, then humility must be the key to God raising us up. Indeed, the Bible says "Humble yourself before the Lord. And he will lift you up in honor."
Jesus said "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart because I have overcome the world." In other words, you're going to go through some tough times, we all do. Overcoming the world isn't about avoiding those times, it's about those times not defeating you, but instead working together for your good.
Many of the titans of the Bible were terribly flawed people: God used Moses to speak to Pharoah, even though he was "slow of speech." Gideon was a coward, but God called him a "mighty man of valor" and used him to conquer Israel's enemies. David committed adultery and arguably murder, and God called him a person who "had a heart after God like no other." God is glorified in imperfect people, so let's not focus on our imperfection, let's focus on God's plan for us.
Jesus said “judge not, lest you be judged.” And that’s something I take to heart. But the other part of that was Jesus saying “remove the plank from your own eye, before you complain about the speck in your brother’s eye.” He never said “live with the plank in your eye,” he said “remove it”! In other words, don’t judge other people, but govern yourself and your own actions, and understand that just like you can't eat whatever you want and not exercise and drink poison and expect to be healthy, you can't live however you want, and do things that are harmful to your mind and your soul and which keep you apart from a holy, righteous God, and expect to have an abundant life, and expect Him to answer your prayers. In fact, if God answered your prayers while you were being disobedient, he’d be doing you a disservice, because He’d never get you to clean up your act.
The enemy doesn't have to get you to sin to defeat you. We think of the enemy as always trying to get us to lie, cheat, steal, to lust, give into anger and temptation, that sort of thing, and to generally get us to do things that we know we shouldn't do. And certainly, he's in that business also, but he also knows that if he can just knock off course by even one degree, he can accomplish his goal of getting us to miss our destiny.
We tend to think of being discontented as being a bad thing: in fact, the word itself means you’re dissatisfied with something. But it can be good or bad. God doesn’t want you to become comfortable where you are, because he always wants you to grow. He wants you to progress. He wants you to go outside of your comfort zone. And what'll happen is sometimes is he’ll put a healthy discontentment inside of you, stirring you up, encouraging you to want more, to want better. That’s the Holy Spirit telling you to get up and move forward.
If you become a Christian, you're going to have a lot of people not like you. And not just that, you’re going to start to feel excluded by the world. The world is going to reject you. That's how it is. But Jesus said that you’ll get a great reward for all of this in this life and in the next: “Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”
Nobody likes a closed door. We hate losing a job, not getting into the school of our choice, or getting rejected by someone we like. But the Bible says "All things work together for the good of them who love the Lord, for those who are called according to His purpose." So that closed door is just God's way of stopping you from missing your blessing!
Oftentimes, right before you're about to exit a wilderness period in your life, there will be an obstacle that you have to overcome in order to get out and come into your blessing. You rarely just exit straight through. There's usually one last hurdle and when the hurdle comes, what you're going to see is that it's going be something you can’t overcome yourself, that it’s going to require you to rely on God.
What did Jesus mean when He said "The Meek shall inherit the Earth"? It's one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible. "Meek" does not mean "weak," but rather refers to being powerful, yet choosing to be gentle and under control.
One of the big barriers to prayers being answered is a failure to crucify the flesh. Jesus said “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” In Galatians, we’re told “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." In other words, you can't serve two masters. You can't serve the flesh and the spirit. You only can only serve one or the other and the flesh can drive the spirit away. Crucifying the flesh means putting aside impulses and desires and behaviors that we know are wrong and that want to be fed. It's an appetite, and we have to starve it out.
It's not enough to pray, you have to develop your relationship with God. And the first step in doing that is understanding that God’s not interested in being your sidekick, and He is certainly not a magic talisman. He’s not some supernatural power that you can manipulate at your own will and for your own purposes. This is not “the Force” from Star Wars. The whole principle of Star Wars is “use the force,” which, by the way, is why it can be used for good and evil, because it’s just a tool. God’s the opposite. You don’t “use” God. God needs to use you.
We've been talking for a few episodes about getting through a wilderness period in your life. We've spoken about the importance of reading the word of God and we spoke yesterday about the importance of not panicking. In that same vein, it's important when you're looking for a way out of the wilderness not to confuse a nice coincidence with God's plan for you, and instead to really learn to listen for the voice of God in leading your decisions. Just because a door opens doesn’t mean you should go through it.
We're not just physical beings, we're spiritual beings, and being trapped in a wilderness is a spiritual problem. Whether we’re in a viral pandemic, or economic collapse, whether it's a personal thing -- your life just isn't going right, you got fired from your job, your relationship has failed, your world is caving -- those aren’t physical problems, those are spiritual problems, and just as you feed yourself to make your body physically strong, so then too you need to feed your spiritual self to take on these challenges. And that means reading the Word of God, and studying it day and night. And when you do that, you’ll see that what’s really happening is that God is using that problem as a tool to bring you closer to Him, which is his ultimate goal for us in the first place.
The worst thing you can do when you're waiting on God is to make a panic move. Don't panic like Abraham and father an Ishmael. Wait on God's promise and father an Isaac.
Faith does not mean the absence of wisdom. It does not mean substituting bad decisions for wise decisions. But here’s what it does mean: it means we’re not going to be moved by bad reports. We’re going to trust God no matter what. Faith is not the absence of knowledge. It is the knowledge that God works in that area that we cannot see, and that His promises are true, that all things work together for the good of them who love the Lord, for those who are called according to His purpose.
We focus so much on being born again, and that’s great, but we miss the focus on the other part, which is that the old us already died. The book of Galatians actually says that we were crucified with Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer that I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life, which I now live in the flesh, I live in faith.” That's why Paul is also able to say “if anyone is in Christ, he's a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come.” The person you are now is literally a different person than the person you used to be. That other person that was somebody else who did all those other things: who hurt those people, who lied, who cheated, who stole, who did all those things that we're all ashamed of having done.
Yesterday's episode explained the importance of walking by faith and not by sight. Tonight we discuss the importance of building up your faith through the Word of God
The verse “you have not because you ask not,” which is in the book of James, gets misinterpreted a lot because, as with a lot of verses in the Bible, people just read the part they like and they don't read the rest. What it actually says is that you have not because you ask not, AND when you do ask, you're asking to fulfill your own lusts. In other words, you're not asking for it because God has placed it on your heart to ask for it. You're not asking for money because you want to start an orphanage, or because you want to feed the poor. You're not doing it because you want to be a blessing to others in your community or anything like that. You're just doing it because you want to satisfy yourself.
Jordan's Easter message reminds everyone that between Jesus's crucifixion and the resurrection, there was a waiting period. But for those who persevere through the wait, God's reward is great!
What does the Bible mean when it demands that wives submit to their husbands? Men and women are different. Gender is not an arbitrary social construct. And being different, we have different roles to play: men should be servants of their wives, and women should support their husbands.
When you go through rough patches, don’t let that little voice come into your head that if you have questions and disappointments and don’t understand how God could let this or that happen, that you’re not really a believer. That’s the enemy’s trap. Being a believer doesn’t mean you understanding everything. It doesn’t mean you don’t have questions. It means trusting God even when you do have questions and you don’t understand.
Peter was able to walk on water until he turned his focus from Jesus and onto the waves. Are we going to focus on bad news, or are we going to focus on God's promises?
We think of prayer as talking to God, but you also have to listen. The Bible describes God's voice as being very still and small. That's because more than anything else, God desires intimacy with you. So He's not going to shout at you with a bull horn, which you could hear from a mile away. He's going to want to bring you in close to Him and whisper.
Today, Christians all over the world celebrate both Passover -- God protecting us from harm -- and Good Friday -- the good news of Jesus's ultimate sacrifice for us. But these are one and the same. In fact, Paul describes Jesus as being our Passover.
We spoke with the other day about the importance of not letting negative people speak defeat and destruction over you, because words are so powerful. But it's also important that you don't do it to yourself by allowing negative influences into your mind through the things you watch.
One of the most confusing things about the Bible is it tells us over and over again to pray and that what we pray for, God is going to give us. How do we reconcile unanswered prayers with God’s promise that He will answer our prayers. That's answered for us in Romans 8, when Paul says, “likewise, the Holy Spirit also helps us in our weakness for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercessions for us wordless groans.” In other words, you first have to ask the Holy Spirit what to pray for, and then listen.
Prosperity is a difficult topic because so many people abuse it to glorify themselves, but the Bible is clear: God desires you "to prosper in all things, even as your soul prospers." (3 John 1:2).
Jordan's two-minute message is: "Keep Negative People Out of Your Life", followed by another inspirational prayer from Kristen. The Bible says "death and life is in the power of the tongue." You don't need negative people speaking defeat over your life. It's one thing to be a light, but it's quite something else to let other people try to put your light out. Your destiny is too important. Do what you can to help people, absolutely. But don’t fall into this misery loves company nonsense. So when people try to speak negativity over you, do what the angel Michael did to Satan and rebuke it immediately, because the last thing you need is for their prediction to take root and become a promise.
Jordan's short message is on the importance of giving, and in particular tithing. The Bible says that people who don't tithe are literally robbing from God, but those who do tithe can expect blessings to chase them down and overtake them. Kristen follows, as always, with another one of her inspirational prayers.
Jordan's two-minute message is: Be the Miracle Someone Else Prayed For, followed by another inspirational message from Kristen. We also received sixty-nine prayer requests tonight, and we're going to address many of them. Many more will be displayed at the bottom of the screen on the crawler, so please keep those people in your prayers as well.
Jordan's two-minute message is: “God is Glorified in Impossible Things,” followed by another inspirational prayer from Kristen. If your situation looks impossible, be glad. God loves a challenge. He loves when things are impossible, because then He gets the credit when the challenge is overcome.
Jordan's two-minute message is about your problems coming under God's authority, followed by another inspirational message from Kristen.
Jordan's two-minute message is: The World Offers You Lies, God Offers You Life, followed by another inspirational message from Kristen. We also received SEVENTY prayer requests tonight, and we're going to address many of them.
Jordan's two-minute message is about God convicting him of jealousy, and how it acts as a barrier to blessings, combining as it does two very deadly sins: pride and idolatry. Kristen follows with another inspiring prayer.
Tonight, Jordan's two-minute message talks about going through trials and tribulations and God's role in them, followed by another awesome prayer from Kristen.
Jordan's two-minute message briefly relates the importance of 1 Peter 5:7, which tells us to cast our cares on the Lord, because he cares for us, followed by another powerful prayer by Kristen.
Tonight's two-minute message is "Waiting on God," followed by our prayer. Waiting is never fun, but more often than not, we're not waiting on God so much as he's waiting on us.
Jordan relates a quick story explaining the relationship between charity and forgiveness, followed by an amazing prayer by Kristen.
Tonight's message is "Replace false idols with God." followed by our prayer. We received over 20 prayer requests today, and we'll get to all of them.
Look at all the gods we have: we celebrate movie stars, and professional athletes, and wealth. But where are those gods now? You can’t go to the movies now because all the theaters are closed. You can’t watch professional sports because all the leagues are cancelled. And the stock market has plummeted faster than even during the great depression, while unemployment rises. And don’t even get me started on the politicians. So all of these false idols have fallen away. Now, more than ever, we need to replace them with the one and only true and living God.
Tonight's two-minute message: "Developing a Relationship with God," followed by our prayer session.
If you and I were friends and every time you saw me, I just asked you for stuff -- I never helped you, I never called just to say hello, I only came around when I needed something, I never said anything nice to you -- you wouldn’t consider me to be a very good friend. Or if you were to give me something, or invite me over to your house for dinner and instead of thanking you properly, I just said something half-hearted like “Oh, yeah, thank you for this, that’s great,” you wouldn’t feel like having me over very often. You want to give to someone who rewards your generosity by being generous back with their thanks and praise. Well, it’s no different with God.
To really come into the fullness of God, pray that God gives you opportunities to be a blessing to him. A crisis is a perfect time for that. Remember, Jesus said “Whatsoever you do unto the least of these, so have you done unto me.” So feed the hungry, comfort the hurting, take care of the sick, and help the helpless. And remember always to worship. God inhabits the praises of his people. When you turn your worries into worship, God will turn your battles into blessings.
Today we identify the twelve spiritual elements to the Coronavirus, and how God is greater than each one. We also pray for those who are lonely during this awful time.
These are troubling times. And I’ll admit I’m troubled by them too. For people my age and younger, we’ve had a pretty sheltered existence. We haven’t had a World War, or Great Depression, or Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam. I never had to worry about being drafted. And now we have something that we can choose to worry about. Or, we can choose to convert worry into prayer.
Remember, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17). That doesn’t mean we ignore doctors, and public health officials. Of course not. It just means that “Ours is not a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7). And while this challenge our nation is facing with the Coronavirus can seem like a giant mountain, God tells us that we can move mountains if we have even the faith of a mustard seed. (Matthew 17:20).
Jordan and Kristen respond to four prayer requests, and continue to pray for first responders, and all others in the fight against the Cornavirus epidemic.
Jordan and Kristen pray against the Coronavirus, and for all government officials of both political parties.