LifePoint Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Phil Pike -- LifePoint Church
Discover helpful truths for life's issues through the free weekly audio teaching of LifePoint Church in Greenville SC. Enjoy Bible teaching that will encourage you and challenge you to grow deeper in your walk with God. Listen to these messages directly from your PC, or put them on your MP3 player and listen while you're on the go. See all our teaching at www.lifepointsc.org. (To subscribe to our Podcast, simply add http://www.lifepointaudio.org/sermons/lifepoint_sermons.xml to your Podcast software. Or go to the iTunes Store and search for LifePoint Church Greenville SC.) If you're in the Greenville SC area, please stop by and visit with us!
Someone once said all roads lead to God, and it doesn't matter what we believe as long as we are sincere. That is not true at all. The Bible says there is only one way to God, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. If we try to attain a right standing with God by any other means, even by doing things like worship, praying, or giving money, we will be rejected if our heart is not right with Him. We must first come to God by faith, trusting in the blood of Christ for salvation. So, have you ever come to God the way He has said we must come?
Satan enticed Adam and Eve to sin against God, and the first thing they became aware of was their nakedness. Their shame forced them to cover themselves and go into hiding from God's presence. Sin still causes us to do the very same thing today. It strips us bare and leaves us feeling shame and guilt, so our first instinct is to hide from God. But just as God came calling for Adam, He is calling for us to come and be forgiven and clothed by Him. Are you willing to come out of hiding into His presence?
God created the perfect world for man and woman to enjoy, along with everything they could ever want. But He also gave them the freedom to choose whether or not they would obey Him. Sadly, they abused this privilege by choosing to sin, and soon found their entire world collapsing around them. We, too, have the choice of following God's commands and enjoying His pleasure, or pursuing temptation and suffering the painful consequences. What choices are you making today?
Explorers, sailors and hikers have described the feelings of isolation and fear from being lost and completely cut off miles from all human contact for days, or even weeks. But imagine if you were the only person on earth! Adam knew what that was like for a short while, until God created a partner for him, and that's the day he met his perfect match. God is the creator of relationships, so He has more to teach us than anyone. Are we following His instructions in our relationships?
God created all the animals, birds, fish and plants after their own kind, but He made human beings in the image and likeness of God. Every day, in every situation, wherever we go, whatever we're doing, whatever we're saying, always remember that we are bearing the image of God! We are His representatives to the world, reflecting His image to others. Are they seeing the best possible picture of God in us? Is the image of God in us so beautiful that it draws people to Him, or drives them away? This is a wonderful privilege we've been given, and also a great responsibility.
God created all the animals, birds, fish and plants after their own kind, but He made human beings in the image and likeness of God. Every day, in every situation, wherever we go, whatever we're doing, whatever we're saying, always remember that we are bearing the image of God! We are His representatives to the world, reflecting His image to others. Are they seeing the best possible picture of God in us? Is the image of God in us so beautiful that it draws people to Him, or drives them away? This is a wonderful privilege we've been given, and also a great responsibility.
In our country, citizens can vote leaders in or out of office, but in days of old when kings ruled, they had absolute authority over their entire domain. Everyone who lived within the king's domain were his subjects. The Bible begins in Genesis 1 with an amazing display of God's power and authority, letting us know that He is King over everything. From the smallest ant to the biggest galaxy, all creation obeys His voice. But do we? Do our thoughts, our words and our actions give evidence that God is the ruler of our lives, and that we are living in subjection and obedience to Him?
To believe anything in the Bible, you must believe the very first verse in the Bible. A person who does not believe Genesis 1:1 will never believe the rest of the Bible. This opening statement declares boldly that there is, in fact, one true God who has existed forever, who created everything, and who therefore owns everything, including our lives. This single sentence, "In the beginning, God created…" makes it clear that we are not here by random chance; that our lives do have extraordinary meaning, value and purpose, and that there actually is a higher Authority to whom we must answer. Have you ever come to terms with this truth?
Take 40 people to the library and tell them to choose any books they want. Some people must choose more than one so that there are 66 books in all. What are the odds that all 66 books would be in agreement and form one continuous story? It is statistically impossible! The 66 books of the Bible were written by 40 authors from diverse backgrounds, living over a period of about 1,500 years, and yet when all 66 books are brought together, they form one complete, unified story from beginning to end. This is just more evidence confirming the Divine authorship of this amazing Book.
Do you believe the Bible is really a supernatural book inspired by God? If so, why do you believe that? Is it just because that's what you were taught growing up, but you've never examined it for yourself? Are you absolutely certain that the Bible is true and trustworthy? Today we explore some of the amazing historical and scientific evidence that demonstrates the Divine authorship of this incredible Book, and you'll have even more reasons to know that you really can trust the Bible!
Every day we are bombarded with messages telling us something else we need to buy in order to be happier, healthier or more comfortable. We are told that if we drive this particular car or wear this brand of clothes or live in this neighborhood, then we will be a notch above everyone else. But the problem is, as millions have discovered too late, none of those things are worth a dime when life is over. If we are ever going to be bold followers of Jesus, we must make absolutely sure we’re pursuing what really matters in the eyes of God.
Have you ever laid everything on the line for something? The truth is, we all take risks in life in many different ways — going from being single to being married, deciding to have children, stepping out to pursue our dream career. But have you ever risked everything for Jesus? Have you ever intentionally laid down your entire life to live His life instead? Yes, you may have trusted Jesus with your soul… but have you ever trusted Him with your life? He said if we’re not willing to do that, we will get to the end and realize we lost everything. But if we give up our life for His, we will discover what life is really all about!
Today’s advertising experts would have to admit that Jesus had the worst marketing campaign in history! Instead of advertising all the good things up front and putting the bad things in fine print, He came right out and said that if anyone wanted to follow Him, they first had to deny themselves, take up a cross, abandon every other allegiance in life, give up everything they had, and follow Him, possibly even to the death. He made it painfully clear that no one could be His disciple if they were still holding onto anything that came before Him. And still today, He requires that we follow Him, no strings attached!
We’ve all seen funny or embarrassing things happen at weddings, but just imagine how stunned you would be to hear a bride standing at the altar refusing to forsake all others and give herself to her husband alone! Yet we think nothing of entering into a relationship with Jesus that very same way. Some people say, “I want to go to heaven when I die, but I don’t want Jesus ruling over my life!” The fact is, Jesus doesn’t give us that option! He demands exclusive ownership of every area of our lives. You may have received Jesus as Savior, but have you ever invited Him to be the Lord and Master of your life?
Imagine if Jesus called you and said He wanted to come by your house that evening to speak with you for a few minutes. As you excitedly invited Him into your living room, He took a seat right beside you, then turned to you and took your hand in His. Then He looked into your eyes with incredible love, and said very gently but with great concern, “Why do you call me Lord, and do not do what I say?” Can you imagine how your heart would sink? What does making Him Lord really mean, and how can we make sure we never have to hear that question?
The last time we ever hear Mary the mother of Jesus speak is when she points people to Jesus and says, “Whatever He says to you, do it!” After this, we never hear her speak another word in the Bible. What a powerful final statement to leave with the world, and it is still the greatest advice for anyone who will listen. If we ever hope to become bold followers of Jesus, we must make these words our life’s anthem, and be willing to do whatever Jesus tells us to do.
As 2012 falls from the calendar and we stand on the threshold of a brand new year, one thing we can all say for sure is that God has given us another year of grace! We’ve had another 12 months to live for Him, to grow in Him, to bear fruit for His kingdom… but what have we done with those opportunities? Are we closer to Christ today than we were this time last year, or has our relationship with Him drifted apart? Each new year God gives us to live is another year we don’t deserve — another year of grace. What will we do with this one?
The night before Jesus went to the cross, He agonized over that step of obedience so deeply that the Bible says His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death! He asked His Father if there was any other way, but He concluded that prayer by saying, “…not my will, but Thy will be done.” Jesus was willing to surrender His future to God because he trusted His Father completely. He let go of everything that might have held Him back from total obedience. What about you? Is there anything holding you back from fully surrendering your future to God’s will?