Category Archives: Spiritual Development

Practical teachings from the Bible for every day living.

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God’s Love for You and Methods of Divine Healing

Podcast: Light on Life Season Twelve Episode Six

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God’s Love for You and Methods of Divine Healing

God wants you well in your body to such a degree that He provided various methods where you can receive divine healing. Even doctors have faith in faith. A survey conducted by the American Academy of Family Physicians shows that ninety-nine percent of doctors believe a relationship exists between faith and physical healing. Recently, more than one thousand health-care professionals met at Harvard Medical School to examine the connection between spirituality and healing. Doctors’ faith in faith was bolstered by a California study of the effect of prayer on recovery from heart problems. About two hundred heart patients were assigned to Christians who prayed for them, while an equal number, a control group, received no known prayers. Neither group knew about the prayers, yet those who received prayer developed half the complications that were experienced by those in the control group. A similar study by the Dartmouth Medical School examined the effect of prayer on healing when the patients prayed for themselves. The death rate six months after bypass surgery was 9 percent for the general population but 5 percent for those who prayed for their own healing. And none of the deeply religious patients died during the period of the study.1 Is that amazing or what? So we’re headed out today focusing on God’s Love for You and Methods of Divine Healing — all on this week’s Light on Life.

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#S4-007: Why Divine Healing Is Better for Your Life [Podcast]

When we look at the Word of God for methods of divine healing — you will find that none of them are natural. Click To Tweet
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Why God’s Timing Is Right on the Money

Podcast: Light on Life Season Twelve Episode Five

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Why God’s Timing Is Right on the Money

Today, we are in Ecclesiastes three talking about the subject of God’s timing as we close our series on the subject of the Lord’s vision for your life. What does time and timing have to do with anything? As intelligent, detailed and sophisticated as our God is by nature, it should be easy to understand how God’s perfect timing is always at work. This story is told about Abraham Lincoln: He was out at the back of his store one day rummaging through an old barrel. He was done rummaging when he reached in and felt a couple of books. When he pulled them up, he saw they were Blackstone’s commentaries. He read those and became a lawyer, and he got into politics. Of course, we know the story: he became the President of the United States and the healer of the sore of the Civil War. It may have all started with his rummaging in a barrel.1 Do you think God had anything to do with President Lincoln finding those books at the exact time he did while he wasn’t the president? Or do you feel that such discoveries were only by chance? God doesn’t leave anything to chance. In fact, it’s never chance, it’s always God’s perfect timing. That’s the pool we are going to jump into today. Why God’s Timing Is Right on the Money — that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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More of Eight Ways to Fulfill God’s Purpose for Your Life

There is time and timing for your purpose. To everything there is a season. Click To Tweet
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Why Being Zealous for God’s Remarkable Vision is Right

Podcast: Light on Life Season Twelve Episode Four

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Why Being Zealous for God’s Remarkable Vision is Right

One trait that must characterize Jesus followers is to be zealous to carry out God’s vision for their lives. This thing about God’s plan, God’s purpose, your gifts and calling is no light matter. Yet many either underestimate or plain do not understand the vital nature of zeal. David McCullough in his book Mornings on Horseback tells [one such] story [along this line] about young Teddy Roosevelt: “Mittie (his mother) had found he was so afraid of the Madison Square Church that he refused to set foot inside if alone. He was terrified, she discovered, of something called the ‘zeal.’ It was crouched in the dark corners of the church ready to jump at him, he said. When she asked what a zeal might be, he said he was not sure, but thought it was probably a large animal like an alligator or a dragon. He had heard the minister read about it from the Bible. Using a concordance, she read him those passages containing the word ‘zeal’ until suddenly, very excited, he told her to stop. The line was from the Book of John, John 2:17: “And his disciples remembered that it was written, ‘The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.’ ” People are still justifiably afraid to come near the “zeal” of the Lord, for they are perfectly aware it could “eat them up” if they aren’t one of his. Our Lord is good, but he isn’t safe.1 Now, I know that you are not one of these who is afraid to be associated with the zeal of the Lord because I know you are one who strongly desires to do God’s will. And so, in this week’s podcast, we take a look at the subject of zeal in relation to the vision for your life. Why Being Zealous for God’s Remarkable Vision is Right, all on this week’s Light on Life.

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Are You Complacent or A Zealous Jesus Disciple?

You will have a deeper sense of satisfaction on the inside when you know you, from your heart, have consistently given God all that you have. Click To Tweet
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How to Find Your God Authorized Place in the Body

Podcast: Light on Life Season Twelve Episode Three

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How to Find Your God Authorized Place in the Body

God has both place and plan for every child of His and it is His will that you find both. This plan of His was not just ‘made up on the fly’ as we say or on the spur of the moment. God established this place of purpose before your birth. In fact, before anyone was ever born anywhere. While on a medical missions trip, one of gentlemen said, ‘When in the Belgian Congo (now Zaire), I traveled with another physician from Florida who had left a lucrative practice to work for a few months in the Ecumenical Hospital in Kimpese. We shared the same lonely cabin. After several days, I said, “John (not his real name), tell me, what are you doing over here?” Well, there was a long silence, much too long. Then, in a well-modulated Southern voice, he said, “That’s a good question. I sometimes wonder myself. You see, I have never quite found myself. I left my family to serve in World War II. All the while I was wrestling with the problem of vocation. There were times when I considered being a medical missionary. Consequently, when I read about ‘Operation Doctor,’ I thought this would afford an opportunity for me to settle once and for all if I should be a missionary. I closed my offices in Florida and here I am.”1 This Florida based physician said in effect, “I’m a doctor. I live and practice in Florida, but I have never found myself — meaning he never found his place. I’m sure this doctor was well off financially in Florida working as a physician but his place in life, his purpose in life, he had not found. You know it doesn’t matter how much money you make if you’re in the wrong place. Your social standing means little if you’re not in right standing with God as far as your purpose goes. That’s the great lesson that we can glean here. There’s no better place than your place in God. And yes, you can find your place. That’s why our focus today is How to Find Your God Authorized Place in the Body all on this week’s Light On Life.

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Are You A Passionate Seeker of Jesus?

Finding your place takes a commitment that won’t quit or make excuses. Click To Tweet
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Why Your God Given Vision Makes You Special

Podcast: Light on Life Season Twelve Episode Two

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Why Your God Given Vision Makes You Special

Looking at the life of Jesus, it becomes evident that he possessed a clear vision that directed all his actions. He serves as an exemplary figure in this regard. This vision was bestowed upon him by his Father God in heaven. Similarly, God desires for you to have a well-defined purpose in life. It is crucial that you navigate your path based on the dreams that reside within your heart. Additionally, it is essential to safeguard the vision that God has instilled in you once it has emerged within your heart. Many obstacles will attempt to discourage you from embracing this divine vision. The Lord gave you. Here’s one example. It started like so many evenings. Mom and Dad at home and Jimmy playing after dinner. Mom and Dad were absorbed with jobs and did not notice the time. It was a full moon and some of the light seeped through the windows. Then Mom glanced at the clock. “Jimmy, it’s time to go to bed. Go up now and I’ll come and settle you later.” Unlike usual, Jimmy went straight upstairs to his room. An hour or so later his mother came up to check if all was well, and to her astonishment found that her son was staring quietly out of his window at the moonlit scenery. “What are you doing, Jimmy?” “I’m looking at the moon, Mommy.” “Well, it’s time to go to bed now.” As one reluctant boy settled down, he said, “Mommy, you know one day I’m going to walk on the moon.” Who could have known that the boy in whom the dream was planted that night would survive a near fatal motorbike crash which broke almost every bone in his body, and would bring to fruition this dream 32 years later when James Irwin stepped on the moon’s surface, just one of the 12 representatives of the human race to have done so?1 James Irwin had challenges to the vision in his heart but he overcame them and so can you. Why Your God Given Vision Makes You Special, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Why God’s Love and Direction Are a Match Made in Heaven

Aren’t you glad Jesus fulfilled the vision for His life? Know that here are people right now on Planet Earth, who are going to feel the same way about you for filling your vision for your life. Click To Tweet
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How You Can Chart Your Course by the Vision in Your Heart

Encore Podcast: Light on Life Season Twelve Episode One

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How to Chart Your Course By the Vision in Your Heart

You can chart your course and explode with the power of vision. Soon after the completion of Disney World, someone said, “Isn’t it too bad that Walt Disney didn’t live to see this?” Mike Vance, creative director of Disney Studios, replied, “He did see it—that’s why it’s here.” 1. Vision is vital.  January is the time of the year where people try to catch a new vision. They think about things like resolutions, goals, and direction for the upcoming year. During this time of the year, they make choices and adjustments. They are sensing that some things in their life need change – need improvement. So, they use the January 1st date as a trigger to do better than they did the previous year. Striving forward is a good thing but, while we are looking ahead, it’s also good to look up – to look to the Lord for vision and direction. Explosive vision is seeing things invisible. Do you have a new vision for this new year? In this week’s podcast, we look at ‘How You Can Chart Your Course by the Vision in Your Heart.’ All on this week’s Light on Life.

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Is Giving Jesus Everything Worth The Risk?

[Tweet “Vision is a picture of what God wants to do if we get out of the way and let Him do it.”]

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What’s the Powerful Lesson of the Star of Bethlehem?

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Fifty-Two

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What's the Powerful Lesson of the Star of Bethlem?

The Star of Bethlehem was part of the plan of God established before the world was created. Over time, specific events occur to highlight different aspects of God’s wisdom and plan. Today, we will examine the birth of Jesus from this perspective. Additionally, we will explore a thought-provoking question regarding one of these events: the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem. The question is: “What would have occurred if the Star had never appeared?” This week’s edition of Light on Life will delve into the powerful lesson behind the Star of Bethlehem.

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Just Who Is Jesus to You?

[Tweet “God’s plan for your life was thought up and set in motion before the foundations of the world.”]

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Why the Holy Spirit Connection between Morals and Thanksgiving Matters

Encore Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Forty-Eight

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Why the Holy Spirit Connection between Morals and Thanksgiving Matters

This is Thanksgiving week, and it just so happens that we are coming to a verse in Ephesians chapter five that contains an admonition to thankfulness. How cool is that? Right on time — right on target. So, thankfulness is the subject today, and Mark Tidd of Webster, New York, describes an experience from his college days in line with this theme. He said, — An old man showed up at the back door of the house we were renting. Opening the door a few inches, we saw his eyes were glassy, and his furrowed face glistened with silver stubble. He clutched a wicker basket holding a few unappealing vegetables. He bid us good morning and offered his produce for sale. We were uneasy enough that we made a quick purchase to alleviate both our pity and our fear. To our chagrin, he returned the next week, introducing himself as Mr. Roth, the man who lived in the shack down the road. As our fears subsided, we got close enough to realize it wasn’t alcohol but cataracts that marbleized his eyes. On subsequent visits, he would shuffle in, wearing two mismatched right shoes, and pull out a harmonica. With glazed eyes set on a future glory, he’d puff out old gospel tunes between conversations about vegetables and religion. On one visit, he exclaimed, “The Lord is so good! I came out of my shack this morning and found a bag full of shoes and clothing on my porch.” “That’s wonderful, Mr. Roth!” we said. “We’re happy for you.” “You know what’s even more wonderful?” he asked. “Just yesterday I met some people that could really use them.1

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Who Do You Say Jesus Is to You?

[Tweet “When it comes to being compassionate, there is no better example than God the Father.”]

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How to Understand the Three Dimensions of Man: Spirit, Soul, and Body

Encore Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Thirty-Nine

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How to Understand the Three Dimensions of Man: Spirit, Soul, and Body

The Bible informs us that there are three dimensions of man: spirit, soul, and body. We also know that the Holy Spirit of God indwells all believers. So what is the communication like between God who is a spirit and man? It’s somewhat like the communication that occurs with radios, TV, or WiFi. There must be a link between the receiver and the transmitter. When we listen to a broadcast, there are many sound waves all around us, but the only way for us to become aware of them is to have an appropriate receiver able to catch them and make them audible. We would never know that anyone was talking to us from a distance if we expected our heads to pick up the sound waves. There is only one way in which man can know God, and that is through man’s own spirit. God is a Spirit and can be known only by a spirit. We must not expect to feel Him with our fingers or see Him with our physical eyes. It cannot be done. Yet that which can be perceived only by the spirit of man is just as real as that which can be perceived by his physical senses.1 That’s why we are talking about How to Understand the Three Dimensions of Man: Spirit, Soul, and Body – all on this week’s Light on Life.

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Conscience and the Inward Witness: A Look at the Spirit Led Life

[Tweet “Give place to prophecies because that’s one way He moves when the Church come together.”]

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Your God Given Right to Use Jesus Name Now and Forever

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Twenty-Four

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Your God Given Right to Use Jesus Name Now and Forever

In today’s podcast, your God given right to using Jesus Name is our focus. Jesus Name and His works go hand in hand. Miracles can occur because of the use of Jesus Name. On this thought of miracles, I know we have hit this from multiple angles. How about we take another shot at this but from the negative point of view. Have you ever thought, Why are there so many false miracles that are claimed by almost all religions (non-Christians and pseudo-Christians)? Similarly, Why are there so many false revelations (“God spoke to me”)? Could it not be possible that there are false miracles and revelations because there is one real miracle worker (God) who does authentic miracles for His purposes? Just as there can’t be a shadow without light shining through a real object to make the shadow, there must be true miracles that are mimicked by false miracles. And there would be no “knockoff” drugs to imitate the real drugs if the real drugs didn’t exist. Could it be that there are so many false religions because there is a truer one? Therefore, we can’t conclude that there are no true miracles because there are so many false ones. On the contrary, we must say the opposite: There are true miracles because there are so many false ones.1 I think that’s well said. The existence of the false indicates that there has to be a real. Your God Given Right to Use Jesus Name Now and Forever, is what we are covering today all on this week’s Light on Life.

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#010: Questions to Ask Jesus about Lost People [Podcast]

What is His big dream? If you want to know, you will find the answer in the first book of the Bible and in the last book. Click To Tweet
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Powerful Jesus Truths about God the Father on High

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Nineteen

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Powerful Jesus Truths about God the Father on High

Today, we delve into John fourteen, where Jesus imparts profound truths about our heavenly Father, God. It’s astonishing how, amidst the explosion of knowledge in the past fifty years, many have overlooked the fact that the most crucial knowledge one can possess is knowledge of God. Who is He, and what is He like? Let’s consider a hypothetical scenario: if we were to discover inhabitants on other planets, the achievement of sending men to the moon pales in comparison to sending them to heaven. Understanding God takes precedence above all else. 1 Now, when we speak of knowledge of God in this podcast, we’re not referring to generic knowledge. For instance, acknowledging that God created the Heavens, and the Earth is a valid statement. However, there’s a significant difference between this general statement and a more personal one, such as “God, my heavenly Father, created the Heavens and the Earth for me.” Both statements hold truth, but the latter establishes a deeper, more intimate connection. I’m specifically talking about knowing God’s present characteristics and understanding Him in a personal way, as if we are walking together and sharing our lives. That’s why today, our focus is on the “Powerful Jesus Truths about God the Father on High.” Join us as we explore this topic on this week’s episode of Light on Life.

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More What to Do When You Feel Like Giving Up

 

Everyone wants to know the answer to the question: ‘What is God like?’ More individuals have asked this question than any other. Click To Tweet
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Why You Need To Know Who You Are In Christ

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Seventeen

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Why You Need To Know Who You Are In Christ

As Paul closes out his segment on the division, the boasting, and the immaturity that was in this church, he ends chapter one with the marvelous reality that God placed us ‘In Christ.’ ‘Because of Him you are in Him, is what Paul states. But, what does that mean to be ‘in Christ?’ Tony Evans shared an object lesson that highlights one aspect of what it means to be ‘in Christ.’ Here’s his illustration. Tony said, “I’VE GOT three envelopes: a big one, a smaller one, and a smaller one yet. I’ve also got a slip of paper. [So, three envelopes — one piece of paper] The Bible says that we are in Christ and that Christ is in us. The smallest envelope has “Tony Evans” written on it. The slip of paper has “Jesus” written on it. The Bible says that when Tony Evans accepted Jesus Christ, He came inside of Tony Evans. Christ, [so we take] the slip of paper, [and we put it] inside the envelope that represents Tony Evans. But, not only is Christ in Tony Evans, but [it’s also true that] Tony Evans is in Christ. The slip of paper Christ is in Tony Evans, but when Tony Evans accepted Christ, Tony Evans came inside of Christ. [that’s the second envelope] I put the Tony Evans envelope into the Christ envelope. Now, the Bible says that Christ is in God. [God the Father is the third envelope] So we’re going to slip the Christ envelope into the God envelope. [So, what you see on the outside is a single envelope marked God on the outside. [So, where is Tony Evans now? You can’t see him.] So in order to now get to Tony Evans, you’ve got to go through God, and then you have to go through Christ, and after you’ve gone through God, and gotten through Christ, then [and only then] you get to Tony Evans. However, when you’ve gone through God, and gotten to Christ, and think you’ve have gotten ahold of Tony Evans, when you open up Tony Evans, he’s full of Jesus Christ. So I am in Christ, Christ is in me, Christ is in God, God is in Christ, so I am well covered by Jesus Christ and His heavenly Father.1 This is a marvelous illustration which shows that as long as you remain in Him, you are safe and secure. That’s why in this week’s podcast, our focus is ‘Why You Need To Know Who You Are In Christ’ — all on this week’s Light on Life.

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Why Boasting Is Never Beautiful for Those Born Again

Jesus is in you and He is the Word and the Word is Wisdom. You access His wisdom via the Holy Spirit. If you want to know something — just ask. Click To Tweet