Category Archives: Podcast

Practical teachings from the Bible for everyday living are represented in the Light on Life podcast.

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How to Become an Expert at Swinging the Sword of the Spirit of God

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Fourteen

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How to Become an Expert at Swinging the Sword of the Spirit of God

We’ve arrived. Today, we take a look at the final piece of the armor of God, the Sword of the Spirit. What is the Sword of the Spirit? Well, the scripture says that it’s the Word of God. So, our interaction with the Bible is necessary when we engage the levels of devils that come against us to steal, kill, and destroy. One gentleman, Robert Boardman wrote an article entitled, The Neglected Exercise, What will you miss if you don’t read your Bible every day? In it, he said that in the early 1970s, he accompanied a small tour group into a country that was difficult to enter. In one city of about 500,000, we found only one church left open by the authorities. All over the city, we could distinguish former church buildings turned into museums, warehouses, offices, or military barracks. In that solitary open church, we joined about fifteen bystanders, including several youths, watching a stand-up worship service. The worshipers numbered ten elderly women, one elderly blind man, and a handful of children. A priest wafted incense and recited some incantations. Then he brought out a huge, bejeweled Bible, carefully unlocked it, and read a portion from the Old Testament and another from the New. He then locked the Bible and, to our astonishment, one by one the eleven elderly worshipers came by and reverently kissed the ancient Holy Book. As we came out of that forlorn but open church building, many thoughts raced through our minds. One thing we were sure of was that the onlooking young people were thinking, If this is Christianity, it deserves to stay in the Middle Ages. What we saw was a ritualistic, clergy-dominated religion where the people had no access to a Bible of their own. It was locked away from them. How many versions of the Bible do we have in the free world? Hundreds I’m sure. I have an invaluable study book called The New Testament from 26 Translations. Do you and I take advantage of the unlocked, abundant versions of the Bible in our homes and libraries? Or do our negligence and apathy make the Bible a locked book? That was Robert Broadman’s insightful comment. Let me ask you a question based on what you’ve heard. How does the Bible become the Sword of the Spirit that it needs to be if you treat it as a locked book? How to Become an Expert at Swinging the Sword of the Spirit of God, that’s the focus of this week’s Light on Life.

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Just Who Is Jesus to You? Encore

[Tweet “it’s not important what the devil has to say. What’s vital is what you have to say after he gets done talking. “]

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Why You Must Be Serious about Wearing the Helmet of Salvation

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Thirteen

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Why You Must Be Serious about Wearing the Helmet of Salvation

Today’s lesson brings us to the next to last piece of God-ordained armor for the Jesus lover, the Helmet of Salvation. Having the right mindset is essential for the believer. God knew that the battle for the mind would be ferocious at times. What does this helmet of salvation do for the child of God? It keeps us focused on our salvation. For example: Take a look around where you’re sitting and find five things that have blue in them. Go ahead and do it. With a “blue” mindset, you’ll find that blue jumps out at you: a blue book on the table, a blue pillow on the couch, blue in the painting on the wall, and so on … In like fashion, you’ve probably noticed that after you buy a new car, you promptly see that make of car everywhere. That’s because people find what they are looking for. What’s been getting your attention lately?1 Have you been focusing on the Helmet of Salvation? Why You Must Be Serious about Wearing the Helmet of Salvation, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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The Role of the Spirit in the Life of A Believer

[Tweet “One writer said the mind is the great battlefield. This thought is true and right.”]

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Why the Shield of Faith Is More Than a Match for Devils

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Twelve

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Why the Shield of Faith Is More Than a Match for Devils

Our study on the armor of God brings us today to the shield of faith. What an essential piece of armor this is. You know in December 2004, a single question from a young soldier touched off a media firestorm. U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld had come to deliver a pep talk to the troops at Camp Buehring in Kuwait. But the usually unflappable secretary found himself blindsided by a bold query. As news cameras rolled, Army Specialist Thomas Wilson of the 278th Regimental Combat Team asked Rumsfeld, “Why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to up-armor our vehicles?” Specialist Wilson clearly felt he was being sent into battle without proper protection. As Christians, however, we shouldn’t have that fear. Our Supreme Commander generously equips us with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. But it’s up to us to put them on and put them to use. Are you using the shield of faith?1 Why the Shield of Faith Is More Than a Match for Devils, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Manifestation of the Gift of Faith

[Tweet “Make it a practice to play healing scriptures if you get to feeling a little bit off in your body. God’s Word is medicine.”]

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How the Gospel Shoes of Peace Helps a Holy Warrior Win

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Eleven

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How the Gospel Shoes of Peace Helps a Holy Warrior Win

As we continue to look at the armor of God, we are reminded that we are to put on the shoes of peace. Peace is our message and our environment. We walk in peace, we live in peace, and we proclaim peace. We are not like those who are often likened to an army singing “Onward Christian Soldiers” where we know that we are to put on the army of God and yet we don’t take heed. Imagine Jesus reviewing the troops, who are supposed to be fresh and ready for battle. But some have fairly recent wounds, nicks in their armor, arms in slings, casts, etc. Jesus asks, “What’s the matter here? Why, are they wounded already?” “Oh, they’ve been fighting in the barracks again.”1 Oftentimes, there is more truth to that than we care to admit. No, we are to walk in peace — not in strife. Put on the preparation of the gospel of peace. But what are these shoes about? That’s the question we are going to look at in today’s podcast. How the Gospel Shoes of Peace Helps a Holy Warrior Win. That’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Seeing God: Is It Possible to Do?

[Tweet “The gospel shoes of peace also include the judgment for rejecting the provisions of this all-saving peace.”]

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The Who What When and Why Of The Breastplate Of Righteousness

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Ten

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The Who What When and Why Of The Breastplate Of Righteousness

Our study on the armor of God brings us to the Breastplate of Righteousness. Why is righteousness considered such an essential piece? Why is it a weapon for good and for God? To what extent should we go after an understanding of this valuable piece of armor? These are all good questions. The answer to this last one was demonstrated in the story of one of Sir Earnest Shackleton’s expeditions. In the Antarctic summer of 1908–1909, Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help carry the load. Weeks later, their ponies dead, rations all but exhausted, they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished. Altogether, they trekked 127 days. On the return journey, as Shackleton records in The Heart Of The Antarctic, the time was spent talking about food—elaborate feasts, gourmet delights, sumptuous menus. As they staggered along, suffering from dysentery, not knowing whether they would survive, every waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating. Jesus, who also knew the ravages of food deprivation, said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS.” We can understand Shackleton’s obsession with food, which offers a glimpse of the passion Jesus intends for our quest for righteousness.1 In the barren, and frigid world in which we live, are we to hunger after righteousness like Shackleton and his men did for food? Starving for right and righteousness, now that’s an intense thought: The Who What When and Why of the Breastplate Of Righteousness. That’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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[Tweet “One part of righteousness is ‘doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.’”]

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Why Is the Loin Belt of Truth in the Armor of God Powerful?

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Nine

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Why Is the Loin Belt of Truth in the Armor of God Powerful?

The loin belt of truth is an astounding and necessary piece of the armor of God. Truth is a big deal – can we say a super big deal, especially in dark times? I ran across this quote that raised my eyebrows. Here it is: “Little by little evangelical Christians these days are being brainwashed. One piece of evidence is that increasing numbers of them are becoming ashamed to be found unequivocally on the side of truth. They say they believe but their beliefs have been so diluted as to be impossible to clear definition.”1 My my! What a dangerous habit to not take sides with the truth. It’s lethal because the loin belt of truth is what holds all of the armor of God together. Paul listed the pieces individually for us in Ephesians six. In today’s podcast, we dive into this radical piece of God’s armor meant for the believer. Why Is the Loin Belt of Truth in the Armor of God Powerful? — that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Why Doing the Word of God Is The Ticket to Success

[Tweet “The loin belt is the first piece you put on in the list of the armor of God.”]

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How You Wrestle Against Levels of Devils and Win

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Eight

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How You Wrestle Against Levels of Devils and Win

Paul, in Ephesians 6:12, what’s us to know that we wrestle not with people. It’s not with flesh and blood, but with levels of devils. He likens this conflict to a wrestling match. If you have ever seen a wrestling match, you know it is not pretty. It is sweaty, dirty, and painful. When you wrestle, you get down and get dirty. There is no half-hearted involvement. You give it everything you’ve got, or you lose. Anthony T. Evans wrote: “I know a bit about wrestling because my brother, Arthur, was the Maryland state wrestling champion in his weight class. At his championship match, my brother weighed in at about 230 pounds and was going up against the three-time Maryland state champion, who outweighed him by 35 pounds. Before the match, a reporter asked, ‘Who is the toughest wrestler in this room?’ “My brother, humble fellow that he is, said, ‘You are looking at him!’ “The reporter looked at him and asked, ‘What makes you think you are so tough? You are about to fight the man who has won the state championship three times in a row.’ “My brother replied with a very insightful comment, ‘I know. He is bigger and perhaps stronger than I am, but I know his methods.’ “We are in a similar fight against Satan. Just as my brother needed to learn his opponent’s moves, we need to understand Satan’s moves. We need to know how he operates so that we can prepare ourselves ‘to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm’ (Eph. 6:13). No place in Scripture reveals Satan’s schemes better than Genesis 3, which records Satan’s initial contact with man. As the story unfolds, we clearly see Satan’s strategy to ruin the human race.”1. We are talking about the whole armor of God today: “How You Wrestle Against Levels of Devils and Win” all on this week’s Light on Life.

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Your Powerful Victory Over Satan the Devil

[Tweet “What we have here is Roman armor that a Jesus follower uses to wrestle Greek style.”]

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How To Put On And Step Out With The Whole Armor Of God

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Seven

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How To Put On And Step Out With The Whole Armor Of God

When the Bible speaks of putting on the whole armor of God, what does that mean? The second question we must ask is what is its purpose? Why do we need this armor? These are the questions that we are endeavoring to answer today. One gentleman wrote asking this second question using different words. He asked, ‘Is the Church an attacking force, or a fortress to be defended?’ He answered his own question by stating that the Bible declares that the weapons of the Christian pull down strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4). The gates of the stronghold of hell cannot hold out against a properly dressed believer. Why have we developed a defensive, fortress, holy huddle mentality? How do we change this nonbiblical mindset? For certain, we must change it if the Church is going to extend the Lordship of Christ over the darkness of Satan’s stronghold. Our actions are determined by our currently dominant thoughts. If we visualize the Church as a fortress, our strategy, our vision, and our measurements of success will reflect that perception. Is the Church a haven until Heaven, a refuge until the rapture?1. Those are good questions. We are homing in today on this incredible armor that the Lord has provided for us. How To Put On and Step Out with the Whole Armor Of God. That’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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[Tweet “The armor of God is spiritual attitudes that you must maintain as a believer in Jesus. “]

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What Does It Mean To Be Strong In The Power Of The Lord?

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Six

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What Does It Mean To Be Strong In The Power Of The Lord?

In Ephesians 6:10, we have the much-quoted verse, ‘Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.’ On the subject of dealing from a position of strength, President Theodore Roosevelt adopted as his pet proverb, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” He meant that if the United States had a strong military, it could work its will among the nations of the world. In 1901, Roosevelt changed the saying to “If a man continually blusters, a big stick will not save him from trouble; and neither will speaking softly avail if back of the softness there does not lie strength, power.” When Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth,” he was not speaking of armies and foreign policy, but some principles are the same. The meek Christian does not need to bluster, as if self-confidence could win the day. Whether we’re contesting a point, responding to criticism, or speaking of the hope within, we can do so in meekness, with quiet confidence. For in “back of the softness” within us lie the strength and power of God.1 The strength and power of God are what all Jesus’ followers should excel in. That’s why our focus today is answering the question What Does it Mean to Be Strong in the Lord?

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Why People Who Are Strong in the Lord Thrive

[Tweet “You can’t work up the strength you need to stand up against devils, demons, and evil spirits. This strength comes from the Lord. “]

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More of Employers and Employees: What Is the Word of God to You?

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Five

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More of Employers and Employees: What Is the Word of God to You?

Previously, we discussed the employer-employee relationship as we are admonished by the word of God. How should Jesus followers act in the workplace? Well here’s one example of how we definitely should not act. The September 2, 1996, issue of the Wichita Business Journal carried a disturbing front-page article on employee theft that began: “Everyone is honest and trustworthy, right? That’s what some clients thought when they started their small businesses. In just a short time they were out of business because of an employee skimming from the cash register and theft of warehouse goods. “A little here and a little there… who’s going to notice? You should take notice. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, approximately a third of all business failures each year can be traced to employee theft and other employee crime. “While managers and owners would like to think their employees are all trustworthy and honest, large-scale anonymous surveys have shown almost half of the employees admitted to stealing.”1 Are these disturbing facts to you? Do they bother you? Jesus followers aren’t to represent God just in the church house. They are to represent Him to the world. That’s why we are talking about – More of Employers and Employees: What Is the Word of God to You — all on this week’s Light on Life.

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Four Holy Spirit Secrets on Life and Living

[Tweet “People of integrity bring their lives in line with all that the scriptures say about what it means to live a pure and holy life.”]

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Employers and Employees: What Is the Word of God to You?

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Four

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Employers and Employees: What Is the Word of God to You?

In this week’s podcast, the book of Ephesians chapter six brings us to the subject of employers and employees and their conduct towards one another. Any organization worth its salt supplies a job description for its employees. A well-written job description allows the employee to know exactly what kind of work his employer is expecting from him. This crucial document of communication is a handy tool to have around when memories begin to fade from initial agreements. In the same sense, God has given each believer a job description. Believers should: grow in love, study to be quiet, do their own business, and work with their own hands – 1 Thessalonians 4:9–12. This prescription, written down by the Apostle Paul centuries ago, works for every occupation.1 What we need to do is bring this concept over into the workplace. Employers and employees, what is the Word of God to you, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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How Does the Prayer of Consecration Profit Your Life?

[Tweet “Paul was working within the system to change the system.”]

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How to Absolutely Guarantee a Long and Prosperous Life on Planet Earth

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Three

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How to Absolutely Guarantee a Long and Prosperous Life on Planet Earth

We are asking and answering the question, how does one live a long and prosperous life? The answer is found in Ephesians six as it relates to children’s interaction with their parents. When children obey their parents, long life and prosperity are the results. And here is where some problems arise. In 2002, only 9 percent of adults said the children they saw in public were respectful toward adults. In 2004, more than one of three teachers considered leaving their profession or knew another teacher who quit. The reason? students’ “intolerable behavior.” So said Public Agenda, a nonprofit and nonpartisan research group. In 2005, 70 percent of people surveyed said, “People are ruder than they were 20 or 30 years ago.” Among the worst offenders were children, said an Associated Press-Ipsos poll. The reason, experts say, is because of what parents expect from kids. “The pressure to do well is up. The demand to do good is way down.” Dan Kindlon, a child psychologist at Harvard University, believes most parents want considerate, polite, well-behaved children. “But they’re too tired, worn down by work, and personally needy to take up the task of teaching them proper behavior at home,” Kindlon says. He says present-day parenting has more to do with training boys and girls to compete in school or on the soccer field, but competition doesn’t teach civility. “Parents are out of control,” says Dr. Alvin Rosenfeld, a child psychiatrist. “We always want to blame the kids, but if there’s something wrong with their incivility, it’s the way their parents model for them. 1 I just didn’t get to it

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[Tweet “Long life is not left up to genetics — it’s left up to obedience to the Word.”]