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Why God’s Big Dream Will Make You Stunningly Happy

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Twenty-Three

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Why God's Big Dream Will Make You Stunningly Happy

God’s Big Dream is our point of emphasis today as we continue to talk about doing the works of Jesus. God is a worker! Perhaps you’ve never thought of Him that way. But that’s how He first appears in the Bible. In the creation account in Genesis 1 and 2, you will find that God wears multiple occupational hats: we are talking strategic planner, designer, civil engineer, real estate developer, project manager, artist, and many more. Using His skills, God created something that was “very good” (1:31). Furthermore, God continues to work. That’s what Jesus shared about His Father in John 5:17 — “ My Father is working until now, and I am working.” God maintains the creation and provides for His creatures. He also carries out the work of salvation using people like you and I to help Him accomplish these tasks.1 Do you like the idea of being a co-worker with God to bring His Big Dream to pass? If you do, stick around for this week’s podcast as we focus on “Why God’s Big Dream Will Make you Stunningly Happy” all on this week’s Light on Life.

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#S2-051: How to Cultivate Gods Presence in Your Life Encore [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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Why Miracles Matter Now and Forever

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Twenty-Two

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Why Miracles Matter Now and Forever

If you’re acquainted at all with the gospels and the works of Jesus, you’ll know that miracles matter. They were prevalent during the three and half years of His ministry. But, what about afterward? Well, in this podcast, we will take a look at what happened post Jesus. That is what happened miracle-wise after Jesus ascended back into heaven both in the early church and in the later as well. Just as in Jesus day some refused to believe despite the work of God so it is today. Voltaire, a product of the period in history known as the Enlightenment, said that if he and one thousand men in Paris saw a miracle before their very eyes he would rather disbelieve his eyes and the eyes of the one thousand than to believe in the miracles.1. You see during the Enlightenment reason rose to the ascendancy. We will talk a little bit about this in this podcast. But just because some refuse to believe that God still does miracles does mean they don’t occur? No, God’s Word is true and eternally remains that way. Miracles matter and they happen even today — in fact, it matters much more today. But no matter what some just won’t believe. A pastor was once talking to an agnostic and was trying to convince him and convert him to Christ. “Speaking of miracles,” the pastor said, “if a man jumped out of a ten-story building and did not die, would that not be a miracle?” “No,” said the agnostic, “it would only be an accident.” “Then what if he jumped out the second time and he didn’t die. Wouldn’t you say that would be a miracle?” “No, that would be a coincidence.” “Then what if the third time? Wouldn’t that be one?” “No, that’s just a habit!” You see to accept miracles is to give God credit. Now what, well you are stuck with the rest of who God is and what He said about you. We’re talking the miraculous today, Why Miracles Matter Now and Forever, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Holy Spirit Encounters with Lost People

 

Miracles matter. We have a big God and because of it, big results should go hand in hand. Click To Tweet
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Why Your Doing Jesus Powerful Works Is Right

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Twenty-One

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Why Your Doing Jesus Powerful Works Is Right

Concerning the works of Jesus, the Spirit of God made an astounding statement to the disciples in John fourteen. Listen to what He said. ‘The works that I do shall you do also and greater works than these shall you do.’ What kind of works did Jesus do? Well, Miracles for one. Miracles in the New Testament are essentially expressions of God’s salvation and glory. Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus answered this question Himself. When in prison, John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to Jesus to see if He was the “one to come” (Matthew 11:3). Jesus told them to inform John of what He had done: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor” (Matthew 11:5). With these words, Jesus declared that His miracles were the fulfillment of the promises of the Messiah’s kingdom.1 You know what? They still are. Jesus said, His church are to do his works. So, that means we better get busy and understand and know something about this area. Why Your Doing Jesus Powerful Works Is Right, that’s our focus on this week’s Light On Life.

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Three Things Jesus Did that You Can Do

If you believe John 3:16 God so loved the world, you can also believe John 14:12, 'the works that I do shall you do also.' Click To Tweet
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Why It’s Revolutionary For You to Know What God’s Like

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Twenty

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Why It’s Revolutionary For You to Know What God’s Like

What is God like? What kind of God is he? How may we expect him to act toward us and toward all created things? This is a marvelous question that we started to poke our noses in last week’s podcast. A.W. Tozer wrote that “Such questions are not merely academic. They touch the far-in reaches of the human spirit, and their answers affect life and character and destiny. When asked in reverence and their answers sought in humility, these are questions that cannot but be pleasing to our Father which art in heaven. To our questions God has provided answers—not all the answers, certainly, but enough to satisfy our intellects and ravish our hearts. These answers he has provided in nature, in the Scriptures, and in the person of his Son. As sunlight falls free on the open field, so the knowledge of the Holy God is a free gift to men who are open to receive it.” Tozer went on to say, “God has revealed himself to us in three ways. One, He is one God. Two, His attributes are not added-on qualities, but aspects of his essential being. Three, knowing him is both the easiest and most difficult thing in the world. I don’t know about you but knowing God sounds like a fun adventure. That’s why in today’s podcast, our focus is on ‘Why It’s Revolutionary For You to Know What God’s Like.’ All of this on this week’s Light on Life.

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#S3-011: What’s the Value of a Good Name? [Podcast]

What is God Like? He is the Commander and Chief of the Universe. 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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Biblically Secrets to a Healthy Heart in God

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Eighteen

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Biblically Secrets to a Healthy Heart in God

As we switch over to John’s gospel, chapter fourteen, the subject of having a healthy heart comes to the surface. Of course, the heart we are referencing is the spirit of a man and not the human blood pump. But, there are parallels between the two. You know when Dr. Christian Bernard performed the first human heart transplant, [we are talking about ‘healthy hearts’ today] the medical world basked in the glow of human achievement. Sick and dying people were given hope that in receiving a brand new heart, their lives would be extended. As great as this is, it pales in comparison to what God has done for His kids. He has been in the heart transplant business for a much longer time and, unique to His surgery, His patients live forever. When a new life enters the world, a new heart enters the world as well. There is no life apart from a physical heart. So it is with the Jesus follower: the believer receives a new heart when he says ‘yes’ to Jesus and receives a new life in Christ Second Corinthians 5:17 style. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation and with it he has a new heart.1 In this week’s podcast, we look at aspects of our decision making that keeps our heart super healthy, vibrant, and strong — ‘Biblically Secrets to a Healthy Heart in God’ — that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Why the Jesus Way Means Total Trust All the Time

 

Feelings and the facts of God’s Word are not the same. Stick to the facts — sidestep your feelings. Park them in the garage of God’s Word. 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
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Why Boasting Is Never Beautiful for Those Born Again

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Sixteen

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Why Boasting Is Never Beautiful for Those Born Again

No human being should consider boasting of his or her accomplishments. Prideful boasting is never best. Meekness of humility is what’s appreciated by God and man. The Word of God says “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” — you find that reference in Matthew five and verse five. Illustrating this truth a drunkard of a husband spent the evening with his happy friends at a bar. He boasted that if he took all of his friends to his house at midnight and asked his Christian wife to get up and cook supper for them, that she would do it without complaint. The crowd that heard this drunk man boasting dared him to do it and bet money that he was full of bologna. So the drunken crowd went home with him and he made the unreasonable demands of his wife. She obeyed, dressed, came down, and prepared a very nice supper just as quickly as possible and served it as cheerfully as if she had been expecting them. After supper one of the men, a little more sober than the others, asked her how she could be so kind when they had been so unreasonable, and, also when they knew she did not approve of their conduct. Her reply was, “Sir, when my husband and I were married, we were both sinners. It has pleased God to call me out of that dangerous condition. My husband remains in it. I tremble for his future state. Were he to die as he is, he will be miserable forever; I think it my duty to render his present existence as comfortable as possible.” This wise and faithful reply affected the whole company. The husband thanked her for the warning, and gave his heart to Jesus and became a way better husband than he had ever been.1 God turned the foolish boasting of this man – a lesson he hopefully clung to for the balance of his days. Why Boasting is Never Beautiful for Those Born Again — that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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#S4-020: Humility: How to Put On God’s Glory Suit [Podcast]

Why Boasting Is Never Beautiful for Those Born Again Click To Tweet

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Why Your Powerful Victory Over Satan’s Wisdom Is Certain

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Fifteen

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Why Your Powerful Victory Over Satan's Wisdom Is Certain

Did you know that your victory over Satan’s wisdom is a sure thing? Now, don’t be afraid to ask questions, that is a motto to live by. It is important to ask questions when we don’t understand something. We need to set aside our ego and acknowledge that we don’t know everything, as this is how we mature. However, we must not mistake this attitude for the rebellious “question authority” movement of the past. That is simply a disguise to do whatever one wants to do with no restraint. It is crucial to remember that God ordains the powers that be [Romans 13.1]. We should question things and not blindly accept everything we hear as truth. For example, if a minister claims a Bible verse says something, we should give him credit for his honesty and faithfulness of heart in declaring the Word, but feel empowered to verify. Checking things out for ourselves is how we make truth our own. When you put the work in, these verified facts become ‘thus says the Lord’ instead of ‘thus says the preacher.’ Failing to slow down, and think, leaves us open to great folly because, if the well-intentioned information is erroneous, it will not produce results.

There is a story that Napoleon often told to illustrate this point. Once, while visiting a province, he encountered an old soldier who had lost one arm in battle. The soldier was proudly wearing the coveted Legion of Honor on his uniform. Napoleon asked him where he had lost his arm, and the soldier replied that it was at the Battle of Austerlitz. When Napoleon praised him for receiving the Legion of Honor, the soldier humbly considered it a small token for his sacrifice. Surprised by the soldier’s response, Napoleon commented that he must be the kind of man who regretted not losing both arms for his country. In a bold move, the soldier immediately cut off his remaining arm, hoping to receive a double Legion of Honor. This story circulated for years, highlighting the importance of questioning and critically thinking before blindly accepting what others tell us.1

In today’s podcast, we delve into the certainty of our powerful victory over the world’s wisdom, which is ultimately doomed to fail. Join us as we explore this topic in this week’s episode of Light on Life: “Why Your Powerful Victory Over Satan’s Wisdom Is Certain.” All on this weeks Light on Life.

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Are You Flowing in God Given Authority?

Why Your Powerful Victory Over Satan’s Wisdom Is Certain Click To Tweet

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How to SpotLight God’s Wisdom In Your Every Day Life

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Fourteen

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How to SpotLight God’s Wisdom In Your Every Day Life

We are putting a spotlight on God’s wisdom this week because of Pauls’ First letter to the Corinthians. One gentleman shared his trek in trying to acquire the wisdom of God. He said, ‘Shortly after my conversion in 1973, six of my young Christian friends and I met one evening to talk about our faith. We had been reading our Bibles and had decided to pray for the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12.’ He went on to say, ‘I was young and zealous, so I asked for wisdom. I knew that God was wise [that’s what Romans 16:27 says]. And I knew that I needed what He had. I sensed the presence of God as we prayed, and I vividly recall my deep conviction that He would answer my prayer. In the days and months that followed, the Holy Spirit began to provoke me with the following passage: “My purpose is that…they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” [Colossians 2:2–3]. These verses contain a vital truth, but I did not understand it. In some mysterious way, Christ’s life and death reveal God’s hidden wisdom. Try as I might, I could not see it. I saw obedience, suffering, love, and courage. But His wisdom just wasn’t as obvious to me. I began praying: “Father, I want to understand why Your wisdom is a treasure. Let me see the value of Your wisdom. Let me see where You have hidden it in the life and death of Your Son.” Twelve years passed. [You know sometimes we are asking questions way beyond where we are. That means we must grow into the answer.] For some reason, I purchased the 17th–century classic The Existence and Attributes of God by the Puritan scholar Stephen Charnock. He devoted 107 pages to a detailed biblical study of God’s wisdom. One sentence in particular was life changing for me.’ “Wisdom consists in acting for a right end.… He is the wisest man that has the noblest end and the fittest means, so God is infinitely wise; as He is the most excellent being, so He has the most excellent end.” ‘As I read, God enlightened my understanding. For the first time, I saw that genuine wisdom consisted of the pursuit of God’s ultimate end, His glory, with God’s means, a life of sacrificial service. By contrast, “earthly wisdom” pursues its own glory (or another lesser end) using a selfish means, such as control, manipulation, or domination.1.’ That’s a marvelous testimony of how one man acquired some life changing wisdom. How to Spotlight God’s Wisdom in Your Every Day Life, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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How To Find Your Ultimate Calling for Your Life

How to SpotLight God’s Wisdom In Your Every Day Life Click To Tweet

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Why Total Confidence in the Cross Means Ultimate Wisdom

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Thirteen

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Why Total Confidence in the Cross Means Ultimate Wisdom

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he emphasizes the immense power of Jesus’ Cross. This can be found in verse seventeen of chapter one. Moving on to verse eighteen, Paul mentions the significance of the ‘word of the Cross’ and its superiority over the word of the world. It’s clear that this message will resonate with many. Interestingly, an illustrator has praised Pittsburgh’s airport, stating that it is among the largest and most well-equipped in the entire nation.Two seconds in flying time from the airport and in direct line with one of its busiest runways is the steeple of Union Church. “Ever since the terminal opened,” said the pastor, William R. Ruschaput, “planes have buzzed the belfry [a belfry is the part of the steeple that houses the bell] — planes have buzzed the belfry like bees after honey. It got so bad that low-flying jets turned our Sunday evening services into sudden prayer meetings.” Reluctant to have their steeple carried away by some careless and unwary pilot, the church topped it with an eight-foot neon-lighted cross. The church is on the highest point near the airport and planes can see at night the lighted cross all the way from the Ohio border. One pilot made this interesting comment regarding the lighted cross: “Most of us are using it as a guide to the field.”1 The focus of this week’s podcast is the Cross as a guide and why having total confidence in it leads to ultimate wisdom — That’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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What Does A Real Disciple of Jesus Look Like?

Why Total Confidence in the Cross Means Ultimate Wisdom Click To Tweet

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Why a Spirit of Division is Not Your Way

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Twelve

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Why a Spirit of Division is Not Your Way

In First Corinthians, Paul addresses the division prominent in the house churches of the city. Simply stated, division is a wall between two sides. In the 1960s, the Communists of East Germany erected the Berlin Wall to prevent East Germans from uniting with West Germans. Many individuals lost their lives while attempting to climb the wall that separated the East from the West, proving that this barrier was not innocent. This wall of division separated friends from friends and family from family. The result brought death and despair. The wall would stay up forever, it seemed. But God had another plan. A global wave of nationalism and the desire for freedom swept up the people in Communist countries, turning the Communist world upside down. The Berlin Wall had no power against the forces of unity and freedom—and it fell, becoming prize souvenirs for collectors. Types of Berlin Walls are built every day in churches and between believers. There is no wall worth the cost of division. The only way to keep the unity of the Spirit in the church and between believers is to remain in the Spirit.1 That’s what Paul endeavored to get over to the Corinthian Church. It’s a lesson we should strive to learn and operate in as well in the days of our generation. Why a Spirit of Division is Not Your Way, that’s our focus of this week’s Light on Life.

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Why Unity Is Essential in All Things God

Why a Spirit of Division is Not Your Way Click To Tweet