Faith Matters Podcast

There has been a raging sin virus spreading throughout the world since the Garden of Eden. It is 100 percent deadly, and there is only one hope of a cure. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Acts 1:8

Salvation is literally a matter of life and death—eternal life and eternal death—and our presentation of the gospel to others should reflect that. "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed." - Romans 13:11

The Word of God has a power to transform the lives of people that nothing else does. Never give up the powerful weapon of the gospel as your tool to win the world to Christ. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

The Gospel isn't something to be SOLD. Soulwinning is a matter of faithfully delivering the message of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. "But there were some of them, ... preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord." - Acts 11:21

Hide it under a bushel? NO! I'm gonna let it shine! When we fail to share the gospel, we are hiding its glorious offer from those who need it most. "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 4:3

Every sinner, whether his sins are small or great in our eyes, stands condemned to death and eternity in Hell apart from God’s grace. Let us never fail to witness to anyone because of fear or prejudice. "... they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." - Acts 4:31b

How is strong is your character? Is it helpful or hurtful to your testimony? There is no substitute for a gospel witness that is matched by a gospel life. When we fail to live as we should, we forfeit what is meant to be a mainstay of our witness. Live in such a way that your conduct matches and strengthens your witness to others. "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ" -...

You have life-changing, culture-shaping, heaven-touching-earth type of influence. You have a commission to fulfill. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

When Jesus came to earth, He redefined how culture understood every woman’s potential, and He modeled it in His community. Two thousand years later, Jesus is still moving. He transforms the most broken and bloodied parts of our stories with His resurrective power. "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." - John 4:24

Jesus doesn’t need us to keep it all together, to pretend life and loss haven’t happened to us. He’s the kind of leader who tends to His leaders—even laying down His life so that they might live. "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:18 https://rumble.com/ve5gux-02.24.21-our-weary-wounded-feet.html

Are you ready to use the gifts God gave you? Our Creator, our heavenly Father, the ultimate parent, has lavished on us a generous wide range of incredible gifts, talents, skills, and abilities. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." - James 1:7

The God who created each of us in His image gives us a two-fold purpose: (1) to have a living and active relationship with Him and (2) to boldly represent Him in the world. That kind of purpose makes it worth it to push past our fears, because if there was ever a time to uncover our potential and voices—it’s now. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated y...

How can we be cheerleaders to our fellow runners? We can cheer them on by offering a timely word of encouragement and running alongside them shouting, “Come on, friend! Don’t give up! Don’t slow down! Keep going!” “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

Timing is everything. Sometimes the most powerful words are the ones we withhold and wait for God's timing. Ecclesiastes 3:1,7 says, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens…a time to be silent and a time to speak.”

Knowledge is power but gossip is not. On the contrary, it shows a lack of power . . . a lack of self-control. But it takes two to tango the gossip dance. "The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body." - Proverbs 18:8

We mentioned that loose lips sink relationships. Gossip is costly not only to the ones gossiped about, but also to the one whispering the words. So, here’s the lesson . . . let’s don’t do it! Take our concerns to the throne and not the phone. "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to...

Loose lips sink relationships. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t speak, but that we should be quick to listen and slow to speak. Some of the most poignant moments of Jesus’s arrest were the silent ones. "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent." - Proverbs 10:19

God doesn’t convict us of our sin to condemn us. He reveals our sin to clean us. While it is the Holy Spirit that gives us the power to change the words we speak, the desire to change begins in the heart. "You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." - Matthew 12:34

Each of us is given a bucket of encouragement that we are to pour onto those around us. As we dip out of our bucket and pour onto others, God miraculously fills it back up. "give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” - Luke 6:38

Have you ever said something you wished you could take back? Opening our mouth with the wrong words at the wrong time can ruin everything. “Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.” - Proverbs 13:3

Reflexes are strong, especially when it comes to the words we speak. The only way to replace those reflexes is to form new reflexes—renewing our minds with God’s truth and our practice. "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." - Philippians 1:6

Words start wars and bring peace—globally, and right in our own homes. God has given us incredible power in our sphere of influence, and it begins with the words we speak. “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” - James 3:9-10

God’s people are always called to keep the Lord first and serve no other gods. When the divine order is reversed, we forget to be on mission right where we are. "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." Philippians 4:12

How we worship is simply a reflection of our inner state. But what we worship is an indicator of our heart orientation and a sign of what is important to us. “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42

Sometimes we must choose between good and evil, but more often we must choose between good, better, and best. No matter where you are and what you’re going through, be like Mary—focused on nothing but God. "but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10:42