IsntJesusAwesome Podcast

Therefore, as difficulties come, if we are to benefit from what hope offers, we must throw ourselves in abandon to God and let the God of hope work His unswerving hope in us, supplying a confident positivity toward the future.

True hope finds its grounding in the long game.  While hope that looks to immediate circumstances is easily discouraged, hope that looks at the bigger picture is less likely to waver when challenged ...

Without a true biblical hope that is energized by the Holy Spirit, we will be destined for despair....  A bad news cycle or some minor disappointment comes our way and natural hope loses its footing, wreaking havoc on our fragile emotions.

God wanted a man who could not merely spout doctrine and concepts, but who could see God and understand Him with the eyes of His heart.

In our desire to grow in Christ we must not only listen, but w must also look.  It is wonderful to listen to sermons and read the Bible, but we must also be looking with our spiritual eyes ...  

The American preacher had clout in those days, and it may seem that we have long lost that sort of influence, and that may be true in part, but we must not underestimate the power of calling.

The body of Christ needs to hear my voice because He has touched my mouth and put His words there. As a Christian, do I have the gall to actually believe that?

Do you question whether God can really use you? Do you feel ill-equipped and inexperienced? Maybe not talented enough? Well, you’re not alone. One of the great prophets in the Bible felt the same way.

What is true?  The postmodern man has to guess here, and can never be sure that he is on the right track.  To him truth is subjective to each person, thus having no basis for which to call anything true, but we who are followers of Jesus Christ have much more of a sure foundation.

The natural mind spirals downward into dark, unhealthy places where we get pounded by worry, stress, and anxiety.... So what is the answer?  

There is a time to read the Bible through in a year ... but there is also a time to hone in on the specifics, where we deepen our understanding of one or two ideas.

We must not allow ourselves to stall with our eyes on past glories, but look with anticipation and hope towards the future.

Should we feel guilty when what excites us in our relationship with Christ changes over time?  In our spiritual walk with God He says He will take us from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18). Whatever this may ultimately mean, it certainly refers to how the Lord continues to expand our understanding of His word and His heart.

As Christians there are seasons where we lose some things. It is the nature of following Christ in a fallen world with a sinful flesh that occasionally lifts its ugly head. But God, in His mercy, restores.

Timing is at the heart of an abiding life. We can rush into calling and assignments from God like a bull in a China closet and completely miss God’s timing, and miss it so bad that we do major damage.

There are times when God speaks, in the usual, yet unusual ways, and I know what I’ve heard, or at least I think I know. And here’s the challenge … what do I do? Music by Joystock - https://www.joystock.org