Jesus is Real Radio with Daniel Fusco

When you roll a small ball of snow around a snow-covered yard, it grows bigger and bigger as it gathers more snow. We could say the same for sin…the more deceit or anger we put out there just adds to the sin pile. As Pastor Daniel takes us through Jacob’s dealings with Laban, we’ll see how Jacob’s previous lies come back to haunt him, even though he’s moved on.

If you, or someone you know is on the fence about whether or not to believe God is who He says He is…you’ve probably said or heard a statement begin with “If God is real, then He will do this or that to prove it to me.” As Pastor Daniel will point out today, God isn’t a vending machine, but the Almighty who made us. If you just walk in faith, God will reveal Himself in all kinds of ways.

When God’s Word says something He means it. That’s still true when it comes to dating and relationships…but Christians still think they can date someone into belief. In today’s message, we’ll see what it meant that Jacob chose a godly woman as his wife. Not only was it a blessing for him, but a witness to his brother as well. Everything we do is seen by others…you want them to see good fruit.

If you consider how many mistakes you continue to make, despite knowing right from wrong…God’s grace truly is a miracle. But, as we find in the case of Isaac and Jacob today, we still experience the aftermath of our sin. Pastor Daniel will clarify what it means to reap what we sow, even while covered by grace.

When you’ve put your faith in God, He’s blessing you without you always knowing it. With Isaac, he continually finds water in a dry place…without trying at all, because God provides. As Pastor Daniel takes us through the account of Isaac worshiping, we’ll find that we can, and should, be worshiping Him all the time.

Although we’re not condemned by ‘the sins of our fathers’, our parents do have a lot of influence on the struggles we have as adults. Kids learn from their parents. In today’s teaching, Pastor Daniel notes that Isaac will fall into the same fleshly fear as his father, and deception will be no stranger to his grandsons, either.

Two babies, wrestling in the womb. It’s a funny picture, but for Rebekah, her babies would eventually become opposing nations. Pastor Daniel brings us an insightful look at this story of two brothers, as he likens it to a war within each of us. The flesh and the spirit, always at odds…but we can determine which one is the victor.

“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?” It’s easy to get caught up in earthly goals…working hard for a house, or vacation. But, what if your daily focus was faith? As Pastor Daniel comes to this part of Genesis, Abraham is at the end of his life, and looking back, his faithfulness is evident.

As a society, we’ve become accustomed to always having something to distract us at every moment. Even when we have an opportunity to rest, we pick up our phones. Today, Pastor Daniel will lead us to take notice of Isaac in a moment of meditation, and the power of a quiet moment with God.

When you tell your kid to clean up their room, they rarely run to the task. When God asks something of us that isn’t our own, exciting idea…we drag our feet. In today’s teaching, Pastor Daniel relates how Rebekah’s family is at first agreeable to her leaving…but then drag their feet. We’ll see who has the true servant’s heart.

A servant’s heart isn’t attention-seeking. As Pastor Daniel describes the servant of Abraham today, we’ll find a parallel between his role and what our own attitudes should be. Like the servant who seeks a bride for the son, our role as the bride of Christ is to draw people to the lover of their souls.

We are often preoccupied with the burdens and cares of this life here on earth. Abraham, as he searched for a burial place for Sarah, described himself as a sojourner, even though he was in the land God gave him. As Pastor Daniel will explain, where we place our value shows the perspective we have on our lives… temporal or eternal.

If you’ve ever had someone in authority—your boss, a police officer—appear out of nowhere…you’re startled. Even if you’re doing nothing wrong, your heart skips a beat. We can often forget that God is our ultimate authority figure and have a casual attitude towards Him…when we should have fear and reverence.

Imagine the most valuable thing in your life…and then that God asks for you to give it over to Him. That’s exactly what He asked of Abraham…his son Isaac. Without understanding, Abraham went forward in faith, and today Pastor Daniel will help us to see this story with new eyes, and how we can have faith like Abraham.

When someone recognizes how God is with you, either they’ll want to know more, or they’ll shy away. Either way, we have to live according to Him all the time…because we never know how things will play out. Today, Pastor Daniel finishes this chapter in Genesis, when Abraham and Abimilech make amends.

If you had to choose the person you imagine would be most resistant to accepting Jesus, who would it be? Has that perception kept you from sharing the gospel with them? In Pastor Daniel’s teaching today, Abraham deals with a person as if God is totally absent…when God was really working all the time.

If you’re conscious of your actions, then you’ve probably noticed that there are certain tendencies or choices that you constantly battle. For Abraham, fear has a very specific way of creeping up on him…and he repeats the same mistakes. Today, Pastor Daniel will help us to deal with those struggles, and overcome them with Jesus.

Today’s teaching from Genesis 19 is an admonition…a sobering reminder of just how far down our flesh can take us. Though the actions of the people of the city, Lot, and his daughters were extreme…all sin falls under judgment. Pastor Daniel will exhort us to apply this teaching in a way that encourages us to seek His will daily.

Remember when you were a kid, and you didn’t want to do something…so you dragged your feet, taking as long as possible to get to it? It was delaying the inevitable, and as Pastor Daniel reminds us today, we can do that with God, too. No matter how long we take, His will is still waiting for us..so let’s not delay.

When you think of a servant, you first think of actions. But serving is also about words. As believers in Jesus, we are to serve Him with everything we are…to all in need. In this teaching, Pastor Daniel will explain just how far Lot goes to protect the visitors he is entertaining…and it’s not pretty.

In prayer, you show up with a spirit of arrogance. Did you realize that? Maybe not all the time, but we’ve all gone to God thinking about all we’ve done for Him…and thinking He owes us. Reflect on your prayer life. Pastor Daniel will ask us to look at Abraham and understand how his humble boldness in going to God was in a spirit of unselfishness.

When you’re in a position to help someone, and you don’t feel like it…you can make all kinds of excuses why you shouldn’t. But, that doesn’t change what’s right. As Pastor Daniel will exhort us today, if we only do the things that feel right, we’re never going to honor Jesus. Ask Him to change your heart.

Obedience to God isn’t always easy, but the fruitful life that it affords saves us from so much hassle and heartache. For most of us, God isn’t asking us to make life-changing sacrifices very often, but we still have a hard time managing the littler things. When Pastor Daniel speaks about what it meant for Abram and his entire household to be circumsized, we begin to understand true obedience.

God knows your character. He’s always known it. In Genesis 16, He knew the character of Abram, Sarai, Hagar, and even Ishmael, an infant. None of us can claim knowledge like that. As Pastor Daniel will explain, the character of Ishmael permeates that of all his descendants. When God speaks to Abram, He makes Himself known as the Almighty, and we must remember that’s what He is to us.

In our lives, we make big messes…we involve others, we alter the course God has planned…but, we serve a forgiving Father. In today’s message, Pastor Daniel follows the course of events that led Sarai and Abram to the birth of Ishmael by their maidservant. Those events, however, were completely orchestrated by two people who thought they were helping God out…the Almighty of everything.