No Limits with Pastor Delman Coates Podcast

All of us face moments that make us question God, circumstances that leave us wondering whether He’s really there, and seasons that cause us to doubt whether He still cares. And when that happens, spiritually speaking, we want to “go through God’s phone.” We want proof. We want evidence. We want reassurance that God is still who He says He is.

There’s a major debate going on right now among fans of the NBA, and the question they are asking is, “Which player has the best bag?” By “bag,” they are not referring to a designer pouch or athletic bag, but a player’s unique combination of skills, dribbling, footwork, and shot creation that allows them to advance the ball and score. It dawned on me in preparation for this sermon that what is tru...

As we close one year and prepare to step into another, many people are dealing with a deep sense of letdown…by jobs, by relationships, by diagnoses, by betrayals, and by unmet expectations. Some are tired, overwhelmed, fearful, and ready to give up. It is precisely in moments like this that Isaiah 40 speaks powerfully, showing God’s people how to rebound after a letdown.

We’ve all heard the popular Christmas song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” But for many people, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year. Those who lost a loved one, are struggling financially, dealing with family drama, depression, job issues, or a medical diagnosis…all of that makes this season difficult. But even in the midst of a tough holiday season, there is hope to...

I think fences are what caused Paul and Barnabas (two men who had partnered in planting churches across the Roman Empire) to reach a point where they called it quits. They had prayed together, labored together, and witnessed God’s power together, but their relationship fell apart because of fences. And some of us are dealing with a fence or fences right now. We have barriers with family members, f...

In today’s key Scripture verses, there are repressed emotions that show up as resentment. Unexpressed feelings are swept under the rug until they come out. Job speaks of hearts soured by resentment; Ephesians and Hebrews warn against bitterness that springs up and causes trouble. If we are to live the abundant life Christ offers, we must resist burying feelings alive. To do that, we must prevent r...

Many people learned this simple prayer growing up: “God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for our food. By Thy hands, we all are fed; give us Lord, our daily bread. Amen.” Saying your grace acknowledges God as the source, substance, and sustainer of our supply. It reminds us that it was God, not our credit card, that provided the meal. Grace, from the Latin gratia, means “gift.” It reminds u...

One of the oldest Thanksgiving celebrations by Europeans in America wasn’t in Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, in 1621 as most assume, but in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1610. Out of 409 settlers, only 60 survived harsh weather, food shortages, disease, and conflict. On that spring day, there was no food, no trimmings, and no football…just prayer and gratitude. They thanked God not for the trouble but wh...

The goal for us as believers is to reach a point in our walk with God where what happens in the world outside of us doesn’t adversely affect what God is doing within us. We want to have enough spiritual strength, power, authority, wisdom, and resolve to withstand every strategy and fiery dart the enemy might throw our way. Paul shows us through his letter to the Philippians that it’s possible to s...

As we travel through life, we hit potholes and rough patches that impact what holds us together. Disappointments, betrayals, tragedies, and loss can throw us out of spiritual alignment. We stop trusting, stop believing, stop praying, and drift away from God. But just as a car needs realignment to drive straight, we need to realign our lives with God’s purpose and plan. Jeremiah 18 shows us how. Th...

My daughters just turned 16 and now have their learner’s permits, so they are eager to get behind the wheel. But I had to remind them that driving is a huge responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The vehicle they drive can take them to wonderful places, but if they’re careless, it can destroy their future and hurt someone else. They must handle it with care. As I prepared this message, I...

Over and over again in Scripture, we are told “Do not fear.” I think the Lord knew how often we would need this reminder considering all that we face during our lives on this earth that could cause us to be afraid. However, because we have a relationship with Almighty God, we don’t have to fear, because He has made us more than conquerors. In today’s key text, we are given advice on how to approac...

If you listen to many Christian preachers, the impression is given that if you can just come up with the right formula in prayer, God will grant you the blessing you want and the health and healing that you need. And while I certainly believe in healing, I do not believe that God’s divine healing ought to be the starting point for thinking about a healthy lifestyle. To optimize good health and to...

Every child of God needs to know and needs to hear that they are forgiven, for when you come into fellowship and communion with Jesus, and begin cultivating and nurturing your relationship with Him, the Lord’s forgiveness means that no matter what you have done, no matter how horrible your past, and regardless of your moral transcript and profile, the good news today is that “you are forgiven.” Yo...

When Jesus called His followers “salt,” He actually bestowed upon us a badge of honor. He was giving them then and us now a sense of our identity, purpose, and function in the Kingdom. He was saying that when people ask who you are as a believer, you should be able to tell them, “I’m salty.” Being salty is not something bad, it’s something good. When we’re salty, we’re living the way Jesus command...

Growing up as a child, I vividly recall hearing gospel music playing in the house while we were getting ready for church. One song that stands out is Shirley Caesar’s “I Remember Mama.” Caesar tells how she and her siblings used to play church in the backyard. One day, while mimicking a preacher, she shouted “Jesus” three times, and on the third time, something happened. She went from just playing...

Sadly, for many people today, Sundays have lost their sacredness. Worship has become optional, something we pencil in if it doesn’t conflict with brunch, errands, football, or our to-do list. Some confuse church attendance with true worship. They think coming to church is the same as worship. But worship is not a location; it’s a demonstration. Worship is not a place you go to. It’s a posture you...

How can the church create spaces of safety and restoration for those who have been wounded by abuse in religious settings? In what ways can the church do a better job of protecting vulnerable people from spiritual and sexual exploitation? How can we as believers guard ourselves from bias when interpreting Scripture?

They call him the world’s most flexible man. Yogi Daniel is a yoga master and black belt artist who has spent his life perfecting the art of contortion. He can bend and twist his body into seemingly impossible positions, even fitting into a 14x18x18 inch glass box. It's incredible to watch, but it made me realize something. There are contortionists all around us. No, not physical contortionists, b...

Five years ago, style and image consultant Kevin Samuels became an internet sensation for his advice on relationships, dating, fashion, and success in life. He was controversial—brash, often chiding people for their looks and what he regarded as unrealistic dating expectations, and not hesitant to put people down in the process. One of his most well-known concepts was the “high-value man,” defined...

We live in a world that constantly pressures us to pursue more— more success, more money, more validation, more status. The problem with this relentless chase is that it often leaves us feeling empty, unfulfilled, and never truly satisfied. Like a hamster on a wheel, we keep running, hoping to reach a destination that always seems just beyond our grasp. But what if the secret to peace wasn’t in ac...

In today’s key passage in Ephesians, Paul is doing some cognitive restructuring. He is trying to reframe anger in our minds. He’s trying to tell people then and us now that anger is a gift that God has given us. It’s the fuel that God puts in our emotional tank to help us advocate for what matters to us. It’s to prompt us to speak up for ourselves, for the less fortunate, and for our values. And s...

It’s time to "level up"—to become better versions of ourselves by not settling for the status quo, but instead, taking intentional steps toward growth and transformation. With this in mind, we are going to explore how we can avoid stagnation and live lives that reflect God’s desire for us to grow, progress, and reach new heights. Just like Jesus’ parable of the fig tree, we are encouraged to exami...

From today’s key passage, we can learn some things about the spirit of contagious generosity in the congregation that made that exact thing possible. By reading about the Israelites, we can glean principles that can help us in our own efforts to further God’s work on the earth.

This message is a celebration of the 21 years that I’ve been the pastor of Mt. Ennon. As we celebrate 21 years of this marriage between pastor and people, I want to borrow from the late ‘80s R&B singer Glenn Jones, who said: “We’ve only just begun, the romance is not over.” That’s the theme today: we’ve only just begun. And though we’ve done great things together, there is still more God has for u...