Our Resolute Hope Podcast

In this continuing series, Frank explores other aspects of Paul Byrd’s faith walk, including his marriage and family and his decision to retire from professional baseball.

Frank continues his conversation with Paul Byrd, major league pitcher and author of Free Byrd, a book that details his faith in Christ, his struggles with pornography, and other personal topics.

Pastor Frank launches a four-part series with Paul Byrd, major league All-Star pitcher and long-time friend of the ministry.

Pastor Frank, Dr. John, and Joshua Gordon discuss how the church often stigmatizes those who suffer with anxiety, and they chart a path forward through intimate dependance on Father.

Guest Joshua Gordon discusses his long struggle with anxiety and how Father inspired to him to develop his book.

Often overlooked as a piece of armor, continual watchful prayer is a formidable weapon during times of spiritual warfare.  It is mighty to tear down spiritual strongholds and it sharpens our discernment into both the wiles of our enemy and the needs of those around us.

To stand against our enemy, we need the helmet of salvation and the word of God.  The first gives us understanding into who we are in Christ, which protects how we think, feel, and choose.  The other enables us to parry his cunning lies with the sword of the Spirit, Jesus Christ.

The most adaptable piece of our armor is the shield of faith.  Our faith doesn’t just deflect the enemy’s flaming darts; it  extinguishes them.  Positioning this shield correctly, that is, trusting God in every circumstance, we can minimize the suffering we receive at the hands of our enemy.

As soldiers, we must always be prepared to do battle with the enemy.  Our readiness depends on understanding the gospel of peace.  This gospel is more than just forgiveness of our sins:  it’s a comprehensive change in how we feel, think, and choose, a totally new way to live in Him.

The breastplate of righteousness is a core aspect of our identity.  In Christ, we’ve been made righteous, as approved and accepted as Jesus.  This truth protects against a key attack by our enemy:  the temptation to question who we are as believers.

Our armament from God begins with the belt of truth, which is the most foundational piece. Knowing the truth about ourselves in Christ and about our enemy and his tactics is critical if we’re to live victoriously.

Just because Father has given us His armor doesn’t guarantee it’ll do us any good.  We must put it on, sink into it and see how well it fits.  And then we must choose to use it.  We’ll not be able to stand against the enemy unless we do.

Because His children are in the enemy’s crosshairs, Father has already equipped every one of us with every spiritual blessing.  In Christ, He has given us all we need to resist the devil and live our lives so that we honor Him and lift up one another.

Elite soldiers of Jesus Christ are characterized by their intense focus on the task at hand and by their diligent preparedness and constant readiness to explain their faith in the Lord.

As good soldiers of Christ Jesus, we are to live as elite troops in Father’s kingdom, fully prepared to engage in our battle with the enemy.  But to function that way, we first must fully understand and embrace authority.

Full citizens of God’s spiritual kingdom, we are His official envoys to a foreign realm … the kingdom of darkness.  Our role is to speak and act well on behalf of our home and lift up our Lord and King so that He will draw all people to Himself.

As God’s heirs, we have immediate, perpetual access to all He is, all He has, and all He does to meet every need we have.  We can experience today … right now … the full blessings of heaven through His life in us.

When Father God adopted us into His family, He made us full sons, giving us all spiritual blessings and equipping us with all rights, privileges, and responsibilities.  As sons, we must recognize Him as our Abba, the One Who loves us dearly and gives us only His best.

Jesus cautioned that, unless we become as little children, we’ll not fully experience God’s kingdom (Matt. 18:3).  We must change how we approach life so that our first response to every circumstance is to trust Our Father, Who has it all under control.

Diakonos.  Servant, one who does things to benefit others.  Our Savior came to serve us in the ultimate way by willingly, joyfully give His life as ransom.  Being a servant involves not only what you do but also your attitude while you’re doing it.  This aspect is critically important.

Doulos.  Slave.  Jesus emptied Himself, took the form of a slave, and did the will of His Father Who sent Him.  The same applies to us.  If we wish to bear fruit in Father’s kingdom, we too must choose to be slaves.

Many believers define themselves by their behavior:  because they commit sinful acts, they must be sinners.  But God defines us by birth.  We’re His children, His holy ones, who at times make poor choices.  When we maintain that we’re sinners, we’re saying, “I know what Scripture says, but I know better.”

Because the Lord, the Holy One, lives in believers, we can’t get any more sanctified in our identity.  But we become more like the Lord in behavior as we walk in the Spirit.  Then, what’s true about us on the inside becomes more evident on the outside.

Ágios.  Holy one.  In His New Testament, Father calls us that nearly 60 times, so we won’t forget who we are in Him.  He shares His holiness with us, so much so that He even calls us by the same word He uses to describe Himself … Holy.

Pastor Frank, Dr. John, and Pastor Phelim Doherty consider the truth of Christ as Life and the challenges of teaching that in the modern church.