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Why It’s Absolutely Important to Finish What You Started

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It's Absolutely Important to Finish What You Started

I once heard a very godly gentleman say when he was in the twilight of his life, ‘It takes the same dedication at seventy years of age as it did when you were twenty.’ Do we get a pass on being committed just because we are in the fourth quarter of our lives? Do we get to ‘retire’ from living like a believer in Jesus? Just because we have some age under our belts does not mean we get a break from trusting God. We have to learn the fine art of focusing. We have to know what it means to finish our race in Jesus.

[Tweet “Have you looked at your dream while you were in the secret place of God’s Presence? (Psalm 91:1)”]

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#S4-031: How You Can Know that Jesus Will Do Miracles for You [Podcast]

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Jesus Will Do Miracles for You

The scriptures speak to us loudly about miracles. The evidence of them splashes across four-thousand years of recorded Biblical history. From Genesis to Revelation, miracles jump out from the pages filling the heart with hope and expectation. Miracles should be the norm for those who have a lifestyle in God. They are the expected thing. Yet, there are some who say we shouldn’t get our hopes up. That God’s mighty power has vanished like smoke in the wind. The question though is this, where is the evidence of that claim? Where is the evidence of a God who no longer heals or who no longer divides the seas? Recorded history tells a different tale. Not Bible history mind you, secular human history itself testifies that miracles are very much alive. And that’s good news for you because that means you can have a real live miracle by the hand of Almighty God. God loves you. God cares for you and He wants you well. And, He doesn’t play favorites. If He ever healed anybody, He will certainly heal you.

Listen to the Audio

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[Tweet “If the age of miracles has passed, as some insist we believe, why was this blind man healed?”]

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How to Break A Destructive Bad Habit

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How to Break a Destructive Bad Habit

For non-smoking men between the ages of 55 through 59, there is one chance in 8197 of dying from lung cancer; light smokers, one chance in 2075; moderate smokers, one chance in 867; heavy smokers, one chance in 573. For nonsmokers between the ages of 60 through 64, there is one chance in 7092 of dying from lung cancer; light smokers, one in 1081; moderate smokers, one in 552; heavy smokers, one in 371. For nonsmokers over 65 years of age, there is one chance in 3165 of dying from lung cancer; light smokers, one in 412; moderate smokers, one in 393; heavy smokers, one in 296.1  Death by bad habits doesn’t have to be your legacy. You can overcome destructive bad habits by the power of God.

[Tweet “How long does it take to establish a new habit or break an old one? However long it takes!”]

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#S4-030: How to Locate Your God Ordained Place [Encore Podcast]

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You Can Know God's Place For Your Life

Josh McDowell told this great story. An executive hirer, a “headhunter” who goes out and hires corporation executives for other firms, once told me, “When I get an executive that I’m trying to hire for someone else, I like to disarm him. I offer him a drink, take my coat off, then my vest, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever until he’s all relaxed. Then, when I think I’ve got him relaxed, I lean over, look him square in the eye and say, “What’s your purpose in life?” It’s amazing how top executives fall apart at that question. “Well, I was interviewing this fellow the other day, had him all disarmed, with my feet up on his desk, talking about football. Then I leaned up and said, ‘What’s your purpose in life, Bob?’ And he said, without blinking an eye, ‘To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.’ For the first time in my career, I was speechless.” What about you? Do you know what your place is in God? Do you know how to find it?

Listen to the Audio

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[Tweet “If God promotes you from little to much, it is obvious that little was not your place.”]

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One Necessary Component You Need for Spiritual Growth in God

The Bridge Commentary: The Epistle of First Peter

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The Word of God is the Key to Spiritual Growth

The earliest African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in their private devotions. Each one reportedly had separate spots in the thicket where he poured out his heart to God. The several paths to these little ‘Bethels’ became distinctly marked; and when anyone began to decline in devotions, it was soon apparent to others. They would then kindly remind him, saying, “Brother, the grass grows on your path yonder.”1 Being regular in your time with God is a key to spiritual growth as the Apostle Peter lets us know in his second epistle.

Why You Don’t Have to Be Sick in Light of the Bible

[Tweet “You can be saved for a whole pile of physical years and still be a spiritual infant.”]

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#S4-029: How God Uses Dreams to Direct His People [Encore Podcast]

Secrets to Hearing God

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God Can and Does Direct His Children Through Dreams

Dreams played an important part in the lives of God’s people. Of the 116 references to dreams listed in Young’s Concordance, 52 come in Genesis during the early patriarchal period and 29 in the Book of Daniel 1. The book of  Zechariah is about eight special dreams that God gave to the prophet Zechariah, so he can tell God’s people what they mean. The dreams are all about God’s people rebuilding the temple, staying away from sin, and loving God with all their hearts2 Are you open to the Lord speaking to you in this way?

This is Part Six of the Series ‘Secrets to Hearing God’. You can find Part 1 by clicking ‘Are You Listening?‘,’Part Two by clicking ‘Are You Waiting?‘, Part Three ‘Are You Sensitive‘, Part Four ‘What’s the Number One Way God Leads You?‘, and Part Five ‘Dreams and Visions.‘

[Tweet “The Bible calls dreams night visions in Genesis 46:1-4.”]

Listen to the Audio

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How to Make Certain You Never Backslide

The Second Epistle of Peter

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Diligence os one Key to Keep from Falling

As a teenager, J. Stephen Conn sensed God calling him to be a preacher. But he felt a certain disadvantage. Because he had been saved when he was 7 years old, he would never be able to hold an audience spellbound with stories of a wicked past. So he asked God for permission to backslide — just long enough to get some experience in a life of sin to “enhance” his preaching later on. Deep within he knew that God would not answer such a request, so he decided just to preach the Bible without a dramatic testimony. Sometime later Conn wrote, “For the past 11 years I’ve been pastoring a church. I realize now what a great testimony I really have. God not only has the power to deliver from sin, He has the even greater power to keep from sin. God not only saved my soul—He saved my entire life!”1  Did you know the Bible gives you the exact path to follow to keep from ever falling? The word backslide can be erased from your thinking and vocabulary if you follow God’s prescription in the book of Second Peter.

For more on the Second Epistle of Peter please see “Why You Can Be Thrilled With God’s Excellence.”

[Tweet “giving all diligence’ is the part a believer needs to add to the mix in order to become ‘fall proof’.”]

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#S4-028: How God Communicates By Dreams And Visions [Encore Podcast]

Secrets to Hearing God

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God Can Communicate with You by Dreams and Visions

While on vacation, Bethany was speeding down a California freeway with three teenage friends. One of them, Jody, said she had dreamed the night before that they were in a serious wreck and that she, the only one with a fastened seatbelt on, had survived. Hearing that, everyone fastened their seat belts. Later, their car swerved into the grass median and rolled. The investigating officer looked at the car and said, “If you hadn’t had your seat belts on, the outcome would have been a lot different.” Where did Jody’s dream come from? 1. In this week’s podcast, we will take a look at some of the other ways God communicates through His use of dreams and visions.

This is Part Three of the Series Secrets to Hearing God. You can find Part One by clicking “Are You Listening? and Part Two by clicking “Are You Waiting?” Part Three ‘Are You Sensitive‘, and Part Four ‘What’s the Number One Way God Leads You?‘

Listen to the Audio

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[Tweet “There are many ways the Lord will lead you. He is not limited in His approach towards you.”]

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How To Build Strong Character by Refusing Compromise

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You Can Build Strong Character by Refusing Compromise

The following is a Russian parable. A hunter raised his rifle and took careful aim at a large bear. When about to pull the trigger, the bear spoke in a soft, soothing voice, “Isn’t it better to talk than to shoot? What do you want? Let us negotiate the matter.” Lowering his rifle, the hunter replied, “I want a fur coat.” “Good,” said the bear, “that is a negotiable question. I only want a full stomach, so let us negotiate a compromise.” They sat down to negotiate, and after a time the bear walked away alone. The negotiations had been successful. The bear had a full stomach, and the hunter had his fur coat. Compromise rarely satisfy both sides in equal measure.1 They are absolutely lethal to building strong God-like character.

[Tweet “Whatever you compromise to keep, you will ultimately lose.”]

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Secrets to Hearing God: The Number One Way God Leads You

Podcast: Light on Life Season Four Episode Forty-Seven

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Secrets to Hearing God: The Number One Way God Leads You

Many times people seek guidance from the Lord in ways He did not intend. An example is fleecing. It is scripturally incorrect for born-again believers to put out fleeces in order to determine God’s will. It’s always best for ‘new creation’ men to stay with God’s Word in these areas. In the pages of the Bible, the Lord Himself gave us clear instruction about how God leads New Testament children. In fact, He details for us the number one way God leads us in the affairs of life, the conscience.

This is Part Four of the Series Secrets to Hearing God. You can find Part One by clicking ‘Are You Listening?’ Part Two by clicking ‘Are You Waiting?‘ and Part Three ‘Are You Sensitive’

Listen to the Audio

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One Necessary Component You Need for Spiritual Growth in God

[Tweet “You experience the Spirit’s witness in the most important area of your life, salvation.”]

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Why Character Needs to Be King in Jesus Followers

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Why Character Needs to Be King for Jesus Followers

Robert Murray McCheyne was a Scottish minister in the nineteenth century. He was a deeply prayerful and spiritual man. To a young ministerial student, McCheyne wrote the following words on the subject of character.

I know you will apply hard to German, but do not forget the culture of the inner man—I mean of the heart. How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember you are God’s sword, His instrument—I trust, a chosen vessel unto Him to bear His name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfection of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.1

According to the purity and perfection of the instrument, will be the success. Those are good words to hear. So, let’s talk about character: what it is and how to develop it in our everyday lives.

[Tweet “Good character is formed by hundreds of decisions made over the course of time.”]

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#S4-026: Secrets to Hearing God: Are You Sensitive? [Encore Podcast]

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You Can Develop Your Heart to Be Sensitive to God

Are you sensitive in your heart to the promptings and the urges of the Spirit of God? Are you hearing  Him? Are you easily moved by His gentle manner? Developing sensitivity of heart opens you to the life of God found in Jesus. For, the Spirit of God will lead you and guide you into all the truth about Him.

This is Part Three of the Series Secrets to Hearing God. You can find Part One by clicking “Are You Listening? and Part Two by clicking “Are You Waiting?”

Listen to the Audio

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[Tweet “If you want to hear God’s voice, you have to develop a sensitivity to it.”]