Abounding Love Podcast with Former ”Tex” Watson

182 - God Responds to Our Praises

God responds to our praises because we are responding to His Love -- to what He has done for us  -- His forgiveness and salvation. We respond to His goodness, to His faithfulness and to His promises. We respond to Him as He responds to our praises and in so doing, He comes into our presence, into our souls and recreates our old nature into His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). The Psalmist David sang: "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabits the praises of Israel" (Psalm 22:3, KJV). God is a holy God and He inhabits the praises of His people. At Pentecost, the church was praising God and 3,000 people were added to their number. The word "inhabit" is translated in many ways. We could say that God "occupies" the praises of His people. He "dwells" in our praises. He "abides" in the praises of His children. He "lives, permeates, pervades, and manifests" Himself in the praises of His church.
When we are born of the Spirit, God enters us, inhabiting us and changing us into His Spiritual image. Then the Holy Spirit begins to flow out of us. This is a flow of praise. As we allow Him to flow and indwell our lives, our minds are renewed so we can be used by God through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. If the devil can, he will try to stop the flow by grieving and quenching the Spirit through his devices, causing doubts and depression. But we have received power.
Luke recorded, "And they [the disciples] worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God" (Luke 24:52-53, KJV). This is a record of the early Christians, continually praising God, even though they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. In Acts, chapter 1 and 2, they received "power" (Acts 1:8). That is the manifestation of their praise. The Holy Spirit, like Jesus, came to destroy the works of the devil. Let's look deeper into these truths so that our praises can bring about the change that empowers us to defeat the works of the devil. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8b, KJV). Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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181 - Singing His Praises

A Psalm of the sons of Korah exhorts us to "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing  praises to our King, sing praises!" (Psalm 47:6, NKJV). We are urged to sing praises to God, because praise is our language of faith. In this episode, we'll look at seven (7) reasons why we should praise God. I'll share four (4) here to wet your taste. 1) Because the Lord has put a new song in our heart; 2) Because we are commanded to come before His presence with singing; 3) Because God by continuous repetition urges us to praise Him by singing; and 4) Because singing his praises pleases God.
In the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 16:16-34, we read how Paul and Silas cast a demon out of a slave girl, who was bringing in profit for her owners. They had  Paul and Silas thrown in prison. They were beaten and locked in stocks. It says they were singing praises even in this terrible situation. The Lord, in response, causes the locks to open and the jailor ends up asking: "Sir, what must I do to be saved?" (16:30, NKJV). The jailer and his entire family were saved by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, which began with Paul and Silas singing praises to God.
Ephesians, chapter 5, tells us what Spirit-filled Christians do: " . . . speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (5:19, NKJV). Faith in God's grace brings changes in our lives, and one is we sing spiritual songs. The apostle Paul admonishes us: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16, NKJV). This message expounds on these ideas, including the final three (3) reasons to sing praises to God. I encourage you to listen and sing along with me the chorus, "I've Been Redeemed By The Blood Of The Lamb!" with all your heart. Let us rejoice!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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180 - Lifting up Holy Hands

In Genesis, chapter 14, Abram returned from his victory over the king of Sodom. "Then Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him [Abram] and said: 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hands.' And he [Abram] gave him [Melchizedek] a tithe of all [spoils]. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, 'Give me the persons [captives],  and take the goods for yourself.' But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 'I have raised my hands to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you say, 'I have made Abram rich'" (Genesis 14:17-23, NKJV).
Melchizedek's role is counterpoint to that of the king of Sodom, who represents the worldly, evil path. Abram states that he's lifted his hands to the LORD God and won't have anything to do with the king of Sodom. Abram acknowledged that all he has received is from God and he does this by lifting his hands to God. When you accept anything from the enemy, the enemy claims you as his.
In Exodus 17:8-16, we have another account in history: Amalek comes against Israel. Amalek represents our fleshly desires. Our desire to do it ourselves. Amalek brings fear, but Moses has been given authority. So he holds up his hands acknowledging the victory is the LORD's. When Moses acknowledged this, God granted victory over the works of the flesh. Our lifting of our hands is a way to acknowledge our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and the victory this provides. At the end of this account we find; "Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation" (Exodus 17:16, NKJV). Our battle with the flesh is ongoing; it doesn't end. We need to lift our hands in surrender to acknowledge all we have in Christ!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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198 - In Everything Give Thanks

There are many Scriptures regarding thanksgiving. As Christians, we are to be a thank-filled people. The apostle Paul exhorts, " . . . in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (I Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV). What is the will of God? That we give thanks in everything "in Christ Jesus." This is God's will concerning each of us. When we're "in Christ", we realize and believe all we've received from Christ and this causes us to give thanks for everything, no matter what kind of problem and no matter what the circumstances; we give thanks. Why? Because we know we're walking in the victory of Christ. 
We give thanks in the good and the bad. Fact is, if we're not thanking God in the good things; when the bad things come, we certainly won't be thanking Him then. Again, we praise God whether things are good or bad; in the pleasant things and in the undesirable things. "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15, NKJV). When the peace of God rules in our hearts, we become thankful. What does "thankful" mean? It literally means to be "full of thanks." In Christ, we have the victory! Jesus overcame the world, the flesh and the Devil; and in Christ, we overcome as well. 
This empowers us to be able to give thanks in everything. Knowing who we are in Christ is key. Understanding all we've received through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, gives us reason to rejoice with thanks. Paul tells us to be thankful, and tells us how: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:16-17, NKJV). The key is grace. It's the power of God for us to be thankful. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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179 - The Lifting Power of Praise

Jesus is "The Lion of the Tribe of Judah." Judah, in Hebrew is "Yehuda." It's root is the Hebrew word, "Yadah," which means to praise. It's also the root of the word, "Hallelujah," meaning, "Praise the LORD." God is pleased by our praise. We praise Him because He gave us the victory. He is worthy of our praise. He gave Jesus to take care of every need we could possibly have. Praise is the language of faith. God wants you to have faith in Him. It takes faith in God and what He has done to enable us to say: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13, NKJV). Faith in His Word strengthens us and removes fear: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalms 27:1, NKJV). These and so many other promises become real through our faith. When we praise God, we are demonstrating our faith in Him and the promises of His Word. We praise God in all sorts of ways. But praise is a celebration of all we have in Christ; of the victory we've received. “Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver . . ." (Psalms 50:22, NKJV). This verse is not a threat. It's reminding us that only God can deliver you from the world's trouble. The Scripture continues: "Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct a right I will show the salvation of God” (Psalms 50:23, NKJV). Only God can deliver us. We are lifted up spiritually due to our praise of God and the acknowledgement of all He has done for us through His son, Jesus. You want to glorify God? Offer Him your praise. Give Him glory and honor. Your praise brings forth the promises of God. The beginning of our praise is putting our conduct "a right." Satan and the world wants to keep us from praising God. Have no fear, the love of God overcomes all fear. Join me as we explore the many ways our praise can lift us up. 
Let me hear from you - Charles
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178 - Praising God at All Times

"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15, NKJV). There's many times when we don't feel like praising God. During times of trouble, especially during catastrophic loss and unexpected death, we may become depressed and tend to avoid relationships. However, it's at those times we need to praise God most of all. We need to praise God "continually." Does this mean we are to praise God only when we "feel" like it? Perhaps we believe we're to praise God only when we're at church? But when we don't praise God during those difficult times; we end up letting the difficulties control our lives. The devil or whoever brought the problem is getting praised by our indifference to God. But once we accept what the Scriptures say, we understand we're to praise God continually, especially during the hard times. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3, KJV). When you praise Him, you'll find He becomes present in the midst of your problems. You'll see that the Lord has the solutions. That it's not as bad as the "father of lies" has made it out to be. God will bring a solution. We're to bring "the sacrifice of praise." In the Old Testament, they offered the sacrifices of animals and other things to take care of the sin in the world, then Jesus Christ came and conquered sin. He took care of the problem! So now we're to offer the "sacrifice of praise." Praise God for the solution: the death, burial and resurrection that Jesus brought. We no longer offer a bloody sacrifice, but instead praise God for the sacrifice that fulfilled all sacrifices -- the sacrifice of Jesus. Acknowledging His victory brings victory to all areas of our lives. "The fruit of our lips" is our praise brought about by God's love for us and the love we have for Him and His Son. "Giving thanks to His Name" -- Jesus.  Let's look into these facts for the benefits we receive by praising God continually.
Let me hear from you - Charles
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217 - What Happens at Salvation

This episode shares not only what happens at Salvation, but how to explain what has happened to the new believer once they are born again. I bring out twelve (12) points to disciple a new believer in the truths of what they have received. 1) The believer is delivered from the power of Satan's dark kingdom and translated into the Kingdom of God's love (Colossians 1:13). 2) The believer becomes ". . . a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17), being born anew through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ by that same Spirit that raised Him from the dead (Romans 8:11).3) The believer is given a new life, an eternal life which never dies (Titus 3:3-7), that is, we're ". . . partakers of the divine nature . . ." (2 Peter 1:4). 4) The believer is made right with God. Before receiving Christ, we were sinners, but once born again, we become right with God; even "saints" (Romans 3:23-26; Ephesians 1:1). In other words, we are made right with God by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Righteousness is the ability to stand in the presence of God without any fear, guilt, condemnation or inferiority which comes when we believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. He was delivered for our justification. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV).5) The believer is saved [made alive together with Christ] from the punishment for sin (Ephesians 2:1-5). We've been made alive through Christ, ". . . who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). 6) The believer is free from sin, the price paid through Jesus' blood, the forgiveness of sin (Ephesians 1:7).These six (6) points and six others are brought out in this message for your own edification and to equip you for evangelism; bringing people to Christ and building their faith in all we receive once saved. Join me as we look into these blessings.
Let me hear from you - Charles
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216 - Assurance of Salvation

This episode shares how we need assurance in our eternal salvation by grace through faith in the effectiveness of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is, knowing our victory through the cross. "Assurance" means "to be entirely confident in." We need confidence in the finished work of Christ! The Apostle Paul prayed: "Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints . . ." (Ephesians 1:15-18, NKJV). You have an inheritance! Paul prays that you'll have confidence that Jesus is above all things; and equally so is the church [that would be us]. Paul goes on to state: " But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7, NKJV). We become all that Jesus is in God. We can be confident in what we've inherited in Christ. This includes power to do what He requires us to do. Paul states: " . . . that I may know Him [Jesus] and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11, NKJV). Paul admits he hasn't gotten there yet, but presses on in faith to know Jesus. Join me as we explore these truths and become assured of all our salvation gives us. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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