Abounding Love Podcast with Former ”Tex” Watson

342 - How to Build Your House

In this episode, I use the physical process of construction as an analogy for building Christian character and Spiritual growth. Drawing from Luke 6:46-49 and Matthew 7:24-27, I emphasize that a solid Spiritual life must be founded upon the "Rock," which is Jesus Christ, achieved by both hearing and doing His word. A life built on this foundation remains unshakable during the "floods" and "storms" of life, whereas building on "sand" -- representing a life of not listening to or doing God's word -- leads to great ruin. This Spiritual building process begins by entering the "straight gate" and walking the "narrow way" described in Matthew 7:13-14, rather than the broad road of the world.
Beyond the foundation, I outline several essential steps for construction, including choosing the right "neighbors" by being wary of false prophets and seeking those who produce good fruit, as instructed in Matthew 7:15-20. The "blueprint" for the house is the Word of God,  which represents His will for the believer's life. The "main structure" should be built with "precious things" like gold and silver -- Spiritual treasures that can withstand the "fire" of judgment -- rather than worldly "wood, hay and stubble". Finally, the " finishing touches" involve laying aside sin and looking to Jesus as the "author and finisher" of our faith, according to Hebrews 12:1-2. Ultimately, this diligent work on one's earthly "Spiritual house" prepares the believer for an eternal house in heaven, not made with hands. Join me as we delve into building your house for the glory of God to shine forth into the world. Selah!
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341 - How to Get Help

In this episode, I share that true help is found exclusively in Jesus Christ, addressing both physical ailments and, more critically, spiritual sickness. Drawing from Matthew 9:27-31, I recount the story of two blind men who sought healing, noting that while physical blindness is a "bad disease," a spiritual blindness to the Kingdom of God -- as prophesied in Isaiah -- is far worse because it is rooted in sin and death. I explain that these men recognized Jesus as the "Son of David," the prophesied Messiah who came to rescue humanity and "bruise the head of the serpent," fulfilling the words of prophets like Jeremiah and David, who spoke of God sending His Word to heal.
To receive this help, I outline a specific path modeled by the blind men: following Jesus, crying out for mercy, and confessing faith with one's mouth. I stress that faith is the essential condition for transformation, citing Romans 10:17, which states that "faith cometh by hearing the word". The climax of the message focuses on Jesus' question, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" and the subsequent healing based on their affirmative response: "According to your faith, be it unto you" (Matthew 9:27). I conclude that when a person is born again, their spiritual eyes are finally opened to see the love and beauty of Christ, leading to a transformed life and an irrepressible desire to share Jesus with others, like the two blind men, who ". .  . spread the news about Him in all that country" (Matthew 9:31). Join me as we delve into this inspiring message to build your faith in the healing power of the Word of God. Selah!
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85 - Witnessing the Kingdom - Acts #7

In this final episode in the Acts of the Apostles on witnessing the Kingdom, I share how the Kingdom is eternal, where ". . . those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:17, NKJV). Because the Kingdom of God is within us, we have the Spiritual power to overcome Satan, who is "diametrically opposed" to God's realm. The Word of God is our offensive wea pon to cast out devils by the "finger of God" (Luke 11:20), and "casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:5, KJV). Ultimately, the Kingdom isn't defined by physical things like meat and drink, but by righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), allowing us to maintain a heavenly citizenship while walking on earth.
I share how we possess the same creative power that God used to speak the world into existence through the Spirit of faith. This faith requires us to believe and then speak, as "our words have creative power" when spoken in love. "We having the same spirit of faith . . . I believe, and therefore have I spoken" (2 Corinthians 4:13, KJV). Faith serves as the "substance of things hoped for" and the "evidence of things not seen", mirroring how the worlds were framed by the Word of God (Hebrews 11:1, 3). We are to "walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7), focusing on the eternal realm rather than the temporal, physical world. By looking at the things not seen, we recognize that our afflictions are merely "light" and "for a moment" compared to the eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Join me as we sum up this powerful series with an anointing from God's that will be contagious to your Spiritual life. Selah!
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84 - Witnessing the Kingdom - Acts #6

In this continuing episode in the Acts of the Apostles, I define the Kingdom of God as a spiritual realm of eternal love where God lives and reigns forever. This kingdom isn't visible to the physical senses but is accessed through the eye of faith, which allows believers to see and operate according to God's Word rather than circumstances. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, I emphasize that while the "outward man" is perishing, the "inward man" is being renewed daily through God's Word, allowing believers to view light affections as temporary compared to the eternal weight of glory. And by renewing our mind, we can move from a worldly perspective to a spiritual one, becoming "love beings" who create and speak life just as God does.
I share that Jesus Christ brought His kingdom to earth and was the only one to perfectly fulfill the Abrahamic covenant, demonstrating the life of blessings promised in Deuteronomy, chapter 28. Also, because of Jesus' death, burial, resurrection and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, believers are now recreated in God's image and seated in the "heavenly places," far above worldly powers and principalities, as described in Ephesians 1:19-21; 2:6. In this eternal kingdom, believers are called to reign as kings, living in a "spiritual time zone" where the pressures and clocks of the world lose their meaning, replaced by peace, joy and liberty found in God's presence. Join me as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and learn to live with a daily perspective of the Kingdom of God. Selah!
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83 - Wintessing the Kingdom - Acts #5

In this insightful episode, I continue in the Acts of the Apostles on the Kingdom of God, focusing on the transformative power of God's "Word of Love". I explain that faith comes by hearing God's word and believing the message of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection [Romans 10:17]. How God's love is a creative force, just as His Word created light in the beginning, His love recreates believers spiritually in His own image [2 Corinthians 4:6]. Through this rebirth, He lifts us out of the "kingdom of Satan" and into the "Kingdom of God" [John 3:3; Colossians 1:13-14]. Also, I emphasis that mankind's relationship with God was broken by sin in the Garden of Eden, but the cross restores us to righteousness, wisdom and life so we can walk as Jesus walked (Genesis 1:26; Ephesians 1:4; 1 John 2:6].
To live effectively in the Kingdom of God, we must renew our minds so our thoughts and language align with the Word of God rather than the world [Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:5-6]. This spiritual "reprogramming" allows us as Christians to speak a "pure language" [Zephaniah 3:9] and practice "unconscious love," which naturally produces fruit after its own kind -- overcoming pride, fear, sickness and the works of the devil just as the apostles did in the book of Acts [Mark 1:14; Acts 1:3]. By abiding in Christ as the "true vine" and keeping the commandments to love one another, we manifest God's power and experience a life of full joy and victory [John 15:1-12; 1 John 3:16; 5:4-5]. Join me as we learn to walk in the Kingdom of God, manifesting His love to all those around us. Selah!
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81 - Witnessing the Kingdom - Acts #4

In this episode, I continue my series in Acts on the Kingdom of God, which is essentially a Kingdom of Love, where believers walk in a "love realm" that allows God's power to operate through them. Central to this walk is the preaching of the gospel -- specifically the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus -- which is described as the ultimate manifestation of God's love being shared with the world. This message functions as a Spiritual seed that, when sown in the heart [Mark 4:14-20], and "watered" by the Word [Ephesians 5:26], produces new life and the "fruit of love" [Galatians 5:22-23]. 
However, Jesus warns us that in the latter times, iniquity will cause this "agape" love to wax cold in many, which will hinder the presence and power of God within the church [Matthew 24:12]. To develop a transformative life, the Word of God must be preached, heard, believed, received and acted upon. This progression creates a faith that "works by love" (Galatians 5:6), and believers who are "doers of the word" rather than just hearers, will avoid being like a man who forgets his own image in a mirror [James 1:22-25].
Throughout the book of Acts, the Christian life is identified as "the way," representing the path of salvation and love that believers followed despite intense opposition [Acts 9:2; 16:17; 24:14]. By being rooted and grounded in love [Ephesians 3:17], and meditating the Word day and night, believers become like "trees of life," manifesting the nature of Christ and experiencing Spiritual prosperity [Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2-3]. Join me as we delve into the Scriptures more fully. Selah?
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80 - Witnessing the Kingdom - Acts #3

In this episode, I continue my series in the Acts of the Apostles exploring the transformative power of the resurrection of Christ, and the arrival of the Holy Spirit as depicted in Acts chapter 2. I emphasize that Jesus' primary mission was to destroy the works of the devil, a victory achieved through His spiritual death and subsequent resurrection [Colossians 2:15], which "loosed the pains of death" [Acts 2:24]. I share that before Pentecost, the disciples often lacked spiritual power, but the decent of the Holy Spirit provided an "unction" or "anointing" that allowed them to perform the same miraculous works as Jesus [1 John 2:20, 27]. This experience of being "born again" marks a transition from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive, where the believer's spirit is recreated to be perfect, just like Jesus.
This episode further details the specific role of the apostles as witnesses of the resurrection, a task defined as testifying to the facts of what they have seen and heard. Throughout the book of Acts, the preaching of the death, burial and resurrection -- the logos or living Word -- consistently resulted in thousands of conversions and physical healings, such as the man at the temple gate [Acts 3:1-16]. I challenge listeners to renew their minds by aligning their thoughts with the Word of God rather than worldly doubt. When we "compute" our minds to the Word and speak it boldly, it becomes "medicine" to the body, prevailing over the influence of the devil and allowing the life of Jesus to manifest in our daily actions [1 John 3:7-8]. Join me as we delve into God's Word for your edification and well being. Selah!
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79 - Witnessing the Kingdom - Acts #2

In this uplifting episode, I continue my series in the Acts of the Apostles explaining how believers are lifted out of the kingdom of hell and into the Kingdom of Heaven through Christ's resurrection [Colossians 1:13-14]. To enter God's Kingdom, one must be born again [John 3:1-8], a Spiritual transformation that allows a person to recognize their identity as "Kingdom kids" and the "righteousness of God in Christ" [2 Corinthians 5:21]. I emphasis that believers must be baptised in the Holy Spirit to receive power to overcome the devil's opposition and to fulfill our obligation as temples of the Holy Spirit [Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8].
Our core mission as empowered believers is to serve as active witnesses of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which effectively destroyed the works of the devil [1 John 3:8]. We must move beyond a "mental assent" of the Scriptures and become "doers of the word" [James 1:22-25], imitating Jesus' ministry of healing the sick and casting out devils. By recognizing that the devil was defeated at the cross, the body of Christ can exercise authority in the Name of Jesus to take dominion as if Christ were physically present [Acts 3:1-10]. Ultimately, this episode calls for Christians to wake up to their resurrected position and demonstrate their faith through corresponding actions. Selah!
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