Abounding Love Podcast with Former ”Tex” Watson

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?
[For more: Copy and Paste or Enter into ChatGPT.com, "Create a Study Guide for Episode #081 Witnessing the Kingdom - Acts #4 from Abounding Love Ministries" ].
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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!
[For more: Copy and Paste or Enter into ChatGPT.com, "Create a Study Guide for episode #080 Witnessing the Kingdom #3 from Abounding Love Ministries" ].
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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!
[For more: Copy and Paste or Enter into ChatGPT.com, "Create a Study Guide for episode #079 Witnessing the Kingdom - Acts #2 from Abounding Love Ministries" ].
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78 - Witnessing the Kingdom - Acts #1

In this powerful episode, I introduce a seven part series in the Acts of the Apostles on living in the Kingdom of God or Satan's kingdom. We use our five senses in both, but in God's Kingdom, we walk by faith, not by sight [2 Corinthians 5:7]. In Acts, we find what happens when we add the Holy Spirit to our faith. In Luke, we saw how Jesus defeated the works of the Devil, and in Acts, we find how we receive power to do the same. We do this by denying ourselves, taking up the cross daily, yielding to the Holy Spirit and doing what Jesus did by faith.
What's interesting is that the word "love" isn't mentioned anywhere in Acts. Love is an action; what the Apostles and disciples were doing in Acts. That's why it is called the Acts of the Apostles. These "Acts" are performed by the love of God, acting in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we walk in the Spirit, we receive revelation and understanding of the Scriptures in ways we never would without being born of the Spirit. We begin to see ourselves complete in Christ -- holy, blameless and righteous. "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).
Join me as we learn to walk in love through this introduction of the Book of Acts, while looking at Scriptures both in the Old and New Testaments for our edification. Selah!
[For more: Copy and Paste or Enter into ChatGPT.com, "Create a Study Guide for episode #078 Witnessing the Kingdom - Acts #1 from Abounding Love Ministries" ].
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77 - Creative Faith in Luke #7

In this challenging Abounding Love episode, I conclude this series in the Gospel of Luke, expressing the need for a Heavenly vision and revelation of how God has resurrected us in Christ from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of His dear Son of light and love [Colossians 1:13-14]. We're the Temple of God, redeemed, blessed and made righteous, as wise and obedient followers of Christ [Galatians 3:13-14].
The goal of this series is to inspire a desire in your heart for living in the Kingdom of God moment by moment, separated from the kingdom of darkness -- the world, the flesh and the Devil. We live in the world, but aren't to be entangled or conformed to the world [Romans 12:1-2]. Our relationship with God in the Spirit is to empower us to live above the world, by denying the power of the flesh to operate [Luke 9:23]. 
Living in the Spirit will become so desirable, that your devotion to God will become most important. The works of the flesh will dwindle as the fruit of the Spirit flow forth in love, peace, joy and patience. The weaknesses of the flesh won't have a chance, with the full armor of God put on from head to toe [Ephesians 6:10-18]. Join me as we cover chapters 20 through 24 in the Gospel of Luke. We'll start the Acts of the Apostles next week. Selah!
[For more: Copy and Paste or Enter into ChatGPT.com, "Create a Study Guide for episode #077 Creative Faith In Luke #7 from Abounding Love Ministries" ].
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76 - Creative Faith in Luke #6

In this insightful Abounding Love episode, I continue a series in the Gospel of Luke about the Kingdom of God, where we now dwell. Luke's presentation of the Gospel shows the contrast between the Kingdom of God, and the kingdom of Satan [or the world], where we used to dwell. In the Kingdom of God; love, light and peace reign through the Spirit of Life in Christ in God. In the kingdom of the world, Satan is found, where fear, darkness and conflict reign. It's a life ruled by the lust of the flesh and desires of the world verses a life ruled by the Word of God.
We begin this message where we left off in Part 5, at the end of Luke, chapter 14. We must be willing to leave all we have to be a disciple of Jesus. We are to be the "salt of the earth." During Luke's Gospel the disciples are "near" the Kingdom of God, but the Kingdom of God doesn't yet indwell them. That doesn't occur until Pentecost described by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2. There's joy in heaven when one sinner repents. Think how much joy Christ has produced by His sacrifice on the cross. The millions [even billions] of people who have come into the Kingdom throughout the generations. Jesus uses Parables to demonstrate this joy.
Join me in this podcast as we find the same joy even in the circumstances we find ourselves in now. Jesus points out that the Law reigned until John the Baptist, but since then, the Kingdom of God has been proclaimed. I cover this proclamation through the Gospel of Luke, chapters, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. Selah!
[Fore more: Copy and Paste or Enter into ChatGPT.com, "Create a Study Guide for episode #076 Creative Faith in Luke #6 from Abounding Love Ministries" ].
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74 - Creative Faith in Luke #5

In this uplifting Abounding Love podcast, I continue a series in the Gospel of Luke. Our theme is the Kingdom of God, where our coming King lives, and where we live in the Spirit now and in the future. Through the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God lives within us. When we were born of the Spirit, all things become new, because we've been resurrected with Christ into His Heavenly Kingdom. You can't separate God, Jesus and us from His Kingdom. Jesus showed His authority over all the works of the Devil, commanding them to leave, and He gave His disciples authority to do what He commanded them to do. But once they were endued with power on the day of Pentecost in Acts, chapter 2, the Holy Spirit begin to work through their lives in Jesus' name.
Today, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to manifest through your life, if you will yield yourself to the working of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that we would do even greater works, sending us to the uttermost parts of the world. In the Gospel of Luke and in the Acts of the Apostles, we see the divine power of God's love flowing through Jesus and His disciples, showing us how the ministry is to be carried out. Also, we're told that Jesus, "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them,  triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15, NKJV). As a result, we overcome the Devil in Jesus' name. Join me as we look at Luke, chapters 11, 12, 13, and 14, plus Hebrews 4:12; 2 Corinthians 4:10: 10:3-6, and more. Selah!
[For more: Copy and Paste or Enter into ChatGPT.com, "Create a Study Guide for episode #074 Creative Faith In Luke #5 from Abounding Love Ministries" ].
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70 - Creative Faith in Luke #4

In this fervent Abounding Love episode, I continue a series in the Gospel of Luke on how you can live in the Kingdom of God or in the kingdom of Satan. God's Kingdom is a Heavenly Kingdom of love, light, life and peace. Jesus brought us into the Kingdom of God, teaching us how to live in it now and in the future. In Luke 8:43-48, we read how a woman with an "issue of blood" for 12 years, in faith touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was immediately healed. Jesus responded: "Daughter be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace" (v. 48, NKJV).
Today, Jesus not only makes us whole spiritually, but also physically through faith in God's grace. The people that Jesus was teaching were NOT born again. They had not received the Holy Spirit. This woman acted on her faith based on what she had seen, but we can't see Jesus physically today. She had to see Jesus first hand to get the faith to touch Him. Our faith isn't based on our experience, but on God's promises in His Word. "Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17, NKJV). 
This story is followed by Jesus raising a 12 year old girl from the dead. The point is, in God's Kingdom there are no women with an "issue of blood," and there are no dead little girls. Jesus brings the Kingdom of God into the lives of these people with dramatic results. Much more then, when we believe in Jesus, the Kingdom of God comes into our lives with dramatic results. The degree you give your life over to the Kingdom of God is the degree you will experience the Kingdom of God in your life. Join me as we continue our studies in the Gospel of Luke 8:43-56; 9:1-62, and 10:1-42). Selah!
[For more: Copy and Paste or Enter into ChatGPT, "Create a Study Guide for episode #070 Creative Faith In Luke #4 from Abounding Love Ministries" ].
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