Abounding Love Podcast with Former ”Tex” Watson

089A - The New Thing

This message speaks of the power of God's love and how His love was seen being expressed in the early church. I focused on the miracle done when Peter and John encountered the lame man at the entrance to the Temple, related in Acts chapter 3. This was a new thing that the people had not seen or heard of before. His love, confirmed in Scripture, empowered Peter through faith to act on that man's behalf and heal him. The "new thing" is how the love of God, understood through the Word of God, brings faith so we can act on His love. When we do, people get healed. People get saved. When preaching "The New Thing" on March 30, 1980, I was inspired by the new things God had done in my life. After becoming a new creation in '75, the testimony book "Will You Die For Me?" was published in '78. I got married in late '79, and my wife and I began Abounding Love Ministries. Faith in God's amazing love and grace brought forth one new thing after the other, creating this global outreach beyond imagination. I pray that your faith will increase in God's love so that those around you can see His amazing grace and abounding love at work in your life. "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18).
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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161 - Righteousness Brings Answered Prayer

I based this message on the final portion of James 5:16, which states, " . . . The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." We are righteous in the spirit because we're a righteous child of God, and we're becoming righteous in our minds through His Word and His Spirit. 1 Peter 3:12 tells us that God's ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. This provides us a second witness that God hears the prayers of the righteous. But there are problems we need to address. First, who are the "righteous people" these verses are referring to? For we read in Isaiah 64:6 that we are all as unclean things and our righteousness is like filthy rags. How do we rectify this apparent discrepancy? Who, based on Isaiah's statement, could be considered righteous in order to offer the prayers James speaks about? Unlike those in the Old Testament, which had to rely upon their obedience to the Law to obtain righteousness (the ones Isaiah is referring to), we have been redeemed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's our faith in the finished work of Christ that makes us righteous. We become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). The object of Christ's redemption is that man becomes right with God, therefore righteous in spirit. However, there's a second problem, how do we make sure our prayers are "effective and fervent"? This message helps to answer that question (Hebrews 11:6) and gives us confidence in the righteousness we have received in Christ.
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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159 - Are You Rejecting God’s Word?

This message provides insights found in the Apostle John's account of the "Triumphal Entry," as told in John 12:9-19. John related that the people had come to see Jesus and Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. The people believed in Jesus and were acting on those beliefs by praising Him and preparing the road, making it easier for Him to get to the Temple, where He was going. The Pharisees were plotting to kill Jesus and Lazarus both, but they realize they cannot because, ". . . the world has gone after Him." If that were only true today. These people had seen the miracles and signs Jesus did, and it made them believe in Him. We are called to believe though we have not seen. There are only two types of people; those who accept the Word of God and those who reject it. Those who believe in Jesus Christ and those who reject Him. The people in John's Gospel followed Jesus because they knew they needed what Jesus was offering -- healing, blessings and eternal life. Their faith caused them to act in praise and worship. They even physically cut down tree branches to make the way for Jesus. They were running after God's Word -- Jesus. Are you running after God's Word? If you have faith in God's Word, you act on that faith. As James says, faith without works is dead. All things are possible for those who believe. How much do you believe in the Word of God? How much do you study His Word? How much is the Word of God active in you? There are four things we must do to appropriate the blessings of God. This message spells those things out.
Let me hear from you - Charles
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267 - Sowers of God’s Word

In this Podcast message, I am presenting multiple ideas on how to be successful in sowing God's Word, sowing in a way that produces a bountiful harvest. The condition of our heart, "the inner man", comprised of our born-again spirit and our soul [mind, will and emotions] determines what type of seed we sow. For example, if you walk in the Spirit, you sow Spiritual things and reap Spiritual blessings - eternal life. However, if you sow in the flesh; out of the flesh you will reap corruption. What you do and what you devote your soul [mind, will and emotions] to, determines the quality of the seed you sow. Do you want to reap the fruit of righteousness? A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by a heart originating in peace. Throughout this message, I am using examples from Scripture of how we Christians are to view ourselves. We are told we are salt and light, and ambassadors. An ambassador is sent by the King [God], with His authority to speak for Him and His kingdom. These concepts are for you to discern by the power of the Holy Spirit, Who indwells you. These are the questions we need to answer: Are we worthy of the calling to be sowers of His Word? And have we prepared our hearts [our minds] in purity so the Holy Spirit can empower us to be good sowers of good seed? The Nelson's Study Bible says, "The unbeliever can only live in the flesh, but the believers can live in the flesh or in the Spirit." Are you overcoming the deeds of the flesh by living in the Spirit? Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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048 - Walking by Faith in God’s Promises

In the first part of this message, I bring out a number of essential understandings regarding our faith and how it empowers us. We're all given a measure of faith by God, which comes by hearing His word. Faith and love work through actions. God in faith, speaks into existence what only now is seen. His spoken words have the power to create. In similar ways, our faith gives us the ability to create through our words spoken in love. God's creation is made in love, and love is the creative force in the world today. We have received the fullness of God, with His Holy Spirit living in us. The creative force of Jesus as seen in John 1:1, is also alive in us. We're told that we are of God in 1 John 4:4, and He Who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. Our faith overcomes the world, but the world will reject us due to our faith, just as it rejected Jesus. However, we are given examples of men and women who overcame the world through their faith. Hebrews, chapter 11 is known as the Faith Chapter. It tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. But we see Enoch, who pleased God so much that God took him. Enoch was translated directly into heaven. Then there's Noah, who was moved by fear, joy and love to act on his faith in God's promises and build the ark. The world and its unbelief were condemned by the faith of Noah. Further examples are seen in Abraham and Sarah, who are given promises from God and in faith act on these promises, even when the world says such promises are impossible, or even when God tests their faith in His promises. All these heroes of faith seen in Hebrews 11, including Moses, Joshua and Daniel, walked by faith because they had a promise from God. We have many promises from God confirmed by Jesus Christ. It's these promises that can strengthen our faith to act as theirs did.
Let me hear from you - Charles
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352 - How to Forgive

Many people believe there are those God should not forgive, and I am one of those in their crosshairs. Such an attitude comes from doubt, and it's this lack of faith that prevents a person from forgiving. A better title for this message is, "How to Overcome Unforgiveness.". We are to ". . . be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). Since God has forgiven me of so much, of all people, I should easily forgive relatively small offensives. In Matthew 6:14, the Lord's prayer emphasizes that we must forgive in order to receive forgiveness from God. It's tied to our faith in God's grace, which helps us to forgive. And our lack of faith affects our prayers, Bible study and comprehension, and even our fellowship. There are seven attitudes [spirits] that demonstrate our unforgiveness: 1) Resentment; 2) Ill Will or dislike; 3) Grudges or hostility; 4) Malice; 5) Retaliation; 6) Bitterness or cynicism and 7) Hatred. These spirits increase in our hearts as we continue to harbor unforgiveness, which runs contrary to love (1 Corinthians 13). On the other hand, Jesus is the perfect example of forgiveness, when He said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Join me in this message as I show how the Word of God enables us to forgive others as Christ forgave us. And to be merciful, because the Lord, our God is merciful.
Let me hear from you - Charles
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257 - Who are You?

I share in this episode about "Lottsapoppa." He was a drug dealer from whom I took money in the late '60s. He was later shot by my crime partner. He forgave me years later, after ending up in prison with me. He admitted he wasn't saved at the time, but forgave me nonetheless. This was because of who I was in Christ. "When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7). This introduction begs the question, "Who are you in Christ?" The book of Acts 19:11-20, tells the story of a group of men who attempt an exorcism using the Name of "Jesus, Who Paul preaches." The demons say they know Paul, and they know Jesus, but "Who are you?" It did not end well for those men. A person only has the power to use the Name of Jesus, if they are a member of the family of God. Jesus destroyed the works of the devil at the cross and the authority to defeat the works of Satan extends to us; but only if you belong to Jesus. Paul states in Philippians 3:10, that he wants to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. Are you someone who has that knowledge? Are you someone who has that power? In other words: Who are you? Benard Crowe, aka Lottsapoppa, ended up receiving Christ, and we took communion together side by side. Selah.
Let me hear from you - Charles
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205 - How to Witness

There are hundreds of ways to be a witness for God, but for any to work, we must be led by the Spirit. When witnessing, we share our relationship with Christ. We're showing our faith in God's grace. It could be as simple as sharing a tract or asking someone to church. It helps to have something in common with that person, like working out at a gym or grocery shopping together. This way, the subject of God's "grace" can be woven into a conversation. We defend why we believe by sharing our testimony, and our "sin" that caused us to recognize our need for "God's love." God's remedy for our sin is the death and resurrection of His Son "Jesus". We are sharing God's Word (the Gospel) so "faith" can arise in that person's heart. They, as we did, need to "repent" and turn from sin to God. Only the Holy Spirit can convict a lost soul, but each of us has a part to play in leading someone to saving faith. What part are you playing? Listen to this message to learn how to plant and water seeds. I pray that a desire will be placed in your heart to serve in the Body of Christ. That a fuse would be lit in your heart, so you will be a dynamite witness for the Kingdom of God. [See my brochure "How To Share Your Salvation" on the website.]
Let me hear from you - Charles
www.aboundinglove.org
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