Abounding Love Podcast with Former ”Tex” Watson

261 - The Lord is Our Help

In this day and time, it is very easy to let fear and unbelief overtake us. How many of us can confess that we need help? We all need help in every area of our lives. The Lord is our helper! He helps us to overcome all our fears when we trust in His promises as children of God. "‭For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5b-6, NKJV‬). We must have faith in the Lord and the help He provides, especially during temptation. "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid [help] those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18, NKJV‬). In all temptations, fleshly, worldly and spiritual, the Lord has the remedy. The apostle Paul encouraged his Jewish brethren and us today, writing: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16, NKJV). In time of need, in time of fear and in time of temptation, we can count on the grace [ability and power] of God to take us through it. No matter what you're going through you can rest assured that God provides you with help. How? By faith in His Word, that you have victory through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hebrews, chapter 4 begins with: "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it" (Hebrews 4:1-2, NKJV‬). We have a promise declared in His Word, and we must believe in that promise to enter into His rest -- His place of help. As I stated in the beginning of this introduction, we are all in need of help! Listen to this message designed to encourage us in our faith in the help God made available to us through His Son, Jesus. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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042 - Freedom By Faith In God's Word

In this episode I share how God's Word sets you free and without faith in His word you will not be truly free. "‭. . . Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free'" (John 8:31-32, NKJV‬). Through His Word you learn of your right standing with God and this sets you free. For example, in Luke 13, beginning at verse 10, Jesus is teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath and there is a woman who was all bent over and couldn't rise up. She had been this way for 18 years! Jesus heals her and the ruler of the synagogue condemns Him for healing on the Sabbath. "The Lord then answered him and said, 'Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?'" (Luke 13:15-16, NKJV‬). Jesus pointed out that she had a right to be healed because of her "being a daughter of Abraham." We have the same right! "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ . . . And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:27, 29, NKJV‬). We, as believers in Christ receive all the Spiritual blessings and rights accredited to the offspring of Abraham. And a profound revelation of Christ can make this a reality for us. Like this woman, you have a right as a Christian to be healed! In Genesis we're told about how Satan deceived man and brought fear and sin into the world. Jesus came to defeat the works of Satan, and to bring us out of his dominion. We have the Truth and Love of God found in His Word to overcome fear and sin in our lives. In this message I give examples of how knowing who you are in Christ will manifest this freedom. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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260 - Who We Are in Christ Pt. 2

This episode is Part 2 of 2 about our identity in Christ. By now, I hope when asked who you are, you don't identify yourself by your profession, neighborhood, nationality or your past. But as a believer, you identify yourself by who you are in Christ -- loved, accepted, forgiven, a new creation, a saint, a child of God and an overcomer. This identity places you above the darkness and oppression of this world system and lifts your perspective into the true light of God's love and grace. In the first chapter of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul gives us a list of things we've received due to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. To summarize, we're blessed, chosen, predestined and adopted as sons and daughters of God; accepted and redeemed [forgiven] through blood of Jesus. He made grace abound, His will made known to us, gave us an inheritance and sealed us with the Holy Spirit (vv. 3-13). At the end of the chapter, Paul prays that we'll wake up to ". . . 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, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. . ." (vv. 17-19). In other words, claim your new identity in Christ. The apostle Paul prayed again,  ". . .‭ that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus" (Philemon, v. 6, NKJV‬). Our faith becomes effective in this world when we acknowledge the good things that are in us through Christ Jesus. The importance of this is emphasized throughout Paul's Epistles. Are you doing this? Are you claiming and proclaiming who you are in Christ? It's my hope this two part message has helped you to understand what Christ wants you to live out on a daily basis through Him.
Let me hear from you - Charles
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259 - Who We Are in Christ Pt. 1

This episode is Part 1 of 2 about our need to identify ourselves with the finished works of Christ at Calvary -- who we are because of His death, burial and resurrection. The devil will come to us with lies, saying we are no good, causing us to doubt our salvation. But ". . . Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free'" (John 8:31, 32, NKJV‬). Do you know that you're a son of God? That you're redeemed, washed, sanctified by the blood of Jesus and on your way to heaven? Paul wrote Philemon saying,  "‭. . . that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus" (v. 6, NKJV). Do you see what Paul is saying? We are to have a firm knowledge and understanding of every good thing we obtain through faith in Christ Jesus. Then we will be able to have an effect in this world. This is a repeated theme in Paul's writings. ‭"For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end . . ." (2 Corinthians 1:13, NKJV‬). Paul is stating that the Corinthians are to understand those things, stated in Scripture, which give us our identity in Christ. For the church in Ephesus, Paul prays, ". . . 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 1:17, 18, NKJV‬). He prays they come into the knowledge of who they are in Christ. Who are you? Do you have such a knowledge? Listen to this message and see how the Holy Spirit will reveal this understanding to you and possibly change your view as a believer. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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247 - Bold as a Lion

This episode is based on the understanding given in Proverbs 28:1, which reads, "‭The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion" (NKJV). The word for "bold" in this verse means secure and confident. Jesus is described as "the Lion of the Tribe of Judah" (Revelation 5:5). As born-again Christians, we have His divine nature. "For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV‬). We are righteous in Christ, so we should be bold as Jesus is bold -- like a lion. In my prior life of disobedience, I became paranoid like a coyote in the desert. I would flee even though no one was after me, especially while on drugs. But now, made righteous in Christ, I've done no wrong, so I'm not afraid. I have the ability to stand in the presence of God without any sense of fear, guilt, condemnation, shame and inferiority. The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (‭8:37, NKJV‬). The reasons for us to be bold in Christ are described throughout Scripture. We are more than conquerors over past sins, forgiven and regenerated in Christ Jesus, Who provided us His righteousness to be bold. Paul wrote: "We are bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:2, NKJV). In this message we will look at these and other Scriptures that encourage each of us to act on the knowledge of who we've become by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. I hope you'll join me in this exploration seeking to gain the Spiritual boldness we've been called to have in Christ.
Let me hear from you - Charles
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246 - Be Honest in All Things

The ancient Greek word translated "honest" is "Kalos," meaning honest, admirable, fair, honorably. It has to do with conduct. As Christians we need beautiful conduct to "make our truth attractive." We have a new, born-again nature. Our old lying nature has been done away with; and now the Spirit of Truth lives inside of us and needs to come out, "‭. . . providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men" (2 Corinthians 8:21, KJV). Christians must be honest, but even more than just truth telling; our truth needs to be attractive to God and to others. We must get deception out of all areas of our lives. The apostle Paul wrote: "Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates [rejected]. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth" (2 Corinthians 13:7, 8, KJV). We must continue to do what is right, even though we appear as those who do wrong. Since honesty comes from God; where does lying come from?  Jesus told the Pharisees, "‭You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8:44, NKJV‬).  Satan, the devil, is the father of lies. He continues to try to deceive us. Paul exhorted to  "‭. . .be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another" (Ephesians 4:23-25, NKJV‬). We must understand the obligation we have to God and to each other, to speak truthfully; to have a reputation that is pleasant, honorable and attractive. Do you want this? This message could help. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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244 - Be Hospitable to One Another

In recent episodes, I've taught things on Christian character and this one is on hospitality. In the Old Testament, there is no word translated "hospitality", but it is found in stories which illustrate the concept as a duty one is required to perform. In Genesis 18:1-8, we see Abraham being hospitable to the three angels. Again, in Genesis 19:1-11, we find Lot doing the same, plus there's numerous other such stories. In the New Testament, the Greek word "philoxenia" is found 4x for "hospitality." It's a composite of two words: "Philo" meaning "love" and "Xenia" meaning "a stranger." It literally means "to show love for a stranger." Therefore, in the New Testament hospitality is given, not due to social duty, but out of Christian love. And we find many examples in the Gospels: in Mark chapters 6 and 8, Jesus feeds large groups of people. He is showing hospitality to them. In Luke, Jesus taught to "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (6:38, NKJV). We also see an example in the story of the good Samaritan in Luke, chapter 10. And again in Luke 19:1-11, we find the story of Zacchaeus where he shows hospitality to Jesus. Can we show hospitality to Jesus today? Coming on judgment day, Jesus taught, "And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did  to one of the least of these My brethren, you did  to Me'" (Matthew 25:40, NKJV). When we show hospitality, we will be blessed and often not in ways we'd expect: "Therefore, 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:20-21, NKJV). I encourage you to listen to this podcast on hospitality, a subject which is often ignored in church teachings.
Let me hear from you - Charles
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243 - Be Kind to One Another

This message is based on one particular verse, Ephesians 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (NKJV). We are to be kind, act tenderly towards others, and be forgiving [See episode 352 - How To Forgive]. We are to be this way because God is this way. We have been given a new nature - a divine nature (2 Peter 1:4); born again of incorruptible seed, through the word of God (1 Peter 1:23). We are to renew our mind with God's Word (Ephesians 4:23, 24), which empowers us to be kind. Simply, we show kindness because God's loving-kindness is within us. The Israelites cried out with a loud voice to the LORD their God, ". . . But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them" (Nehemiah 9:17c, NKJV). They stated emphatically the nature of God in these verses, and we are to manifest His nature. In 2 Corinthians 6, verses 4 through 10, we are told, how as ministers of God, we are to overcome the difficulties we face ". . . by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers, and yet true . . ." (vv. 6-8). Kindness is one of the ways we prevail. It's an attribute of love, and as Christians, we are to be known by our love. I encourage you to listen to this message and see how important this understanding is to your walk as a Christian. May it help you to look for opportunities to be kind when the world is being harsh and unforgiving.
Let me hear from you - Charles
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