Abounding Love Podcast with Former ”Tex” Watson

251 - How to Overcome Your Inferiority Complex

Jesus Christ came to overcome the works of the devil, and when you have Jesus in your life; you also overcome. "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, NKJV). In this verse, Jesus is speaking about the Holy Spirit so we can have peace -- even in tribulation. He overcame the world, so we can overcome the world. "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (I John 4:4, NKJV). Greater is Jesus in you than Satan, who rules this dark world. But John points out we have overcome. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5, NKJV). Who is "he" who overcomes? That would be us -- anyone who believes. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death" (Revelation 12:11, NKJV). We overcome by the blood of Jesus Christ and His blood must be the focus of our testimony. When you testify and believe that in your heart; you are set free. You are an Overcomer! Before we knew Jesus we had a low opinion of ourselves -- and we should have! But Christ is inferior to nobody. He is above every name that is named. The world and Satan want to point out your faults and shortcomings so they can sell you a worldly remedy. An inferiority complex is an inadequate feeling about yourself. But now because of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, we have become superior to Satan [and all angels]. For the unsaved, an inferiority complex and a superiority complex bring death. But in Christ we are to have a superiority complex; but only because of Him. Join me as we explore these truths. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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248 - A Sound Mind

In the past I've presented the spirit, soul and body illustration. It is pictured as a "bullseye" with the center being our spirit, the next ring being our soul (which is comprised of our mind, our will and our emotions) and the outer ring being our body. Our spirit and soul are found within our body. When we believe in Jesus, it's our spirit which is made new. It becomes "born again." But also, our soul has to be renewed through the Word of God so we can think as God thinks. Then our body conforms to what we think and our actions become what God desires. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV). The power comes from the Holy Spirit. The love comes from God the Father and from Jesus Christ His Son. The sound mind comes from the Word of God. Jesus told Nicodemus: ". . . Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3, NKJV). Jesus says you must be born again in your spirit. Instantly our spirit becomes right with God. But our soul (our mind, will and emotions) must be renewed by the Word of God. As it does, we will begin to think as God thinks. We obtain the mind of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). As we begin to think as God thinks; our actions will follow. Our body becomes an instrument of the Holy Spirit. The "sound mind" we receive is a calm mind, a well-balanced mind and a disciplined mind. We become disciplined by our study of God's Word. Just as the "disciples" did. "Then 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).  Would you like to have a sound mind? This message brings out these truths and many others to show that it's possible and a requirement of our Christian walk. Please join me as we study the salvation of our soul. [See Resources/Study Chart Gallery/E-7 Spirit, Soul and Body on the website].
Let me hear from you - Charles
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163 - Develop a Righteousness Consciousness - Pt. 2

In the last episode we saw how as born-again Christians, we have received the gift of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). God made Jesus to be sin for us so that we might become righteous in Christ. Paul tells us to "awake to righteousness, and do not sin" (I Corinthians 15:34). Satan seeks to deceive us through condemnation that we are not right with God, because our consciousness of righteousness empowers us to be used by God. The light of this truth drives the darkness of the world, the flesh and the lies of the devil out of our lives. Many Christians do not overcome sin because they don't embrace these truths. It takes time and effort to develop a righteousness consciousness through faith. We never stop developing our relationship with Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word. Those who do not come into the knowledge of God remain in bondage. He has set us free and given us His righteousness so we can stand boldly with Him. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5, NKJV). We bring every thought captive to the truth of our righteousness in Christ. To the degree we do this; we overcome! "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness " (2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV). We have to put the truth of God's Word first in our lives.  Hebrews 5:13 confirms: "For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe" (NKJV). Some of us remain immature, unskilled in the "oracles of God." By faith in God's grace, we become skilled in the Word of righteousness so we can do the work of God. This message is about becoming skilled and mature in righteousness. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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162 - Develop a Righteousness Consciousness - Pt. 1

The world's way of thinking is opposite of God's way of thinking. Many of you believe your righteousness is as "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6), and it is, but this verse doesn't apply to born-again believers. God has lifted us into heavenly places and made us a new creation in Christ. Our righteousness is no longer "filthy rags", because we now have the righteousness of Jesus Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we read: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Everything, including our righteousness has been made new. By meditating on these Scriptures, we change our way of thinking, and through faith in these promises we are changed. We get His mind and His consciousness. Paul goes on to write: "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:18-20, NKJV). We are given the ministry of reconciliation and become ambassadors for Christ. An ambassador is someone who goes forth with all His authority. We have a message from God, and we are backed by God with the full authority of the One Who sent us -- Jesus Christ. Paul continues: "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). When you believe in His death, burial and resurrection, you become the righteousness of Christ -- in right standing with God. This revelation protects you from the enemy's lying voice, that brings guilt, shame, condemnation and inferiority because of past sin. This is part 1 of a 2 part message.
Let me hear from you - Charles
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296 - Knowledge of the Truth

In this episode, I share how we need to know God, the Truth of God and the Love of God. All these things are found in the Word and exemplified in Jesus Christ -- the Living Word. Isaiah prophesied: ". . . my people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge; their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst" (5:13, NKJV). Do you want to avoid captivity? Do you want to avoid spiritual hunger and thirst? Then gain the knowledge of God, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free . . . Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:32, 36, NKJV). The prophet Hosea wrote: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being a priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children" (4:6, NKJV). In this prophecy, Hosea warns that God's people will be destroyed for the lack of knowing the Truth. How do you get such knowledge? Through God's Word! How do you get faith? Through hearing God's Word! The prophets of the Old Testament were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak the Truth of God, Who delivered the Truth to them so they could give it to us. This continued in the New Testament, when Paul wrote: "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (I Corinthians 2:2, NKJV). If you want to be a successful minister, be determined to teach and preach what Paul did! "Jesus and Him crucified" is God's plan for the redemption of mankind. That's the gospel truth -- the Good News. It's through the crucifixion we are saved! And that is the Truth of God teaching us of the Love of God by sharing the knowledge of God. Believing in Jesus and the crucifixion brings right standing with God. The more revealed knowledge you gain of the Truth the more you are set free from the lies of the enemy. I pray this message will embolden you to stand up and proclaim the Truth!
Let me hear from you - Charles
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295 -The Risen Man in Christ

In this episode, we look at the resurrection and the effects it has on believers. When Jesus rose from the dead, we also rose from the dead. And the evidence in the Scriptures is overwhelming that Jesus did rise from the dead. Three of the women who followed Jesus went to the tomb where Jesus was buried, and they found there an angel [described as "a young man"]. "But he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him'" (Mark 16:6, NKJV). The angel told them to tell the apostles, but when they did, the apostles didn't believe it! (Mark 16:11-13). "Later He [Jesus] appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen" (Mark 16:14, NKJV). To be born again, you must believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Once they believed, Jesus could commission them to share the Gospel so others could also believe: "And He (Jesus) said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned'" (Mark 16:15-16, NKJV). This brings with it a change in attitude. "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God" (Colossians, 3:1, NKJV). We no longer seek after carnal things, but the righteous things of Christ. This teaching of the resurrection of Jesus, and its effect on believers is essential to Christianity:  ". . . if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (I Corinthians 15:13-14, NKJV). Do you struggle with such belief? I believe the Scriptures in this message will build your faith! [See: Resources/Study Chart Gallery "D-2"/The Fallen & Risen Man].
Let me hear from you - Charles
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292 - The New Man is Alive

Previously, we looked at how "The Old Man" is dead. Now we'll explore how "The New Man" is alive. Moses prophesied, ". . . the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live" (Deuteronomy 30:6, NKJV). This "circumcision of the heart" removes our sin nature, making us born again. Ezekiel prophesied, ". . . I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God" (11:19-20, NKJV). God gives us a new life [Spirit] and this life comes from the inside, out. When Jesus comes into our life, we become born of the Spirit. We used to have an old, dead-stony spirit inherited from Adam; but now that Jesus lives in us, we receive a new, born-again Spirit. The fleshly [spiritually dead] part of our heart is circumcised [cut off]. Other Old Testament scriptures confirm the promises of a new heart made to the Children of Israel; now fulfilled in believers [Jew and Gentile]. In John 3:1-8, Jesus explains, "You must be born again." Peter proclaims, ". . . His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (I Peter 1:3, NKJV). God has made us to be born again. God's "abundant mercy" is manifest in the life of Jesus Christ. Peter goes on to say: ". . . having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (I Peter 1:23, NKJV). The "corruptible seed" we received from Adam, but the "incorruptible seed" we receive from God the Father once we believe the Good News. Join me as we explore these truths in both Old and New Testaments. [See Resources/Study Chart Gallery A/Spirit, Soul & Body chart on the website].
Let me hear from you - Charles
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290 - The Old Man is Dead

We are made of three parts: spirit [innermost life], soul [mind, will and emotions] and body [flesh]. The part which is made alive in Christ is our spirit. Before being born again, our spirit was dead [separated from God], and if our body had died, we would have gone to an eternal death. Death spread to all men, when sin entered the world through Adam (Romans 5:12). But Jesus died and rose  to overcome our sin nature. ". . . God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, NKJV). The Holy Spirit brought our spirit to life and changes us from the inside, out. "‭But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life" (Romans 6:22, NKJV‬). Since Adam's sin nature was imputed to all, we were without remedy until Jesus died and resurrected. ". . . For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more 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). Now, we need to gain this wisdom from God though believing this truth. You see, it is due to the love of God the Father that Jesus came. And His love will reveal this wisdom to us through the Holy Spirit. We must receive grace from Jesus; we must receive God's Love, and we must believe and receive the death of Jesus upon the cross; His burial and resurrection and most importantly His victory over death and Satan. Jesus took all authority from Satan so life could reign in us. It is time for us to put off the dead person we were and become the living and righteous person God intends us to be, ". . . knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him . . . that we should no longer be slaves of sin" (Romans 6:6, NKJV). Have you realized that the old person you were, is dead? May this message speak to you this truth. [See: Spirit, Soul & Body on the website].
Let me hear from you - Charles
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