Abounding Love Podcast with Former ”Tex” Watson

222A - Born Again to Conquer

In the Gospel of John, chapter three, we find the story of Nichodemas and his encounter with Jesus, Who tells him, ". . . Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God" (v. 3). Unless you are born of the Spirit, you will not enter Heaven; being born not of corruptible seed (human flesh), but of incorruptible seed - a born-again Spirit (1 Peter 1:23). Those who are born again are living in God's Kingdom now. But if you're not born again, you reside in Satan's kingdom. The book of 1st John is written so you might know that you are born again and have eternal life (1 John 5:13). It explains things we must do as a born-again believer. To most people being a Christian is just following a bunch of "do's and don't's," but once you're born again, those "do's and don't's" aren't seen as being all that unreasonable. How Jesus took on the temptations of Satan and proved Himself to be victorious is our example as ministers today. James, the half-brother of Jesus, tells us to be a doer of God's Word and not just a hearer of the Word (James 1:22-25). In this message, I use Scripture to present ten things we must do to live effectively as born-again Christians.
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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221B - I Have the Anointing

It may sound like I'm boasting by the title of this message, "But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you . . . as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him" (1 John 2:27, NKJV). It is the anointing through which the Holy Spirit rightly teaches us the Word of Truth. Without the anointing, we wouldn't have a relationship with God; no security, no seal or guarantee of eternal life. In this message, I share how Isaiah prophesied to the people that ". . . the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil" (Isaiah 10:27, NKJV). Are you plowing through life yoked up and overcome by people, places and things? As born-again believers, it's a Biblical fact that we have the anointing in us. This anointing is what makes the Scriptures come alive for us. Yet many churches today neglect God's written Word, relying instead on worldly programs and psychological teaching. Their members are being starved. The term "Christ" means the "anointed one." And we are anointed for a purpose, to bring the truth of the Gospel to mankind. Are you fulfilling the purpose for which God has anointed you? Is there anything you can do to increase the manifestation of the anointing you have in Christ? There is, and this message addresses what we are to do.
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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221A - Anyone Who Thirsts

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good" (Psalm 34:8, NKJV). Do you have a craving or desire which cannot be satisfied? Jesus said, "He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures have said, 'out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:38, NKJV). Jesus Christ can satisfy your cravings. His power is in the Holy Spirit, Who is available to those who thirst and come to Him for a drink. Jesus replied to the women at the well, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water . . . whoever drinks of the water I shall give him will never thirst" (John 4:10,14a, NKJV). "Having this water 'on tap' is the key to resisting the temptation of alcohol, food, sex, work, a codependent relationship, or any other compulsion" (The Life Recovery Bible notes, pg. 1352). Are you experiencing victory over the temptations of life? If not, it's time to come to the water and drink until your heart is content and overflowing with God's amazing love, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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089B - Christians Doing the New Thing

In this message, I share what we must do to live up to our new name, and to do the "New Thing" as the Apostles did. In Acts 4:1-3, we are told how the Apostles were being persecuted by the religious authorities for teaching about Jesus and His death and resurrection. They had been placed in prison and were released miraculously. But instead of laying low, they went right out and continued to teach, demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit and faith in the Name of Jesus. They had received a new name and were doing a "New Thing," something not seen before, but prophesied about repeatedly by Isaiah, Ezekiel and Joel. Jesus overcame the "Old Thing," where Satan dominated; He defeated him and established the "New Thing." When we repent and accept Jesus, we find we are doing new things. We change our way of thinking by putting on the Mind of Christ. Our minds must be renewed, as our spirit has been renewed. For Peter, everything Jesus said and did influenced him to do the "New Thing," even when facing violent opposition. Have you joined this "New Thing"? Remember, "...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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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
www.aboundinglove.org
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