Abounding Love Podcast with Former ”Tex” Watson

236 - How to Grow Spiritually Part 2

In the first part of the message, I taught on two ways to grow Spiritually: READ GOD'S WORD and PRAY. I begin this second part with the third way: FELLOWSHIP. This,  by definition, means we are to share things in common, to have communion with and to be partners with those possessing eternal life -- salvation. The apostle John wrote: " . . .that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3, NKJV).  Fellowship is not just for Sunday, but for everyday. We declare what we have seen and heard. Fellowship helps us to be an effective witness, which is the fourth way we grow Spiritually through our WITNESS. As Jesus commanded the disciples [and us]: " . . .But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1: 8, NKJV). We receive "power" Spiritually in order to make us effective witnesses for Christ even in the face of persecution. The fourth way we grow Spiritually is through PRAISING GOD. Throughout this second part of the message, I quote numerous Scriptures which need little explanation. That we are to fellowship and witness are repeated themes. But there are so many verses about the need for and the benefits of praising God, I couldn't possibly use them all. For example, the last two verses in Luke: "And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen" (Luke 24:52, 53, NKJV). This was the pattern for the early church, to praise God continually. And Psalm 113:3, "From the rising of the sun to its going down the LORD’s name is to be praised" (NKJV). All these five ways outlined in the messages serve to increase our Spiritual growth and make us able to be used effectively.
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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235 - How to Grow Spiritually Part 1

This episode is the first of two parts in a series on 5 ways we can grow Spiritually: 1) Read God's Word; 2) Pray, talk to God; 3) Fellowship; 4) Witness; and 5) Praise God. Remember, our spirit is born again when we receive Christ. We needed to be born again because our spirit was corrupted by the original sin of Adam and Eve. Although our spirit has been made anew, we need to grow in spiritual understanding in the soul. Man is made up of spirit, soul [mind, will and emotions] and body. A fleshly mindset causes worldly actions, but a Spiritual mindset brings forth Spiritual actions. As believers, we are allowed by the Word and the Spirit to know and understand the thoughts of the Lord (Luke 24:45). As we change through renewing the mind, we take on the actions of Jesus. READ GOD'S WORD: It builds our faith, and then, we begin to act as God wants us to act. When tempted by the devil,  Jesus said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4, NKJV). We need a constant relationship with the Word of God; meditating on it, being a ". . .doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22, NKJV). If you hear the Word of God and don't do it, you are defeating yourself. PRAY: We grow spiritually by praying. We must pray using our knowledge of God's Word. We pray the Word with thanksgiving. We pray by faith in the Word of God and the faith it brings. We pray in confidence because we are children of God who enters the throne room boldly (Hebrews 4:16). In prayer, we acknowledge all we received through Christ. Jesus found the disciples sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41, NKJV). Jesus is talking about our willing spirit and prayer. We are to pray in the Spirit for each other. This message is about the ways we can do this. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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263 - Walk in the Spirit

Our flesh opposes our spiritual, born-again nature and vice versa. "The fruit of the Spirit is love." Only as we walk in love can we fulfill the will of God in our lives, and it is manifested in joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This message is based upon the following verses: "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts [sets its desire] against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16-25, NKJV). We have power over the flesh, through the Holy Spirit filling our heart with God's love. Verses 19-21 lists 17 evil works of the flesh or temptations we have to deal with, which work against the Spirit. But in verses 22-23, we are given the fruit of the Spirit to overcome the flesh. Not only are we to live in the Spirit, but we must also walk in the Spirit. They are not the same. Walking in the Spirit is a way of life. We are to walk in the attributes described in the fruit of the Spirit (vv. 22, 23). Join me in this message as I teach on what this means for us to walk in the Spirit.
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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258 - Speaking Boldly

"Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word. . ." (Acts 4:29, NKJV). In this verse, the Apostles had been threatened for preaching the gospel [Good News] of Jesus Christ, and they were praying for the boldness needed to preach the Word. Years later, the apostle Paul wrote: "And He Himself [Jesus] gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the body of Christ. . ." (Ephesians 4:11,12,  NKJV). Realize, ". . .the work of ministry" is not just for "pastors and teachers". They are given to prepare all believers for doing the work. What is this work we are to do? The answer is: witness to others! How do we witness? By speaking boldly the gospel of Jesus Christ. Solomon wrote: "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion" (Proverbs  28:1, NKJV). We are to be bold in our witness; like a lion -- daring, courageous and fearless. Jesus taught: "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life" (John 6:63, NKJV). The words we speak are Spirit and life, which we want to give to others. In this message I review all we have been given as believers in Jesus Christ -- as saints, [righteous, holy and separated from the world], which enables all of us [not just pastors and teachers] to be bold when witnessing the gospel to others. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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254 - Let God's Word Prevail

I begin this message by looking at Acts 19:13-20, which records what happened when Jewish exorcists wanted to use the power of the Name of Jesus, without having a relationship with Him. They tried to drive out a demon by calling on "the Jesus whom Paul preaches" (v. 13). "And the evil spirit answered and said, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?'" (v. 15, NKJV). The story ends badly for these exorcists. But good comes out of it because the people seeing this realize that the power of the Name of Jesus comes only to those who have a personal relationship with Jesus. The people burn their books, that taught the doctrines of men, and turned their lives over to Jesus. "Prevail" means, "to be strong against; powerful, or to overpower." Throughout the Book of Acts, we find the Word of God growing and multiplying (Acts 12:24). The Word prevailed in the lives of the believers in the early church, because Jesus, the Word of God came and He prevailed.  "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12, NKJV). Those who believe in Jesus receive the power [legal right] to prevail by the authority of Christ. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8, NKJV). Therefore, He continues to prevail today through His anointed ones -- the body of Christ. Is the Word of God prevailing in your life? Does Jesus prevail in your heart through a personal relationship with Him? Are you relying on the Holy Spirit to help you remain steadfast in your faith? In this message, I seek to explore the answers to these questions and how we can answer them positively. I pray you will receive authority to prevail in every area of your life by faith in the Name of Jesus.
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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234 - Think on These Things

In this message, I use various Scriptures reminding us to think on the things of God. It's a major part of our transformation. The word "things" is often correctly translated "words." Our thoughts are to become the thoughts of the Word of God. I often use the Spirit, Soul and Body Study Chart on my site to bring out the truths of salvation. During this message, I review that our spirit is born again, but our soul is not. It takes the Word of God to renew it, as taught by the Apostle Paul (Romans 12:2). Also, he exhorts: "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NKJV). We are to be perserved blameless in our spirit, soul and body in order to produce holy actions acceptable to God. Solomon wrote in Proverbs: "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (23:7a, NKJV). Our heart is not only our spirit, but our soul [thoughts, choices and feelings]. Before, when you thought of corruptible things, of the world, the flesh and the devil, you'd become those things. But now, as we think of the things of God; we become like Christ in our actions. "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true. . .noble. . .just. . .pure. . .lovely. . .of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. . .and the God of peace will be with you" (Phillipians 4:8,9, NKJV). These are the things we're to think about, but we are also to be proactive. "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). This message is designed to encourage you in your walk as we seek to fulfill the goal of our redemption - to become as Christ is. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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232 - Evidence of Salvation

In this message, I share how there is evidence of our salvation lived out in our lives when we are established in the promises God made to our spiritual fathers [Abraham, David and the prophets] and confirmed in Christ (Romans 15:8). Through the New Covenant, He promised to "remember our sins no more" and to "put a new spirit within you" (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:26a). The apostle Paul simply put it like this: "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God" (2 Corinthians 1:21, NKJV). And, "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6,7, NKJV). If we are established in the faith, we have the ability to bring forth evidence of our salvation, because we are anointed of God. We are warned by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews, not to "neglect so great of a salvation" (2:3), but rather "that you be established by grace" (13:9, NKJV). Grace is God's ability to work in us to do what we can not do in our flesh. As you listen to this episode, you'll discover a checklist of nine (9) evidences that come forth when your life is established in the faith. You'll be able to "Examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourself. Do you not know yourself, that Jesus Christ is in you? --unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified" (2 Corinthians 13:5, NKJV), was the apostle Paul's desire. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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231 - Who the Believer Is

In this message, I outline 11 things Scripture says we are as believers in Christ. 1) A believer is FORGIVEN, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7, NKJV). 2) The believer is JUSTIFIED, just as if we had never sinned, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28, NKJV). 3) The believer is A NEW CREATION, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV). 4) The believer is SANCTIFIED; our spirit is set apart unto God and made whole when we are born of the Spirit (1Corinthians 1:30), but the sanctification process continues progressively in our soul [our mind, will and emotions] (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). 5) The believer is SEALED by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). God has sealed us, making us His prized possession. 6) The believer's body is made the TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 6:19,20). 7) The believer is DELIVERED FROM CONDEMNATION, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus . . ." (Romans 8:1-4, NKJV). He can stand in God's presence without a sense of fear, guilt or inferiority. 8) The believer is GIVEN PEACE, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ . . ." (Romans 5:1, NKJV). 9) The believer is made an HEIR OF GOD (Romans 8:16; Galatians 3:26-29). 10) The believer is BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3; Galatians 3:13,14). And, 11) The believer is DELIVERED FROM THIS EVIL WORLD in Christ (Galatians 1:4). We are in the world, but not of the world. These eleven attributes we obtain as believers are expounded upon in this message. It's my prayer you will be strengthened in your faith as we investigate these truths. Selah!
Let me hear from you - Charles  
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