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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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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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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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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In the book of Ephesians, Paul is praying for the church that they would wake up to who they are in Christ due to the power of His resurrection. When Christ rose from the dead, He made us a new person -- a New Creation. Paul writes: ‭"Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 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, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places . . ." (Ephesians 1:15-20, NKJV‬). We need to know, as saints, the inheritance we receive through the resurrection of Jesus. We have received the greatness of His power [miraculous ability] through the working of His mighty power! Paul goes on to write: ". . .‭ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:21-23, NKJV‬). All things including the Devil are required to submit to Jesus. "‭For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:9-10, NKJV‬). The Body of Christ [the Church] cannot be separated from Jesus, the Head. We put off the old man; to become what's new in Christ including all His power. This message seeks to bring out this essential truth.

Let me hear from you - Charles

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I find that I need to keep reminding myself of how I overcame the Devil. Jesus said: "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). Jesus is speaking to His disciples regarding what preceded this verse; that He would be gone, but would send the Comforter -- the Holy Spirit. He will in turn give them peace. They'd have tribulations, but Jesus tells them [and us] that we'll have peace; peace between you and God the Father and peace between our brothers and sisters in Christ. How? Because Jesus has overcome the world, therefore we have overcome the world. In Revelation 12:10-11, John records, "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 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'" (NKJV‬). Salvation, strength, the Kingdom and the power, we have received through Jesus Christ. We overcome the "accuser of the brethren" [the Devil], who has been cast down. John wrote: "And when I saw Him [Jesus], I fell at His feet as dead. But He [Jesus] laid His right hand on me, saying to me, 'Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death'" (Revelation 1:17-18, NKJV‬). I make His victory a reality to myself and others through my ongoing testimony of what the Blood of the Lamb [Jesus] has done for me. I've been justified (Romans 5:9), redeemed (Ephesians 1:7), sanctified (Hebrews 13:12), and cleansed from sin (1 John 1:7). I pray this message encourages you to testify the Word out loud about the power of the blood of Jesus. Selah!

Let me hear from you - Charles

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We get strength from the Holy Spirit as born-again believers, because God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). We experience His strength through the joy of the LORD. In the book of Exodus we read about the deliverance of the children of Israel from the tyranny of Pharaoh. After God brought them through the Red Sea and drowned Pharaoh's armies, " . . . Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: 'I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation . . .'" (Exodus 15:1-2a, NKJV‬). The LORD gave them victory, not through their own strength, but through His strength. As they were victorious, Jesus was also victorious and through faith in His grace, we share in His victory -- His strength! In 1 Samuel 2:1-10, we read the words of Hannah, who had miraculously conceived. She praises the LORD as being her strength. Also the Psalmist David praises the LORD for being His strength: "‭God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect" (2 Samuel 22:33, NKJV‬). And the prophets and leaders of the Old Testament proclaimed how their strength came from the Holy Spirit who was with them. They were empowered by the Lord being present with them. But listen, we are even better off than they were: Jesus Christ told us: " . . . I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever -- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:15-17, NKJV‬). Since the LORD strengthened all these heroes of faith in the Old Testament, how much more should we acknowledge the strength we receive through the Holy Spirit. God actually lives in us! In this message I use Old and New Testament verses to bring out this truth. Selah!

Let me hear from you - Charles

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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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