Shows
Anchor of Truth141 The Anointing141 The Anointing John said that we all have an “anointing” and that the anointing will teach us. What is this anointing? How do we get this anointing? How important is to us to know this anointing in our hearts? To speak of this anointing seems to some to be so mysterious that we tend just to put the subject aside and go on to other things. Yet John said that this anointing is what will teach us of spiritual things. It is critical to know this anointing if we are going to be led by the Holy Spir...
2019-02-2833 min
Anchor of Truth140 God in our MidstEpisode 140 God in our Midst The promise of God is that He will dwell in us and walk among us. A company of believers as the Temple of God is the fulfillment of the promise of God and cost Calvary to make it possible. What should be taking place if the Holy Spirit is given His rightful place? Today we want to continue on the subject of our last program on what we should expect when God is dwelling in our midst and the Holy Spirit is given free control. It is so important that we carefully...
2019-02-1658 min
Anchor of Truth139 Meeting with GodEpisode 139 Meeting with God Jesus said where two or three are gathered together in His name, He would be in the midst of them. What does it mean to gather in His name? Why do we do that? What are the evidences that He is present? What should we expect? To gather in the name of Jesus is more than just having a meeting, singing some songs, and hearing an encouraging message. That activity can all be done without God’s presence or leading. God is looking for something more than that. I believe He is looking for...
2019-01-2440 min
Anchor of Truth138 The spiritual war in our timeEpisode 138 The spiritual war in our time Paul says that our warfare is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers of wickedness in heavenly places. But we are also told that Christ won the victory against the enemy at Calvary. If this is so then why is there still a war? To understand clearly what God did in Christ Jesus at Calvary is critical to being able to view the conflict that we face properly and live in the power of His endless life. We are called to live as overcomers, and the resources to...
2019-01-1034 min
Anchor of Truth137 God's order concerning Men and WomenEpisode 137 God’s Order concerning men and women Probably the greatest war in the world today is the war between men and women. Yet God created the first man and woman and His creation was perfect. Why should there be such conflict, and why should it be such an issue among Christians? In the Genesis account of creation, we see that the enemy is his cunning way brought division between Adam and Eve and that division and conflict has continued down to our present day. What God intended to be the most beautiful and fulfilling relationship has bec...
2018-12-2744 min
Anchor of Truth136 The Message of the CrossEpisode 136 The Message of the Cross Paul said that the message of the Cross is the power of God to those who are being saved. What is this message of the Cross? In what way is it the power of God? How do we avail of this power to be delivered from this world of sin and enter fully into what God is doing today? Many relegate the “message of the Cross” to our initial deliverance from sin. While that is included, the message of the Cross ( or logos of the Cross) is much more than that. God...
2018-12-2037 min
Anchor of Truth135 Growing up into ChristEpisode 135 Growing up into Christ Jesus told the early apostles to go and make disciples. He also said that it is enough that a disciple be as his master. The goal of God is mature sons and daughters, able to bear responsibility in His family. How is this goal of God to be realized? I think that every sincere Christian believes that God wants maturity in His children, but there is not always agreement on how that maturity is to be accomplished. I believe the truth presented by Paul in Ephesians chapter 4 is the way in which...
2018-12-1330 min
Anchor of Truth134 The Mystery RevealedEpisode 134 The Mystery Revealed Paul said that God had commissioned him and the other apostles to make known the “mystery” which was hidden to the prophets of old but has now been revealed. What was that mystery? What is the practical meaning of that to us today? A mystery is something that is hidden. This mystery was hidden from the Old Testament prophets, but now has been revealed. The mystery that Paul was commissioned to reveal is that now the full grace of God has been made available to both Jews and Gentiles in one body. Full acce...
2018-11-2928 min
Anchor of Truth133 Building in One BodyEpisode 133 Building in One Body In writing to the Ephesian Church, Paul said that God had reconciled Jews and Gentiles in one body. There was no more distinction, and in that context He is fitting us together as a Temple of God. What does that mean to you and me in practical terms? We refer to the church as “The Body of Christ” and “The Temple of God.” and rightly so. But the deeper meaning of those terms often escapes us. In Ephesians chapter 2 Paul seeks to give us some understanding of the significance of what God has done...
2018-11-2237 min
Anchor of Truth132 Building on the foundation by Revelation of ChristEpisode 132 Building on the foundation by Revelation of Christ Paul said he laid Christ as the foundation of God’s building. To build properly on that foundation we must also build according to Christ. To do this we must have supernatural revelation of Christ from God. How do we get this revelation? The building of God is all spiritual. It cannot be done with natural understanding. This leaves us on our knees before God for spiritual insight that only He can give. Within that revelation of Christ is the light we need to walk in to be ef...
2018-11-1542 min
Anchor of Truth131 Our Foundation-Jesus ChristEpisode 131 Our Foundation—Jesus Christ When writing to the Corinthian church Paul said that he had laid a foundation as a wise master builder. What was the foundation that Paul laid? If we are going to build properly we need to have a clear revelation of that foundation. We are continuing today on the subject of “Building in God” and are using the account of the beginning and growth of the Ephesian assembly as our outline. We have in the first three chapters of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians the foundation of the gospel he preached and the...
2018-11-0838 min
Anchor of Truth130 The Ephesian ChurchEpisode 130 The Ephesian Church The truth that we need is not always spelled out in the scriptures in a detailed outline. Many times it is given to us by the record of God’s working in the past. The foundation and growth of the Ephesian church is an example of that. Let us learn from this account. We continue today on the subject of “Building in God” by considering the beginning and growth of the Ephesian assembly. In many ways, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is the most complete instruction that we have regarding the plan of God f...
2018-11-0143 min
Anchor of Truth129 Building in GodEpisode 129 Building in God When writing to the Corinthians, Paul said that he had laid a foundation, and that those who followed him should be careful how they build. What does it mean to build in God? How do we know that we are building on the right foundation and that our building is approved by God? What it means to build in the natural is obvious, but spiritual building is more difficult to discern. There is much religious activity around us but not all of it is spiritual building according to God’s plan. Today we wa...
2018-10-2536 min
Anchor of Truth128 Report on Trip to KenyaEpisode 128 Report on Trip to Kenya The last two months I was in Kenya with another brother visiting a number of small churches and conducting some intensive leadership training. It was a very rich time of fellowship and ministry. Today I want to share some of what took place. This past two months was an amazing experience of God’s working and grace. The main focus of the trip was five weeks of leadership training for about 100 leaders from 50 different gatherings of various kinds. We normally met from 10am to 4pm with a one hour break for lu...
2018-10-1832 min
Anchor of Truth127 A Personal Testimony of God's FaithfulnessEpisode 127 A Personal Testimony of God’s Faithfulness Testimonies of brothers and sisters can be of great encouragement to us in our journey of faith. God is real and our experience of His grace is real. Today I want to share my personal testimony of God’s faithfulness to His praise and glory. Over the past two and half years that I have been doing this podcast I have tried to minimize sharing of my personal experiences and instead focus on the scriptures and general truth that forms the foundation of God’s building in our lives. Next w...
2018-08-0254 min
Anchor of Truth126 The Trial of our FaithEpisode 126 The Trial of our Faith James speaks about the “Trial of our Faith.” At one point or another I believe all of us have found ourselves in that place. How is our faith tried? What do we do when we find ourselves being tested? What is God after in our lives in this testing? Someone has said that faith is the currency in God’s economy. Or in other words, without faith it is impossible to please God or draw upon His grace in our lives. I don’t think we can overemphasize the working of faith an...
2018-07-2633 min
Anchor of Truth125 Spiritual BlindnessEpisode 125 Spiritual Blindness What are the causes of spiritual blindness? Jesus had some strong things to say about blind leaders seeking to lead blind men. He also gave a strong rebuke to the church of Laodicea regarding blindness. Is it possible for us to be blind and not know it? Spiritual vision is a great miracle that comes to us by the mercy and grace of God. The scriptures teach us that we are all born into this world blind to spiritual things and God must open our eyes to see the unseen and see all things...
2018-07-1240 min
Anchor of Truth124 Maturing for His UseEpisode 124 Maturing for His Use We all want to be used by God for His purpose and glory according to His grace. For this to happen, we must be prepared. Our lives must be a living letter, written by the Spirit of God. What are the essential elements of this preparation? How does this take place? To be effective in our service in God’s Kingdom, the character of God must be manifested through our words and deeds. The resources for this to take place come from God Himself living in us by His Spirit. His life mu...
2018-06-2851 min
Anchor of Truth123 Commitment without CompromiseEpisode 123 Commitment without Compromise If our heart is to know God then we are looking for reality, not just words. Jesus came that we may have life and bring us into the reality of fellowship with God. To experience this fellowship we must be committed to this relationship in faith without compromise. So many times we are familiar with spiritual concepts but lack the reality of which the words speak. The gospel which so many of us have heard all of our lives leaves us with lofty spiritual ideas, but falls short of bringing us into the...
2018-06-211h 02
Anchor of Truth122 Adjustment to the Government of the Holy SpiritEpisode 122 Adjustment to the Government of the Holy Spirit When we first come to God the scripture describes the event as “being born again” whereby we are now alive with the life of God. Now the process of maturity begins as we abide in Christ. This requires a continual adjustment to His authority. Is this taking place in our lives? All of us need to be continually adjusted to the will of God. That is a life-long process. When we first come to God and are made alive in the Spirit it is a wonderful day. But that...
2018-06-1435 min
Anchor of Truth121 Redeemed for God's Purpose, not oursEpisode121 Redeemed for God’s purpose, not ours When we first came to the Lord, our focus was on our need of deliverance from sin. But God did not redeem us just so that we could live a better life. Rather He redeemed us for His eternal purpose. Have we let God shift our focus? So often we just think about our needs and how God can meet those needs. When we think about it carefully, we may start to see how selfish we really are. As we mature God wants to shift that focus so that we...
2018-06-0743 min
Anchor of Truth120 Our Greatest EnemyEpisode 120 Our Greatest Enemy What is our greatest enemy? Is it Satan? The World? Those who say they hate Christians? While these may bring us afflictions and trials from time to time, I don’t think they are really our greatest enemy. I think our greatest enemy is ourselves separate from Christ. In order to see this, we must come back to Calvary and what Christ Jesus did on the cross. God judged the entire human race according to Adam at the cross and put it away from Him. It was infected with sin and beyond repair. No...
2018-05-3137 min
Anchor of Truth119 The Battle for Truth and LifeEpisode 119 The Battle for Truth and Life There is a battle going on today and eternal issues are at stake. It is a battle for life and within that battle is a battle for truth. On a casual look, the real issues are often not seen for what they are. We dare not be complacent in this battle lest we be deceived and brought down to death. These are the words that came to me as I rose up this last Sunday morning. I share them with the prayer that they may be of encouragement to each...
2018-05-2434 min
Anchor of Truth118 Manifestations of the SpiritEpisode 118 Manifestations of the Spirit What are the manifestations of the Spirit of God? We read about divine manifestations of God in the early church. Can we expect similar manifestations today? If so, what does God expect from us for Him to reveal Himself through us for His purpose and glory? In I Corinthians chapters 12-14 we read Paul’s instruction to the Corinthian church regarding the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. These manifestations are different from the fruit of the Spirit described in the letter to the Galatians. I believe the scriptures te...
2018-05-171h 04
Anchor of Truth117 The Church at PrayerEpisode 117 The Church at Prayer Prayer is one of the great mysteries in the working of God. It defies human logic, but it is at the center of our warfare against the enemy. When all else fails, prayer connects us to the throne of God and releases His power for His purpose and glory. There are many aspects to prayer. Basically, prayer is two-way communication with God. The prayer that is effective is prayer that is initiated in our hearts by the Holy Spirit as He knows the mind of God and intercedes for us according to...
2018-05-1023 min
Anchor of Truth116 Holding Truth in LoveEpisode 116 Holding Truth in Love Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians that we are to speak the truth one to another in love and that this is a very important key in growing up into Christ. What does this mean in practical terms? How do we do this without compromise and without breaking relationships? Right relationships are critical in the working of God, right relationship with God, and right relationships with others. To avoid conflicts, we often choose to be silent on important issues where God is not silent. Then sometimes we get stirred...
2018-05-0344 min
Anchor of Truth115 Exercising our choice in the will of GodEpisode 115 Exercising Our Choice in the Will of God When we come to God we choose to submit to Christ Jesus as our Lord. He gives the Holy Spirit to dwell within us to enable this to be true. Is our choice taken away from us at that point, or do we still have a choice to do the will of God in all things? Often times we do not realize our great responsibility in what God is doing in our time. We rejoice that we have been delivered from sin and brought into the family of...
2018-04-261h 01
Anchor of TruthEpisode 114 God's Answer, His SpiritEpisode 114 God’s Answer, His Spirit On the day of Pentecost we are told that Christ was exalted to the right hand of God, received the promise of the Spirit, and then poured out the Spirit for all who will come to Jesus and receive. Have we realized the greatness of God’s provision? Are we walking in that provision? I think most of us are very familiar with the many scriptures that speak of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. God’s answer to every question and every need we have is His Spirit. Who are the so...
2018-04-1953 min
Anchor of TruthEpisode 113 Body, Soul, and SpiritEpisode 113 Body, Soul, and Spirit The scriptures tell us that we were made in the image of God for God. Paul also prayed that we may be sanctified completely that our spirit, soul, and body may be preserved blameless at his coming. How does this happen? Is this happening to us? The Psalmist says that man is fearfully and wonderfully made. Man is a complicated being and not easy to understand or explain. But there is teaching in the scriptures that can give us some understanding of how we are made and what God is doing to...
2018-04-1254 min
Anchor of Truth112 Should Christians expect the Rapture or Great Tribulation?Episode 112 Should Christians expect the Rapture or the Great Tribulation? The subject of end-times is often a point of strong disagreement among many sincere believers. Should we be expecting the Rapture or is this a false expectation. Is the church destined to go through the Great Tribulation? Why is there so much confusion surrounding this subject? I think that one the main reasons there is so much confusion on end-times events is that we do not go back far enough to get a good foundation of God’s purpose and plan. To just start reading the book of...
2018-03-2951 min
Anchor of Truth111 How should Christians use the Law of Moses?Episode 111 How should Christians use the Law of Moses today? How should Christians use the Law of Moses? This seems to be a major issue in our time. The law was given to Israel through Moses and takes a large place in the Old Testament. But most of us are not of Israel, so how should we use the Law? In our last program we introduced this subject but today we want to go farther. Most of us are very familiar with the teaching that the law came through Moses, but grace through Jesus Christ. But what...
2018-03-1558 min
Anchor of Truth110 Is the Church Spiritual Israel?Episode 110 Is the church Spiritual Israel? Is the church Spiritual Israel? We know that God has used Israel in a very significant way in His working in the past. In our time the instrument of His choice is the church. Is the church an extension of Israel in a spiritual way, or is the church a completely new work of God? This question seems to be a very critical issue in our time. Perhaps because the nation of Israel is the focus of much attention in the Mid-East today, many are directing their attention to Israel. In...
2018-03-081h 02
Anchor of Truth109 Communing with GodEpisode 109 Communing with God What does it mean to commune with God? What does it mean to hear God? What lifts us out of only an intellectual agreement with certain truths into a living relationship with the God of this universe? Is our heart hungry for that? So often we read scripture or hear certain truths proclaimed and agree with what we read or hear, but we lack the experience and spiritual reality that both we and God desires. Are we content where we are, or are our hearts hungry for God and everything that He has...
2018-02-221h 02
Anchor of Truth108 Crossing over into the SpiritualsEpisode 108 Crossing over into the Spirituals Many of us have heard a lot about God and what He has done in the past for others. We know the scriptures, and we agree that God has made full provision for us. But often we find ourselves still lacking in our own experience of the supernatural God. What is the answer? It is one thing to follow, it is another thing to learn, but it is still another thing to launch out and experience God for ourselves. Elisha is an example of “crossing over Jordon” and experiencing God for Hims...
2018-02-0939 min
Anchor of Truth107 Christ the Foundation of GatheringEpisode 107 Christ the Foundation of Gathering What is the basis of our gathering together as believers? I think most would agree that out gathering should be on the foundation of Christ and unto Him as Head of the body. But what does that mean in practical terms? The gathering together of Christians in unity seems to be one of the most difficult areas we face. There is so much division because of different doctrines and different types of ministry. We know this should not be but so often we don’t seem to able to achieve what God...
2018-01-2551 min
Anchor of Truth106 Passion for ChristEpisode 106 Passion for Christ What will move us from a place of passivity into a place of passion for Christ and His purpose? Will more Bible study, meetings, ministry, and prayer do the work? These all have their place, but by themselves they will not produce what both we and God desire. What will? I think that there is only one thing that will move us and that is fervent love for Jesus. How do we get that? There are two things I see that are essential: 1) A fresh revelation of Christ’s love for us, and 2) th...
2018-01-1131 min
Anchor of Truth105 Burning for GodEpisode 105 Burning for God In the Old Testament, when the sacrifice on the altar was prepared, God sent fire from heaven as a sign of His acceptance and approval. On the day of Pentecost the people saw tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each of the disciples in the upper room. We are also told that our God is a consuming fire. What does all of that mean to us today? Fire is used throughout the scripture as a sign of the presence of God. The tabernacle had a pillar of fire that burned above i...
2017-12-211h 34
Anchor of Truth104 The Battle for LifeEpisode 104 The Battle for Life When Adam sinned, he took himself and the human race that followed into death. When Christ came He conquered Satan and his host of evil forces and opened the door for us to partake of God’s life. But if the victory has been won, why is there still a battle in this world between God and Satan? I think this is a very real question to many of us. We hear that Christ won the victory at Calvary, but yet our experience is that we are in a warfare. And Paul sa...
2017-12-1442 min
Anchor of Truth103 The place of Godly wivesEpisode 103 The place of Godly wives After God had created Adam, He said it is not good for man to be alone so He created Eve as a suitable helper. God’s plan is for a husband and wife to function as one in the family for His purpose and glory. It is a perfect plan but requires each to take their place. Today we focus on the place of the wife. When God created woman, he took something out of the man. God views the husband and wife as one, so what was taken out of Ad...
2017-12-0740 min
Anchor of Truth102 Fathers lead the familyEpisode 102 Fathers lead the family The family unit is God’s basic structure for the human race. To achieve God’s purpose, the family must function as one. The Father is given the privilege and responsibility to lead in that purpose under the direction of God with His unlimited grace. To realize God’s great purpose in the family takes God. So many families, even Christian families, so often fall short of what they can be. Yet God has made full provision for the family to be the most precious place on earth for all the members. To exp...
2017-11-3034 min
Anchor of Truth101 God's Order in the FamilyEpisode 101 God’s Order in the Family God’s plan in the family is under great attack today in the world. Along with that, God’s order concerning man and woman are equally under attack. When families depart from God’s original plan, the end result is failure in so many ways. God is the One who designed the family, and if we want to achieve God’s result then we must understand His design and order our family accordingly. With the pressures that are all around us to change as a result of our shifting culture, this is no...
2017-11-2334 min
Anchor of Truth100 Encouragement in our walk with JesusEpisode 100 Encouragement in our walk with Jesus Christianity can be complicated. How many Bible Schools are there that seek to teach the proper doctrines, yet there are many differences that divide and often in a very deep way. Why is that? Is there an answer? Is unity in Christ Jesus possible? Jesus prayed that we may be one, even as the Father and He were one. Yet if we look around us at the general world of Christianity, oneness does not seem to be the characteristic. If it is, it is often on the surface level. The...
2017-11-1640 min
Anchor of Truth99 Christianity or Christ?Episode 99 Christianity or Christ? In our world today, there is a great religious system called Christianity. It varies in many details, but the one common feature is Christ. However the big question is what is the place of Christ? Is He only a historical figure, or is He given His place as Lord of Lords? Religion is one of the enemy’s greatest tools today, and Christian religion is probably the most dangerous because it is so close to the truth. It is based on the Bible and embraces so many things that are very good. Yet at...
2017-11-0943 min
Anchor of Truth98 The Wiles of the DevilEpisode 98 The Wiles of the Devil Paul admonishes us in one place to put on the whole armor of God that we may stand against the wiles (or schemes) of the devil. What are those schemes? Do we know? Are we aware of his crafty and deceptive ways? In warfare, military men study the enemy to know his tactics. Business men study their competition so they can know how to compete more effectively. God does not want us to be ignorant of our enemy’s ways either. We should not become “devil conscience” where we see a devil u...
2017-10-2639 min
Anchor of Truth97 Spiritual DiscernmentEpisode 97 Spiritual Discernment Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his days for not discerning properly. Paul encouraged the Philippian church to abound in discernment. How do we discern what is of God and what is not? How do we properly discern without becoming critical? To properly discern a situation that is confronting us and still maintain a proper attitude is challenging. Some have resolved the issue by taking the position of “judge not.” Others have erred to the other side by becoming very critical and judgmental of situations and people that leaves them isolated and useless as a ch...
2017-10-1934 min
Anchor of Truth96 Spiritual SensitivityEpisode 96 Spiritual sensitivity We know that God is Spirit, and those who worship God must do so in spirit and truth. We are also are to be led by the Spirit. How can our spiritual sensitivity be increased so that we can be sure we are truly knowing God in the spirit? It seems at times that so much comes at us that brings confusion so we hardly know which way to turn. How do we know that we are really sensing God in the spirit? Are there some basic principles that can help us? This arises...
2017-09-2843 min
Anchor of Truth95 Tested by GodEpisode 95 Tested by God Are you being tested? Does God test His children? If so, why does He test us and how? So often when we face trials and testing we lose sight of what God is doing, what He is after in our lives. God is working for eternity, and so often we are just looking at temporal things. But we are told that one day everything that we see around us will be burned up, and only what is of God will last. Today we review some accounts in the scriptures where men were being...
2017-09-2131 min
Anchor of Truth94 The Cross and the way of LifeEpisode 94 The Cross and the way of Life What is the way of life? How do we experience the fullness of God’s life in our daily lives? God’s way is the Cross of Christ. But that is not just what happened 2000 years ago. That is the foundation, but we need to know the application in our lives today. When we think about the Cross, I think most of us just try to think back to what happened 2000 years ago. We try to envision the suffering of Jesus for our sin and also how His suffering opene...
2017-09-0742 min
Anchor of Truth93 Growing up in ChristEpisode 93 Growing up in Christ Before a baby is born, all focus is on the birth date. But after the birthday, the attention shifts to growing up. It is the same in the spiritual. Our spiritual birthday is a wonderful day, but now we need to grow up. What is God’s way for this to take place? Growth (both physical and spiritual) takes time and effort. God has given us very clear instructions on how this is to take place. The majority of the New Testament is focused on this subject. In order to be successful, we...
2017-08-3144 min
Anchor of Truth92 Working through conflictsEpisode 92 Working through conflicts How do we work through conflicts? It seems that life is full of them. They can be conflicts in personalities, doctrines, family relationships, work relationships, with the world and with brothers and sisters in the Lord? Is it possible to dwell in peace with all men? If so how? Sometimes it seems like the conflicts come at us so fast we don’t know which way to turn. We don’t even understand how we got into the conflict. Yet God has called us to live at peace with all men as much as i...
2017-08-2445 min
Anchor of Truth91 Led by the Spirit of GodEpisode 91 Led by the Spirit of God Paul says that the sons of God are those who are led by the Spirit of God. How does the Spirit lead us? When someone says that God is leading them to do something should that ever be questioned? If so, how should that be done? Our topic today is a very sensitive issue and the answers are not always easy. Yet God has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within us and to lead us in all aspects of life. There are examples in the scriptures and spiritual...
2017-08-1746 min
Anchor of Truth90 The Outworking of LoveEpisode 90 The Outworking of Love Speaking of faith, hope, and love, Paul said the greatest of these is love. One day faith will not be needed because we will see all things as they are. Our hope will have been fulfilled. But love will never pass away because that is the nature of God. How is this love expressed today? We often talk about love, but how much do we know of the practical expression of love? Much of the time (if not most of time) when love is mentioned in the scriptures it is not...
2017-08-101h 07
Anchor of Truth89 The Risen Christ within usEpisode 89 The risen Christ within us The symbol of Christianity is the Cross. Is that what it should be? Christ was crucified, but today He is alive. The Cross was necessary, but the empty tomb is the uniqueness of Christianity. It is the risen Christ in us that is the “Hope of Glory.” The Cross of Christ was the turning point in human history. Without the sacrifice of God in Christ, we would have no way that our past sins could be forgiven. While we were without hope, Christ died for us. But if Christ had rema...
2017-08-0334 min
Anchor of Truth88 Add to your FaithEpisode 88 Add to your faith Does spiritual progress take work? If so, what kind of work? Many today would say any mention of strenuous effort pertaining to our relationship with God is a “gospel of works” and is false doctrine. Is this true? Today we share some ministry by Gordon Gentry from the first chapter of 2 Peter with a strong exhortation to diligence in our relationship with God. This ministry was given in a home meeting in August 1998. May the Lord stir each one of us deeply to give ourselves to the spiritual work that...
2017-07-2756 min
Anchor of Truth87 Ten Shekels and a ShirtEpisode 87 Ten Shekels and a Shirt Why do we come to God? Why do we serve God? Is our focus on ourselves and what we can get from God, or do we care about God, His glory, and His purpose? This is a critical question that must be answered correctly if we are going to know God’s approval in our life and labor. Today we want to share a sermon with you by Paris Reidhead entitled “Ten Shekels and a Shirt.” This message was given at a conference in the mid 1960’s. It has been said by...
2017-07-2055 min
Anchor of Truth86 How do we know the will of God?Episode 86 How do we know the will of God? How can we know the will of God? This is a question that is always before us. It is especially before us when faced with a big decision. But even in our daily lives, we want to do the will of God in all things. Today we look again at God’s provision in this matter. Perhaps the simple answer to this question is “to be led by His Spirit” and that is true. But for this to be real in our lives, we need to look more c...
2017-07-1346 min
Anchor of Truth85 Christ in YouEpisode 85 Christ in You What is our salvation? Is it believing the Bible is the Word of God? Is it believing the right teaching? Is it an experience with God? Is it belonging to the right Church? All of these things have their place, but our salvation is not these but rather “Christ in you.” Today we continue the subject of our last program which was that “Christ may be fully formed in us.” We share some ministry on this subject by Gordon Gentry given in May 1998. He begins in Ephesians chapter 1 and seeks to show us how C...
2017-07-061h 03
Encouraging Christian Fathers: Parenting Advice for Men With Vision41-How (& Why) to Support Your Wife in Childbirth Sponsor: Samaritan Ministries "Christians helping Christians with Health Care." (Tell them Joshua Sheats sent you.) https://www.samaritanministries.org/ Sponsor: Audible http://AudibleFathers.com Sponsor: Covenant Eyes http://CovenantFathers.com Sponsor: YNAB http://YNABFathers.com Leave us a voicemail: 804-464-3237 (804-464-DADS) Email the show: EncouragingChristianFathers@gmail.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/groups/EncouragingChristianFathers Joshua's other podcast: http://radicalpersonalfinance.com Dave's other podcast: http://anchoroftruth.com
2017-06-2850 min
Anchor of Truth84 Christ Fully Formed in YouEpisode 84 Christ fully formed in you What is the central message of the Gospel? Some may say “that we may be forgiven of our sin.” Some may say “that we may be with God in heaven.” While these are included, I think there is something more basic and central, and it is that Christ may be formed in us. Today we conclude our series from the ministry of T. Austin-Sparks on Galatians. Here is his introduction: We come to this last morning of our consideration of this great question. That is, the great question...
2017-06-2726 min
Anchor of Truth83 The Holy Spirit Came to Create a New OrderEpisode 83 The Holy Spirit came to create a new order Why did God send the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost? How did the working of God change on that day? Have we really comprehended the significance to us of the Promise of the Father that brought God within each believer? Today we continue with the ministry of T. Austin-Sparks from Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Here is his introduction: This morning we come to what I feel to be one of the most important messages that we have been giving. We...
2017-06-2228 min
Anchor of Truth82 Emancipation from Legalism is to see ChristEpisode 82 Emancipation from Legalism is to see Christ We often hear the term “legal” used when discussing some aspect of truth. What is meant by that? What is legalism? The only true emancipation from all forms of legalism is to see Christ. What does it mean to see Christ? Today we continue the ministry by T. Austin-Sparks from Paul’s letter to the Galatians where he addresses this subject of legalistic Christianity. Here is a quote from this ministry. Legalism always crucifies Christ afresh BECAUSE legalism cuts out the greatest word in Christianity. The wo...
2017-06-1525 min
Anchor of Truth81 Direct Revelation of Jesus ChristEpisode 81 Direct Revelation of Jesus Christ Paul said that the gospel he preached did not come through any man, but by direct revelation of Jesus Christ. Is the experience of Paul unique to Him or is he an example of what each one of us should expect today? Today we continue the series by T. Austin-Sparks based on Paul’s letter to the Galatians. In this message, Sparks focuses on the subject of direct revelation of Christ to Paul and what we should expect in our relationship with God. Here is a short quote from this mi...
2017-06-0828 min
Anchor of Truth80 Is Christianity a Legal System or a Spiritual Movement from Heaven?Episode 80 Is Christianity a Legal System or a Spiritual Movement from Heaven Is Christianity a legal system on the earth or is it a spiritual movement from heaven? Or to put the question in other words, is what we see in the world that is called “Christianity” what God desires? If not, why not and how do we deal with that? The question that we pose is a very critical question for us. How does God view what we call “Christianity”? To answer this question, I want to share with us some ministry given some years ago by T...
2017-06-0122 min
Anchor of Truth79 Christ is Head of His ChurchEpisode 79 Christ is Head of His Church Christ is head of His church. Authority is at the very center of that statement. Moving under the authority of Christ is our place of safety, grace, and fulfillment. Today we share some ministry by Gordon Gentry on this subject. The scripture is Colossians 1:12-18. Some of the subjects mentioned are as follows: • Exercising our will in God • Made by Him and for Him • Fulfilment is found in submission to His authority • God’s order in the man/woman relationship • Thinking in...
2017-05-251h 01
Anchor of Truth78 Discerning the Body of ChristEpisode 78 Discerning the Body of Christ Paul said that if a person partakes of the Lord’s Table but does not discern the Lord’s body, he eats and drinks judgment to himself. What does it mean to discern the Lord’s body? What is the “Lord’s body”? A critical foundation truth pertaining to the purpose and working of God in our time is that we are charged with being an expression of the Body of Christ in our locality. This is a great privilege and at the same times a grave responsibility. God has chosen to wo...
2017-05-1830 min
Anchor of Truth77 JudgmentEpisode 77 Judgment It seems that there is one statement by Jesus that the whole world knows about, Christians and non-Christians alike: “Judge not that you be not judged.” Yet Paul said that the spiritual man judges all things. How do we reconcile these two statements? The subject of judgment often brings a host of responses, some of them quite passionate. Is there ever a place that we are to “judge” another person or is that entirely in the hands of God without human involvement? What do we mean by judgment? Sometimes we use the word judgment when we...
2017-05-1137 min
Anchor of Truth76 The significance of the Lord's TableEpisode 76 The significance of the Lord’s Table The Lord’s Table is central to Christian doctrine and experience. The Lord Himself initiated this on the night of the last Passover. “Do this in remembrance of Me” was His command. What does this mean? How do we fulfill this commandment? Today we want to look at what we term “The Lord’s Table” and its significance to us in the gathering together of God’s people. We will concentrate on two passages of scripture, namely I Cor. 10:14-22 and 11:23-34 Our focus is on the following:
2017-05-0441 min
Anchor of Truth75 Love Never FailsEpisode 75 Love never fails Love never fails. That is Paul’s statement in writing to the Corinthians. How can that be possible? Has our love failed at times? Why did it fail? How can we know God’s love that never fails? The subject of love is perhaps the most common subject among Christians, yet at the same time the reality of a love that never fails is probably a rarity. None of us want our love to fail, but the challenges of relationships seem to bring us to the very limit. Today we s...
2017-04-271h 01
Anchor of Truth74 First LoveEpisode 74 First Love When God addressed the Ephesian church in the book of Revelation, He said that they had lost their first love, and that if they did not recover that He would remove their candlestick. What is first love? How do we get that? I think that all would agree that love is the critical element in our relationship with God and with one another. The Ephesian church was commended for their love, yet by the time John wrote to the church it appears that they had lost that element God called “first love.” Is this...
2017-04-2035 minEncouraging Christian Fathers: Parenting Advice for Men With Vision40-The Central Importance of Bearing Responsibility: Training our Children Like Jesus Trained His Disciples Part 7It is very, very important that we consistently place progressively increasing responsibility on our children. Resources The book we're drawing from is "The New Testament Order for Church and Missionary" by Alex Rattray Hay. Yes, I paid $50 for it on Amazon. Sorry! http://amzn.to/2nfCfUz Sponsor: Samaritan Ministries "Christians helping Christians with health care" (Tell them that Joshua Sheats sent you.) https://www.samaritanministries.org/
2017-04-1834 min
Anchor of Truth73 The Revealing of God in Jesus ChristEpisode 73 The Revealing of God in Jesus Christ The last book of the Bible is entitled “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” Paul said that the gospel he preached did not come from man but from the revelation of Jesus Christ. What do we mean by “the revelation of Jesus Christ”? How does that come to us? When we use the term “revelation” many become reserved or even afraid. They begin to think of some strange supernatural appearance and associate the statement with the devil or deception. But the word “revelation” is very scriptural and we need not be afraid of...
2017-04-1338 min
Anchor of Truth72 The Message of the CrossEpisode 72 The Message of the Cross What is the message of the cross? Paul said it is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. Do we know the fullness of the message or just a part? I think that all Christians know something of the cross of Jesus Christ. Perhaps some just know it as a symbol of their religion or maybe as some kind of “magic charm.” But most know that Christ died on the cross for their sins, and have believed that beca...
2017-04-0638 minEncouraging Christian Fathers: Parenting Advice for Men With Vision38-How to Train Your Children Like Jesus Trained the Disciples: The Textbook of InstructionWe continue our "Train Children Like Jesus..." series today with a discussion of the textbook of instruction. What textbook did Jesus use and what textbook should we use? The best healthcare option for Christians (tell them Joshua Sheats sent you): https://samaritanministries.org/
2017-04-0347 min
Anchor of Truth71 Our Personal Relationship with Jesus ChristEpisode 71 Our Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ Christians speak often about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. What do we mean by that? What is this relationship? What makes it personal? How do we know if our relationship with Jesus Christ is what God intended? We do not find the term “personal relationship with Jesus Christ” in the Bible, so on what basis do we use this term? We do not even find the word “relationship” in most English translations, but the concept appears everywhere. How has God designed for us to relate to Him? How do we re...
2017-03-301h 00Encouraging Christian Fathers: Parenting Advice for Men With Vision37-How to Train Your Children Like Jesus Trained His Disciples, Part 4: Why You Need to Send Your Children Out and How to Do ItToday we continue with Part 4 of our series on training children like Jesus trained His disciples with a discussion of . Resources The book we're drawing from is "The New Testament Order for Church and Missionary" by Alex Rattray Hay. Yes, I paid $50 for it on Amazon. Sorry! http://amzn.to/2nfCfUz Sponsor: Samaritan Ministries "Christians helping Christians with health care" (Tell them that Joshua Sheats sent you.) https://www.samaritanministries.org/
2017-03-2744 min
Anchor of Truth70 RighteousnessEpisode 70 Righteousness Can God make us righteous, and if so how? Does He require us to be righteous to take us into eternity with Himself? Many today think that Jesus came to forgive our sins so we can go to heaven, but that true righteousness is not possible in this life. Is that true? Is it possible to do righteously if we are not righteous? Many today think that righteousness is only an “imputed” or theoretical righteousness but does not work out in a reality in our lives. Because we have been taught that “all of our ri...
2017-03-2335 minEncouraging Christian Fathers: Parenting Advice for Men With Vision36-How to Train Your Children Like Jesus Trained His Disciples, Part 3: Study Periods and the Classroom Today we continue Part 3 of our series on training children like Jesus trained His disciples with a discussion of the importance of study periods with your children. Resources The book we're drawing from is "The New Testament Order for Church and Missionary" by Alex Rattray Hay. Yes, I paid $50 for it on Amazon. Sorry! http://amzn.to/2nfCfUz Sponsor: Samaritan Ministries "Christians helping Christians with Health Care." (Tell them Joshua Sheats sent you.) https://www.samaritanministries.org/ Sponsor: Audible http://AudibleFathers.com Sponsor: Covenant Eyes http://CovenantFathers.com Sponsor...
2017-03-2034 min
Anchor of Truth69 Do Christians sin, Part 2Episode 69 Do Christians sin, Part 2 The consequences of sin in a person’s life here on earth are severe. The end result of un-repented sin is eternal judgment and separation from God into hell. We dare not play around with sin. God has made full provision for us to be delivered from sin. We must not miss the way. God paid the ultimate price for us to be delivered from sin. Because of this, we have no excuse to continue in sin. Yet in spite of God’s provision, many believers still live in bondage to sin...
2017-03-1633 minEncouraging Christian Fathers: Parenting Advice for Men With Vision35-How to Train Your Children Like Jesus Trained His Disciples, Part 2: Confronting 'isms and Learning to Work Today we continue Part 2 of our series on training children like Jesus trained His disciples with a discussion of the importance of confronting the 'isms of our day and teaching our children to work! Resources The book we're drawing from is "The New Testament Order for Church and Missionary" by Alex Rattray Hay. Yes, I paid $50 for it on Amazon. Sorry! http://amzn.to/2nfCfUz Sponsor: Samaritan Ministries "Christians helping Christians with Health Care." (Tell them Joshua Sheats sent you.) https://www.samaritanministries.org/ Sponsor: Audible http://AudibleFathers.com Sponsor: Covenant...
2017-03-1335 min
Anchor of Truth68 Do Christians sin?Episode 68 Do Christians sin? Do Christians sin? Some say yes, all the time since we are not perfect in this life. Some say no, because after we have experienced sanctification we cannot sin. What is the truth? Can we know the truth? Surely this is a very important area because Christ died that we may be delivered from sin. If that means that we can be delivered from sin in this life and yet we do not experience this deliverance, what shall we say to God when we stand before Him on the final judgment day...
2017-03-0934 minEncouraging Christian Fathers: Parenting Advice for Men With Vision34-How to Train Your Children Like Jesus Trained His Disciples, Part 1: Practical ExperienceToday we begin Part 1 of our series on training children like Jesus trained His disciples with a discussion of the practical nature of Jesus' training. Resources The book we're drawing from is "The New Testament Order for Church and Missionary" by Alex Rattray Hay. Yes, I paid $50 for it on Amazon. Sorry! http://amzn.to/2nfCfUz Sponsor: Samaritan Ministries "Christians helping Christians with health care" (Tell them that Joshua Sheats sent you.) Sponsor: Audible http://AudibleFathers.com Sponsor: Covenant Eyes http://CovenantFathers.com Sponsor: YNAB http://YNABFathers.com
2017-03-0839 min
Anchor of Truth67 The Beginning Work--Love67 The Beginning Work—Love The working of love is a very familiar topic to most of us. Yet the width and depth of this work is far beyond our natural ability. Jesus said that we are to love as He loved, and that love was fully demonstrated at Calvary as He laid down His life for us. We are told that love is the bond of perfection and without this love we are nothing. We find ourselves challenged at every turn to experience and express this love. Our provision is God Himself, because He has put th...
2017-03-021h 02
Anchor of Truth66 SanctificationEpisode 66 Sanctification What is sanctification? We are told this is the will of God but how does it take place? Is sanctification optional or is sanctification a necessary part of our salvation? How are we sanctified unto God? In the Old Testament we see many references to sanctification. The priests were sanctified in a very detailed way for their service in the temple. The altar was sanctified before the sacrifices were offered on it. The people were commanded to sanctify themselves before they approached God. Instructions for sanctification are brought into the New Covenant but on...
2017-02-2330 min
Anchor of Truth65 Experiencing God in RelationshipsEpisode 65 Experiencing God in Relationships At the heart of what God is doing is proper relationships. Thus it should not surprise us that the enemy does everything within his power to destroy relationships and create enmity between us and God and between one another. We are commanded to not be ignorant of his devices. How can right relationships be established, maintained, and strengthened? To see all relationships established and maintained for the purpose and glory of God takes nothing less than the power of God. We must avail of God’s provision, and that provision is ex...
2017-02-1633 min
Anchor of Truth64 Pursuing HolinessEpisode 64 Pursuing Holiness God is holy beyond anything we can imagine, but we are commanded to “be holy for I am Holy.” We are also commanded to pursue holiness without which no one will see the Lord. How do we do this? How can we be holy? When we try to comprehend the holiness of God, we may feel so inadequate that we give up before we even start. How can we be holy as He is Holy? But we cannot just put this subject aside because the admonition in scripture is very real and critical.
2017-02-0932 min
Anchor of Truth63 A Beginning Expression of the ChurchEpisode 63 A Beginning Expression of the Church What should we expect in a beginning expression of the church? We see in some degree what God wants, but how do we begin? What is our responsibility? We want to obey God, but what truth is important at the foundation? How does an expression of the church come into being? We may have come out of a more formal institution of some kind in hunger for more reality but are not clear in what we need to do. What truth is essential at the foundation? How do we kn...
2017-02-021h 00
Anchor of Truth62 Evaluation and CriticismEpisode 62 Evaluation and criticism Paul said in one place that we are to examine ourselves, to test ourselves. He was speaking to a church that was struggling with some serious issues, and He was admonishing them to be honest with where they were in the Lord. Are we always willing to face honest evaluation? To evaluate ourselves honestly is not easy. Our first tendency is usually to defend ourselves when criticized in some way. But when we do that, we usually close the door to progress in that area. If we are at rest in our...
2017-01-2629 min
Anchor of Truth61 The Fear of GodEpisode 61 The Fear of God There are many scriptures that speak about “the fear of God.” In our time, it seems that is not a very popular subject. We would much rather speak about the love of God. But we dare not ignore any area of truth and concentrate on things we like. Should we fear God? In the Old Testament there is much mention of those who feared God. But there are also many scriptures in the New Testament that speak of the fear of God. How do we reconcile the love of God and the...
2017-01-1936 min
Anchor of Truth60 God as He IsEpisode 60 God as He Is Who is God? Do we know who He is? That may sound like a very elementary question, but I do not believe it is. God is vastly more than we realize. So many times we serve a God of our own creation rather than God as He is. How can we have a greater revelation of the true God of this universe? It is impossible for us to grasp God in our natural mind. The scriptures are very clear that only the Holy Spirit can reveal God to our hearts. Even...
2017-01-121h 17
Anchor of Truth59 Spiritual WarfareEpisode 59 Spiritual Warfare What is spiritual warfare? This term is often used today, but the meaning behind the term is quite different in many cases. Are we involved in a war? If so, what is the war and what are the weapons of this war? Let us turn to the scriptures for guidance in this matter. It is very easy for us to take bits of scripture here and there and construct our own idea of the conflict based on our own reasoning as relates to our current situation. It is challenging to step back from...
2017-01-0535 min
Anchor of Truth58 Evidence of God's Presence in His TempleEpisode 58 Evidence of God’s presence in His temple What is the evidence that God is dwelling in His temple? We know what it was in the Tabernacle. It was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. But when God took up residence in His church on the day of Pentecost what was the evidence then? Is it the same today? I think we must all come before God in this matter with a humble heart, ready to hear, ready to learn, and if necessary ready to change. If we come with ou...
2016-12-2933 min
Anchor of Truth57 Discipline in the Church of GodEpisode 57 Discipline in the Church of God The subject of discipline in the Household of God is a very touchy subject. To avoid the problems, some have concluded that we should never be involved in such things (“Judge not”). Others have done this in a very harsh way that has left severe damage in lives. Is there a right way? Should the church ever discipline members? If so, how? As we look briefly at this subject today, I would encourage us to come carefully to the scriptures and ask God to reveal His mind. I think we a...
2016-12-2238 min
Anchor of Truth56 The Temple of GodEpisode 56 The Temple of God A common theme among most religions of the world is a temple for worship. This is a central part of Christianity as well, but the New Covenant expression of that is very different from all other religions and even the temple that we see in the Old Testament. What is the Temple of God in the New Covenant? In the final words of Stephen’s sermon in Acts 7 he said that God does not dwell in temples made with hands. What then was the meaning of the Old Covenant temple? I be...
2016-12-1538 min
Anchor of Truth55 Spiritual GiftsEpisode 55 Spiritual Gifts I think that most of us are aware that there is considerable disagreement in Christianity concerning the place that spiritual gifts hold in the church today. That is certainly unfortunate to say the least. What is the purpose of these gifts? Are they for us today? So many seem to have either dismissed spiritual gifts saying they were only for the early church while others have pursued them but ignored the instruction given by Paul to ensure that all are edified by their use. Why is there so much confusion? Can we come...
2016-12-0836 min
Anchor of Truth53 The Grace of GodEpisode 53 The Grace of God This is David Sheats on Anchor of Truth. There probably is no word in the Christian vocabulary that is more well-known than the word “grace.” Yet at the same time, there is also a very great divergence of understanding what the grace of God is and what it means to each of us. We are told that grace came to us in Christ Jesus our Lord? What does that mean to you and me? What do we expect in our relationship with Jesus? Our expectations are important, because if we are look...
2016-11-2435 min
Anchor of Truth52 The Kingdom of GodEpisode 52 The Kingdom of God This is David Sheats on Anchor of Truth. Jesus said we should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. What is the kingdom of God? Is it something in the future or now? Is it a kingdom that can be seen or is it hidden? How do we obey this command of Jesus? There is much discussion related to this subject, and as with so many subjects, we can hardly begin to answer the questions in such a short time. But Jesus spoke much about the kingdom of God...
2016-11-1735 minEncouraging Christian Fathers: Parenting Advice for Men With VisionMen for God: "Making Disciples" (4 of 4) - David PawsonThis week, instead of our customary episode of Encouraging
Christian Fathers, I'm releasing part 4 of a 4-part series by
David Pawson to you.
David has a real burden for men and I share his burden. I've
found this series to be extremely impactful to me and I hope you
find it encouraging and impactful in your life.
Enjoy!
Joshua
http://davidpawson.org/resources/series/men-for-god
2016-04-291h 04Encouraging Christian Fathers: Parenting Advice for Men With VisionMen for God: "Hard at Work" (3 of 4) - David PawsonThis week, instead of our customary episode of Encouraging Christian Fathers, I'm releasing part 3 of a 4-part series by David Pawson to you.
David has a real burden for men and I share his burden. I've found this series to be extremely impactful to me and I hope you find it encouraging and impactful in your life.
Enjoy!
Joshua
http://davidpawson.org/resources/series/men-for-god
2016-04-221h 23Encouraging Christian Fathers: Parenting Advice for Men With VisionMen for God: "Male and Female" (2 of 4) - David PawsonThis week, instead of our customary episode of Encouraging Christian Fathers, I'm releasing part 2 of a 4-part series by David Pawson to you.
David has a real burden for men and I share his burden. I've found this series to be extremely impactful to me and I hope you find it encouraging and impactful in your life.
Enjoy!
Joshua
http://davidpawson.org/resources/series/men-for-god
2016-04-151h 26Encouraging Christian Fathers: Parenting Advice for Men With VisionMen for God: "A Burden for Men" (1 of 4) - David PawsonThis week, instead of our customary episode of Encouraging Christian Fathers, I'm releasing part 1 of a 4-part series by David Pawson to you.
David has a real burden for men and I share his burden. I've found this series to be extremely impactful to me and I hope you find it encouraging and impactful in your life.
Enjoy!
Joshua
http://davidpawson.org/resources/series/men-for-god
2016-04-091h 13