The Calhoun Church of Christ Podcast

No Other Gods! -2 "They Put God First"

When Jehovah God brought Israel out of Egyptian slavery, he called them to be his covenant nation and said, “You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3 NIV)

After 430 years in Egypt and centuries of worshipping Egypt's gods (see Joshua 24:14), Israel found it hard to forget their pagan ways.

But many in Israel did keep the command to worship Jehovah only and put him first.

In this episode, you'll hear about some of those amazing people who put God first. They understood that he would tolerate no competition from anything or anyone who tries to replace him in a believer's life. - and you'll also find out why Jesus said his disciples must "take up their cross" and follow him. 

No Other Gods! -"The Jealous God"

When their lives were filled with failure, God instructed Israel to, "give careful thought to your ways" - five times through the prophet Haggai.

Why? Because their harvests weren't producing and their economy had failed - "You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” (Haggai 1:6 NIV)

So, the Lord's advice was, "build the temple". He'd rescued them from slavery in Babylon as prisoners of war. They'd been freed and sent back to Jerusalem so they could rebuild the temple, but they procrastinated and built their own houses instead. They hadn't put God first, so life had become hard, almost unbearable.

In the life of a believer, God will not take second place to anyone or anything. Listen and see how the Lord rescues us from a meaningless life when we put Him first.

More Than Conquerors - "Conquering Disappointment"

How do "more than conquerors" conquer life's inevitable disappointments?

Scripture is full of such conquests over disappointment. In this podcast we look at several of these overcomers.

David at Ziklag. The overcomers in Revelation. John the Baptist and his interaction with Jesus over disappointment. Jesus' disappointment with his own disciples and how he dealt with it.

Listen and learn about Scriptural strategies designed to overcome disappointment.

More Than Conquerors - "Winning With Love"

Sometimes it's good to go back before you go ahead. The Lord told Israel to "Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;" (Isaiah 51:1 NIV).

That "rock" was Abraham, plus Sarah his wife. The Lord used two people who were unable to have children to build a massive nation. It began small but grew large.

So, what "rock' should the church return to? Where did the modern church get its power? What are our ancient roots and how does that change us today?

Today's church has an amazing history, a powerful world-changing record of 2,000 years.

How are we doing today? Should we go back to the "rock" and resurrect the love and passion of the original church?

Listen and find encouragement as we watch God pour his love out on lost humanity.

Cooperating With The Spirit - "A Focused Mind"

Most spiritual failures happen at this point:

"The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:6 NIV)

Keeping the mind focused on what the Holy Spirit wants - that will transform every part of your life.

"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." (Romans 8:5 NIV)

So, how does a believer learn to "set" the mind on what the Spirit wants? Listen and learn more about this fascinating way to live.

Who's Afraid of The Holy Spirit? -2 "Can Anyone Qualify?"

Why are so many afraid of the Holy Spirit and his working? One answer is that Cessation-ism, a common doctrine in many Protestant denominations, has taught that all miracles and the direct operation of the Holy Spirit passed away when the original apostles died, and the Bible was completed.

But Jesus said he would build his church, and the gates of Hades couldn't withstand it (Mathew 16:18). Wouldn't that supernatural church require supernatural help to complete such a mission? Wouldn't that demand the ever-present help of the Holy Spirit?

Listen and see how the Holy Spirit connects believers to their salvation and how each believer qualifies for the Spirit's supernatural help.

 

Who's Afraid of The Holy Spirit?

Jesus said he would build his church, "and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18 NIV)

Wouldn't a church that powerful involve the Holy Spirit? Then why are so many churches afraid of the Holy Spirit?

Because many denominations and even non-denominational churches today believe and teach that the days of miracles and overt workings of the Spirit have all passed away, that they died when the Apostles died and when the Scriptures were completed. But why believe that?

Because they've adopted a concept of "Cessation-ism" - a belief that began during the Protestant Reformation's battle with Catholicism and even continued during the Restoration Movement. 

In this episode, we examine Cessation-ism and the Scriptures on the Holy Spirit's continuing work in the Lord's church today. 

Jesus & The Holy Spirit-9 "I Will Not Leave You As Orphans"

Jesus said, "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" in John 3:6.

The Holy Spirit gave birth to the flesh that the Son of God would inhabit as he did his Father's work on earth.

When Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced God's plan to bring the Messiah through her body, he said:

"The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35 NIV)

By creating the body of Jesus in Mary's womb, the Holy Spirit began an amazing partnership with the Messiah. From then on, we see the Holy Spirit intimately involved in every part of the redemptive work accomplished in Christ.

The Spirit gave birth to flesh for Christ's body so that through Christ he can give birth to our born-again spirits. He will not leave us as orphans.

Learn more about the supernatural events adorning Christ's birth and life, and how Christ gives us this new life.

Jesus & The Holy Spirit-8 "The Heart of Jesus"

The Bible mentions the word "heart" almost 1,000 times. Your heart (spirit) is called the "wellspring of life" in Proverbs 4:23. It's a key to your whole life and should be guarded. 

And for believers, God has "set his seal of ownership on us and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit." (2nd Corinthians 1:22 NIV).

Jesus certainly walked this earth with a Spirit-filled heart, which is why he could say, "I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matt. 11:29 NIV)

Since Jesus' heart was a key to his work and ministry on earth, maybe we should find out how to have his heart.

Listen and learn more about the heart of Jesus and how he will give it to you.

Jesus & The Holy Spirit -7 "Seeing & Walking By Faith"

After Jesus healed a blind man, he said this:

“I came into this world so that the world could be judged. I came so that people who are blind could see. And I came so that people who think they see would become blind.” (John 9:39 ERV)

His healing of the blind man started a discussion about spiritual blindness vs physical blindness. Jesus came so that the spiritually blind could be 'healed' just like the physically blind.

So, what's the key secret to overcoming spiritual blindness? 

"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (2nd Chronicles 16:9 NIV)

Listen and learn more about this amazing secret to spiritual healing and wholeness.