The Calhoun Church of Christ Podcast

Why pray? Isn't God in control... of everything?

If so, why vote? And why pray for God's will to be done in our nation if he's going to do what every he wants to do, anyway?

Prayer matters. Even in an election environment. So how should we pray? For 'our side' to win? For 'their side' to lose?

God has a better idea: "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (1st Timothy 2:1-2 NIV)

Listen and learn the scope of what this Scripture says about praying for our nation, whether in an election year or not.

Why pray? Isn't God in control... of everything?

Then why does the Word say, "You do not have because you do not ask God." in James 4:2?

Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." (Revelation 3:20 NIV)

Why doesn't he just kick the door down and go in? Because God never forces himself on us. He waits for us to ask, to invite him in.

And he limits his giving when we limit our asking. Learn more about how this phenomenon of how God works with us to answer prayer.

How do you keep your prayer life fresh and alive? Why is it so easy to quit praying? Why do we get discouraged with our praying?

Listen and learn more about how to keep your praying alive by looking at Bible characters and their prayer lives.

Why does prayer matter?

Have you ever noticed in the Bible how many people, and nations, fell into terrible disasters because they didn't pray.

Listen and you'll hear about several of the 'disasters of prayerlessness'.

Why and how does God 'limit' himself to the 'law of prayer' (the principle that you "do not have because you do not ask")?

The Spirit of Prayer impacts us because God gave the whole planet to mankind and made us rulers over it (Psalm 115:16 & Psalm 8). But when Adam and Eve listened to Satan and sinned, the Evil One gained control of the world. Therefore, God waits to be asked before he intervenes in lives here on earth. 

Even Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." (Rev. 3:20 NIV) 

Listen and learn more about the Spirit of Prayer and the laws that govern it.

This session from our 2024 Prayer & Spiritual Growth Workshop features a message on experiencing the 'spirit' of prayer.

How have past revivals been sparked by prayer and how can the modern church to see a greater outpouring of God's presence in this broken world?

The prayer life of Jesus fascinated his disciples. When they heard him pray, they asked to be taught how to pray... how to pray as he prayed.

So, he began with that request and taught them his own revelations about how the disciples should approach this amazing experience of talking in person with the Most High God - his own Father.

In this podcast we look at three major sessions where Jesus personally taught them (and us) to pray.

Why do people look forward to Heaven?

"He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'” (Revelation 21:5 NIV)

The new fascinates us. We look forward to it. And Heaven, if anything, speaks of new things - we're born again to have a new spirit, we look forward to new bodies in the resurrection, and the new heaven and new earth - without sin and evil - fascinate us.

Listen and you'll learn more about how Heaven works a new thing in all of us.

Do you believe you can know without doubt that you'll be in Heaven?

The Apostle John thought you could believe it - "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1st John 5:13 NIV)

That's good news! Yes, it's possible to know for sure that you'll be in Heaven. And the only sure way to know is through the things that John (and others) wrote... the Bible.

In those writings the only sure way to Heaven is revealed...  “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." -Jesus (John 5:24 NIV).

Listen to this episode and hear more good news!

Sometimes we confuse Heaven with the New Heaven and New Earth. 

The Apostle Peter wrote about the fiery destruction of our present heaven and earth, but also spoke about a new heaven and new earth following the incineration of this earth in 2nd Peter 3:3-13.

And John also wrote about his phenomenon in Revelation chapter 21: "Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth', for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." 

Listen and learn more about how the new heaven and new earth will impact future existence as believers on Christ.