These messages were recorded in CMC (California Men’s Colony), a prison of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 1977 to 1984.
In this Abounding Love podcast, I teach on how Jesus and the Word are unchanging. How the Word must become our life, so that we become Jesus' hands and feet in this world. We can all agree, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8, NKJV). We take the place of Jesus in the flesh as the Body of Christ, representing Him today and forever as His bride. Is Jesus the same in you today? In order for Him to be, His Word must be working mightily in you. The purpose of the Word is to bring healing to us and to all those around us who hear it. The Word, in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, empowers us to act like Jesus -- the same yesterday, today and forever. The Word spoken doesn't return to God void, because it will accomplish that which it was sent to do through us [Isaiah 55:11]. Join me as we look into these truths. [For more: Copy & Paste or Enter > "Create Summary for podcast 97B Jesus The Same from Abounding Love Ministries" < into ChatGPT.com]. www.aboundinglove.org Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this Abounding Love podcast, I'm teaching on the Great Commission; past, present and future. In Acts 5:17-32, we're told how it was done in early church history. The Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, preaching the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They also healed in the Name of Jesus, but were ordered not to preach the Gospel by the religious leaders because it was contrary to the Law of God. They were cast into prison but an angel came, let them out and told them to keep preaching the Word of Life. The Word is like a seed you have to plant and nurture to produce a crop. They had a choice to obey God or man. They chose to obey God -- good choice! Those preaching were filled with the Holy Spirit, Who empowers them to fulfill the Great Commission. Jesus requires the same obedience from us in order for the Gospel to be preached as required by the Great Commission. In this podcast, I discuss how it was done by the Apostles and how we're to continue to do it today. Join me as we look into these truths. [For more: Copy & Paste or Enter > "Create Study Guide for Obedient Unto Death from Abounding Love Ministries podcast" < into ChatGPT.com]. www.aboundinglove.org Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this podcast, I focus on how God's love is what makes all the difference in our lives and in the lives of those we interact with daily. Our Heavenly Father is a Father of love. Everything He does, especially His judgments, are tempered with love. And He's the same yesterday, today and forever. He's unchanging and everything He gives; every good and perfect gift comes from the One Who never changes. He is the God of Love, and He has given us the Way of love. When you walk in the Love of God, you fulfill the Law of God. Love is the perfect law of liberty that God has for us to be ruled by. James 2:8 says, "If you really fulfill the royal law [Love] according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well." God, the Father, wants us to walk in love so that we can spread His love throughout the world. Join me as I teach on how to be a conduit of His love. [For more: Copy & Paste or Enter > "Create Study Guide for Father God The Same from Abounding Love Ministries podcast" < into ChatGPT.com ]. Be Amazed! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In another podcast, I bring out how Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. But not only is Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever, but the Holy Ghost is too! Our Heavenly Father doesn't change, so we can say that the Godhead is unchangeable throughout all history. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and the goal of this ministry is the same. Jesus said, "Even as My Father has sent Me; I am sending you!" Jesus sends us with His authority and power of the Holy Ghost. We have the option to receive His power and authority or not. But without Him, we don't have the power to do the works of Christ [the Anointed One]. God isn't asking us to do something He hasn't given us the power to do! Are you looking for a more effective ministry? Are you desiring power over the devil? The early church received that power and the same is available for you today. The Gospels and the Book of Acts outlines how this happens. Join me as we explore these truths in Scripture. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this podcast we see how the #1 tool of the Devil is self pity; to feel sorry for ourselves, causing defeat. To the contrary, God wants us walking in victory, rejoicing in what Christ has brought us out of. Though we live in a physical body, our struggle is not in the physical, but in the spirit [2 Corinthians 10:3]. Spiritual forces try to pull us down by getting us into self pity. Our weapons are not physical, but powerful, through God, to overcome self defeating attitudes [2 Corinthians 10:4-5]. When the enemy puts a stronghold in your life, the power of God in you can pull it down. We must get rid of negative imaginations to experience victory. The Devil comes only to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus gives an abundant life [John 10:10]. The enemy want to steal our joy, to kill our witness and destroy our ability to evangelize. Join me as I bring out these truths and practical application. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this podcast, I share briefly about a drug dealer named "Lotsapoppa", who I ripped off in 1969. He showed up at the prison chapel to confront me. Whatever our problems are; the answer is bigger, because it's always, God! He is bigger, whether discouragement, debt or even enemies coming after you. The prophet Jeremiah realized that the Israelites had all sorts of problems due to idol worship. In Jeremiah chapter 20, we find him discouraged and perturbed by the Word of God, so he decided not to speak to God any longer. But, he soon decided he couldn't get away from the Word of the LORD, because it was like a burning fire in his heart [v. 9]. The Word confirmed that God lived and could overcome his and all Israel's problems. Join me in this podcast to see how the Word is the Answer to all your problems and what you must do to make it so in your life. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this Abounding Love podcast, I discuss "Indecision." Webster's dictionary defines it as: "A wavering between two possible courses of actions." During the day, and at times in our life, we face "two possible courses of action" and which one we choose can have extreme consequences for good or bad. "If only I'd done this" or "If only I'd done that" . . . life is made of decisions. I can testify; what we decide has everything to do with the results in our life. James 1:8 tells us that a double minded person is unstable in all their ways. Since that's true, it stands to reason that a single minded person would be stable in all their ways. The only way to do that is to have the mind of God. Have the Holy Spirit guide you in decisions through the Word of God, which represents the mind of God; the mind of Christ. That is single mindedness. Philippians 2:5 reminds us "to let this mind be in you that is in Christ Jesus." The Holy Spirit and the Word of God changes our way of thinking. It gets rid of our wrong thinking and replaces it with correct thinking. This leads to correct decisions, and it follows, correct results. Do you want results that come from God? Join me in this message to find what God wants for you. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this Abounding Love podcast episode #208, I share how Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom [Mark 1:14-15], which is the Kingdom of love, light and life. It's the Kingdom we now live in as born-again believers. Jesus told folks to repent [turn from sin to God] and believe the Gospel because the Kingdom of God is present. He didn't sugar coat it, but told them that all mankind were sinners, living in the kingdom of Satan in this world. They needed to repent and abandon the worldly, satanic kingdom to come into the Kingdom of God. All the great evangelists follow the same model. Billy and Franklin Graham, Greg Laurie and Chuck Smith always start their messages informing folks they are sinners in need of a Savior. To get the only Savior, Jesus, all of us had to repent and believe, which is the only way to become empowered by the Holy Spirit, to come out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of light, love and peace. We are called to be ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. That's a great honor! Join me in this message to help you be a better ambassador. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
This podcast episode begins with a Christian brother named Lance, reading Scripture from Acts 3:1-16, about Peter healing the lame beggar in the Name of Jesus. Lance then transitions into a song, then completes the reading before I begin to preach. My message focuses on miracles that believers experience today. Not all congregations believe in such miracles, like Peter healing the lame man, happen today. They believe that miracles were something which ended during the early church age. It's my experience that such doctrines deny the power of the Resurrection, closing the door to many possibility. "Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8, NKJV). Miracles do still happen, and we have a role in having them take place. They happen by grace through faith in the resurrection. Think about it; our salvation is the greatest miracle ever. Join me as I teach on these things. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
This podcast message is designed to enhance our Spiritual growth. The most important is that we work at rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Get to know it! Study and meditate it! Don't rely on others to tell you what it says, rather place it in your heart so you know what it says. Secondly, we're to walk in love, wisdom and as Jesus walked. This happens as the Word becomes part of our being. Third, praise is what we need, which is about a prayerful relationship with God, including repentance and thankfulness. Forth, we must assemble ourselves together. "Konoia" is the Greek word for fellowship. It's a joint relationship or partnership in the Spirit of God. Lastly, we must be a witness, but it's difficult without knowing the Word, love, praise/prayer and fellowship. Once built up in these, it comes easy. Join me by listening to this exciting message. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this podcast, I continue with how to win souls. When we get opposition or objections in the form of questions, it's important that we answer with Godly love and restraint. We want to avoid "disputes," which are "unprofitable and useless" (Titus 3:9, NKJV). They will often have foolish questions, inviting arguments rather than building up each other [1 Timothy 1:4; 6:4,5]. You can win the argument, but lose the soul! Again, Paul warns us to avoid disputes that "generate strife," rather to be gentle, correcting those in opposition with humility [2 Timothy 2:23-26]. So back away from arguments, because people don't receive in a defensive position. Just always be ready to explain the hope you have as a believer [1 Peter 3:15]. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
The goal of this Abounding Love podcast is to give a burden for witnessing to the lost, which all of us were at one time. It seeks to inform with examples how any believer can be a witness. In John 3:36, Jesus stated that we need to witness because the world is perishing without a personal relationship with Him. As believers, we share God's Word with the lost to build a relationship based on faith. This relationship with Jesus saves and brings eternal life, not Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna, Joseph Smith, etc. Ephesians 2:12 confirms that without Christ; we're without life and hope. Luke, chapter 6 tells the story of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man ends up in Hell (v. 23). Hell is a real place, and it's a place of torment [eternal pain]. Anyone without life in Christ is going to end up in Hell without appeal. This is why Jesus gave us the "Great Commission," because everyone needs Christ. There is no hope without Him. Join me as we share these truths. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Continuing from the previous message about "Perfecting Love", I share how Jesus' compassion came from Him seeing that the people were "like sheep without a shepherd." But we have a Shepherd: Jesus Christ! Why should we have compassion on those lost people we encounter? Because they are scattered and lost, wandering without a place to rest -- like sheep without a shepherd. We become that shepherd when we think like Jesus thinks. Join me, in what I am told is "one of the best messages yet", as we look into the way Jesus thinks and the way He walked -- the Love Walk. I end with an uplifting prayer, relevant to the message. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this message, we're looking into two (2) commandments our Lord gave us. That is, to love the Lord our God completely and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Both are impossible to keep without the grace of God. We find in 1 John 5:1-5 how to developed our love relationship with God, so we can have a love relationship with others. Thus, not allowing Satan to steal our love, nor fear to make God's love ineffective. Do you realize God is at work, when you are born again, not of flesh, but born of the Spirit and of His love? We have to perfect this love in our soul [mind, will and emotions], so that God's love becomes an action in our lives. Join me as we look into many other Scriptures to find out how to perfect the love we've been given. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
This episode includes me testifying of my fruitless search for love in drugs, sex and the flesh. Today, I have "put off" those vices and have "put on" the love of Christ. The apostle Paul wrote: "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things [the flesh] put on charity [agape love], which is the bond of perfectness" (Colossians 3:12-14, KJV, emphasis added). These verses, and those preceding them, say we are to "put on" these things as Christians. In verse 10, it says we ". . . have put on the new man," since the old man has been done away with in Christ. This new man has been regenerated in the image of God. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV). In Colossians 3:12, quoted above, Paul says that we are to "Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved . . ." We are the elect of God, holy and beloved; separated from the world. When we experience this, we begin to act differently. We become humble, patient, merciful, kind and forgiving; when we weren't before. Paul goes on to say, "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness" (v. 14). "Bond" is the Greek word for "ligament." Our born-again Spirit has been made perfect in Christ, and our soul [mind, choices and emotions] is the "ligament" to our bodily actions. We are to "put on charity," which is the Greek word "agape", unconditional, sacrificial love. The ancient Greek word translated "put on" in these verses is used elsewhere in Scripture to mean the putting on of garments. In other words, we are to wear God's love like clothing; as a covering for everyone to see and experience. As the chorus goes, "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes, they will know we are Christians by our love." Our love defines us and shows we are perfect in Christ. Selah! [See my article and brochure, "God's Divine Flow" at aboundinglove.org/outreach/gospel]. Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this episode, we will recognize who our enemy is. The enemies of God are enemies of Love. They don't want us to experience the love of God. They keep us from loving our brothers and sisters in Christ. We know who the deceiver is; Satan, who comes to steal, kill and destroy. And we know Jesus came to give life more abundantly. We see two opposing forces. In John 10:10, Satan is presented as a thief. He creeps in unaware to bring us into bondage and to deceive us. His success is due only to our lack of knowledge of the truth. Satan wants us to abandon God's will and come in line with his evil will. He opposes God, and God opposes him. We know Who is the winner -- Jesus Christ! In Genesis, after the Fall of man, we find God addressing Satan [the serpent], and He says: ". . . And I will put enmity between you and the women, and between your seed [Satan] and her Seed; He [Jesus] shall bruise your head, and you [Satan] shall bruise His heel" (Genesis 3:15, NKJV). That word "enmity" means mutual hatred and hostility. Satan hates God, and God hates Satan. And this enmity extends between those who follow one or the other. We are to hate [have enmity towards] the deeds of Satan, especially when found among believers. We don't hate the believer, but the inappropriate actions of the believer. We hate the sin, but love the sinner [Romans 5:8]. Jesus bruises the head of the "seed of the serpent", and the serpent bruises the heel of the "Seed of the woman," temporarily at the cross. Satan comes at us and plants thoughts that are in opposition to what God's will is for our lives. These contrary thoughts are enmity towards God and enemies of God, and His love. In this message, we find the truth of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, that we use as weapons against the works of the enemy. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
This episode shares how we are to perfect the love of God in our lives, but we must remember that we love because He first loved us. As believers, we are born of the Spirit of love. We have God's love within us, and we owe [have an obligation] to share His love with others. We must allow His love to flow from our lives. The Greek word for God's love is "agape," the unconditional and sacrificial love of God, which put His Son on the cross in our place for our sins. There are other words used for love in the Scriptures, such as "phileo" [brotherly love] and "storge" [affectionate love], but only "agape" is used for God's love. The word "eros" for physical love is not used in the Scriptures. We're not to keep God's love stored inside us for safekeeping, but we are to give it to others. The apostle Paul wrote: "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:8-10, NKJV). If we are to fulfill the law, then we'll be "loving our neighbor as we love ourselves." We are not to do any harm to our brothers and sisters in the Lord, but don't we? At times, we speak evil of others, but we are called to perfect the love of God in our lives and in out thoughts. This way we can be effective representatives of God on earth as the light of the world. By perfecting God's love in our lives, we not only meet the requirements of the Law of God, but also the criminal and civil laws. Romans, chapter 13 continues: "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lust" (Romans 13:11-14, NKJV). Join me as we look into the importance of the love of God and how to manifest it. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
How many of us have trouble with our imaginations? Zechariah prophesied, "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart" (7:9-10, KJV). During the day, we're tempted the think badly about other Christians. Let none "imagine evil" against their Christian brother and sister. There is no room for this in our lives. These verses state that we're to "execute true judgment," not based on our imaginations. When God looks upon Christians, He sees the blood of Jesus. Without it, judgment would come upon all mankind. Jesus wiped all our sin away, taking our judgment upon Himself. God sees the believer as pure and righteous because of Jesus' blood. Zechariah tells us to "Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother." True judgment today involves showing mercy and compassion [suffering with another]. If we're not showing love to our fellow Christians, we're not executing the right kind of judgment. Absent love, our judgment is worldly and even demonic. It brings destruction, instead of healing. This message is intended for born-again Christians. We are not to oppress the less fortunate; widows, orphans and foreigners. And we are not to even think [imagine] evil against our fellow Christian. The people of Zechariah's time, ". . . refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear" (7:11, KJV). My prayer is that we won't stop up our ears, but will listen to this message and put on the mind of Christ, as Zechariah told us to do. Join me as we discover how we can get rid of our evil imaginations and think as God thinks. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garments spotted by the flesh" (Jude 20-23, KJV). This means we are not only to keep ourselves in the love of God; but we are to help keep others in the love of God. As the body of Christ, we are united in love, so we are to keep the body of Christ in the love of God. In the verses quoted above, Jude addresses the statement to "beloved." When you see "beloved" used in the Scriptures, it's being addressed to Christians. Then Jude says, "building up yourselves," and this indicates there is something we need to do. It has been said that God has already done everything He is going to do. He has given us Jesus and made us a new creation. After we are born again in Christ, we must keep ourselves built up [edified] in the most holy faith. These Scriptures, verses 20 through 23 has seven (7) commands that a Christian needs to do. #1, ". . . building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost," #2, "Keep yourselves in the love of God," #3, ". . . looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life," #4, ". . . have compassion" on some, #5, ". . . making a difference," #6, ". . . others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, and #7, ". . . hating even the garments spotted by the flesh." The first is to build up ourselves in the most holy faith. You may have noticed that within Christianity there is a lot of putting people down, and it's very easy to be put down through gossip. But, Jude instructs us to build up ourselves and others in the faith. Jude precedes the above verses with this warning. "These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit" (Jude 16-19, KJV). Things were the same then as they are now. We're told by Jude in verse 3, ". . . that you should earnestly contend for the faith. . .", because there are those who will teach you falsely to have you deny the faith that saved you. Join me as we study this episode on how we can build ourselves up in the faith and keep ourselves in the love of God, so those who come with such evil intentions will have no affect and can be overcome. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Did you know that you have the love of God within you? We are not only born again due to the love of God, but our spirit is created in love at salvation. And due to free will, we must let the love of God be activated, to operate [abound or overflow] from our lives. The apostle Paul prays, " . . . that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11, NKJV). He is praying these five (5) things for the Philippian people. We won't cover them all, but #1 is, ". . . that their love may abound," #2 ". . . that they may approve the things that are excellent," #3, ". . . that they may be sincere," #4, that they may be ". . . without offense," and #5, that they may be ". . . filled with the fruits of righteousness." The first was that their love would abound or overflow. The Amplified Bible says in verse 9, that Paul is saying, ". . . that your love may abound yet more and more, and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and keen insight." The Amplified Bible puts a deeper emphasis [exaggerating] each verse for a deeper meaning and understanding. It's saying that your love needs to display itself and have a greater acquaintance. In other words, know each other more deeply. Again, the word "abound" means "to overflow." But the implication is that we're to overflow, not just in quantity, but in quality. God expects the quality of our love to be as His love. Usually the quantity and quality of our love doesn't even approach the quantity and quality of God's love, even though He lives in us. It's like our finances. God expects we'll have enough so we can give as He directs. So it is with God's love. He has given His love to us in abundance so that we can give it away to everyone else. This is the work of the Body of Christ. In this message I present additional insights from God's Word about why and how we are able to let God's love abound from our lives. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this episode, I start with the founding verse of this ministry, which is based on the love of God and loving one another, but there are other aspects involving purity as follows: "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints" (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, NKJV). In these verses, the apostle Paul is praying for us to increase in love. Chapter 4 of First Thessalonians continues: "Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, NKJV). The word "abound," used in these verses means "to increase to overflowing." It pleases God when we show love to one another. Jesus gave us a new commandment that we love one another [John 13:34-35]. First Thessalonians 4:3-4 continues: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor . . ." What is the will of God? That we be sanctified, (set apart from the world) for Him, for pure and holy living. To abstain from fortification means to shun and detest sexual vices, interactions outside the bounds of marriage (between a man and a woman). The word "vessel" here refers to your body. First Thessalonians 4:5 continues: ". . . not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God . . ." The term, "passion of lust" implies our thoughts and dreams should not be about sexual desires. When you control these desires you're showing sanctification and your love for God and one another. Let's go on to verse 6: ". . . that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness" (1 Thessalonians 4:6-7, NKJV). Holiness is separation from how the world [gentiles] think and act, and dedicate ourselves to purity. The truths spoken of in these verses have become much more difficult to preach on since the sexual revolution of the 1960's, but we need to know the truth of God's Word. Join me as we delve into this difficult subject. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
On the day of Pentecost in Acts, chapter 2, God poured out the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus. He wants His power to be apparent in our lives, but Satan's powers tries to stop God from operating in us. Jesus said, "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 ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8, NKJV). Though we have been given the power of God, for some reason the Holy Spirit is not moving through us as saints. Luke, chapter 9, begins: "Then He [Jesus] called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases" (v. 1, NKJV). It is important to understand that the disciples were not born again, and the power given to them is not the same as we have after Pentecost. The resurrection had not occurred and the church had not been established. They were given authority to use the power Jesus had to work miracles in keeping with His ministry among the Jews. "He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And He said to them, 'Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece'" (Luke 9:2-3, NKJV). Jesus explained that if they are not accepted among the Children of God [Israel, the Jews], they are to leave in no uncertain terms; ". . . shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them" (Luke 9:5b, NKJV). After the resurrection, Jesus commanded these same disciples, and us as well, to preach the gospel with His authority, His power [Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18]. This "Great Commission" is still given to us today and the power to do it, including the power to heal and cast out demons. "And these signs will follow those who believe. In My name they will cast out demons; . . . they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:17-18, NKJV). This commission and power is for believers. "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen" (Mark 16:20, NKJV). And they believed, so it was done; and still is done. But we find there's doubt, fear and pride causing us to imagine we don't have such power and authority. These "spirits"-- doubt, fear and pride -- make our ministry ineffective and without power. The apostle Paul exhorts: "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5, KJV). Our ministry becomes effective when we cast these "spirits" out of our minds. In this message, I explore our commission and how we can have a more effective ministry as a believer. Join me! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this message we're looking into all the various weapons we, as Christians, have. Like all my messages, this is based upon what the Word of God says. And the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 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, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled" (2 Corinthians 10:3-6, NKJV). These verses confirm we are involved in a war against the works of Satan. And we have weapons that are not of this physical world like steel swords and guns. Our weapons are spiritual and powerful in "pulling down" the strongholds of Satan. What strongholds? These are things that Satan uses to make us powerless. These attacks of the world try to dig strongholds into us; sickness, guilt, fear, feelings of inferiority, for example. [I am battling with pneumonia as I write this blurb which is ministering to me.] Those things that try to draw us out of the battle. But we have weapons for destroying these "strongholds." Verse 5 says we are "to cast down arguments." The King James Version translates this as we are "to cast down imaginations." This gives us the key to understanding these "strongholds." They come from our minds [thoughts]. Listen, 99% of the things we worry about never happen. We imagine they will happen, and we spend a lot of time thinking about them. But they aren't true and will take you down if you let them. How do we combat this? By bringing into remembrance the Scriptures that tell how God delivered us through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Satan was defeated at Calvary and our remembrance of this brings victory. [You may recall seeing "In Remembrance of Me" written on a Communion table cloth.] In this message I bring out the Truth of God's Word to show that Satan is a defeated foe, but the battle continues until his final reckoning. Join me as we examine God's Truth, for the knowledge of the truth sets us free [John 8:32-36]. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In this message, we look at ten (10) reasons for praising God. We'll only look at #1 in this introduction, but I encourage you to listen to all ten for the full impact. Point #1: "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV). When we pray according to God's will, our prayers get answered. This verse demonstrates that prayer and praise go together. The word "wait" in the verse isn't about time and patience. "Wait" here means to serve, like a waiter serves. When we do the service of the Lord, we receive power and strength to accomplish what is needed. We need to know God's Word, and act on what it says. Things happen when we act on His Word! Chains get broken in Christ for example, when we are freed from the habits of our former life. Meditate this verse [Isaiah 40:31]: ". . . they [you and I] shall mount up with wings like eagles." Wings; there's two of them, and they are prayer and praise. When we pray according to God's will [His Word] in faith, we need to praise God for the answer. Praise is our language of faith. It takes both wings; prayer and praise to ". . . renew [our] strength", to ". . .mount up with wings", to ". . . run and not be weary", and to ". . . walk and not faint." The apostle John wrote: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:14-15, NKJV). This verse confirms point #1. The Word represents God's covenant with us. We need to go to God's Word and find out what it says about any given situation, then pray according to that Word. Make your prayers specific based upon the solution found in the Scriptures. If we have a problem with doubt, or finances, or relationships; go to God's Word. Find out what God says, then pray specifically, and praise Him for the answer. There are nine other points in this message. Join me as we look at all of them. [This is my last message in the praise series.] Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
It's a supernatural miracle that we can have fellowship with Jesus. That God becomes a man, born as a infant to destroy the works of Satan. It's a miracle of love and life and freedom. "And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord . . ." (Luke 2:10-11, KJV). The angel said, "Fear not." Have no fear, Jesus is here! The angel said, "I bring tidings of great joy." Joy comes from God. When salvation comes, deliverance, redemption and eternal life comes with it and this brings supernatural joy! It's miraculous and can only be from God. He comes into us in a supernatural way, because a natural way won't work. Our salvation is a miracle from God. He shines light where there was darkness and drives the darkness away. This "joy" comes to "all people." Salvation is available for everyone. The angel goes on to say: "And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12, KJV). A baby, God has become a man; the most powerless form of a man; a newborn baby. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men'" (Luke 2:13-14, KJV). Salvation has come to all people of the world to deliver them from the works of Satan and to bring them into an intimate relationship with God the Father and with His Son, lying in that manger: Jesus Christ. Have you joined in the miracle? It's as real today as it was when the angel made the announcement to those shepherds. It remains a miracle for today as much as it was 2000 years ago. This short message explains the Truth of the miracle of Christmas. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In Psalm 149, the Psalmist praises God for His salvation and judgment, singing: "Praise the LORD! [Hallelujah!] Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance. Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp" (vs. 1-3, NKJV). It is a good thing to praise God; to praise Him in songs and even in dance; and to praise Him with musical instruments. Why? "For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation" (v. 4, NKJV). We experience beautification through our humble praises of the Lord, our God. The Lord takes pleasure in praise. The Psalmist continues: "Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds" (v. 5, NKJV). There is no time when we can't praise God, even while in bed. "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth . . ." (v. 6a, NKJV). Notice the text says to let the "high praises of God" be spoken by the believer, but then the Psalmist goes in a different direction. "And a two-edged sword in their hand" (v. 6b, NKJV). "To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the people; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment -- This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!" (vs. 7-9, NKJV). What is this two-edged sword? It's the Word of God: "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intent of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV). The word, "discerner" in this verse means "judge" and we, as believers are to judge the intents of the heart, but be careful, for this sword is two-edged -- it cuts two ways. This is a form of the high praises of God. Join me as we explore how judgment based on God's Word can be the highest form of praise to God. For "this honor have all His saints" (Psalm 149:9:b, NKJV). Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Thanksgiving is an American holiday that began in 1621, when the Pilgrims came over to flee religious persecution in Europe. They worked with the native people to survive the harsh weather and the conditions they found. They had a celebration together to give God thanks for the abundance of food they had been able to store for the coming winter. Likewise, we need to get back to thanking God, back to His Word and back to a strong relationship with Him, recognizing that He provides all our blessings. How is your relationship with God this Thanksgiving? How much do you depend on Him, recognizing that God supplies all? Thanksgiving didn't begin with the Pilgrims. It starts in the beginning of the Scriptures. All great people of the Bible gave thanks to God for what He had done for them, especially delivering them from trouble. They encouraged us to remember all God's wondrous works. That is, to be mindful of the covenants He established with us. To remember and be thankful for the blood that Jesus shed on Calvary, freeing us from sin. Remember, Jesus ". . . took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me.' Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you'" (Luke 22:19-20, NKJV). We were heading for eternal damnation like a run-away train with the brakes off, but God rescued us. That is something to be thankful for today, which is often expressed in tearful worship. "Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name" (2 Samuel 22:50, NKJV). Declare his glory and give praise to Him. Listen to David praise the LORD for His love and faithfulness. "It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, on an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on a harp, with harmonious sounds" (Psalm 92:1-3, NKJV). The hope of this message is for you to acknowledge the need for thanksgiving in your Spiritual walk, not only as a holiday. The need for us to thank God and to sing His praise at all times, not just at Thanksgiving. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
When you come into the realization of the eternal life you've received from God, and all that gives you; you will want to praise God. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32, NKJV). All things -- all good things. ". . . as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue . . ." (2 Peter 1:3, NKJV). That's something to praise God about! PRAISE HIM, saying, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ . . ." (Ephesians 1:3, NKJV). When Jesus rose from the dead, He gave us "every Spiritual blessing" and all the good things of God. He has even given us the desires of our heart in Christ. Jesus tells us: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10, NKJV). More abundantly than what? What the world, the flesh and the Devil [the thief] gives us. Prior to having Christ in your life, you may have believed your life was "abundant," but actually it was built on a lie, on sinking sand, and not on the eternal life that Jesus promised you. In this message, we're going to look at twelve (12) addition Scriptures to give us a foundation of why we should praise God. For example, #1: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV). In Hebrew, the word for peace [shalom] means far more than just a lack of conflict. It means "wholeness" -- health and prosperity, nothing broken nor missing, and a life guarded from conflict. We should praise God because we have peace with God, which exceeds all our understanding. Peace is the "soil" where the Word of God is planted, so we can produce the fruit of God. Join me as we look into these verses, building our faith so we can produce Godly fruit. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
A Psalm of the sons of Korah exhorts us to "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!" (Psalm 47:6, NKJV). We are urged to sing praises to God, because praise is our language of faith. In this episode, we'll look at seven (7) reasons why we should praise God. I'll share four (4) here to wet your taste. 1) Because the Lord has put a new song in our heart; 2) Because we are commanded to come before His presence with singing; 3) Because God by continuous repetition urges us to praise Him by singing; and 4) Because singing his praises pleases God. In the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 16:16-34, we read how Paul and Silas cast a demon out of a slave girl, who was bringing in profit for her owners. They had Paul and Silas thrown in prison. They were beaten and locked in stocks. It says they were singing praises even in this terrible situation. The Lord, in response, causes the locks to open and the jailor ends up asking: "Sir, what must I do to be saved?" (16:30, NKJV). The jailer and his entire family were saved by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, which began with Paul and Silas singing praises to God. Ephesians, chapter 5, tells us what Spirit-filled Christians do: " . . . speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (5:19, NKJV). Faith in God's grace brings changes in our lives, and one is we sing spiritual songs. The apostle Paul admonishes us: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16, NKJV). This message expounds on these ideas, including the final three (3) reasons to sing praises to God. I encourage you to listen and sing along with me the chorus, "I've Been Redeemed By The Blood Of The Lamb!" with all your heart. Let us rejoice! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In Genesis, chapter 14, Abram returned from his victory over the king of Sodom. "Then Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him [Abram] and said: 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hands.' And he [Abram] gave him [Melchizedek] a tithe of all [spoils]. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, 'Give me the persons [captives], and take the goods for yourself.' But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 'I have raised my hands to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you say, 'I have made Abram rich'" (Genesis 14:17-23, NKJV). Melchizedek's role is counterpoint to that of the king of Sodom, who represents the worldly, evil path. Abram states that he's lifted his hands to the LORD God and won't have anything to do with the king of Sodom. Abram acknowledged that all he has received is from God and he does this by lifting his hands to God. When you accept anything from the enemy, the enemy claims you as his. In Exodus 17:8-16, we have another account in history: Amalek comes against Israel. Amalek represents our fleshly desires. Our desire to do it ourselves. Amalek brings fear, but Moses has been given authority. So he holds up his hands acknowledging the victory is the LORD's. When Moses acknowledged this, God granted victory over the works of the flesh. Our lifting of our hands is a way to acknowledge our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and the victory this provides. At the end of this account we find; "Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation" (Exodus 17:16, NKJV). Our battle with the flesh is ongoing; it doesn't end. We need to lift our hands in surrender to acknowledge all we have in Christ! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
There are many Scriptures regarding thanksgiving. As Christians, we are to be a thank-filled people. The apostle Paul exhorts, " . . . in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (I Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV). What is the will of God? That we give thanks in everything "in Christ Jesus." This is God's will concerning each of us. When we're "in Christ", we realize and believe all we've received from Christ and this causes us to give thanks for everything, no matter what kind of problem and no matter what the circumstances; we give thanks. Why? Because we know we're walking in the victory of Christ. We give thanks in the good and the bad. Fact is, if we're not thanking God in the good things; when the bad things come, we certainly won't be thanking Him then. Again, we praise God whether things are good or bad; in the pleasant things and in the undesirable things. "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15, NKJV). When the peace of God rules in our hearts, we become thankful. What does "thankful" mean? It literally means to be "full of thanks." In Christ, we have the victory! Jesus overcame the world, the flesh and the Devil; and in Christ, we overcome as well. This empowers us to be able to give thanks in everything. Knowing who we are in Christ is key. Understanding all we've received through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, gives us reason to rejoice with thanks. Paul tells us to be thankful, and tells us how: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:16-17, NKJV). The key is grace. It's the power of God for us to be thankful. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Jesus is "The Lion of the Tribe of Judah." Judah, in Hebrew is "Yehuda." It's root is the Hebrew word, "Yadah," which means to praise. It's also the root of the word, "Hallelujah," meaning, "Praise the LORD." God is pleased by our praise. We praise Him because He gave us the victory. He is worthy of our praise. He gave Jesus to take care of every need we could possibly have. Praise is the language of faith. God wants you to have faith in Him. It takes faith in God and what He has done to enable us to say: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13, NKJV). Faith in His Word strengthens us and removes fear: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalms 27:1, NKJV). These and so many other promises become real through our faith. When we praise God, we are demonstrating our faith in Him and the promises of His Word. We praise God in all sorts of ways. But praise is a celebration of all we have in Christ; of the victory we've received. “Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver . . ." (Psalms 50:22, NKJV). This verse is not a threat. It's reminding us that only God can deliver you from the world's trouble. The Scripture continues: "Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct a right I will show the salvation of God” (Psalms 50:23, NKJV). Only God can deliver us. We are lifted up spiritually due to our praise of God and the acknowledgement of all He has done for us through His son, Jesus. You want to glorify God? Offer Him your praise. Give Him glory and honor. Your praise brings forth the promises of God. The beginning of our praise is putting our conduct "a right." Satan and the world wants to keep us from praising God. Have no fear, the love of God overcomes all fear. Join me as we explore the many ways our praise can lift us up. Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15, NKJV). There's many times when we don't feel like praising God. During times of trouble, especially during catastrophic loss and unexpected death, we may become depressed and tend to avoid relationships. However, it's at those times we need to praise God most of all. We need to praise God "continually." Does this mean we are to praise God only when we "feel" like it? Perhaps we believe we're to praise God only when we're at church? But when we don't praise God during those difficult times; we end up letting the difficulties control our lives. The devil or whoever brought the problem is getting praised by our indifference to God. But once we accept what the Scriptures say, we understand we're to praise God continually, especially during the hard times. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3, KJV). When you praise Him, you'll find He becomes present in the midst of your problems. You'll see that the Lord has the solutions. That it's not as bad as the "father of lies" has made it out to be. God will bring a solution. We're to bring "the sacrifice of praise." In the Old Testament, they offered the sacrifices of animals and other things to take care of the sin in the world, then Jesus Christ came and conquered sin. He took care of the problem! So now we're to offer the "sacrifice of praise." Praise God for the solution: the death, burial and resurrection that Jesus brought. We no longer offer a bloody sacrifice, but instead praise God for the sacrifice that fulfilled all sacrifices -- the sacrifice of Jesus. Acknowledging His victory brings victory to all areas of our lives. "The fruit of our lips" is our praise brought about by God's love for us and the love we have for Him and His Son. "Giving thanks to His Name" -- Jesus. Let's look into these facts for the benefits we receive by praising God continually. Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
This episode shares how we need assurance in our eternal salvation by grace through faith in the effectiveness of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is, knowing our victory through the cross. "Assurance" means "to be entirely confident in." We need confidence in the finished work of Christ! The Apostle Paul prayed: "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 . . ." (Ephesians 1:15-18, NKJV). You have an inheritance! Paul prays that you'll have confidence that Jesus is above all things; and equally so is the church [that would be us]. Paul goes on to state: " But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7, NKJV). We become all that Jesus is in God. We can be confident in what we've inherited in Christ. This includes power to do what He requires us to do. Paul states: " . . . that I may know Him [Jesus] and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11, NKJV). Paul admits he hasn't gotten there yet, but presses on in faith to know Jesus. Join me as we explore these truths and become assured of all our salvation gives us. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
The Apostle Paul writes: "I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all . . ." (1 Corinthians 14:18, NKJV). He was thanking God for the gift of God which he had received. If it's good enough for Paul; it's good enough for me. We need to thank God as well. Some believe the gift of tongues is not for today. But God gives such gifts for "the edification of the church," and the church still needs to be edified. I believe God wants us to speak with "other tongues." One reason is to exercise the gift of praise. Speaking in tongues is NOT a lot of emotionalism when real. It's a language; a gift of praise unto God. In Mark, Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues . . ." (Mark 16:16,17, NKJV). So those who believe will do certain things, one of the things is to speak in tongues. Many Christians feel it is "just a lot of gibberish." But if you want to be used by God you'll realize all authority has been given to us and that includes the right to speak in tongues. It is the power of God apparent in us, if you embrace what God says and seek this gift. No where in Scripture does it say speaking in tongues is gibberish or emotionalism. What the Scriptures say is that tongues will follow the believers. Paul also says: "I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification" (1 Corinthians 14:5, NKJV). So when interpreted, tongues is for the edification of the church. Later Paul points out it's also for the edification of the one speaking in tongues. It's a form of praise. Would you like to know more? Join me as we look into this gift of praise. [See "How to Receive and Minister the Baptism of the Holy Spirit" brochure on the website]. Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
This episode is on Spiritual warfare. It used to be that when I heard the term, "Be of Good Cheer," I thought it had to do with worship. But being of good cheer has to do with the exercise of spiritual courage. Our good cheer can lead to worship, but it's not part of worship. Jesus tells us: "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). This is a good scripture to memorize. Jesus has been teaching about the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Helper will come when he is gone. Jesus is speaking a message of peace [Shalom]. We are to take courage because Jesus has defeated the works of the enemy. Jesus says that as we learn His Word and have faith in His Word, our peace will increase -- we will be of good cheer; even when undergoing trouble. When we stay in our relationship with Jesus and His Word, we'll have confidence -- courage. Do you have confidence in the ability to overcome the world as Jesus has overcome the world? Good cheer, confidence and courage releases the power and ability of the Holy Spirit to overcome. Jesus uses this term "good cheer" often, for example: "Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you'" (Matthew 9:2, NKJV). In this verse, Jesus is encouraging the paralysed man to be courageous, to be of good faith, to think boldly. He sums these ideas up by saying,"Be of good cheer." Courage is the ability to overcome fear and despair. The paralysed man had to know that Jesus has the power to heal him and the power to forgive his sins. When you become strong in your faith in Christ and His Word, you'll become bold in your actions. Then you'll see people healed, you'll see people forgiven, you'll see people changed. Join me as we explore this term and the way Jesus uses it to build our faith. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Our joy in the Lord is unquenchable -- it cannot be extinguished. In the Old Testament, the word "joy" means "gladness of heart" or "to delight the mind." The Hebrew word comes from the root word meaning "to shine" or "be bright." People who had "the joy of the LORD" were known to bring light into dark situations. It was a mental exercise. In the New Testament, joy takes on another aspect. Joy comes not only from the mind, but from our born-again spirit -- it's a fruit of the Spirit. It should not be affected by circumstances. However, our joy is affected by our circumstances and when it is, we have help. If you go to the Word of God; our joy is restored. In our Christian life, joy is from an outpouring of the Holy Spirit verses only being a mental exercise. This joy we have is unquenchable, just as the Holy Spirit is unquenchable. The world didn't give it, so the world can't take it away. But Satan will try to steal your joy. The apostle Paul exhorted, "Do not quench the Spirit" (I Thessalonians 5:19, NKJV). We can quench the Holy Spirit, thereby quenching our joy. We can even quench other people's spirits by what we do and say. But when a Christian is strong in the Spirit, they'll use the shield of faith ". . . to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Jesus defeated the works of the Devil. Jesus' presence produces joy. King David knew this: "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalms 16:11, NKJV). In his sermon on Pentecost, Peter quotes David: "For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken . . . For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence'" (Acts 2:25, 27-28, NKJV). We have defeated death through Jesus Christ. That is a major reason for our joy. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Praise and prayer go together hand in hand like the wings of an eagle. When you praise God and pray to God, you get answers to your prayers and you soar in the heavens. We have to be diligent in our praise; not doing it mechanically, but sincerely. Forget about yourself and lift up your hands acknowledging that it's all about Him. The Psalmist David exhorts, "Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard" (66:8, NKJV). We need to get excited about Jesus. In this message we're looking at seven (7) points showing why we should praise God: 1) Because God loves us and sent His Son to us. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16, NKJV). This verse summarizes the Good News. 2) Because God sacrificed His Son for us (Romans 8:32). Again, the Psalmist exhorts, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy" (107:2, NKJV). Let's tell the world about our redemption. "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (107:8, 15, 21 and 32). 3) Why Praise God? " . . . His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3, NKJV). We praise God for all the things He has given us. 4) Because God has blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). There's nothing better than what we've been blessed with. 5. Because the Scripture says that if we delight ourselves in the Lord in praise, He gives us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:1-4). 6. Because God gives us a life more abundantly and protects us from those who want to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). And lastly, 7. Because we know we're upheld by God always (Isaiah 41:10). Join me as we explore in detail our need to praise God continually. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we read: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (NKJV). All things becomes new in Christ. Then in verse 21 we read: "For He [God the Father] made Him [Jesus ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV). Jesus came to bring righteousness to mankind. Prior to coming to Christ in faith, we were caught up in wrong things -- wrong way of thinking. But Jesus brings right things -- right way of thinking. We've been set free from death and brought into His righteous kingdom due to His righteousness being in us as born-again Christians. "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). We walk in Christ's righteousness; but so much more. We are told we become kings, co-heirs with Christ. And as kings, we are part of the Army of God. We're soldiers in His army, His host of soldiers. This is not because of anything we've done; but because of what He's done for us. Soldiers must be equipped to fight: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:10-13, NKJV).The battle has been won, but we still must fight the good fight of faith. To do this, we must know we have on God's clothes -- His gift of righteousness, then we are made strong. What are you wearing? Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Jesus Christ came to overcome the works of the devil, and when you have Jesus in your life; you also overcome. "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). In this verse, Jesus is speaking about the Holy Spirit so we can have peace -- even in tribulation. He overcame the world, so we can overcome the world. "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (I John 4:4, NKJV). Greater is Jesus in you than Satan, who rules this dark world. But John points out we have overcome. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5, NKJV). Who is "he" who overcomes? That would be us -- anyone who believes. "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" (Revelation 12:11, NKJV). We overcome by the blood of Jesus Christ and His blood must be the focus of our testimony. When you testify and believe that in your heart; you are set free. You are an Overcomer! Before we knew Jesus we had a low opinion of ourselves -- and we should have! But Christ is inferior to nobody. He is above every name that is named. The world and Satan want to point out your faults and shortcomings so they can sell you a worldly remedy. An inferiority complex is an inadequate feeling about yourself. But now because of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, we have become superior to Satan [and all angels]. For the unsaved, an inferiority complex and a superiority complex bring death. But in Christ we are to have a superiority complex; but only because of Him. Join me as we explore these truths. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
In the last episode we saw how as born-again Christians, we have received the gift of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). God made Jesus to be sin for us so that we might become righteous in Christ. Paul tells us to "awake to righteousness, and do not sin" (I Corinthians 15:34). Satan seeks to deceive us through condemnation that we are not right with God, because our consciousness of righteousness empowers us to be used by God. The light of this truth drives the darkness of the world, the flesh and the lies of the devil out of our lives. Many Christians do not overcome sin because they don't embrace these truths. It takes time and effort to develop a righteousness consciousness through faith. We never stop developing our relationship with Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word. Those who do not come into the knowledge of God remain in bondage. He has set us free and given us His righteousness so we can stand boldly with Him. "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). We bring every thought captive to the truth of our righteousness in Christ. To the degree we do this; we overcome! "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness " (2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV). We have to put the truth of God's Word first in our lives. Hebrews 5:13 confirms: "For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe" (NKJV). Some of us remain immature, unskilled in the "oracles of God." By faith in God's grace, we become skilled in the Word of righteousness so we can do the work of God. This message is about becoming skilled and mature in righteousness. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
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 https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
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 https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
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 https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
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 https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
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