Duane Sheriff Ministries - Feed

What if, instead of judging others for their failures, we used those moments to reflect on our own hearts?In Episode 15 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff explores an often-overlooked way God corrects and refines His people - learning from the mistakes and failures of others. Instead of criticizing or condemning when someone stumbles, we can use their example to examine our own lives and grow in humility and grace.In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul points to five failures from Israel's time in the wilderness as examples for us: lusting after what was left behind, idolatry, sexual immorality, tempting God, and murmuring and complaining. Their mistakes reveal attitudes and patterns that we must guard against in our own lives.What should have been a twelve-day journey turned into forty years of wandering because of unbelief and rebellion. Their story encourages us to examine ourselves, pray for those who struggle, and hold on to our trust in God.The failures of others can become part of God's loving correction in our lives, if we are willing to learn from them.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

God gives us trustworthy spiritual leaders to teach, encourage, correct, and guide us toward spiritual maturity.In Episode 14 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff focuses on how God uses spiritual authorities as instruments of His chastening. Scripture teaches us to recognize and esteem those who labor among us, teach God's Word, admonish us, and watch over our souls. These leaders are called to speak the truth in love, provide correction when needed, and help believers remain on the right path.Biblical submission does not mean following blindly. Sometimes spiritual authority can be abused, so leaders also need to be accountable and willing to accept correction. Even when leaders fail, God's design for spiritual oversight remains the same. God-given authority is intended to build people up, not manipulate, control, or harm them.We need spiritual leaders in our lives whom we know and trust, people with a proven faithfulness to Jesus and His Word who can lovingly speak into our lives. Godly authority is not a threat to our freedom but a gift that helps shape us toward spiritual maturity.God chastens us through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, and through spiritual authorities who lovingly help us recognize when our thoughts, attitudes, or actions need to change.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

God speaks - the question is whether we have cultivated the sensitivity to hear Him. Through the Holy Spirit, He lovingly corrects and redirects us when we move in the wrong direction.In Episode 13 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches how the Holy Spirit works in God's loving correction. Scripture calls God the Father of Spirits, and His chastening does not come from the outside through circumstances, calamity, or harm. He works from within, speaking to our spirit by the Holy Spirit.Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth, who guides us into all truth. That guidance reveals when something is wrong, grieves us when we step into unrighteousness, and redirects us when we begin to move in the wrong direction. His correction is not condemnation or anger. It is the loving direction of a Father who wants His children to walk in truth and fulfill His purpose for their lives.As we develop intimacy with God, we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings. At times, His chastening is a clear inward warning. At other times, it might be, "Turn around. Don't go this way." Learning to recognize, trust, and yield to the Holy Spirit allows Him to correct our course and keep us on the right path.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

Could God be pruning areas of your life so Christ can be seen more clearly?In Episode 12 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches how God purges, prunes, and cleanses His people. In John 15, Jesus describes the Father as a vinedresser who prunes fruitful branches so they can bear even more fruit. He then tells His disciples, "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you."God's Word is the primary way He purges our lives. It washes our minds, corrects our thinking, exposes what is unprofitable, and sanctifies us through truth. God does not need to bring tragedy, failure, or destruction to change us. His Word lovingly reveals what needs to be removed and gives us the truth needed to make a course correction.Like a skilled artist cutting away everything from a piece of wood that does not belong in the finished work, God sees who we are in Christ and removes the dead wood that does not reflect Him. God's purging is not rooted in anger or wrath. It is the loving work of a Father shaping His children to become more fruitful and Christlike.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

God's Word does more than encourage us. It corrects, rebukes, and shows us when we are headed in the wrong direction.In Episode 11 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches how God uses His Word as one of His primary methods of chastening us. Second Timothy 3:16 says Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. God's Word teaches us what is true, exposes wrong thinking, corrects our course, and instructs us in how to live.To receive that correction, we cannot simply read the Bible to confirm what we already believe. We must allow the Bible to "read us." Scripture challenges our thoughts, attitudes, opinions, and choices when they don't align with God's nature and truth.God's correction through His Word flows from His love and is always for our good. His Word warns us, redirects us, and teaches us to recognize right from wrong in a culture where those distinctions are increasingly blurred. When we make Scripture our final authority and yield to its correction, God's Word equips us to walk in wisdom, righteousness, and truth.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

How does God correct us when we move in the wrong direction? It is not through sickness, poverty, tragedy, or harm. God chastens us through His Word.In Episode 10 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff explains how Scripture becomes God's instrument of loving correction in our lives. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. Through His Word, God teaches us what is true, exposes what is wrong, corrects our course, and instructs us how to live.God does not need to harm us to teach us. He has given us His Word to be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As we read, meditate on, and submit ourselves to Scripture, the Holy Spirit can address our attitudes, relationships, beliefs, and choices.The Word of God also protects us from deception by giving us wisdom to discern good from evil. God's chastening brings us back into alignment with truth so that we can mature, walk in righteousness, and be equipped for every good work.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

Not everything that happens in our lives is God's will, but He can still bring good out of it.In Episode 9 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff explores the different ways God chastens His children. God's correction is not punishment, sickness, tragedy, or evil sent to teach us a lesson. Instead, the Holy Spirit instructs, corrects, and redirects us when we move away from God's purpose for our lives.Like a GPS redirecting us after a wrong turn, God's chastening calls us to repent - to change our minds, turn around, and get back on the right path. His purpose is to conform us to the image of Christ, producing holiness, righteousness, and spiritual maturity.God can also teach us in the middle of painful circumstances, poor choices, or things the enemy intends to harm us. He can bring beauty from ashes without being the One who burned the house down. God's ability to redeem a circumstance does not mean He caused it.Believers therefore need discernment. Scripture tells us what we should submit to and what we must resist. As we sow to the Spirit, receive God's correction, and follow His leading, His chastening helps keep us moving toward His purpose for our lives.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

What does it mean that our bodies are not our own?In Episode 8 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches that our bodies are members of Christ, bought at a price, and set apart as temples of the Holy Spirit. This truth should shape how we live and how we respond to a culture that celebrates what God tells us to flee fornication.Sexual immorality is not a minor or peripheral issue in Scripture. Paul warns that sexual sin carries consequences that reach into the body and soul, affecting our minds, emotions, relationships, and ultimately the course of our lives. This is why God lovingly warns and corrects His children rather than allowing us to remain in patterns that can bring destruction. The call to flee is not rooted in shame or condemnation. It is rooted in love—the same love that bought us and refuses to leave us where we are.God's chastening is redemptive, calling us back to holiness, truth, and His purpose for our lives. Love does not celebrate evil. It celebrates truth. We are not called to conform to the culture around us. We are called to be a counterculture, shaped by the Word and empowered by the Spirit.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

Sexual purity is not outdated, optional, or something the church can afford to remain silent about. When what God calls sin is tolerated—or even celebrated—it does not produce freedom. It produces greater confusion, bondage, and brokenness.In Episode 7 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff addresses the church's responsibility to uphold God's standard for sexual purity. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 5 and Revelation 2, he shows how seriously Scripture treats sexual immorality and why unchecked sin can spread like leaven throughout a church.God loves people unconditionally, but unconditional love does not mean unconditional acceptance of everything we do. His chastening confronts what is harmful and calls His children back to holiness, truth, and freedom. The church cannot abandon biblical teaching on sexuality, marriage, and God's created design simply because those truths have become controversial.Every one of us needs mercy, and sexual brokenness should never be met with self-righteousness or condemnation. But genuine love does not remain silent. The church must have the courage to speak the truth in love, receive God's correction, and once again become a light in a culture increasingly confused about sexuality.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

God's correction is not meant to punish us, but to redeem us. He does not correct us out of anger, but out of love, because He knows the dangerous consequences of our sin.In Episode 6 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches why God chastens His children. God's grace fully forgives us and makes us righteous in Christ, but that does not mean sin is harmless. Sin can damage our lives, wound the people around us, and open a door for Satan.God's chastening serves three main purposes. First, He corrects us out of love because He wants what is best for us. Second, He teaches us to love others because sin is unloving and harms those around us. Third, His correction protects us from allowing unrepentant sin to give the enemy a foothold in our lives.Grace is more than a doctrine—it is found in the person of Jesus Christ. His grace loves us too much to leave us in patterns that bring harm and destruction. God's chastening helps us grow, mature, become fruitful, and walk in greater freedom. It is loving guidance from a Father who wants His children to fulfill their destiny.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

Have you ever wondered if you have committed the unpardonable sin? The fact that you even care that you may have displeased God means you did not commit the unpardonable sin.In Episode 5 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff addresses one of the most misunderstood and fear-producing teachings in Christianity - the unpardonable sin, or blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Connecting this subject to God's chastening, Duane explains that God's correction is not punishment or wrath, but loving discipline that reflects our place in His family.So what is the sin that cannot be forgiven? John 16, Matthew 12, and Mark 3 reveal that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of one sin: unbelief in Jesus Christ. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the persistent rejection of that conviction, the cross, and Jesus as Lord. Every other sin and blasphemy can be forgiven through faith in Christ.This truth should set believers free from the fear that they may have gone too far, said the wrong thing, or somehow lost God's forgiveness. God's chastening does not condemn His children or drive them away from Him. It draws them toward repentance, restoration, and the peace that comes from knowing they are loved.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

What is God's chastening? In Episode 4 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff explains the what, why, and how of God's chastening. Chastening is not wrath, punishment, or rejection. It is the loving correction, guidance, warning, and discipline of a Father who wants what is best for His children.God corrects us because He loves us. His correction helps us recognize attitudes, choices, and behaviors that can harm our lives, relationships, and spiritual growth. God's love is unconditional, but that does not mean He accepts everything we do without correction.How does that chastening work in our lives? God uses His Word and the Holy Spirit to instruct, warn, rebuke, and course-correct us when we move in the wrong direction. His chastening brings conviction, not guilt or condemnation. Conviction reminds us who we are in Christ, leads us back to the right path, and draws us closer to Him.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

“The way I'm able to endure and receive God's correction is that I know He's not mad. He's not angry, punishing me, or making me feel guilty. God's chastening draws me toward Him. Condemnation pushes me away from Him.”In Episode 3 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff explains what God's chastening is not. God's chastening is not wrath, anger, punishment, condemnation, or the curses of the law. Through the cross, Jesus redeemed believers from the curse of the law and bore God's wrath against sin. God is not holding our sins over us. Through Christ's atoning work, believers have been fully redeemed from the curse of the law and from God's punitive wrath. We are no longer under the curse of sickness, poverty, and destruction, and guilt and shame are not God's tools for correcting His children.God still corrects, disciplines, rebukes, and warns His children, but He does so as a loving Father. His chastening is redemptive, designed to lead us into righteousness, holiness, and spiritual maturity. Understanding the difference between condemnation and conviction is foundational to spiritual maturity. Condemnation pushes us away from God, while conviction draws us toward Him through His love.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

How can God's chastening be redemptive? Many believers misunderstand God's chastening. Some think sickness, poverty, and suffering are punishments from God, while others ignore the idea of God's correction completely. Scripture distinguishes between the wrath from which Jesus delivered us and God's loving correction.In Episode 2 of "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff explains the distinction between God's wrath under the Old Covenant law and God's loving discipline of His children under the New Covenant. Under the law, disobedience brought wrath, punishment, and curses. But Jesus bore the curse of the law on the cross, freeing believers from God's punitive wrath.Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, but He did not remove God's loving chastening from our lives. God's correction still happens today because we are His children. Understanding this difference changes how we view sickness, hardship, and God's correction. God is not making us sick, bringing destruction, or placing curses on us to teach us a lesson. His chastening is redemptive, designed to produce holiness and the peaceable fruit of righteousness in our lives.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

We live in a world that equates happiness with the absence of discipline and boundaries, yet Scripture presents a radically different picture. God's discipline is not a sign of His anger but of His love, producing maturity, character, resistance to temptation, and alignment with His purposes."God loves us and will not allow us to remain in things that are hindering His will for our life." In this new series, "The Chastening of the Lord," Duane Sheriff explains that God's correction does not come from anger, rejection, or punishment. Instead, it is the loving discipline, guidance, and instruction of a Father who wants His children to grow and walk in His ways.Like a caring parent who sets boundaries and teaches that choices have consequences, God establishes boundaries for our good. His corrections shape our character, helps us resist temptation, and reveals attitudes, motives, and actions that can harm us or others.God's love for us never changes, but not everything we do is good or beneficial. Because He loves us, He will correct what hinders His purpose for our lives. Discover why biblical discipline is necessary for spiritual maturity, how boundaries protect and guide us, and why receiving God's correction is an important part of understanding His love.📖 Get your FREE copy ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-chastening-of-the-lord

"True spiritual warfare is praying and watching for things that harm the saints."In Episode 15 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff concludes the series by revealing the power of prayer in spiritual warfare. After describing the armor of God, Paul immediately instructs believers to pray always, remain watchful, persevere, and make supplication for all the saints. Spiritual warfare is not fought by attacking people, but by standing together, praying for one another, and using the Word of God against the powers of darkness.Discover how praying for our families, churches, pastors, and fellow believers becomes an active part of the spiritual battle. When we pray, praise, meditate on, and speak God's Word, we wield the sword of the Spirit, stand in the victory Christ has already won, and learn how to fight the good fight of faith through the power of prayer.Prayer becomes especially powerful when we pray God's Word. Prayer becomes especially powerful when we pray God's Word. The prayers Paul recorded in Ephesians and Colossians are just as effective today. We can pray for wisdom and revelation, enlightened understanding, knowledge of God's will, and strength to walk worthy of our calling. These prayers equip us to stand against deception and help others overcome the enemy's attacks.

"When we speak God's Word, it is a sword in the spirit world."In Episode 14 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff focuses on the final piece of the armor of God - the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Spiritual warfare cannot be fought with natural strength or human wisdom. God has equipped believers with spiritual weapons, and His Word becomes a powerful weapon when it is placed in our hearts and spoken from our mouths.The sword of the Spirit is not simply quoting Scripture religiously. It is allowing God's Word to fill our hearts until it becomes what we pray, praise, meditate on, and speak. Discover how putting the Word of God in your heart and speaking it from your mouth equips you to engage in spiritual warfare and win the good fight with the weapon God has already placed in your hands.

What if the greatest battlefield in our spiritual lives is right inside our own minds?In Episode 13 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff focuses on the fifth piece of God's armor - the helmet of salvation. The enemy's attacks are not always dramatic or obvious. Often, the battle is a subtle and persistent war fought through the thoughts we choose to entertain. Fear, worry, unbelief, and discouragement can take root when wrong thoughts are allowed to dominate, but believers are called to take every thought captive and bring it into obedience to Christ.Putting on the helmet of salvation means renewing our minds and choosing to think in agreement with God and His Word. This is not positive thinking or "mind over matter." The Christian life does not originate in the mind, but what God has already placed within our born-again spirit must come through a renewed mind as we agree with Him.Discover how mind renewal transforms our lives as we put off the old way of thinking and put on the new man in Christ. By setting our minds on things above, rejecting renegade thoughts, and meditating on God's truth, we can experience the life and peace that come from being spiritually minded and stand victorious in the battle.

What is a spiritual battle, and how do we know we're fighting it the right way? In Episode 12 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff focuses on the fourth piece of God's armor, the shield of faith. The armor described in Ephesians 6 is not simply equipment we put on before the battle begins. Putting it on and walking it out by faith is the battle itself.Truth comes first because faith cannot exist without it. We cannot believe God for what we do not know. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and we must mix faith with His Word for it to become effective in our lives. The shield of faith enables us to quench the fiery darts of unbelief, fear, hardship, and circumstances that tempt us to doubt God's truth and His promises.Discover how the shield of faith equips us to stand through every test, trust God when it looks like we are losing, and fight from the position of victory He has already given us in Christ.

Many believers want to hear God but struggle to recognize His voice or distinguish His voice from the many others competing for their attention. If we only realized that God has been speaking to us all along, we did not know how to listen.In Part 4 of "Prayer – Drawing Near to God," Duane Sheriff teaches that prayer should be a dialog, not a monologue. Jesus said His sheep hear His voice and know Him. Learning to hear God begins with understanding how He speaks and training our spiritual ears to recognize His voice.God speaks into our lives in four primary ways: through His Word, His wisdom, His servants, and the Holy Spirit. Scripture gives direction, God's wisdom helps us apply truth to specific situations, godly relationships can speak into our lives, and the Holy Spirit leads through promptings, conviction, righteousness, joy, and peace.Hearing God is not about waiting for a booming audible voice. Instead, it is a whisper, close and intimate, because He is not far off. He is right here. As we grow in our relationship with Him and become still, we will learn the language of the Holy Spirit and recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd.

What does the gospel of peace have to do with spiritual warfare?In Episode 11 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff teaches on spiritual warfare by focusing on the third piece of armor described in Ephesians 6. Believers are to have their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. This peace is very different from the counterfeit peace the world offers. It does not mean avoiding conflict, ignoring evil, or compromising truth to keep the peace.The gospel of peace is the good news that God has made peace with us through the blood of Jesus Christ. The enemy wants people to believe that God is angry with them, against them, or unwilling to forgive them. But believers cannot fight an effective spiritual battle while believing God is their enemy. Knowing that God is for us, not against us, gives us confidence to stand against guilt, condemnation, and the enemy's lies.As believers, we are called to carry this message of reconciliation into a world held captive by lies about God. Discover how the gospel of peace becomes both a foundation for standing firm in spiritual warfare and a powerful message that helps bring others out of darkness and back into relationship with God.

The most powerful weapon available to us in spiritual warfare is one we already possess. In Episode 9 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff exposes the spiritual conflict between truth and lies. Satan traffics in darkness, deception, and fraud, using lies to ensnare people and lead them further into bondage. But the truth of God's Word has the power to break deception, expose darkness, and set people free.The enemy can only promote a lie by suppressing the truth. When believers remain silent, self-censor, or refuse to speak because they fear rejection, persecution, or being misunderstood, deception is allowed to spread unchecked. Yet Christians are called to stand firm, proclaim the truth in love, and refuse to surrender their most powerful spiritual weapon.Discover how embracing God's Word as the final authority equips us to win the battles we face. Truth separates light from darkness, freedom from bondage, and righteousness from deception. Satan's primary strategy is to deceive and suppress the truth, but when we speak it, live it, and stand firmly upon it, we push back the darkness. Truth is a nuclear force against the lies of the enemy. 

The single greatest weapon we have against the enemy in this spiritual battle is simply knowing who we are before God.Satan comes against us with guilt, shame, and condemnation, whispering that our failures have disqualified us. But Romans 5:17 declares that those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ. Righteousness is not something that is earned or maintained through perfect behavior. It is a gift of righteousness through Jesus, received by faith.In Episode 10 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff reveals why the breastplate of righteousness is essential in spiritual warfare. When believers are established in their righteousness in Christ, the enemy loses one of his most effective weapons. Instead of allowing condemnation to push us down and away from God, we can run boldly toward Him, resist the devil, and stand confidently in the authority Christ has given us.Discover the difference between condemnation that drives us from God and conviction that draws us closer to Him. When we truly know who we are in Christ, guilt and shame lose their power, our failures no longer define us, and we can fight the good fight of faith with confidence. The righteous are as bold as a lion.

You already have access to the single most powerful spiritual weapon available. In Episode 8 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff reveals why truth is the first piece of God's armor and the foundation that connects every other spiritual weapon. The battle believers face ultimately comes down to truth against lies. God works through truth, while Satan's primary weapon is deception. We must believe a lie before we can become ensnared by it.The fight of faith is the daily decision to believe God, trust His Word, and make it our final authority rather than accepting the philosophies and fraudulent narratives of the world. God's Word is truth, and when we continue in His Word, that truth sanctifies us, separates us from darkness, exposes deception, and brings freedom into every area of our lives.Believers are called to become pursuers, lovers, and courageous messengers of truth. Although we cannot confront every lie in our culture, when we focus on the truth and speak it in love, lies are exposed, and strongholds are broken. Satan cannot stand in the truth. Stand firmly on God's Word to withstand every assault of the enemy and fight the good fight of faith.

We are not victims struggling to become victors. We are already victors, declared winners in Christ. The enemy's strategy is to deceive us into forgetting who we are.In Episode 7 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff teaches why the Armor of God is essential for every believer who wants to stand firm against the enemy's schemes. Spiritual warfare is not fought through human strength, emotion, or self-effort. It is fought in the Lord's might with the spiritual weapons God has already provided.Through Paul's description of a Roman soldier's armor in Ephesians 6, we learn how God equips us with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer. Each piece prepares us to resist deception, remain established in faith, and stand confidently in the victory Christ has already secured.This battle is not against people, but against the spiritual forces that blind minds, distort truth, destroy lives, and keep people trapped in darkness. In Christ, we are blessed, seated with Him in heavenly places, and equipped with His name, authority, Spirit, and power.Discover what it means to put on the whole Armor of God and fight from a position of victory, not for victory.

Delay does not mean denial. When an answer to prayer does not come as quickly as we hoped, it's easy to become discouraged, question God's willingness, or wonder if our prayers are heard.In Part 3 of "Prayer - Drawing Near to God," Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of persistence in prayer. Through Jesus' parables of the persistent friend and the persistent widow, he explains that God is not reluctant or unwilling to answer His children. Instead, believers are called to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking without giving up or losing heart.When the manifestation of answered prayer isn't immediate or takes longer than we expect, we can assume it's a denial. But sometimes, God needs to work in our hearts to strengthen our character, reveal areas of weakness, and deepen our relationship with Him.Persistence is not about begging God, wearing Him down, or trying to convince Him to act. It's about standing in faith, trusting in His goodness, and refusing to allow delay to bring discouragement. Pray without ceasing, stand when answers seem delayed, and remember delay does not mean denial.

What does it mean to be clothed in the armor of light? The light of God's armor doesn't just expose the darkness - it expels it. In Episode 6 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff teaches one of the most vivid and practical pictures of spiritual warfare found in Scripture from Romans 13. Spiritual warfare is not fought through human strength, anger, or carnal weapons. It begins by casting off the works of darkness, putting on the Lord Jesus Christ, and learning to walk after the Spirit rather than the flesh. Our good works, integrity, love, and telling the truth are not passive virtues - they are our spiritual weapons. They penetrate the darkness by exposing it and ultimately expel it. The parallel drawn between putting on Christ and putting on the armor of light reminds us that spiritual warfare is not primarily about confronting external enemies but about the daily choice to walk after the Spirit rather than the flesh. Discover why the true battlefield is for the souls of men and how the gospel turns people from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. This is the good fight: standing firm in truth, walking in love, and letting the light of Jesus shine through our lives.

How can evil still prevail when Jesus stripped the devil, defeated the devil, and absolutely destroyed his power over us? Satan cannot devour believers unless they submit to him, and that submission often happens subtly through our thoughts and beliefs. When we exalt a philosophy, argument, or tradition above the Word of God, we are giving the enemy building materials for a stronghold.In Episode 5 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff reveals how strongholds are formed in the mind and how they can be torn down through the spiritual weapons God has provided. The battle is not fought with physical weapons. It takes place in our minds, homes, finances, relationships, and every area where we allow a secular worldview to oppose the truth of Scripture.Believers do not have to remain defeated by a defeated devil. Victory requires us to cast down arguments, take every thought captive, and make it obedient to Christ. Discover how to recognize strongholds, replace lies with truth, and stand firm in the good fight of faith.

What if one of the greatest obstacles to spiritual victory is fighting the wrong enemy? We waste our energy fighting the people around us, our circumstances, and even God, while the real battle remains hidden.In Episode 4 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff reveals that believers must identify the correct enemy, engage in the right battle, and use the spiritual weapons God has provided. Many Christians are losing unnecessary ground because they are unaware of the conflict, fighting against flesh and blood, or still living as though God is their adversary. God is not against us. He is the source of our strength and victory.The weapons of our warfare are not natural or carnal; they are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments, and bringing every thought into obedience to Christ. These strongholds are false beliefs, philosophies, opinions, and ways of thinking that exalt themselves above God's Word. When lies are accepted and left unchallenged, they become fortresses where the enemy finds refuge.Discover how the Word of God exposes deception, dismantles strongholds, and sets people free. God has equipped you to engage in the battle rather than remain a passive casualty. Learn to stand against evil, resist the enemy, and fight the right battle with the right weapons.

What if the greatest battle we face every day is one most of us never recognize we are in? "You entered a battlefield when you became born again." The Christian life is an ongoing spiritual conflict that requires us to understand our enemy, our weapons, our authority, and our source of strength.In Episode 3 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff teaches that the fight is real, but so is the victory already declared over us through faith in Jesus Christ. Believers must first submit to God and then actively resist the devil, steadfast in faith. To resist means to oppose, withstand, and refuse to back down when Satan attacks our confidence in God's goodness, love, faithfulness, and power.This battle is not against flesh and blood, nor is it won through self-effort, pride, or natural ability. Pride opens the door to satanic influence, while humility positions us to receive God's empowering grace. Humility is not weakness. It's the strategic posture of a wise soldier. As we yield to God and put on His whole armor, we are empowered to withstand every assault, stand our ground, and fight from the victory Christ has already won.

There is a battle being fought all around us, and whether we realize it or not, every one of us is in the middle of it. If you are a believer, you are under constant assault from the forces of darkness. In Episode 1 of "The Good Fight", Duane Sheriff explains why tribulation, persecution, and hardship often arise when believers choose to live under the rule and reign of Jesus.Tribulation and hardship are not random. They are a direct result of the kingdom of God living inside of us. In Acts 14, the Apostle Paul was stoned and left for dead, yet returned to strengthen the believers who watched it happen and encourage them to continue in the faith. Tribulation is not evidence that God has abandoned us, but a part of the spiritual resistance that accompanies lives fully surrendered to Christ.Jesus promised that we would face tribulation in this world, but He also assured us that He has overcome it. As a result, faith cannot remain passive. It must be active, steadfast, and prepared to resist the opposition that comes. The question is whether we are prepared to pay the cost. Discover how to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, stand firm against spiritual opposition, and fight the right fight, the right way, from a position of victory rather than defeat.

Prayer is not a religious obligation. It is about aligning our hearts with God's will. James 4:8 promises that when we come closer to God, He comes closer to us.In Part 2 of "Prayer - Drawing Near to God,” Duane Sheriff explores Jesus' model for prayer found in the Lord's Prayer. This "four-by-four" pattern starts with a vertical focus on God, His name, His Kingdom, and His will, then turns to our needs, forgiveness, temptation, and deliverance.To pray effectively, we need to know who God is and who we are to Him. We come to God as His children, trusting in Jesus. When we start by focusing on God—His character, His desires, and His Kingdom—we prepare our hearts before bringing our own needs to Him.Prayer is not about pleading with God or trying to get Him to agree with our plans. It is about letting our hearts and desires match His will. As we ask for our daily needs, forgive others, face temptation, and deal with evil, we learn to rely on God's grace rather than our own efforts. When we focus on God first, the rest of our prayers start to make sense.

“There is a battle raging whether you engage or not.” In Episode 1 of "The Good Fight," Duane Sheriff introduces the reality of spiritual warfare and explains why the Christian life was never meant to be passive. Many believers are ill-equipped, unprepared, or even unaware of the battles raging against their families, churches, and faith.Spiritual warfare is real, but our authority in Christ is greater. Most believers will either overestimate the devil and become demon-focused or underestimate the enemy and become needless casualties. Our battle is not against God, flesh and blood, or one another. It is a spiritual fight that requires spiritual weapons and active, aggressive faith.What makes this a good fight? Through Christ, believers have already been declared winners. We do not fight to obtain victory through our own effort, but from the victory Jesus has already secured by grace. Discover how to recognize the true battle, fight the right enemy, and lay hold of everything Christ has provided.

What if eternal life isn't about how long we live—but about knowing God intimately?In episode 15 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff teaches that Jesus defined eternal life not by its duration, but by its relationship: "that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." The biblical word "know" is used throughout Scripture to describe the intimate union between a husband and wife. Just as Adam knew Eve and they became one flesh, believers are invited into a covenant relationship with Christ that goes far beyond religion and into genuine intimacy with God.Under the New Covenant, there is no mediator standing between our heavenly Husband and us. Even Jesus' invitation in Revelation 3:20 is a call for His own bride to open the door to deeper fellowship. As we draw near to Him through His Word, prayer, communion, meditation, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we grow in our knowledge of God.Discover how God's Word, prayer, communion, meditation, and other spiritual disciplines cultivate a deeper relationship with Christ, why drawing near to Him produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and how intimacy with our Hero Husband transforms every area of the Christian life.

What if the first marriage in human history was God's blueprint for our relationship with Jesus? Hidden within the creation of Adam and Eve is the "great mystery" Paul reveals in Ephesians 5—a prophetic picture of Christ and His Church.In episode 14 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores the book of Genesis to show how Eve's creation foreshadowed our covenant relationship with Christ. Woman was within Adam before God formed her and brought her to him, paralleling how believers were in Christ at the cross, brought forth through His sacrifice, transformed into His Church, and joined to Him in an eternal covenant. Understanding this divine mystery is essential to grasping our relationship with Jesus as our covenant Husband and to developing a deeper intimacy with Him. As Adam recognized his own flesh and bone in Eve, Jesus sees Himself in us.Christianity is far more than religion—it's the intimate relationship God has always desired with His people. Discover why we're called to leave our former life and cleave to Christ, how abiding in Him produces lasting fruit, and why growing in relationship with Jesus, our Hero Husband, is at the very heart of eternal life.

Did you know that the first marriage in the Bible between Adam and Eve is a type and a shadow of the marriage relationship we, the Church, have today with Jesus? In Ephesians 5:32, Paul declares that the marriage covenant is "a great mystery" that ultimately points to Christ and His Church.In episode 13 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores how the first marriage in Genesis was a prophetic picture of our covenant relationship with Jesus. Just as God brought Eve out of Adam's side and united her back to him as one flesh, God has brought His Church out of Christ through His sacrifice on the cross. The blood and water that flowed from Jesus' pierced side reveal the birth of His bride. We were spiritually in Christ at the cross, just as Eve was in Adam before she was formed, and through the new birth we have been joined to Jesus as one spirit in holy matrimony.Discover how Adam and Eve reveal the Gospel, why we're called to leave the world and cleave to Christ, and how seeing yourself as Christ's faithful bride will deepen your love, strengthen your loyalty, and draw you into deeper covenant intimacy with our Hero Husband.

Our relationship with God mirrors a marriage covenant, calling us to remain faithful and loyal to Christ regardless of our circumstances. In episode 12 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explains why believers can rejoice even during life's bitter cups. Scripture teaches that trials, persecution, and hardship are not strange or unexpected parts of the Christian life but expected tests of our faith. James and Peter exhort us to count it all joy—not because of our emotions, but because of what we know. When we remain faithful during bitter cups of suffering, we participate in Christ's sufferings, and the Spirit of glory rests upon us. God uses every trial to develop perseverance, godly character, and spiritual maturity. The enemy attacks us not because of who we are, but because of Christ living within us. Understanding this transforms how we respond to opposition, enabling us to drink the bitter cup without allowing bitterness to take root in our hearts, ultimately leading to greater fruitfulness. Discover why rejoicing is rooted in revelation rather than feelings, how God's glory is revealed through faithful endurance, and how every trial can deepen your relationship with Jesus, your Hero Husband.

When the disciples saw Jesus perform miracles, signs, and wonders, they recognized that these things flowed from His life of prayer. They asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.”In "Prayer - Drawing Near to God," Duane Sheriff teaches that prayer is not about bargaining with God, nor should it be a last resort when everything else fails. Prayer is God's means of relationship and partnership with us. Through the new birth, we are restored to God's design to walk with Him, hear His voice, and partner with Him so that His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.Jesus' model of prayer is divinely designed to first turn our hearts toward our Father, His name, His Kingdom, and His will before turning to our needs, forgiveness, temptation, and deliverance. Prayer is something we learn, beginning with God's priorities and presence, then moving to our requests and struggles.Learning to pray does more than change how we talk to God. As we draw near, listen, and align our hearts with Him, prayer transforms our decisions, deepens our spiritual awareness, and helps us become more sensitive to His leading.

Every person will face a bitter cup in life. The question isn't whether trials will come, but whether believers will remain faithful when they do. In episode 11 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explains that the "bitter cup" is a biblical metaphor for Christian suffering.In our covenant relationship with Christ, we are His bride, and He is our faithful Husband. Under the Old Covenant, a wife suspected of unfaithfulness had to drink a bitter cup mixed with holy water and temple dust. If she was innocent, the bitterness would pass, and she would bear fruit with her husband. This ancient ritual becomes a powerful picture of our faith being tested through trials and afflictions. When we face persecution, hardship, or tribulation, we are drinking our own bitter cups.Will we remain faithful to our heavenly Husband, or will we turn to the world in spiritual adultery? Jesus referred to His suffering at the cross as a cup, praying in Gethsemane that, if possible, it might pass from Him. He drank that ultimate bitter cup for us as our substitute. Now we drink cups of suffering by following His example—not as punishment, but as tests that refine our faith and deepen our loyalty to Him.

God is a jealous God, and His covenant love is revealed through one of the Bible's most misunderstood passages—the law of jealousy. Our relationship with Jesus mirrors the covenant of marriage, where He is the faithful Husband, and we are His beloved bride.In episode 10 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff uncovers the biblical meaning of the law of jealousy found in Numbers 5 and reveals how this mysterious Old Testament law points directly to Christ and His Church. The test of a wife's faithfulness through a bitter cup becomes a powerful picture of the trials and sufferings believers face today. Rather than random hardships, these "bitter cups" reveal and strengthen our loyalty, faithfulness, and devotion to Christ.Discover why God is called a jealous God, how friendship with the world threatens our covenant relationship with Him, and why keeping Jesus as our first love causes every other relationship to flourish. Transform how you view suffering, faithfulness, and God's unwavering commitment.

"The Holy Spirit is drawing us back as the people of God, faithful to God as our one Husband." In Episode 9 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff reveals why faithfulness and loyalty to Jesus are essential to a thriving relationship with Him. Building on the biblical picture of Christ as our Bridegroom, he explains that friendship with the world weakens our intimacy with the Lord and divides the heart He created to belong to Him alone. Drawing from James 4, Matthew 6, Zechariah 8, and Revelation 12, Duane shows that God's jealousy flows from His covenant love, not insecurity. Jesus is our faithful Hero Husband who will never leave us, break His promises, or forsake His bride. His loyal love calls forth our loyal response. Discover why God fiercely opposes everything that seeks to steal, wound, or draw His people away from Him, and how growing in covenant love produces unwavering faithfulness, wholehearted devotion, and the strength to stand firm in an increasingly hostile world.

One of God's names is ‘Jealous.' It's not the toxic jealousy seen in broken human relationships, but the passionate, covenant love of a faithful Husband who refuses to share His bride with false gods. In Episode 8 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband," Duane Sheriff teaches that when we have been espoused to Christ as a bride to a husband, He becomes "jealous for you with Godly jealousy."Are we treating Him like a casual acquaintance, or are we honoring the covenant marriage we've entered into? When we become friends with the world, embrace its values, or seek our identity, security, and fulfillment in anything besides Christ, we're committing spiritual adultery. Jesus loves us passionately. He pursues us with the devotion of a faithful Husband who will not share His bride with false lovers. As we turn from the world's empty promises and look to Him as our true source, our faith is transformed from a religious obligation into a passionate covenant relationship.

Have you ever wondered if our relationship with Jesus is far more intimate than we've ever imagined? In Episode 7 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff reveals that marriage is God's divine picture of Christ and His Church. Jesus is not only our Savior and Lord—He is our Bridegroom, and we are His beloved bride, betrothed to one Husband in an everlasting covenant.Through the stories of Jeremiah, Hosea, and Ezekiel, we discover that God viewed Israel's idolatry not merely as sin but as spiritual adultery—a betrayal of their covenant relationship with Him. Yet even in Israel's unfaithfulness, God's love and commitment never failed. In Christ, that covenant is fulfilled and perfected. Because we are one spirit with the Lord—flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones—Jesus stays faithful.This revelation transforms how we trust Him. As our faithful Husband, Jesus is our provider, protector, and source. In these last days, discover why wholehearted loyalty to Christ—not the world, our emotions, or any other substitute—is the foundation for confident faith, steadfast hope, and unshakable security in His covenant love.

What if we told you that the relationship between God and His people has always been designed as a marriage covenant? In Episode 6 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores the Old and New Testaments to reveal that God doesn't just want to be our Lord or our King—He wants to be our Husband. The concept of spiritual adultery takes on new meaning when we realize that our loyalties to politics, emotions, family traditions, or cultural idols are not just sins—they're acts of unfaithfulness to our divine Spouse. Examining Isaiah 54, Jeremiah 3, Jeremiah 31, and 2 Corinthians 11, Duane reveals that God was Israel's Husband, entering into a covenant relationship with His people long before the New Testament. Though Israel repeatedly proved unfaithful, God promised a new covenant fulfilled in Christ, who now invites us into that same intimate, lifelong relationship. Do we worship our emotions, feelings, or our political affiliation more than we worship God? Our call is to be faithful, loyal, and fully committed to Jesus above all, recognizing that He loves us as His own flesh, cherishes us, and has entered into an eternal covenant with us. else

"We didn't just become religious… we got married." That simple but profound statement reshapes how we understand our relationship with Christ. Salvation is more than forgiveness of sins—it is a covenant union in which believers become one spirit with Jesus, our Hero Husband. This divine reality also reveals why God's design for marriage, sexual purity, and becoming one flesh carries such eternal significance.In Episode 5 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff uncovers the biblical mystery of one flesh, showing how the covenant between a husband and wife reflects Christ's relationship with His Church. Drawing from Ephesians 5, 1 Corinthians 6–7, and 2 Corinthians 11, he teaches why our bodies belong to the Lord, why sexual intimacy was designed exclusively for marriage, and why faithfulness to Christ is the foundation of every healthy relationship.Discover how understanding the one-flesh covenant transforms both your marriage and your walk with Jesus, deepening your loyalty, intimacy, and devotion to your Hero Husband.

While our culture increasingly embraces confusion about gender and sexuality, the creation of male and female was God's intentional design from the very beginning. Scripture reveals that we are image-bearers of God, created to reflect His nature and His divine design for marriage.In Episode 4 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff teaches that marriage is rooted in creation itself, where God intentionally created humanity male and female to reveal the covenant relationship between Christ and His Church. Drawing from Genesis, the teachings of Jesus, and other key passages, he explains why God's design for marriage, identity, and sexuality remains timeless, life-giving, and unchanging.Discover how biblical marriage provides loving boundaries, why our identity is secure in our Creator rather than our feelings, and how embracing God's design leads to freedom, wholeness, and a deeper understanding of our relationship with Jesus, our Hero Husband.

We are the bride, and Jesus is our Hero Husband. Marriage isn't just a human institution—it's holy matrimony because it reflects the sacred covenant between Christ and His Church.In Episode 3 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores the profound biblical truth that marriage was divinely ordained by God before sin entered the world, revealing Christ's covenant relationship with His bride. Drawing from Ephesians 5, Genesis, and Revelation 21, he explains why marriage is called holy matrimony and how this sacred institution points to Jesus' faithful, sacrificial love for His Church.As the world's assault on biblical marriage continues, this message reveals that the battle is ultimately against the gospel itself and God's original design. More importantly, it reminds believers of their true identity as the bride of Christ, cherished, nourished, and forever united to their Hero Husband. As we embrace this great mystery, we find lasting security, purpose, and confidence in Christ's covenant love, allowing His truth—not the confusion of our culture—to define who we are.

What if the depth of God's love for us is far greater than we've ever imagined? In Episode 2 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores one of Scripture's greatest mysteries: Christ's covenant relationship with His Church, revealed through the institution of marriage. Drawing from Ephesians 3 and 5, he invites us to comprehend the width, length, depth, and height of God's love—a love that surpasses mere intellectual knowledge and can only be grasped by the Spirit.Rather than measuring God's love by our emotions or circumstances, discover how it was demonstrated at the cross. As we come to understand His sacrificial, unconditional love, we are transformed and filled with the fullness of God. Through the biblical picture of marriage, we learn that Jesus loves us as He loves Himself because we are one spirit with Him, flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones. This breathtaking truth revolutionizes our relationship with God and draws us into deeper intimacy with our Hero Husband.

What if the deepest expression of God's love for us was hidden in plain sight within the institution of marriage? The Bible calls marriage "a great mystery," yet many believers have never discovered what it was designed to reveal. Behind God's design for a husband and wife is a breathtaking picture of Christ's covenant love for His Church—a revelation that transforms both our understanding of marriage and our relationship with Jesus.In "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff uncovers this "great mystery" from Ephesians 5, revealing that the covenant relationship between Christ and His Church mirrors the sacred bond between a husband and wife. As he explains how Jesus loves, nourishes, cherishes, and remains faithful to His people, you'll discover the depth, width, length, and height of God's love in a fresh and personal way.When this mystery is unveiled, fear gives way to confidence, intimacy with Christ deepens, and God's beautiful design for marriage is revealed. Discover the Hero Husband who will never leave you and whose covenant love changes everything.

What if the greatest move of God in our lifetime depends on one generation empowering the next instead of competing with it? Too often, churches preserve methods while neglecting the people God wants to reach.In Acceleration Mandate, Duane Sheriff sits down with Pastor John Nuzzo to explore God's pattern for generational acceleration through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Together they reveal the difference between the unchanging Gospel and the changing methods used to reach each generation, showing why seasoned believers must pass on wisdom, experience, and resources rather than personal preferences. They also address leadership transitions, spiritual legacy, the dangers of division, and why every believer—not just pastors—has a role in accelerating the next generation. Discover how turning hearts across generations can prepare the Church for a great awakening and a lasting Kingdom impact.

"Did you know when you get born again, you become a brand new person inside?"When we experience the miracle of being born again, something profound happens that goes beyond simply trying harder. We become a brand-new person on the inside, completely transformed and united with Christ. Yet many believers never fully understand what took place at salvation, leaving them struggling to grow and mature in their faith.In Episode 15 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff explores the critical transition from conversion to discipleship by uncovering the believer's new identity in Christ. Romans 5 reveals the powerful contrast between who we were in Adam and who we are in Christ. We were not made sinners because of our personal sins, but through Adam's disobedience. In the same way, we are not made righteous through our own good works, but through faith in Jesus Christ, the second Adam. Understanding this truth changes everything. Our identity in Christ connects us to God's purpose, sets the course for our lives, and restores the wholeness that sin fractured.Discover how knowing who you are in Christ empowers you to walk in freedom, grow in spiritual maturity, and fulfill God's purpose for your life.