Reasoned Hope Ministry's Podcast

Our study in Colossians continues in Colossians 3:1-4 answering the question; What does it mean to seek the things above?

The Lord leads us towards a pure devotion to Christ which always leads to thanksgiving and His glory! Join us as we look at the beginning of the work of the Lord in the life of his servant Gideon from Judges 6. 

Inspired from Colossians 2:19 - when some had wandered and were not "holding fast to the Head" but were falling for plausible arguments that distracted believers from clinging to Christ. Colossians and the rest of God's Word gives us literally hundreds of reasons to cling to the Lord. Here are some of my favorite ones! 

Before Paul opens the door on practical applications of who we are since Christ is is "in" us he gives some needed warnings about those who would make us feel like second-class believers in Jesus. God has blessed with us all we need in Christ -- He is sufficient in all things and therefore we can rest in all He is without making idols of do's and don'ts, religious observances, or seeking after mystical experiences for the experience' sake. 

Sunday sermon from 9-26-20. This is our third message in a series on Paul's letter to the saints in Colossae. They were in need of a fresh reminder on just how precious their salvation was. Paul states that we have been transferred out of the domain of darkness into the kingdom of our Father's beloved Son. In this reminder we must look back and be thankful that God has rescued us from immense and life threatening danger and that our only hope in what He has accomplished through the Gospel. Included in this message is a recap on the context of the passage. 

Building off of our message on Sunday - to be full in Christ so we can end emptied out offerings at the end of our lives - and in light of other current events in the life of our church, we offer this podcast. We hope you will be encouraged and built up in your faith as we spend time in God's Word and sharing what God is doing! Here is to more and more hope! in Christ, Pastor Rod

Some encouragement and explanation for the Wednesday evening ministry opportunities at Lewiston Community Church

Do you know Christ as being in you in such a way that there is no room for worry or any of a number of other "things" that keep you bound to yourself or the things of this world? If we are honest, there are not too many believers in Christ who can say they never worry, and yet we are commanded to not worry at all! Phil. 4:6  I imagine we all will be working out this command until we find ourselves in heaven! But, the Scriptures are not meant to lead us into failure on this account or any other or to cause us to be living a frustrated and bound up life. Jesus said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10  So what is the secret? It is finding Christ to be our sufficiency. Come and listen as we share today from a very familiar verse from a closer perspective and see what the Lord can show us as we strive to live for him, to fight the good fight of faith!

I truly believe that prayer is the key to seeing real change come -- and that begins with me and you -- the ordinary believer in Jesus Christ. But, it is not something we do in the natural man at all. Yes, we use our minds and our tongues to pray but this is a spiritual enterprise. The good news is, we who know Jesus have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to "teach us how to pray" as the disciples requested of their Lord so long ago. There is nothing that God cannot do in response to genuine prayer-- "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:16b.  Nothing is too hard for Him. But sometimes moving past the natural seems so hard for us! My suggestion is this; start as a little child, go into your room and shut the door and begin by seeking God's face. The best place to do that is on your face! If we humble ourselves we will experience more of His amazing grace than we can hold. We will give it back to Him in praise and thanksgiving. That is a good place to start.  Lord give us a fresh sense of our desperate condition without you and our lofty position in You! Help us to pray as we ought. Lord! Teach us to pray and help us to defeat that natural man that would keep us from You in prayer!  Amen.

In this first episode on prayer - the real hallmark of a servant of the Lord is to have God's perspective and a good conscience before the Lord.  The Scriptures shared are in Jeremiah 3:3, 1 John 3:21-24, Matthew 6:10, John 14:21-23 and Hebrews 4:12-16.

some devotional thoughts on Psalm 18

Please think seriously for a moment about what "frames" your thinking in regards to the gospel. If Satan is truly a scheming devil, doesn't it make sense that he would even - and maybe especially - try to fool Christians into thinking that worldly ways and ideas are still consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Think about whether or not you have adopted particular views that are more in line with non-believers, and their "worldly" wisdom than with the truths of Scripture.  Listen to the thoughts and the frustrations of this fine, young, Christian college student, and think about how we can continue to communicate with Christians of different ages and differing views on some of our current issues and yet come to actually hear and understand each other. You might not agree now with her on the social issues that she brings up but, who knows - we might just change our mind on some things if we examine them in the light of Scripture; things that we have had long entrenched in our minds that we have just taken for granted.  Being consistent in our approach to the gospel means we have a godly and reasoned approach to every issue and that we are not just going with the flow, no matter where that flow comes from; unless it is truly based on the Word of God and is based on love with knowledge and discernment. See Philippians 1:9 for more on that! God bless you and I look forward to hearing from you. Please remember, if you want to comment on this podcast please email me directly. My email address is on the homepage at http://reasonedhopeministries.org In Christ and for the cause of His glorious gospel, Rod    

A great gospel testimony.  If you want prayer, please call at (530) 778-3148 or email love@lewistoncommunitychurch.org   Some great gospel verses to go along with this testimony: Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, Romans 10:9-11 Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” How to grow: John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him.”1 Peter 2:5  So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ Also, you need a good church that teaches the Bible, loves to pray, and is filled with the Holy Spirit. Please call or write if you have comments or questions or want prayer!

Some Christians believe that a really full life in Jesus is only for the "super saint." It must be for those in full-time work like missionaries or pastors or leaders. That is not true at all. It is for everyone! That is what the Apostle Paul teaches in Ephesians. (see especially Ephesians 1:23 "...the fullness of him who fills all in all.") That fullness leads to maturity - being complete in Christ, which leads to fruitfulness. If you are a parent would you ask your young people to listen to this podcast with you (thinking of teenagers here when I say "young people") They and we - "all" need to stand in the evil day. I hope this will encourage you in this fight! Amen Rod

Hopefully, today's podcast will simply stir you up to love and good works, and thereby help you as you obey the command the Scripture, to "examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified." 2 Corinthians 13:5 This podcast is not any kind of a full examination of James' letter, but hopfully an encapsulation of the main point - "to show our faith by our works" as James exhorts us to do. If faith without works is truly "dead" then we want the opposite - to show the life of Jesus in us by our good works.  All glory to God! Pastor Rod

Some commentary on Psalm 4:2-8 in light of the tragedy in Las Vegas - October 1st 2017 How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah 3 But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him. 4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the Lord. 6There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. 7 You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. 8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.  

Do you ever see verses in the Bible like in Colossians 1:10 that talk about "fully pleasing the Lord" and you gulp and think, "do I ever fully please Him?" It says we are to be fully pleasing Him. Truthfully we want to do that if we really belong to Jesus. Thankfully, the context of this verse gives us the help and relief we need in order to grow into being pleasing to Christ. Secondly we are to pray for each other in this regard. We need others to pray for us and we need to pray for others especially in the context of being in the same fellowship. This podcast has thoughts on these lines... The Scripture in this podcast is from Colossians 1:9-14 though I am mainly sharing from vss. 9-11. I am including it here but encourage you to open your Bible and dig in yourself. I hope these few comments help! Colossians 1:9-14 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

I recently got to share at the Berean Call conference in Bend Oregon. My message was a hard one to deliver as it deals with a large movement/ministry that is centered in Redding near where we live. It was hard because it brought back a lot of difficult memories from a church experience our family went through many years ago that was related to the problems in Redding. If you are not into discerning "all things" as we are told to do in Scripture then this podcast is not for you. As disciples of the Lord Jesus we are told to be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 and check teaching out by the Scriptures. It is in this spirit that this heavy message that the Lord put on my heart was given. I pray you will receive it.  Here is a link to the talk from the Berean Call Conference.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyCpOK3A-nc Click to access the article I wrote on the same subject  

A short plea for prayer before traveling to the Berean Call Conference. 

This is a condensed version of the sermon from Ephesians 6:14 shared at Lewiston Community Church on Sunday 8-13-17.    A link to the slideshow for the message with illustrations and Bible references is below: Click for the slides

This podcast contains some personal testimony of ways I have seen to make a difference on the issue of poverty. Would love further input from the Body of Christ.  For more information on our ministry please visit www.reasonedhopeministries.org You can email me at rod.page@gmail.com Our church office is (530) 778-3148

What the Bible says about the Poor Podcast Part Two - Scriptures & a Few Thoughts  Podcast #4   Matthew 5  38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. …43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,    Matthew TAKE AWAY -  people in need sometimes need help and sometimes need to borrow - don’t turn away from either one - if they ask for one thing give them more than that if they are in need. We are even to go the length of sharing with and helping our enemies.                 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Timothy TAKE AWAY - if you are rich now you - don’t think it came from  you - give and share because it came from God who is rich towards others- use your money to do good for others ready to give and share. This way you will have reward in heaven.        2 Corinthians 9:6-15 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!   Corinthians TAKE Away - Give bountifully as a purpose of the heart…not out of necessity and not with a grudge…God loves a “cheerful” giver. God will make your sufficient in all things.        Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.   corollary is 6:6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. (The word “share” is koinonia - to fellowship - our giving to others is a fellowship/sharing with others - since fellowship was a cornerstone of the early church along with teaching, breaking of bread, and prayer - which was practiced in order to edify the Body and prepare them for service!!!!!    When we do good to all - starting with the household of faith…we are sharing ourselves with others…   Galatians - Take Away - as we have the chance - do good to all - concentrate on those in your own household of faith - your local church - but do good to all!           The Poor as the Bigger Givers: Mark 12:44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood. 2 Cor. 8:1-4 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (In 2 Cor. 8:9 Jesus became poor then gave up His life - everything - certainly His livelihood for us.)     Final Notes on Poverty:  There is no excuse for ignoring the poor’s need = 1 John 3:17 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?   “Rich in faith” poor people are fellow heirs and very valuable in the kingdom of God. James 2:5-7 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?     The true test of meeting the need of poverty or any other need… 1 Corinthians 13:3 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. What is love - is the question many are asking - it is giving so we have all the necessities of life and the creature comforts available? No it is a “who” question. The Who question answer is Jesus Christ!!! He is love - He is God and 1 John 4 says God is love. When we give a person, rich or poor a look at Jesus Christ then they have the greatest opportunity we can give - to humble themselves before Him - to receive His free gift of eternal life and to live in relationship with God for the rest of eternity. They can have eternal life - and that life is abundant in the blessing of God - first spiritually and then one day - when that which we have committed to the Lord will be fully rewarded we will never know want or need for all time!!!    I would leave you with one more verse among the many - to think upon.    The glorious light of the gospel is the one thing we can do -the only thing we can do that will bring a true answer to the spiritual thirst we are all born with…we must be bearers of that light - one way to proclaim and shine that light is what Jesus said in Matthew 5:16    16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.   It seems that God wants us to be seen as bearers of light that point to Him! That draw men to Him.   As though Christ was in us pleading with men - be reconciled to God!   As though we are to be examples of light - so that people will ask a reason for the hope that they see in us!    NEXT TIME - PUTTING A PRACTICAL FOOT DOWN - ONE IN FRONT OF ANOTHER…

Poverty and Us and the Church Podcast #3  2 Corinthians 5:21 - “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”   What is so great about this is I can be free of sin’s penalty - through Jesus’s finished work and work with God towards being free of sin’s affects in my everyday life and “become” the righteousness of God in Him. It will always be ‘in Him.’ The in Him - Part - is My position of course - but the ability too - to over come and become righteous. The strength, the will to be righteous in a world where that is not rewarded.   Think about this a minute - do we really know what is righteous? We can guess the easy things - don’t lie - don’t commit adultery or use God’s name in vain and honor your father and mother. The Ten Commandments.   But what bout the poor. Feeding and clothing and housing those who are in poverty. Or are they just the sad minorities in the urban centers far from our own realm of possibility to help?   Thankfully I know of good and solid Christian churches and ministries who are in the inner city helping take care of the poor and giving them the good news of Jesus. But we must focus on the neighbor that is in front of us. Those who live near and around us. That is our responsibility.   Now before we get the idea that poor people are those who are minorities - as portrayed in the media - we must look at the facts.    Now obviously there are more white people than any other ethnic group in the U.S. But did you know that there are for more white people who are also in poverty than black people? Did you know there are 20 million children in poverty in the U.S.? Do you know when compared to industrialized nations in the world we have a national tragedy on our hands? I am not here to debate the political reasons for this problem. I am interested in two things…   #1 what does the Bible say about the poor #2 what should be our response?   From there - we can think creatively and think sacrificially about what we must do as individuals and as the corporate body - to help the poor among us.    Can we admit that we look through lenses that are distorted to some degree by our background - by our prejudice - by our own experience - by what the media tells us?    What if we have blind spots in our lenses?  That is the reason for a “reasoned approach” to this subject.  One of the reason for this podcast is to have reasoning - something I believe is a gift of God - an ability he has hardwired into us - to have our reasoning salted with truth. Of course I believe that ultimate truth for us is found in God’s Word. I would also posit that His Word sometimes surprises us. We talked about this on Sunday in Ephesians 5 and Paul’s injunctions about family and especially regarding the issue of slavery - That God in this letter was pulling the rug out from slavery - if slave masters gave up their right to threaten their slaves - then their ability to hold them in fear would be lost and they would truly cease to be slaves. If a master was to do good will service to their slaves - even if it came as a response to a testimony of a slave that brought about his change of heart - slavery would end. No politics enter into this because politics can pass laws but cannot change human hearts. God’s word accomplishes that - truth does that.      The Bible & Poverty   Deuteronomy 15: 7-11 Don’t harden your heart towards the poor 7 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. 9 Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it become sin among you. 10 You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. 11 For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’   Exodus 22:25-27 - He who lends to the poor must do so interest free 25 “If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. 26 If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. 27 For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.   Leviticus 25:35-38 - Nation charged with caring for the poor 35 ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. 36 Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you. 37 You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit. 38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.   Psalm 68:9-10 - God Himself provides for the poor in the nation 9 You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, When it was weary. 10 Your congregation dwelt in it; You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor.   Psalm 72 - in the Kingdom of God the poor will be taken care of  12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. 13 He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the needy. 14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight.     Psalm 140:12-13 - God maintains the “cause” of the afflicted seeks “justice” for the poor 12 I know that the Lord will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence.     Proverbs 10:4-5 - Personal Responsibility 4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.   Proverbs 10:15 - The rich are protected but the poor cannot afford protection 15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; The destruction of the poor is their poverty.       Proverbs 14:31 - IF YOU OPPRESS THE POOR YOU DO IT TO GOD! 31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.     How do these things affect your thinking on this issue?   We have not talked about a curse on a people for oppressing the poor in Amos We have not even got to what Jesus says about going an extra mile or giving your shirt  We have not talked about prejudice that leads to disregard for the poor in James -    But we have a definition of pure and undefiled religion in that letter - and serves as a precursor against partiality in the next section James 1:27 says… Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.   NLT SAYS IT THIS WAY:Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.   

Thanks for lisening. Please send any correspondencew to rod.page@gmail.com. Bible references from 1 Peter 3:15 and Peter 4:11