The Implanted Word Podcast

When we're young and we have arguments with our parents, things usually start to escalate when both parties start to yell at each other. In today's message, Pastor Bill says that though we can be firm with the Gospel, we must also show love towards those who need it. When you fight violence with love, all guards go down. Next time you're trying to share the gospel, ask yourself what Jesus would do. I assure you, Jesus would show compassion to those who are hurting to bring them closer to Him.

In superhero movies, the hero is usually useless until he gets powers, then he's able to save the world from doom. In today's message, Pastor Bill says you have powers if you have the Holy Spirit in you. God has given you the Holy Spirit so you can be a hero for. His kingdom. He's entrusted you with this gift so you can go out and share the gospel with those around you. Be confident in who you are in Christ! You have everything you need to fight the enemy's lies and change lives for God's kingdom. 

Have you ever tried to solve a puzzle and lost a piece? It's impossible to complete the puzzle without it! In today's message, Pastor Bill says that Jesus is the only way to salvation. If you miss out on that part of the story, it's like trying to complete a puzzle without all the pieces. You'll never find forgiveness and freedom in His name. If you haven't accepted Jesus, you must follow Him and allow Him to lead you to everlasting life. He wants you to trust Him with your whole life.

When choosing to sit on a chair, we often don't think about it, but how do we know the chair isn't going to collapse? It's because we have faith the chair will hold up! How often do you find yourself having trust in something that's out of your control? Today, Pastor Bill says healing comes when you have faith in Jesus. The ways you're healed may look different every time, but it always comes down to your faith in Him. Trust that Jesus can fix your problems and find your hope in Him!

The Old Testament teaches us that God punished and disciplined His people very severely when they were out of alignment with His will. It can be scary to read of fire raining down and people being killed because of their disobedience to Him. Today, Pastor Bill will remind you that God isn't here to smite you because you sinned, but there will always be consequences to your actions. He only allows these consequences because He loves you. He wants you to draw closer to Him, even in your time of disobedience. 

Have you ever pretended to be someone you aren't? You've put on a fake facade or personality to get someone to like you or to receive approval, but you can only pretend to be something you aren't for so long. Eventually, you are bound to break. Today, Pastor Bill will remind you that there is no pretending with God. You can't fake your way into heaven, no matter how hard you try. God can see the things that others may overlook. Everything might look put together from the outside, but it's what's inside that matters. 

God controls and reigns over everything. Over every living being, creature, and even over Satan. Why do bad things happen then? If God has the power to stop evil, why doesn't He? Today, Pastor Bill will remind you that although God has the power to stop Satan, it's not time yet. His ultimate plan hasn't been fulfilled, and the world is still a fallen place. But the next time it feels like you are overwhelmed, like the enemy is going to win, remember that God is the one in control. He will help you win every battle you face. 

Many parts of the Bible can be very confusing if you just start reading it without any biblical history or context. It's hard to understand what it's saying if you read it like a normal book, because it's much more than a book. The Bible is the living word of God! Today, Pastor Bill will remind you that it wasn't written for a specific group of people, but that anyone could pick it up and hear God speak to them. Don't be discouraged if you don't understand it the first time through, but keep seeking, and God will answer. 

Sometimes you might wonder if what you do for Christ really matters. You prayed for somebody, you talked with a friend about your faith, you did some service in the community in the name of Jesus. But did it actually make any real difference? Today, Pastor Bill has an important reminder for you: everything you do for Christ has an impact for all of eternity. You can't judge its value by its apparent results. You are doing the work, but it's God who is accomplishing the results through you.

It's great to meet with a local church and learn about Jesus. The encouragement of fellow Christians, the experience of worship, and the chance to focus on God are foundational for the Christian life. But, as Pastor Bill shares today, none of that is a substitute for your own personal relationship with Jesus. When you read Jesus's words and actions in the New Testament, and when you see Him working in your own circumstances, then you'll have something you really want to talk with people about.

What would you do if you were arrested and threatened for talking about Jesus? Would you ask God to remove the opposition? Would you pray for your safety? Which would you do first? Today, Pastor Bill explains what the apostles did first: they went back to their fellowship and prayed. And the request of their prayer was for God to give them boldness to continue to speak of Jesus. This prayer was recorded not just for historical purposes. It's a prayer that you can pray for yourself today.

Becoming more like Christ is the desire of every believer, and it is encouraging to know that God has the same desire for us. In fact, the Bible says that God “predestined believers to be conformed to the likeness of his Son”. Making us Christlike is God's work, and He will see it through to the end. However, the fact that God will transform us into Christlikeness doesn't mean we can sit back and be carried to Heaven. The process demands your willing cooperation with the Holy Spirit. 

As Pastor Bill continues his teaching series through the book of Acts, he'll be reminding you that the same powerful work of the Holy Spirit is still happening to this day. All those who put their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately and permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit. His power leads us, convicts us, teaches us, and equips us to do His work and spread the gospel. The Holy Spirit's powerful indwelling is an amazing gift that you should never take lightly. Purpose to cooperate with His work within you!

The saying “preach the gospel and, if necessary, use words” is a good reminder that our actions are important. We dare not allow our behavior to contradict our message. But actions alone are insufficient without the essential use of words in the gospel's proclamation. Today, Pastor Bill will challenge you to not only live a godly life, but also to preach the Gospel to those that God has placed within your sphere of influence. If you were given a cure for a horrible disease, wouldn't you share that information with others? 

In our world, things can seem very…ungodly and even feel like they're getting worse and worse every day. BUT, God has a plan!!! He has a plan for our world, our lives, and the lives of everyone on this Earth! In today's message, Pastor Bill will comfort you with that truth!!! The truth that Jesus is coming back, God has a plan, and the Holy Spirit is always with you! No matter what the world looks like, no matter what you're facing, you are never alone! God of the universe is with and for you!!!

It's important that we know the Word of God and know right from wrong. It is also important that we let our friends and family know the truth as well! Now, more often than not, we can get hung up on just telling people God's truth, and we forget God's grace, patience, and even love. In today's message, Pastor Bill will show how to speak God's truth, but cover it with God's grace! Truth without grace is simply brutality. As a Christian, you are the hands and feet of Jesus, and that is sharing truth with love!

Being a Christian isn't a religion, it isn't about going to church, it isn't even about how good you are…it is simply about Jesus Christ and our love for Him! In today's message, Pastor Bill will encourage you to remember what being a follower of Christ is all about…it's spending time with Christ, learning to be more like Him, and sharing that unmeritorious love that He showed you, with others! You are a saved, loved, and brand-new person in Jesus Christ!! Why wouldn't you want to share that with others?!

Sin is a terrible scourge that has wreaked havoc on the human race. So much suffering and evil exist in this world, and it seemingly goes unchecked. But Pastor Bill reminds you that there is a ledger in the heavenly realms, a log of every sin ever committed. And one day, Jesus is going to judge the living and the dead. But if you have put your faith in Jesus and given your heart to Him, your account can be wiped clean. No sin is too great for Jesus to forgive if you come to Him with a repentant heart.

Sin is a terrible scourge that has wreaked havoc on the human race. So much suffering and evil exist in this world, and it seemingly goes unchecked. But Pastor Bill reminds you that there is a ledger in the heavenly realms, a log of every sin ever committed. And one day, Jesus is going to judge the living and the dead. But if you have put your faith in Jesus and given your heart to Him, your account can be wiped clean. No sin is too great for Jesus to forgive if you come to Him with a repentant heart.

How many times has God answered your prayers in ways you didn't expect? It's not because He doesn't care about you, but maybe He has a greater purpose in mind for your life. In the case of Acts chapter 3, the Lord waited to heal the crippled man at the Temple until there was a moment for that miracle to affect everyone around that man as well. You may think that your suffering is unending now, but the Lord is waiting for that perfect moment to bring restoration to your soul.

How many times has God answered your prayers in ways you didn't expect? It's not because He doesn't care about you, but maybe He has a greater purpose in mind for your life. In the case of Acts chapter 3, the Lord waited to heal the crippled man at the Temple until there was a moment for that miracle to affect everyone around that man as well. You may think that your suffering is unending now, but the Lord is waiting for that perfect moment to bring restoration to your soul.

It is important to be aware of what is going on in the world. Even though we no longer belong to the world, instead belonging to Christ, we should still have compassion on those who are enslaved by the snares of evil in the world we currently live in. Pastor Bill reminds us that there is chaos and sin driving everything around us, and we have been given the message of hope that will drive out the darkness; the message that Jesus will come again to rescue His bride from the devil's clutches.

It is important to be aware of what is going on in the world. Even though we no longer belong to the world, instead belonging to Christ, we should still have compassion on those who are enslaved by the snares of evil in the world we currently live in. Pastor Bill reminds us that there is chaos and sin driving everything around us, and we have been given the message of hope that will drive out the darkness; the message that Jesus will come again to rescue His bride from the devil's clutches.

A healthy church shouldn't feel like a chore to belong to. The Church in Acts chapter 2 was made up of closely knit relationships, of people from all walks of life bound together by the common thread that they had been redeemed by the blood of Christ. Pastor Bill shares with you today that it's so important to feel unity with your brothers and sisters. This world is hard enough on its own, but it's even more difficult if you try and forgo the fellowship and community of the Church.

A healthy church shouldn't feel like a chore to belong to. The Church in Acts chapter 2 was made up of closely knit relationships, of people from all walks of life bound together by the common thread that they had been redeemed by the blood of Christ. Pastor Bill shares with you today that it's so important to feel unity with your brothers and sisters. This world is hard enough on its own, but it's even more difficult if you try and forgo the fellowship and community of the Church.

Some people navigate very carefully through life, pausing frequently to evaluate where they find themselves and if they're in a healthy place. Especially in a new church, it can be difficult to determine if the community is actually healthy, or if it's just putting on a facade to draw in new members. But Pastor Bill gives you a surefire way to identify a healthy church: Are they teaching the word of God? If a church focuses on something other than the Bible, it is not built on a foundation that will last.

Some people navigate very carefully through life, pausing frequently to evaluate where they find themselves and if they're in a healthy place. Especially in a new church, it can be difficult to determine if the community is actually healthy, or if it's just putting on a facade to draw in new members. But Pastor Bill gives you a surefire way to identify a healthy church: Are they teaching the word of God? If a church focuses on something other than the Bible, it is not built on a foundation that will last.

It's easy to take a passionate person the wrong way. When you hear a street preacher sharing the Gospel, your first reaction might be one of anger or annoyance. But when someone stops for a moment and listens to the words being said, they may just realize that the passion doesn't come from someone's mental instability, but from a real-life change that has taken place in the speaker's heart! Pastor Bill reminds you that Peter was able to address entire crowds once he was emboldened by the Holy Spirit.

It's easy to take a passionate person the wrong way. When you hear a street preacher sharing the Gospel, your first reaction might be one of anger or annoyance. But when someone stops for a moment and listens to the words being said, they may just realize that the passion doesn't come from someone's mental instability, but from a real-life change that has taken place in the speaker's heart! Pastor Bill reminds you that Peter was able to address entire crowds once he was emboldened by the Holy Spirit.

When you have a dirty coffee cup, do you just wash the outside of the cup before using it again? No, you need to wash the inside of the cup in order to remove the dirt and residue that has built up on the inside. Pastor Bill wants you to recognize today that in order for your life to be restored to the way God created you to be, the Holy Spirit needs to work from the inside out. If you try to fix yourself, you're going from the outside in, and you won't be able to weed out the deep-seated sin on your own.

When you have a dirty coffee cup, do you just wash the outside of the cup before using it again? No, you need to wash the inside of the cup in order to remove the dirt and residue that has built up on the inside. Pastor Bill wants you to recognize today that in order for your life to be restored to the way God created you to be, the Holy Spirit needs to work from the inside out. If you try to fix yourself, you're going from the outside in, and you won't be able to weed out the deep-seated sin on your own.

When the prophet Elijah fled into the wilderness, God told Him to meet on top of a mountain. A strong wind, an earthquake, and a great wildfire passed by, but God's presence wasn't in those phenomena. His voice cut through the silence right to the prophet's heart. Pastor Bill teaches you today that the Holy Spirit works in the same way: He doesn't speak to you through signs and wonders, but through the quiet moments spent meditating on God's Word. He's ready to speak to you in the silence.

When the prophet Elijah fled into the wilderness, God told Him to meet on top of a mountain. A strong wind, an earthquake, and a great wildfire passed by, but God's presence wasn't in those phenomena. His voice cut through the silence right to the prophet's heart. Pastor Bill teaches you today that the Holy Spirit works in the same way: He doesn't speak to you through signs and wonders, but through the quiet moments spent meditating on God's Word. He's ready to speak to you in the silence.

God is a God of surprises! You may think that you know the exact way that He is going to bring something to pass, but when He follows through, He uses a way that you had completely failed to consider beforehand. Pastor Bill teaches you today about the early Church in Acts chapter 2, and how they could not have predicted the way that God would bring new believers into the Body of Christ. The Lord loves to break humanity's expectations, reminding you to never underestimate Him.

God is a God of surprises! You may think that you know the exact way that He is going to bring something to pass, but when He follows through, He uses a way that you had completely failed to consider beforehand. Pastor Bill teaches you today about the early Church in Acts chapter 2, and how they could not have predicted the way that God would bring new believers into the Body of Christ. The Lord loves to break humanity's expectations, reminding you to never underestimate Him.

The message of the Gospel should give you urgency! You don't know when Jesus is going to return for His Church. Although it is a basic instinct to anticipate the time that you are going to spend with the Lord in Heaven, you should also be concerned for your brothers and sisters who haven't encountered Jesus yet. Pastor Bill wants you to be concerned for those who are going to be left behind when Jesus returns, because the Lord's heart breaks for those who are going to miss out on Heaven.

The message of the Gospel should give you urgency! You don't know when Jesus is going to return for His Church. Although it is a basic instinct to anticipate the time that you are going to spend with the Lord in Heaven, you should also be concerned for your brothers and sisters who haven't encountered Jesus yet. Pastor Bill wants you to be concerned for those who are going to be left behind when Jesus returns, because the Lord's heart breaks for those who are going to miss out on Heaven.

The amazing thing about the Gospel is that it opens up communion with God to people of all walks of life, any ethnic background, and even of any age. In Old Testament times, only those consecrated by God could approach His presence. But Pastor Bill reminds you that once Jesus died on the cross, the connection was restored for all humanity. Anyone who recognizes the sickness of sin in their own hearts and calls on the name of Jesus will be welcomed into the Kingdom.

The amazing thing about the Gospel is that it opens up communion with God to people of all walks of life, any ethnic background, and even of any age. In Old Testament times, only those consecrated by God could approach His presence. But Pastor Bill reminds you that once Jesus died on the cross, the connection was restored for all humanity. Anyone who recognizes the sickness of sin in their own hearts and calls on the name of Jesus will be welcomed into the Kingdom.

Trying to be a witness for God without the power of the Holy Spirit is like trying to drive a car without gas in it. Yes, you have the passion and the drive to reach people for Jesus, but you need that supernatural fuel to get things really going. Pastor Bill teaches you today about how the early Church was driven by the Holy Spirit, empowered to spread the Gospel in a world that was still hostile to the teachings of Jesus. The Lord can and will do amazing things through you by His Holy Spirit.

Trying to be a witness for God without the power of the Holy Spirit is like trying to drive a car without gas in it. Yes, you have the passion and the drive to reach people for Jesus, but you need that supernatural fuel to get things really going. Pastor Bill teaches you today about how the early Church was driven by the Holy Spirit, empowered to spread the Gospel in a world that was still hostile to the teachings of Jesus. The Lord can and will do amazing things through you by His Holy Spirit.

In order to experience the plans that God has for us in this life, we need to accept the Holy Spirit into our lives. Pastor Bill teaches us today that just like Mary listened to the words of the angel Gabriel and received the blessing of carrying Jesus, you and I have the privilege to carry the power of God around with us as well. When we accept the Holy Spirit's power in our lives, He will work in our hearts and change the world around us. But He won't do any of that if we don't accept Him with a cheerful heart.

In order to experience the plans that God has for us in this life, we need to accept the Holy Spirit into our lives. Pastor Bill teaches us today that just like Mary listened to the words of the angel Gabriel and received the blessing of carrying Jesus, you and I have the privilege to carry the power of God around with us as well. When we accept the Holy Spirit's power in our lives, He will work in our hearts and change the world around us. But He won't do any of that if we don't accept Him with a cheerful heart.

One of the ways that the Holy Spirit can work in your life is to reconcile relationships that may have been strained or broken by past conflict. Pastor Bill encourages you today that those friends and family members who seem too far away from God are only one encounter away from giving their lives over to Him. So while you remain faithful in prayer, asking the Lord to reveal Himself to those lost sheep, He is working behind the scenes to redirect their attention and help them see what they are missing out on.

One of the ways that the Holy Spirit can work in your life is to reconcile relationships that may have been strained or broken by past conflict. Pastor Bill encourages you today that those friends and family members who seem too far away from God are only one encounter away from giving their lives over to Him. So while you remain faithful in prayer, asking the Lord to reveal Himself to those lost sheep, He is working behind the scenes to redirect their attention and help them see what they are missing out on.

From the moment God created Adam, He desired to have a relationship with humanity. But when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, that bond between man and God was broken. Pastor Bill teaches you today that just as mankind was given life by the breath of God, it was the last breath of Jesus on the cross that restored the bond that man had broken. And just like you've received that new breath of life in Jesus, He also wants to breathe His Holy Spirit to live inside you as well.

From the moment God created Adam, He desired to have a relationship with humanity. But when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, that bond between man and God was broken. Pastor Bill teaches you today that just as mankind was given life by the breath of God, it was the last breath of Jesus on the cross that restored the bond that man had broken. And just like you've received that new breath of life in Jesus, He also wants to breathe His Holy Spirit to live inside you as well.

Think about the people that you come across in your everyday life. Do they notice anything different about you? Is there something different about you that separates you from your peers and makes them want to know more? Pastor Bill encourages you today that with the strength of the Holy Spirit, you can be empowered to stand apart, to be a light in the darkness. Your goal should be for your life to guide people's eyes toward Jesus, so that they can encounter Him for themselves.

Think about the people that you come across in your everyday life. Do they notice anything different about you? Is there something different about you that separates you from your peers and makes them want to know more? Pastor Bill encourages you today that with the strength of the Holy Spirit, you can be empowered to stand apart, to be a light in the darkness. Your goal should be for your life to guide people's eyes toward Jesus, so that they can encounter Him for themselves.

You've probably heard preachers who say that God shows His favor on you by showering you with riches, all in an effort to get you to open up your wallet. But God wants something more than just your money, He wants your obedience. Pastor Bill teaches today that the Lord uses people in all walks of life to reach the people right where they are. If you think that your life is too small for God to use, think again! The same God who multiplied the loaves and fishes can multiply His Kingdom through you.

You've probably heard preachers who say that God shows His favor on you by showering you with riches, all in an effort to get you to open up your wallet. But God wants something more than just your money, He wants your obedience. Pastor Bill teaches today that the Lord uses people in all walks of life to reach the people right where they are. If you think that your life is too small for God to use, think again! The same God who multiplied the loaves and fishes can multiply His Kingdom through you.