Wooster Nazarene Podcast

Today our reading comes from Song of Solomon 2: 10-13: “My lover said to me, “Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one! Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone. The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air. The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming. Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!” These verses are a beautiful picture of who Jesus is in our lives today, as He invites us into the new season that is upon us. He is calling us to arise from our passivity; He’s calling us to let Him lead us on to new and better things, and He’s calling us to a new level of intimacy with Him. I challenge you to spend some time in prayer and ask the Lord how He is calling you forward during this new year of 2023. Thank you for joining us for today’s video, and we will see you again tomorrow for day two of our journey.

God’s grace changes the direction of your life. You are making this declaration … “I value you over everything else in my life! I will follow you!” When God’s grace hits your heart and life … you’ll never get over it! His undeserved favor drives your life, priorities, and affections. You live in response to God’s grace. You’re new!!

The return of God’s tithe is the primary way God has chosen and established to resource His work in this world throughout history. It is critical because when you return God’s tithe, you are reminded that God is first. He will never share this position with another. Every time you Return God’s tithe, you are declaring his "firstness". He is honored and pleased! It frees Him to work powerfully in our lives and in this this world.

God does not want a tip, a donation, the best, or the most. He wants the first! The first financial transaction you write should be the Release of the return to the Lord. When you do it His way - He will bless the rest.

Don’t focus only on what’s wrong. Think about all that’s right!!! Think about good things!!! Don’t put pressure on yourself to try to be perfect. You aren’t and never will be. But that doesn’t stop the Holy Spirit from working in and through you. It never has and it never will. Surround yourself with people who have a heart for the Lord and who “have your back” spiritually. Build your support team prayerfully and carefully. With a posture of prayer and a perspective of praise - seek God and with God’s Word as your constant GPS - do what seems to be right.

Jesus experienced stress and anxiety in the Garden praying the night before His suffering, crucifixion, and death. If something is big enough to worry about, then it’s big enough to pray about too. If something is on your mind - then it’s on God’s heart.

Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

When you say yes to Jesus, the resurrected Christ, your life does not belong to you anymore. It belongs to him. If you are His follower, then you go where He goes because you’re doing life with him! If you are a Child of God, if you are Follower of Jesus, then you will live like it!

You’re not just a regular Christian! You are a child of God - salt, light, Influencer, and difference-maker. Keep letting His light shine through you - into the darkness. You know who you are. You know what to do. Keep doing it!

You were created for God’s purpose. You were created to bring glory to His name.

We are not, “Just a sinner saved by grace.” We are now a child of God and reject the label of “sinner"! That’s what we were when God’s love and grace captured our hearts, but that’s not who we are. Never say, “I’m just a child of God!!!” You now have a positive ID!!!

What is Baptism? What's the importance and significance? Should everyone be baptized? Pastor Andrew and Pastor Sheldon take us deep into the history of baptism and it's importance in our walk with Christ.