Podcasts about victory in christ

Send us a textFeeling the whiplash between “we have victory in Christ” and a steady diet of cultural doom? We tackle that tension head-on and chart a different way: peace and patience anchored in truth, expressed through responsibility, and aimed at real change. Rather than treating faith as a bunker, we talk about taking ground—at home, in work, and across communities—with a hopeful vision that expects the gospel to bear fruit over time.We lay out why the church's mission is larger than private spirituality, and why Jesus' words about the “gates of hell” imply an advancing people, not a hiding one. That leads us into a practical, story-filled look at legacy and long obedience: cultivating fields you may never harvest, parenting with hope instead of fear, and rebuilding institutions that form character and tell the truth. Along the way, we explore how apocalyptic language works in Scripture, why treating Revelation like a literal disaster script drains courage, and how a patient, historic faith reframes the news cycle without denying real hardship.If you've felt tired, cynical, or stuck, this conversation offers a reset. Peace isn't passive; it's the stability that comes from starting with Scripture, not headlines. Patience isn't delay; it's disciplined consistency with the long view in mind. We talk responsibility before authority, the cost and reward of legacy, and the joy of seeing small acts turn into durable good. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with the one step you're taking this week to trade despair for disciplined action.Support the show

Covenant Power, Bold Faith & the Kingdom That Cannot FailDescription:In this week's program, Terry and Reneé Mize strengthen your faith with a timely reminder: God's covenant can't fail — but our agreement with it matters. We talk about the authority Heaven has already entrusted to believers, why bold faith is needed in turbulent times, and how the Kingdom of God remains unshakeable no matter what happens in the nations.You'll hear encouraging insights on standing firm, speaking God's Word with confidence, resisting the spirit of fear sweeping across the world, and remembering Christ's global mandate during this Thanksgiving season.If you've ever wondered how to live victoriously when everything around you seems unstable, this message will help anchor your heart in covenant truth, spiritual authority, and God's unwavering promises.Links:

Stephanie Foster

Leighann McCoy shares a powerful message on the transformative power of prayer and the Word of God, emphasizing the importance of spiritual warfare and the armor of God. She recounts personal stories and biblical teachings to inspire and empower listeners, reminding them that God's Word is a living and active force in their lives.KeywordsLeighann McCoy, prayer, Word of God, spiritual warfare, armor of God, faith, inspiration, empowerment, biblical teachings, God's WordTakeawaysPrayer transforms lives and breaks strongholds. God's Word is a living and active force. The armor of God is essential for spiritual warfare. Faith and prayer lead to victory in Christ. Personal stories illustrate the power of prayer. God's Word is sharper than a two-edged sword. The Bible is a library of 66 books. God delights in the details of our lives. Prayer is not about directing God but aligning with His will. God answers those who pray with understanding and faith.

We are excited to release the main talks from our last Fall Conference, which was "VICTORIOUS: Equipped for the Battle, Anchored in Christ" and focused on spiritual warfare and the unseen battle for the next generation across Europe.   Our annual Josiah Venture Fall Conference is designed to equip our team for the year of ministry ahead. Every conference includes amazing teaching, worship, and fellowship. At the 2025 gathering, we learned to see the unseen, stand with authority, and fight with spiritual power—anchored in Christ's ultimate victory. We invite you to join us in being equipped for the battle.   In this episode entitled "Victory in Christ," our president and founder, Dave Patty, talks about the battle behind the battle and how we are victorious because of what Jesus has done. And now, enjoy listening to this teaching episode of the podcast.       Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: social@josiahventure.com Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips   Subscribe & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!   Sign up for our new Monthly Podcast Newsletter!

277. Breaking Through Addiction in Marriage with Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith   *DISCLAIMER* This episode is intended for adults.   1 John 1:9 AMP "If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].”   *Transcription Below*   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Leman Property Management Company   Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith are clinicians, speakers, and authors with over 20 years of combined experience in counseling, coaching, and guiding couples toward healing and transformation. Their mission is to help couples navigate the complexities of relational challenges, particularly in the aftermath of sexual addiction and betrayal trauma, fostering deep restoration and growth.   Matthew is a Professional Certified Coach (ICF) with a background in pastoral leadership, while Joanna is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, EMDR practitioner, and Certified Clinical Partner Specialist through APSATS. Both hold Master of Divinity degrees and have served together on multiple church leadership teams. Currently, they co-lead their private practice, The Raabsmith Team, where they specialize in helping couples rebuild connection, trust, and intimacy.   Their passion for this work stems from their own journey of restoration. After experiencing the devastating effects of sexual addiction and betrayal in their marriage, Matthew and Joanna embarked on a years-long pursuit of reconciliation. This transformative experience led to the creation of tools like The Intimacy Pyramid™, a practical model for relational restoration and growth co-created with colleague Dan Drake.    Their first book, Building True Intimacy (2023), has sold over 1,000 copies and provides practical guidance for couples to use the Intimacy Pyramid to create enduring connections. They also founded Renewing Us Recovery™, a comprehensive program designed to support couples in the later stages of relational restoration. In November 2025, they will host the inaugural Renewing Us Couples Retreat, offering workshops and connection opportunities for couples on similar paths of recovery and growth.   Matthew and Joanna live in Memphis, Tennessee with their three young children. They prioritize self-care through shared adventures, new experiences, and a weekly game of pickleball.   Free Resource Mentioned in Episode   Building True Intimacy book   Questions and Topics Discussed: What were the warning signs that you noticed when you were newlyweds that tipped you off to believing things weren't quite as they seemed? Are there any common life circumstances, whether nature or nurture, that predispose someone to be more likely to struggle with a sexual addiction? As couples seek to thrive in marriage, will you give us an overview of the intimacy pyramid you wrote a book about?   Other Episodes Mentioned During Episode: Pornography: Protecting Children, Personal Healing, Recovery, and Victory in Christ with Sam Black Pornography Addiction and Helpful Recovery with Crystal Renaud Day   Additional Related Episodes on The Savvy Sauce: Anatomy of an Affair with Dave Carder Protecting Your Marriage Against Unfaithfulness with Dave Carder Stories Series: Recovery From Sexual Sin in Marriage with Garrett and Brenna Naufel Supernatural Restoration Story with Bob and Audrey Meisner Special Patreon Re-Release Wholehearted Quiet Time with Naomi Vacaro   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”   Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”   John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:12)   Laura Dugger: (0:13 - 1:38) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message.   Leman Property Management Company has the apartment you will be able to call home, with over 1,700 apartment units available in Central Illinois. Visit them today at lemanproperties.com, or connect with them on Facebook.   Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith are my guests today. They are clinicians, speakers, and authors with over 20 years of combined experience in counseling, coaching, and guiding couples toward healing and transformation. Our conversation takes a few turns, from getting to hear their incredible and vulnerable story of healing and then getting tips for talking to our children about topics like sex, and also even receiving some practical wisdom and tips for enhancing our own marital enjoyment.   Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Matthew and Joanna.   Matthew Raabsmith: (1:39 - 1:40) So good to be here.   Joanna Raabsmith: (1:40 - 1:42) So glad to be here. Thanks for having us.   Laura Dugger: (1:42 - 1:51) Oh, truly my pleasure. And let's just start here. Can you share your story going back to meeting and falling in love and your first part of marriage?   Matthew Raabsmith: (1:53 - 2:17) Sure, yeah. It was a little bumpy at first, actually. So, I knew Joanna through her brother. Joanna's brother was one of my best friends, and I got to meet her whenever she would come in town and visit, and she would invade guy night. He would usually bring her along to like a Lord of the Rings movie or something, and I would be a little frustrated because I would be like, oh, you brought your sister. Great. That's wonderful.   Joanna Raabsmith: (2:18 - 2:24) A little off-putting, not super friendly. And I was like, your friend's kind of a jerk. We did not like each other at all in the beginning.   Matthew Raabsmith: (2:24 - 2:54) Not big fans. And eventually over some time, we started to realize we had a lot in common. We liked to do a lot of the same things.   And one summer that Joanna was in town, we started hanging out, started doing more and more together, and really just kind of developed a friendship, which was really fun. And at the very end of the summer, realized that there was something between us. And so, we went on one date.   Our first date, we entered a golf tournament. We won it, and that was a good sign.   Joanna Raabsmith: (2:54 - 2:55) That's a pretty good sign.   Matthew Raabsmith: (2:55 - 3:02) And we went on three more dates over the course of two months and got engaged.   Joanna Raabsmith: (3:03 - 3:07) And then two months after that, we got married.   Matthew Raabsmith: (3:07 - 3:16) Yeah. So, her brother went from like, yeah, it's cool you date my sister, to like, you're not ready to get married. But he's come around now.   Joanna Raabsmith: (3:17 - 3:19) 15 years later. Yeah.   Matthew Raabsmith: (3:19 - 3:40) And, you know, a lot of it was, I think we had a definite sense of being kind of called together, being, you know, something special about who we were as a couple. And also, a recognition that we wanted to figure out what a good marriage looked like. We were really excited about marriage, but we didn't really know what we were doing.   Joanna Raabsmith: (3:41 - 4:15) Yeah, I've had a really great model of healthy relationship. My parents have a wonderful marriage. They work really well as a team.   And so, I knew, like, I want something like that. But as soon as we got married, we realized, but how do you actually build that? There's no, like, instruction manual for, okay, here are the things to do to have a great relationship.   And so, we read books. We went to conferences. You know, we did what we could, but we still found ourselves getting stuck, not able to really create, like, that deep sense of, like, connection intimacy that we really wanted.   Matthew Raabsmith: (4:15 - 5:17) And we started kind of hunting more and more for resources. We found some incredible resources that really changed our understanding of the way relationships work, the way people work, and really, for us, shifted our entire focus of kind of what we wanted to do, even with our life. And as we started to do that, though, we still kind of found ourselves at this kind of glass wall.   We felt like no matter what we tried, there was always this kind of distance between us. And that started to grow kind of over the years that we were together. It wasn't getting better.   It was actually kind of getting worse and worse and worse. And so, Joanna had actually decided to, after we finished our first grad degree together, the idea was we were going to go be pastors. And so, we had finished our kind of theological training.   Joanna decided she wanted to get a master's in marriage and family therapy so we could do some work around marriages and ministry in that way. And her very first-class kind of just set our life in a completely different direction.   Joanna Raabsmith: (5:17 - 6:26) Yes. So, my first class in the MFT program was a two-week intensive called Shame and Guilt. So, that's a really fun two-week intensive to be a part of. And as a part of that, though, they had an anonymous pastor come and share his testimony of struggling with sex addiction, becoming sober, getting into good recovery, healing and restoration in his marriage, kind of like that whole journey. And as he was talking, something inside of me started stirring. And I knew, OK, what he's saying is resonating way too much with me right now.   I think this is the thing. This is what is keeping us stuck, not able to really create the relationship we want. And so, that day I went home and first I just kind of started talking about my class, what I learned, what this pastor had shared.   Right. And nothing. Right.   We're just kind of talking generally about it. And so, finally I couldn't do it anymore. And I just stopped and I looked him square in the eyes and I said, “Are you struggling with this in our marriage right now?”   Matthew Raabsmith: (6:26 - 8:03) Yeah. And for the first time in my life, 20 years, I had been struggling with pornography, sexual addiction, and acting out in our marriage. And for the first time in my life, I was honest.   I had lied for years, both with Joanna and everyone else. And the kind of floodgates just kind of opened up. And I finally said yes.   And it was really hearing the story, I think, is what did it for me. I think it was knowing that somebody else had made it, that their life hadn't come crashing down because that was the greatest fear for me. That the moment anyone found this out, everything in my life would be over. Everything that I loved would be gone.   And so, this kind of story of hope gave me a little bit of courage that day, to be honest. But that started a really long journey for us because there was a lot of damage that was done in both of my hiding. And now kind of this revelation, all the pain kind of came crashing down on Joanna and kind of her shoulders.   And so, we started a quite intensive recovery process. We talked about it being kind of a full-time job. I went to recovery for my addiction and for kind of my acting out behaviors. Joanna had to begin a process of healing from the trauma of this discovery. And that process took us a number of years. It really was a long kind of arduous journey, but one that we ultimately survived and now thrive in our marriage and get the incredible luxury and the kind of gift of helping other couples do that.   So, that's kind of where we find ourselves.   Laura Dugger: (8:04 - 8:30) That is incredible. I just really appreciate you sharing your story. Clearly, stories are so powerful and that's what led to some healing for you and hopefully can open the floodgates for somebody else listening.   So, if we go back in your story, then, Joanna, I'd love to start with you. What were some of those red flags in early marriage that things aren't quite as they seem?   Joanna Raabsmith: (8:31 - 10:28) Yeah, there are a few. You know, I think that, you know, one of the pieces we kind of talked about, like, OK, we knew we're still getting stuck because there's 90 percent that felt really good. But then 10 percent that was extremely chaotic, really destructive.   Right. We would get we call the pain cycles when we get emotionally dysregulated. And there would be some things that, right.   Sometimes we would get into pain cycles, get dysregulated. And I kind of understand why. Right.   Like something happened. There was the disagreement. But other times I couldn't put my finger on it.   Right. Matthew would just get really angry and really shut down. And I wouldn't be able to connect it to anything that had happened in our life.   And so, it was very confusing. It was really hard to understand what was going on. And I think kind of in the same way, when I would pull too close into that connection, that intimacy, he would pull back.   Right. And it felt like even though we both named this goal and this desire, he would never actually partner with me in it. And so, again, that was really confusing because the actions were not matching up with reality and what was happening.   And I think the other piece that was kind of true for us and true for a lot of other people is that our own sexual relationship was fraught with pain. And so, there was, again, a lot that was really good, but also a lot that was really painful and confusing. And some of the pieces just didn't connect.   Right. And I would wonder, OK, what's going on? Well, I guess this is just the reality that like this is how much we get to expect in this area of our life, right.   In our relationship. And so, it was when the pastor started describing his life and addiction and what that looked like emotionally, sexually, relationally. I was like, oh, those are all the things that I'm currently experiencing.   Here's one thing that would answer all those questions that I have. And so, I think that was part of it. He kind of told me, like, OK, this is it.   Laura Dugger: (10:28 - 11:00) That would be so eye opening. And my heart's going out to the couple who is maybe starting to identify with this. Was it and share whatever you're comfortable with from your story or the person's story who opened things up to you?   So, sexually, I'm wondering if it was for you, Joanna, if you were hoping to connect sexually and that wasn't happening and that was confusing. You didn't feel pursued. But I don't want to fill in the blanks.   So, could you elaborate?   Joanna Raabsmith: (11:00 - 12:03) Absolutely. Yeah. And we find it a lot of different ways than couples that we work with.   Right. And so, it can be sometimes on either side of the extreme. And so, for us, it was where there would be kind of times when he'd be fully present and interested and engaged. Right. And then all of a sudden, kind of like I described emotionally, he would just withdraw and not be there. And I would reach out to connect.   And that was this like non-response. And which, again, didn't match up with those other times when he was engaged and wanting to connect. And he would give some sort of excuse that didn't totally make sense.   Right. But I was kind of like, what else? What was I left with except that?   So, I would kind of believe that and go with it, even though it didn't sit right. And so, yeah, I think that was part of it. We will see on the other side for some other couples.   It's the opposite. And maybe that spouse is hypersexual in the relationship. Right.   To the point where there might be pressure, even pressure to do things sexually that people aren't comfortable with. And so, yeah, it can look a lot of different ways. But that was kind of what our disconnect looked like.   Laura Dugger: (12:04 - 12:33) That's so helpful. And there's two different directions I want to go, Matthew. So, I'll set it up.   I guess I'm thinking of the guilt and shame and how those are usually so present. So, I have two questions. Were you when Joanna came to you, were you at a point where you recognize something was off and you wanted freedom from this and or had tried freedom before?   Let's start with that and then I'll go into the other one.   Matthew Raabsmith: (12:34 - 14:40) Yeah, it really was holy timing in a lot of ways. I, you know, for a lot of years I had I hated what I did. I didn't feel like I could stop it, but didn't have a lot of interest in kind of doing anything to stop it.   I kind of just like would just say, “OK, this is going to be the last time.” And then, you know, of course it would come back. But I think at this point I had really started to see the damage that was happening to our relationship.   I could feel us growing close, growing further apart. I could see kind of Joanna and the confusion that she was having. And like she couldn't understand things.   She would ask me a lot of questions that I didn't have answers to. And so, I actually a couple of months earlier, we were at a worship service, and they had said like, “hey, if you are ready to give something up, if you feel like there's something holding you back, come forward and confess it.” And Joanna and I were sitting next to each other, and I remember feeling like the Holy Spirit just like pulling me to like get up out of my seat and I wouldn't move.   I was like, no, because she's going to ask me what I went down for. I'm going there's you know, there's a random kind of prayer partner at the front. I'm like, I'm not going and confessing this to some random person.   And so, I was ready. But I think like I said, I think there was no path forward. It was kind of confess this and everything stops and ends.   But everything like marriage ends, life ends. And so, when she when she brought this, it really did feel like God had kind of been answering a prayer that I've been praying of like, if you give me a way out, I'll take it. I'm desperate.   I want it to stop. And it felt like that. I think it was both this kind of terror and this hope that day.   And even when I said, yes, it was a little bit like, what have I done? Like, could this have been different? Should I have just gone and told someone else privately?   Right. But I think ultimately that it was out between the two of us and that we kind of knew it. We knew what we were dealing with made a huge difference.   But I mean, God had been working in my life, offering opportunities for so long. I just been saying no, no, no. And then finally, you know, I think my heart just broke and it was like, yes, OK, I'm ready for this.   Laura Dugger: (14:40 - 15:14) I love how the Holy Spirit equipped you with that humility and courage to be brave in that moment. And it's such a blessing for all of us to get to see the end or I guess not the end of the story, but you at this point in your story where you're thriving. And so, I hope that offers a lot of hope to people listening.   But let's also pause. And so, going back further in time, Matthew, this was the other part of my question. What was life and attachment and your growing up journey like?   Matthew Raabsmith: (15:15 - 18:09) Yeah, I didn't know that at the time. Right. I a lot of this I figured out in the last couple of years of recovery.   You know, if you would have asked me, you know, as I was growing up about my life, I would have told you I had the perfect family. I had the perfect life. I think I did not realize that some of the things that I was going through weren't perfect, were harder.   And part of that was because I think the way my family dynamic worked was we just swept everything under the rug. You know, whatever happened, we just kind of went, OK, and moved on from. And I learned to do that as a kid.   And that meant a lot of emotional chaos. There was a lot of physical chaos and kind of volatility in our house growing up. And even though I had parents who are still married to this day, have stayed together and have tried to create kind of a stable life.   There was a lot of emotional and kind of relational instability. We moved around a lot. And then once we started moving, I found myself more and more kind of isolated at school. I started dealing with bullying and some things that really kind of left me not knowing how to deal with the pain that I was going through. And so, my way of stuffing things under the rug was getting, you know, escaping, you know, kind of escaping into anything that I could. I watched a lot of TV.   I was a latchkey kid, so I would come home. I'd watch TV a lot in the afternoon and then TV kind of just turned to more and more. And I was exposed pretty young to pornography, actually at a church camp.   I was at a summer church camp. Someone brought a Playboy magazine, and I was exposed to pornography. And I kind of felt that high, that rush.   And that just became kind of a mode of my escape. Right. Of whatever I could do to engage sexually, whether with my mind or with others.   That's how I could get out of the pain I was in. That's how I could stop feeling kind of the chaos that I was having and not realizing that it was becoming this kind of adaptive habit, that it would just be this thing I would go back to more and more. And I grew up at a time that technology was still emerging.   So, I can remember when we got our first computer and no one was talking about safeguards or anything. And so, it was just kind of exposure. Here you go.   Here's everything you could ever want and don't need. And that really became my life. And the more and more that I did, the better and better I got at lying and hiding and even being kind of vulnerable in kind of fake ways.   I would mention things like, yeah, we all have this struggle. And even Joanna, I had told like, you know, that was a struggle of mine in the past, but I've moved on from it. Right.   I told myself and other people just kind of lie after lie after lie so that I could have really this double life. I could appear one way and then I could be acting a completely different way, kind of in the dark.   Laura Dugger: (18:10 - 20:41) Yeah. And that makes sense. I'm thinking back to two episodes.   We did one with a male, Sam Black from Covenant Eyes, and he speaks so much of the origins of pornography and that foothold that Satan gets. And so many times it is in childhood, unwittingly you're exposed and then what it can turn into. And then Crystal Renaud Day came on to share a lot of females struggle with this as well.   And so, I'll link to those if those are a help.   And now a brief message from our sponsor. With over 1700 apartment units available throughout Pekin, Peoria, Peoria Heights, Morton and Washington, and with every price range covered, you will have plenty of options when you rent through Leman Property Management Company.   They have townhomes, duplexes, studios and garden style options located in many areas throughout Pekin. And make sure you check out their newest offering. The McKinley located in Pekin is a new construction addition to their platinum collection.   Featuring nine-foot ceilings, large spacious layouts, beautiful finishes such as quartz countertops and garages. You won't want to miss this outstanding new property. In Peoria, a historic downtown location and apartments adjacent to OSF Medical Center provide excellent choices.   Check out their brand-new luxury property in Peoria Heights overlooking the boutique shops and fine dining on Prospect. And in Morton, they offer a variety of apartment homes with garages, a hot downtown location and now a brand-new high-end complex near Idlewood Park. If you want to become part of their team, contact them about open office positions.   They're also hiring in their maintenance department. So, we invite you to find out why so many people have chosen to make a career with them. Check them out on Facebook today or email their friendly staff at Leasing@LemanProps.com.   You can also stop by their website at lemanproperties.com. Check them out and find your place to call home today.   So, at that moment when you've confessed, Matthew, the floodgates open for you and Joanna.   What did life look like for both of you next and even individually your journeys?   Matthew Raabsmith: (20:42 - 22:30) Yeah, it was separate. We did not separate, but we were really focused on our two different journeys because they were so different. For me, I had to figure out what had really gone on in my life and what was really happening.   Because, like I said, I had become such an expert at hiding from myself and others that I didn't really know how to live any other way. And so, I, you know, Joanna kind of handed me a list of everything this pastor had done. She was like, here you go.   Right. She kind of handed me that list and was like, good luck. And so, I dove in.   I went to a men's intensive. And I think that was probably one of the key places for me to tell my story for the first time. I really took a look at my life and had some people help me take a look and recognize the trauma that I had as a kid exposure that I had experienced and what that really meant to me and helped me understand what I was doing.   But also, kind of what I was doing to myself, how I was really kind of killing myself from the inside out and preventing myself from having the kind of relationship I wanted with God and other people. And so, that discovery was in really ways kind of invigorating for me. I felt like I was living for the first time.   I think I had started to kind of get out of this kind of burden, this fear of always being caught. I told Joanna kind of the history of everything that had happened in my life and our relationship. And so, I was feeling this kind of renewed sense of like energy and excitement of like, this is good.   I want this life. I want the life there that I'm not in constant kind of fear and in constant kind of connection to this thing I hate. And so, which is really different than what Joanna was experiencing.   Joanna Raabsmith: (22:30 - 25:07) Yeah. So, for me, it was very jarring in the beginning. Everything I thought was real came crashing down around me.   And that was especially jarring because I had left kind of the direction, the path that I was on. Right. We talked about our story earlier.   It included two months of dating, two months of engagement before we got married. And that also included me dropping out of law school, getting married and moving to California to pursue a ministry degree so we could work as pastors together or do something together. And so, in that moment, all of that came crashing down.   And I kind of was very lost, not just in our relationship, but in kind of what in the world am I even doing here? What am I going to do moving forward if he doesn't choose recovery? Right.   And so, just all of those question marks, all in that one moment of him answering that question affirmative. And so, so there was like that heaviness on one side and then on the other side was this relief of finally everything I've been experiencing makes sense. Right. Finally, I feel like I actually know what's going on. And because of that, there could maybe be a path forward for us as well. So, is this very, very weird dichotomy in that moment? And so, but I think I knew right away, like, I can't be vulnerable. I can't be intimate with him anymore. Right.   I have to step back in our relationship and wait and see what he chooses to do. Is he going to choose to do the work of recovery and get healthy and start to be honest and safe or not? And so, that's so we kind of did kind of there's some space for a very long period of time while we focused on our own individual recoveries.   And that, again, was a little bumpy for me. This is over a decade ago. And so, there is very little information about what partners experience.   We call it betrayal trauma, and that just wasn't a very common word at the time. And so, some of the resources I plugged into came from a more we would call it codependent, co-addict focus, which just really didn't fit. So, I struggled to find resources that felt like they fit for my journey.   But once I did, it all again, my own healing process started to make sense. And it was so like freeing and liberating to understand. Like, oh, OK, this is what I'm going through. This is why I feel this way.   This is what it looks like to heal and move forward. And so, kind of beginning that process was so important because then when Matthew was kind of in a healthy, safe place, I was as well, and we can start to step in towards each other on that kind of more couples' journey at that point.   Laura Dugger: (25:07 - 25:17) I love how you did that wisely, though, separate first, not rushing into couples at that time. Absolutely.   Matthew Raabsmith: (25:18 - 26:33) Appreciate you calling it wise. I think we were terrified. Yeah, we'll take God's help.   I think he was like, you guys just work on your own stuff for a while. And in some ways, like I said, it was we didn't know what we were doing. But I think we knew we wanted there to be a future between the two of us.   But we knew it had to be completely different in some ways than what we had before, which was scary because we liked what we had before. Like we had a really great marriage in many ways. Right.   There was this portion of it, this hidden portion that was really infecting and killing it all. But what we did have together, we didn't want to totally lose. It just was really hard to know, especially early on, what's going to come forward.   Like, who are we still going to be as we go forward? Are we still going to be a couple who does things together? Right. Who works together? Or is that all kind of going to have to be different? Is that the only way that we have kind of moving forward?   And so, that was that was probably the hardest part was having like this sense of like not wanting to lose us. We were like, if we lost that, that was going to be miserable. And I think a lot of our work was about how do we eventually reclaim this marriage that we want, that we love?   Laura Dugger: (26:34 - 27:04) Yes, because from what I'm sensing, you're friends with each other, you're on purpose or on mission with God. He did a course correction change, putting you on this path to help couples. But your desire to work together, it's like He still honored that in the ministry of reconciliation.   And I'm assuming abundantly blessed it beyond what you could ever dreamed up what we're doing now.   Joanna Raabsmith: (27:04 - 27:42) Right. It's been amazing to see what God has done, how he's used our story, which is so fitting because it was someone sharing their story that brought our healing. And I think because of that and it wasn't right away; it took some time to get to the place where we felt open to God using our story to bring healing to others. But we found as we stepped into that, that we have received such a blessing.   Right. And just being able to sit with other couples in that journey and see them go from that place of pain and confusion to this place of restoration and thriving. Like there is no better work that we could have imagined for ourselves.   Laura Dugger: (27:42 - 28:09) Love that. And really, you did have to pioneer a path. There weren't many resources at that time.   So, that's another reason I'm grateful you can share your story, because I hope it unlocks freedom for others. So, if we're turning more outward now and you're helping as you work with couples, how do you help them identify the difference between sexual struggles and sexual addiction?   Matthew Raabsmith: (28:10 - 30:15) Yeah, that's a great question. And I think that it really kind of exists on a spectrum. And so, everything kind of exists under what we call problematic sexual behavior or unwanted sexual behavior.   Whenever someone is acting in a way sexually that doesn't align with their values. And then the question is, is how often, how compulsive, right? How habituated, right?   How really embedded is that practice? Because the more and more embedded it is and the more and more that I continue to act on that, seeing the damage that it's doing, that's really what qualifies as the addiction. The addiction is when I know that this is causing harm and I and I feel that even though I want to stop it and I've tried to stop.   Right. I can't stop the 12 steps has a great line. They say addicts, you know, addicts have no problem stopping.   It's staying stopped. That's hard for an addict. Right.   And so, that's usually a sign that there's an addiction. And really what that means is that just means that I'm going to have to be even more kind of thorough and scrupulous in my willingness to change a lot. Because if I have built an addictive lifestyle, that means everything I do kind of functions to support that lifestyle.   Right. And so, my part of that was this hiding. I lied about everything.   I would lie about anything just to make sure that I was in control of the narrative. And so, for me, it was recognizing that if I was going to move forward free of my addiction, then it had to begin with honesty, with this kind of radical honesty and transparency and growing in that consistently, because that was the way that I manifested this addiction and kind of kept it going. And so, that's really what the addiction is about, is recognizing what are the kind of pieces in my life that are supporting this addiction to continue to exist?   And how is God going to dismantle those things? Right. And how am I going to be a part of that dismantling?   Laura Dugger: (30:16 - 30:33) That's well said. And also, I'm curious, are there any common life circumstances, whether that's nature or nurture, that are more likely to predispose someone to more likely have this struggle with sexual addiction?   Matthew Raabsmith: (30:34 - 32:30) I mean, there are, I think, you know, the things that we tend to look for are trauma and trauma comes in so many different forms. So, trauma is more it's rare that it's a single event. It's often more a kind of consistent occurrences.   As I mentioned, you know, I can't speak to kind of one event in my life that I say this was the traumatic moment in which everything changed. But it was more of the chaos. And so, I grew up in a family that could be really, really, really loving and incredibly encouraging and fun and silly and in a heartbeat switch into one that was verbally and physically just chaotic and terrifying.   And it was that chaos that kept me on edge. What it did was it created in me kind of a system of always wanting to be on high alert. And that would exhaust me.   That would kind of wear me out. And I would want to kind of numb that kind of feeling away. And so, I think those traumas, I do think early exposure.   Right. I mean, I was exposed early before my brain was ready to really understand what it was dealing with. And I think the third component that we often see is a low level or a kind of really a void of sexual education.   There was I'm sure I had a small talk with my dad at some point, but we were not talking about pornography. We weren't talking about bodies. We weren't talking about sex from a kind of healthy, good way.   I grew up in the church, and it was kind of don't do this until you're married and then you'll be fine. Right. That was the sexual education message.   And so, those things, right, trauma, exposure and lack of kind of education usually forms in someone a difficulty of knowing what they're doing, knowing that it's destroying them before it's really kind of gotten a deep hole.   Joanna Raabsmith: (32:30 - 33:20) I think like the brain. The brain aspect to when we talk about addiction, there are usually chemicals involved in addiction being formed, being created. And so, I think also co-occurring disorders, right, that emotional pain, also things like anxiety, depression, ADHD, where my brain really likes the dopamine it gets from sexual acting out. Right.   And you can actually need it to feel OK. That can also be a factor in kind of especially that addictive side of these behaviors. When my brain gets really attached to that dopamine release that it's getting because maybe I have some other things going on or I just have emotional pain.   I don't know what to deal with, how to handle it, how to regulate that in a healthy way.   Laura Dugger: (33:20 - 34:30) There's so many good points there. I'll just highlight one because there's a profound piece that you were talking about with early exposure to evil and the corruption of it is extremely harmful. And yet not being exposed to God's good design for sex and hopefully being coached by our parents, that is both of those play a part in the addiction. And so, I'm thinking even as we shift to think about parents, I know I've had parents come to me and just say, I don't want to talk about this with my kids.   I don't want to rob their innocence. And my approach is if God made it, this is good. We can talk to them.   You're not robbing their innocence when you're sharing the good age-appropriate parts of sex. And it's so great to be that first one to share with them. And I think it does the opposite of what we would expect.   We're afraid that that might make them hyper sexualized. But would you speak to that? Any encouragement for parents?   Matthew Raabsmith: (34:30 - 36:37) Yeah, it's tricky. I mean, even as parents, we've got kids and its still kind of navigating it. But I do think what it does is it lets someone learn the things they need to in the timeline they need to.   I think part of one of the things is that, you know, really good sexual education starts young. I mean, they start six and seven years old or even younger, just talking about our bodies. Right.   Because I think that's part of it. Really, this is about understanding the goodness of our bodies. This body was created by God, the maker of heaven and earth, and he called it good.   And so, I think part of a good sexual education begins with that. And then, what's really nice is once you've started the conversation, that means if your children are exposed or if they're presented with things that don't line up with what they've been hearing, they now feel safe to come and talk about that. Because that's really what this was about.   I didn't feel safe to talk about what I was exposed to, what people were doing. Right. And what people were encouraging me to engage in.   And so, you know, my parents would ask me how it's going. I would not tell them anything because it wasn't a conversation that they were having with me. And so, I didn't think it was a conversation I was going to have with them.   And so, that meant that as I found myself further and further away from my values, I felt like, who am I going to share this with? And so, part of having the conversation is it normalizes with our kids that this is OK to talk about, which is actually what adults need. I mean, part of our work with couples as adults, we have to get them talking about sex and body parts.   I mean, it's amazing to have 30, 40, and 50-year-olds in our offices and in our sessions. And they're so uncomfortable. Right.   They don't want to talk about sex. They don't want to talk about their bodies. They don't want to talk about what their bodies do.   Right. And we keep being like, this is God's good stuff. Right.   There is goodness here. But you have to begin by talking about it. Right.   Having these conversations.   Joanna Raabsmith: (36:38 - 37:54) I tell all the parents I work with, your kids are going to pick up a narrative about what sex is and what sexuality is, whether you want them to or not. And so, would you rather be the first person to step in and give them a healthy view, a healthy narrative to understand? Right.   And this is beyond kind of the nuts and bolts that everything our kids are learning. They're trying to find a deeper meaning. They don't think it's unconscious when they're young. Right. But they're taking it and they're going, what meaning does this have for me? How does this inform my self-worth, my view of my own value as a human in my body?   And how does it inform my experience of the world and my safety in the world? And am I empowered to make decisions? Am I connected?   Do I belong? Right. All of those questions are asking.   And so, as they're confronted with issues of sexuality, it's going to inform those things. And the world will not give them a healthy narrative about it. Right.   And so, being able as a parent to step in and give them that healthy meaning, that narrative, that understanding of their worth and their safety as they're piecing together kind of sexuality, again, at that age-appropriate level is so important.   Laura Dugger: (37:54 - 38:30) Guess what? We are no longer an audio only podcast. We now have video included as well.   If you want to view the conversation each week, make sure you watch our videos. We're on YouTube and you can access videos or find answers to any of your other questions about the podcast when you visit thesavvysauce.com. And I love that you're talking about this with couples you work with.   So, will you give us an overview of the intimacy pyramid that you actually wrote a book about and you teach to couples?   Joanna Raabsmith: (38:30 - 38:31) Absolutely.   Matthew Raabsmith: (38:31 - 39:15) Yeah. I mean, it was born out of our journey because, as you said, we wandered for a while and we felt a little bit like Israel, just kind of, you know, knowing that the Promised Land was out there, but never really feeling like we could find it. And when we started to piece together, I think the kind of relationship that we had dreamed of reclaiming, we really ask ourselves, how can we make this a more direct, a simpler process, not just for couples who went through what we went through, but really for any couple who's hungry for this, for the couple like us when we were first starting.   It really wants an amazing marriage. And so, we really focused on a kind of simplistic idea of what are the core kind of foundational levels of building really healthy intimacy.   Joanna Raabsmith: (39:16 - 40:10) Yeah. So, the intimacy pyramid, it's actually a triangle. There's a visual that goes along with it.   So, if you imagine the different levels of the triangle, very similar to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, starting at the bottom, you have to start with honesty. And so, we definitely experienced that reality in our own relationship. Right.   This is something we learned from Couples in Betrayal, but like Matthew said, we realized this is where every couple starts. Am I willing to be fully open, fully honest and transparent in this relationship? Am I being my authentic self?   Right. And after that level of honesty, that's when we start to build safety. And that has to do with our ability to communicate in really healthy, constructive ways.   Even when it's hard, even when we're disagreeing, even when we feel like yelling at each other. Are we able to show up with that belief that we both have the same goal? We're trying to build something together.   Matthew Raabsmith: (40:10 - 41:57) And with honesty and safety, that's where we get to work on trust as a couple. That's that next level. And trust is where we start to be more partners, where we're really starting to kind of lean in, work together, kind of be courageous and saying, “Hey, this isn't just my life anymore, right?”   This is our life together. And as that trust is established, this is what allows for the incredible work of vulnerability. And there's been all these studies about vulnerability over the last few years and how important it is.   What we recognize, though, is vulnerability on top of nothing is actually really risky and kind of even dangerous. It's vulnerability that's built on healthy trust where we step in and we do share some of those deeper pains in those wounds, those fears. We start to really heal some of those kind of early traumas that we experience.   It's in that vulnerability. That's what allows a couple to be truly intimate. And it's when they've worked through each of these levels, what we find is these couples, when they reach this kind of this intimacy level, they're passionate about who they are as a couple. They love kind of their relationship itself. They have a purpose to it. They have a sense that like our marriage, our relationship exists for a reason, but they're also really playful.   They're silly. They're really kind of comfortable in their own skin. And it's those five levels really working together that allows them to experience a relationship that gives life. I think one of the things we know is that when God creates, it gives life. And so, God created marriage not to burden us, right? Not to kind of, you know, not even just to get us through, you know, kind of surviving life, but actually to bring more life.   Right. And not just life within the relationship itself, but life outside of it.   Laura Dugger: (41:58 - 42:22) Oh, I love it. And you're also working with couples. I've heard you speak before about the working on offering your spouse the gift of self-awareness. And so, what could couples expect? How do you actually work with them to grow in self-awareness and recognize things like the emotional process they go through in marriage?   Joanna Raabsmith: (42:22 - 43:48) Absolutely. So, awareness. So, in our book, we obviously detail the intimacy period much more.   And that's Building True Intimacy is the name of the book. But each of those levels we just walked through have different components that go into that. And awareness is kind of like one of the most important components of that honesty foundation.   So, we have to start with awareness and we can't really build anything if there's a lack of self-awareness. And so, when we work with couples, one of the first places we start is we kind of look at the past. Are they aware of what they've been through, what those experiences are, and how those experiences have shaped them into the person that is now in the present, showing up with their spouse.   Right. And so, once I start to have that insight from my past, from those experiences, how they shape me, I can better understand my present. What are the things that I feel and why do I feel those things in particular?   Right. And then when I feel those things in a relationship, and these are typically those kind of heavier, more challenging, more painful emotions. How do I respond?   How am I showing up? Because the reality is that all of us cope with emotional pain the same way we cope with physical pain. We go into fight or flight.   That part of our brain gets triggered and we respond with these kind of destructive relational coping behaviors that then hurt my partner.   Matthew Raabsmith: (43:48 - 46:22) Yeah. Like, for example, I told you about that chaos I experienced as a kid. And so, those would always happen around conflicts.   My parents would disagree about something. There would be some type of argument about, you know, and it could be anything where we were going for dinner or what color the curtains were. Right.   But it would create this chaotic environment. So, as I got married, the thing that I didn't like the least was any type of conflict. Joanna and I would get in when I could sense us disagreeing and we are both passionate.   We have opinions and we believe things and we get into this kind of disagreement and argument. It would freak my system out. And I didn't realize that because I didn't really know my past.   I didn't know what was going on. I would just really do anything to shut it down. I get angry and I try to get loud, or I just walk away in the middle of a conversation.   As Joanna was talking, I would just leave the room and my acting out was just a further manifestation of that kind of leaving the relationship. And so, part of my healing journey was to learn about my story and recognize, oh, OK, I can see what's happening. And what's really interesting is it still happens in our life today.   I've been in recovery for 12 years. I still feel the same things. Now it's more like when my kids are getting involved.   Right. And there's energy in the room and people are online. And then I go, oh, yeah, there it is.   There's my system again. It's starting to feel unsafe. It's starting to feel alone. And I know what it wants to do. It wants to get angry, or it wants to just shut down and walk away. And what's incredible is that we've learned the ability to see where we're at but also speak directly to that.   And so, what I get to do for myself now is I get to go, “OK, I know I'm feeling unsafe and I know I'm feeling alone. And I know I want to get angry to solve it, but it won't do it. But here's the truth. The truth is that I'm safe in God's economy. I'm empowered. I have an incredible partner in my life. I've never been alone. I've always had someone there for me. And Joanna is the perfect example of that.”   And that totally changes my sense of really kind of where I am. And it changes how I show up. I tend to be much more calm.   I ask questions rather than make demands. And it's that ability to kind of see where we're at and shift. That's just been such a game changer for our family and just for our own relationship.   We still have to work on it. You know, it doesn't always look that pretty. Right.   But when we do, it's amazing how different it goes.   Laura Dugger: (46:24 - 46:44) And then I just think of the generational impacts that has when people are willing to do the work. And so, if there's a brave couple out there who wants to seek their own help and healing, can you share where they can go for help, including the Raabsmith team and all that you have to offer?   Matthew Raabsmith: (46:46 - 47:30) Yeah, you know, we would love them to connect with us because I think one of the things we recognize was having guides along the way. I mean, we had to figure a lot out ourselves, but we also had some really incredible guides, some mentors, some coaches, some therapists. And so, we always just say, hey, connect with us.   You can find us at raabsmithteam.com. We have a heart for couples who want restoration and reconciliation because that's what we're getting to live and experience. And what's cool is our whole team, they're couples who've been through this work, but who also have been professionally trained to help other couples to just continue to guide and to grow relationships so that they're thriving and they're kind of giving that life.   Joanna Raabsmith: (47:30 - 48:10) Absolutely. We also love to give out resources. And so, we have the kind of we call it the honest connection.   And so, again, if you're starting this journey or even this is for any couple who wants deeper connection, deeper intimacy, learning how to do that on a daily basis in small ways is so important. And so, we have a worksheet that couples can take and use. We're happy to provide that for them for free and kind of try this for 30 days and notice the changes that you experience in your relationship.   And so, that's a great starting point wherever you are in relationship to begin that journey of connection.   Matthew Raabsmith: (48:10 - 48:14) And you just go to raabsmithteam.com/free and that resource is all yours.   Laura Dugger: (48:15 - 48:26) Wonderful. Add links for that in the show notes for today's episode. And is this then for any couple worldwide, nationwide?   Can you work with people?   Matthew Raabsmith: (48:27 - 48:55) We have we've got couples across the world, which is really fun. It's been really neat just to see the way that God has used our work. One of the things when we first started this journey, we started getting couples calling us saying, “Hey, I don't have anybody in my area that specializes in this, that understands this journey. Can I work with you?” And so, we kind of felt a calling to say we want to make sure that we connect with people wherever they are. And so, absolutely.   If you can hear our voice, you can work with us.   Laura Dugger: (48:55 - 49:14) I love that. And just as a little bonus practical tip, you kind of mentioned being proactive to thriving in marriage. Is there any encouragement that you could share or a specific practical tip that anybody could start to incorporate if they want to take their marriage to that thriving level?   Matthew Raabsmith: (49:15 - 50:12) Yeah, I think just the ability to slow down. We have a  nine, seven and six-year-old. We own our own business, and we like life and life can get incredibly fast.   And I think what we have found is when, as I was mentioning, when I learned the ability just to slow down, even if I don't fully just know myself slowing down and checking in, just where am I at right now? Where's my heart? Right. Where do I want to be?   I think I realize that so often my values and my actions aren't aligned when I'm moving too quickly. I'm not being the person that I want to be. And we see that in so many couples. We meet so many couples and there are two really great people who have a hard time working together. They have a hard time kind of being a team.   And it's usually because they're working so fast. They don't realize they're kind of working against each other. So, slowing down, I think, is such a big thing.   Joanna Raabsmith: (50:12 - 51:18) Another piece that's, again, really easy to start right away. A lot of couples we work with, and I think probably even us when we start a relationship, was there were two individuals in a relationship, and it was kind of either me or you. And starting to understand there's this third thing between you, the relationship. There's a third almost entity that really needs care. It needs nurture. It needs you to focus on its needs from time to time.   And so, beginning to approach the day, even approach conversations with this question of like, what does our relationship need right now? And even as you're trying to make decisions, what is the way we can decide this in a way that's good for our relationship or what decision benefits our relationship rather than does it benefit you or me? Because when you get into that struggle, it can become a competition.   It can become transactional really quickly. So, starting to ask that question, starting to talk about the needs and caring for the relationship very intentionally can be a way to shift that.   Laura Dugger: (51:20 - 51:38) Thank you for sharing that. I think that leads into my last question, because you already know we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for both of you, Matthew and Joanna, what is your savvy sauce?   Matthew Raabsmith: (51:39 - 52:22) I kind of mentioned this, but I think it's the willingness to be honest. I was so willing to lie to myself and kind of really hide from other people. And I didn't even know that I was doing it.   But as I have learned to be more honest in really kind of healthy ways, right. You can dump, you can whine, you can complain, you can get angry. But truly being honest meant just looking at what I was feeling and trying to kind of figure that out and name that.   As I have learned that ability to be honest with myself and with others, it has just opened up a new world of possibilities. And it has shown me how many people care for me; how much God cares for me. So, I think that honesty is something I just want to practice more and more every day.   Joanna Raabsmith: (52:22 - 53:30) I think for me, just in my own journey and working with so many partners, that importance of being able to make empowered decisions in my life. Right. That I am really intentionally choosing the direction I'm going in life.   Realizing that instead of going into this more helpless, powerless victim stance is such a difference. And really the only thing that changes a lot of times is mindset. You don't have to overhaul your entire life.   Right. You have to add in like four hours of self-care and all of these things. But starting to shift that mindset into, wait, I have power in the decisions I make.   And one of the ways that's really important to do that is growing that self-awareness. I cannot make empowered decisions if I'm not aware of where I'm at emotionally, physically, spiritually. Right.   If I'm not aware of my needs on a regular basis. And so, slowing down to check those things in, sometimes even multiple times in the day if you're not used to that. So, you're more connected to yourself, to what you need, what you want.   So, you can start making those empowered decisions.   Laura Dugger: (53:32 - 54:00) I love that. It's just so enjoyable to host a very lively couple who's humble and you've done your work. And then you're willing to share all this overflow of goodness with all of us.   So, I think my prayer is that the Lord would richly bless you for this open-handed generosity of wisdom and your story and experience that you've shared with us and modeled for us today. So, thank you to both of you for being my guest.   Joanna Raabsmith: (54:00 - 54:03) Thank you so much. It's a joy being here.   Laura Dugger: (54:05 - 57:47) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

CLICK HERE TO LEAVE COMMENTS, ?? or prayer requests send a textDo you live on earth or in the heavenlies in Christ? Have you staked your claim to the blessings that are in Christ? Does your life show your victory in Christ? Welcome to yesterday ended, healing the traumas of life. Do you know what it is to be in Christ? I'm your host Dennis Dobbin and I'm here to teach you about your territory of supremacy that you have in Christ. Give a listen.

In this stirring and deeply encouraging Advent message, Pastor Karl launches the new series The King Has Come with a powerful exploration of the first great gift Jesus brings: hope.Turning to Luke 2 and the quiet, largely forgotten figures of Simeon and Anna, Pastor Karl paints a vivid picture of two elderly saints who spent decades waiting in faithful obscurity—praying unanswered prayers, worshiping through silence, and serving without recognition. Yet the moment a 40-day-old baby was carried into the temple, their Spirit-illuminated eyes saw what the crowds missed: the long-promised Messiah, the Consolation of Israel, the Redemption of Jerusalem.Through their story, Pastor Karl reveals that biblical hope is not wishful thinking; it is the confident, unshakable expectation of future good rooted in the unchanging character and faithfulness of God. Hope grows in the hidden soil of daily faithfulness, thrives when God chooses to work in silence, and celebrates the tiny seed because it already trusts the coming harvest. Simeon and Anna never saw Jesus preach, heal, or rise from the dead—yet they held the infant King and departed in peace, because they knew who He was long before they saw what He would do.A tender yet convicting word for everyone who has waited a long time and is still waiting, prayed a long time and is still praying, and hoped a long time and is still hoping. In a season that can feel rushed and noisy, this message calls us to slow down, stay faithful, and train our eyes to recognize the presence of the King—even when He shows up wrapped in the ordinary, the small, and the seemingly insignificant.Because the King has come, hope is not dead. It is alive, resilient, and bubbling up in every heart that keeps showing up and keeps looking for Jesus. Essential listening for anyone who needs fresh hope this Christmas.Watch all our sermons on our youtube channel "Flipside Christian Church"Join us in person 9:00am & 10:30am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm

Discover the biblical truth about angels and their role in spiritual warfare. This comprehensive study explores what Scripture really teaches about these powerful heavenly beings, moving beyond cultural misconceptions to reveal their true nature and purpose. Learn about the different types of angels mentioned in the Bible, including Cherubim, Seraphim, and Ophanim, and understand their unique appearances and functions in God's kingdom.Explore how angels serve believers through divine protection, supernatural provision, breakthrough in impossible circumstances, and carrying prayers to God's throne. Understand the crucial differences between angels and demons, and discover why fallen angels seek control while true angels remain submitted to God's purposes. This biblical teaching addresses common questions about angelic encounters, spiritual warfare, and how to test supernatural experiences according to Scripture.Find encouragement in knowing that believers have both angelic assistance and something even greater - God's own Spirit dwelling within them. Learn practical applications for living with confidence in spiritual battles, understanding that the power within believers is greater than any opposing force. This message provides biblical foundation for understanding the supernatural realm, angelic ministry, and the believer's position of victory in Christ.This sermon was recorded at a Sunday morning gathering at Church of the Lookout in Longmont, Colorado.Visit our websiteFollow us on FacebookFollow us on Instagram

In this week's episode, Terry and Reneé Mize share how a thankful heart empowers your words and strengthens your prayer life. Drawing from decades in global missions—including work in nations dominated by Communism—Terry explains how oppressive systems try to silence believers, but faith-filled words and Spirit-led prayers break fear every time.From 3:26 to 27:30, they unpack how gratitude positions your heart for victory, how your words carry spiritual force, and how prayer rooted in the Word works in every nation, culture, and circumstance. Whether you're facing pressure, uncertainty, or spiritual opposition, your covenant with God gives you boldness and authority.Your words matter. Your prayers work. And a thankful spirit activates both.Resources:terrymize.com/storeterrymize.com/giveyoutube.com/@terrymizeministries

Welcome to the final episode in Gospel Spice's series, "Identity in the Battle." Stephanie draws from Paul's letter to the Ephesians, with a primary focus on what it means to know and live out our identity in Christ, especially amidst spiritual warfare. This serves as a conclusion to the study on our identity in Christ and how that shapes our engagement in spiritual warfare.Ephesians: Tone & ContextStephanie emphasizes two critical ways to approach Ephesians:Mature Tone: Unlike Paul's other letters, Ephesians is deeply theological and not focused on addressing specific church problems. Instead, it equips believers for mature faith, acknowledging life's difficulties, but encouraging us by affirming that victory in Christ is already secured.Context: Paul writes from prison (likely AD 62), aware these may be his final words to the church in Ephesus. Despite his chains, he speaks with gentle affection, offering encouragement and a desire for continued connection.Four Pillars in Paul's Farewell (Ephesians 6:23–24)Paul concludes with four key blessings:Peace: A deep, abiding peace (shalom) from God.Faith: Assurance in the unseen, a call to trust God in uncertainty.Love: Love that unites the community.Grace: The foundation for all Christian living.Paul challenges us to let these words be the flavor of our own walk with Christ and to root ministry and relationships in love and grace.The Spiritual BattleEach believer has a choice—either to remain bystanders or to take up their place in the spiritual battlefield. Importantly:Jesus' love is not lessened by our reluctance, but we are invited to participate in battle for the sake of others, including addressing evils like human trafficking.The enemy (Satan) is not complacent, so we must not be either. Knowing the victory is won should lead not to laziness, but to courageous engagement.Our battle is never against people, but against evil and spiritual forces. With people, we are to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit—love, patience, kindness.Handling Conflict in the ChurchStephanie points out that disagreements among Christians are inevitable. The priority is always reconciliation, but when that's not possible, it's best to move aside while continuing to pray blessings over one another, remembering that we are all fighting the same spiritual war.Five Steps for Engaging in Spiritual WarfareBecome aware of the spiritual realm.Train up: Study scripture, pray, and fellowship.Stand firm: Hold your ground in Christ's strength.Resist the devil: Persevere with God's might, not your own.Train others: Help disciple and equip younger believers.True Identity in ChristThe reality of our identity is found in the fullness of Christ. Everything—our calling, purpose, and ability to overcome—flows from knowing who God is, what He has done, who we are in Him, and what we are called to do.We are the inheritors of a deep legacy of spiritual riches and calling. So, root your life in the peace, faith, love, and grace found in Christ, remember your true identity, and take your place in the spiritual battle with courage.As the series ends, Gospel Spice invites everyone to "taste and see that the Lord is good," step boldly into battle, and empower others to do the same.Reflection/Response:-          How do Paul's final words in Ephesians inspire you to engage the spiritual battles you face today?-          What does it look like for you to stand firm in your identity in ChristEnjoying these reflection questions? Consider the accompanying workbook as a resource to go deeper, at https://www.gospelspice.com/identity PLEASE JOIN THE TEAM BY DONATING TO GOSPEL SPICE - it's fully tax-deductible!more details here: gospelspice.com/payitforward What matters to us here at Gospel Spice is to create a place where people who seek deeper intimacy with Jesus, will find Him. We want a warm, welcoming atmosphere to journey ever deeper into the heart of God. We believe it is the ultimate calling of the Christian life, and I like to summarize it with my motto, God's glory, our delight. That is why we invite you to “taste and see” that the Lord is good. And we have been doing this every day since 2019. We need YOU to keep Gospel Spice alive and growing.  Financially speaking, we rely on people who understand this vision and who understand that we cannot function without a minimum budget. We run an extremely tight budget. For example, I work full time but don't draw a salary. And yet, we have expenses – for example, the equipment and technology we use, and also the wonderfully gifted staff who make it possible to deliver high quality content all around the globe, and then the necessary occasional promotional budget to make it possible to be discovered by those who seek to live a life spiced with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need your help.  So we would love for you to consider if this ministry is blessing you to pay gospel spice forward. You can partner with us monthly with $10 or $25 a month, by example, or you can make one donation, once.And because we are a register nonprofit organization in the United States under the status of a 501c3 charity, it means that the amount that you pay to gospel spice is fully tax deductible. Completely tax deductible. So you're even saving money as you invest in gospel spice ministries. It is an eternal investment, and we are very grateful to you for it.Now it's very important to us that we give back as much as possible from what you give us. And so we commit to giving the majority of what we receive, once all of our administrative costs are paid, to organizations that fight human trafficking on the front line. There are many worthwhile causes in the world, so why this one? Because I have always personally felt deep compassion for victims of human trafficking – maybe because I have never been its victim myself, so I feel a responsibility to help those less fortunate than me. Also, because Jesus tells us to love our neighbor. Human trafficking is modern day slavery, and that is something that revolts the heart of God. We want to play our part in raising awareness and then financially supporting those who fight this great evil.  So, we do some due diligence. We pick organizations who have proven themselves trustworthy of our support. And then we give money to these Christians organizations that fight human trafficking.So would you consider paying us forward at gospelspice.com/payitforward ?Your hard-earned money is always well used at Gospel Spice. Ultimately, you are giving back to the Kingdom, a portion of what Jesus has given you. We are well aware of the privilege to steward your partnership. And my prayer is always that you will find your own life spiced with the gospel as you partner with us to flavor the lives of those around us, near and far, with the spice of the gospel.We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogIdentity in the battle | Ephesianshttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/Malachi: Messenger to Messiahhttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/Wisdom from the Book of Proverbshttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebratedhttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/What matters to us here at Gospel Spice is to create a place where people who seek deeper intimacy with Jesus, will find Him. We want a warm, welcoming atmosphere to journey ever deeper into the heart of God. We believe it is the ultimate calling of the Christian life, and I like to summarize it with my motto, God's glory, our delight. That is why we invite you to “taste and see” that the Lord is good. And we have been doing this every day since 2019. We need YOU to keep Gospel Spice alive and growing.  Financially speaking, we rely on people who understand this vision and who understand that we cannot function without a minimum budget. We run an extremely tight budget. For example, I work full time but don't draw a salary. And yet, we have expenses – for example, the equipment and technology we use, and also the wonderfully gifted staff who make it possible to deliver high quality content all around the globe, and then the necessary occasional promotional budget to make it possible to be discovered by those who seek to live a life spiced with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need your help.  So we would love for you to consider if this ministry is blessing you to pay gospel spice forward. You can partner with us monthly with 10, 25, 50, 100, a month, or you can make one donation, once.And because we are a register nonprofit organization in the United States under the status of a 501c3 charity, it means that the amount that you pay to gospel spice is fully tax deductible. Completely tax deductible. So you're even saving money as you invest in gospel spice ministries. It is an eternal investment, and we are very grateful to you for it.Now it's very important to us that we give back as much as possible from what you give us. And so we commit to giving the majority of what we receive, once all of our administrative costs are paid, to organizations that fight human trafficking on the front line. There are many worthwhile causes in the world, so why this one? Because I have always personally felt deep compassion for victims of human trafficking – maybe because I have never been its victim myself, so I feel a responsibility to help those less fortunate than me. Also, because Jesus tells us to love our neighbor. Human trafficking is modern day slavery, and that is something that revolts the heart of God. We want to play our part in raising awareness and then financially supporting those who fight this great evil.  So, we do some due diligence. We pick organizations who have proven themselves trustworthy of our support. And then we give money to these Christians organizations that fight human trafficking.So would you consider paying us forward at gospelspice.com/payitforward?Your hard-earned money is always well used at Gospel Spice. Ultimately, you are giving back to the Kingdom, a portion of what Jesus has given you. We are well aware of the privilege to steward your partnership. And my prayer is always that you will find your own life spiced with the gospel as you partner with us to flavor the lives of those around us, near and far, with the spice of the gospel. THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation.Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example,- a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours.- a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation.Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation.Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

In this sobering and soul-searching message, Pastor Karl dives deep into Matthew 5:17–48, where Jesus declares that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it—and then raises the bar of righteousness far beyond anything the scribes and Pharisees ever imagined.Through six piercing examples—anger that murders the heart, lust that commits adultery in the mind, casual divorce, manipulative oaths, retaliation, and hatred disguised as justice—Jesus exposes the truth we all try to avoid: outward obedience is never enough. God judges the heart. Every single one of us stands guilty before His perfect standard.Yet the bad news is meant to drive us to the best news. Pastor Karl powerfully unpacks how Jesus' command in verse 48—“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”—is not a cruel impossible demand, but the very reason the Son of God came. We cannot achieve the righteousness God requires, so God freely gives it to us through faith in Christ. Jesus took our unrighteousness and imputes His perfect righteousness to all who repent and trust Him.A hard-hitting, heart-exposing sermon that leaves no room for self-righteousness, but ends with the liberating joy of the gospel: guilty sinners can be clothed in the very righteousness of God and stand before Him as if we had never sinned. Essential listening for anyone who wonders, “How can I ever be right with a holy God?”Watch all our sermons on our youtube channel "Flipside Christian Church"Join us in person 9:00am & 10:30am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm

In this week's episode of More Than Conquerors, Terry and Reneé Mize share how spoken words and Spirit-led prayers shape the direction of your life. Together they walk through the five powerful spiritual tools every believer must use—the Name of Jesus, the Blood, the Word, the Covenant, and the Holy Spirit.Terry and Reneé explain how these weapons work in real life: in crises, in missions, in family, and in everyday challenges. When you combine bold declarations of faith with prayers rooted in the Word, heaven responds and the enemy retreats.Your words carry authority. Your prayers carry power. And God designed them to work for you, not against you.

Leighann McCoy shares a powerful message on the transformative power of prayer and the Word of God, emphasizing the importance of spiritual warfare and the armor of God. She recounts personal stories and biblical teachings to inspire and empower listeners, reminding them that God's Word is a living and active force in their lives. Keywords Leighann McCoy, prayer, Word of God, spiritual warfare, armor of God, faith, inspiration, empowerment, biblical teachings, God's Word Takeaways Prayer transforms lives and breaks strongholds. God's Word is a living and active force. The armor of God is essential for spiritual warfare. Faith and prayer lead to victory in Christ. Personal stories illustrate the power of prayer. God's Word is sharper than a two-edged sword. The Bible is a library of 66 books. God delights in the details of our lives. Prayer is not about directing God but aligning with His will. God answers those who pray with understanding and faith.

A message on how deliverance, faith, and personal freedom can shape culture and lead to enduring victory in Christ.

Todaywe're looking at the last two verses in Ephesians chapter 3. Along withPhilippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, theseare two of the most quoted verses in the Bible that we hear when people finishtheir prayer. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above allthat we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be gloryin the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen”. Whata powerful ending to this chapter!Paulseems to want to use every word possible to convey to us the vastness of God'spower as found in Jesus Christ. He has ended each of the two previous chapterswith praise to God for His great victory in Christ. He tells us that Christ'spower is so great He arose from the dead and ascended far above all (1:19-23).He teaches us that His power is so great He has reconciled Jews and Gentiles toeach other, and to God; and that He is now building a temple to the eternalglory of God (2:19-22). But in the paragraph before us, Paul shares theexciting truth that this, far “above all power”, is available to us! Itis even "above all that we ask or think." In other words, thepower of Christ, like the love of Christ, is beyond human understanding ormeasurement. And this is just the kind of power you and I need if we are towalk and war in victory. Theword "power" is again dunamis, which we met back in Ephesians 3:7;and "working" is energeia (energy) found in Ephesians 1:11, 19; 2:2;3:7; and 4:16. Some power is dormant; it is available, but not being used, suchas the power stored in a battery. But God's energy is effectual power—power atwork in our lives. This power works in us, in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16). RememberPhilippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to doof his good pleasure”. We can't even begin to imagine what it means that theeternal, creator God of the universe, through His Holy Spirit, is working inus!!!!! I'llnever forget I had a car for years that when it got cold below 30° the crazycar wouldn't start. Somehow or another, a disconnection took place between thebattery and the starter as I tried to start the car. I'm telling you, myfriend, in Christ Jesus, all the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ, allthe power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us, all the power that God wants usto have to live and do what He wants us to do, to be what He wants us to be, toaccomplish what He wants us to accomplish, is available in us. Ifwe could only understand and believe this and comprehend this! But our lack of experiencingthis power being released in our lives is because a disconnection has takenplace. Maybe, like my car, we get cold in our Christian experience. We're notreading our Bible. We're not praying as we should. We've lost fellowship withthe Lord. We've allowed some sin or corruption to get in our lives and heartslike the corrosion on the battery cables. I'm telling you my friend, when thattakes place we lose that connection. The power is still there, but we have lostthe connection because of unbelief, unconfessed sin, careless living and becauseof lack of love or grace that we need in our lives. Myfriend, oh my friend, today realize the available power, the resurrectionpower, the power that raised Jesus from the dead. God Himself is at work in usif we'd only allow Him to flow through us for His glory. Note in verse 20 “ToHim be glory in the church by Christ Jesus”. This power is not given to usso we can build bigger churches, live better lives, or even to do a greater workfor Christ. No, it's all to the glory of Jesus Christ. That power is available butwhen we want to use it selfishly, God doesn't give it to us. He doesn't releaseit within us. But when we live for the glory of God, oh, awesome and wonderfuland powerful things take place for His kingdom's sake.  

What if the battles you see are not the battles you are actually fighting? In this message, Seeing the Unseen from our Unholy Spirits series, Dr. Trent Langhofer teaches on the reality of spiritual warfare and why so many believers miss what is happening in the unseen realm.Drawing from Ephesians 6, Dr. Trent explains how the enemy uses distraction, deception, and confusion to keep believers blind to the real fight. Learn how to recognize spiritual attacks, how to put on the full armor of God, and how to stand firm when life feels overwhelming.This episode will help you understand the spiritual realm, discern what is happening beneath the surface, and live with the confidence that God has already equipped you to win the battles you cannot see.Key themes in this episode:• Seeing the unseen realm through a biblical lens• Understanding spiritual warfare in everyday life• Why visible problems often have invisible roots• The armor of God explained in practical language• How truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the word protect you• How to win battles through the power of Jesus, not your own strength• Why your real enemy is never flesh and bloodScriptures referenced:Ephesians 6:10–18Ephesians 2:14Matthew 42 Corinthians 5Psalm 121Perfect for listeners searching for:spiritual warfare, unseen realm, armor of God, Christian counseling, demons, angels, prophetic teaching, biblical truth, spiritual discernment, overcoming anxiety, finding peace, victory in Christ, Christian mental health, Dr Trent Langhofer sermons, Trace Church Colorado SpringsJoin us Sundays in person:8:15a | 10:00a | 11:45a | 5:00p4330 Mark Dabling Blvd, Colorado SpringsSeeing the Unseen | Unholy Spirits | Dr. Trent Langhofer

Welcome to today's “Identity in the Battle” series, where we continue our exploration of the powerful image Paul gives us in Ephesians 6: the Armor of God. Stephanie Rousselle dives into the spiritual realities of our identity in Christ and how we're equipped to stand strong in spiritual warfare. In our previous episode, (episode 415) we looked at the first few pieces of this armor. So, how do we live victoriously through our spiritual battles? Let's see what Paul has to teach us through his letter to the Ephesians. Context and Purpose Paul sets the stage by reminding us that as followers of Christ, we're engaged in a real, everyday spiritual battle. The “Armor of God” is not just a metaphor; it's a God-given resource to ground us in our identity, empower us, and unite us as the body of Christ. The Shield of Faith Paul's words to the Ephesians brings the shield to life. In Greek, the word is literally “door,” emphasizing its large, protective nature—big enough to hide a soldier entirely. Roman soldiers would lock shields together, signifying unity and teamwork. Alone, we may stand vulnerable, but joined with others in faith, we're nearly impenetrable. The shield also features hinges—faith is “active,” meant to be flexible, adapting to every circumstance. The shield extinguishes “all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” These arrows primarily serve as distractions. Satan often uses “fiery darts” not just to harm, but mostly to divert our attention, separating us from our main purpose and leaving us vulnerable to further attacks. Stephanie reminds us to recognize life's distractions and stay focused—don't mistake the fire for the real enemy! We are challenged to take stock of how many times our faith has shielded us from attack, and to recognize each as a testimony to God's faithfulness. The Helmet of Salvation Just as medicine must be applied—not merely owned—salvation transforms us when we “put it on” daily. The helmet protects our minds from the enemy's lies, renewing our thoughts through daily application. Our salvation is both a present reality and a future inheritance; we're called to live now with the confidence, hope, and abundance Christ offers, not a mindset of spiritual scarcity. The Sword of the Spirit The “sword” is the Word of God—both Scripture and Jesus Himself. Scripture is not merely ink on paper, but alive and active, shaping us as we wield its truths. So, memorizing, speaking, and applying Scripture is our offensive weapon, capable of cutting through lies, confusion, and spiritual strongholds. Prayer as Our Ultimate Weapon Finally, Paul underscores prayer as the glue of our spiritual arsenal. Prayer is not a formality; it's the relational heartbeat with our Commander-in-Chief, Jesus. To kneel in prayer is the only way to stand firm against the enemy. Conclusion: Victory and Identity As believers, we're not called to fight alone. Armor is meant to be worn in unity, our eyes fixed on Jesus, our victorious leader. We're warriors today—clothed for battle—but one day, we'll trade our armor for bridal garments, celebrating our eternal victory in Christ. Until then, let's stand firm, united, and equipped with every spiritual blessing, living out our new identity in Him. Reflection: What distractions (flaming arrows) are keeping you from focusing on your true spiritual battle? Where do you need to “lock shields” with others? How can you apply the helmet of salvation and wield the sword of the Spirit more intentionally this week? Enjoying these reflection questions? Consider the accompanying workbook as a resource to go deeper, at https://www.gospelspice.com/identity  ----- IDENTITY IN THE BATTLE WORKBOOK ------ You have the option to go beyond listening to this series, and to participate actively. This exclusive Gospel Spice Ministries resource is available at gospelspice.com/identity . You will receive a downloadable, printable workbook containing listening guide for each of the 6 episodes in this series, space for note taking, and discussion questions if you want to do this study with a friend! What better way to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend this season, than to discuss your identity in the battle together? So, grab a friend or family member, or someone to mentor or be mentored by, and signup together.  Every week, Stephanie shares truth from Scripture and invites you to dig deeper in your faith to delight in the glory of God. PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family PAY IT FORWARD by supporting us financially PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with! Find out more at gospelspice.com We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with. Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog Identity in the battle | Ephesians https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/ Malachi: Messenger to Messiah https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/ Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/ Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/ THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY! First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast.  And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us! Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example, - a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours. - a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours. MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY: Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support. We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum. Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you! Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

328. | Spiritual Warfare Is Real: Interviews, Encounters & Ministry Update (Principalities Film) In this episode of Fearless with Mark & Amber, we're sharing powerful updates from our first wave of interviews for our upcoming documentary Principalities: Doctrine of Demons. From conversations with warriors on the frontlines, to divine appointments we never saw coming, this trip reminded us that the spiritual battle is real — but so is the victory in Christ. We also share two major 2026 conference announcements, and an opportunity for churches near South Bend, IN to host a 6-year memorial screening of Inwood Drive on February 12th — honoring the 2,411 babies laid to rest. If you want to help us collect the remaining interviews and finish Principalities, please visit: https://www.FearlessFeatures.org/give

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPhilippians 4:13 — Night Prayer for Empowerment, Confidence, and Victory in Christ10 P.M. Release — Recorded live here in London, England — from London to Dubai, from Dubai to Vancouver, from Vancouver to Accra — as the world slows and darkness settles, God's strength awakens within His people.Scripture (NIV)“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:13 (NIV)Show NotesAs night falls, exhaustion often brings reflection — what was accomplished, what still feels unfinished, and what tomorrow might demand. Across the world, “prayer for strength and confidence” continues to rank among the most-searched devotionals, proving how many hearts need renewal at day's end.From London to Dubai, Vancouver to Accra, believers find comfort in one truth: Christ's strength is never limited by our weakness. This verse is not about achievement but alignment — learning that victory flows from surrender, not striving. You are empowered not because you are strong, but because He is.Tonight we pray for courage to finish well, confidence to face tomorrow, and strength to overcome every unseen battle. When Christ strengthens you, fatigue becomes faith, and every challenge becomes a testimony.10 Global Prayer Points Prayer for strength and victory through Christ Prayer for confidence and courage in daily life Prayer for empowerment and renewed energy Prayer for perseverance through hardship Prayer for faith to overcome fear and doubt Prayer for joy and strength at the end of the day Prayer for courage to trust God fully Prayer for renewal of spiritual power Prayer for victory over temptation and weariness Prayer for divine strength to endure and thriveLife ApplicationTrue confidence doesn't come from self-belief — it comes from knowing Christ believes in you and strengthens you daily.DeclarationI can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. His power fills me, His peace surrounds me, and His victory is mine.Call to ActionShare this closing prayer to strengthen others tonight. Partner with DailyPrayer.uk to spread Scripture-based faith to every nation. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for daily devotionals with Reverend Ben Cooper.Philippians413, PrayerForStrength, VictoryInChrist,Support the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPhilippians 4:13 — Night Prayer for Empowerment, Confidence, and Victory in ChristRecorded live here in London, England — from London to Dubai, from Dubai to Vancouver, from Vancouver to Accra — as the world rests, faith still stands, and the Spirit empowers every believer to finish strong.Scripture (NIV)“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:13 (NIV)Show NotesNightfall often brings reflection — victories celebrated, challenges replayed, hopes deferred. “Prayer for strength and confidence” is among the most-searched topics worldwide because people are weary from carrying battles they were never meant to fight alone. Yet Philippians 4:13 reframes every struggle: strength comes not from self, but from Christ within.From London to Dubai, Vancouver to Accra, countless believers rise again through prayer — business leaders seeking courage, parents needing patience, students craving direction, pastors renewing faith. The power of Christ doesn't erase weakness; it transforms it into testimony. You are not running on empty — you are being refuelled by grace.Tonight we pray for confidence to overcome, courage to persevere, and strength to believe that tomorrow still holds promise. In Christ, victory is not a dream — it's a declaration.10 Global Prayer Points Prayer for strength and confidence in Christ Prayer for victory over fear and doubt Prayer for perseverance through trials Prayer for courage to face tomorrow Prayer for renewal of faith and endurance Prayer for power to overcome temptation Prayer for joy and confidence in the Lord Prayer for energy and focus in difficult seasons Prayer for success through faith in God Prayer for spiritual strength and empowermentLife ApplicationReal strength is not found in striving but in surrender — when you let Christ be your power.DeclarationI can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. His power gives me victory, confidence, and peace.Call to ActionShare this prayer tonight with someone who needs renewed strength. Partner with DailyPrayer.uk to keep global Scripture-based prayer alive. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for daily devotionals with Reverend Ben Cooper.Philippians413, PrayerForStrength, VictoryInChristSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58Download the appThanks for listening to the Love One Another Podcast. For more series, content, and information, visit www.beachpoint.com

In this powerful continuation of “How to Trust God in Hard Times," Robert reveals how you can move from simply enduring battles to securing your victory in Christ.You'll discover how to trust God's process even when you don't understand His timing, and how to let His truth be louder than fear, pain, facts or disappointment.

TOPIC Becoming a Strong Christian Through Meditation PREACHER Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Okronipa SCRIPTURES Ephesians 6:10 Joshua 1:8 Psalm 1:1–3 Psalm 119:97–100 Psalm 119:130 1 Chronicles 15:13 Romans 12:2 KEY POINTS 1. The Call to Spiritual Strength “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10) Strength in the Lord is not physical—it comes from revelation, knowledge, and conviction. Truth means reality—factual, spiritual realities that produce tangible and consistent results. You must come to a point where no knowledge can change your mind about God. Prayer must be rooted in revelation; pray from the Word, not from fear or emotion. 2. Meditation — The Key to Spiritual Growth Meditation opens the spirit man to greater depths and heights in the Spirit. It promotes breakthrough power and spiritual understanding. Joshua 1:8 — success and prosperity come from continual meditation on God's Word. Psalm 119:97–100 — wisdom and understanding are products of meditation. What you think about shapes who you are becoming; your thoughts define your reality. If you want to be successful, ask: “Which Word of God am I living by?” 3. The Way of Serving God There is a way to serve God and a pattern to find results. 1 Chronicles 15:13 — divine results come when things are done according to divine order. Meditation brings life and light out of the Scriptures. If the Word of God doesn't give you stability, challenges will bring you down. Meditation lays God's Word in your heart like blocks, building a foundation that cannot be shaken. 4. Understanding Meditation Meditation is pondering on God's Word until answers come. Learn to picture the Scriptures as you read them; let them form images in your heart. Psalm 1:1–3 — the one who meditates day and night becomes like a tree planted by rivers of water. Until you change the way you think, even prosperity will reject you—your mindset determines your manifestation. 5. Benefits of Meditation It brings light (understanding). Psalm 119:130 — “The entrance of thy words giveth light.” Light produces clarity, wisdom, and insight. When you learn, you begin to earn the results you seek. It transforms your life and habits. Romans 12:2 — transformation begins with the renewal of the mind. Meditation changes thought patterns, attitudes, and behavior. It establishes faith and produces results. Meditation gets the Word deep into your spirit. Out of the spirit comes light and understanding, which produces faith. When faith is expressed, it brings miracles and results. 6. A Call to Spiritual Maturity When you are hungry, don't only look for fish—learn how to fish. Don't chase temporary miracles; pursue understanding that produces lasting results. A strong Christian is one whose life is built on the Word, revelation, and meditation. CONCLUSION Becoming a strong Christian requires more than prayer—it requires depth in the Word through meditation. Meditation makes the Word alive, stable, and effective in your spirit. It brings light, produces faith, and transforms your life from within. Learn to think, speak, and act from the revelation of God's Word. For when your spirit is full of light, no darkness can overpower you. Meditate your way into strength, success, and victory in Christ.

Many believers make decisions that don't last because they never learn how to live in victory. In this Friday afternoon session, Dr. Jim Van Gelderen explains what it means to “live above the line”—to walk daily in your union with Christ. Discover how to live from your identity, not your feelings, and experience consistent victory through faith.This is the fourteenth sermon in a special series that will contain all of the sermons and workshops delivered at the 2025 Thee Generation Youth Summit at Falls Baptist Church in Menomonee Falls, WI this past October 8–10, 2025.Don't forget to make plans to join hundreds of other young people next October 14–16, 2026 for our annual meeting in Menomonee Falls, WI. For more information, please visit theegeneration.org/tgys. If you've been encouraged by this podcast, please take the time to give us a five-star rating and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the Thee Generation for others. For more faith inspiring resources and information about joining Thee Generation, please visit theegeneration.org.

Pastor Jeremiah Gabbard | Romans 6:1-10

Learn how to live a life of victory in Christ. When we believe God's word with our heart and confess with our mouth, something supernatural happens! Rabbi Schneider shares how to speak and live victoriously because there is a purpose and call on your life. God has chosen you specifically, uniquely, and individually.  **** BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER - https://djj.show/YTAPartner  **** DONATE - https://djj.show/YTADonate  **** TEACHING NOTES - https://djj.show/45w 

When life feels like one loss after another, it's easy to believe you were saved just to survive. In this opening message from the TGYS, Bobby Bosler shows from Romans 8 that God didn't save us to lose—He saved us to win. Discover how surrender and dependence turn seeming defeats into overwhelming victory through Christ.This is the first sermon in a special series that will contain all of the sermons and workshops delivered at the 2025 Thee Generation Youth Summit at Falls Baptist Church in Menomonee Falls, WI this past October 8–10, 2025.Don't forget to make plans to join hundreds of other young people next October 14–16, 2026 for our annual meeting in Menomonee Falls, WI. For more information, please visit theegeneration.org/tgys. If you've been encouraged by this podcast, please take the time to give us a five-star rating and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the Thee Generation for others. For more faith inspiring resources and information about joining Thee Generation, please visit theegeneration.org.

Broadcasting live from the lobby just after the close of the 2025 Thee Generation Youth Summit, Bobby and Dr. Jim reflect on a week where teens embraced total surrender and dependence—and where a public final rally saw 16–17 salvation decisions. The conversation highlights student recruiting efforts, the back-and-forth team competitions (Army edged it at the end), and the deeper theme: weakness is the doorway to Christ's power, right now, not someday. They also note that livestreams and session recordings will be released in sequence so listeners can revisit the story God wrote this week.Topics DiscussedFinal-night rally & salvation decisions (16–17 indicated).Teens trained and sent to recruit—overcoming fear by leaning into 2 Corinthians 12:9.The gospel's power when simply given.Team competitions and a razor-close finish (Army on top).“More than conquerors”: identity and present-tense victory in Christ.Upcoming release of livestreams and session recordings in order.Key TakeawaysGod met teens as they stepped out in weakness; dependence became strength in action.Evangelism is for now: teens recruited friends, and many responded to the gospel.Friendly competition builds momentum, but the Word and the Spirit do the eternal work.Revisit the week in sequence when the recordings drop to let the theme sink in. If you've been encouraged by this podcast, please take the time to give us a five-star rating and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the Thee Generation for others. For more faith inspiring resources and information about joining Thee Generation, please visit theegeneration.org.

As a pilot, Terry knows that even the smallest mistake can bring major consequences. This week, we're bringing you a message straight from the heart: compromise cancels covenant promises. When we obey God's Word, we stay in His covenant and walk in victory.  In this episode, Terry shares stories from the mission field — flying into remote places, caring for widows and orphans, and watching God's covenant faithfulness in action. Our key thought is simple but vital: “When you violate covenant principles, you cancel covenant promises.”

The end times is the culmination of all of human history and of Christ's redemptive work. It is the ultimate victory of God's plans and purposes, the victorious future every believer looks forward to.

As part of our Good Fight series, Pastor Brent takes on the battle against temptation with a creative twist—using live drawings to bring the message to life. Through both inner strength and the support of others, we can find freedom and victory in Christ.

As we wrap up our Ephesians series, Gielie Jordaan dives into chapter 6 to reveal the reality of spiritual warfare and the authority God has given every believer. Learn to put on the full armour of God - truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the gospel, and the sword of the Word - so you can stand firm, resist the enemy, and walk in freedom. Spiritual attacks are real, but victory in Christ is certain.

In this powerful exploration of Revelation 14:1-5, we're invited to contemplate the profound significance of the 144,000 faithful servants standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion. This vision offers us a glimpse of ultimate triumph and victory in Christ, reminding us that even in the face of tribulation, God's people will stand firm. The passage emphasizes four key ways these faithful are marked: by location, possession, speech, and behavior. As we reflect on this, we're challenged to consider how our own lives bear witness to our faith. Are we marked as Christ's own? Do we sing joyfully in praise, even amid difficulties? The message encourages us to embrace our identity as redeemed people, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and to live out our faith with courage and conviction. It's a call to stand firm in our beliefs, to sing with joy, and to pursue holiness, knowing that in Christ, we too are part of a victorious people.

236: Pt. 1 Angels & Our Heavenly Reality | Dr. Robert RodichWelcome to an “Out there” episode!Ever feel like you're stuck in a spiritual holding pattern—knowing there's more, but not quite sure how to access it? You're not alone. In this episode I go deep with Doc Rodich into the spiritual mechanics of identity, authority, and quantum entanglement (yes, really). If you've been wrestling with questions like “What am I really here for?” or “Why do I feel like I'm supposed to be royalty but I'm living like a peasant?”—this conversation is your wake-up call. It's time to stop playing small and start operating from the heavenly blueprint you were born with.This episode matters now more than ever because the spiritual fog is thick, and clarity is currency. If you're ready to ditch the watered-down theology and step into your divine assignment with boldness, this one's for you.HIGHLIGHTS:You're not lower than angels—you're royalty. Learn why Psalm 8:5 was mistranslated and how that shaped generations of spiritual self-doubt. (00:02:13)Angels see you as royalty, even if you don't. Doc shares firsthand stories of angelic encounters that'll make you rethink your spiritual status. (00:07:06)You were made for government, not survival. Bralynn breaks down how believers are meant to legislate heaven on earth—not just “get by.” (00:18:16)Quantum physics meets kingdom identity. Discover how quantum oscillation and entanglement explain your spiritual authority. (00:21:30)Your atoms are already interacting with heaven. Doc explains how your body oscillates 3,500 times per second—and what that means for your spiritual reach. (00:22:13)You're not the resistance—you're the plan. Bralynn reframes the narrative: we're not fighting from victimhood, we're executing heaven's strategy from the Victory in Christ! (00:40:13)Creation is waiting for you to speak. Hear how plants respond to human interaction—and why your voice carries more weight than you think. (00:42:00)The spiritual realm is visible—you're just not tuned in. Doc reveals how our limited visual spectrum filters out what's actually all around us. (00:24:09)You're on assignment, not just passing through. Your scroll was written before you were born. Time to read it and run with it. (00:29:24)Stop outsourcing your identity. Doc challenges listeners to hear directly from God about their purpose, instead of relying on secondhand theology. (00:38:08)BIO:Dr. Robert Rodich, Ph.D. has over thirty years of experience doing precise wellness evaluations for his clients. It is clear that today's food sources no longer contain optimal levels of vital nutrients therefore having a plan in place that is precise to your exact nutritional need is vital in these challenging times.What makes Doc Rodich unique is that the testing method he uses works off of the frequencies projected by your voice.This methodology has proven to be just as accurate as if you were standing in front of him in his office. The obvious takeaway is that you need not travel all the way to South Alabama to benefit from his testing unless you just want to enjoy the wonderful white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange beach.LINK for DOC RODICH:—Check out Doc's Store and More: http://DocRodich.comLINKS for BRALYNN:—Coaching for Business and Breakthrough Encounters: http://SpiritCenteredBusiness.com—Are the Gateways to Your Business clean and open?  FREE 5-Day Challenge to Check: https://spiritcenteredbusiness.com/shop/#FreestuffCopyright 2025 - Bralynn Newby Int'l, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Martyr's CrownPodcast from Nfluence Church | Granger, IndianaFeaturing: Pastor Lucas MilesPastor Lucas Miles delivered a powerful and moving message titled "The Martyr's Crown," reflecting on the life, faith, and recent martyrdom of Charlie Kirk. The service was a time of both mourning and hope, as we remembered Charlie's commitment to Christ and the impact his life continues to have around the world. This episode is a call to action: to reconcile broken relationships, share the gospel with urgency, and stand firm in faith no matter the cost.Key Takeaways:Even in times of loss and confusion, God's Spirit is at work, bringing revival and hope.Focus on Christ: Set aside distractions, conspiracy theories, and division, and instead focus on the gospel and loving others as Christ did.The Call to Reconciliation: If you are estranged from family or friends, now is the time to reach out in humility and seek peace. Life is too short for unresolved conflict.The Martyr's Example: Drawing from church history and the story of Polycarp, Pastor Lucas highlighted the courage of those who stand for Christ, even unto death. Charlie Kirk's life was likened to that of a modern-day martyr—willing to speak truth and endure hardship for the sake of the gospel.Martyrdom is Victory, Not Defeat: Scripture teaches that martyrdom is not the end, but a victory in Christ. The testimony of those who give their lives for Jesus continues to inspire faith and transformation.A Call to Action: The church is not a place for spectators, but for total involvement. We are all called to lead, serve, and share the hope of Christ with boldness.Let us honor Charlie's legacy by living courageously for Christ, seeking reconciliation, and sharing the gospel with those around us. May we all strive to receive the “martyr's crown” by remaining faithful, no matter the cost.1:24 Encouragement: Stay Out of the Fray, Focus on Christ2:01 The Dangers of Distraction4:29 The Threats Facing Our Society5:01 No More: Standing Against Cultural Decay6:48 The Worst They Can Do Is Kill You10:32 The Church's Purpose: Equipping for Ministry11:25 A Call to Men: Time to Lead13:59 Remembering Charlie's Words and the Word of God17:24 What is Martyrdom? Standing for Christ18:21 Church History: Polycarp's Story27:43 Five Truths About Martyrdom42:24 The Call to Remain Faithful and Awake45:26 Invitation to Stand and Respond47:11 The Value of a Life Surrendered to Christ49:35 Encouragement to Find a Church Home and Commit to GrowthIf you're new or seeking a church home, we invite you to join us and give the Lord a year of your life—you won't be the same!

The Martyr's CrownPodcast from Nfluence Church | Granger, IndianaFeaturing: Pastor Lucas MilesPastor Lucas Miles delivered a powerful and moving message titled "The Martyr's Crown," reflecting on the life, faith, and recent martyrdom of Charlie Kirk. The service was a time of both mourning and hope, as we remembered Charlie's commitment to Christ and the impact his life continues to have around the world. This episode is a call to action: to reconcile broken relationships, share the gospel with urgency, and stand firm in faith no matter the cost.Key Takeaways:Even in times of loss and confusion, God's Spirit is at work, bringing revival and hope.Focus on Christ: Set aside distractions, conspiracy theories, and division, and instead focus on the gospel and loving others as Christ did.The Call to Reconciliation: If you are estranged from family or friends, now is the time to reach out in humility and seek peace. Life is too short for unresolved conflict.The Martyr's Example: Drawing from church history and the story of Polycarp, Pastor Lucas highlighted the courage of those who stand for Christ, even unto death. Charlie Kirk's life was likened to that of a modern-day martyr—willing to speak truth and endure hardship for the sake of the gospel.Martyrdom is Victory, Not Defeat: Scripture teaches that martyrdom is not the end, but a victory in Christ. The testimony of those who give their lives for Jesus continues to inspire faith and transformation.A Call to Action: The church is not a place for spectators, but for total involvement. We are all called to lead, serve, and share the hope of Christ with boldness.Let us honor Charlie's legacy by living courageously for Christ, seeking reconciliation, and sharing the gospel with those around us. May we all strive to receive the “martyr's crown” by remaining faithful, no matter the cost.1:24 Encouragement: Stay Out of the Fray, Focus on Christ2:01 The Dangers of Distraction4:29 The Threats Facing Our Society5:01 No More: Standing Against Cultural Decay6:48 The Worst They Can Do Is Kill You10:32 The Church's Purpose: Equipping for Ministry11:25 A Call to Men: Time to Lead13:59 Remembering Charlie's Words and the Word of God17:24 What is Martyrdom? Standing for Christ18:21 Church History: Polycarp's Story27:43 Five Truths About Martyrdom42:24 The Call to Remain Faithful and Awake45:26 Invitation to Stand and Respond47:11 The Value of a Life Surrendered to Christ49:35 Encouragement to Find a Church Home and Commit to GrowthIf you're new or seeking a church home, we invite you to join us and give the Lord a year of your life—you won't be the same!

Romans 8 reminds us that no matter what battles we face, tough times are temporary, but eternal glory is forever. In Christ, we don't just win — we win and win again, because His Spirit lives in us.In this message, you'll discover: ✅ How to experience peace that passes understanding in tough times (John 16:33) ✅ Why God's power is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:7–9) ✅ How to overcome temptation and trials with His faithfulness (1 Corinthians 10:13) ✅ The “magic power” of God at work in you through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26, 28) ✅ Why following Jesus is a team sport — and why you need a “we” in your walk with God ✅ What it means to be more than conquerors through Christ who loves us (Romans 8:37)

We each face battles in life that we must walk through. Though we are not always assured victory in the present battles, we have present hope and eternal victory in Christ. How do we find hope in the Lord as the battle approaches? Esther and the Jewish people find hope as they prepare to face their enemies.

In this powerful episode of More Than Conquerors, Terry and Reneé Mize share how the gospel lifts people from shame, despair, and hopelessness into dignity and destiny. From the story of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4), to breaking free from generational cycles, to the mission field where the gospel transforms entire communities — you'll be inspired to see how God's Word changes everything. The gospel doesn't just save — it restores honor, dignity, and hope to every person who receives it.

Victory in Christ: Scripture Reflection for September 9, 2025 by Priests for Life

What's Work Got to Do With It? – More Than Conquerors with Terry & Reneé Mize Discover how faith is more than belief — it demands action. In this episode, Terry and Reneé share powerful testimonies from decades on the mission field, highlight the difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge, and show how acting on the Word produces miracles.  

On this second of our 3 monthly HEAVEN ON EARTH nights, Pastor Sam reminds us that the Presence of Jesus is always with us. The enemy is a defeated foe, but sometimes we need a reminder of our victory in Christ. Coming to Jesus on a moment-by-moment basis gives us access to a well that never runs dry. We hope you are encouraged by this timely message of life.Thank you for partnering with Reunion Hawaii! To GIVE online, please visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠www.reunionhawaii.com⁠⁠⁠ Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to this podcast! You can follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/reunionhawaii⁠⁠⁠ @reunionhawaii

Standing at the summit of biblical assurance, Romans 8:31-39 offers breathtaking views of God's unbreakable love. Just as Churchill inspired courage in Britain when they had "nothing but the back end of broken bottles" to fight Hitler's regime, Paul's words carry infinitely greater authority—backed by the risen Christ himself.This powerful sermon unpacks three life-changing realities: your past is secured in Christ, your present is secured in Christ, and your future is secured in Christ. When Paul asks, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" he's reminding us that the God who didn't spare His own Son will certainly fulfill every promise to those who believe.Through vivid courtroom imagery, we see how all accusations against believers are dismissed—not because we're innocent, but because we're clothed in Christ's righteousness. Like the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement, our sins are cast away never to return. Even when facing tribulation, persecution, or danger, we remain "more than conquerors" because nothing can alter our ultimate victory in Christ.Most reassuringly, Paul's exhaustive list in verses 38-39 leaves no room for doubt: death, life, angels, rulers, present circumstances, future events, powers, height, depth—absolutely nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus. This includes even our own failures and shortcomings.As one pastor puts it, "If you could lose your salvation, you would." The good news is you can't—not because of your grip on God, but because of His unbreakable hold on you. This assurance isn't just theological comfort; it's freedom to live courageously in a world of uncertainty. When God is for you, who or what could possibly stand against you?

In This Episode: Discover how enduring hardness, as Paul urged in 1 & 2 Timothy, takes you from the impossible to victorious living through unshakable faith in God's promises.TMM Website: https://terrymize.comListen to the Terry Mize Podcast- HEREFollow Terry Mize Ministries onFACEBOOKYOUTUBETerry Mize Ministries and Jackie Mize International Children's Foundation (JMICF)   GIVE HERE!More Than Conquerors with Terry & Reneé Mize is more than just a podcast and TV program—it's a call to live boldly in faith and walk in the miraculous power of God.For over five decades, Dr. Terry L. Mize has carried the Gospel to the nations as a missionary, minister, and mentor. A U.S. Army veteran and experienced pilot, he has fearlessly taken the message of faith and miracles to remote villages, war zones, and persecuted churches across the globe. From supernatural protection on the mission field to life-changing encounters with God's power, his life is a living testimony that faith works, God is faithful, and the impossible becomes possible.His late wife, Jackie Mize, was a faith-filled pioneer whose impact continues to reach families worldwide. As the author of Supernatural Childbirth, she brought revelation and encouragement to women believing for God's promises in pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond. Her powerful teaching on faith and God's goodness has transformed countless lives and continues to inspire new generations. Jackie's heart for children also led to the founding of the Jackie Mize International Children's Foundation (JMICF), which provides food, shelter, and education for orphans and widows worldwide.Now, alongside his wife Reneé Mize, Terry continues to equip believers with biblical truth, real-world testimonies, and practical strategies to overcome every challenge. Through More Than Conquerors, they inspire and empower listeners to walk in their God-given authority, build unshakable faith, and impact the world with the love of Jesus. Tune in and discover how you, too, are More Than Conquerors!#terrymize.com #terrymize #reneemize #jmicf #morethanconquerors #terrymizeministries #jackiemize #supernaturalchildbirthMusicBed.com Licensing:MB01AAUALGJ9YFLMB01XXBQXAHRSNGMB01FCJDEZSUJKQMB0191DJ40VMCTDMB01RVPDDLW2BJW

On this episode of Uncommon Sense with Ginny Robinson, we confront the horrific attack at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. The shooter, Robert “Robin” Westman, once walked those same halls as a student. Years of unchecked mental illness and spiritual rebellion ended in bloodshed.America is in denial. We refuse to face the truth: the transgender movement is built on a Satanic lie. No one can change the sex God gave them. Pretending otherwise doesn't heal broken souls, it destroys them and puts others in danger.Christians must speak plainly. Love does not mean affirming sin or confusion. Love means pointing people back to Christ, who alone gives us our identity. Until our nation repents and turns back to God, tragedies like this will only increase.Pray for the victims and their families.--https://policecoffee.com/collections/coffee

What if the very challenges you face are part of God's greater plan for your good? In this sermon, Pastor James Wilson shares the truth of Romans 8:28, reminding us that all things work together for good to those who love God. From struggles with health and family to the battles against sin, Pastor Wilson teaches that God's sovereignty is absolute and His plan is never shaken. Drawing strength from Romans 8:37, he encourages us that we are more than conquerors through Christ's love. The key lesson is this: no matter what “things” you are facing, faith and obedience to God's Word will lead you to victory and transformation. Sermon Scripture: Romans 8:28    We stream live every Sunday at 11 am and every Wednesday at 8 pm. Visit our website: https://perfectingfaithchurch.com  Connect with us on social media!  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PerfectingFaithChurch/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectingfaithchurch/  X: https://x.com/PFCNY   Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@perfectingfaithchurch

Come journey with me to the cosmos and engage Yahweh

Demonstrating Dr. Barnhouse's acute understanding of Romans and his heart for effective preaching, these messages skillfully and reverently expound even the most difficult passages in a clear way. Dr. Barnhouse's concern for a universal appreciation of the epistle fuels this series and invites all listeners into a deeper understanding of the life-changing message of Romans. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/791/29

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Get Arlene's book, Making Marriage Easier: How to love (and like) your spouse for life https://makingmarriageeasier.com/ What's the one sin that is defeating you or your family? Karl Clauson knows what it's like to wrestle with sin, hit rock bottom, and find God's grace wider than he ever dared hope. His new book, Killing Sin: Conquer the one thing that is defeating you, will help you wage war on sin and find victory in Christ. In today's conversation, you'll learn about:  3:00 Racing the Iditarod, 1100 miles through the tundra with a dog sled team 6:22 What parenting with true power looks like  13:33 The transformative power of God's grace 15:21 How to kill your sin  22:00 Hate can be good??? 25:30 Why tackling one sin at a time is important 27:00 There is victory lying ahead of you Karl Clauson is the host of Moody Radio's Karl and Crew, a nationally syndicated radio program. He is the lead pastor of 180 Chicago Church. Karl and his bride Junanne have been married 37 years and have 2 adult kids.  Learn more about Karl and his new book, Killing Sin (and get free resources to help you fix broken systems and much more) https://killsin.com/ Get the help you need to take back your home from too much technology. Join Arlene for her masterclass, Screen Kids today https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/course Get free date night ideas whether you have 15 minutes or one hour, small group questions for Making Marriage Easier and more https://makingmarriageeasier.com/ Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! Email speaking @ arlenepellicane.com Tickets on sale now! You're invited to Arlene's Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025 http://parentsrisingconference.com/ Purchase the Storyteller's Bible HERE.