In this week's podcast, I talk about God's steadfast love and the healing power of His word. How does God's love differ to our love for each other? God's love often includes discipline, which means we can be left to our own devices until we freely turn back to God for healing. God's word heals us, which is why we need to abide in His word by reading the Bible, but also by hearing what He is saying to each of us individually. Sometimes He corrects us and sometimes He tells us what we don't want to hear, but He always tells us the truth and this is what transforms us.

Once we understand how God's love works, we will move beyond the shallow notion that a loving God will never be judgemental or allow us to suffer. God's love is steadfast and unwavering but He will not tolerate sin and He will bring ultimate justice to us all.

Bible passages:

Test the Spirits, (1 John 4); God is Love, (1 John 4:8 & 1 John 4:16); Ask and It is Given, (Matthew 7:7-8); Believe and You shall Receive, (Mark 11:22-24); Ask in My Name, (John 14:12-14); Serpent's Lie, (Genesis 3); Abide in Me, (John 15:4-11); His Steadfast Love Endures Forever, (Psalm 136); God's Word Give Eternal Life, (John 5:24 & John 6:68-69); Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So, (Psalm 107); God's Disciple, (Hebrews 12:3-12, Psalm 94:12-14, Proverbs 3:11-12); Universe Created by the Word of God, (Hebrews 11:3); He Sent Out His Word & Healed Them, (Psalm 107:20); Word, Spirit, Life, (John 6:63); The Truth Will Set You Free, (John 8:31); You Are of Your Father the Devil, (John 8:43-47); If You Say You Have No Sin, (1 John 1:5-10); Repent, (Matthew 3:2); Turn From Your Wicked Ways, (Acts 3:26 & 2 Chronicles 7:14); People Love the Darkness (John 3:19); Jesus Came to Set Captives Free, (Luke 4:18-21 & Isaiah 61:1); I Am the Way, (John 14:6); The Heart is Deceitful Above all Things, (Jeremiah 17:9); What Comes Out of the Heart Defiles a Person (Matthew 15:16-20); Incline Your Ear and Come to Me, (Isaiah 55:3); Old Life vs New Life, (Ephesians 4:17-32); Jesus Deals with Religious Hypocrites, (Matthew 23); The Way of Love, (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

• Abide In Me You Tube Channel

In this week's episode, I talk about Jesus' instruction to His disciples to abide in Him by abiding in His words.

"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you." John 15:7

The words we speak to each other and our own thoughts affect us deeply, so how much more will Jesus' words transform our inner selves?

Is this the reason that the Bible and Jesus's teachings are constantly attacked and derided in our society? Are the powers and principalities afraid of a humanity who understand how much God loves them? Because if we really understood this, they would no longer be able to control us through fear and division. It seems that today reading the Bible is a subversive act.

Bible References:

Upper Room Discourse, (John 14-17); I Am the Vine, (John 15); Early Church, (Acts 2-6); Jesus' Words & Eternal Life, (John 5:27); Jesus Living Water, (John 4:7-15 & 7:37-39); Sermon on Mount, (Matthew 5-7); Commandment to Love, (John 13:34-35 & 15:17); Love God/Love Neighbour, (Matthew 22:36-40); Pharisees & Commandments of Men, (Matthew15:9 & 23:1-4, Mark 7:5-13, Isaiah 29:13); Jesus Yahweh in Human Form, (Colossians 1:15-20 & 2:9, Hebrews 1:1-4, Philippians 2:5-9); Parable of Sower, (Mark 4:3-20); Holy Spirit Teacher, (John 14:15-26); No Other Gods, (Exodus 20:3-6); Test the Spirits, (1 John 4:1-6); God's Word is Truth, (John 17:17-26 & 8:31-32, Psalm 119:160, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16); Teachers to Suit Passions, (2 Timothy 4:3-4); Jesus Physician, (Mark 2:17); The Law Can't Save Us, (Roman 8:3-4, Hebrews 10:1-4, Galatians 3:23-29); Humble Yourself & Pray, (2 Chronicles 7:14); Search Me and Know Me, (Psalm 139); Lord is My Shepherd, (Psalm 23:1-3); As Far As the Heavens Are Above the Earth, (Psalm 103:11-17); The Shelter of the Most High, (Psalm 91); Delight Yourself in the Lord, (Psalm 37:4).

Other Resources:

• The Reality of The Moral Law - Mere Christianity, C.S Lewis (10 mins)
• Evolutionist Richard Dawkins Says There Are No Morals: by William Lane Craig (4 mins)
• Atheist MIT Professor Converts to Christianity - Lex Friedman (10 mins)
• Why the Bible Can be Trusted - J Warner (Cold Case Christianity) (47 mins)
• Making of the Bible - Tim Mackie (Bible Project) 2 hours
• How Badly Was the New Testament Corrupted? | Daniel Wallace at SDSU
• Abide In Me You Tube Channel
• I Am the Vine - Abide in Me (John 15)

In this week's episode I discuss the power of the spiritual disciples, such as meditation, and how best to use them. Many of us have been taught that to be disciplined is to do the same things in the same way every day and if we deviate from this routine we are undisciplined. I use Richard Foster's book, "A Celebration of Discipline" to dispel this myth and talk about how the spiritual disciplines can help us to deepen our relationship with God.

Bible References for further study:

Simple worship (2 Chronicles 7:14); What God wants (Isaiah 1:12-17); Pure religion (James 1:26-27); Traditions of Men (Matthew 15:1-20, Matthew 23:1-39,Mark 7:6-9); Repentance prayers (Psalm 51, Psalm 32); Repentance from dead works (Hebrews 6:1, 9:14); The Living God (Jeremiah 10:10, Matthew 16:16, Daniel 6:26, John 6:57); Put down heavy burdens (Psalm 55:22, Matthew 11:28-30, 1 Peter 5:6-7, Isaiah 41:10); God's children (Galatians 4:6, Romans 8:14, John 1:12, 1 John 3:1-2, Matthew 5:9, Galatians 3:26); Fear of the Lord (Job 28:28, Luke 1:50, Proverbs 19:23, Psalm 25:14, Psalm 34:9, 2 Corinthians 7:1); God sustains universe (Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:17, Job 33:4, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 1 Chronicles 16:30, Psalm 104:5, Psalm 22:28); End of Everything (Matthew 10:28, Revelation 21:1-27, 2 Peter 3:10, Matthew 24:35, Isaiah 51:6); Jesus Feeds 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21); My Peace I give to you (John 14:27); Mary Magdalene Demons (Luke 8:2); Peter's denial (Luke 22:54-62); Beloved Disciple (John 13:23, 19:26); Exodus; David on the run (1 Samuel); Israel and Judah Saga (1 & 2 Kings); Paul's Conversion (Acts 9 and Galatians 1 and 2); Tests the spirts ( 1 John 4:1-6)

Other Books:

A Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

• How Does Repentance Help You Transform?
• Abide In Me You Tube Channel

In this week's episode I discuss the connection between idols and morals. Idolatry may seem like an outdated concept to many, but we all have idols that can take the place of God in our lives. I talk about modern day idols and the morality that is born out of following them. I speak about why idolatry is seen as one of the worse sins and how it is linked to modern New Age practices.

Bible references:

Exile due to Idolatry (2 Kings 17:7); Idol Worship/Child Sacrifice (2 Kings 17:15-17); Isaiah - Fortune Telling (2:6), Mediumship (8:19), Prophesying Illusions (30:9,10,11), Idols Ridiculed (41:23, 44:9), Wearied by Many Counsels (47:12-15), Slaughter of Children (57:4-5); Jeremiah - False Prophets Loved by People (5:30-31), Peace, Peace (6:14), Valley of Slaughter (7:31, 19:4&5), Host of Heaven (8:2), Queen of Heaven (44:16-19), Men with Idols Stupid (51:17); Ezekiel - Woman Who Capture Souls (13:18-21); 1st & 2nd Commandments (Exodus 20:3-5); Witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28); Divine Council Rebuked (Psalm 82); Fall Of Angels (Genesis 1:7); Sons of God (Job 38:7); Other gods (Psalms 58, 82, 86, 89, 95, 96, 97, 135, 136, 138); Satan in Divine Council (Job 1:1-12); Other gods Put Over Nations (Deuteronomy 32:8); Division of Humanity After Babel/Flood (Genesis 11:1-9); Golden Calf (Exodus 32:1-6); Laws Against Divination (Deuteronomy 18:10-14 & Galatian 5:19-21); Satan Angel of Light (2 Corinthians 11:14); Worship of Angels (Colossians 2:18); Angles Deliver False Gospel (Galatians 1:8); One Mediator is Christ (1 Timothy 2:5); Christ Mediator of New Covenant (Hebrews 8:1-9); One Instructor is Christ (Matthew 23:11); Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:9); False Prophets & Teachers (2 Peter 2:1-22, Matthew 7:15:20, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Colossians 2:8) God Not Silent (Psalm 50:3); John 3:19 (People Love Darkness); Seek My Face (2 Chronicles 7:14); God's Provision (Matthew 6:25-34); El Shaddai & El Elyon (Psalm 91); Haggar & El Roi, (Genesis 16).

Other Books:

A Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster

• Icon Veneration a Protestant Critique - Dr Gavin Ortlund (1 hour)
• Idols and "The Chosen" with Jonathan Pageau and Ruslan (13 mins)
• Orthodox Christian Explains Veneration of Icons - Jonathan Pageau (30 mins)
• Psychiatrist Convinced that Demons are Real - Dr Richard Gallagher (1.5 Hours)
• Kat Von D on Becoming a Christian from Occult Witchcraft (1 hour)
• New Age to Jesus - Demon Possessed Witch Saved by Christ (2 hours)
• Dangers of New Age Practices - Angela Ucci (1 hour)
• Four Reasons to Leave the New Age - Doreen Virtue (17 mins)
• Abide In Me You Tube Channel

In this week's episode, I begin to explore what "The Gospel" is and why we should care about it. The word "Gospel" means "good news" and the Merriam Webster dictionary describes it as "the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation." It tells us who Christ is, what it means to be in the Kingdom of God and how we can be saved.

Unfortunately, many people are apathetic towards this message today, either because they think they've heard it all before or because they feel it is irrelevant. But is it? Jesus tells us we need to believe in him to be saved (John 10:9) and this leads us to ask what this means? The word "saved" can be translated "rescued" or "healed" but from what? I start to answer this question by talking about our human nature, the presence of evil, the power of sin and how Christ can help us to overcome them all.

This week is packed with Bible references but we are only just scratching the surface of the gospel message. I will go into more depth on the meaning of Jesus' atoning sacrifice in future episodes. Firstly, we need to understand why this message is still vital for us to understand today.

Bible references:

The Gospel

Christ Died For Us (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 5:6-8, 1 John 2:2, Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24, Mark 10:45, 1 Timothy 2:6, Hebrews 9:14, 9:22 9:28, 10:10, Philippians 2:5-8); Jesus' Resurrection (John 11:25-26, Romans 6:9-11, 10:9-10, John 20, Luke 24, Philippians 3:20-21, John 6:47, 1 Corinthians 15:26, Revelation 1:18); All Authority Given to Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20, Hebrews 1;2, Colossians 1:18, Daniel 7:13-14); Jesus Defeats Devil (1 John 3:8, Acts 10:38, Hebrews 2:14-15, Colossians 1:13, 2:15, John 12:31, John 16:11); Jesus is King of Kings (Revelation 17:14, 19:16, 1 Timothy 6:15, Psalm 136:3)

Paul in Areopagus (Acts 17); New Heavens & New Earth (Isaiah 65:17-19, Revelation 21, 2 Peter 3:13); Cain & Abel (Genesis 4); Human Wickedness & The Flood (Genesis 6-9), Abraham Nations/Priests (Genesis 12:3, 17:1-8, 18:18, 22:18, Exodus 19:6, 1 Peter 2:9) Jesus Way,Truth, Life (John 14:6); Believe in Jesus/No Death (John 11:26); Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18, Colossians 1:19-20, Romans 5:8-11, Ephesians 2:13-17); The Incarnation (Philippians 2:5-8, John 1:14, Colossians 1:5, 2:9, Hebrews 1 &2, John 10:30, 14:9); Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23); Jesus Paid Price for Sins (Colossians 1:14, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:2, Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24 & 3:8, John 3:16-17, Galatians 3:13, Matthew 20:28, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Romans 8:3); Jesus New Temple (John 2:19–21); We Are Temple of Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:4-5, Acts 2, Joel 2:28, John 14:15-31 & 20:19-31); Forgiveness Through Humans (John 20:23); Sheep Gone Astray (Isaiah 53:6); Parable of Lost Sheep (Luke 15); Jesus Good Shepherd (John 10); Powers and Principalities (Ephesians 6, Colossians 2:15, Ephesians 1:21); Father of Lies (John 8); You Are Gods (Genesis 3); Last Will Be First (Mark 10:35-35); Jesus Came to Serve (Matthew 2:28); Others More Important than Self (Philippians 2:3, 1 Corinthians 10:24); Satan Ruler of this World (1 John 5:19, Luke 4:6); Ruler of this World Has Been Judges (John 14:30 & 16:11); Satan Falling From Heaven (Luke 10:17); Prince of World Cast Out (12:31); Lying Smooth Voice, Jeremiah 6:14, Isaiah 30:10); Renewal and Regeneration (Romans 12, Titus 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 26:26, John 3); Wages of Sin is Death (Romans 6:23); Dead in Sins (Ephesians 2:1); God of Justice (Isaiah 30:18, Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 33:4-5, Jeremiah 9:24, Luke 18:7-8, Matthew 12:18); God and Truth (John 17:17, Proverbs 12:22, Psalm 119:160, John 18:37, John 8:31-32; Father's Discipline (Hebrews 12:5-11, Job 5:17, James 1:2, Revelation...

In this week's episode I talk about forgiveness, sin, repentance and free will. Did Jesus teach universal forgiveness, or are there things we need to do to receive it? Are we to forgive those people who are unrepentant? Will Jesus forgive those who don't believe in Him? Are there some things that are unforgivable?

Bible references:

Matthew 18:21-25 (Seventy Times Seven); Matthew 5:38-40 (Turn Other Cheek); Matthew 5:44 (Love Enemies); Matthew 6:9-13 (Lord's Prayer); Matthew 7:3-5 (Judge Not); Matthew 18:21-35 (Parable Unforgiving Servant); Luke 15:11-32 (Parable Prodigal Son); 1 Timothy 1:15 (Christ to Save Sinners); 1 Timothy 2:4 (All to be Saved); Jeremiah 32:27 (Anything to Hard for Me); 1 John 8-10 (No Sin, then Deceived); Matthew 18:6 (Mill Stone - Sea); Matthew 25:31-46 (Sheep vs Goats); Matthew 5:22 & Matthew 5:29 (Hell-Gehenna); Matthew 7:21 (I Never Knew You); Adam & Eve Fall (Genesis 3); The Flood (Genesis 6-9); Sodom on Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19); John 3 (Born of Spirit); Numbers 21:4-9) Bronze Snake; Psalm 103 (Bless the Lord O My Soul)

• Scriptures That Show Jesus Will Save All - Evangelical Universalist Forum (5 min read)
• Sin (Khata) Missing the Mark - The Bible Project Video (5 mins)
• What is Gehenna? Meaning in the Bible (Article, 10 min read)
• Abide In Me You Tube Channel

In this week's episode I talk about why many people who are sincerely seeking God do not find Him. I talk about unconscious barriers that may keep us from experiencing God's presence; the reason why we need to examine our expectations of God; and what God requires from those who seek Him.

Bible References:

Book of Job; Paul's Conversion, Acts 9:1-19; Whoever would draw near to God, Hebrews 11:6; Adam & Eve's Unearned Wisdom, Genesis 3; God's Higher ays, Isaiah 55:8-9; Lose Life to Find It, Matthew 10:39; Be Not Wise in Your Own Eyes, Proverbs 3:5-8; Become a New Creation, 2 Corinthians 5:17 & Ephesians 4:22-24; Sell Your Possession to Follow Man, Matthew 19:21-24; Don't Be of This World, John 17:14-16, John 15:19, Romans 12:1-2, 1 John 2-15-17, John 18:36; ; 10 Commandments, Exodus 20; Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7; Noah's Ark, Abraham's Promise, Moses Exodus, Book of Jonah; You Ask Wrongly, James 4:1-3; Repentance Prayer, Psalm 51; I Find it to be Law, Romans 7:21; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Lord is My Shepherd, Psalm 23.

Other Books

Return of the God Hypothesis; Three Scientific Discoveries That Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe - Stephen C. Meyer

Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design - Stephen C Meyer

Cosmic Chemistry; Do God and Science Mix? - John C. Lennox

The Devil's Delusion; Atheism and it's Scientific Pretensions - David Berlinski

The Language of God: A Scientist Provides Evidence for Belief - Francis Collins

Beyond the Cosmos: The Transdimensionality of God - Hugh Ross

Other external videos and links are listed below:

• The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence of Belief in God - Francis Collins at Caltech (1 hour)
• What Does God Want? (30 mins)
• Atheist and Christian Dialogue on Divine Hiddenness - Gavin Ortlund and Justin Schieber (1 hr 20)
• Response to Divine Hiddenness Argument - Gavin Ortlund (1 hour)
• Divine Hiddenness Argument - Alex O'Connor (10 mins)
• Science and Mathematics Point to a Creator not Atheism - John Lennox & Eric Metaxas (15 mins)
• Hitchens and Dawkins Impressed by Fine Tuning Argument (2 mins)
• The Most Persistent Objection to the Fine Tuning Argument - W.L Craig (4 mins)
• 10 Questions on the Fine Tuning Argument - Stephen C Meyer & Sean McDowell (1 hour)
• Fine-Tuning and the Origins of the Universe - Stephen C Meyer (18 mins)
• Is God a Delusion? - W.L. Craig and Lewis Wolpert, Full Debate
• Isn't God No More Than a Special Computer - William Lane Craig (2 mins)
• Arguments for a Personal Cause of the Universe - William Lane Craig (3 mins)
• Expelled: No Intelligence (Design) Allowed - Full Documentary - Ben Stein
• A New Humanity ( New Creation) - Tim Mackie Lecture on Ephesians
• God Does Exist (Debate) - John Lennox at the Oxford Union
• Abide In Me You Tube...

In this week's podcast I talk about the difference between having knowledge about God versus knowing God. Why do so many people run away from having a relationship with their Creator? Are they scared of being judged, or angry about the suffering they have endured? I discuss how different personality types seek to know God and also delve into the reality of heaven and hell.

Bible reference:

Ephesians 2:9 (Whole fullness of Deity), Psalm 139 (You have searched me), Psalm 18:25-26 (Devouring Fire), Revelation 20:14 (Lake of Fire), Hebrews 1:1-3 (Jesus), John 1:1-4 (Jesus, The Word), John 14:6 (I Am the Way), Ecclesiastes 3:11 (Eternity), Isaiah 65:17-25 (New Heavens/New Earth), Psalm 42:7 (Deep calls to Deep)

Other Books:

Beyond the Cosmos: The Trans-dimensionality of God - Hugh Ross

The Great Divorce - C.S Lewis

Other external videos and links are listed below:

• Fight Against Child Slavery & the Sex Trade | Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard
• Abide In Me You Tube Channel