In The Word Audio Podcast

Title:  God’s delays and not always God’s denials, Part 3 (Episode 14a)   Description:  The Lord never promised believers freedom from sickness or suffering.   Show notes: It is certainly a normal thing for a Christian to ask God for deliverance from sickness and pain. However, please know always the following:   God has not obligated Himself to heal every believer whenever he prays; but He has encouraged us to bring our burdens and needs to Him. Paul did not know whether this “thorn in the flesh” was a temporary testing from God, or a permanent experience he would have to learn to live with.   There are those who want us to believe that an afflicted Christian is a disgrace to God. “If you are obeying the Lord and claiming all that you have in Christ,” they say, “then you will never be sick.” I have never found that teaching in the Bible. The Lord never promised believers freedom from sickness or suffering.   Paul did not receive “instant healing” and maybe not any physical he

The Lord never promised believers freedom from sickness or suffering.  It is certainly a normal thing for a Christian to ask God for deliverance from sickness and pain. However, please know always the following:   God has not obligated Himself to heal every believer whenever he prays; but He has encouraged us to bring our burdens and needs to Him. Paul did not know whether this “thorn in the flesh” was a temporary testing from God, or a permanent experience he would have to learn to live with.   There are those who want us to believe that an afflicted Christian is a disgrace to God. “If you are obeying the Lord and claiming all that you have in Christ,” they say, “then you will never be sick.” I have never found that teaching in the Bible. The Lord never promised believers freedom from sickness or suffering.   Paul did not receive “instant healing” and maybe not any physical healing at all. He was not alone. The same was true for others, such as Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25) and Elisha (2 Kin

The mystery of human suffering will not be solved completely in this life.    Sometimes we suffer simply because we are human. Our bodies change as we grow older, and we are susceptible to the normal problems of life. The same body that can bring us pleasures can also bring us pains. The same family members and friends that delight us can also break our hearts. Sometimes we suffer because we are foolish and disobedient to the Lord. Our own rebellion may afflict us, or the Lord may see fit to chasten us in His love (Heb. 12:3). King David suffered greatly because of his sin; the consequences were painful and so was the discipline of God (see 2 Sam. 12:1-22; Ps. 51). In His grace, God forgives our sins; but in His sovereignty, He must permit us to reap what we sow. Sometimes suffering is a tool God uses for building godly character (Rom. 5:1-5). Certainly Paul was a man of rich Christian character because he permitted God to mold and make him in the painful experiences of his life.  

God permitted Satan to afflict Paul, just as He permitted Satan to afflict Job (see Job 1-2). While we do not fully understand the origin of evil in this universe, or all the purposes God had in mind when He permitted evil to come, we do know that God controls evil and can use it even for His own glory. Satan cannot work against a believer without the permission of God. Everything that the enemy did to Job and Paul was permitted by the will of God. 2 Corinthians 12:7 - 10 (NASB) 7Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!  8Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.  9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  10Therefore I am well content

Today we breakdown passages that teach us how to love the Lord and cherish His Word.   Hosea 4:6 (NASB) 6    My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.     Because you have rejected knowledge,     I also will reject you from being My priest.     Since you have forgotten the law of your God,     I also will forget your children.   Ephesians 6:14 - 17 (NASB) 14Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  16in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  

Today we talk about the joy of knowing and living the Word of God. 2 Peter 1:3 (NASB) 3seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.      2 Peter 1:5 - 8 (NASB) 5Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,  6and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,  7and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.  8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.    BBC’s In the Word Podcasts on Social Media Apple iTunes Audio Podcast https://itun.es/us/MdUUhb.c   Believer's Bible Church on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/believers.b.church   BBC on Sou

Today we discuss how the Word works in the lives of believers. We point examples of effective living through the daily study and application of God’s Word. Colossians 1:9 - 12 (NASB) 9For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,  10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;  11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously  12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.   Ephesians 4:15 - 16 (NASB) 15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,  16from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies,

Today I discuss work vs. worship. Mary and Martha are often contrasted as though each believer must make a choice: be a worker like Martha or a worshiper like Mary. It seems evident that the Lord wants each of us to imitate Mary in our worship and Martha in our work. Blessed are the balanced! Few things are as damaging to the Christian life as trying to work for Christ without taking time to commune with Christ. “For without Me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Mary chose the better part, the part that could not be taken from her. She knew that she could not live “by bread alone” (Matt. 4:4).   The key is to have the right priorities: Jesus Christ first, then others, then ourselves. It is vitally important that we spend time “at the feet of Jesus” every single day, letting Him share His Word with us.    The most important part of the Christian life is the part that only God sees.   Luke 10:38 - 42 (NASB) 38Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha w

Today we discuss the desire to move from people needing God (when in trouble), to choosing God, to, ultimately, loving God!”   John 21:17 (NASB) 17He said* to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said* to him, “Tend My sheep.   Matthew 10:28 (NASB) 28“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Today we discuss God’s mercy and grace during our trials and tribulations. He is faithful and will not test us above our ability to be successful. We should not measure ourselves by other Christians, but by the Word of God, because not everyone who grows old, grows up!  The only greatness to which the Christian can ever aspire is that of being the slave of God. Psalms 119:25 (NLT) I lie in the dust; revive me by your word.    Job 1:21 - 22 (NASB)   21He said,  “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,  And naked I shall return there.  The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the LORD.”  22Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.    James 1:2 - 5 (NASB)   2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,   3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.   4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask

Today we share some pointers on finding and following God’s Will for your everyday life. The workings of God’s providence are indeed awesome, and this ought to be a great source of encouragement to us in the difficult circumstances of life. “He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’” (Dan. 4:35) The Lord had His divine purposes to fulfill, and “There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord” (Prov. 21:30, nkjv).  

We believe that God's Word is clear and is the final authority on everything. Hebrews 4:12 - 13 (NASB) 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Psalms 119:89 - 91 (NASB) 89 Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. 91 They stand this day according to Your ordinances, For all things are Your servants.  

In this podcast, we breakdown scriptures that deal with the scientific accuracy of the Bible. Matthew 19:4 (NASB) 4 And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, Genesis 1:1 (NASB) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Hebrews 1:1 - 3 (NASB) 1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Today we discuss why the Bible is accurate. We delve into Jesus' view of scriptural factual inerrancy. Please read: John 17:17 (NASB) 17"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Matthew 22:29 (NASB) 29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. God's Word is infallible according to Jesus in John 10:35 (NASB) 35"If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),

In this podcast, we talk about why we believe the Holy Bible is God's Word. We unpack 2 Timothy 2:15 and discuss the importance of believing the Word and living the Word daily.