Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
The Truth Of The Matter is - Episode: 154 A Timely Word
36 Plays5 months ago
The normal Approach to the podcast for this week changed a little bit. The lead is usually a testimony in which I share: two or three ways the lord has blessed me last week and I use that to get us started. Right after We pray and then we usually jump right into the Word. However this time it was intentional because I thought it would actually be more beneficial if focus was on how the Word of God comes to life and how it’s alive everyday in every situation and Circumstances for you to discern, observe and apply. Tune in to see the direction this ends up. Think about what the Word provides and why there needs to be much more Emphasis on it. This week is a bonus.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Welcome
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to the Truth of the Matters podcast. I'm your host, Jonathan, and this is episode 154. First, let's begin by recognizing and appreciating all of our new and consistent listeners.
00:00:25
Speaker
Of course, we thank you all in advance for continuing to press play, of course, at your own convenience. Thank you for tuning in. And I pray that this podcast, regardless of the episode that you discover, that you run across, that you press play on, can in fact be a blessing to you.
Opening Prayer for Guidance
00:00:43
Speaker
So let's begin with prayer. Heavenly Father in Jesus name, we thank you for another day, another opportunity to live life. We thank you for grace.
00:00:55
Speaker
and your mercy. We thank you for life and we know that the life that we have is because of you. Lord, open up our eyes to see the favor that we have because of you. Lord, open up our ears to hear the truth about your word. Lord, open up our hearts to be responsive to all things that are of you, Lord.
00:01:24
Speaker
Lord, open up our minds to understand your truth because your truth is the only thing that matters here on the truth and the matter is. Lord, your truth is the only thing that matters because of its power to set us free and to guide us, to direct us, and ultimately to show us the love that you have for us. If you agree and find these statements to be true,
00:01:55
Speaker
Please confirm by saying in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Personal Reflections on Blessings
00:02:00
Speaker
So the normal pattern that most of you have heard on this podcast, if you are a avid listener, is that I lead with two or three ways that the Lord has blessed me the previous week. And I use that to get us started. And then right after we pray, then we usually jump right into the Word.
00:02:24
Speaker
However, today is different and I'm gonna tell you why. One of the reasons that's my lead is because when it comes to the discussions that I intend for us to have, I believe that through the experience that I have during the week, it can be very instrumental in teaching, not just me something, but you or something who have a desire to learn something from what I have to say.
00:02:53
Speaker
In fact, in the midst of these situations and circumstances, with the assistance of God's word, you can find, you can find, you can find a word in seizing that can be timely for you personally.
The Role of God's Word in Life
00:03:16
Speaker
Now, what helps this come about has everything to do with your relationship with his word.
00:03:23
Speaker
Your relationship with his word is not only very important, but it should be foundational. And if you are in the word regularly, that I hope you are, your ability to discern and see will be much more open up more and more as you implement his word and make it a part of who you are.
00:03:50
Speaker
As life continues to happen, you will start to see how the word comes to life and how it's alive and well every day in most situations and circumstances. And the insight, the knowledge, the wisdom is filtered through the lens that you have that's shaped by God and his word. And that comes about through observation.
00:04:20
Speaker
Now think about what the word of God provides. Direction, warnings. It gives you a heads up about people, their level decorum, their behavior. You pick up on benevolent and benevolent spirits that's operating in people. Whether they are believers or not, you can instantly discern it.
00:04:49
Speaker
The word provides blessings and curses that come due to obedience or lack thereof. The word explains why individuals either you or others reach rock bottom. The word
00:05:07
Speaker
subject us to the importance of preparation into new predicaments along with a standard of living that's expected of us if we desire to live like Christ.
Life Stages and Divine Direction
00:05:22
Speaker
And that standard of living is expected of us and plays a huge role in the possibility of the progression of stages that each believer
00:05:37
Speaker
goes through. We live our lives on levels, we arrive in stages, and it happens in seasons, and it's not the same for everybody. The truth of the matter is, the importance of reflection can never be underestimated when it comes to, again, the word of God.
Bonus Episode Introduction
00:05:58
Speaker
So today is actually a bonus episode. Normally when it comes to this segment, I give you a glimpse and then I cut it short. But today I want to expand it and show you the relationship that you can have with the word of God and that relationship that you can have with the word of God.
00:06:22
Speaker
I want you to see how that can have you thinking as you go through life every day while encountering. The encountering that you have with others and situations which in return can lead you to have open eyes, an open mind, a responsive heart,
00:06:44
Speaker
along with intentional and strategic reminders that I believe God wants you to be well aware of. Now, the Lord has blessed me this week in two ways. And I believe these ways are great reminders. The first is the mindset you ought to have when you believe
00:07:12
Speaker
in and serve a God who is big.
God's Greatness and Control
00:07:22
Speaker
The first is the mindset you ought to have when you believe in and serve a God who is big. Now based on scripture, there's a literal aspect of God being big. There is a symbolic aspect of God being big.
00:07:43
Speaker
And then there's a mental aspect of how God, at least in your worldview, can be seen as being big. Now I'm sure that the most of you who have gone to church and are familiar with hymns and familiar with songs that you were taught are familiar with the song, he's got the whole world in his hands, right?
00:08:13
Speaker
So I want us to take a look at some of the lyrics in that song. And what I want to do is I want to show you how even in songs, they can be inspired by the word of God or they can point back to the word of God. Most songs are inspired by the book of Psalms. They are inspired by believers who are going through things or have reached
00:08:45
Speaker
a level of success and therefore they want to give the glory and the honor and a praise to God who rightfully deserves it.
00:09:01
Speaker
So let's look at one of the verses. It says, he's got the rain and the winds in his hands. He's got the rain and the winds in his hands. This meaning I believe can be self-explanatory, but for those who don't believe it or don't believe so, in my humble opinion, it means that God
00:09:29
Speaker
is in control of nature itself. Now the text that we have that supports this is the gospel of Matthew chapter eight. And we're going to look at verses 23 through 27, English standard version. It says, and when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him and behold, there rose a great storm on the sea so that the boat was being swayed by the waves.
00:09:59
Speaker
but he was asleep. And when they went and woke him saying, save us Lord, we are perishing. He said to them, why are you afraid? Oh, you have little faith. Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the seas. And there was a great calm. And the men marveled saying, what sort of man is this that even the winds and the sea obey him?
00:10:32
Speaker
Another great passage that I think about is the passage in James that he causes the rain and the sun to shine on the good and the bad. Or he causes the rain and the sun to shine on the righteous and the unrighteous. This is what God does.
00:11:03
Speaker
The next set of lyrics to the song says, and I put this together, but it was obviously separated in his own course. He's got the tiny babies in
Understanding God's Omnipresence
00:11:14
Speaker
his hands. He's got you, me, brothers and sisters in his hands.
00:11:24
Speaker
And what I understand about this is that this was mean that his eyes are on you, me, a brother, a sister. And I believe all of us at one point of another can fit into this category. So what am I saying? God has his eyes on the babies, on you, on me, on a brother or a sister.
00:11:55
Speaker
The passage that highlights this for me is Psalms 121 verses seven through eight. And we're going to read this in the NLT and it says, the Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go both now and forever. I read it again. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
00:12:25
Speaker
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go both now and forever. Now, when you hear this song, and if you haven't, I encourage you to check it out. Genuinely, you're probably, you're probably going to picture this differently from the next person, right? We all have a mind and thoughts and ideas, and it's not the same, but the concept is that God is in control.
00:12:54
Speaker
One of my favorite statements to say is nothing ever occurs to God. Nothing ever occurs to God because He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere He's present. The three armies are omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
00:13:21
Speaker
We have a passage of scripture like Luke chapter 12 verse six to seven, read it in the amplified version. And this highlights God as an all knowing God are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins. Yet not one of them has ever been forgotten in the presence of God.
00:13:46
Speaker
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid. You are far more valuable than many spirals or sparrows. What's beautiful about this passage is that God who happens to be all knowing knows the price of spirals or spirals and how many are sold in a given day, in a given year, in a given month.
00:14:14
Speaker
This is how in tune God is with what's going on in your life, my life, and many other lives. The rest of the verse goes on to speak about the hairs on your head. This speaks to the detailed aspect of God. He knows your makeup. How does he know your makeup? Because he created you. He made you.
00:14:43
Speaker
With everything going on in the world, the scripture provides us insight to God, who knows the little things about you, even the intimate things that you never tell other people and that you most likely don't know about yourself. This tells you how all knowing and all powerful God is. So many different things he's balancing that he's aware of.
00:15:12
Speaker
And think to yourselves how hard it is to balance multiple ideas and concepts in your mind. I don't doubt that there are some who are unique and have that capability. But imagine how extensive and deep God is in his own right and no comparison to any man or woman on this earth.
00:15:39
Speaker
It's a passage of scripture in Matthew chapter six verse eight that says, for the father knows what you need before you ask him. There's another passage of scripture that I think about in the gospel of John where he knew what ideas and thoughts were in man's minds. This speaks about how in depth and knowledgeable God is.
00:16:08
Speaker
even before you've thought it or completed the thought. Again, this is evidence that God is very in tune to you on a personal level, which in my opinion can baffle me because I find it amazing and breathtaking that God is so mindful of me.
00:16:35
Speaker
Sometimes I get chills when I think about what Davis said. What is it about man that you're so mindful of him? Because not only will we create in his image, but that he knows everything about you and who you will be in the future, which is why it's important that you ought to go to him because by going to him provides you the opportunity to know
00:17:04
Speaker
what will bring about the most success in your life when it comes to flourishing and being who God created you to be. So, so far I've spoken about His all-knowing attributes. Let's cover the other two. His presence everywhere is undeniable.
Faith in Big Requests
00:17:25
Speaker
No matter where you go, you cannot hide from God.
00:17:28
Speaker
which means his all-knowing qualities extend to his awareness of where you are at all times. Psalms 139 7 through 10 says, and I'm gonna read this in the Amplified, it says, where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I send to heaven, you are there.
00:17:54
Speaker
If I make my bed in Siloam or hell, the netherworld, the place of the dead, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there your hand will leave me and your right hand will take hold of me. The truth of the matter is believing in a big God
00:18:24
Speaker
with no limitations, allows you to think big, not small. You can request unthinkable things, and through the avenue of faith, it becomes very much possible.
00:18:51
Speaker
Luke chapter 18 verse 27 says, whatever is impossible for people is possible with God. Whatever is impossible for people is possible for God.
00:19:09
Speaker
One of my favorite passages is Ephesians chapter three, verse 20 to 21. It says, now to him who was able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen. The amazing part about what just happened is the word of God.
00:19:41
Speaker
was expressed and it meant that much to me that I saw the connections where I was reminded of who God is and why I serve him and why he's deserving of all the praise, the accolades, the honor and the glory.
00:20:07
Speaker
The Word of God, the Scriptures validate the character and essence of who God is. It is because of my relationship with His Word, all I need to do is reflect upon it. And what I knew due to reading His Word is that I was able to receive
00:20:32
Speaker
Time and time again, heartfelt words from God in season to encourage me to make a request to God to lift me up in moments where it was hard.
00:20:53
Speaker
And what this word does is that it encourages me to make a request that I want from God in confidence and in faith. Book of James chapter one verse six says, but let him act in faith with no doubting. For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
00:21:23
Speaker
This is the power and the uniqueness and the value of being a Christian that is knowledgeable of what God has to say and the messaging that He constantly provides us in times that are definitely accessible if we go and seek Him.
Importance of Knowing God's Word
00:21:52
Speaker
We want to be Christians that are not illiterate, but we want to be Christians that are literate to what he has to say. Because again, that is our foundation. And that is what we need to relate to God, to understand God.
00:22:12
Speaker
To answer questions that only God can answer and he's already answered. It just requires us to go learn of it and then inform ourselves of what God would say, what God would do. What has God said about the issue that we're now going through that many others have gone through. And it's because of this word, it's been provided for us as a guidance tool and a reminder too.
00:22:43
Speaker
The second way the Lord blessed me has everything to do with the ability to exercise patience.
The Power of Patience
00:22:50
Speaker
Simple, but yet extremely powerful. The question that I ask is how patient has God been with us? And the answer is very. He's been very patient with us.
00:23:06
Speaker
So the question asks, how patient should we be with others? And the answer to that should be very, very patient with others. I see this as a very profitable experience or approach. Get it? Probert, profitable. The passage that
00:23:35
Speaker
Want to lean into here is the gospel of Luke chapter 6 and I want to look at verses 39 to 40 and it says then Jesus gave the following illustration Can one blind person lead another? Won't they both fall in a ditch? Students are not greater than their teachers But the student who was fully trained will become like the teacher I use this as a
00:24:07
Speaker
an example of how us as students of his word can read things that Jesus has done, be perplexed about it, but also desire to see the insight that comes along with what was being taught to us in the text and the maturity level of where we are in terms of how we go about acting
00:24:37
Speaker
living out That verse So yesterday when it came to me Working I was picking up a package for someone and what did I do? I exercise extreme Patience now was it patience that I exercise? Calculated no because throughout the day there are times that I become impatient about a lot of things especially traffic and
00:25:07
Speaker
There are times that I'm extremely annoyed because I'm trying to get somewhere and traffic is holding me up. But in this moment, someway, somehow, that wasn't the case. Normally, two minutes is the max in terms of the length I'm willing to wait for a package. If it exceeds that, maybe three minutes, I'll cancel the order.
00:25:35
Speaker
However, yesterday I waited 12 minutes. How did I wait 12 minutes? I don't know. Now the person who I was picking up from, the package that they needed to give me, they totally forgot that they need to give me that package.
00:26:01
Speaker
In fact, the customer on the receiving end called me and asked me was the status of the pickup. And I told them, the person that I was picking up from, they haven't said any, they haven't said anything to me, spend quite some time. So they said go to the house, ring the doorbell. I did.
00:26:30
Speaker
He came out. He stressed how he totally forgot. He was heading out. The phone wasn't near him. And as a result, that explained why he haven't called me back. He hasn't said anything. But get this. Why am I telling you the story? The actual package was a car key.
00:26:58
Speaker
That's what the package was. And somehow some way the customer or the person who was receiving it needed the key. It wasn't until I got the key from the person I was picking up, dropped it off that he told me he locked himself out and couldn't go anywhere. So it appeared that a friend or someone else had the other spirit key.
00:27:30
Speaker
The customer appreciated my patience so much, they took me as a result of it. Now again, was this experience an inconvenience? Absolutely. But sometimes patience is very much appreciated from the recipient and is very much appreciated for you, the one that's actually showing the patience.
00:27:59
Speaker
Being rewarded or not, there's a purpose in carrying out that principle of patience. Remember, the Bible's full of patterns, principles, and precepts. And as I close, I finish with this. I encourage you all to reflect over your week.
Constant Presence of God
00:28:22
Speaker
And by doing so, there's without a doubt that I believe you will be surprised to notice
00:28:29
Speaker
how the presence of the Lord is with you, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. So please reflect and pay close attention to the details that are happening in your life on the daily because God's presence is in there for sure. Remember, what helps this come about has everything to do with your relationship with His word.
00:28:56
Speaker
If you are in the Word regularly, your ability to discern and see will become normal. You will start to see how alive that Word really is and how it can transform you in ways like nothing else can. Of course next week I will pick back up where we left off as we continue through the Gospel of Matthew series.
00:29:23
Speaker
But this week I felt that these two stories, albeit simple, can be just as impactful and helpful when it comes to us living life on a regular basis. These small, simple things should not be overlooked.
00:29:45
Speaker
We all have these small, simple things. And if we are reading the Bible, His word intentionally, His words will calm us. His words will guide us. His words will direct us. His words will bring comfort to us. And as a result, we will respond accordingly.
00:30:07
Speaker
And we will respond the way in which he wants us to respond. And that is with the mind of Christ. Not just others, but to ourselves. We have to allow that word of God to grow in us. And by doing that, it starts with being familiarized with it. And through that familiarity, we can see how amazing God's word truly is.
00:30:35
Speaker
Now, without further ado, of course, it's time for devotional time.
Active Nature of God's Word
00:30:40
Speaker
And what better way than to choose a passage like Hebrews 4, 12, amplified version. And it says, for the word of God is living and active, full of power, making it operative, energizing, and effective. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit, the completeness of a person.
00:31:05
Speaker
and of both joints and marrow, the deepest parts of our nature, exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the hearts. Nothing to add here for the whole message today covers this whole verse as we relate it back to us being intentional, as well as us being mindful and reflective about how the word can be instrumental
00:31:35
Speaker
and amazing to anyone who reads it, appreciates it, accepts it as true, and makes it foundational a part of their life as they live this journey out through Christ. So we close out in prayer by saying this, Lord, continue to talk to me.
Closing Prayer and Farewell
00:31:53
Speaker
For it is my job to have eyes, ears, heart, and mind receptive to your messaging. Whether that be through people, through music, songs, through situations, through mistakes made by others. Let us always be open to being reminded because we all tend to forget things. But there's one thing we shouldn't and never forget is that Jesus is Lord.
00:32:25
Speaker
He's God and He's our savior. Therefore, in Jesus' name, we pray this. Amen. And of course, until next time, the Truth of the Matters podcast audience, be careful, be vigilant and watchful as we depart from one another, but never from the presence of the Lord. Have a good one.