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The Truth Of The Matter is - Episode: 118 Special Guest -Terry Lee Diamond III
31 Plays2 years ago
'The Truth Of The Matter is podcast is' all about providing an honest, contextual, historicized, Philosophical and Psychological view of the Bible through the use of Hermeneutics, while sharing some personal experiences from myself Daniel and on occasion our guest. We believe in applying God’s word to everyday life. Today's conversation will be different. We got a chance to speak with Terry Lee Diamond III, who was born and raised in Stockton, California. He went from being homeless, on meth and heroin to finding Jesus Christ and being saved. Terry has 2 sons, Braylan & Terry. In his spare time, he writes Christian rap as a hobby and enjoys dialogue about the Word of God.
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction & Audience Acknowledgment
00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to a special edition of the Truth of the Matterist podcast. I'm your host, Jonathan, and I'm here with our special guests. Well, before we introduce and welcome him in appropriately, let's begin by recognizing and appreciating all our new and consistent listeners.
00:00:27
Speaker
We thank you all in advance for continuing to press play at your own convenience.
Introducing Terry Lee Diamond III
00:00:32
Speaker
Now, if you're a first time listener of the Truth of the Matters podcast, we want you to know that this podcast is all about providing an honest, contextual, hysterized, philosophical, psychological view of the Bible through the use of hermeneutics while sharing some personal experiences with myself, Daniel, and our guests. Today, we hope after you will hear a new voice,
00:00:56
Speaker
one in which who has been walking with Christ for some time now and has learned from their mistakes and whatnot and the wisdom that they can depart to our audience today that she would be blessed, inspired, and motivated to press on.
00:01:14
Speaker
You know, we also believe on the truth of the matter is that we should be providing practical ways of applying God's word every day.
The Power of Christian Facebook Groups
00:01:24
Speaker
And with that being said, we're going to invite our special guest on Terry Lee Diamond, the third. How are you today, sir? Hey, good, good. Thanks for having me. Yeah. OK. Do you remember how we met? I think it was through a Facebook
00:01:44
Speaker
Yeah, like a Facebook page, like a, you know, a community of Christian. Yeah. Which goes to show, you know, we want people to know that sometimes you can mean genuine questions online, especially on Facebook. So what can you say are some positive things you have received from being in Facebook groups and some of the things you've learned from that? Well,
00:02:07
Speaker
I like it because I have a habit of scrolling through Facebook a lot. And so what I've done is kind of got myself into a lot of Christian groups so that my mind is always stayed on the things of God, you know, whether I'm being reminded of something or if I'm learning something, you know. And so, yeah, it's been really good for me.
00:02:30
Speaker
And I've learned a lot. There's a lot of debates going on. There's a lot of people choosing sides and it's very interesting. Yeah, I would agree.
Terry's Journey from Addiction to Faith
00:02:41
Speaker
So here is some information about Terry Lee Diamond that many people may not know. He was raised in the hood of Stockton, California. At a point in time, Terry
00:02:51
Speaker
was homeless and was using meth and heroin before the Lord saved him. Terry has two sons, Barlin and Terry. And Terry's spare time, he loves to write Christian rap as a hobby. And he believes that he has a gift to teach in the Word of God. And of course, before we get into your full testimony here on the Truth in the Matters podcast, we believe that leading with prayer is one of the most foundational things we can do, you know, inviting the Holy Spirit into this conversation.
00:03:19
Speaker
Because it's two of us, you know, we can confirm that that is enough for the Holy Spirit to be present. So with that being said, we're going to indulge in prayer.
00:03:30
Speaker
O God in the name of Jesus, Lord, we thank you for this opportunity that you have given us to fellowship with one another. Yes, Lord. Lord, you said any time two or three are gathered in your name, there you are in the midst. So we thank you for our guest, Terry. The Truth of the Matters podcast appreciates the time he set aside to provide us with his personal testimony.
00:03:50
Speaker
Lord, the beautiful thing about testimonies and the beautiful thing about talking and hearing them is that we get to have a sneak peek into their faith walk with you, Lord. Learn about how you've been a blessing to them, just as much as you've been a blessing to us individually. Yeah. Lord, we pray that after this conversation, we have one another. Someone would be encouraged out there. On that Lord, open up
00:04:17
Speaker
Someone's eyes who hasn't been able to see their ears so that you can hear their minds where they can understand In their hearts so that they can receive a word in season from Terry whatever he's open to share Let all who are listening be blessed and leave with a different perspective in life And your word and all in agreement saying in Jesus name we pray Amen
First Encounters with Jesus
00:04:44
Speaker
So Terry, when you look over your life currently and where you were, what are some odd jobs that you've done that you feel have played a pivotal role in your character development but also played a pivotal role in your life moving forward? Like jobs like employment? Yeah, any employment that you've done, yeah.
00:05:06
Speaker
Um, man, I was jumping from job to job since 18, but I would say the most effective was the door-to-door So I used to I was in teen challenge. It's a Christian faith-based Recovery program and that's where Jesus really changed my mind. He changed everything about me Um, but we used to do door-to-door fundraising, you know six days a week eight to ten hour days and I think
00:05:34
Speaker
That was probably the biggest character development because I had to trust God for the quota, for the money. I had to keep the joy of the Lord in it all. It's like I got everything tied in just that one opportunity. And I did door to door for about five years. So it was a lot of time doing it and definitely reaping a harvest of that for sure. What would you say skill wise you learned from that experience?
00:06:03
Speaker
Well, I would say it would be communications, just being able to approach people and communicate and not be in a little shell and being fear because, you know, as a child, I was afraid of public speaking. I was afraid of I was just very shy. And I feel like that weakness of mine became a strength once I.
00:06:23
Speaker
got out there and allowed the Lord to work in that area, you know, just kind of confronting it so that the Lord could strengthen that area. But yeah, definitely communications not being afraid to approach people, you know, not taking anything personal. You know what I'm saying? So yeah, it was definitely in itself very productive.
Struggles and Enlightenment with Scripture
00:06:45
Speaker
Okay, so tell us a little bit about your story. How did you end up submitting yourself to Christ? You know, walk us through it a little
00:06:53
Speaker
Yeah, I'll give you a short testimony. I was born and raised in Stockton, like you said. My parents, they were never married, but I was raised by my stepdad. Now, my family were not, you know, Christian family. I wasn't raised in the church. I wasn't raised in any kind of biblical principles or anything like that. You know, there was a couple of values and morals as far as what not to do.
00:07:22
Speaker
Yeah, so I was definitely unaware of me having a calling, what God says about me and about us. And so all that to me was just...
00:07:32
Speaker
You know, it was foreign to me. And so, you know, at about 13, I started smoking weed, taking Vicodin. By the age 15, I started doing meth and in and out of juvenile hall, you know, home invasions, first degree burglaries, Grand Theft Auto. So there was just a lot of these
00:07:56
Speaker
these little things that I've done, which, you know, I didn't get caught for all of it, but, you know, did some time. And, you know, I never really gave the thought of coming to God or anything like that until age 23. So from about 15 to 23, in and out of juvenile hall, you know, my dad, my stepdad kicked me out, you know, um,
00:08:22
Speaker
And just really living on the streets, like literally and staying at friend's home. And I didn't really cry out to Jesus until I was about 23. And, you know, there was, I was on meth, I was on heroin.
00:08:36
Speaker
At that time, I was 118 pounds, skin and bones, sleeping outside of churches, sleeping outside of banks, just freezing, never eating, you know, what do you like once a week and go down to the, uh, uh, what do you call that? The St. Mary's shelter and get, get some free food. But it was, it was, it was definitely a struggle, but I would say that.
00:09:01
Speaker
You know, when I cried out to Jesus, he, he responded. And I feel like that was when everything changed, you know, um, uh, I'll just give you a short little story. So I was, I went back home to my mom and my stepdad's house and they had kicked me out and it was raining. I had no jacket, nothing. Right. And I just wanted, I just needed help. And so in my life where I felt.
00:09:25
Speaker
that nobody loved me, nobody wanted me just completely exiled. In that moment, I was vulnerable to receive and to experience the power of God. And I remember when they did not let me in, I went on my stepdad's tailgate and just in the rain, just cried, crying out to Jesus, help me, help me. And I literally just felt the presence of God, like his love. And since that moment,
00:09:54
Speaker
I would say that everything has changed, you know, that I went into program at 23, which was teen challenge, started memorizing Bible scriptures, um, not forgetting them, you know, and just, just really educating myself.
Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
00:10:07
Speaker
I believe God has set me apart and really has been educating me in the spirit and what, you know, what he wants to reveal to the world and to me. And so very dysfunctional life in the beginning, just very careless, very loosely didn't really care.
00:10:23
Speaker
about anything, no plans, there was nothing like that. And then Braylon, Braylon was born at the time, actually he was born and then I cried out. I would say that Braylon was definitely a big part of that as well, because for the first time in my life, I was able to think about somebody other than myself. And I believe that Braylon, my oldest son, really deserved more. And so that was a big part too.
00:10:51
Speaker
And also just being miserable, you know, um, but Jesus showed up, he revealed himself. And so it's not, I don't believe because my dad raised me Christian and my mom raised me Christian, nothing like that. You know, I'm not going to just pretend that something's real when it's not, you know, so I needed that encounter with the presence of God, or else I wouldn't be here today. I wouldn't believe Jesus is who he says he is. And so that's kind of like a condensed version, you know? And so, yeah.
Finding Purpose Through Faith
00:11:20
Speaker
Okay, so let me ask you this. When did you hear about Jesus? Do you remember the first time?
00:11:26
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, I do remember this was, I believe my, it was the first time I heard about Jesus. My stepdad had this because at the time I was like 12, 11, 12, he saw bad behavior. Um, you know, I started sneaking my girlfriend in the window. And so I heard about Jesus from a Jehovah's witness about 11 or 12, I would say. Um, and, but.
00:11:53
Speaker
We, we'd had like a little meeting and then the next time they came, I just, I ran out the back door, you know, and hopped the fence and left. So, so it was, that was it. But then after that.
00:12:01
Speaker
you know, I started to hear about Jesus in juvenile hall. And you know, every time, you know, you're in juvie to get out of your cell, you're going to want to do anything but stay in the cell. And so I would go to chapel services in juvie. And just kind of, you know, just just there didn't really learn anything, don't remember anything. I mean, people did pray over me. And so so it could be a combination of all that, you know, it's hard to just pinpoint when exactly
00:12:27
Speaker
Jesus that his name just really, you know was taught, you know, it's hard to remember
00:12:34
Speaker
The reason why actually this is because we are knowledgeable and aware of that there are other faiths out there. And there are some that proclaim that Allah has changed their life or Buddha has changed their life. So it's always interesting that even in being in jewelry, you still have programs
00:12:57
Speaker
that were featured in highlighting Jesus. And I wanted to know at any point where you were at your bottom, did any other belief system appear before you in trying to convince you to change your life at that time?
00:13:13
Speaker
Yeah. So that's, that's, I'm glad you brought that up. No, not one time was I homeless. Did anybody ever approach me about the name of Jesus, about the gospel, about anything, not one time from the time.
00:13:28
Speaker
on the streets ever, you know, being homeless. Not one time has anybody ever approached me. And I think God has allowed me to see that because, you know, he's raising me up to be an evangelist. And I see the need. I've experienced the need. And so, yeah, yeah, that's a good question. Yeah, no, not one time in the seven to eight years. So. OK, so let's talk a little bit about when you dove into scripture. Do you remember the first book of the Bible you read?
00:13:55
Speaker
Um, the first book, well, and juvie, I used to read the Bible in my cell. I think I was in the gospels a lot. I started when I first started, it was the new Testament. I, you know, it started with the gospels and it started reading the, you know, Romans letters.
00:14:12
Speaker
which I found myself not understanding. And so,
Overcoming Personal Struggles Through Faith
00:14:15
Speaker
in my time of, you know, teen challenge and all that time that I was reading the Word and barely beginning to get in the Word as an adult, not as a child, I kept rereading Corinthians and Romans. And after rereading it for so many times, God begins to allow us to understand what we're reading, you know. And so, but first it was the Gospels. It definitely was the Gospels just learning about
00:14:37
Speaker
Jesus, hearing about what he's did and his potential and his life. So what would you say when you started reading that things started clicking for you? What would you say in the passages things started clicking? And let me give you a part two to that question. Why do you think those who enter into the faith in the beginning struggle so much with trying to understand what you're reading?
00:15:05
Speaker
Um, so for your first question, I would, you know, it's really hard to just, just say exactly, you know, what it is or what really clicked. But there's a scripture that says in your light, we, you give us light, you know, there's light. And I feel like when I repented and went into program.
00:15:25
Speaker
You know, everything just started to make sense. And even though I was kind of scattered and it wasn't ultimately have a good understanding of it all, every little scripture I felt like would speak to me. And I think what I did that was very...
00:15:37
Speaker
impactful, and I think that really probably did change a lot is just personalizing it, saying, this is God speaking to me personally, and not just reading it in context, not because I didn't, I still don't really understand a lot of the context, but I know that this word is for me. And so I think, you know, as I'm thinking about it, that would probably be, you know, what really
00:15:57
Speaker
Started to click for me is when just personalizing it like this is God speaking to me right now, you know The second I would say the second question of God asked your second question again I believe so the second question that I asked you was I said When it came to you reading scripture, why do you think so many new believers struggle with the idea of of their understanding of Why do you think they struggle with it?
00:16:23
Speaker
Well, I would say people do struggle with it because they don't, they quit and they don't keep reading. They don't keep learning, right? We kind of want that popcorn that right away, instant, like, right? But God is in the process. He's, he's growing us. It takes time to grow and it takes time to grow and understanding. But there's one scripture that pops out that it says in Proverbs 9 10, it says that, um,
00:16:51
Speaker
For the knowledge, the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Impact of the Bible on Terry's Faith Journey
00:16:57
Speaker
So the knowledge you could say is knowing, the knowing, the information of the Holy One, which is Jesus, is understanding. It brings understanding. And so the more we learn, the more we read, the more we read the Word of God,
00:17:11
Speaker
the more we're gonna understand it. But if we read it for a week and then quit, we're not gonna get that understanding that we need. I believe it's an underrated gift of God, but it takes us to also partner with him and read. You know what I mean?
00:17:24
Speaker
Yeah, because I was going to say that verse you just mentioned, Proverbs nine, ten. I don't know what translations you're reading that in, but I've read the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And our word fear there means reverence to have respect for someone or something. So in order to have access to that knowledge, reverence towards God is what allows your understanding to be opened up. So interesting. I don't know. Do you do you know what translation you was looking at? Yeah, let me let me let me see Proverbs nine.
00:18:04
Speaker
Okay, and I got the first part. Okay. Yeah, you got the first part. Yeah, we got it together. That was good. Yeah.
00:18:13
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. So, because I always use that verse in relation to when people say, well, how can you be a Christian philosopher? And I said, well, being a Christian and being a philosopher is no different than someone saying that they're a Christian doctor.
Dealing with Disappointment in Church Leaders
00:18:28
Speaker
I believe our mission to Christ is first, and then our responsibility in terms of what we choose for our career is second. So I've always said that what allows me to do what I can do
00:18:43
Speaker
is that I have crisis image and burial over me, right? His blood shields me. And on top of that, his image is what protects me and guides me. And then I then walk in with the perspective of doing things crisis way in the context of the environment that I'm placed in.
00:19:02
Speaker
So I said there's no, you know, Christianity and philosophy should never be musically exclusive or diametrically opposed because most Christians have these approach or most philosophers have this approach that the access to God's wisdom has to be separate.
00:19:19
Speaker
from God's stewardship and guidance. And I said, that's not necessarily true. I can still embrace the idea of logic because it's all through scripture, Isaiah, come let us reason together. Right? Here's an understanding that God wants us to come speak to him, which creates relationship and through that relationship, everything that we do
00:19:39
Speaker
pressing and moving forward is through his identity, through his standard, through his, you know, guidance and direction. And therefore, we're moving within the spirit's ability to then move and change lives as a result of you being his ambassador or representative. So that's why I always try to make sure that don't separate the two. Like, yeah, isn't Christ.
Grace and Forgiveness in Church Community
00:20:04
Speaker
Yeah. Amen.
00:20:06
Speaker
Yeah, so let me ask you this. When do you read scripture? Have there been times so far? Let me ask you this. How long you been walking with Christ? Would you say now?
00:20:17
Speaker
Um, well, I've been on and off. So that's the first time I stepped into that program was 23rd April 29th, 2013. That was the first time I really repented from drugs as a choice. Um, but I've been on and off, you know, I've, I've failed many times, you know, back in the program. And so it's, it's been a journey for the past 10 years. So, but I would say.
00:20:43
Speaker
Even more now than ever, you know, I know him. I know Jesus. He knows me. I enjoy him. He enjoys me. Like I know his thoughts. I know, you know, so now it's like, like never before. So I suppose the reason why I asked about how long you've been walking in the faith, because there are some scriptures we read at our young stage, right? The scripture talks about enrollments.
00:21:10
Speaker
At one point, you know, there are some believers that are able to eat meat and vegetables, and there are some that just eat one. So I would say when it came to your understanding and get a better clarity of what God is saying in His word, has there ever been a scripture that you've read, you didn't quite understand, or your understanding of it was one way. And now that you've been walking with God now a little bit more in a consistent manner,
00:21:40
Speaker
that verse then changed for you and now you have a totally different outlook on it so yeah i could
00:21:48
Speaker
There's a couple of scriptures I'm thinking about that I didn't understand. But what I did is I memorized them, even though I didn't understand them. I memorized them so that I can have them here and I can meditate on them. Think about them. What God, what does this mean? What does this mean? And I'm thinking of right now two scriptures, but I'm trying to figure out which one I should share. We share both of them. We got time.
00:22:14
Speaker
Just share both of them. Okay, the first one is in Romans chapter four, verse four. Okay, I haven't memorized. I just wanted to make sure that was the work, but it says not to him to let me see. Well, let me get the beginning. It says, sorry, now to him who works or to a man who works, he
00:22:38
Speaker
Oh man, for a man that works, I can't even remember it, but I need the NIV because that's where I memorize it, but let me read it. Now to him who works, his wages are not credit to him as a gift,
Contentment Through Faith
00:22:52
Speaker
but as an obligation, but to him who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted to righteousness. So at first, I didn't understand those verses, but I memorized them in the NIV.
00:23:08
Speaker
And now I understand that now, if you want, I can read it to you to NIV. Yeah, read that. Okay. Well, it looks like you read a little much more. So I'll just read Romans four and five, four and five, four and five. Okay. So NIV says now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.
00:23:39
Speaker
Yeah, so I memorized that without understanding it, but I understand that now what God is saying is now to him who works
00:23:50
Speaker
whoever does good, whoever does obey the law, his work is not credit to him as a gift, but as an obligation, which means it's owed. There's wages for doing good following the law. There's wages, right? And so it benefits everybody. That's why you see the ungodly prosper, right? And so, but to the man who does not work,
00:24:14
Speaker
But believes God justifies the wicked. His faith will be credited to him as righteousness. And so now you see what it is to be righteous. We believe God.
00:24:28
Speaker
Like Abraham believed God and his faith was credited to him as righteousness.
Transformation Through Daily Scripture Reading
00:24:32
Speaker
And so the righteousness that we get from Jesus is not attained from doing works all the time and doing good. It's our faith in him being fully persuaded, right? Fully convinced that he is able to do and fulfill his promises in our life. And so that took me a little while to kind of understand and I think
00:24:51
Speaker
What was the most attracting thing about that scriptures? I didn't understand it. And so I'm like, there's something about this scripture. I gotta have to read and memorize. Right. Okay. So I have a follow up question before you get to the next, the next scripture that you, that can be helpful to my audience is listening. If someone asked you a question that said, Hey, why do bad things happen to good people? What would be your response to that? Well, I would say.
00:25:21
Speaker
That we live, of course, I'm sure you probably heard this response, but we live in a fallen world and so we're under the authority of Satan as far as our circumstances and things that happen around us, right? We're not under his foot as far as what's in our mind and hearts and our decisions that we're making.
00:25:41
Speaker
But we can't control Satan outside of ourself, right? We don't have dominion, we don't have that power over him that's around us. And when something bad happens that's around us, I mean, you could just look at it like Satan's trying to destroy you, right? He's trying to throw you off track, he's trying to discourage us, he's trying to disrupt what God and what us and God have going on, you know? So I would say that
00:26:08
Speaker
Yeah, that's it. Satan is a person. He has an army. He hates us and he does not love our soul. And so he's going to make sure there's some bad things happen so that his hopes is that we curse God, right? Like Job. That's his hope. We curse God. We rebel against God. We blame God and we turn away from God. But us who are born again know.
00:26:29
Speaker
you know, that all things work out for our good. So even though it's bad, it may look good, may look bad, God is faithful to work it out for our good, you know. So yeah, so bad things could be good if we look at it in that perspective.
00:26:45
Speaker
Yes, I was going to say I was going to hinge on that and add a little bit to what you said. My philosophical mindset has shifted my understanding of that question. Because if you're looking at that question on the surface without a biblical understanding, it seems like a realistic question.
00:27:04
Speaker
But if you're reading it from a biblical lens, then you realize that one, scripture says, no one is good. So how could you ask the question, why do bad things happen to good people? That would have to be that you would have to be admitting that you or whoever you're looking at is a good person.
00:27:26
Speaker
We can't even view ourselves as good people because I feel like what we do in society is we paint this picture of good people and bad people. And that a lot of people would like to believe they are the superhero in their own story. But we have to come to the realization that the only superhero is Jesus.
00:27:53
Speaker
Amen. Right? We're not superheroes in our own story because we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. And then I'll add to the point that you made, that's very valid, is that why in the world will we think what God is doing is bad? If it's supposed to shape our character, fashion who we are as people,
00:28:13
Speaker
How is it considered bad if you're telling us Romans 828, all things work together for those who love the Lord and are called according to the purpose? Because in order for God to move you from one level to the next, He has to
Terry's Social Media and Closing Prayer
00:28:24
Speaker
put you in places where your faith will be challenged. And as a result of that,
00:28:30
Speaker
Will it be a conviction or will it be a preference? Because if it's going to be a preference, then how can God trust you with great things? And we know about the parable that he speaks to when he talks about, you know, what much is given.
00:28:45
Speaker
much is required. And as a result of that, those are some tests where depending on what access that you have, how are you going to manage it in order to show God that you can be entrusted with much more? So yeah, I was just curious to ask that question because I think sometimes as believers, we get tripped over that question without evaluating. Wait a second.
00:29:10
Speaker
That is definitely a worldly question because believers know ain't none of us good Jesus said he said you call me good. The only one that's good is my father in heaven So if you're gonna say that we're all good Then you're going to misplace the idea that we're all broken and wounded None of us are placing this category of goodness. There is no such thing as good. There are good acts practices good choices
00:29:38
Speaker
but overall you, there's nothing good about you except your relationship with Christ, which then transforms you and puts you in a carrier glory to do good things as a result to your connection with Christ. Yeah. That makes us good. Yeah, so... Yeah, that's good. Yeah, hit it if you want to... Yeah, I'm gonna add that to my arsenal, brother.
00:30:00
Speaker
Yeah, because nobody's good. If anybody had bad doing to them was Jesus himself because he was here and he was only good, right? Yeah, that's good. Man. So what was your next... So the next one, I definitely have this memorized. It says Romans 8. Hold on. 20. Okay.
00:30:28
Speaker
Romans 820, for the creation, and this is another scripture that I memorized before I even understood it. I just found it so intriguing. I couldn't see what it meant, but as I memorized it, as I've had it memorized for five, six years now, I can understand it. But it says, for the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it in hope
00:30:57
Speaker
that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of our Lord Jesus Christ. At first, I didn't know what that meant. Now I understand. God subjects us. If we're frustrated in life, if things are not working out, if things are miserable, if it's frustrating, then we know we are not living in our God-given purpose, right? And so God subjects us to this frustration. And for what? In hopes.
00:31:27
Speaker
that we're like I'm done with this lifestyle I'm gonna try I'm going to Jesus or I'm gonna try something new I'm gonna do something different so he subjects us to frustration our entire life and some people stay in that frustration until they die right but us a lot of us a few of us
00:31:45
Speaker
are saying, you know what? I'm not created for this. I know I'm created for more. And with Jesus, something about his name, we come to Jesus, and he brings us into the glorious freedom of Jesus Christ. And so I see my dad. I'll just share this real quick. My biological dad, he's alcoholic. He's on meth. He's been on it. We used to do meth together when we were kids, when I was a kid and he was younger.
00:32:12
Speaker
I saw him about almost two weeks ago and I told him I told him that the name of God is in our last name. Okay, I said fun fact dad because he doesn't want to hear about the God thing said fun fact our in our last name diamond the the name I am is in that name right and it's in our last name and he's like and you can see the wheels turning he's like I
00:32:40
Speaker
Well, then why are things going to hell for me? Why is nothing working out for me? Why is everything falling apart? And I explained it. I gave him that scripture. I said, because you've been subjected to frustration because you haven't surrendered, you're living your own ways, you're not turning to Jesus. And so you're going to stay in that frustration your entire life if you don't come to Jesus. And so you see that the sovereignty of God can use evil. And so, yeah, now I understand what that scripture means. Amen.
00:33:06
Speaker
Yes, that's a powerful scripture, you know? A scripture that is very relatable to that doesn't necessarily have to do with that, do with, you know, being frustrated. But I think it's the results of not being content with what you have, haven't been, that you have all that you ever wanted. So this passes in, I believe, Ecclesiastics, where it speaks about how people who have riches, God doesn't allow them to enjoy it.
00:33:36
Speaker
They don't have access to enjoy it. So if you like, I'll put it up. But that's an interesting statement because what that does for us is that it gives us a viewpoint and an understanding that all things come from God to God and through God. So I think people don't realize that those who are wealthy,
00:34:01
Speaker
your wealth that you have obtained or that you have in Christ, you're able to provide more. It doesn't mean that the wealth and all that you have is something that you harvo under. Because we know in scripture, God can take away things. He puts people in power, he removes them. He gives people opportunities to change their mindset and eventually,
00:34:25
Speaker
The wealth can go in other places where it can be useful. So yeah, the past is in Ecclesiastics that I'm talking about. Let me see. All right, Ecclesiastes. In one sec.
00:34:51
Speaker
Ecclesiastics chapter five and let's see where I can read from For the context because context is important and I'm gonna look at this in the English standard version and we could probably go back and look at this in the NLT those are usually two good ones when Trying to unpack it. Okay, please. Yes, it's five. Okay, so it says here. Let's start
00:35:20
Speaker
Let's start at verse 8. It says, if you see in a providence the oppression of the poor and the violation of the justice and the righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter for the high officials is watched by a higher and there they are yet higher ones over them. But this is gained for a land in every way a king committed to cultivate fields.
00:35:42
Speaker
It says, he who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income. This also is in vanity. When goods increase, they increase. Who eats them? And what advantage has his owner but to see them with his eyes?
00:36:04
Speaker
Sweat is the sleep of laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. There is grievous evil that I have seen under the sun. Riches were kept by their onus to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad veneer.
00:36:24
Speaker
And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. As he had came from his mother's womb, he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil, that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil, just as he came to shall he go. And what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?
00:36:49
Speaker
Moreover, his days he eats in darkness and must vexation and sickness and anger. Okay, we're getting to the verse now. Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil which one toils unto the sun. The few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his life.
00:37:14
Speaker
everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil this is the gift of God for he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart so it says everyone verse 19
00:37:34
Speaker
to whom God has given wealth and possesses and power to enjoy them. And it's deceptive lie and rejoice. So let me just go to the NLT is the NLT might say it in a much better fashion, because I to study this and so what of chapter five verse 19. And it says, and it is a good thing to receive wealth from God.
00:37:54
Speaker
It's a good thing to receive wealth from God, the good help to enjoy it. So in other words, when it comes to wealth and the things that you have, God is the one that gives you the ability to enjoy. Which means if you're not enjoying it, that means God hasn't given you the ability to actually feel good about what you have. There are people out there, just not too long ago, there was a famous rapper who questioned all she had.
00:38:20
Speaker
And she talked about just giving it away because she didn't find fulfillment in it, right? So sometimes that comes as a result of not being satisfied. So what you were saying in the passage of Romans is that the reason why some people don't have fulfillment is because they haven't found their purpose in life and what they are supposed to do. And as a result of that, that absent feeling that they have is a result of God's absence in their life.
00:38:49
Speaker
And that's why some people feel empty, lost, you know, with no purpose in life, what should I be doing? Where should I be? As a result of just not having that guidance, that direction to push you forward, for you to thrive and flourish under what you believe you're supposed to do. Right? I'll tell you, there's a famous philosopher, Aristotle, he says at the intersection of life,
00:39:14
Speaker
lives, your gifts, talents, and abilities, and then their lives, your purpose. Well, who gives you gifts, talents, and abilities? We find out in James that all great, all good gifts come from above, right? And those gifts are from God.
00:39:29
Speaker
And then those gifts then push you out to do things for his glory. But if you haven't figured those things out, we know gifts are also without repentance. So you have a lot of people out there now that are exercising their gifts and their talents, but they're doing it to no avail, which means it's not fulfilling to them. Instead, it's a money grab. They're successful and they're doing what's required. They're doing whatever it takes to maintain it. But the problem is they're not happy.
00:39:59
Speaker
Right. And, you know, whether we're rich, whether we're middle class, whether we're poor, I think the greatest gift we have is relationship with Christ because we don't have the wealth here. We will get it where we're going. Oh, yeah. So that leads me. Yeah. So that leads me to next question. You know, now that you've been diving into God's word, even making it a priority,
00:40:26
Speaker
What can you say since you started reading and learning and study? What has it done for you overall for your health, for your mindset, for your thought process? Take us into what is done for you and what has changed ultimately? Well, ultimately, it's given me a reason to live, to want to live, to work. And it's just changed.
00:40:53
Speaker
everything, the way I think about myself, the way I think about others, the way I think about
00:41:01
Speaker
you know, God, of course, and my family and my children and other people that are lost. And so the word is definitely giving me the mind of Christ. You know, I think about what Jesus thinks about when it comes to, you know, other people or certain situations in life where we got to make a decision or, you know, going to help this. Whatever it is, I just feel like
00:41:26
Speaker
It's no longer me, it's no longer I, it's no longer us who lives, but it's Christ living in us. I just literally feel that vessel. I feel like that vessel. It's changed everything. I'm passionate now. I've never been passionate about anything. I never made any plans. Now I just want to plan to get in my word and let God do the rest. I just want to educate myself, but the word is never ending. It's never to a point where it's like, okay, I know enough, now I could stop.
00:41:52
Speaker
It's like a deep sea. You're just learning and learning and learning revelation, revelation, revelation. So it's never ending. It's just created this whole new life for me, literally. And I think he does that for everybody, you know, on his terms and his conditions, of course, we got to do on his terms and conditions in order to get the fullness of the word. But
00:42:15
Speaker
If anybody's listening, I would indefinitely encourage you, if you're not reading the word, I would say just start to memorize his word, memorize scriptures, one a week, one a month, you know, and watch his powerful word do a new thing. And you guys, amen. Amen. So what book are you in now that you've been reading that's been blowing your mind now that
00:42:41
Speaker
Well, right now, I'm in Exodus right now, Exodus 6. Also, I just did a video on the parable, Matthew 22, where it talks about the parable about the kingdom of God being a wedding, and he sent his servants out to invite people. And so there's a lot.
00:43:05
Speaker
Man, I could read it and God just gives me the understanding like what it means today. Like how can it make sense today? Like that's, that's, it's very powerful. But, um, yeah, that's pretty much, pretty much, I can just give you a short little thing about Matthew. Um, real quick. It's so Matthew 22, it says right here in verse one, and this kind of ties in with the whole money thing. And that's, that's good that we're actually talking about this.
00:43:31
Speaker
I'll just read these first two verses. It says, for the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding and they were not willing to come. Well, if we skip down to verse five, we see why they were not willing to come. It says right here, but they made light of it and went their ways. They went their ways
00:43:54
Speaker
instead of coming to the wedding and says one to his own farm and another to his own business. And so they went their own ways and literally spent time and found it more interesting to be with the blessing rather than the blesser. Amen. And so you see where that money is not satisfying, but what's crazy is they can think that it's more interesting and more satisfying for right now.
00:44:19
Speaker
But if we choose our own farm, our own businesses, our own things going on, our own ways over God's ways, Jesus calls us unworthy. In verse eight, he says, then go then say that he said to his servants, the wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. So he's saying they were not worthy because they chose their belongings more than to be in the wedding, which is ultimately the kingdom of God. But they chose what God gave them rather than the giver.
00:44:49
Speaker
And yeah, so that's pretty much, I'm deeply in that right now, just really meditating on that because later in that chapter it says, for many are called and few are chosen. And if we see that scripture, we see that the few that are chosen are the few that choose God, right? It's not that God just chose a few, but it's the few that choose God, not many are choosing God because they have their own business, they have their own things, they have their own ways that they rather choose.
00:45:19
Speaker
But the few that do choose him, you know, those are the ones that are called. We are the ones that are called. Amen. Amen. So let me ask you this, on this journey of leadership and guidance, we have shepherds and shepherds are pastors, teachers, you know, those sorts, right? Pastors, teachers, preachers.
00:45:44
Speaker
What can you say to those who are struggling after they've realized that maybe a pastor or two that they thought was solid in the theology, their life is not inconsistent with the scripture? What is your advice to a person that runs into that dilemma? Well, I'm glad you brought that up. Let me give you, I'll just answer that with scripture real quick. Sorry, it's going to be one second. Don't worry.
00:46:16
Speaker
Okay, so this is a good question because I've, you know, I'm definitely I've answered this question many times. And especially specifically to believers, they leave the church because of something or they see an example. And, you know, they're like, Oh, that's not from Jesus. But we got to understand that people aren't the example of Jesus is there is no perfect church, there's no perfect church. And so for we're looking for an excuse to not serve God, then you're serving man, not God, you're doing what you know, what your experience with
00:46:46
Speaker
With man, but listen to this this scripture right here ties it all in if I could have just said this This would have been enough, but I'm gonna just share real quick Colossians 2 18 it says right here Let no one cheat you or another translation would let no one rob you of your reward the whole dough for those who take the light and a false humility and
00:47:13
Speaker
and worship of angels, okay? So he's saying that those who worship, you know, idols, not Jesus, or those who have this false humility who are fake Christians, right? Don't let them rob you of the reward.
00:47:29
Speaker
A reward is eternal life and our reward is who we are in Christ. And so a lot of the times we see that Paul, I mean, the Holy Spirit through Paul already had it figured out that people are going to get hurt by the church. They're going to get hurt by imperfect people and they're going to run away and they're going to rebel and they're going to be separated and alienated from God and kingdom of God. And what he's saying to let no one rob you of your reward, you know, talking about those who are taking delight and false humility and worship of angels. So if they're, if a pastor makes a mistake,
00:47:58
Speaker
We all make mistakes, right? But if he's worshiping angels, if he's worshiping the created, that's what that represents, is the created, they're worshiping their chain or their car. You know, pray for them and don't follow them. Find another church if you have to, but don't leave Jesus because of the false humility or worship of angels.
00:48:17
Speaker
Gotcha. So let me add on to what you say. Let me build on top of it. I was just in this passage yesterday when I was prepping for my podcast and it was Matthew chapter 23 verses one through seven. And I'm going to look at this in the NLT. And this blew my mind. And it led me to a few other verses and I'll share with that with you in a moment. It says, then Jesus said to the crowd and to his disciples,
00:48:46
Speaker
The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach.
00:49:05
Speaker
They crushed people with unbearable religious demands and never left a finger to ease the burden. Everything they do is for show. On their arms, they wear extra wide prayer boxes with scripture vessels inside. They wear rows with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at the banquets and in the seats of honor and the synagogues.
00:49:32
Speaker
They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplace to be called Rabbi. So the key term is that teachers of the religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey what they tell you.
00:49:51
Speaker
but don't follow their example. And the reason why this passage is so powerful, at least for me, it goes back to the statement you made, right? But I'll use the scriptures to support it. Hebrews chapter four, verse 15, it says, for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are yet without sin. See, here you have a bunch of individuals, the Pharisees,
00:50:21
Speaker
and the experts in the law who have knowledge and insight, which means their value doesn't go on respected. They respect it. But the problem is to fulfill what is being next to them is the challenge, right? That's the challenge.
00:50:36
Speaker
Then what we read in Hebrews is that we do have someone who is able to empathize with us, which shows he, we see God in his humanity that just like us struggles with the idea of sin, the only difference is he didn't sin. That's why we can put off faith and trust in him. Right. Is a passage in Romans chapter three verse four that says, let God be found true as he will be.
00:51:02
Speaker
And though every other person be found a liar. So that goes to what you're saying in the sense that the only person that should be founded as true is God, right? God is not a man that he should lie. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So if we're looking to put our faith and trust into someone who existed and provided us an example, right? We know in first John,
00:51:24
Speaker
He came to give us understanding to him who is true, and we are in him who is true by being in his son, Jesus Christ. He came also to destroy the devil's work. So when we put these things together, we understand that the failure to live these things out is part of the challenge that we all face now today, right? We go to James chapter three, verse one, it says, not many of you,
00:51:53
Speaker
should become teachers serving in an official teaching capacity. My brothers and sisters, for you know that we who are teachers will be judged by a higher standard because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly.
00:52:11
Speaker
Right. If you want to tag on a little bit more, we can go to also the James chapter one verse 22 to 25. It says, don't just be, don't just listen to God's word. You must be doers of what it says. Otherwise you're only fooling yourself. So if you listen to the word and don't obey it,
00:52:29
Speaker
It's like glancing at your face in the mirror. You don't see yourself walking away and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says, don't forget what you heard and God will bless you for doing it. So the reason why I bring this all up.
00:52:47
Speaker
is because James was clear also in chapter 4 verse 17 when he says, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that for you is evil. So for the person who knows to do good and doesn't do it, it's a sin.
00:53:02
Speaker
So we know that pastors will be judged more harshly when they step into the forefront to be the mouth of God. And we also understand that the standard to live righteously is a challenge. We have that repentance to change our behavior, but it's still a struggle. When we go back to that passage in Matthew, don't allow the pastor's example
00:53:27
Speaker
to be the reason that taints the reason why we should follow Christ. You gave a great example in regards to idol tree. I'm giving a great example as in regards to the behavior of those who are imperfect like us and yet mess up on the biggest stage. Their messaging should not taint.
00:53:48
Speaker
God. God is separate from man, right? There's nothing that God and man is the same other than we're creating his image. But as a result, there's a scripture that says that God does not think like us, right? Our thinking is not the same. How we arrive is not the same. God is a God.
00:54:06
Speaker
that doesn't have to arrive at information. He's already processed it all. Us as humans are continuing to learn and that's the biggest thing. So great answer in your response when it came to the idols, but I wanted to pinpoint a little bit more on
00:54:22
Speaker
the pastorship and why that's impacting us now. People were looking at as examples, them messing up and then we're questioning the legitimacy or why we should believe God as a result of their bad example. You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I mean, that's a tough one. I mean,
00:54:46
Speaker
But we got to have grace too, but we can't condone. And if somebody makes a mistake and they repent immediately and they're, you know, they got the accountability, they confess it, they profess it, they forsake it. That's a different story, you know? Yeah, I would definitely just have grace because nobody's without sin, of course.
00:55:10
Speaker
Yes, exactly. Okay, so let me ask you this. Now that you know you, what can you say God has done with you in regards of changing certain things that have brought you
00:55:27
Speaker
to a sense of freedom. What in your life can you say since he's arrived that has altered your way that you think about things? What can you pinpoint that God has set you free of and put you in a place where you can stand firmly in who you are in Christ? What can you say he's done for you?
00:55:50
Speaker
You know, I always needed a woman. I was very dependent on a woman and I was never able to be alone. So solitude and being content in who I am and being alone with Jesus has been one big one. But also, you know, I'm not perfect, but as far as depending on outside substances for joy, for peace, for love, you know, where I'm maturing in my life, I see that even though I'm not doing meth and heroin,
00:56:21
Speaker
You know, my body still clings to the dust, right? I still drink caffeine You know, I still have these these little struggles that i've depend on for the wrong reasons where I can get all that From god, right? I can get the energy from god. I can get the joy from god and so as far as god brought me, you know, I would definitely say i'm still a work in progress and I think at the end of the day
00:56:47
Speaker
His purpose is that we begin to depend on Him for everything, for joy, for peace, for love, for security. You can find all that in money, like we were talking about, but it's temporary. Unless God allows it, it's not going to fulfill us or be good for us.
00:57:06
Speaker
But he wants us to depend depend on him for every little thing, just like a baby, depending on us. When they're when they're a child, they need us to feed them. They need us everything, you know, just being very dependent on the Lord. I think he's brought me so far into being so dependent on everything around me needing this and needing that and, you know, just
00:57:27
Speaker
Yeah, just that affects my mind and my body and the way I feel. And so but which is actually ties in with to be making being made whole, right? Yeah, see to be made whole is to be lacking in nothing of the things of God. And so I think that's where God's bringing us. Amen. And we're still a work in progress. Amen. I love what you just said. It's powerful. Yeah, that's very powerful. So
00:57:55
Speaker
Do you have any favorite books in the Bible you don't mind sharing? Yeah, I mean, I have. Honestly, it's so hard to I love Exodus. I mean, I love Romans. I love Deuteronomy. I love Hebrews.
00:58:15
Speaker
You know, these are my favorites. I just get so much meat off of them, right? Yeah. But I would share my favorite scripture. I think I shared with you last night.
00:58:26
Speaker
Romans 9.23, that he is choosing to make known the riches of glory on the vessels of mercy to whom which he has prepared beforehand for glory. So before he created the world, he prepared us for his glory, which is the immortality, the immortal, you know, immortality of being born again of the seed of being born above, like where
00:58:53
Speaker
prepared for his glory. We're not strangers and aliens of his kingdom. We're like already prepared. And I love that because it says the vessels of mercy. And it kind of ties in with that Romans 4-4. Now, when a man works, his wages are credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. But for the man who does not work,
00:59:12
Speaker
His faith is credited in him as righteousness. So I think that vessels of mercy just ties in with his grace and that we're saved through the faith. And man, it's so meaty, man, this whole, and all Romans, all Romans 9, 11, like I'm just, I'm in there right now.
00:59:28
Speaker
Gotcha. Okay, so where can my audience find you if they want to listen to any amazing things you have to say, your growth and development? Where can my audience find you? You could just start with my Facebook. My YouTube is still kind of, you know, I'm not even
00:59:46
Speaker
even nowhere close, uh, to where, where I need to be. Um, my Facebook is my, you know, my full name, Terry Lee diamond, the third. Okay. Um, and my YouTube, if you want my YouTube, it's prepared for glory prepared underscore. Glory underscore. No, prepared underscore four underscore glory. So
01:00:11
Speaker
Okay, prepared underscore for f or underscore glory. So prepared for glory. And tiktok got any tiktok you want to put out there? Yeah. Actually, actually, I deleted my tiktok because I had to upload a video. I forget my name, but I think it's also prepared for glory with no underscores or anything.
01:00:33
Speaker
All right. Sounds great. Glad to have you on. So if you don't mind, can you close out a prayer for us? Yeah, absolutely. Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you for this time that we're able to honor you and to speak your name and to praise your name, keep you at the center and testify to the world, to what you are doing in your creation today.
01:00:54
Speaker
Lord, I believe you are still writing letters, the written epistles by the spirit of the living God, and I believe Jonathan, he is your son, and you've done a great work in him, and I thank you for your grace over his life. Everybody that is watching, I ask that they be encouraged to seek you on another level, God, and I ask that you draw them near.
01:01:13
Speaker
and you bring them closer. And I thank Thay for the Holy Ghost. I thank thee for helping us to understand your word. I feel like that's a big part of our recovery and our salvation is just understanding your word in a glorious way. And I ask that you continue to make this podcast fruitful so that your name may be glorified in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. All right. Amen, brother.