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Agape Chapel OC is committed to teaching the Bible - chapter by chapter, verse by verse - until the coming of the Lord. Pastor Terry Reynolds takes a deep-dive into the Word in each episode of Agape Radio.
Our society is built on envy and jealousy. Watch a TV show or scroll through social media for a few minutes, and you’ll find yourself pressured to buy some product, start some new diet, or use some app in order to be more like those happy people in the ads. As Pastor Terry will remind us in today’s message, these temporary things will never satisfy. Only when we abide in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and bear fruit in our lives can we find contentment and lasting joy.
Joy is not happiness, though it often looks like it. Joy is a deeper emotion that isn’t built off temporary pleasure or the fulfillment of selfish ambition. As Pastor Terry will point out in today’s message, we see the best example of joy in Jesus. He didn’t consider His own comfort or safety. He willingly underwent indescribable suffering, knowing that His suffering would secure salvation for all who believed in Him. This brought joy to His heart even in that moment of extreme agony.
There are so many things we allow to consume our lives. Our careers, our families and friendships, or even church events and programs. These things can consume all of our energy, time, and resources and become idols. As Pastor Terry continues our study in the book of John today, he’ll remind us that our central focus needs to be on Christ. We are called and invited to abide in Him on a moment-by-moment basis. This requires intentionally placing the things of this world lower in our list of priorities.
Sometimes we can get in a rut of seeing the work of God’s Kingdom or a life of righteousness as a burden. The reality is that this is an incredible privilege to be a part of God’s will for the world. As Pastor Terry will encourage us in today’s message, this journey will be full of challenges and struggles, but God wants to use all of that to grow you as His Child and to use you in reaching the lost and broken. When you focus on the eternal value of this work, you can find joy in the hardest times.
What is our most important job or task as believers? The last instruction Jesus gave His disciples was to go to their communities and beyond to the ends of the earth and witness to others regarding who Jesus was. As Pastor Terry will challenge us in today’s message, that commission still applies to us today. Whether it’s your next-door neighbor, your coworker, or a member of some remote tribe in some distant land, you are called to share Jesus, and it should be your top priority.
There’s nothing wrong with using the resources available to us today to try to understand Scripture better. You need to practice discernment, but many of those resources come from individuals or organizations that were led by the Holy Spirit, and they can be very helpful in your own growth. But, as Pastor Terry will remind us in today’s message, we have access to the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised in today’s passage. He not only comes to comfort us, but to help and guide us in our walk.
As you walk with the Lord, He takes you from glory to glory. Pastor Terry explains in today’s message that God is always at work transforming you to more of His likeness. When you receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to reside in you. The Holy Spirit’s job is to empower, instruct, and draw you nearer to the Lord Himself. Pastor Terry encourages you to keep walking closely with the Lord. A year from now, you’ll be even that much closer to Him and will be more like Him.
God is the Master of taking what is ordinary and turning it into something extraordinary! Today, Pastor Terry reveals through his message that God desires to do incredible things through your life. It’s important not to count yourself out of the Kingdom work that God wants to partner with you on. If the Lord can make humankind out of dust and use a donkey to talk, He surely can use you! Pastor Terry encourages you that God has given you unique gifts and talents. With these and His empowerment, you can move mountains!
There are not many roads to God, there is One. In today’s message from Pastor Terry, he explains that the world says all roads can get you access to the presence of the Heavenly Father. But this simply is not true. In the Bible, Jesus says that He is the way, the truth, and the life. And that no one can come to the Father except through Him. Pastor Terry reminds you that at some point, all people will have to make a decision. They either choose Jesus or they choose Hell. It’s that simple. Choose Jesus today.
Are you currently going through a difficult time or hardship? As you listen to today’s message from Pastor Terry, he shares with you a powerful remedy. When your heart is troubled, the quickest way to remedy it is by believing in God. Sometimes, all you need during seasons of difficulty is to simply be reminded that God is for you. He isn’t intimidated by your downcast spirit. He welcomes you in. Pastor Terry urges you to draw near to the Lord. Let His Word and His presence wash over you in your time of need.