Dwight and Andrew return to the conversation and talk about Abraham and God's plan for the nation of Israel

Dwight and Andrew take a look at the story of Cain and Able, exploring how God's nature is revealed in this story

Is God sovereign? Dwight and Andrew open Season Two of Dust to Deity with this important question. Our answer might be different than you might assume so join us for a conversation that might be challenging but will definitely build your faith!

• Acknowledge your sin, and repent. (1 John 1:9 – "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.")
  • Repentance isn't about shame—it's about realigning with God's will.
• Don't be drastic.
  • Avoid making radical decisions out of fear or guilt.
  • Example: Don't quit your job, leave your family, and move to the mountains for six months.
• Family is first. (1 Timothy 5:8 – "If anyone does not provide for his family, he has denied the faith.")
  • Your first ministry is your home—God will not ask you to neglect it.

• Prepare for prayer:
  • Have your Bible, a notepad, and a pen ready.
  • Expect to write down what God reveals to you.
• Talk to your spouse about what you believe God is saying.
  • Your spouse is a key partner in discernment. (Ecclesiastes 4:9 – "Two are better than one.")

• Matthew 17:21 – "This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."
  • Fasting isn't just about not eating—it's about spiritual focus and discipline.
• Consider a time of true fasting.
  • This is a time to set aside distractions and focus solely on hearing God.
• Jesus' example of fasting:
  • He went to a secluded place (Luke 5:16).
  • He often went alone to pray (Matthew 14:23).
  • His fasting was intentional and focused.

• After fasting, come together with your spouse to discuss what the Lord revealed.
  • If your spouse disagrees, don't argue—ask God to work on their heart. (Proverbs 21:1 – "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord.")
  • Also ask God to work on your heart—you may have misunderstood Him.
• Do not get out of agreement with your spouse.
  • Unity in marriage is crucial for walking in God's will. (Matthew 18:19 – "If two of you agree on earth concerning anything, it will be done.")

• Start testing your ability to hear God on small things.
  • Look for things to ask Him that are measurable but won't cause harm if you're wrong.
• Ask God for guidance on practical matters.
  • Example: How to fix something, where to find something lost, or when to reach out to someone.
  • This builds confidence in recognizing His voice. (John 10:27 – "My sheep hear My voice.")

• If you feel like you've missed God, don't panic—simply realign.
• Repent, pray, and seek His voice with humility.
• Don't make drastic moves—God leads through peace, not fear.
• Stay in unity with your spouse and ask God to confirm His direction.
• Learn to hear God in small ways so you can trust Him in bigger ones.

Are miracles a thing of the past? Does the baptism of the Holy Spirit matter to us today? Dwight and Andrew dive into these questions and more on today's episode

• We must look at the Word through the eyes of the Spirit, not just the natural mind.
  • Many people misinterpret scripture by looking at it from a carnal or religious perspective.
  • Jesus came to reveal the true nature of the Father (John 14:9).

• John 9:1-3 – "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
  • Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned."
  • The disciples assumed all suffering was punishment for sin, but Jesus corrected them.
• The man was not born blind so Jesus could heal him later.
  • He did not suffer for twenty-plus years just to be a future miracle.
  • This would make God cruel, which contradicts His nature.
• Why were all the other blind people in the world not healed?
  • The cause of this man's blindness must be the same as everyone else's.
  • If some are healed and some are not, does God play favorites?
  • If healing was only about God's glory, then not healing someone would mean God was withholding glory from Himself.
• Jesus clarified that the real issue was living in a fallen world.
  • Romans 8:22 – "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now."
  • Sin corrupted the world, bringing sickness, death, and suffering.

• Jesus came to do the works of God.
  • Healing the sick
  • Raising the dead
  • Setting people free from oppression
• John 9:4-5 – "We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
  • Jesus did not come to cause suffering—He came to undo its effects.
  • Every miracle He performed demonstrated the will of the Father.

• God's nature will not allow Him to cause pain just to receive glory.
  • 1 John 4:8 – "God is love."
  • Love does not inflict suffering for self-glorification.
• God did not create the universe and mankind just to be glorified in their pain.
  • A good father does not harm his children to receive praise for healing them.
  • Jesus consistently healed, restored, and redeemed, showing the heart of the Father.
• The devil steals, kills, and destroys—but Jesus gives life (John 10:10).
  • Suffering is the result of sin and the fallen world, not God's desire.
  • Jesus' mission was to reverse the damage of sin, not cause it.

• Blindness and suffering are not caused by God—they are the result of the fallen world.
• Jesus did not heal the man to prove a point—He healed because healing is God's will.
• God does not cause suffering to receive glory—He is glorified in bringing restoration.
• Every miracle of Jesus was an act of revealing God's love and His desire to restore humanity.

• If Jesus is your Lord, this world is the worst it will ever be for you.
• If Jesus is not your Lord, this world is the best it will ever be for you.
  • For believers, the pain and suffering of this world will end in eternity with Christ (Revelation 21:4).
  • For those who reject Christ, this world is the closest to heaven they will ever experience.

• 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8
  • "Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season." (v. 6)
  • "For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way." (v. 7)
  • "Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of His mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of His coming." (v. 8)
• The Holy Spirit is currently restraining the full force of evil on earth.
• Once the Holy Spirit's restraining influence is removed, the lawless one (Antichrist) will be revealed.
• This passage emphasizes the urgency of salvation—now is the time to respond to the Gospel.

• The moment you hear the Gospel and ignore it, that decision will remain with you for eternity in hell.
• Rejecting Christ is not just a temporary choice—it has eternal consequences.
• Hebrews 9:27 – "It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment."

• In the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit came upon people temporarily.
  • Examples:
    • Samson (Judges 14:6) – The Spirit came upon him to give him strength.
    • David (1 Samuel 16:13) – The Spirit came upon him when he was anointed king.
  • The Holy Spirit's presence was conditional and temporary.
• In the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit dwells within believers.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19 – "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you?"
  • The Spirit now abides permanently in those who have accepted Christ.

• Sin cannot exist in God's presence.
  • Habakkuk 1:13 – "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; You cannot tolerate wrongdoing."
• When sin entered the Garden, humanity's blood was tainted.
  • The effects of sin included:
    • Sickness
    • Iniquity (bent toward sin)
    • Transgression (acts of rebellion)
• Through the cross, we are cleansed from all of these.
  • Isaiah 53:5 – "By His stripes, we are healed."
  • The blood of Jesus restored our ability to enter God's presence.

• In Jewish tradition, genealogy is followed through the father.
  • Matthew 1 records Jesus' legal lineage through Joseph.
  • Luke 3 records Jesus' biological lineage through Mary.
• Bloodlines are always traced through the father.
  • Jesus, born of the Holy Spirit, had a pure, untainted bloodline.
  • His divine nature made Him the perfect sacrifice to cleanse humanity.

• John 4:24 – "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and in truth."
• Because of Jesus, we can now operate in the spiritual realm.
  • The separation between heaven and earth was removed through Christ.
  • We have access to the Father's presence in a way that was impossible before.
• We can operate as the Father operates because we are of the Spirit.
  • Romans 8:14 – "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
  • Walking in the Spirit allows us to live in faith, power, and authority.

• Your eternity is determined by whether Jesus is Lord of your life.
• The Holy Spirit is currently restraining evil, but one day, that restraint will be lifted.
• Rejecting the Gospel has eternal consequences.
• The cross cleanses us from sin, restoring us to God's presence.
• Through Christ, we can now operate in the Spirit and walk in God's authority.

• We must enter into the Lord's presence on a daily basis.
  • A relationship with God requires consistency and intentionality.
  • Psalm 91:1 – "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
• The five-fold ministers (Ephesians 4:11-12) are responsible for equipping the saints.
  • Their job is not to do all the ministry, but to teach others how to do the work of the Kingdom.
• To be productive in the Kingdom, you need a relationship with the King.
  • You cannot serve God effectively without knowing Him personally.

• Entering into the presence of the Lord takes work.
  • It requires focus, discipline, and perseverance.
• We have an enemy working to keep us from His presence.
  • Distractions, sin, and busyness pull us away from intimacy with God.
  • 1 Peter 5:8 – "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

• Jesus took sin from the physical to the spiritual.
  • Matthew 5:28 – "Whoever looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery in his heart."
  • The sin is in the thought before it ever becomes an action.
  • You cannot sin without first thinking about it.
• We must guard our thoughts.
  • Proverbs 4:23 – "Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life."

• We have taken the power of God and exchanged it for entertainment.
  • Many churches and believers focus more on entertainment than experiencing the true power of God.
• Set no unholy thing before your eyes (or ears).
  • Psalm 101:3 – "I will set nothing wicked before my eyes."
  • Be intentional about what you watch, listen to, and engage with.

• Spiritual warfare is worshiping the Father despite the circumstances.
  • Example: Paul and Silas worshiped in prison, and the chains broke (Acts 16:25-26).
• True peace comes from casting our cares on Jesus.
  • 1 Peter 5:7 – "Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you."
• Jesus said, "Take My yoke."
  • Matthew 11:28-30 – "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
  • When we take His yoke, we are no longer burdened by our own.
  • Peace comes from walking in His strength, not our own.

• The seed is the Word of God.

• The four types of ground represent how people receive the Word:

  1. Wayside (v. 15) – Satan steals the Word before it takes root.
  2. Stony ground (v. 16-17) – Excited at first but no depth, so they fall away under pressure.
  3. Among thorns (v. 18-19) – Cares of the world and deceitfulness of riches choke the Word.
  4. Good ground (v. 20) – Those who receive and nurture the Word bear fruit—30, 60, and 100-fold.

• Lesson:

  • We must guard our hearts against distractions, worries, and false riches.
  • The Word only produces fruit when it is cultivated.

    (14) The sower soweth the word.

    (Mark 4:14-20)

    (15) And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

    (16) And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

    (17) And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

    (18) And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

    (19) And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

    (20) And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

• We are not called to build big churches—we are called to make disciples.
  • Matthew 28:19-20 – "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."
• Are you pointing people to Jesus or to yourself?
  • Ministries should not draw people to personalities but to Christ.
  • The goal is to raise mature believers, not just gather crowds.

• If you are unwilling to admit you were taught wrong, you may be deceived and not know it.
  • Many believers hold onto traditions rather than seeking biblical truth.
  • True humility is being willing to adjust when God reveals deeper truth.
• All Scripture should be interpreted through Genesis 1 and 2.
  • The original intent of creation shows us God's perfect will.
  • Everything after the fall must be viewed in the light of God's original design.

• We must enter God's presence daily and reject distractions.
• Sin begins in the mind—guard your thoughts carefully.
• We should seek God's power, not just entertainment.
• Spiritual warfare is about worship and trust, not just rebuking the enemy.
• Peace comes from casting our burdens on Jesus and walking in His strength.
• Discipleship, not church growth, is the true mission of the church.
• Be willing to re-examine your beliefs and align them with Scripture.

• A stronghold is an area in a person's life where they struggle to maintain control.
• Common Strongholds:
  • Lustful thoughts
  • Insecurities
  • Poverty mentality
  • Addictions (alcohol, drugs, etc.)
  • Unhealthy attachment to money (whether rich or poor)

• Every stronghold begins with a thought.
• Every sin starts in the mind.
  • James 1:14-15 – "Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin."
• We must guard our thoughts before they become actions.

• Our spiritual battle begins in the mind.
• 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
  • "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds."
  • "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God."
  • "Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."
• We must take control of our thoughts before they take control of us.

• We cannot fill our minds with the world and expect purity.
• Watching hours of TV or mindless entertainment does not cleanse the mind.
• We need to actively fill our minds with God's Word.
  • Romans 12:2 – "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
• We cannot always prevent thoughts from coming, but we can prevent them from staying.
  • "You can't stop birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from making a nest."
  • Lesson: Don't entertain negative or sinful thoughts—reject them immediately.

• Stop looking for the birds—be intentional about what you fill your mind with.
• Be mindful of what you expose yourself to—garbage in, garbage out.
• If you don't put wrong things in your mind, you won't have to work to remove them later.
• The first sign of a stronghold forming is apathy in your relationship with the Father.
  • A lack of desire to pray, worship, or read the Word is an early warning sign.
  • Ignoring this leads to spiritual weakness, making it easier for strongholds to take root.

• Strongholds begin in the mind and must be torn down spiritually.
• Our thoughts determine our actions—guard them well.
• Fill your mind with God's Word instead of worldly distractions.
• Recognize apathy as a sign that a stronghold may be forming.
• Victory begins with renewing our minds daily and rejecting thoughts that don't align with God's truth.

• Faith is not something you "use" or "hold onto"—it is a byproduct of knowing God.
• Faith is about walking with God, not just believing for things.
  • Many people treat faith as a tool to "get things" from God rather than a way to walk in relationship with Him.

• Elisha operated in faith because of his deep connection with God.
  • He did not ask God to do things—he simply commanded things to happen.
  • Examples from Elisha's life:
    • 2 Kings 4:1-7 – The widow's oil multiplied.
    • 2 Kings 4:32-35 – He raised a dead boy to life.
    • 2 Kings 6:17 – He prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened to see the angelic army.
• Elisha did not repeat confessions over and over—he simply acted.
• Lesson: Faith flows from knowing God personally, not from religious formulas.

• Faith is not about saying the right words—it's about knowing who God is.
• Faith is about walking with God.
• Faith is about knowing God personally.
• Faith is about fellowshipping with God daily.
• God already knows what you need before you ask Him (Matthew 6:8).
  • Faith is not convincing God to act—it is trusting that He already has a plan for your needs.

• In the Old Testament, there was no talk of "having faith"—only walking with God.
• The great men and women of faith in Hebrews 11 were commended because they walked with God.
  • Abraham walked with God and was called righteous.
  • Noah walked with God and built an ark before seeing the rain.
  • Moses walked with God and led Israel out of Egypt before seeing the Red Sea part.
• Lesson: True faith is not just believing for things—it is trusting God enough to walk with Him daily.

• You can have a relationship with the Father without knowing all His benefits.
  • Many believers know God but don't know what He has promised them.
• You study the Word to know the character of God, not just His blessings.
  • Knowing who God is builds your confidence in Him.
  • Example: If you truly trust that God is a healer, you won't doubt His willingness to heal you.

• Matthew 7:7-11 – Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened.
• God is a loving Father who desires to give good gifts.
  • If earthly parents give good gifts, how much more will God give to His children?
  • Faith is not about begging God—it is about knowing He already desires to bless you.

• Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
  • Many believers struggle not because of a lack of faith, but a lack of knowledge.
  • Lack of knowledge = lack of confidence in God's promises.
• Many don't know what belongs to them in Christ.
  • Healing, provision, peace, and joy are part of the relationship with the Father.

• God's ultimate desire is not just to bless you, but to know you.
• Faith is not just about getting from God—it is about being with Him.
• When you know Him, faith becomes natural.

• Faith is not an object—it is a relationship with God.
• Elisha demonstrated faith by walking with God and simply acting.
• The great people of faith in the Bible walked closely with God.
• We study the Word to know God's character, not just His blessings.
• God wants us to ask boldly because He is a loving Father.
• Lack of knowledge is what keeps many people from walking in faith.
• Faith is about knowing and trusting God—not just receiving from Him.