Jesus is Real Radio with Daniel Fusco

Self-control sounds like a personal goal – simply you white-knuckling through some sort of temptation, deciding that you're the hope you need. Pastor Daniel will share a different – and better – perspective today, though. When you're filled with the fruit of the Spirit, self-control means that you're allowing the Spirit to guide you and convict you if there's a problem. You then get to turn away from that temptation, and turn to Jesus!

In today's message, Pastor Daniel's going to get personal. Well, Jesus is going to get personal, actually. As you study the final beatitude you'll notice that Jesus changes His wording from them and they to you. You're going to find that life doesn't always go the way you'd like. People will come against you sometimes, and you'll face trials. When that happens, you have to decide – are you going to follow Jesus anyway?

Default human nature says to retaliate. You see it everywhere – eye for an eye, battle for battle, everyone wanting revenge, or simply justice for the wrongs committed! Today Pastor Daniel will share that Jesus has a different response – gentleness! When you find that you're being persecuted for Jesus sake, you may want to get revenge, but that's not what a follower of Christ does. You instead get to display Jesus by responding as He would!

Jesus is good, and He is loving, and He does give grace to any and all who come to Him in repentance. He gave His life up for you, after all! But Jesus isn't always safe. Today Pastor Daniel will share that as a follower of Jesus, you'll face opposition! Some people just won't accept the truth and the love that's available to them! Don't give up though – Jesus cause is always worth fighting for, no matter the persecution you'll likely endure!

Many times in situations of conflict, no one wants to take a fall. Everyone thinks they're the one who's right, and they'll fight for their way! Pastor Daniel today will be promoting a lifestyle of peacemaking, however, which goes against this philosophy. As you embrace acts of making peace, you'll find that someone has to sacrifice their position to bring reconciliation. It may need to be you who steps aside so someone else can have life!

You have unique gifts and talents that only you can share with the world. Those things have come from God, but aren't to be used to stir up trouble or fuel conflict. Instead, God calls you to use your abilities to promote peace! Today Pastor Daniel will be encouraging you to live peacefully with others, but not passively. Being a peacemaker means you're willing to engage in circumstances and invite Jesus to help you facilitate reconciliation!

In today's message, Pastor Daniel will be reminding you that God's not done working in your life! He's continuing to purify you as you continue to draw closer to Him. In doing so, you'll begin to observe the world in the way He sees it! You'll look at the good in the world instead of the bad, and you'll be eager to build people up instead of tear them down. God's love, mercy, and goodness will become who you are as well!

God doesn't force you to think and feel one way or another. As Pastor Daniel will share in today's message, you bring your own emotions into the equation! You have the choice to see other people as good or bad, and you get to react to the situation at hand! As you grow in your relationship with God, however, you may notice that your reactions change a bit as well. You begin to see people and circumstances as God does, with His love and grace!

Pastor Daniel has been sharing how the Beatitudes work together. Today, he'll also share how the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness – all fit so perfectly with one another! As you allow God to reveal these attributes of Himself in your life, you'll find you're filled with them too. You'll also discover they spill over into your interactions with others, and you'll be able to begin to make the difference you want to see in the world!

In today's message, Pastor Daniel will be talking about the difference between justice and mercy, and why it's important to know the distinction! You live in a world that values people getting what they deserve, even without knowing all the facts. However, you also live with a knowledge of your merciful Heavenly Father! His desire is for you to practice the same mercy you've received from Him – a mercy you don't deserve!