NMC Audio Podcast

“For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Our minds are beautiful and yet also dangerous places. The ability to think, contemplate, and process is a gift, but it is a gift that the enemy loves to exploit. The enemy engages our minds with deception, lies, and fear. So, Church, our mission is to stay alert, take every thought captive, and live from a spirit of power, love and self-discipline.

In Exodus 17, the Israelites are faced with a terrifying battle against the Amalekites who are set to destroy them. Moses gives us two profoundly beautiful insights to carry us into the new year and beyond.

Of all the different modes and methods, God chose a most peculiar plan to establish His Kingdom. His most peculiar plan shattered expectation. His most peculiar plan bucked more conventional thinking. He decided to send His Son, in the form of a baby. That child would dwell among us, rule in the most peculiar way, and establish an unshakeable Kingdom. All hail King Jesus!

Amidst all of the bad news, there is good news! It's easy to allow our circumstances to steal our joy. It's time to flip the script. It's time to discover hope. It's time to shake off the dust, reclaiming who we are in Christ when we realize His full and complete salvation. When we are in Christ, we have a story to tell and a song to sing!

Have you ever said to yourself, “What in the world is going on?” Do you find yourself shaking your head in disbelief at what is happening in the world today? What emotional response does this draw out of you? Anger? Fear? Sadness? In what seems to be an increasing feeling of lostness and darkness in the world today, what is the response of the follower of Jesus in the now and not yet?

Followers of Jesus are set apart, called to be different. We’ve been given, by the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ, a new perspective on life. We live in the now and not yet. The Kingdom of God is here but is not yet fully realized. In the time remaining before Christ comes back, we have been given the beautiful work to be bringers of Good News. May all come to saving faith and shout triumphantly, “Our God Reigns!”

Few of us like waiting for something. We live in an “instant everything” culture. And yet, could it be that waiting serves a very important purpose? For those who serve a promise-making, promise-keeping God, waiting for God to act helps direct their attention toward a future in which that faithful God redeems a problem-ridden world. Today we look at two biblical characters who were characterized by their anticipatory waiting. Their story inspires us to be a people who are always watching and waiting. 

God has done such a beautiful work for us. Hear the words from 1 John 3:1—“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” So, what is our response to such a great work of love? The story of the ten lepers offers some powerful insight.

What if there is not enough for me? This is one of the most primal fears of humanity. In response to fear we have the tendency to store, hoard, and hold onto resources with a death grip. It is an act of grace that Jesus lovingly teaches and shows us the power of loosening and giving.