Faith, Faithfulness and The Birth of the Savior -- The Lord Jesus Christ

Charlie Crawford joins me in this podcast based on Luke 2:8-20. We cover the following points: # 1 Teaching children at Christmas time about Christ and Salvation # 2 How Faithfulness and Love for God are key aspects of God's Supernatural Workings (Luke 16:10,11 1 Cor. 2:19) # 3 Understanding the phrase in Luke 2:10 "to all people" -- from the missionary aspect and from the sin and salvation aspect -- What does it mean God is able to save to the uttermost in Hebrews 7:25? # 4 Four Critical Aspects of the Shepherd's Faith # 5 Science and God's Word # 6 The Critical Importance of God's Word and Our Thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:4,5 1 Peter 1:13) The Foundational Importance of the Virgin Birth of Christ (Matthew 1:22,23 Isaiah 7:14) # 7 Faith and Action (Hebrews 11), # 8 Understanding Two Vertical and Two Horizontal Biblical Principles of a Healthy Relationship with God and Others # 8 A Perspective on Overcoming the Fear of Witnessing to Others concerning Spiritual Truth # 9 The All Encompassing Wonder, Majesty, Glory, and Worship of Christ's Birth --Luk 2:13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Luk 2:14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

This recording was given in 2019 when I was preaching through James (1:5-8) As I listened to it recently I began to realize that the points I brought out were not primarily from the preparation the previous week; but rather, I was drawing upon a lifetime of learning of critical aspects of learning concerning Wisdom and Prayer. May God bless each one who listens to receive the wisdom you need for the present moments of your lives.

I explain the following points: # 1 God's Sequence of Learning # 2 Understanding the Fear of the Lord # 3 How To Prepare Youth for Their Teen Years # 4 Understanding Our Helplessness, Hopelessness and Wretchedness apart from the Lord Jesus Christ # 5 Abiding In Christ # 6 Understanding the Believer's Direct Connect # 7 Insights From Jacob's Life # 8 The Critical Importance of Brokenness # 9 Understanding the Wilderness Experiences of Life

John Howard joins me in this podcast. By God’s grace we both have lived to be in our seventies. Our desire is to share vital Biblical life-principles that we are learning in our journey. Our goal is in Psalm 34:1-3. Psalm 34:3  O magnify the LORD with me  [us], and let us exalt his name together.

1. What it means to put yourself on the altar of God with a first-fruit offering

2. Seven Critical Words to Understand – the greatest decision ever made to benefit mankind.

3.  Understanding 1 Corinthians 8:2     

4.  Five Tests to Apply in 1st Corinthians to determine right or wrong 

5. Understanding the Practical and Life Changing Application of Resurrection Power  

6. Understanding the counterfeit of Spiritual Gifts  

7. Understanding Romans 8:2 

8.  Understanding Micah 7:19   

9.  Establishing –Time With God – as a priority every day  

10.  Meditating On A Spiritual Single Focus from God Each Day 

11.  Understanding You Don’t Have to Have The Last Word in Conversations Prov. 17:28  

12.  Understanding The Blessings of Your Family Heritage Even When There Are Negatives 

13.  Trusting God for Unsaved Love Ones in Prayer 

14   Understanding the Power of Singing to the Lord Privately  

15.  The Priority of Redeeming The Time   

16. Presumptuous Sins  Ps. 19:13  2 Samuel 5:17-25 

17.  Two Vital Principles  in Knowing the Will of God  Col. 3:15  Prov. 11:14 

 18.  Peace In Believer’s Lives and the Final Authority of Jesus Christ 

19. A Good First Thought as You Wake up Each Day 

20.  Understanding the Definition of A Truly Rich Man 

21.

This podcast is the 2nd recording of two with Ben

Joining me in this podcast is Ben Solensky. Ben recently gave a series of messages at our church entitled "Devoted to God".  One message in that series that greatly impacted many lives was entitled: A Life and Legacy Consistent in Parental Devotion to God. I was so excited about this

# 1 The Proposition: A Life and Legacy Consistent in Parental Devotion to God

# 2 What we can learn about being a godly father from Noah, Lot, Job, Joshua, Andrew and Simon, Timothy -- Lois and Eunice, Paul's spiritual fathering in his ministry

# 3 1 Peter 3:7

Ben is our associate pastor at Greenville Christian Fellowship here in Greenville S. C. 

  My son Joel Cook joins me in this podcast. He is on staff

This message was preached by me January 22nd, 2017. It is all about heaven and a certain relationship with God the Father through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. My son Joshua has been listening to my Gospel of John series on sermon audio and said this is the most impactful one as to his personal life. The wonders of Heaven and the wonders of knowing God in a personal way and the certainty of being with Him after death are major themes. There are many more applicable points about the believer's journey in this life including the certain hope that future generations of believers have regardless of how corrupt this present world becomes. ' Also, we all need to understand the root problem that short circuits relationship or fellowship with God -- clinging to our own way and trusting our own thoughts rather than God's truth in the Bible. It is given to Isaiah 58:7: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Also, we explain that in eternity (in the New Heaven and the New Earth) there are both rewards and responsibilities. Also we explain that when God comforts and meets our needs in Christ, He wants us also to be a channel of the living water of His blessing and His comfort to others (John 7:38 2 Cor. 1:3,4) Multiple other Scriptures are given as to each truth being explained. I would encourage all those who listen to take time to look those verses up in the Bible and and ask God to give to you all the wisdom and application you need for your life in each area.

Someone reminded me today of this sermon I preached on Sunday February 5th, 2012. I do not remember the circumstances that brought this sermon about, but as I listened to it today March 21, 2024, I recognized there are critical answers to life situations that we all need to remember over and over again in our life's journey. It is one of the shorter sermons I ever preached but may be one of the most impactful sermons I ever preached. As I listened to myself preach it today I knew it was coming from the innermost part of my being. As you listen to it may God bless you and give you the spiritual wisdom and spiritual understanding you need to understand the greatness of God through His Son Jesus Christ to meet every need in your life and provide the answers to every situation of life you face. 2Co_4:13  We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Ben Cook and Austin Nigh join in this podcast based on James 1:2-7 as we cover the following points:

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 

1. We must understand believers can only respond to trials by faith properly through Jesus Christ indwelling life within. He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2) 2. The Certainty of Trials 3. Distinguishing Trials and Temptation 4. Joy and Trials 5. The Essence of the Matter and Trials 6. Patience and Trials 7. Faith and Trials (Prov. 3:5,6) 8. The Sovereignty of God and Trials 9. God's Ways and Trials 10. Jesus and Trials.

Numerous personal testimonies are share by Ben and Austin so we can all understand the practical application of the Biblical Principles.

This teaching was given by our associate Pastor Ben Solensky December 31st, 2023. I have listened to his teaching twice taking multiple pages of notes because I know in this message are critical, vital, essential principles for every father and mother to understand in their discipleship of their children in the home and family so that God's generational blessing can be upon each of your families and can impact the darkness of this corrupt world and others to come to salvation in Christ and your sons and daughters be filled with the fruits of righteousness by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  I would encourage you to hit the pause button as Ben covers the following points and prayerfully digest each one and relisten prayerfully again to each point:       

May God give to each of you the understanding you need concerning:

There are many practical helps throughout this whole message. May God give you moms and dads the wisdom you need in bringing up your sons and daughters in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ's life.