Renew The Mind; Transform Your Life

Wonderful free resources:
Poster
https://d1bsmz3sdihplr.cloudfront.net/media/Posters%20Download/50_Romans.jpg
Video introduction to chapters 1-4
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/romans-1-4/

Romans 4
World English Bible
What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works,

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”

Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision. For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. For the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”Genesis 15:5 Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone, but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

Wonderful free resources:
Poster
https://d1bsmz3sdihplr.cloudfront.net/media/Posters%20Download/50_Romans.jpg
Video introduction to chapters 1-4
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/romans-1-4/

Wonderful free resources:
Poster
https://d1bsmz3sdihplr.cloudfront.net/media/Posters%20Download/50_Romans.jpg
Video introduction to chapters 1-4
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/romans-1-4/

Here, in Romans chapter 2, is the origin of the popular phrase: "A law unto themselves." In World culture, it is associated with rebellion - people making up their own rules for themselves as they go along -  but in Romans chapter 2 it means the opposite - a good conscience becoming our inner compass!

The 4th July is Independence Day in the USA. In this sermon, Lex recommends we go one step further and celebrate Interdependence Day. The natural path to maturity is from dependence as a child through to independence as an adult. However, to build anything significant we need to learn the power of the tribe, the team, the congregation where we celebrate and rely upon gifts that differ and complement one another from member to member. This is the dominant message of The Body of Christ metaphor used by St Paul.

You have a unique part to play. Your gifts, abilities, and talents are a once-in-Eternity manifestation of who you alone can be at this moment in time. Only you can change history in the way that you can. If we begin there, and then find others with unique callings, gifts, and talents - others who share our values and our mission - anything is possible.

The call to action is first to seek God to clarify the role you must play as part of The Body of Christ. Secondly, to answer the simple call to ministry: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless, and to visit those who are sick or in prison. What we do to them, we do to Christ.

To take a really positive first step, try this link:
fivefoldministry.com/static/learn-a…-fold-ministry and click on [Begin Test] at the top right of the page.

BONUS
If you'd like to watch this podcast put to pictures, the video is here:
https://youtu.be/yBekQKTa_1o 

Wonderful free resources:
Poster
https://d1bsmz3sdihplr.cloudfront.net/media/Posters%20Download/50_Romans.jpg
Video introduction to chapters 1-4
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/romans-1-4/

Romans chapter 1 without commentary - raw, pure, Word!

This is a very challenging Scripture given the current trends in Society.

Much of the older established churches in the UK has waivered on this message.
Do we have the courage to align ourselves with what the Word says, or do we adapt ourselves to the modern age?

As Paul will say later - don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold but let God remake you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed.

We are the Children of God, chosen to receive messages from Him, OurFather, and Jesus, Our Great High Priest, and The Holy Spirit, Our Constant Companion and Guide.

Last night, I believe God 'quickened' (i.e. brought to life in a new and personal way) part of a Scripture I am very familiar with, Hebrews 4:12.

"For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

In the past, I've focused on the Word as a sharp sword, but last night the message's focus was upon, "living and active..."  This means that any Word that God has spoken is still 'living' and, crucially, still 'active'.  By active, I mean at work, working for you!

Consider Genesis Chapter 1.  We still have Light because God said, "Light, Be!" and His Word is still producing Light.  It is Living and Active.

Consider verse 28 of Genesis 1:
God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

God still says over you, "Be fruitful and multiply."  That Word is still actively at work.  That word is still 'alive' - with all the power it needs to come to pass.

This very brief message is also a "Thank You!" to all who have downloaded the podcast so far.  We have hit an achievement goal (set by Buzzsprout, the hosting platform) of 3,500 downloads.  As you may be able to see from the map, 70% of those downloads are in North America, which emphasises to me the power of the internet to serve God's purpose.  His message is Global and He has provided us with the means to broadcast His message to the World.

Hallelujah!
Be being blessed (for His Word of Blessing is Living and Active)
and
Be fruitful and multiply!

Your Brother in Christ
Lex

Primarily written for my Christian listeners, this is an inspirational and spiritual podcast on being bold about applying your talents to being successful.

British people are famous for not talking about their talents because, culturally, it is regarded as 'boasting'. God has no such reticence! You are meant to prosper, to success, to be fruitful and multiply. In fact, if you don't, you may well be in for a shock!

I was inspired by The Armour of God in Ephesians 6 to tell a tale about overcoming the dragon of boredom.

On first listen, this may not appear to be a Biblical message - just as the tales of Narnia or Lord of the Rings is not explicitly Christian.  However, I confess in the podcast that The Armour of God is where the idea came from.  I also believe that many of my brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering from this strange foe: boredom.

Many of us have little or nothing to complain about but boredom is a dangerous force.  The Victorians used to say, "The devil finds work for idle hands," and The Living Bible translates Proverbs 16:27 as, "Idle hands are the devil's workshop."

I believe the armour 'invented' in this story and podcast represents a positive list of actions that believers can take to stay energised, motivated, and, above all, fruitful and productive in a time where having time on our hands may not otherwise be helpful.

Wow!  This was exciting and different!  I was doing my Scriptural Affirmations and declaring out the fruitfulness I'd like to see manifest when my thoughts turned to how I could deliver more of what you wanted.

The message that came to me for you and for me was clear: "Output Equals Input."

By this, I mean our Output needs to match our Input.   Christians are largely very good at being open to Inputs - otherwise you wouldn't be listening to this Podcast!  We've had all this Word coming in for years but the shift needs to be an increased focus on Outputs.

In practice, this means speaking into our circumstances.
Jesus spoke to the storm.
Jesus spoke to the fig tree.
Jesus, every time He spoke the Word 'out' of His mouth, delivered an Output.
For example, the command, "Lazarus, come forth!" was an Output.

Thus, I believe the time has come for us to command the blessing upon our children and those we pray for, and upon our storehouses (bank accounts usually), and upon the work of our hands.  The Christian Way is not passive but active.

Jesus said the wise among us would be like those who built their homes on a foundation of rock.  When the storms come (and they will), our houses will stand.  How do we build on rock?  Jesus says this is the one who hears the Word and does it.

I want to hear from you more of what you'd like to hear.
You can email me at [email protected]

I also want to, "redeem the time," in other words, to buy time out to create more of these podcasts.  That means I need cash flow to buy the time.  If you can cheerfully give into this ministry, my paypal link is:
https://paypal.me/lexmckee?locale.x=en_GB

My desire is to spend the majority of the time I have creating edifying content.
Let me know what that means for you, and help me buy that time, and together, in partnership, we'll make a bigger difference!

Then thanksgiving will overflow to God... and that's what our mission is!

‘Yahweh bless you, and keep you.
    Yahweh make his face to shine on you,
    and be gracious to you.
Yahweh lift up his face toward you,
    and give you peace.’

When you have faith, you believe.
The world says, "Seeing is Believing."
The Word says, "Faith comes from hearing..."

The two don't need to be in conflict.  Physiologically, we have many brains.  Two key ones are our Verbal Brain and our Visual Brain.

It makes sense that when these two are in agreement, wonderful results can be experienced.  It makes spiritual sense to remember that any kingdom divided against itself must fall.  Christians need to match the imagination of the mind with the confession of the mouth.  This message, though not explicitly Christian, reminds us that words and pictures must be in agreement when we are believing God for a better future.

If you'd like to view a video of this podcast, here's the link:
https://youtu.be/RKOcuZtfCto