Renew Your Mind Podcast

We all need constant encouragement and edification, but we often trivialize it, which is why we are full fear, resentment, bitterness, and offense. We get cleansed from these whenever we're exposed to the Word of God. That's why we can't take regular exposure to God's Word and fellowship with other believers for granted. By this we get plugged into grace.

We're saved for a purpose. This is why we're saved and translated to heaven. There's an assignment for everyone in Christ - one that goes beyond bread, butter, and self. An assignment that places restraints on us, one the pressures of life will try to rob us of. This is a call to saved and satisfied people: take heed of the ministry you've received from God.

Christianity isn't about us; it's about what God did for us through Christ Jesus. It's not about our actions or abilities, but about expressing God's life through us. Jesus sets the standard – He's the focus, not us. And with Him, we can do all things because He strengthens us.

To be born again is to respond to the message of Jesus Christ. It is to accept the gift of God, which is in Jesus, and is done by believing with your heart and confessing the lordship of Jesus. It is called a gift because we contribute nothing to it; it is freely given

From the examples of Nicodemus and Cornelius, being a religious person, a giver, knowledgeable in scripture, morally upright, and even having angelic encounters doesn't mean one is born again. Every person born of a man and a woman inherits a sinful nature. Just as physical birth qualifies us for this nature, being born again qualifies us for the gift of eternal life.

The ant is able to gather food for winter because it exercises self-control. The ability to delay gratification is non-negotiable if one wants to gather. The ant doesn't labor only to eat all it has worked for instantly. This may be trivialized by many, but looking around, you'll notice several lives that are unpleasing because they overlooked the wisdom of self-control.

The wisdom of the ant is that it doesn't just know the seasons of life; it knows what to do in each season. The ant knows the summer season is meant for hard work. The ant isn't confused about what to do; it knows that as long as it's summer, it's time to work hard

The wisdom of the ant is that life is in seasons. As simple as this truth may sound on the surface, this is why the ant is never poor or in lack, yet we, with our sophisticated lives, are always in need. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, but the people failed to recognize their season. Do you know which season of life you're in?

Regardless of its limitations, the ant shows responsibility. It knows it is responsible for the final outcome of its life and hence responds to life with the ability God has given it. As weak as the ant is, it is never a victim of poverty because of its self-leadership. Nehemiah had no degree or experience in building walls, yet because of his great leadership, he achieved remarkable results in a record time.

Everyone has a limitation or something that puts them at a disadvantage. The ant isn't the strongest, biggest, or quickest, nor does it have a leader, but none of these have given it enough reason to ever go hungry. Every limitation is a platform for demonstrating God's perfect power in us. With this understanding, Paul glories in his weakness so that Christ's power may rest on him.