RETREATING WITH GOD

In this episode, I want you to meet someone who is featured in my new book, SILENCE YOUR INNER PHARISEE: Ditch Performance and Embrace Radical Freedom in Christ. He’ll share his story about something that re-sets his relationship with Christ.

If you’re a regular listener to this podcast, you know that I was living for many years equating the quality of my service for God to the health of my relationship with him. I want you to avoid that. So I challenge you to take the Spiritual Self-Assessment I’ve developed. This will be a great first step to getting an honest picture of how healthy you are spiritually. It’s free. Go get it now and take it. Go to my website.

For many, many months, I’ve been pointing to June 7, and now, as this episode releases, that day is just one week away. T-minus 7 days and finally, my new book will be out. SILENCE YOUR INNER PHARISEE. It will be in paperback and Kindle, distributed through Amazon.

Can I ask for your prayers? I wrote this book for a much bigger purpose than sell books-- but to change lives. The more I talked with believers about this whole issue of a performance-based living, the more I realized that it wasn’t just my problem. So I wrote the book and it’s coming out next Wednesday. The subtitle is this: Ditch Performance and Embrace Radical Freedom in Christ.

Today’s guest is one of my featured stories in the book. His story is brief in the book, but here in this episode, you get to hear his heart and go deeper than what he shares in the book. Before we get to him, I want to share one key principle from my book. If you never get the book, then at least you’ll get some meat here on the podcast.

Five of our grandchildren were with us a few weeks ago. Our house was one big party. The kids were wonderful, well-behaved and responsible. But with our once-orderly home packed with children, life was vastly different than we were used to.

I learned that the discipline of knowing Jesus is one that takes intentionality. With five grandchildren around, I couldn’t just retreat to the patio for time with God. At least one child would follow me. They wanted to be with grandpa.

The biggest lesson I learned that week is that I have to be diligent to know Jesus. It doesn’t just happen. It’s hard work, just like any relationship. And this is the most important relationship of all.

It’s not just in the phase of life with little kids.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the season of caring for aging parents or an ailing spouse. The constant demands give you little time to retreat with Jesus. It’s even hard to think about your relationship with him.

Every stage of life presents its challenges to knowing Jesus. And within those stages are seasons that present seemingly impossible scenarios.

Tenacity is required when it comes to knowing Christ. The apostle Paul overcame many things that interfered with knowing his Savior. He didn’t raise small children, but he knew what it was like for life itself to edge out his “Jesus time.”

Paul needed the grace of God to stay spiritually healthy. So do you. Your day-to-day survival is dependent upon your relationship Christ. As the battle grows more intense, you need Jesus more. While you depend on Christ, be diligent to practice habits that will help you know him and flourish. Believe me, I would have done things differently 30 years ago if I knew what I know now. And I would have avoided destructive seasons in my life.

Well, let’s get to my guest. You heard him way back on Episode 15. His story was so meaningful, that’s why I asked him to write it up for my book. Tim Epling is a go-getter. He’s been serving the Lord for many years. Tim’s an entrepreneur, pioneer, family man and loves the Lord.  He’s a pastor, too, and someone who practices a certain discipline on a regular basis. I asked him to come on the podcast because I need help in this area—and I thought a lot of listeners do, too.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Spiritual Self-Assessment

Join FRESH FAITH 24/7

Get  Silence Your Inner Pharisee (June 7 release)

[IMPORTANT NOTE: A lot of people are taking my free Spiritual Self-Assessment. Have you? Find out how you’re doing in your relationship with God? You may know already, but this will get more specific. I’ve developed a Spiritual Self-Assessment that will give you some answers about the health of your relationship with Christ. This Self-Assessment will take just 3 minutes. It includes some probing questions that will give you the honest truth about your relationship with Christ. Go get it now and take it. It’s free HERE.]

June 7 is less than a month away. And that’s when my new book comes out: SILENCE YOUR INNER PHARISEE. The subtitle is this: Ditch Performance and Embrace Radical Freedom in Christ. If you’re a regular listener to this podcast, you know that the message of this book is near and dear to my heart.

For some of us, performance dominates our Christian lives. We tell ourselves we’re right with God, but deep inside we know something is wrong.

As you know, that was my story for decades. And it may be your story right now.

Are we Pharisees? Oh no, not that!

Silence Your Inner Pharisee challenges the longtime believer to think differently about his or her relationship with Christ.

Maybe you’ve been giving Jesus your best for years. You’ve faithfully obeyed and served him. You’ve led others to Christ or mentored them to maturity. You serve in the kids’ ministry at church. You’re in a Bible study. You lead a small group. You appear to be a stellar Christian example. You’re doing all the right things.

Yet, you’re dying inside. You know it but others don’t. Maybe you feel distant from God. He’s a cold being rather than a warm friend.

Here’s your opportunity to move from frustration to freedom in your walk with Christ.

In my book, I encourage you to ditch performance and embrace radical freedom in Christ. I did that. After decades of Christian leadership and service, God changed my life.

You can read my story and the stories of others when the book comes out June 7. You’ll be able to pick it up on Amazon on Kindle or in print. And God can change your story!

As I mentioned, I’ve got two guests on my show. They tell their stories in the book, and I wanted you to meet them here. They were on my show in the early days and their stories were so good, Each of these guys on my show today has gone through the struggle of performance Christianity. I wanted you to hear how they dealt with it.

My first guest is Larry Walters. Larry is a longtime believer, a good friend, a fellow Christian broadcaster and a discipler of men.

I’ve seen Larry’s life change over the past several years. And I know it’s all because he has discovered intimacy with Christ. He’s a guy who has ditched performance. You can read his story in my book when it comes out June 7.

My second guest is Ralf Stores. Ralf has experienced a 180-degree change in his life. Like I say in my book, for those of us who are performers, performance Christianity is always nipping at our heels. As far as Ralf is concerned, he’s making great progress. You’ll hear about it. Ralf is a men’s ministry leader in his church, he delivers the sermon several times a year, is in media ministry with TWR, and he and I take regular walks to solve the problems of the world. Yeah, we’re good friends, and most of the time we’re working through performance Christianity on those walks. 

Since the interview, Ralf has started a ministry called THE REST STOP. He’s been doing audio and video blogs and written ones, too. Every week, he comes out with a new one. Check it. It’s excellent!

Well, you’ve heard the detailed stories from two men who are featured in my upcoming book, Silence Your Inner Pharisee.

I could share principle after principle about escaping the bondage of performance Christianity, but we need to see how this works in real life. That’s why these stories, and the other ones in the book, are so important. I believe God will change your story, too, but that’s for the next episode.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Try FRESH FAITH 24/7.

Take the Free Spiritual Self-Assessment

Check out The Rest Stop

In this episode, my guest lets us take a look into his life and how time, faith and consistency helps him get to know Jesus.  A made five “knowing Jesus” statements to him and had him comment on each one.

A lot of people are taking my spiritual self-assessment. Have you? Find out how you’re doing in your relationship with God. I’ve developed a Spiritual Self-Assessment that will give you some answers about the health of your relationship with Christ. Go get it now and take it. It’s free when you go to my website at freshfaith247.com. 

June 7. That’s when my new book comes out. Thanks to many of you for helping me with the title. I put out some possibilities to my email list and got a lot of votes that are helping me narrow it down. I’ll keep you informed all along the way, and I’ll probably ask for your help. 

DESPERATION

Are we desperate to know Jesus?

In our last episode, we said that most of life happens between the trials. How can you know Jesus as deeply as if you were in the middle of hardship? That’s the challenge.

Let's look at four keys for how to know Christ.

#1: A Pure Heart

It starts with a pure heart. And that begins with coming to Jesus. When you’re battling through a trial, you’re probably honest with Jesus. You don’t hide anything. You’re desperate. You pour out your heart.

In the normal flow of life, that same transparency is needed if you’re to know Christ deeply.

A good introspection leads to a good cleansing. Not that we should get into a confession frenzy, but we are sinful people. Sin dwells in our heart.

Check your thoughts and attitudes before Jesus. Think about the words you’ve spoken to others in the past few days. How have you behaved? In the presence of Jesus, run these things through your mind. Expose them to the Lord. Admit your sin and affirm his cleansing through confession. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9 NIV).

What a magnificent promise!

Then repent, turning away from the sin you’ve confessed. Repentance isn’t a simple action. We’re pulled in by sin, so we have to intentionally turn away from it. A full 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Your heart needs to do an about face.

#2: Receive his Love

Doesn’t it bring joy to your heart when your children know you love them? They come running to you when you walk in the door. They crawl up on your lap or, if they’re too big for your lap, they give you a big hug. When they need help, they come freely to you. You joke around, play games, laugh together, cry together. All because they feel safe and free in your love.

We often have a hard time receiving the love of Jesus. We hardly consider it. This can be a major roadblock to knowing Christ. We’re left with knowing about Christ, but not knowing him like Paul.

I often spend a half day with God. No agenda. Just a time to connect on a deeper level, uninterrupted by anything. I shield myself from my phone, isolating me from the outside world. Prayer, journaling, Bible study and sometimes Christian music are part of my experience. It’s so refreshing and purifying.

I was walking with a friend the other day. He told me about a wonderful habit he and his wife have. They invite their grandchildren for an overnight a couple times a month. I’m envious, because our closest grandchildren are 500 miles away.

During the sleepover, my friends’ grandkids are loved on with chocolate chip cookies, a kids movie together and a variety of unplanned activities. I’m sure they learn about Jesus, too, during bedtime stories or dinner conversations.

These little ones are growing closer to their grandparents as every year goes by. They’re getting to know them in the context of life. Phone calls and video chats are nice, but that doesn’t cut it when it comes to knowing this couple. My friends are pouring out their love on the kids and the kids are receiving it. Fast forward 10 years and imagine the bond of love and knowing that will exist.

Do you receive Jesus’ love? Or is your relationship defined by prayer and Bible study? I feel that’s two-dimensional. While prayer and Bible study are vital in knowing Christ, there’s so much more potential in the relationship. To make it full and complete, there needs to be informal time with your Savior.

#3: Love Him

Are you loving Jesus merely by the things you do for him? Or are you loving Jesus by first investing time to be with him and know him?

Bible study is good. So is serving at church. Obeying the Word of God is essential. Giving generously to the Lord’s work is living out your faith. Feeding sheep by discipling or mentoring other believers is right in line with God’s will.

However, don’t get caught up in the performance trap. Your works can be evidence of your love, but they are not the core of your love relationship with Jesus.

With a treasured relationship at the center, a whole new adventure with Jesus opens up. Your service for him takes on a fresh meaning. Your faith walk comes alive. Giving, serving, mentoring and feeding is inspired by your love for Jesus and empowered by his Holy Spirit.

Because you love Jesus, you’ll discover that your actions for him will deepen your love further. It’s a cycle.

Love Jesus and you’ll know him more deeply.

#4: Live Joyfully with Him

As I passed by the coffee station at my ministry office, I heard two co-workers laughing. Suddenly, I stopped, looked at them and announced, “Stop laughing! This is a Christian organization.” Then I walked on, with a sheepish grin.

As Christians, we often take our relationship with Jesus too seriously. We need to laugh with him. I’m sure the disciples and our Savior had a few outbursts together. And imagine all those times when the men didn’t get his parables. Jesus probably chuckled when he explained the truth from three different angles.

“OK guys, you look confused. Let me unpack it a different way. There was this farmer…”

When I was in grade school, lunch was my favorite class. I’d join all my friends as we shared our lives and sandwiches. Lots of stories, laughs, boasting and … noise!

Until the principal walked in. Talking stopped. Laughing subsided. A hush fell over the entire room as he slowly walked past each table. If any of us had done something wrong that morning, we were sure we’d be pulled out and escorted to his office.

To this day, I don’t know why silence reigned whenever he entered, but it always did. I guess we felt we were supposed to act that way. Some sort of military inspection by the General.

Too often, we view Jesus as our principal. Silence is demanded. Laughing isn’t allowed in his presence. Be quiet and eat. I’m sure my principal didn’t want us to think or act that way, just as Jesus doesn’t today.

We can be too stilted in our relationship with Jesus. We live out the Lordship part, honoring Jesus as Master. However, some people have a hard time living out the love part. Once you understand how much Jesus loves you, your heart will be flooded with joy. You’ll be like a kid with your hero – excited, laughing, talking, having fun together. Every moment with Jesus will become a rich experience.

Are you living joyfully with Jesus? If not, you’re missing out on a valuable dimension of your relationship with him. He’s your friend. Like any other friendship, fun and happiness should abound.

You can’t really know him until you loosen up and enjoy him.

Live joyfully with Jesus.

FEATURED GUEST SEGMENT: Peter Englert

I’m convinced that as we have the foundations I discussed, we’ll know Christ better and be more consistent in our walk. My guest in today’s interview is all about consistency. Peter Englert is a pastor form my hometown, Rochester, New York. He's the Adult Ministries Director at Browncroft Community Church. He's also a podcaster. In our conversation, he had some great things to say about his journey with Christ-- and how we might relate.

Peter graduated from the University of Valley Forge with a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry and a M.A. in Theology. His experience outside of working for the church has shaped the content that he creates. His goal is simple – to provide helpful and practical resources for people to live out their faith in the Monday-Saturday of life and not just Sunday morning.

JOIN US INSIDE FRESH FAITH 24/7

If you want your life to be vibrant, consistent walk of faith, then I want to help you. Fresh Faith 24/7 is open and ready for you to take it for a test drive. A Free Trial that will get you inside and experience all the great benefits. One of those benefits is the FREEDOM PATH TRAINING inside Fresh Faith 24/7. This is truly focused on those who want to know Christ more intimately. If that’s you, then I created this for you.

It's a complete video training, including a Playbook so you can follow along and take notes. If you want to change, let’s get serious. There are four modules. Take a look at www.freshfaith247.com.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Take the Spiritual Self-Assessment

FRESH FAITH 24/7 Free trial

Peter's Podcast: Why God Why?

Take the Spiritual Self-Assessment

When I tell Christian friends that I want to help 1 million believers know the Christ of the cross, they’re not impressed. I’m not trying to shock them with the number, but with the concept. Knowing Christ. I’m all worked up about it and they have glazed looks in their eyes.

Their face is saying, “That’s nice.” They’re probably thinking, “Every Christian knows Christ, don’t they?”

By now, you understand what I explain to them. Knowing Christ isn’t a one-and-done deal. I unpack it this way:

“You came to ‘know’ Christ when you came to faith in him. But it was just the beginning. You don’t really know your best friend now like the first time you met. You’ve done life together for years. You’ve shared your hearts, lifted each other up, held each other accountable, laughed together, cried together, counseled each other and you’ve bonded in a special way.

“Knowing Christ is the starting point in your journey. And it is the journey.”

Try that with your Christian friends and you’ll have a lively discussion.

Knowing Christ was Paul’s lifelong purpose. It didn’t have an end. He pursued Jesus and knowing him all his life.

How?

So if we are to know Christ better (and more intimately) as each day or week passes, the next question is, “How?” It’s nice to have that lofty “Paul” goal of knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection, but how do we make it happen practically?

First, let me say that Christ himself has a major part in this. So does the Father. And the Holy Spirit could be the most important person in the mix.

Knowing Christ, just like living out our walk with God, is not about self-effort. It’s about faith and grace. Christ living his life in and through us. When we have the attitude that we should work as hard as we can to know Christ, we’ve missed the point. It’s not a doing thing. It’s a being thing. Certainly there are actions to take, but don’t get wrapped up in the actions. If you do, you’ll miss Jesus altogether. You’ll check off the actions, mistaking them for knowing Christ.

Knowing Christ has a facet which has nothing to do with us. It’s true that hardship, tragedy or trial will cause our faith to reach a depth not possible in any other way. This proving ground almost always hits us from the outside. Our heart is pained, so we cling to Jesus. We pray. We search the Word for help and encouragement. We ask other believers to pray for us. We seek their counsel. Our eyes point away from the world and towards God.

For some believers, hardship seems always present.

A friend of mine has lived in constant discord for as long as I’ve known him. After years of moving up the ladder in his career, he lost his job. He and his wife lived in the desert for many months. He took a low-level position in a totally unrelated field just to put food on the table. Still, they lost their home and moved in with his wife’s parents. It was humbling.

Once God provided a job in his field again, health issues hit. He was laid up for days at a time. He had serious surgeries to try to solve severe and lingering problems. To this day, he still lives in pain.

Meanwhile, their grown kids have had tragic difficulties. This has included substance abuse, marriage failures and attempts at suicide. While my friend and his wife were reeling from their own earthquake, they stepped in to help calm the storms in their children’s lives.

It was a low season. Although he is now gainfully employed, there are still aftershocks from their kids’ problems. The drama continues, but things are improving.

Through it all, my friend and his wife have faithfully trusted God. Their secret? They know Christ. I’ve seen it. It’s the only way they can endure such hardship. Not only endure, but stay active in ministry in their church, family and workplace. Like Paul, they relentlessly know Christ.

I think of brothers and sisters in Third World countries. They struggle to put food on the table. They are surrounded by disease. Some are persecuted for their faith. Life is hard. Yet, they are often the most joyful Christians anywhere. They have nothing. But they have everything—Jesus. They have learned to know him and the power of the resurrection.

However, none of us wants to constantly go from trial to trial to know Jesus better.

Most of life happens between the trials. How can you know Jesus as deeply as if you were in the middle of hardship? That’s the challenge.

And in the next episode, I’ll share three keys in how to know Christ.

Guest Segment: Dan Lemburg

My conversation with this guest really brings home his experience of how to know Christ. I wanted you to hear how this plays out in real life. Dan Lemburg and I served for nearly 20 years in Christian radio. Because of his vision, the ministry my wife and I served with started several contemporary Christian stations along the California coast. While Dan always thought big, he was a quiet man. Full of conviction, but quiet. And he still is. He is the kind of guy who listens to the Lord. Then steps out in faith.

In this interview, I discovered some things I never knew about Dan. It makes sense now how he had such great vision to reach so many people with the gospel. You’ll hear how he develops depth in his relationship with Jesus. Dan is the founder of Communing with God, a ministry that provides resources to help you grow in intimacy in your relationship with the Lord. He’s an author, too, and his latest book has just come out: and has just released a new book, called There Is a River: A Seven Week Guide for Deepening Your Walk With God. We talk about the book in our interview. 

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Take the Spiritual Self-Assessment

Start Your FRESH FAITH 24/7 Free Trial

There is a River: A Seven Week Guide for Deepening Your Walk With God

Communing With God website

Contact Jon Fugler

Rising Above Circumstances: Knowing the Power of the Resurrection

[Check out the FRESH FAITH 24/7 Free Trial]

There are many benefits of knowing Christ. One of them is knowing the power of his resurrection. This is key for rising above circumstances—like the ones you might be going through right now.

Paul was yearning for it. “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection.” (Philippians 3:10 NIV)

What does it mean to know the power of the resurrection?

The New Living Translation puts in this way: “Experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.”

Knowing the power of the resurrection is experiencing the power that raised Jesus from the dead.

It’s easy to view this power as physical or spiritual strength. If so, we’ve missed the most important effect of the resurrection: freedom from the penalty of sin, thus eternal life! When Jesus rose from the dead, he proved he was God on the cross that day, crushing Satan for good. The power of the resurrection is the key our justification and regeneration. Our salvation is tied to it.

Paul experienced the power of the resurrection, just as you and I do. But it’s such a deep concept. The more we think about it, the more mind-boggling it is. You can spend the rest of your life marveling over this truth.

You’ve been raised from the death sentence of sin, given new life in the Spirit and will be raised from the grave as Christ was, into the full presence of God’s glory. Multiply that by the billions of people throughout history who know Christ and that, my friend, is power!

The more you know Christ and the power of his resurrection, the more you’ll affirm Paul’s statement, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1 NIV)

As your mind is set on things above, you’ll experience the joy of eternal hope. You’ll rise above circumstances, knowing that your God is over all, greater than anything thrown at you in this world. Whether it’s a terrible health ordeal, blown-up marriage or financial disaster, you’ll look to the risen Jesus. He is there to carry you through.

The person who knows Jesus will turn to him. However, if we’re not already engaged in our relationship with Jesus, experiencing him daily, we won’t turn to him. We turn inward instead of upward.

Practice turning to Christ in the small challenges. Exercise your relationship with Jesus. You’ll be encouraged as you see him work in your life. Your faith will be built. Your courage will be strengthened. Peace will flow. Joy will return. You’ll build a habit of trusting him.

The power of the resurrection is the apex of God’s might. This infinite power crushed Satan, vaporized the penalty of sin, delivers hope to all believers and will, in the end, transport us from earth to heaven.

This is freedom. And it is exactly what we receive when we experience the power of the resurrection. It is freedom from sin and freedom to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

You can rise above circumstances with the power of Christ’s resurrection. You can experience it as Paul did. He was beaten, battered and bruised throughout his missionary career, but knew the power of the resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit. His hope of eternal life with his Savior kept him going strong.

He set his heart on things above. As a result, he was able to say, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12 NIV)

I believe his secret was tied to his lifelong goal to know (experience) the power of the resurrection. And that came from knowing (experiencing) Christ.

That’s our mandate today.

Your Story

The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the ultimate demonstration of God’s power. First and foremost, it put us in right standing with God. The penalty of sin was wiped out for all who repent and receive the gift of eternal life only found in Christ.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NIV)

Now that you have your homework, let’s shift gears. And yes, I do want to know what God showed you in the quiz I just gave you. I really do. Email me at [email protected].

OK, it’s time for our special guest interview. He and I had fun talking. It seems like that happens a lot on this podcast. I met him through my guest on episode 30, Bruce McNicol.

Guest segment: Robby Angle

This guest was the ultimate performer for Christ, and boy did God call him out on that. He and I share many of the same qualities. And he tells us his story of the escape from the bondage of performance Christianity. Robby Angle is the President and CEO of Trueface. He lives in Georgia with his wife Emily and their eight children. Prior to serving at Trueface, Robby served for seven years as the Director of Adult Ministry Environments and Men’s Groups for North Point Community Church in Atlanta, a church founded by Andy Stanley. Before joining North Point, Robby and Emily worked in professional counseling and aid work for Samaritan’s Purse. They served in Pakistan and Myanmar, overseeing international disaster response teams. They both received a Masters in Community Counseling, while Robby also holds a business degree from the University of Florida and a Certificate in Biblical studies from Dallas Theological Seminary.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

14-Day Free Trial to FRESH FAITH 24/7

Take the Assessment

The Cure book

Powerful Resources from TrueFace

TrueFace retreat

[Start your FRESH FAITH 24/7 Free Trial]

Sheltering at home during Coronavirus caused some strained relationships to completely break down. Irritations became unbearable. People we thought we loved (family) were almost unlovable after a month locked up together.

On the other hand, there are other people we would long to be quarantined with. (We’d probably get annoyed by them, too). I’m speaking about those few people we deeply admire. They have the qualities we desire. We look up to them. We listen when they talk, sharing gems of wisdom. We might even study their lives.

One of those men in my life was Sid. I had been a Christian less than two years when he took me under his wing to lead me further into spiritual maturity. I admired Sid. In fact, I spent so much time with him for a year that I started to behave like him. He was my role model and did a good job of it. Sid built healthy habits into my life that are still present today. He modeled Christ. I noticed and followed.

Who is your Sid? It might be someone who took time with you. Or is taking time today. It may be an author you read, a speaker you watch or listen to, a podcaster you take in. These days, your greatest influencer doesn’t need to be someone you know. We have access to role models in many forms and on many platforms. You begin talking like them, thinking like them, even acting like them.

Hang around them long enough and you’ll be a clone.

How would you like to be like Jesus? Not WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) but HWJB (How Would Jesus Be?).

You will be. It’s your destiny. 

One of my favorite verses in Scripture is a promise in Romans 8:29: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” (NIV)

That means I’m going to be like Jesus someday! When I get to heaven, my sin will be banished and I will be fully like my Savior.

Think about it. You’re going to be like Jesus.

The topic continues on this episode....

FEATURED GUEST: AJ Sherrill

AJ Sherrill is the author of one of my favorite books, Being With God: The Absurdity, Necessity and Neurology of Contemplative Prayer. He and his wife once lived in busy, noisy and always awake Manhattan. When their daughter came along, they knew it was time to move to a more peaceful place. That move was part of AJ’s journey to knowing Christ more deeply. You’ll hear other parts of his story in the interview. He’s a papa, pastor and podcaster. His church is in South Carolina where he and his family live.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Take the Spiritual Self-Assessment

FRESH FAITH 24/7 Free Trial. (Includes the Freedom Path Training).

Being With God: The Absurdity, Necessity and Neurology of Contemplative Prayer

Billy Graham quote

Lectio365 App (Download from the App store)

NOTE FROM JON:  "I’ve got something I’d like you to try, if you haven’t already.  It’s my Spiritual Self-Assessment. You’ll get an honest picture of how healthy your relationship is with God. The Assessment is free. Access it HERE."

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:5-7 NIV)

Do you remember that day when Christ became your Savior? You were given new life. One moment you were spiritually dead and the next moment you were spiritually alive. Boom! Instantly.

The Holy Spirit came into you when you came to know Christ. As Jesus says in that passage, “The Spirit gives birth to spirit.” Claim that truth as your very own.

You were born again!

This whole concept is quite mysterious. Jesus affirmed that in the next verse. Yes, we are born again, spiritually alive, but it’s hard for our minds to grasp that concept. “The wind blows where it pleases,” he says. “You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 NIV)

You’ve got the Spirit, but you can’t easily explain how He works. The more you know Jesus, the more clear this mystery will become.

Knowing Jesus brought your spirit to life. Knowing Jesus keeps the fire alive. Knowing Jesus puts him on the pedestal. It puts him at the center of your life. Yearn to know him above all other interests and activities. Let knowing Jesus consume you.

When that happens, with the power of the Holy Spirit, you’ll grow from a baby to a mature man or woman of God. Even though your growth was stunted at some point, you can return to that vibrant life-giving experience.

Your Story

Will you take time right now and admit your sin of putting yourself at the center of your life? Then give the rightful owner, Jesus, his spot back at the center. When you do that, you’re allowing the Holy Spirit to work his transformation in your life.

FEATURED GUEST:

Sue Donaldson is a longtime Christian and servant of the Lord. Like me, she’s a podcaster. Her podcast is called Living a Legacy Life. But more than that, Sue Donaldson is a speaker, an author, Bible teacher, former missionary, as well as a wife and mother. If there’s ever a candidate to fall into performance Christianity, it’s Sue. You see, she’s a doer. She has the gift of hospitality, and that means she serves, and serves, and serves. Hear how she avoids the performance trap with God, and how she keeps her relationship fresh.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Get Sue's Three Paths to Spiritual Growth in the Wilderness

Spiritual Self-Assessment

Fresh Faith 24/7 14-day FREE TRIAL

Sue Donaldson's Podcast: Living a Legacy Life

Sue's books on hospitality (and other resources)

The Christ OF the Cross

When I tell friends I want to help people know the Christ of the cross, they picture Jesus hanging there on the cross. Indeed, the cross is central to coming to know Jesus, but it is not the whole story of who he is. Jesus is eternal. I want to know him in all his everlasting existence.

What do I mean by that?

John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” (John1:3-5 NIV)

Jesus is the Word and was there in the beginning. John clarifies it in verse 14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Look at all the rich words that describe Christ.

We could spend years diving into the depths of these qualities of Jesus. Imagine getting to know his glory. His truth. His grace. There’s no finish line to knowing Christ. We go deeper, discovering afresh the amazing Jesus that we have come to know.

Jesus hung on the cross. We should never lose sight of that. Thanks to his sacrifice, we have the privilege of knowing him and his Father. Without the cross, there would be no relationship at all. With the cross, we have a starting point in our relationship, which will extend into all eternity.

Oh, I want to know Jesus and all his fulness – from the beginning of creation, through Revelation and all the way into eternity. Remember Paul’s words in Philippians 3:10? “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings.”

He wanted to know all of Jesus. And at the time, he didn’t know the fulness of Jesus described in John’s Revelation. God had amazing things in store for Paul once he met is Savior face to face.

To know Christ in his eternity is to know him fully. From the eternal beginning to the eternal end of time. And every minute in between. 

One of the series of 15 video devotionals inside FF24/7 that focus on the identities and character qualities of Jesus. If you want to know the Christ OF the cross, I recommend you start your free trial and check them out. www.Freshfaith247.com 

Featured Guest:

My guest on this episode is the epitome of faith lived out. As I talked with Tom Fay, I was so impressed that in his decades of service for the Lord, he has been able to keep Performance Christianity outside the door of his life. As you hear his story, you’ll understand why. He walks by faith. Even in seasons when God seems silent. Tom is a former pastor, as well as an entrepreneur. and an author. I just finished his latest book which is really good. We talk about it in the interview, so I won’t say anymore here. 

Resources:

Take the Spiritual Self-Assessment

Free Trial to FRESH FAITH 24/7

Tom's Book: Let the Children Come: The Life of George Muller

11 Big Promises:

Here are 11 big promises you’ll experience as we peel away performance and replace it with relationship. Here’s how freedom in your relationship with Christ plays out in real life:

In this episode... 

We’re going to look at a very simple principle that’s a step in the right direction—away from performance and into relationship.

Get the Spiritual Self-Assessment: 

How are you doing in your relationship with God? Is it healthy? How healthy? I’ve developed a Spiritual Self-Assessment that will give you some answers. This self-assessment will take just 3 minutes. It includes some probing questions that will give you the honest truth about your relationship with Christ. Go get it now and take it. It’s free when you go to my website. 

MAIN SEGMENT:

Let me provide some encouragement as we move into our main segment, thirsting for God.

“I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you.” (Psalm 63:1 NIV)

Knowing Jesus isn’t an activity. It is a state of being. In this Psalm, David’s physical setting reminds him of his spiritual setting. He’s in the desert of Judah, “a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (v. 1b)

He looks around him. Desolation. He looks inside. Desolation. In his thirstful desperation, he says that his whole being longs for God.

Have you ever gone so long without water that your mind and body deteriorate? The further you drift into that state, the more helpless you feel. And when you realize you don’t have a water source nearby, panic starts to set in.

Just as we can’t merely take a sip of water in the desert, we can’t take a sip of Jesus on occasion. We need to satisfy our thirst for Jesus always.

I’m reminded of the Samaritan woman whom Jesus met at the well in John 4.

What do we notice here? --- She was thirsty, so all she had on her mind was water. Jesus turned the conversation in a different direction, using her physical thirst as the touch point to speak of her spiritual thirst. He said he was the Living Water and that we will never thirst when we experience him.

Do you thirst for God, as David’s whole being did?

If not, could something be wrong?

I contend that you do thirst, but you don’t always realize it’s for God. David knew that his God was the only remedy for his parched soul.  

However, we try other things to satisfy the thirst only God can satisfy. We miss Jesus altogether. Our time with him becomes a burden. We leave unfulfilled, still thirsty. So we turn to work, our kids, hobbies, entertainment and social media to meet the need. But these things are sips of water that never reach our souls.

Oh, please change your attitude about meeting with Jesus. He’s such a patient God, showing up every day in your life. He waits for you to show up because you love him.

FEATURED INTERVIEW:

Yvette Walker is the founder of Positively Joy Ministries at www.positivelyjoy.com, which includes a weekly podcast by that name. She’s an author, too. Her books include Whispering in His Ear: A Month of Joyful Conversations With God, as well as God’s Voice and How to Listen. (See the links at the end of the show notes for resources).

FREEDOM PATH TRAINING:

This is truly focused on those who are struggling with Performance Christianity. If that’s you, then I created this for you. It's inside the FRESH FAITH 24/7 Membership.

Module 1: The Awakening (7 sessions). 

Module 2: The Core (7 sessions).  

Module 3: The Depth (9 sessions). 

Module 4: The Follow-through (7 sessions).

JOIN FRESH FAITH 24/7 and access the FREEDOM PATH TRAINING.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Join FRESH FAITH 24/7

Take the free Spiritual Self-Assessment

Positively Joy Ministries

Positively Joy podcast with Yvette Walker

Yvette Walker's books and resources

Your Life with God 30-day devotional books by Jon Fugler

Life Change Bible Study Series (NavPress)

Life Guide Bible Study Series (InterVarsity)

This episode is about hunger. Not hunger for cookies or a nice pastry. Hunger for Jesus.

And I want to state that without hunger, you’ll get caught up in performance again. You won’t be pursuing the relationship from your heart, but out of duty. And that’s bad. That’s the hamster wheel again. You don’t want that.  Spiritual dryness, ups and downs, distance from God, lack of purpose, frustration. Those are all results of performance Christianity.

There are three books in my life that have changed my trajectory. One of them transformed my thinking about how to live the Christian life. Eric and I talked about it last week. It’s called With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God, by Skye Jethani. My friend, Jeff, handed me the book and said it had changed his life. It changed mine, too, so I went on to buy several copies and gave them away.

The bottom line in the book is this: We fall into one or more of four traps in the way we relate to God. These traps kill our spiritual vibrancy, health and freshness. They actually distance us from Jesus instead of drawing us to him. Jethani makes the strong point that God wants us to enjoy a relationship with him.

A relationship with God. This simple concept really shook me up. The light went on. I realized I had lived my Christian life as a faith-performer for God. I wanted this new life with him. It immediately shifted my thinking.

God gave me a simple set of statements that I call my Statement of Faith. It’s not about what I believe, but it’s about who I want to become as a Christian.

For an entire year, I focused on the first statement:

My relationship with God is the most important thing in my life.

I still feel a sense of relief when I read and say that sentence. It’s like taking a deep breath and exhaling. It has revolutionized my relationship with God.

The Lord gave me two Bible verses to anchor my statement. The first was, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV) That’s what life is all about. Loving God. With my heart. With my soul. With my strength. Not with my performance. My service for God is an outgrowth of my love relationship with him.

Couple that verse with this next one and it epitomizes a fully committed, loving relationship. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” (John 3:16 NIV) The Father gave his only son because he loved me so much. Jesus died for me because he overflowed with love for me. Praise the Lord that he took the initiative to move towards me when he went to the cross.

I invite you to come along. If you’re hungry, satisfy the hunger by knowing Jesus. Know the Christ of the cross, the one who has been here since all eternity and who will be here for all eternity. There’s so much of him to know.

Hunger. It’s the key to escaping the bondage of performance Christianity. Get started by setting an appointment with God where you can wait on him. I know it’s just a beginning, but you have to start somewhere. At FRESH FAITH 24/7, there are resources inside that help make this a continuous habit.

I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about this whole topic of hunger. Tell me about your journey. This is so important. Email me at [email protected].

FEATURED GUEST: Mike Van Pelt

We can talk about escaping performance Christianity, but it’s always good to hear the story of someone who has. Mike Van Pelt is that man in this episode. Mike was an ordinary guy serving in his church. You’ll hear how God revealed to him that something was missing in his relationship with the Lord. And how Mike responded in a healthy way. He hosts a podcast and a ministry called True Man. 

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Take the Spiritual Self-Assessment

Join FRESHFAITH 24/7

Questions about today's content? Contact Jon with questions 

True Man Life Coaching

True Man Podcast

Contact Mike Van Pelt by email:

       Or call him at 864-266-2058