Jesus said to some Jews who believed in him that if they held onto his teachings, they would truly be his disciples and would know the truth, which would set them free. They were resistant to the truth because they were more worried about being educated in the law and holding prestigious positions. However, without the truth, they were slaves to sin. Their truth was from their father the Devil; but the devil is a liar, and his children are the lies. Those who refuse to love the truth are susceptible to powerful delusions. So be lovers of Truth and hate the lie.

In today's episode, I wanted to talk about the importance of seeking truth in our faith and guarding ourselves from false teachings. As believers, we are called to be seekers of truth and to test all teachings against the Word of God. Let us not be divided by superficial differences, but come together as one body in Christ. This passage talks about the importance of unity among believers, regardless of their differences. Jesus prayed for this unity among his followers, and Paul also emphasized the need for it. We should not allow divisions or quarrels to distract us from following Christ and his teachings. Let God be the ultimate truth and do not hold any man above him or his Word.

The Rising in Christ podcast discusses spiritual growth and transformation through faith in Christ. A scripture from Ephesians 5:14 is read, calling for God's people to wake up from the darkness and deception of this world. The enemy, Satan, seeks to devour and deceive people, but believers know the truth and have been awakened from their slumber. The speaker recalls the feeling of waking up from the drunkenness and illusions of this world and being grateful for a second chance to live for Christ.

Proverbs 18:20-21 teaches that the words of our mouth have the power to bring life or death. As believers in Christ, we should choose to speak life and to love and build each other up, rather than engage in gossip or slander. Our words have consequences and are a reflection of our hearts. Let's use the Word of God to speak life to those around us and let our mouths be full of truth and goodness. Carmen presents a podcast called "Rising in Christ."

The speaker, Carmen, has been gone for a couple of months but is now back with a new season of her podcast about spiritual growth and transformation through faith in Christ. She discusses the importance of believers continuing to grow in their faith and understanding that there is only one spiritual church, not multiple denominations. She urges listeners to not listen to anyone teaching the opposite of God's word and to seek the truth from God through reading and studying the Bible. She also emphasizes the importance of not relying on our own understanding. The speaker shares personal observations about different Christian denominations and expresses a desire for all believers in Christ to come together in unity. She uses references from Biblical passages and emphasizes the importance of following Jesus above any human leader or doctrine.

Carmen shares her testimony of salvation by grace through Jesus Christ. She explains how Jesus called her into relationship with Him, and she experienced the weight of her guilt and need for salvation. Through experiencing God's love and grace, she began seeking answers in the Bible, attending church, and serving in the church. However, she found herself constantly trying to be perfect and fearing God's rejection, allowing lies from the enemy to control her. Eventually, a woman reminded her of God's unfailing love, and: I was in a toxic relationship with my ex and felt lost and angry. One day, I had an experience where I felt the love of Jesus and realized that He had saved me even though I didn't deserve it. I realized that salvation is a free gift and I don't have to do good works to earn it. I am now thankful for everything that has happened in my life, including my ex, because it brought me to a deeper understanding of God's love and forgiveness.

Matthew 16:24-26 says that those who follow Jesus must deny themselves and take up their cross. This means humbling ourselves and prioritizing following God's will. This may be seen in examples of Jesus' humility, like when he humbled himself to become a servant and obey God's will. We should not expect our experience following Christ to be easy or comfortable, but should trust in God's provision and have faith in his promises. The podcast discusses the concept of "picking up our cross" as it relates to following Jesus. This means denying ourselves, humbling ourselves, and having faith in God. Each person's path may look different, but the ultimate goal is to have faith and trust in Jesus. The host encourages listeners to examine their hearts and be willing to lay down whatever God is calling them to in order to follow Him more closely.

John 8:36 reminds us of the freedom we have in Christ. However, many of us are still in bondage, specifically in the form of debt and material desires. The world promotes instant gratification and we often take out loans and credit cards in order to afford luxury items, becoming slaves to interest payments. This behavior goes against biblical teachings and shows our impatience and lust for material things. Just like the Israelites desired the fruits of the land that once held them captive, we The speaker reflects on the story in the Bible about the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt, and compares it to people being trapped in the materialistic and selfish desires of the world today. They warn against being deceived by the false promises of a better life and emphasize the importance of finding true freedom in Christ. They quote Luke 4:18 and Galatians 5:1 to support their message.

In this episode the host gives her testimony of having an idol in her home without understanding and the impact that having imagines made by human hand and parading them around like that are God or the image of God. It's a call to cast down these idols and worship God alone.

Some Christians are always trying to tell others what to do with their lives and imposing their beliefs on them. This is not in line with what Christ teaches us about considering others and showing mercy. We should focus on sharing our testimony and being a light to others, instead of trying to force them to obey God. Christians need to take a hard look at themselves and examine if they are being hypocrites in their actions and behaviors. We must also police ourselves as a church and not judge others. Finally, The speaker talks about the importance of examining our attachment to false images of Jesus and how it goes against the commandment in Exodus 24. They also discuss the dangers of judging and trying to force our beliefs on others, instead of showing compassion and remembering the mercy of God in our own lives. The focus should be on being a light in the world and helping others come to a true understanding of God.