That They May All Be One Podcast

We continue of examination of discernment and why it is of utmost need in the church today.  This episode we look at the three places we are to have our eyes focused on...and then the foremost of those three.  A simple question to ask any Christian to see where they are at discernment wise, "where do you have your eyes/heart focused?"  Sometimes people use this statement to give an indication they are mature real Christians, "Don't be so heavenly minded that you can be no earthly good."  When in reality this actually shows the immaturity and/or disbelieving heart of that person.

Lastly, when believers have discussions on doctrine, like eschatology, it should result in a building up of the church.  If our eyes are focused correctly, we will find ourselves pointing to one thing as essential and the others used for edification.

I'll be using some of these Scriptures in this episode.  There are numerous others, so please take the time to look them up.

Grace and peace to all who are in CHRIST JESUS the LORD.

4      to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5      who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
(1 Peter 1:4–5)

27      And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
28      so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
(Hebrews 9:27–28)

30      “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,
31      because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
(Acts 17:30–31)

7      and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
8      dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
(2 Thessalonians 1:7–8)

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Charles Spurgeon said about discernment:

Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong.
It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.

Men go after novel and false doctrines because they do not really know the truth.

Satan knows very well that if he comes in black he will be discovered, but if he puts on the garb of an angel of light, then men will think he comes from God, and so will be deceived. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” If they give you not the gospel, if they exalt not Christ, if they bear not witness to salvation through the precious blood, if they do not lift up Jesus Christ as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, have nothing to do with them, speak as they may.

Definition:
the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure
DISCERNMENT stresses accuracy (as in reading character or motives or appreciating art). (Merriam-Webster)

Aspects of discernment in GOD’S Word:

Hebrews 5:11–14 
11  Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 
14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. 

Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. 

1 Corinthians 12:10
10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 

Luke 12:54–57
54  And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 
55 “And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 
56 “You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but  why do you not analyze this present time? 
57  “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 

Matthew 16:2–4
2 But He replied to them, “ When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 
3 “And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the  appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 
4 “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a  sign; and a  sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.”

Proverbs 1:1–7
1  The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 
2 To know wisdom and instruction, 
To discern the sayings of understanding, 
3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, 
Righteousness, justice and equity; 
4 To give prudence to the naive, 
To the youth knowledge and discretion, 
5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, 
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 
6 To understand a proverb and a figure, 
The words of the wise and their riddles. 
7  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; 
Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 


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Here we are at the end of season four.  What a journey it has been as we have examined lost truths of the Christian Faith.  This last episode we examine, what I believe to be, the culmination of all the other episodes - are you and old man?  When we neglect all the other lost truths and not earnestly seek to walk in a manner worthy of the LORD'S calling and gospel - we forget we are a new creation - a new man and we are to walk in that newness of life every moment of every day until we get to come home.

Grace and peace to all who are in CHRIST JESUS the LORD!  We are looking forward to starting the new season beginning in the first of September.  We are also considering a couple of new changes to the format!  Exciting times ahead!  Please email us if you have requests, prayer requests or ideas you would like us to consider.

1      Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
2      by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:1–2)

3      seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
4      For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
5      Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
6      and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
7      and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
8      For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9      For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
10      Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
11      for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

(2 Peter 1:3–11)



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Here we are the next to last podcast for season 4.  This episode especially hits hard and home for myself.  We are looking at "die to self daily."  Talk about a lost truth!  Talk about something that goes against the fabric of society, especially in the western church - just mention put your hopes and dreams to the side so that GOD may have HIS way.  While it may have outward acceptance in practicality we/I fall so very very short.  Just look at what the LORD JESUS says to those who wish to follow HIM:

20      And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”
21      But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone,
22      saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”
23      And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
24      “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
25      “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
26      “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

(Luke 9:20–26)

Next look at these verses from 1 Corinthians and Hebrews:

30      Why are we also in danger every hour?
31      I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32      If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.

(1 Corinthians 15:30–32)


1      Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2      fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3      For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary band lose heart.
4      You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

(Hebrews 12:1–4)

FYI - in the program I read verses 5-10 in Hebrews.

Join with me as we discuss, examine and see how to die to self daily.  Grace and peace to all who are in CHRIST JESUS the LORD!


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Have you ever heard the phrase, "they are a casual Christian" or "they are a carnal Christian"?  I bet you have.  I have as well. But, interestingly, there is no where in Scripture where this is shown in a positive lite.  This type of life is actually depicted of a person lost or having gone so far off the path they are indistinguishable from the world.  Join with us now as we engaged the lost truth about being a causal Christian.

The two sections of used in this episode are both from Revelation 3.  The first church is  the example of being a casual Christian.  The second is the church the LORD JESUS commends.  Now, which are you?

Grace and peace to all who are in CHRIST JESUS the LORD!

14      “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
15      ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
16      ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
17      ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18      I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19      ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
20      ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
21      ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22      ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

(Revelation 3:14–22)



7      “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8      ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9      ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
10      ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole eworld, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11      ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12      ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
13      ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

(Revelation 3:7–13)




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I'm not sure we would call soul winning a lost truth, rather a neglected truth.  However, it is included for this reason - as a whole, we have stopped talking about the LOVER of our soul.  When the LORD JESUS says the world will hate you because it has hated HIM - we flee.  We have left our first love and, by and large, stopped talking about HIM as HE has revealed HIMSELF in HIS Word.  It's a bit like the country song that says, "I believe in GOD but I don't talk much about it..."  Soul winning is an end result of being in love with JESUS.  It is what comes naturally from one who is born again and values CHRIST JESUS above all.

Jesus says, "If you love ME, you will obey ME."  The great commission is to go and make disciples.  You do not make disciples by good deeds (living out the gospel).  You only make disciples when you sow the Word of GOD in a person's life and GOD opens their eyes and ears.  Soul winning should be an active part of every Bible believing church.  Supporting missionaries or giving to organizations is not what I mean...does the church you belong too actively seek to proclaim the gospel?  If not why?

Here are the main Scriptures used in this episode.  May they go deep and bear much good fruit in you.  Grace and peace to all who are in CHRIST JESUS the LORD!

 18      And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19      “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20      teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(Mt 28:18–20)

9      But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
(1 Peter 2:9)

6      For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7      For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8      But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9      Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
(Romans 5:6–9)


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When we think about lost truths of the Christian faith the one which would seem like it should not belong is - JESUS is coming.  But, that is particularly why it is on the list.  We talk about JESUS and HIS return one day.  But we don't really think about, share and encourage each other that today could be that day.  We don't spend enough time thinking and meditating on the return of CHRIST.

The very realization the LORD JESUS is risen and returning should invade every aspect of our daily lives.  If we truly believe HE has gone to prepare a place for us and is returning to gather us to HIMSELF, then everything and where we went we would seek to be about HIS business.

Join with us as we look at a lost truth and why it is important for us to preach this each and every day to everyone including ourselves.  Here are the main Scriptures used for this episode.  Grace and peace to all who are in CHRIST JESUS the LORD.  Amen.

1      “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2      “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3      “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
4      “And you know the way where I am going.”
5      Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
6      Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
(John 14:1–6)


27      And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
28      so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
(Hebrews 9:27–28)

6      For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
7      and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well awhen the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
8      dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9      These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10      when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
(2 Thessalonians 1:6–10)




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In this third episode of season 4 we are looking at one of the most, if not the most, difficult aspects of discipleship and preaching the gospel - counting the cost.  Throughout the western church (gathering of people in a building), not the called out ones, something which seems largely absent is the teaching of following CHRIST JESUS the LORD will cost you!

29      For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
(Php 1:29)

Here are additional Scriptures used in this episode along with a short video by Steve Lawson that are used to demonstrate that following CHRIST will cost you in this world.


          25      Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,
          26      “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
          27      “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
          28      “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
          29      “Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
          30      saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
          31      “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
          32      “Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
          33      “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
          34      “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?
          35      “It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

(Luke 14:25–35)

20      “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

(Galatians 2:20)

13      but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

(1 Peter  4:13)

      12      Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

(2 Ti 3:12). (1995)






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Have you ever heard a group of Christians talking about another believer in this manner, "That person is sold out for JESUS." it is spoken in a manner that identifies this person as someone special from the rest of the believers they are associated with.  Have you also heard this statement, "Don't be so heavenly minded that you cannot be of any earthly good."?  These are statements I have, unfortunately, heard spoken numerous times.  What seems to be statements of positive affirmation are actually statements exposing the carnality of many in the church, especially in the west.

This episode we look at the lost truth of being sold-out, which should be the normal for a believer, not the exception.  Look at what the LORD JESUS says about being HIS disciple.  Ask the question, "How can anything other than being sold-out be true for a believer?"


          25      Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,
          26      “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
          27      “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
          28      “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
          29      “Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
          30      saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
          31      “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
          32      “Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
          33      “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
          34      “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?
          35      “It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

(Luke 14:25–35)




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Here we are, the beginning of season 4!  We continue to be humbled and blessed FATHER GOD would allow us to be used to proclaim the excellencies of HIS SON the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

This season the format has changed a bit.  We will be examining lost truths of the Christian faith.  Holly wont be speaking, but she is always present and insuring all the recordings go well.  The length of the episodes have also changed.  We will be focused on short, no more than 15 minute, programs.  Also, something new, we will be posting short video teachings on YouTube.  These videos will not necessarily coincide with the podcast, but offer another aspect for you to learn.

We begin season four with one area that is often talked about, but rarely used as it should be: Discipleship.  Discipleship is more than just going to Sunday School and church Sunday morning.  It is more than small groups that meet once a week or bi-weekly.  Discipleship is life.

Here is a short video (less than 5 minutes) by D A Carson called watch me.  This video is about discipleship.  It asks a question we all should ask of ourselves.  If you encountered a young believer and they asked, “What is it like to live the Christian life?”, could you answer, “watch me.”?  Really, this is what discipleship is all about.

Here are the Scriptures I use in todays episode.


Matthew 28:19–20 (NASB95):  19 “ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you  always, even to the end of the age.”

Hebrews 5:12–14 (NASB95):  12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB95):  2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

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