The Bible Speaks to You: Think, Pray, Love like Jesus

152 – Sometimes, the best prayer is just being in God’s presence

A lot of people think they don't know how to pray. They assume you have to say certain words and phrases in a certain way for your prayer to be "right."

But there is no on right way to pray. It's more about feeling God's presence. Then the right ideas will come to you to pray with.

Being in God's presence

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, the idea of just being in God's presence.

In this week's episode, I talk about how:

• Moses felt God's presence at the burning bush, but wanted more
• Moses felt God's presence after being on Mt. Sinai, but wanted more
• Moses eventually learned that God's presence was enough
• The book of Psalms assures us of God's presence
• God told Jeremiah that He was always present
• And why some people are afraid of God's presence
• I felt God's presence in an electrical storm
• Jesus experienced God's presence, even on the cross

Practice being in God's presence

How would you feel if you were completely aware of God being present with you? Would you act differently? Would you think different thoughts? How would it change what you say or don’t say?

How would it change the way you think about and treat other people? How would it change the way you see and treat yourself?

I encourage you to practice being in God's presence.

Take some time when you’re not trying to solve a problem, not praying for anything in particular.

Just practice being in God’s presence.

________________
Bible references in this week's episode. Check them out at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/152

Subscribe to the podcast
___________________________________________

Text me your questions or comments.

Support the show

If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. 

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast  (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)       
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

151 – Have you ever had to deal with modern day Pharisees?

It's a big problem in a lot of churches, where someone in a church’s leadership becomes dictatorial, self-righteous, legalistic, and does everything to stay in control.

Part of the problem is that Pharisees today, don't realize they are Pharisees.

In this week's episode, I talk about

• What a modern day Pharisee is like
• The 4 main ways to deal with Pharisees 
• What works the best 
• What happens if you try to correct or rebuke a Pharisee
• How I almost became a Pharisee

________________
Bible references in this week's episode. Check them out at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/151

Subscribe to the podcast
___________________________________________

Text me your questions or comments.

Support the show

If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. 

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast  (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)       
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

150 – I asked for your questions about the Bible. Wow!

Several weeks ago, I asked listeners to send in their questions about the Bible. Thanks to everyone who responded. What wonderful and thoughtful questions.

Asking questions is one of the most important ways to learn. Unfortunately, some churches discourage questions. They don't want people to think for themselves. I feel the exact opposite.

Here are the questions sent in:
My responses are not the be-all and end-all answers. But I share a few thoughts and encourage you to think how you would answer these same questions. 

• How do you explain the contradictions in the Bible?
• Are Adam and Eve the first humans created by God? Is this a legend or not? 
• Should we interpret the Bible literally or figuratively? 
• Does Jesus have siblings? 
• If God is all powerful, all knowing, and all loving why do bad things happen to good people? 
• And since bad things happen, is that a reason we shouldn’t believe God is good and all-powerful?
• Where does evil come from?
• Where does evil exist? 
• Can you shed some light on the how Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish?
• What does the Bible say about eunuchs?
• If only one of the sixty-six books that comprise the Bible could be preserved for all eternity, which book do you feel it should be?
• How can we see the Bible stories more spiritually and with fresh eyes instead of just from a human perspective? 
• Are the miracles and healings of the patriarchs, the prophets, Jesus and his disciples, just symbolism of God being in power or can these things happen today? If so, how? If not, why not?
• Why doesn’t God just heal us automatically?
• You talk about mud as a metaphor for the sins and mistakes in our lives, that can be washed away with God's love and grace. How do you know this is true? What if the "mud" or sin seems really convincing that it’s part of us? How do we get rid of muddy thinking?
• What is your favorite Bible story, quote, or inspiration, and why?
• If God wants you to do something that is daunting and seems impossible, how do you know it’s really God guiding you and not the whispering voice tempting you to jump off the pinnacle of the temple? 
• When times are rough, how do you keep walking in the Spirit, even though you’re afraid and times are hard?

Here are three previous episodes I mentioned this week
Episode 17 – If You Take the Bible 100% Literally, You’ll miss 90% of What is Says 
Episode 2 – The Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand
Episode 24 – Give Gratitude in Advance of a Healing or Blessing

Bible references in this week's episode. Check them out at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/150.

Subscribe to the podcast

Text me your questions or comments.

Support the show

If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. 

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast  (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)       
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

149 – Have you ever wondered why you are where you are at this point in history?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how each of us has a unique place and purpose in God’s creation. The Bible is full of examples of the right person being in the right place at the right time, saying and doing the right thing.

One of the best examples in the Old Testament of someone being in the right place at the right time, is Esther.

In this week's episode, I talk about the story of Esther at the crucial moment when her cousin Mordecai sent her a message encouraging her to go talk to her husband the king. She was hesitant but Mordecai explained that God had put her in the position of Queen so she could help to remedy the situation.

We still find comfort and guidance in Mordecai's words: "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

"For such a time as this"

You are here, at this point in history and whatever situation you find yourself, have the same opportunity as Esther did to make a right choice and stand up for truth and justice. You're probably not a queen in a palace saving thousands of people from being killed, like Esther did. 

But with all the challenges in the world today, both on a global scale as well as your personal life, you  have the ability to hear God's voice and follow God's guidance. That's where all true solutions come from.

In this episode I share

• How my friend Paul had an Esther moment with a dictator in Central America
• How God led me to discover a greater sense of purpose
• How Jesus thought about his purpose
• Why it was important for Jesus to come  when he did, instead of 500 years sooner or later
• How you can begin to align yourself with God's purpose for you at this moment in human history.

Step with boldness into what God has called you to do. God is using you to accomplish something much bigger than you just solving your own problems. The world needs your light. The world needs your courage. And most of all, the world needs your love. You are here for such a time as this.

Bible references in this week's episode. Check them out at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/149.

Subscribe to the podcast
___________________________________________

Text me your questions or comments.

Support the show

If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. 

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast  (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)       
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

148 – When does Christ open the book with seven seals?

Recently, I was studying Revelation, Chapter 5, where John of Patmos is shown a scroll sealed with seven seals. Chapter 6 then describes what happens as the seals are opened.

A lot of Christians are incredibly fixated on what these seals represent and the events that follow in the book of Revelation. There are so many different opinions and theories about how and when these prophecies will be fulfilled.

Here are some of the key points in this episode:

• Many Christians believe these prophecies have not yet been fulfilled
• A growing number of Christians believe the prophecies in Revelation were fulfilled right after the book was written.
• Past prophecies as to time and date for Jesus returning and the end of the world have been wrong.
• Jesus said no one, not even the angels in heaven, not even himself, knew when that day would be. Only God knows (Mark 13:22)
• Jesus also told his disciples it is not for us to know the times and dates of when God will accomplish things (Acts 1:6, 7)

Instead of getting all caught up in how this is going to happen in the future or whether it has already happened in the past, I encourage you to focus more on how Christ fulfills this prophecy in your life today. 

What if we don’t have to wait till the end of time for Christ to open the seven seals? What if it could happen right now?

Is there something hiding in your heart that needs to be exposed, faced, and healed? Things you have done wrong and haven't dealt with? Or the unhealed wounds from things others have done to harm you? Only Christ can open the seals of your heart, expose the evil, and defeat the foe.

Christ is knocking on the door of your heart. 

All he asks is to share a meal with you, to partake of the bread of life with you. In the process, he will open the seven seals on your heart, everything that would try to keep you from being all that God made you to be.

Christ is uncovering and destroying whatever is unlike him, in your life,  today!

________________
Bible references in this week's episode. Check them out at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/148.

Subscribe to the podcast
___________________________________________

Text me your questions or comments.

Support the show

If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. 

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast  (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)       
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

147 – What do you do when your church isn't following Christ?

Recently I’ve met several people who have left their churches because their pastor, the leadership team, or the church as a whole, was not really following Jesus or obeying his teachings.

I know folks who have been abused emotionally, spiritually, theologically, and sometimes even physically, in their churches. One or more of their church leaders, and sometimes the whole culture and the resulting politics at church, have been so far away from Jesus’s way of thinking and living, that my friends had to leave. 

Their motives were misunderstood. They were accused of things they didn’t do or say. Friends betrayed them and often end up refusing to ever talk to them again. 

My heart goes out to these folks. And there are thousands upon thousands who have left their churches or are thinking about it.

Here are two previous episodes where I interviewed pastors who left their churches because their churches weren't following Jesus

• 76 Keith Giles and the Atonement of Christ 
• 120 Jason Elam: You Are Loved and Accepted by God 

And by the way, leaving their old churches and their old doctrines behind did not cause them to abandon Jesus. They love him more now than they ever did before.

We all need to leave behind any version of Christianity that does not perfectly embrace what Jesus said and did.

I am tired of people defending man-made religion. It’s time to get back to the religion of Jesus, the original Christianity of Christ. That’s what this podcast is all about.

Re-examining your faith can be a scary and uncomfortable process. But you’re not alone in the journey. More people than you can possibly imagine are on the same path and each may feel like they are the only one with doubts and questions.   

There’s no formula of what to do when you find yourself in this position or your church isn’t following Christ, but here are a few ideas to get you started in this process:

• Go back to the four Gospels. Take each idea and put it into practice in your daily life. That's one of the best ways to see if Jesus knew what he was talking about.
• Visit other churches and listen to people with different ideas.
• Ask questions and write them in a journal.
• Talk to a friend.
• And if you need someone to talk to, please contact me. I mean that very sincerely. I would love to talk to you.

________________
Bible references in this week's episode. Check them out at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/147.

Subscribe to the podcast
___________________________________________

Text me your questions or comments.

Support the show

If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. 

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast  (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)       
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

146 – Is it really possible for us to be filled with God's fullness?

And what does that even mean?

Over the years, I’ve met people from all walks of life who, to greater or lesser degree, don’t feel complete. They identify themselves with their mistakes. They see themselves as victims of other people or circumstances. They don’t feel loved, good enough, or worthy.

I have struggled with this myself at times.

You can pray, read the Bible, talk to a friend, or even listen to a sermon or a podcast, or go to a Bible conference, and sooner or later you’ll come across the idea that God loves you and forgives you. But sometimes it just seems like words. It seems like something is still missing.

This week's episode talks about:

• What it means to be filled with God's fullness
• Why we don't believe we are
• The difference between trying to fix a problem and getting rid of it
• The importance of a mindset shift from a material perspective to a spiritual one
• Why it doesn't take time to change your mindset, but seems like it does
• A simple gratitude-in-advance prayer to accept and embrace God's fullness in your life

________________
Bible references in this week's episode. Check them out at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/146.

Subscribe to the podcast
___________________________________________

Text me your questions or comments.

Support the show

If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. 

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast  (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)       
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

145 – Have you ever wondered why some prayers get answered and some don't?

Personally, I believe all prayers are answered, just not always according to our preconceptions. There are times when we think our prayers have not been answered, but we just didn’t realize that the answer was, “No,” or something different from what we were expecting.

Is it ever God’s will that someone not be healed or a problem not be solved? Unfortunately, too many Christians have been taught this very thing. I did a couple of episodes on this topic: 

• Episode 29: Is it Ever God’s Will You Are NOT Healed when You Pray? 
•  Episode 98: Is it God’s Will for You to Be Healed? 

When you have prayed every way you know how and someone is not healed or a challenge lingers, it is all too easy to think, “Well, I prayed for God’s will to be done and they weren’t healed. So, it must be God’s will this person wasn’t healed.”

But if you start your prayer with even the unconscious inkling that it might not be God’s will for someone to be healed, you cannot pray with the same authority Jesus did. 

In this week's episode, I talk about some of the reasons our prayers don't seem to be answered or heal the way Jesus healed. Here are just a few: 

• It has to do with our motives
• Undetected fear or sin
• Our lack of faith and spiritual vision,
• And sometimes disbelief and opposition from others

Take a moment for an honest look at your motives. Surrender to God all your carefully constructed plans for your life, all your preconceptions, personal goals, and aspirations. Just for a moment resign your will to God’s. 

There’s nothing to fear because God’s will is always good, and so much better than anything we could come up with for ourselves. God will put you in the path that glorifies Him and blesses mankind the most. Be like a little child. Put your hand in God’s and trust Him to guide you. 

Hold your life up to the standard Jesus set in the Sermon on the Mount. This is not about beating yourself up because you’re not doing everything perfectly. 

Always acknowledge how much you’re doing right. But ask God to wash away any fear, uncertainty, or sin that may cloud your clear spiritual prayer-vision. 

Quietly but with boldness: acknowledge God’s supremacy over all the lies of Satan; rejoice that God has revealed the remedy for all evil through Christ; claim and exercise the authority, given to you by Christ, over all the power of the enemy. 

And your prayers will be effective.

Bible references in this week's episode.
Check them out at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/145.

Subscribe to the podcast
___________________________________________

Text me your questions or comments.

Support the show

If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. 

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast  (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)       
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

144 – Keith Ferrin shares a unique way to read the Bible that reveals more of your identity in Christ.

This week, Keith Ferrin and I have a conversation about experiencing the Bible's message on a whole new level that reveals more of who we really are as children of God.

Keith shares why he's so passionate about the Bible. Here are some of the ideas he shares: 

• The world’s lies are really, really loud and part of why I read the Bible is to make sure that the truth is louder.” It’s not about learning something new. It’s about being reminded what is true.
• We need to read the Bible relationally, not informationally ( and he explains what that means)
• We have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwelling in us.
• He shares what happened on April 18, 1993, that caused a major shift in the way he thought about the Bible
• The difference between memorizing Scriptures and internalizing them

Keith shared a simple way to look at any Bible passage and see more than you ever did before:

1.   What does this passage tell me about who God is? Remember, God is the most important character in the Bible.
2.   What does it tell me about what God has done?
3.    What does it say about who I am? (in light of, or in relationship with who God is and what God has done)
4.    What is my response?

Keith emphasized the need to soak in bigger chunks of the Bible. All too often we study the Bible in tiny little pieces, as if we’re discussing the scenes of a movie we’ve never completely watched.

Keith and I created a Bible reading challenge. For the next 30 days, read the book of 2 Timothy out loud. It should take about 10-15 minutes. Read it like a letter you received from a very dear friend.

Keith Ferrin Contact info:
KeithFerrin.com
Keith's YouTube Channel
Keith's interview of me on YouTube: Developing the Mind of Christ

For more detailed show notes go to TheBibleSpeakstoYou.com/144

Subscribe to the podcast
___________________________________________

Text me your questions or comments.

Support the show

If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. 

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast  (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)       
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

143- Jesus said to go into your closet and shut the door when your pray.

Did he mean that literally? What is Jesus really asking us to do?

Imagine you were in the crowd when Jesus was giving his Sermon on the Mount. He's talking about praying and all of a sudden he says you should go into your closet and shut the door.

Most people you know pray on the street corners or in the synagogues. Jesus basically just called them hypocrites. How does he get away with that?

In this week's episode, I talk about what it actually means to go into your closet and pray. Here are several of the important ideas I talk about:

• The Greek word here means a storehouse. It's where you'd keep your resources. 
• When we pray, Jesus wants us to go into our spiritual storage room where God has already provided an answer for our needs. 
• It's not a literal closet or a literal door
• Jesus never went into a little room and shut the door to pray. For him the closet was a spiritual state of mind that shut out the material influences of the world so he could hear the voice of God.
• Jesus took his spiritual closet with him wherever he went

Another way to think about this is to ask: Where do you stand when you pray?

Jesus stood on his oneness with the Father when he prayed. He understood his relationship with God.

When you pray, do you stand on and in your relationship with God?

When Jesus prayed, he knew the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Is it possible for us to have that same conviction when we pray?

Are you standing where Jesus prayed for you to be? If not, you don’t have to go anywhere to get there. You just have to shift your whole perspective from what the world tells you is true to what Christ tells you is true. This is allows you to see that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and not just way off in the future after you die. 

To acknowledge that the kingdom of heaven is at hand goes against everything the world has taught us. That’s why we have to shut the door on it. 

To the degree that you and I see the supremacy of God’s rule, God’s kingdom, here and now on earth and bear witness to the truth that heaven is at hand, we will think like Jesus did. We will pray like Jesus did. We will heal like Jesus did.
________________________________________
Check out the Bible references quoted in this week's episode here: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/143

If you have questions or comments please contact me. 

Subscribe to the podcast
___________________________________________

Text me your questions or comments.

Support the show

If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. 

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast  (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)       
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here