The NJ Podcast

Here's a light-hearted story to start us off: A young boy asked his grandmother what it was like to be old. She replied, "Well, let's put it this way. I'm so old, I remember when running water was considered exercise!"

Our topic for today is "Don't Waste Time," and the key verse is Ephesians 5:15-16, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil."

Time is one of God's most precious gifts to us, but it's also one of the most squandered. Think of the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for forty years, a journey that should have taken only eleven days (Deuteronomy 1:2). They wasted time due to disobedience and a lack of faith.

Contrast this with Jesus' life. In His short 33 years on earth, He accomplished more than any human in history. He didn't waste time. He made the most of every moment for the Kingdom of God.

Leonardo da Vinci once said, "Time stays long enough for anyone who will use it." How are we using our time? Are we investing it wisely in things of eternal value, or squandering it on the temporary and trivial?

The Bible warns us against wasting time. Proverbs 24:33-34 states, "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man." Laziness leads to waste, and waste eventually leads to loss.

Our time on earth is limited. Psalm 90:12 urges us, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." We are encouraged to live wisely, fully aware that our days are counted and should be spent on what truly matters.

Let's pray: "Lord, thank you for the gift of time. Help us to use it wisely, to invest in things of eternal value, to love well, to serve others, and to glorify You in all we do. In Jesus' name, Amen."

As we venture into a new week, let's heed the advice of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 4:5, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Let us not waste time but make every second count for the Kingdom of God.

Remember, we are stewards of the time God has given us. Use it wisely, invest it generously, and you'll reap a harvest of blessings. God bless you all, and have a wonderful week.

7 Reasons Jesus Cast Out Demons.

To start us off, here's a little humor. A Sunday school teacher asked her class, "Who can tell me what we learn from the story of Jesus casting out demons?" A little boy raised his hand and said, "Even demons know better than to stick around when Jesus tells them to leave!"

Our sermon today is titled, "7 Reasons Jesus Cast Out Demons." The foundational scripture is Luke 11:20, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."

Reason 1: To Show His Authority Over Evil Forces

Jesus cast out demons to demonstrate His authority over all creation, including evil forces. As stated in Colossians 2:15, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

Reason 2: To Fulfill Prophecy

Jesus cast out demons to fulfill the prophecies spoken about Him. In Isaiah 61:1, we read, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."

Reason 3: To Manifest His Compassion

Jesus cast out demons out of His deep compassion for suffering humanity. When He met the man possessed by Legion, Mark 5:19 records Jesus' compassionate response, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

Reason 4: To Proclaim the Kingdom of God

Each miracle of deliverance was a proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Luke 11:20 again emphasizes this, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."

Reason 5: To Teach Us About Spiritual Warfare

Through His exorcisms, Jesus taught us about spiritual warfare, equipping us to stand against the enemy's schemes, as Ephesians 6:11 instructs us to "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."

Reason 6: To Glorify God

Jesus' exorcisms brought glory to God as people recognized His power and praised Him. In Luke 13:13, after Jesus cast out a spirit that had crippled a woman for eighteen years, the people were amazed and glorified God.

Reason 7: To Affirm His Identity as the Messiah

The casting out of demons affirmed Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, who had come to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

Let's pray, "Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your power and authority over all evil. Teach us to live in the victory that You've already won on the cross. We ask this in Your mighty name, Amen."

Brothers and sisters, as we go into this week, let us remember the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, His authority over evil, and His compassion towards us. May we also remember our role in the spiritual warfare and stand firm in the truth and authority of Christ.

Remember, "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Live in this truth and walk in the freedom Christ has given you. God bless you all. Amen.

God Will Set You Free from Your Torment.

Let’s start today with a little chuckle. A woman was driving her car when she saw an old man struggling with a heavy load. She stopped to give him a lift. During the ride, the man noticed a Bible on the car's dashboard and asked, "Is that your sword?" She smiled and said, "Yes, indeed, it's my sword against the devil!" The man chuckled and replied, "Lady, when the devil sees you coming, he doesn't even draw his sword; he just throws you a cookie."

Today, we're exploring a profound theme: "God Will Set You Free from Your Torment." Our foundational scripture is Psalm 34:17-18, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

The Bible records several instances where God delivered people from their torment. Perhaps one of the most striking of these is the man possessed by Legion in Mark 5. This man lived in the tombs, tormented by unclean spirits, until Jesus set him free. No chain could bind him; no human effort could help him. His freedom came only through Jesus Christ.

We too can find ourselves in torment – it could be from guilt, fear, addiction, or various forms of emotional, physical, or spiritual suffering. However, regardless of the nature of our torment, we have a God who is ready, willing, and able to set us free.

The American novelist, John Steinbeck, once wrote, "All great and precious things are lonely." This holds true for many of us. In our torment, we may feel alone and isolated, but God's promise to us is that He will never leave nor forsake us.

When the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, God saw their affliction, heard their cry, and set them free. In Exodus 3:7-8, God said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So, I have come down to rescue them."

The freedom God provides is not merely a temporary reprieve; it is a permanent release. John 8:36 assures us, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Let us pray: "Gracious God, hear the cries of Your people. You know the torment we each face, and we ask for Your deliverance. Set us free, Lord, and help us walk in the freedom Christ has secured for us. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Friends, we serve a God who not only sets us free from torment but also gives us the power to live free. In Galatians 5:1, Paul writes, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

As we move into the coming week, may we live in the freedom Christ has provided for us. Let's stand firm against anything that seeks to bind us or bring us back into torment. And remember, you're not fighting alone. God is with you, and He is your deliverer.

May the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, now and always. Remember, God is ready to set you free from your torment. Let Him in, trust Him, and experience His liberating power. God bless you all!

Let's begin with a little humor. A man once prayed fervently, "Lord, please let me win the lottery." Weeks turned into months, and months into years, but he never won. Frustrated, he asked God, "Why haven't you let me win the lottery?" God replied, "My dear child, can you at least help me out by buying a lottery ticket?"

Our sermon today is titled "Sometimes All You Have is Hard Work," and our key verse is Proverbs 14:23, "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."

The Bible is filled with stories of people who embraced hard work. Consider the story of Ruth. She was a Moabite woman, a widow, and a foreigner in Israel. But she did not sit back and lament her fate. Instead, she worked hard, gleaning in the fields of Boaz. It was her hard work that caught Boaz's attention and eventually led to their marriage, placing her in the lineage of Jesus Christ.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul encourages believers to work hard. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, he wrote, "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'" Paul himself was a tentmaker by trade and often worked to support himself while spreading the Gospel.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." Hard work may not guarantee success every time, but it increases the chances. Furthermore, hard work builds character, develops perseverance, and earns respect.

Of course, we must remember that our hard work should be done for the Lord. Colossians 3:23 reminds us, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

Let's pray: "Dear Lord, grant us the strength and perseverance to work hard in all that we do. Remind us that our labor is for You and that You are our ultimate reward. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen."

Brothers and sisters, as we step into this new week, remember that sometimes all we have is hard work. When obstacles come our way, when the path is steep, let's roll up our sleeves, and work diligently, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

May the Lord bless the work of your hands this week. Remember, it's your work, but you're not alone. God is with you, providing strength for the task and grace for the journey. God bless you all!

God will deal with you himself

Let's start with a funny story. A little boy was caught red-handed by his mother as he was reaching into the cookie jar before dinner. "Jimmy," his mother exclaimed, "What are you doing?" He looked at his mother and, with the most serious face, replied, "Don't worry, Mom. I'm praying that God will make these cookies healthy for me!"

This story brings us to our sermon's central theme today, "God Will Deal With You Himself." Our key verse comes from Hebrews 4:13, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Consider King David, who tried to cover up his sins after his adulterous affair with Bathsheba. However, God saw his sins and sent the prophet Nathan to confront David. The prophet's words in 2 Samuel 12:7, "You are the man!" serve as a potent reminder that God deals with us directly and personally.

It's easy for us to think we can hide our sins or escape the consequences of our actions, but the truth is, we can't hide from God. He sees all, knows all, and will deal with us directly.

God's dealings, however, are not limited to our wrongdoings. He is also the one who blesses, guides, and provides for us. In Psalm 23, David describes how God deals with him personally, as a shepherd cares for his sheep: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters."

Francis Chan said, "The point of your life is to point to Him. Whatever you are doing, God wants to be glorified, because this whole thing is His."

God doesn’t deal with us from a distance; He deals with us intimately, lovingly, and justly. He knows our struggles, our joys, our failures, and our victories.

Let's pray: "Dear God, thank you that you deal with us personally and directly. Help us remember that nothing is hidden from You. Teach us to walk in Your ways, so that we may live lives pleasing to You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

As we step into this week, my dear brothers and sisters, let's be mindful of the fact that God sees us, knows us, and deals with us Himself. His dealing is not to condemn but to correct, not to punish but to purify. So, let's open our hearts to Him, knowing that His intent is always for our good.

May the Lord be with you and bless you this week. Remember, He is dealing with you Himself, and that is the most comforting reality we can have. Amen.

Let me begin with a humorous story. A man moved into a new neighborhood and was eager to make friends. So, he went next door and knocked. A woman opened the door, and before he could say anything, she blurted out, "My husband is home!" The man, taken aback, responded, "Oh, well, I'm not here to see him. I just came to introduce myself!" It seems she was so accustomed to door-to-door salespeople that she'd forgotten there could be other reasons for a knock at her door!

Just as the woman was stuck in her mindset, often, we too can find ourselves stuck in our own 'Egypts.' And this is the theme of our sermon today - "Get Out of Egypt." Our guiding verse is Exodus 14:12, "Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

In the Bible, 'Egypt' is often symbolic of a place of bondage and oppression. The Israelites were physically enslaved in Egypt, but when God led them out, they often found themselves mentally and emotionally stuck in 'Egypt.' They even longed to return, forgetting their suffering and focusing only on the leeks and onions they used to eat.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty we are free at last." The Israelites were physically free from Egypt, but mentally, they were still enslaved. They grumbled against Moses and Aaron, even expressing a desire to return to their bondage because of the hardships of the journey.

We too can find ourselves stuck in our own 'Egypts.' It might be a sinful habit, a toxic relationship, a negative mindset, or an unhealthy lifestyle. God wants to lead us out of our 'Egypts,' but often, we cling to the familiar, even if it's harmful.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." To get out of Egypt, we need to renew our minds, to let go of the old and embrace the new life that God offers us.

Consider the story of the prodigal son. He found himself in his own 'Egypt' when he squandered his wealth in wild living. But when he 'came to his senses,' he decided to leave his 'Egypt' and return to his father's house.

Let's pray: "Dear God, help us identify our 'Egypts' and give us the strength to leave them behind. Transform and renew our minds, Lord, that we may walk in the freedom that You offer us. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen."

Brothers and sisters, as we move into this week, let's commit to 'Get Out of Egypt.' Whatever your 'Egypt' is, remember that God is with you, and through Him, you have the power to break free.

May God guide you and bless you as you journey out of your Egypt into His promised land. Amen.

God Anoints You Before He Appoints You

Before we delve into the word of God this morning, I want to share a little story. There was a woman who decided to start a chicken farm. She bought a dozen of the best chickens she could find and planted them in her yard. She came out the next morning and found they’d all died. Undeterred, she bought another dozen, planted them, and the next morning found the same thing. She decided to write a letter to the agricultural department of the local university. She detailed her steps and finished by asking, “What am I doing wrong?” The response came back, “First of all, stop calling it planting. You’re supposed to be placing the chickens, not burying them.”

This amusing tale offers a truth about life: sometimes, we just don’t know what we’re doing. But isn’t it comforting to know that we serve a God who does? This brings us to the topic of today’s sermon: "God Anoints You Before He Appoints You". Our anchor scripture today comes from Isaiah 61:1:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

Let's consider the life of David as an example. David was anointed by God, through the prophet Samuel, long before he ever sat on the throne as king. God saw David's heart when he was still a shepherd boy, tending to his father's flock. He saw the qualities in David that would make him a great leader. David’s anointing came in 1 Samuel 16:13,

"So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David."

David was anointed before he was appointed. But note, David did not ascend the throne immediately. He went back to the fields, back to his duties, back to his ordinary life. But he was not the same, he was anointed. He had the divine enablement, the empowerment of God upon him.

Similarly, consider the life of Moses. God called Moses to the burning bush and anointed him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. Moses did not feel ready or worthy, but God had anointed him for this purpose long before he was appointed.

The great American preacher, Charles Spurgeon, once said, "The anointing is sacred, the anointing is the Holy Spirit, and all believers in Christ have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We must be careful not to abuse the Holy Spirit. Don’t insult the Spirit of grace, for the Spirit will not always strive with us."

You see, God's anointing comes before His appointing because it prepares us for what He has called us to do. The anointing signifies God's blessing, His empowerment, and His endorsement. It equips us for the task ahead.

We have this promise in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." We are each anointed and appointed for a purpose in God’s grand design. Your appointment may seem delayed, but remember that God’s anointing is never denied.

Perhaps you're feeling like you're in a field tending sheep, like David, or standing bewildered before a burning bush, like Moses. You're wondering when your appointment will come. But God's timing is perfect. While you are in the field, He is preparing your crown. While you are before the bush, He is parting your sea.

There is a reason for your season of preparation. It's a time of refinement, a time when God is moulding and shaping you for the purpose He has destined for you. It’s a time when you are being filled with His Spirit, being prepared for the work ahead.

There's a powerful saying that captures this truth: "The deeper the roots, the higher the reach." Your time of waiting, of deepening your roots in God, is never wasted. It's a time of preparation for the higher calling that lies ahead.

We find a beautiful confirmation of this in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

You see, before God calls you, He prepares you. Before He sends you, He equips you. Before He appoints you, He anoints you.

You may not feel ready. You may not feel equipped. You may even feel like you're the least likely candidate for the task. But take heart! God does not call the equipped; He equips the called.

The anointing comes with a price. It may involve trials, testing, and periods of waiting. But remember, as A.W. Tozer once said, "God never uses anyone greatly until He tests them deeply."

So, my dear brothers and sisters, I encourage you today to embrace the process of anointing. Trust in God's perfect timing. Don’t be in a hurry to move from the field to the palace, from the burning bush to the Promised Land. There's a divine process at work, preparing you for your divine purpose.

Remember, your appointment is coming. God has not forgotten you. He is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in you. As the Apostle Paul declared in Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

May you find comfort and assurance in knowing that God anoints you before He appoints you. May you trust in His process, rely on His timing, and lean into His anointing. And when the time of your appointment comes, may you serve Him with all your heart, strength, and mind.

Let us pray, "Dear Lord, we thank You for the anointing. We pray for the patience to trust Your process and the wisdom to learn during our seasons of preparation. As we await our appointment, may we remain rooted in You, growing in faith, and trusting in Your perfect timing. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

God bless you all, and may you have a week filled with His grace and peace. Thank you.

Today's story is funny. The boy was usually in trouble. His mother asked, "Johnny, why do you always misbehave?" "It's the devil, Mom," Johnny said. He's always making me do wrong!" "Johnny, you can't blame everything on the devil," his mother answered with a knowing smile. Sometimes you!"

Our message today is "Stop Blaming the Devil; Own Up to Your Sin." "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us," says 1 John 1:8-9, our foundational verse. He forgives and cleanses us if we confess our sins."

In Genesis, Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit, then blame each other and the serpent. They sought to avoid personal accountability, but God held each of them accountable.

Lewis stated, "A man who admits no guilt can accept no forgiveness." It's profound. If we continuously accuse the devil, we excuse ourselves of personal responsibility, making it hard to repent and seek God's pardon.

1 Samuel 15's Saul. Saul spared King Agag and the best livestock when God ordered him to annihilate the Amalekites. Prophet Samuel approached Saul, who blamed the people for his disobedience. The Lord dismissed Saul as king because he refused to acknowledge his wickedness.

King David contrasts. David instantly confessed and repented when Prophet Nathan questioned him about Bathsheba. He took full responsibility. David repents in Psalm 51: "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me."

"But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed," James 1:14-15 says. After desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, which grows into death. It's a reminder that sin starts with us.

Stop Blaming the Devil; Own Up to Your Sin.

"Lord, help us to admit our sins and not blame others," we pray. Help us confess and repent. Thank you for forgiving and cleansing us. Jesus' name, Amen."

Dear brothers and sisters, as we begin this week, let's admit our sins and stop blaming the devil or others. God forgives without limit. Let's quickly repent and obtain His pardon when we make mistakes.

Have a blessed week!

Your Sins Will Find You Out

Let's begin today with a humorous story. A young boy came home from school with his report card, and it was clear that he hadn't done well. His mother looked at the dismal grades and asked him, "What do you have to say for yourself?" The boy shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face. "Well," he said, "at least you know I'm not cheating!"

That young boy was found out, just as today's message warns, "Your Sins Will Find You Out." Our central verse for today's sermon comes from Numbers 32:23, "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out."

We find a vivid illustration of this truth in the life of King David. He was a man after God's own heart, yet he, too, fell into sin. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the death of her husband Uriah to cover it up. David may have thought he got away with it, but as our scripture warns, his sin found him out. God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David, revealing his sin and pronouncing judgment (2 Samuel 12:7-12).

As Albert Einstein once said, "Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters." King David learned this lesson in a profound and painful way.

David’s response to being found out, however, is a model for all of us. In Psalm 51, he pours out his heart in repentance and pleads for God's mercy. "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me," he laments in verse 3.

King David's story is not isolated in the Bible. Think about Jonah, who thought he could flee from God's command to go to Nineveh. He ended up in the belly of a big fish, his sin of disobedience clearly finding him out.

And let's not forget Peter, who denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus predicted. His sin of denial found him out, but he, too, like David, found repentance and restoration.

Hebrews 4:13 reminds us, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

So, what's the message here, Church? It's simple but profound: we cannot hide our sins from God. He sees all, knows all, and calls us into the light.

Let's pray: "Father, we know we cannot hide our sins from You. Give us the courage to face them, confess them, and repent. We ask for Your forgiveness and grace. Help us to walk in Your truth and live lives that please You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

As you step into this new week, remember, my dear brothers and sisters, we serve a God who sees all and knows all. Our sins will indeed find us out, but His grace and mercy are abundant. He calls us to confession, to repentance, and to a transformed life that reflects His holiness.

Keep walking in His light, Church, and remember, in His grace, there is always forgiveness and a fresh start. Have a blessed week ahead! God bless you!

I'll start today's sermon with a joke. A child sat with her frail granny. The youngster played with her grandmother's priceless Bible. An ancient Bible leaf slipped out after a while. Its squeezed leaf was brittle and aged. "Look, Grandma, I found Adam's suit!" she said.

No, our Bibles don't contain Adam's leaf garment. This lighthearted misunderstanding leads to our serious issue for the day: "Don’t think you can play games with God." "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked" is our guiding verse from Galatians 6:7. The sower reaps."

Acts 5 recounts Ananias and Sapphira. They sold property and kept some of the money while professing to give it to the church. They thought they could fool the apostles—and God. God discovered their hearts and dishonesty. Both died instantly.

Jim Elliot, a missionary, remarked, "God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him." Ananias and Sapphira did not trust God and tried to control the situation. God's righteousness couldn't ignore this lie.

In the Old Testament, Jacob tricked his father and sibling to receive the blessing that was not his. He spent years in dread and exile after obtaining the blessing.

God, the all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful Creator, cannot be manipulated. We can't lie or hide from Him. He understands our intentions, thoughts, and desires.

In Psalm 139:4, David states, "Before a word is on my tongue, you, LORD, know it completely." Flowery words, deceptive promises, and hypocrisy cannot deceive God. He understands everything.

In Hebrews 4:13, God sees everything. Everything is revealed to him to whom we must account."

We can't fool God. He knows us well and asks us to be honest in our religion, relationships, and dealings. God wants our full devotion, not half-heartedness.

"Lord, forgive us for our insincerity in our walk with you," we plead. Help us be honest, trust you, and serve you. We appreciate your mercy. Jesus' name, Amen."

Live our religion this week. Remember that what we seed, we will reap. Trust that God will reward your honesty, kindness, love, and fidelity.

Church, may God bless and authenticate your week! No God-playing. Bless you!