The One Thing - United Faith Church Podcast

Proverbs 2:6

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Hello and welcome back to the One Thing Podcast. For the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and understanding...that's Proverbs 2 verse 6. And proverbs, the book of wisdom it teaches us and helps us to learn how to live right in a pleasing way before God.

"What wisdom are you in need of today?"And so it says the Lord gives wisdom.

* What wisdom are you in need of today?

* Are you trying to figure out how to please God?

* Are you looking for how this day you can bring Him honor and bring Him glory?

Well in order to bring God glory, in order to serve Him we need His wisdom. But this is a great hope because the very God that requires us to walk in his wisdom is also the One who gives it!

What is the wisdom of God? The wisdom of God is His skillfulness and His way of doing things, it's taking on Jesus' godliness, Jesus' way of making decisions and walking before his father. So ultimately wisdom is Jesus.

"...wisdom is Jesus."Would you cry out to Jesus today? Will you seek and ask when you look for his wisdom to be poured into your heart and into your mind? Also from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. What is this knowledge, what is this understanding? It is the way to the Father.

True knowledge, the greatest knowledge we can have is knowledge of God which is a knowledge of His great love and who He is. So, as we're coming to the Lord Jesus not only can we take Him to be the wisdom of God but also the One who reveals the Father...who gives true knowledge and understanding.

Knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.Do you need knowledge today? Do you need understanding? Do you need wisdom? Do you need direction on where to go, how to pray, what to do? Then praise God this day you can cry out for such wisdom for from His mouth also come knowledge and understanding! So may we seek Him in such a way today. May we trust knowing that He will lead us through. And He will lead us to Himself. Thank you father for your wisdom for your knowledge and for your understanding.

John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Hello and welcome back to the One Thing Podcast!  The question of the day for today is "what is it to be a Christian?"

For those of us who have said we believe in the Lord Jesus and we want to follow him, what is it that God requires of us?  What is our life all about as Christians?  Jesus makes it very simple for us, He brings it to two very important command, two to very important ways of living...

John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Hello and welcome back to the One Thing Podcast! The question of the day for today is: “what is it to be a Christian?”

"...love the Lord your God and second, to love your neighbor as yourself."

For those of us who have said we believe in the Lord Jesus and we want to follow Him- what is it that God requires of us? What is our life all about as Christians? Jesus makes it very simple for us, He brings it to two very important commands, two very important ways of living that God calls us to live in. He says first of all, to love the Lord your God and second, to love your neighbor as yourself.

Without me you can do nothing

"See, apart from the Lord we cannot produce the fruit of God."

So how do we do this, how do we abide in the vine? We know that if we read the scriptures, that man is incapable of fully completing and keeping the commands of God due to our sinfulness, but the Lord Jesus has made a way. He says John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” See, apart from the Lord we cannot produce the fruit of God. The fruit of God, the fruit of the Spirit, is love. Love for the Lord and love for one another.

abide in the vine

Now Jesus himself is the one whom we believe in. As we believe in the Lord Jesus, as we remain in Him, meaning we trust and we depend on Him to fulfill the promise of hope within our lives, the promise of God empowering us by allowing and causing His son to be burst within our soul. This is our faith, this is Christianity. Not that we're living in our own strength, not that we're striving to fulfill the commands of God in our own strength or with our own abilities, but simply trusting in the Lord, remaining in the Lord Jesus.

Abide in the vine! "...and trust that He is the sent one from God..."

If we remain, some versions say if we abide in Him, this is the Christian life. That we would abide and trust in the Lord Jesus and trust that He is the sent one from God, the one who is the hope of God in order to be all that God has called us to be. A people producing the fruit of God 's love. Demonstrating to this world that the world would know us by our love for God and our love for one another.

"He has the power to also cause us to remain" ...and to abide in the vine!

May today, each of us come close into the vine. May we drink from the goodness of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus. May we trust in Him, may we know that He has the power to keep, He has the power to also cause us to remain. Thank you God for your son Jesus, may we look to Him this day and may we trust in is great power.

1 Corinthians 4:20

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

Hello, and welcome back to the One Thing podcast....

1 Corinthians 4:20

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."

Hello and welcome back to the One Thing Podcast. Today's scripture is coming from first Corinthians chapter 4 verse 20, it says, “for the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” As Christians, What is life on earth all about?

"...turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, come into His kingdom"

You see, at one time in our lives without the Lord Jesus we’ve lived for the kingdom of this world, on and on living every day in opposition to God. Going our own way, doing our own thing, making our own decisions, and what sinfulness that we lived in prior to knowing the Lord Jesus. But today, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus says to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, to come into His kingdom. He's made a way where we no longer have to live in the opposition to God, under the oppression of this world and the darkness, but we are able to come alive and to live for His kingdom.

"When Christ comes in, there is a new creation that is formed..."

What a wonderful thing! You see, the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk. We don't just talk about being Christians, we don't just talk a little bit about God, we don't just speak just a couple verses that haven’t tagged and really come alive in our hearts. No, it is not a matter of talk, but a matter of power! When Christ comes in, there is a new creation that is formed, nothing else matters but a new creation in Christ Jesus.

This is what that means! It’s that the one who hated God, now loves Him with all their heart. The one who didn't live for His kingdom, is now empowered to not only live in His kingdom but to expand His kingdom.

"...I want to live in the power of the Lord Jesus Christ"

Will we cry out to God today saying father, I don't want to just live in the so-called norm. Father, I don't want to live in just talk, but I want to live in the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. May we call upon His name today and may our lives not be just a matter of talk but living in the power of God as the new creations in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen!

1 Corinthians 1:21

Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.

Welcome to the One Thing Podcast, today reading from 1 Corinthians chapter one verse 21 it says, "since God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him through human wisdom He has used are foolish preaching to save those who believe in.

God made very sure that the only way we would find Him would be through the way and the path which He has laid which is the wisdom of God in His name the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the way He has the power He is everything that we need in order to find God and to serve Him in this earth and to one day meet with Hhim in heaven...

1 Corinthians 1:21

"Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe."

Welcome to the One Thing Podcast! Today reading from first Corinthians chapter one verse 21, it says, “since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. ”

"...the wisdom of God and His name is the Lord Jesus Christ"

God made very sure that the only way we would find Him, would be through the way in the path which He has laid, which is the wisdom of God and His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the way, He has the power, He is everything that we need in order to find God and to serve Him in this earth and to one day meet with Him in heaven.

"What do we live by?"

When we read this scripture it says that He “saw to it that the world will never know Him through human wisdom.” We know that the world is the world, it functions as the world, it looks to act from its own power, in its own ways, and its own thinking. That is the world, we know this. But for Christians- but for us, what do we live by? Are we living by human wisdom or are we living by the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ?

We find many Christians today, yet living as the world. Living in the world's ways. Maybe trying to fit in with the world, maybe saying, “I want to serve God but I guess I'm gonna have to take up the ways of the world in order to do this. Let me fit in, let me look like everyone else, let me do things as the rest of the world does.”

"...we do not forfeit our identity in Christ"

But this is not who we have been called to. Yes, we know that the scripture says that we become all things to all men, but we do not forfeit our identity in Christ. We are to live in Christ by Christ and by His power! You see as Christians, we’re never called to fit in. We were called to break out and to make a difference in our families and our communities and even in our nations. As Christians, we live by the wisdom and the power of God. We're not boisterous, but we are loud and clear of the message in a God who we serve. We don't cause riots, but we do shake the heavens and we do shake the earth by the power of the gospel and by the power of the Spirit in our lives. We're never rude or disrespectful, but we are confident in the Lord Jesus Christ and we are confident in the gospel we preach, which the salvation of God, the hope of God is only found in wisdom and the wisdom of God, who is the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Christ made us right with God"

It says further in first Corinthians that God has united you with Christ Jesus, for our benefit God made Him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God, He made us pure and holy and He freed us from sin. There is no other way! It's not about fitting in, it's not about trying to be like the world. It is those who are in the world, yet not of it. Living in the power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, living by His wisdom.

The wisdom that doesn't need to fit in, the wisdom that doesn't need to know how to speak and to do as the world does but to be the one who would draw from heaven, that would draw from the power of Christ and would be the voice of God. That would be the very instrument, the hands, and the feet. Those who have been freed from sin, now ready to serve Him and to serve Him in demonstrations of His power. The ones who say, we have broken through. The one who says, yes I was in hatred and could not be free, but Christ had set me free to now love the Lord my God and to love my neighbor.

Galatians 6:15

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

Hello welcome back to the One Thing Podcast. Today I would like to talk about the new creation. As Christians it's something that God wants us to grasp, to understand that really nothing else matters unless we are new creations in Christ Jesus. Unless we are living and walking in the power of the lord Jesus Christ in our lives. So it says in Galatians 6:15 neither circumcision nor on circumcision means anything, what counts is the new creation. It's simply saying it doesn't matter how well I can sing, it doesn't matter how good so of speech I have, it doesn't matter how good I think I am or even how bad I think I am...what matters is whether or not we are new creations in Christ Jesus...

Galatians 6:15

"Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation."

new creation

Hello and welcome back to the One Thing Podcast. Today I would like to talk about the new creation. As Christians it's something that God wants us to grasp, to understand that really nothing else matters unless we are new creations in Christ Jesus. Unless we are living and walking in the power of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives. So it says in Galatians 6:15 "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation." It's simply saying it doesn't matter how well I can sing, it doesn't matter how good of speech I have, it doesn't matter how good I think I am or even how bad I think I am...what matters is whether or not we are new creations in Christ Jesus; whether or not His power is at work within our souls in our lives.

"We are new creations in Christ Jesus." This has me thinking for a moment that in the beginning, God created mankind, Adam and Eve. Creation in itself is a miraculous thing to think about. When God creates new life, when children are born, when a child is created it is a beautiful, wonderful, powerful thing. But God takes it a step further. There is something even more powerful than just creation of mankind. What is powerful is that the Bible says all of us have been born into sin. By nature we are sinful people that all are unrighteous, not one is found in this earth to be found pure without the Lord Jesus Christ. What is the result of that? We have been dirtied by sin. Our minds have now reflected our rebellion against God. We have lived hostile lives. It's when we struggle just to do right, it's when we struggle to hear God and to walk with Him and to do His will - This is the result of sin. This is the result of our rebellion against God.

"I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness to be enough for me " But here goes something truly miraculous-- not only does God create life, but He takes a life that is deadened in sin, He has taken a life deadened in transgressions and our iniquities and now He takes that dark, empty life and He recreates it into something new. Where no longer are we bound in our sin, no longer are we oppressed and under the consequences of our rebellion, but we have become new creations in Christ Jesus. Where now - maybe I couldn't love before, but by faith, I take the Lord Jesus to be love inside of me. Maybe I didn't live righteously, but today I take faith, I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness to be enough for me - that it would begin to come out because He is living on the inside. And we could go on and on. I take Christ Jesus for me to be a husband, for me to be a brother because He is the perfect husband, He is the perfect brother. By faith, I trust in Him that He is on the inside and that today I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. What wonderful hope we have in the Christian life? This is what it's all about.

Are you a new creation today? Are you still living in the old? Is there a renewal of life that God must create within you? Is there something that is pulling you toward the Word of truth that says - Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ - Repent - That is the hope of the Christian life. That we would be new creations. Those created in the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a miracle! What a wonderful work that God has done!

"He calls us to be new creations in Christ Jesus. As we come closer to the Easter season, to the Resurrection season, where Christ laid down His life - not only to die for our sins, but He also resurrected, showing the power of the indestructible life to those who believe in Him. We also shall rise with Him, not just in heaven,

Hebrews 12:2

...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hello welcome back to the One Thing Podcast. Today I would like to reflect just for a moment on one of the titles that Jesus carries. When I say title, a name that He's known to be. We know that all throughout the scriptures He is given the name as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, He's the Son of God, He is the son of David. There so many titles and names that he carries as our wonderful savior and might God.

One that I would like to reflect on today comes from Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2 where Jesus is called the author and finisher of our faith. The author, the one who who begins our faith as we trust in Him. But not only the one who begins it, the one that initiates it, but He is also the finisher... the one who carries us through to the end. We know that the word says that the lord Jesus is able to keep us. He's able to keep as close to the Father as we look to Him and as we trust in his mighty power. And so what does it mean that he is the author and finisher? Let's think and look even deeper. We know that in order to come in to salvation we know that we must recognize that we are sinful people who have turned away from God. The Bible make so clear that all have turned away, all have done evil in the sight of God. But God has given us the message of hope that we turn to Jesus and all who look to Him, trusting not only that He would forgive us of our sins but that He would also bring new life with in His life, the very life of the Lord Jesus the divine life that causes us and empowers us to live in glory and power for the kingdom of God as His sons and daughters.But not only that what a wonderful message but God takes it even further he says not only do I initiate such a faith, but I will also carry it through. You see when we come to the Lord we come broken, we come desperate, we come really unable incapable but God says it never stops at the beginning but we continue to live. You know not only do we come into salvation in humility and humbleness and brokenness but we also continue to have faith in the Lord in every step of the way. Maybe today He's calling you to speak about His goodness to somebody? Maybe today he's calling you to go deeper in in seeking out His Word? Maybe there is so many different things that he's calling for you to step forward to in his kingdom. well today there is good news the same faith that brought us to Christ is the same faith that will also empower us to do that which he has called us to do.The same faith that says Lord Jesus even as I study your word, you're the only one that can open my deadened mind. This same faith says Father I know you're calling me to speak your word to this person, you are the only one that can bring about the right word. You're the only one that can bring forth truth. So what will it be today, will we trust the lord Jesus not only as the initiator the author of our faith but will we continue in Him every step of the way trusting in Him, hoping that He's the only one that can empower us to live for the kingdom of God in this day of the world. In a world that is dark yet we are the ones who will bring light. Praise God today that we can fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.