The Word Podcast

ReflectionsWould you say you have been representing the nature of God? Or have you been trying to conform to the customs of this world? Whatever your response, ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to begin living unshamedly the righteous life that you have received.Focus ScriptureEphesians 4:24 (NLT)Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.Further ScripturePsalms 145:17 (NLT), Romans 5:17, Ezekiel 18:24, Romans 6:12-14.

ReflectionsWould you say you have been living a lifestyle that is consistent with the Kingdom? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live a life that is consistent with the Kingdom of God.Focus ScriptureEphesians 4:30 'And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 'Further ScriptureMatthew 4:23John 3:3 NLT, 

ReflectionsAre there areas in your life where you think you need to be more salted? Are you more kingdom-focused or earth-conscious? Are you walking as an ambassador or a civilian? Whatever your responses are to these questions, bring them before God and ask him to help you be salt; tell him to help you retain your saltiness in this world that is full of blandness, and he will.Focus Scripture‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:50 ‭NLT‬‬ “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavour, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.””Scripture FocusMatthew 5:13 (NLT)'Matthew 7:20Colossians 4:6

ReflectionsCan you think of one area or areas where you haven't been shining your light? Are you currently dimming your light as a result of the association you're keeping? Have you been avoiding shining your light because you don't want people to perceive you in a certain light? If you can identify with any of these questions, then come to God in prayer and total surrender; ask him to show you the ways he is calling you to shine his light in the various places he has placed you. Focus ScriptureMatthew 5:14-16 (NLT): “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 'Further ScriptureEphesians 5:8 (NLT) Matthew 5:14 (NLT)

Reflections from today's episode:Are there ways right now that you know you're not pleasing God with your body? Take it to God in prayer; ask him to help you honour him with your body; ask him to help you live a lifestyle that is consistent with his Kingdom. If you're someone who cannot quite figure out if you're displeasing God with your body or not, then ask the Holy Spirit to shed his light on your life and reveal to you where you may be displeasing God with your body, and he will. Further Bible Study:Over the next few days and weeks, study these scriptures and meditate on them. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you ways you can begin to apply them to your life.1 Corinthians 6:19-20Ephesians 4:30John 14:14-17

Reflections from today's episode: Take stock of your life and consider if you have been living a set-apart life for God. Ask yourself these questions and give an honest answer: Are you living to please God or people? Are you too conscious of how people perceive your actions that it sometimes stops you from doing what God is leading you to? Is God at the centre of your life? Are you Kingdom-focused in your everyday life, in making decisions and in your conduct? Are you easily influenced by your friends, those around you, or by the trends of today's culture? Take your time to go over each of these questions, and where you're lagging, ask God to help you. Surrender to God that aspect of your life and tell him that you want him to take first place in your heart, and ask him to help you live to please him. Ask him to give you the strength to live a set-apart life for him, as the world is full of distractions. Tell him you desire to live for him and please him. When you're praying about this, ensure it is coming from a sincere heart because our hearts are laid bare before God (Hebrews 4:13, Psalms 139:2-3, Psalms 44:21).Further Bible Study:Over the next few days and weeks, study these books of the Bible and meditate on them. Asking the Holy Spirit to show you ways you can begin to apply them to your life; 1 Corinthians 6:12Matthew 10:16Hebrews 12:1-2Romans 12:21 John 2:15

Hello! It's been a minute since I last posted an episode. Life has been happening to me is the best way I can say this. But I'm excited that am able to start posting again. We're starting a new series that is a devotional titled "A New Lifestyle." Reflections from today's episode:Take a critical look at your life. Are there ways you live now that do not align with God's standards? Is there an area of your life where you have not fully submitted to God? Have you given any member of your body to serve sin, whether it's telling lies or living dishonestly? Whatever it is, bring it before God. Tell him about it. Repent from it and ask God to help you yield that area and every part of your life entirely to him. Tell God to help you live out this new lifestyle daily and to convict and raise an alarm in your spirit the moment you walk the wrong path.Further Bible Study:Over the next few days and even weeks, study these books of the Bible and meditate on them. Asking the Holy Spirit to show you ways you can begin to apply them to your life; Galatians chapter 5Romans chapter 6Colossians chapter 3Ephesians chapter 4

This is the final episode of this series. It's been a lovely journey discussing these habits with you. I hope this series has been a blessing to you because it has for me. An E-book would be available from this series, so be on the lookout for that. Have yourself a beautiful holiday season.

Proverbs 18:21 NLT 'The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. ' Colossians 4:6 ESV 'Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. '

1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV [33] Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

John 14:18 NLT (New Living Translation) I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:15-17 NLT 15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. John 14:26 NLT 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

1 Corinthians 2:10-14 "10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 

John11:41-44 NLT 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

‭‭Joshua 1:8 NLT‬‬ [8] Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

We live in this world but we're not of this world. There is a lifestyle that God wants us to live. In this episode, we look at this lifestyle from God's word.

Matt 28;1-10 New Living Translation (NLT) 1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” 8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

Matt 26:1-5 1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2“As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 3At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 5“But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

Luke 2:41 New Living Translation (NLT) Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50But they didn’t understand what he meant. 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Matt 2:1-6 New Living Translation (NLT) 1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” 3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” 5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: 6‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’