Ever looking for which door is the right one to go through? Jesus said, I am the door. He is the only door to our salvation and protects and provides for His children. This is the third in a series covering the I Am statements by Jesus in the book of John. May you enter through the door that leads into salvation.
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Ever felt like you are walking in darkness? That's scary! We need the light of Jesus to overcome the darkness, provide fellowship with the Father, and direct our decisions. This is the second in a series of seven podcasts covering the I Am statements of Jesus in the book of John. Discover how we can walk in the light and live an abundant life.
Click below for the podcast or listen on iTunes, Spotify, or anywhere you find podcasts. Hungry for food that satisfies not just your stomach but your soul? In the first of seven I am statements, Jesus declared: I am the bread of life. After Jesus fed the 5,000 with the five loaves and two fish, He offered the people something even better to feast on. Himself. His broken body on the cross produced spiritual food that gave life to all who would believe. May we feast on Christ through fair winds and high storms.
Have you ever tried to control your life, only to have things go differently than you planned? Learn how to rest in the Lord by trusting His character. Float freely on the waves of God's grace.
This podcast covers Lesson Eight of Fully Dressed for Spiritual Battle: The Whole Armor of God on prayer. In this time of social distancing and staying at home, I discuss three ways to improve your prayer life. I also explain the acronym ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) as a way to guide your prayers and how to pray the long version of the Lord's Prayer. You can find the podcast on iTunes or GooglePlay or click on the button at the bottom.
As I post this message in the middle of COVID-19, prayer has held me together in the midst of a lot of unknowns. A group of ladies from my Bible study started praying daily for a 14-day challenge that has extended for over a month. We originally prayed just for things related to COVID-19, but have moved into other areas. We prayed for hospital and grocery store workers, for more personal protection equipment, and for wisdom for our leaders to know how to reopen stores and the economy. I picked a country of the day for us to focus on because prayer moves beyond the boundaries of our front doors. Our prayers are not confined to our houses, but impact the whole world. The beauty of praying for so long is we have already seen answered prayers, and it binds us together in the Lord. Prayer has turned fear into faith as God moves in the world in response to our petitions. May we all grow in prayer during this time and remember God's ability to do what we cannot.
This podcast covers Lesson Seven of the Whole Armor of God Bible study on the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. God's Word is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword and cuts through the enemy's lies. His Word is powerful—it created the universe—and accomplishes what He desires for it to do. Prepare a stockpile of verses in your spiritual arsenal so you can use the truth whenever the enemy attacks. To do God’s Word, you need to know it. Read the Bible and memorize verses so you can be empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in obedience. This podcast is also found in iTunes and Google Play if you search for "Words from the Honeycomb."
This podcast covers Lesson Six of The Whole Armor of God Bible study on the helmet of salvation. Discover the importance of the helmet of salvation as you learn to guard your mind. Let the assurance of your salvation in Christ be the filter for how you feed your mind on good things so your thoughts will honor God.
We need to guard our minds because our thoughts lead to actions which form our identities. The things we feed our minds on become the truths we use as the foundation for our beliefs. If we aren't careful to take our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, we can fall prey to the lies of Satan. When we consume junk food, our bodies ache; when we buy lies, we feel miserable. Instead, we must intentionally think good things so our lives bring light and not darkness. As Christians, we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. His death that took the wrath of God for our sins, burial, and resurrection, is what saves us. We are not saved by any righteous acts we have done, only by the blood of Jesus. When as believers we rest in Christ to save us, we can be secure enough to not fear the future. We are complete in Christ. His salvation is enough for us to have an abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven with Him. The helmets on the firemen protect their heads as they fight to save people caught in fires. Isaiah 59:17 indicates that God Himself put on a helmet of salvation when setting out to save His people. He went knowing He could save us. We too can wear the helmet of salvation with confidence. A few ways to intentionally feed your mind on truth are by memorizing Scripture, reading God's Word, writing lists of things we are thankful for, and singing praise music. These keep our minds set on things above that are praiseworthy instead of sinking into complaining and gossiping. I pray we use the helmet of salvation to guard our minds and live from the foundation of our salvation in Christ.
This podcast covers Lesson Five of The Whole Armor of God Bible study. It discusses how God uses our faith as a shield to protect us. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV) We hold onto faith in God keeping His promises when all we see is hardship.
I love this photo above of the police holding smaller and larger shields for protection. The bigger our faith in God, the bigger our shield. When we make God big, His presence before us is larger and shields more of us. For we walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7, NKJV) When we focus on our circumstances, our faith shrinks, and our shields grow smaller. Personally, I know I need the biggest shield possible to block the fiery darts of the enemy. Our faith in God is solid because He keeps His promises. The same way our bodies atrophy if we don't exercise, faith atrophies if we don't use it. We grow our faith by finding verses to apply in our struggles. I challenge you to read through God's Word and discover Scriptures that address your needs. Memorize them so they are part of your arsenal to build to your shield of faith. If you lack faith, ask God for more, and look for ways He is shielding you in your storm.
This podcast covers Lesson Four of The Whole Armor of God Bible study on having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. It discusses how we can have beautiful feet by sharing the gospel. It defines the good news of the gospel as being Jesus' completed work of reconciling us back to God through His death, burial, and resurrection. We need to know what we believe and why, and always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in us. In line with preparing our feet, look at the soccer cleats in this photo. Those are probably the best modern-day example of what the Roman soldiers wore as sandals with cleats to help them stand fast in battle. We need to be rooted in the Word to help us remain steady in spiritual battles. Also, this is a great picture because you see the athlete advancing down the field. We are not only to stand strong, but to advance the truth of the gospel wherever our feet take us. I pray you will diligently seek to know the gospel and clearly articulate the good news so you can share it with your neighbors and the nations as ministers of reconciliation. Here is the link for the podcasts. This episode is WFTH 004. You can also find it on iTunes and Google Play. Thanks and God bless!
This podcast covers Lesson Three of the Whole Armor of God Bible study on the breastplate of righteousness. It discusses how a breastplate guards our hearts and chests cavities, which contain our vital organs. We need God's righteousness to protect us because it keeps the core of our identities clean and pure.
One key verse for this study is Proverbs 4:23 "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life." (NKJV) Other key verses can be found in the Bible study itself. May God bless you as you listen to this episode and help you learn how to put on the breastplate of righteousness and guard your heart with the righteousness of Christ. Here is the link for the podcasts. This episode is WFTH 003. You can also find it on iTunes. Thanks and God bless! |
AuthorJoanna Eccles has led Bible studies for over ten years and completed the year-long C. S. Lewis Fellows Program. She is passionate about discipleship and helping people know God better. Joanna enjoys coffee, traveling, and reading, and currently lives in Florida. Categories
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