Faith Matters Podcast

Sheep and Wolves

Faith Matters Podcast with Andi and Brian HaleSeek Christ, Seek Wisdom, a 5 day devotional from Vance Jackson“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”Matthew‬ ‭10:16‬ ‭KJVBe wise as a serpent, yet harmless as a dove. Let your actions be ruled by His Word. Let your actions be ruled by His Counsel. Let your actions be ruled by His Power. Let your actions be governed by His Character. ‬“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:29‬ ‭KJVLet no corrupt communication proceed from your mouth. Let not the toxins of this world entangle and contaminate your words. Let not the corruption of this world contaminate your heart.Choose to reflect and represent Christ in everything that you do. Choose to represent Christ in Business. Choose to represent Christ in Government. Choose to represent Christ in Media. Choose to represent Christ in every aspect of your life. Let the Wisdom of Christ lead you.“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬Let not the venomous behavior of the world contaminate your heart. Let not the venomous ways of the world harden your way. For God has given you power to overcome the venomous attacks and tactics of the enemy.“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”Luke‬ ‭10:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬Although you’re surrounded by wolves — do not conform to their ways.For God has given you the wisdom and power to tread upon serpents, scorpions, and all of the power of the enemy. Seek the Counsel of Christ. Seek His Way in everything that you do. Let His Word, Wisdom, Counsel, and Character become the Blueprint of your life.

Draw Near to Christ

Faith Matters Podcast with Andi and Brian HaleSeek Christ, Seek Wisdom, a 5 day devotional from Vance Jackson“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”James‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬Draw nigh to God. Draw nigh to Wisdom. Let His Word purify you. Let His Word cleanse you. Let His Word transform you. Stay close to Wisdom. Let Wisdom rule your heart. Keep your hands clean. Keep your heart pure.“I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.”Proverbs‬ ‭8:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬Let Wisdom dwell richly in the borders of your mind. Let Wisdom dwell richly within the borders of your thoughts. Draw nigh to Christ and let His Word and Wisdom shape the Blueprint of your life.Let Wisdom lead and focus your heart. Let your heart be resolute. Choose to focus on Christ. Choose to focus on His Word. Choose not to be double-minded. Let not your heart waver. Let His Word, Wisdom, and Counsel navigate your path.‬‬“Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”James‬ ‭3:4-5‬ ‭KJVLet your words reflect the Heart of God. Let your words reflect His Counsel. Let your words reflect His Character. Let your words steer the course of your destiny. Let your words steer the framework of your family.Your words have power. Your words have weight. Your words have authority. Your words matter. Let your words steer the course of your life.‬“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”Proverbs‬ ‭18:21‬ ‭KJVDraw close to Christ. Let His Word lead your lips. Let His Word lead your destiny.

Wisdom is the Principal Thing

Faith Matters Podcast with Andi and Brian HaleSeek Christ, Seek Wisdom, a 5 day devotional from Vance Jackson”Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”Proverbs‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬Wisdom is the principal thing. Let the Wisdom of God lead your path. Let Wisdom build out the fabric of your heart. Let the Wisdom of God build out the framework of your ‘Thought Life’. Let His Word lead your thoughts. Let His Word lead your way.“The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).”Proverbs‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭AMPCLet the Wisdom of God reign in every area of your life. Let God’s Wisdom lead and rule every aspect of your language. Let the Wisdom of God lead your conduct. Let the Wisdom of God lead your character in private and in public. Let the Wisdom of God establish the foundation of your heart.The Amplified Version expounds on Proverbs‬ ‭2:6‬ ‭AMPC‬‬, in the following manner,“For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”Wisdom comes from the Heart and Mouth of Christ.“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5 KJVIf you lack Wisdom — ask God for Wisdom. If you lack Guidance — ask God for Wisdom. If you lack Direction, Instruction, and Insight — ask God for Wisdom. Our Loving and Powerful God gives Wisdom liberally. Let God lead every aspect of your life.

Trust in Christ

Faith Matters Podcast with Andi and Brian HaleSeek Christ, Seek Wisdom, a 5 day devotional from Vance Jackson“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬According to Strong’s Concordance the Hebrew word for “Trust” is, ‘batach’ (H982) which means, “To have confidence.” Have confidence in Christ. Trust Him. Trust in His Way of doing things. Seek His Will in all that you do. Seek His Will and He’ll show you what path to take. His Word is His Will. His Word is His Counsel. Let His Word light your path. ‬‬“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”Psalms‬ ‭119:105‬ ‭NLTLet His Word light the course of your destiny. Seek His Way. Seek His Counsel. Seek His Wisdom. Seek to follow and obey the Principles and Precepts of Christ.Let His Word shape the framework of your family. Let His Word shape the framework of your heart. Let His Word shape the framework of your career. Let His Word shape the framework of your house. His Word is more powerful than any weapon of the enemy.Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ declares,“For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.”Let His Word sift, shift, and transform your heart. Place your trust in Christ. Put your trust in His Word.

Seek First

Faith Matters Podcast with Andi and Brian HaleSeek Christ, Seek Wisdom, a 5 day devotional from Vance Jackson“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Isaiah‬ ‭55:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for, ‘Seek’,‬‬ used in Isaiah‬ ‭55:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬, is ‘Darash’ (H1875) which means, “To resort to, seek with care, inquire, require, to worship.”Choose to seek God. Choose to diligently seek the Counsel of Christ. Choose to inquire and seek His Wisdom. Let His Word lead you. Let His Word guide you. Let His Word direct your course.Choose to follow, worship, and honor His Word. May His Word transform you. May His Word keep you. May you keep His Word close to your heart. May you seek God while He may be found. May you seek Him while He may be near. May you keep Christ the King close to your heart.The Amplified Version expounds on Isaiah‬ ‭55:6‬ ‭AMPC‬ in the following manner,“Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near.”Call upon Christ — for He is near.Call upon Christ in every season of life. Call upon Christ when things are going well. Call upon Christ when things aren’t going so well. Call upon Him throughout the day. Choose to lean upon His Word in every season of life. Call upon Christ in your time of need. Choose to seek Christ early in the situation. Choose to seek Him in all matters. Choose to seek His Way in private matters. Choose to seek His Way in public affairs. Choose to seek Christ in everything that you do. Let the Word, Power, and Hand of God direct your path.

Find Your People

Find Your People, Day 5By Jennie AllenEphesians 2 tells us that we—you and I and everyone ever to live—were dead in our trespasses and sins and that we were children of wrath, meaning that we deserved for God to send a meteor our way. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:3-5).Jesus rescuing us from our sin and giving us a way out changes not only our eternal future with Him, but also empowers us to love like Him here. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).You and I are to give that reconciliation and hope away to living, breathing, broken, longing people. God purposefully set you in your place and in your time to love people in such a way that they will feel their way toward Him and find Him.Jesus not only provides the means to live a full, thriving life with each other and with Father God, He also modeled how it would look! He laughed and learned and sang and grew up in the context of a village. He found His people in unexpected places, not universities or temples. His people were prostitutes, uneducated fishermen, hated tax collectors, children, and mothers-in-law. They were often, by any onlooker’s estimation, the wrong ethnicity, the wrong gender, the wrong age, the wrong status, the wrong personality type, the wrong people.Jesus’s people were all wrong—except that they were willing. And they were wanting. And they were all in.Jesus made a habit of pushing away crowds and eating with His twelve. Within that twelve, there were three He spent the most time with. But what began in a village with a tight group of people would reach generations and the ends of the earth. This is the endgame of community: we find our people, and together we build safe, beautiful outposts that offer the love of God.God, in this weary, tired world it feels like just more work to be “all in” with people who have hurt us or could hurt us. Help me to focus on the endgame: building a community, a circle of friends, that can be a beautiful beacon of Your love. May nothing stand in the way of the relationships You are preparing for me. Amen.I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:4‭-‬8Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17‭-‬19