Greg Durante Podcast

Just like the old Christmas carol, which talks about the many wonderful things about Christ, perhaps the most excellent response is to adore Him altogether. Just think about the Son of God, seated at the right hand of the Father, who once left His majestic abode to live with us, humans, one of just the many creations of God, and then teaching us, healing us, making us whole, dying for us on the cross, all done unselfishly so that we may be called again as children of God. Imagine that with all His glory in heaven, He was despised at the cross until death and redeemed us from condemnation to eternal punishment in hell, unto His eternal glory in heaven. That is why the only suiting and most excellent response is to come and adore Him.

During His lifetime on earth, Jesus never missed a beat of His Father's will. Why? because He is always in communication with His Father. There was no clock or watch during his time, but His prayer time must have been so intense and long that it would reflect in the miracles He performed each day. He makes prayer His focus. As followers of Christ, we must apply and observe this characteristic of Jesus to make prayer our main business. So when we face troubles and problems in this world, we know what to do and whom we can run to.

We cannot control situations in life. There are ups and downs, lefts and rights, and forward and backward stances. What we can control is how we will react. But it's not always easy to stay on a good path. That's why we need something to get a grasp on. That's where faith comes in. And when a household, in Christians, this means, the church family, operates in faith in God, nothing can stand against its members. Operating in faith means loving one another, lifting one another in prayer, protecting against false teachers, leading like how Jesus leads His followers, etc. As long as Christ is in the center, everything will be in place and in perspective.

The blood of the Lamb, the meek and lowly in heart disposition, of the One who shed it, for the redemption of our sins, is still continuously cleansing us from all sins and has forever granted us eternal life, to those who will believe and receive. Its power has also given us access to the throne of God so that we can live there forever. There is now no condemnation, in the powerful blood of Jesus Christ. 

The Word of God is alive and active. And God Himself is not a man that He should lie. He is faithful and true. If you can think of all the times He saved you, provided for you, protected you, and lifted you, know that He will do it repeatedly because He loves us that much. Be fully convinced that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. 

The fullness of the Holy Spirit means that we obey what he says. We will not have our way. It means that we are fully surrendered to His cause. We may ask, or doubt a bit, but eventually, will carry out His tasks for us. And in obedience, faith grows and matures, because, in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we can experience miracles and breakthroughs which no man can do.

When faced with persecution and troubles, the easiest way is to retaliate especially when the ego is touched. But, it was when we became a weapon for the enemy, for we allowed ourselves to give in to the plan of the evil one. Hard as it may seem, fighting battles with and in love, is always a win-win for both sides. Carry love as a weapon always, it may not be the toughest or the strongest or even the sharpest, but it is the most powerful of all that can melt down a hardened heart.

Is there anything hard to do for God? He can do it because He is the living God. There is nothing impossible for Him. We can think out of the box but there will come a time when our mind will limit us because it is, limited. But not God, who created all things, the universe, and everything in it. We cannot even fathom what lies beyond the galaxies and the darkness beyond, but not God, the Creator. He is able to do anything because He is that all-powerful.

Enlarge your tent. Tear down old walls and build new ones. Make room for more space for God to move, and then move. God has prepared greater things for you. See beyond what you see around you now. There is far more to it. God is waiting on the other side of your problems with your reward. Press on. Take faith along. 

God does what He pleases. And what pleases God is to bless His children and make His plans come forth. But we must make an effort to let Him do it in our lives. We must obey, trust, love, and worship Him because when He is lifted high in our lives, we make a way for Him to do His good plans for us. 

Jesus Christ is undoubtedly the Son of God. Even here on Earth, He displayed compelling and significant evidence that He is God. Though some say He is a prophet or a teacher, His miracles alone cannot argue His divine nature. The Bible also, talks about Him, even in the beginning and end. 

For God to sanctify you is for you to be set apart. When God blesses you, He wants you to trust Him only, even amid unbelievable circumstances and situations. Trust His Word. Trust His promises. That in the middle of trials, there will be an answer. That in the darkness, there is light. That in lack, there is fullness. That in every negative situation, there is something that God has prepared. Because His Word said that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. God will make a way and make the crooked path straight.

We may be hard-pressed on every side, but problems and trials are normal. The good thing is that we have the Word of God and prayer as our weapons. Soaking in these puts one in a better position to shield and wield his attack. The anointing we will receive will prepare us to be our best in the battle.

Everyone experiences the same trials and problems while here on earth. It may not be at the same time or circumstances, but still, nothing is new under the sun, just as the wise man told us in the book of Proverbs. But the confidence of the Christians lies in the everlasting truth that there is also nothing in this world that can separate us from the love of God. This truth, once believed and applied, just as any truth on earth is, will free any man from doubts, worries, troubles, and anxieties. And there are so many truths in His Word and in His promises, that will keep us grounded, standing steadily, amidst the turbulence and chaos, life may bring. 

Accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior makes Him the Lord and Savior of our lives and a Shepherd who guides, cares, protects, leads, watches over, and tends to us. He is also the Bishop of our souls, who advises, teaches, and mentors us about the Word of God and the will of the Father. We have someone we can follow in Jesus, who will always give whatever we need to strengthen our walk of faith.

Go! The God Almighty has given us this command. We have been saved not just to sulk and preserve ourselves but to go and share the good news we have received. We have been given the command and the assurance that He will be with us even to the ends of the earth. God is looking for willing vessels to let His power, provision, grace, mercy, love, salvation, presence, peace, and glory to cover the earth. So let us go, and spread the freely given gifts of the goodness of God here and now.

As one family in Christ, we must exercise the ability to pray for one another. And not just to pray but to aspire for the best for our brethren. Because God prepared the best for us, we must learn not to focus too much on ourselves but lift one another so that people may see the huge difference between people coming from every walk of life and walking on the same path in faith.

When we were born again, we took on a new identity in Christ. Our old selves were gone. We are now ambassadors of Christ. We represent Him in every place we go, all the time because Christ is now living in us. And people should see Him through us, not just in our words but also in our actions. We must make every effort to make Him known, just as we have known Him when we had an encounter with Him through the people or circumstances we met.

A household of faith is maintained and sustained by God. When you make Jesus the center of your family, everything falls into place. The foundation is firm and stable, so storms of life, trials, and problems cannot and will not destroy the household. It may come, but the household will be more than ready to triumph. Put Jesus in the center and see the difference.

The book of James wants to convey that we should also be doers of the Word and not just hearers. We cannot learn fully a thing if we haven't done it yet. In school, theories are tested in the laboratory. Swimming is not learned by acquaintance. And muscles are not built sitting down. So is faith. We cannot learn much of what God wants us to be by just sitting in the church pew once a week, maybe one or two hours, listening. God wants us to apply it once we stand after the Message was brought forth