In the 8th message of our “Unveiling Yahweh” series, we will be learning about God's name as Jireh.

This week, Dustin Renz walks through Genesis 22: God’s testing of Abraham. Through this narrative, we see Abraham’s strong faith that God would be true to His covenant. And through it, we also see the powerful truth that in our need, Yahweh will see to it.

Should Christians watch movies or TV shows that contain inappropriate innuendos or sex scenes? In this episode, we’ll give you a straightforward response to that question, but we’ll also take a deeper look at what the Bible teaches about a more foundational issue: our interactions with the world.

Resources

• At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry (Book) by Steve Gallagher

In the 7th message of our “Unveiling Yahweh” series, we will be learning about the Voice of God.

The way God speaks to us has become a divisive topic due to misuse in some circles. Yet the vital importance of understanding how to hear God in our lives hasn’t changed. This week, Steve Gallagher expounds on the truth about the Voice of God.

We’ve had many parents ask us, “What can I do to help my child overcome sexual sin?” But this question begs a deeper one: what is the role of a parent? To help us answer this, we sit down with biblical counselor Mark Shaw who reflects on two decades of counseling and raising four children of his own.

Resources

• "For Parents" (Podcast Series) By Pure Life Ministries

In the 6th messageof our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at the Wrath ofGod.

This attribute of God, perhaps more than any other, can be hard to swallow. Many Christians choose to deemphasize the reality of God’s wrath and over emphasize His love and mercy. Yet the truth is that God’s wrath and His mercy are displayed with equal importance and clarity in Scripture. Both are part of who He is, and both are needful for us to know if we are to walk rightly before Him.

Thanksgiving—it's the time of year when we're encouraged to be grateful for the blessings in our lives. But when things get difficult, what should our attitude be? In this special Thanksgiving episode, we'll talk with three of our staff members who decided to fight for gratitude in the hard seasons.

Many people in today's Christian culture claim to be worshipers of God. But true worship is only revealed through a life of obedience. In this Timeless Truths segment, Jeff Colón contrasts the lives of Abraham and King Saul, urging us to reflect on whether our own worship resembles Abraham's wholehearted obedience or King Saul's partial and insincere devotion.

Host: Jeff, we want to continue in our discussion in this series, “Worshiping God,” and one of the things we've lost about the reality of worship, especially in the Evangelical Church in America, is obedience to God. And we learn a lot about that in the story of Noah. Let's talk about that.

Jeff: Yeah. A lot of times we do think of worship in the sense of being in a worship service where people are praising God and singing songs. But really it involves our whole life. We see that in the life of Noah and just how he walked with God.

Host: Scripture tells us that he found favor in the eyes of God. Why was that?

Jeff: Well, it says he found favor in the eyes of the Lord because he walked with God. This means that he was obedient. His life was led by the Lord, and it pleased God to find someone that was willing to let Him order their steps and lead their life. And God can do a lot with someone that's willing to do that.

Host: Jeff, as we talk about obedience, one of the phrases that I heard many years ago was that partial obedience is not obedience, and we see more in Noah than just partial obedience.

Jeff: Yeah, and it really does tie in with worship as we'll see later in the life of Abraham as well. But Noah heeded what God said, and he did all that God commanded of him. Contrast that with King Saul who we see had partial obedience. He was instructed to totally wipe out the Amalekites and leave no one living and to take no spoils, but he only partially obeyed. Then, when the Samuel the prophet confronted him, he said, “God doesn't delight in sacrifice and offering, but in obedience.” That's what God was after. Him doing everything He had told him to do.

Host: Yeah. I know that's something that God continually impresses on me. Not only that God is not interested so much in the sacrifice, but that He's interested in obedience out of our heart. In other words, if you're in ministry, He's less concerned about the ministry work you do and more concerned about the heart that that work comes from. And that may seem like an extreme statement, that God is asking for our full obedience. Many may think, “God is just asking me to go to church on Sunday and for me not to drink or smoke or do drugs.” But really, he wants the totality of our hearts to be given to Him. And that's what we see in Noah.

Jeff: Yeah. If you think about it, if we only obey God part of the time, what are we really saying? We’re saying that we'll obey God when it doesn't interfere with what we really want to do. That's not walking with God as Noah did.

Host: Yeah, it just came to mind that Jesus said, “There will be those on that day who will say, Lord Lord.” And they'll list all the religious things they did, but He really wasn't their Lord. Because they were only doing a few religious things that looked good to other people. But in their hearts, He wasn't the Lord of their life.

Jeff: Right. And we're not talking about perfection here and that you have to do everything perfect, but there should be a general consensus in your life that your life is ordered by the Word of God, even though at times you might miss the mark. But you see it, you repent of it and you're always coming back to the Word of God.

Host: Yes. You know, sometimes in counseling, you'll mention something to someone, and you see the look on their face. It's like, “You're kidding. God would ask me to do that?!” It may be something as simple as giving up a pet hobby or something that's getting in the way of their relationship with the Lord. But we see this kind of dramatic call in the life of Abraham.

Jeff: Yeah, that is so true. To me, it really is a picture of what true worship is, because when you think about Abraham when the Lord told him to offer up his son as a sacrifice, he said to his servant, “We are going to the mountain to worship.” We're talking about him going to sacrifice his son.

Host: But not only his son, it was the promise. It was God’s promise for his future.

Jeff: It was the promise. It was everything he relied on to fulfill God's word to him. Yet it had become something that he was trusting in rather than God and God required it of him. And again, we see what's at the core of worship. Are we really looking to God or are we trusting in something else? Yet we see that he was obedient.

Host: Yea. And one of the wonderful things that comes out of this study is that God requires us to worship, and yet he gives the provision for us to worship. It's just wonderful how God does that for us. Every time I look over the years at how God has intervened in my life to bring me into His presence and to bring me to a place where I can worship Him, gratitude just wells up. And a grateful heart is part of worshiping God too. How important is that?

Jeff: I'm reminded of Romans 1:21, where it says, “They did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful.” That led to worshiping the creation rather than the Creator. That’s what happened to Adam and Eve. The serpent deceived them into believing that God isn't good. And when we lose sight of that, it really does lead us away from worshiping God the way we ought to with our lives. And we're commanded in Scripture to be thankful in all things.

Host: You know, in line with that Jeff, before the Tabernacle came about even, every time God did something for His people, He instructed them to make an altar. And they had altars for that reason, didn’t they?

Jeff: Yeah. It was a place where they could remember that mercy. And for us it points to Christ and not losing sight of what Jesus has done for us. And that really is the basis for our gratitude.

Host: Yeah. In fact, in the study we were looking at, they mentioned that those alters really were a type for the Cross. It was a picture of the sacrifice to come.

Jeff: For me, it doesn't take much reflection on what Jesus has done for me to stir a grateful heart inside of me. When I take time to express gratitude to the Lord, it's an act of worship to Him.

Host: Yes. I remember when I came into the Residential Program here at Pure Life, it was difficult for me. And no big surprise that when we're living a life of sin and self-will, we don't have a heart of gratitude. But as God begins to cleanse you and purge you of your idols and begins to open your eyes again, you realize that He's done so much for you and continues to do so much for you.
       Well, Jeff, as we close this discussion today, let's kind of tie it up with something that I think we need to touch on that we can learn from. And that is the obedience of Noah and also the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son.

Jeff: Well, what we learned is that there's a cost in our worship with the Lord, yet He saved Noah and His family. He opened the way of blessing for Abraham. So, it brings a blessing with it when we obey the Lord and we worship Him in that way. And then we have reason to be grateful. And it all ties together. It really is a wonderful cycle if I could say it that way that just continually enhances our worship and actually makes us want to worship Him more with our lives.

Host: And it of course ultimately points to the greatest cost ever paid and that was the sacrifice of Jesus, which is our greatest reason to be grateful and to worship.

In the 5th message of our Unveiling Yahweh series, we will be looking at the Faithfulness of God.

Our lives can be full of circumstances and people which will let us down. This is inevitable in a fallen world. But God, who is not like us, is good, unchanging and perfect. He is a Being fully worthy of our trust, because His character, and His track record, prove that He is faithful.

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Compared to most of the world, Americans have greater opportunities for wealth and a pleasurable life. But in light of biblical warnings about riches, how should Christian couples view the American Dream? In the final episode of "On the Same Team," PLM graduates Stephen and Jubilee Howell talk about how their pursuit of the American Dream nearly led to their ruin, but how God gave them a new vision centered on building His Kingdom.

Jesus warned that on Judgment Day, He would tell many that He "never knew them” because, although they performed religious actions in His name, they were harboring iniquity in their hearts. In today’s Timeless Truths, we’ll discuss why repentance and intimacy with Christ will prepare us to stand before God.

Host: Counselor Bill Lucas has joined Kathy Gallagher and I in the studio today. Bill, it's good to see you. Thanks for coming in.

Bill: Thank you for having me.

Host: We want to talk today about the lifestyle and attitude of repentance. We're going to begin by taking a look at three types of individuals described in Scripture that do not reflect an attitude of repentance. Those types are false teachers, those who have never repented, and the self-righteous. Let's start with false teachers. How do we recognize them and how do we recognize that they in fact are not walking in a life of repentance?

Bill: Well, Jesus talks about this in Matthew. “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:15-21, NASB 1995) Just looking at this Scripture, it wakes me up to see that it's not about what you're doing so much on the outward, but it is an inward call. The inside is very important, and that's what I believe Jesus is trying to wake us up to.

Kathy: Yea, they are teachers, and they are in front of a crowd of people. They're leading people. But the thing that Jesus sees is what's going on in the inside. The motivation of the heart. That's what He's looking at.

Host: So, these false teachers are in the Church and they look like other believers in a lot of ways?

Bill: Correct. The false prophet is one who is mainly being governed by their own evil lust. The Bible talks a little bit about this in Romans. It says that they are like slaves of their own appetites and they deceive unsuspecting people.

Host: What does Scripture indicate motivates false teachers?

Bill: Well, anyone that you would think of that's promoting their own agenda. They're doing it for a profit or it's a trade of theirs to a degree. They're trying to promote their own kingdom. They're building a kingdom of their own rather than building up the Kingdom of God.

Host: Sounds like a politician giving the people what their itching ears want to hear. They’ll say whatever will make the people happy to get elected.

Bill: Interestingly yes, there are those similarities.

Host: Well, now let's talk about those who have never truly repented. I know that there are a lot of individuals in the church who surround themselves with a cloak of Christianity. They may go to church. They may listen to Christian radio programs. They may read Christian books. But the Bible does speak very clearly about who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and it's not describing those who are just doing these outward things.

Bill: That's right. Of course, the Bible is very clear about who does get to come into Heaven, and that is repeatedly said to be the one that does the will of the Father. And Romans 12:1-2 is very clear to me. It says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2, NASB 1995)
       And I just look at the idea of repentance. When you are convicted by the Holy Spirit, there is a change that occurs in you. It must happen and it's not something that is adaptable with the world system. You have to begin to go in a completely different direction from where the world system is leading you.

Host: But on the other hand, Jesus talks about those that do not appear to have adapted to the world system, but in fact seem on the outside to have adapted to the religious system. And He talks about those in that camp that surely will end up in hell. Talk to us a little bit about Jesus's admonition about that.

Bill: Yes, outwardly there is an element of Christianity in those people Jesus is talking about, but He is looking at their heart. And for those that have never truly repented, there's an element of wickedness remaining in their heart. 2 Timothy, 2:19 says, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19, NKJV) Again, in Psalm 5:5, “The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity.” (Psalm 5:5, NKJV) And I believe that the people that don't truly repent have iniquity in their heart. Jesus said that he will tell those that prophesied in His name, cast out demons and performed miracles, “I never knew you, depart from me you workers of iniquity.” So, iniquity is still dwelling in their heart that they've never truly repented of.

Kathy: These people that Jesus was speaking of, they were in the Church. They were casting out demons. They were doing many mighty works. And yet Jesus said, “Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. I never knew you.” That's a scary thing, because I think that there are a lot of people doing a lot of churchy stuff who do not know Jesus Christ and have never been born from above. They've joined the church, they've acclimated to the system, but there's a difference between joining the Church and being born into the Church. And I think we see now in our day, a lot of people that are doing a lot of outward things, but there is no real union with Christ.

Host: And there's no real fruit of repentance in their life.

Kathy: Yes. There's no fruit. And outward works don’t equal fruit. That's not what fruit is. Fruit is what is coming out of your life. It's born of the Holy Spirit. It's your life spilling over into the lives of other people and people are coming into the Kingdom as a result of that fruit in your life.

Host: Okay, well we've talked about the false teacher. We've talked about those who have never truly repented. What about the self-righteous? Jesus talked to the Pharisees about self-righteousness.

Bill: Jesus said that your righteousness must surpass that of the Scribes and Pharisees, or you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Righteousness is the lack of iniquity. And a repentant heart is one that has departed from iniquity. The truly repentant person, and the one that is not a self-righteous person, is low in heart and humble and willing to acknowledge their lack. They're willing to see their need for God.

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Kathy: It’s spiritual poverty, which is what the Pharisees didn't have. Their righteousness was outward, and that's what the self-righteous do. They prop themselves up on the things that they do, their outward works and the way they even look. If they can appear righteous to people, then they consider that Christianity. But Jesus said it goes way beyond that. It's the heart that God is looking at. And when He said that your righteousness must surpass that outward ability to look like a Christian, He was highlighting that it's a heart issue.

Bill: Right. The Pharisees were law-keepers. But Jesus came into the world and started representing the idea of an inward life. It's an element of faith that is being missed in our churches today that people need to just acknowledge their need for God in faith and start looking not so much at the outward but start looking at the true motives of their own heart. It’s very real to me that my character is established when I'm all alone, or when no one else is around and that tells me something.

Host: Amen. Let's end this discussion by talking about what the outcome of a lifestyle of repentance is and kind of break it into the negative and the positive. What are some of the negative things from a human perspective that we might experience if we're walking out this kind of life?

Bill: The word that comes to mind is persecuted. You'll be persecuted for being extreme or overzealous. When it comes to following hard after Jesus, one thing I've learned is that it's hard. Jesus throughout the New Testament seemed to make it very clear that there is going to be affliction, there is going to be persecution and there are going to be tough times for those who choose to live out a righteous life. But Jesus says to endure to the end.
       I've got to keep looking at the fact that Jesus, when He talks about true Christianity and denial of self, says that He's going to give us what we need as long as we endure to the end. It doesn't always feel good. It doesn't always seem to be the most popular thing to be doing. But I know one thing, I'm not going to quit. And God is getting the glory from my life as long as I don't quit this walk of righteousness.

Host: Well, and that of course is part of what we want to end up on here and that is that there is a tremendous reward. There is a positive side to living this kind of lifestyle.

Bill: Jesus says in Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in Heaven is great.” (Matthew 5:12a, NASB 1995) And I know that there is a peace and joy that reaches beyond the tentacles of this present world.

Host: Yes, and there is great joy in that.

In the 4th message of our Unveiling Yahweh series, we will be looking at the Mercy of God.

This week, Dustin Renz turns to the Old Testament to look at the mercy at work during a pivotal time in the prophet Elijah’s life. We hope this unique look at a familiar biblical account brings you a fresh sight of how God loves to pour out mercy into our lives.

A God-filled marriage does not happen by accident. It is built on the foundation of ongoing repentance toward God and a spirit of humility toward each other. In Ep. 06 of our series, "On the Same Team," we'll be talking with PLM graduates Greg and Paloma about why it's been so important for both of them to remain aware of their own sin and their own great need for God.

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