Another Look Podcast
Another Look Podcast is a podcast where we discuss our splinters and planks of wood in the American church. The purpose of this podcast is to have frank and honest dialogue about the role of the church and the role of the believer in America today. Our goal is to take "another look" at who we are and realign our spirits properly. It will hurt initially but the end result will always be a beautiful masterpiece in the Potter's hands.
Another Look Podcast
A Pathway to Spiritual Maturity and Rest Episode 2 - Rest in Lean Times
Discover the peace and assurance that come from resting in God's grace. We promise you'll uncover a profound sense of inner peace and confidence as we explore the dual nature of rest that God promises: the future glory of eternal rest in heaven and the present tranquility available through His grace on earth. By examining biblical teachings from both the Old and New Testaments, we offer practical insights into how these timeless truths can be woven into the fabric of your daily life. Through candid personal reflections, we tackle common challenges and illustrate how God's grace can sustain us through times of scarcity and hardship, much like it did for the Israelites wandering in the wilderness.
Join us on this heartfelt journey, where we not only reaffirm the sufficiency of Christ's grace, as echoed in Philippians 4:13, but also extend a warm welcome to new believers embarking on their spiritual journey. We share stories of personal financial struggles to highlight the transformative power of faith and divine provision, encouraging you to lean into the Holy Spirit's strength rather than outward circumstances. Whether you're a longtime believer or new to the faith, this episode offers a rich tapestry of encouragement and support, inviting you to connect with a vibrant faith community and embrace your belonging in this ever-growing family of faith. Celebrate your spiritual homecoming with us and embrace the overflowing grace that is available to all.
Please feel free to leave us your prayer request, comments, and feedback at our website at https://anotherlookpodcast.buzzsprout.com or https://podpage.com/another-look-podcast/.
You are precious and loved beloved. Keep pressing forward towards Jesus.
Welcome to Another Look Podcast. At Another Look Podcast, we go beyond the norm and literally take another look at our life in Christ. We keep an open heart and mind so we can reach, teach and love all of God's creation. Whether you are a novice or veteran in this walk, this podcast is for you. You ready for something new, something that will challenge your thinking and heart? Are you willing and ready to unlearn in order to learn, willing to tear down so God can rebuild? Good, let's get up and go. People are waiting for us. Let's go fishing.
Speaker 2:Tranquility Base. Here the Eagle has landed. Hey, welcome to another Look podcast. This is your brother, brother Kenny D, minister of the Gospel, just a humble servant of God, or at least trying to be humble. It's not always easy, but God is good. So I just wanted to thank some of y'all.
Speaker 2:This last episode we were talking about the resting in God's grace. Spiritual maturity and finding rest in the grace of God has been so well received. We've got a lot of responses back and people are anticipating. I've been getting weekly requests to see, okay, what's up with the next episode? Why are you taking so long? And for those I do apologize.
Speaker 2:It's been a tough couple of weeks. I got some news that was challenging, news I didn't want to hear, but this word that I'm speaking and that I'm sharing with you is timely for me because I need to learn myself how to rest in the grace of God while I'm here on the earth and, as I said in the previous, of God while I'm here on the earth. And as I said in the previous series, we're breaking this into smaller, more digestible episodes. We're going to talk about number one how to the two types of rest that God calls us for, which was all centered again in Hebrews 4. But there's a rest that God calls us to have, which is a rest we'll enter into when we enter into heaven, which is future, and that's resting in or ceasing from our labors and ceasing from our struggles here on the earth. But there's also a rest God calls us for which can be found in his grace, which is the rest we can find in the grace of God while we live here on the earth. And I won't go back and recap everything. I encourage you to go back and take a go back into the last episode I had, which was very detailed, very clear on what what I'm referring to when I'm talking about resting in the grace of God.
Speaker 2:But now I'm going to go on further and we're going to speak about in this episode how we apply the rest of God's grace in certain areas in our lives. And I'm not going to talk about area in our lives, because there's so many different areas all of us can cover. But I'm going to talk about three main areas and I'm going to not expose them right now, but we're going to as we go through these episodes. I'm going to talk about three main areas and I'm going to not expose them right now, but we're going to. As we go through these episodes, I'm going to elaborate on each of these areas that are very common to most people, and so, but before I do that, I want to get some clarification. So, for clarification purposes, I want to help you to understand what I mean when I talk about rest of grace and, to be clear, the term rest of grace is maybe better termed as resting in God's grace. So we define this rest again as our inner peace, which gives us confidence in our salvation and God's power. So, in this particular episode, what we will discuss, or what I'm going to elaborate on, is how it applies to our lives and certain common areas of our lives.
Speaker 2:But again, before I dive even into that subtopic, I want to take a step back and define what rest is and how God defines the term rest. So, by definition and when I mean by definition, I mean by human definition rest is described as ceasing from work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself or recover strength. The Oxford Dictionary has another definition for rest which I think I believe more clearly aligns, or more closely aligns, with the biblical definition. Oxford defines rest as the act of being based or grounded in, to place hope, trust or confidence on or in, to belong or be located at a specified place or within a specified person. Why is that more closely aligned to the Bible? Because in the Old Testament, rest is called Shabbat, or it's translated as Sabbath, which is a day of stoppage.
Speaker 2:In the Sabbath we stop. In the Old Testament, they stopped working or they stopped selling in. Well, it means we stop. They stopped working order. They stopped selling in uh, well, it means we stop or work to settle it. We stop our work, excuse me, to settle into a place in God. Let me start over again. So again, sabbath is when we stop our working to settle into a place in God for refreshing, reorder and realignment physically, socially or spiritually. And we see that in Genesis 2, 2, and 3, when God rested on the seventh day after creating the worlds and all creation.
Speaker 2:The New Testament further defines rest in spiritual terms as the inner peace obtained through a continual and developed relationship with Jesus Christ. In this relationship we find God's grace. His grace exposes us to an inexplicably inner peace that gives us confidence in our salvation, which is future in heaven, and confidence in his power to deliver us in any storm or situation while we live here on earth, which is present. So now let's get into these areas where, or let's get into this one area today where the rest of God gives us inner peace. So the first thing I want to talk about is something that most of you may be familiar with, and that's the area of lack. So the question is how does the rest of God, how do I rest in God's grace when I experience lack or impoverishment? So let's take a look at Philippians 4, 11 through 13. And just for reference purposes, I'm going to be reading in the Amplified Translation Okay, so again we're in Philippians 4, 11 through 13.
Speaker 2:And the Apostle Paul says the following Not that I speak from any personal need, for I've learned to be content and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I'm not disturbed or uneasy, regardless of my circumstances. I know how to get along and live humbly in difficult times, and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity In any and every circumstance. I've learned the secret of facing life whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need, I can do all things which he has called me to do. Through him, who strengthens and empowers me to fulfill his purpose. I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency. I am ready for anything and equal to anything through him, who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace. My God, I love the Amplified Version. Paul wrote this letter to the church of Philippi, which is a letter of encouragement, correction, gratitude and affirmation.
Speaker 2:In this scripture, paul tells them he has learned to be content. So this infers y'all that he had to grow or mature into this mindset. When he says he has learned to, that is he has learned to, meaning he had to come into that mindset. So what mindset are we talking about? The mindset that, no matter whether he has more than enough physically or has very little, that his sufficiency is in Christ, christ being defined as God's anointing and God's anointed one alone. So in other words, again I'm going to repeat that he has found that, no matter where he is, whether he has a lot or whether he has very little, that he bases his sufficiency in Christ alone. He bases his sufficiency in God's anointed one. He tells us in verse 11 that he reached that place in God which flowed into his life on earth, reached that place in God which flowed into his life on earth where he no longer was distracted or uneasy or uncomfortable based on what he had or did not have. Why? Because he knew that the anointing enabled him to do all things Christ called him to do. The anointing strengthened and empowered him, no matter where he found himself. The anointing of God on Paul gave him the inner strength, confidence and peace to accomplish his purpose, no matter what it looked like on the outward. He was able to do it because he was strengthened inwardly to do it.
Speaker 2:So, ken, how is this apply to me? Why are you telling me all this? Well, guess what? I know you're in a tight place right now. You're in a tight place with people depending on you. You have no way, in your own power, to provide what's needed for you or your loved ones. Listen, I've walked down that path so many times. I lost count. But I've learned something. Y'all I've learned a couple things. I've learned that remaining in'all I've learned a couple of things. I've learned that remaining in that mindset of worry and helplessness doesn't change a thing. I found myself so overwhelmed. My body was exhausted. Have you ever been there? I was so exhausted I would fall asleep. And that exactly is where God wanted me to be. Why? Because when I was asleep. He couldn't tell me when I was awake because my fear and disbelief drowned out his voice.
Speaker 2:Listen when you find yourself lacking, stop struggling, cease from laboring for solutions. Now I'm not telling you to sit there and do nothing, but what I'm saying is you have to understand and come to this understanding that you and your own self cannot solve this problem. The reality is, god has anointed you with his strength to endure. God his power. He's anointed you with his strength to endure. He's anointed you with his power to overcome and he's anointed you with his peace to provide all that you need. I'm going to repeat that again God has anointed you, beloved, with the strength to endure the situation. He has anointed you with his power to overcome the situation and he has anointed you with his peace to provide all you need in that situation. The peace of God. The shalom of God, means nothing missing, nothing broken. It's the wholeness of God.
Speaker 2:But the issue with us is that we keep looking at our watches, expecting God to perform our desired outcomes on our timeline. We become more focused on the end result, never understanding. The lessons and greatest gains for us are found in the storms and the journey. Paul's revelation in Philippians 4 came to him in the times of lack, not in the times of abundance. This is why he didn't trip or go off and overindulge when he had abundance.
Speaker 2:When our family, we went through those eight hard years, those eight years of difficult tests and trials. We lost a lot, but what we realized is we didn't lose each other and we didn't lose God. And so, when God turned it around for us, we became better stewards. We became more appreciative stewards of whatever he provided for us, because we understood that every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord. We manage and we manage his provisions with inner peace, because we know that we are infused, we are dwelling in his love, that we are dwelling in his power and strength through the anointing on our lives.
Speaker 2:Like the apostle Paul, we understood that we are not self-sufficient in our own abilities, talents or anything else in us. As Paul said in Philippians 4.13, our self-sufficiency is anchored in Christ's sufficiency, and Christ is more than sufficient. He is more than enough. That's why we can do all things that he's called us to do, because our abilities, talents and strengths, and even our knowledge, are empowered by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit that infuses us with inner strength to accomplish the task he's called for us to do. He also infuses us inner confidence and peace to have inner knowing that everything is working together for our good, no matter what it looks like outwardly.
Speaker 2:So let me just help you understand something If you focus on your lack, if you focus on what you don't have and if you focus on the solution, you will never, you will miss the whole point. The point is not why are you in it? The point is not when are you going to perform, god? The point is not, lord, I'm looking upward. When are you going to put this thing I need in my hand? That's not the point.
Speaker 2:The point is, lord, I'm here because you're going to do something great in me. You're using this lack right now to perform something great that I'm not even ready for. God, that I cannot even see, because you're able to do exceedingly and abundantly. Above all, I could ask or think according to the power that worketh within me. So, instead of me focusing on what I don't have outwardly, I'm going to focus on the power that lies within me, because within me, this anointing is the answer to what I lack. That grace that you put in me is going to allow me to rest. So, yeah, there's a storm happening, but, lord, instead of being like the disciples in Trippin that were about to die, I'm going to get to the back of the boat and I'm going to go to sleep. I'm going to rest in your grace, I'm going to put my head in your bosom of your grace and know that in your grace, my lack is taken care of, because the sufficiency I need for today, the sufficiency my family needs for today, can be found in your grace. Give us this day our daily bread.
Speaker 2:Listen and I didn't even have this in my notes the tribe of Israel, when they were in the wilderness for 40 years, during that period, when they had nothing and they were beckoning and petitioning God to feed them, he sent them manna by day, manna by in the morning, and quail. He provided for them. Their shoes never wore out, their shoes never wore out, their clothes never wore out. Listen, he took care of them. How much more would he not take care of you? He will provide what you need for the day, and I know you may be crying, you may be in tears because you don't know how it's going to work out. Man.
Speaker 2:I have been there so many times. I've been there and you know the mistake people make is because they think well, you know, you don't know what it's like. You're a lawyer. Or you don't know what it's like because you know you're educated. No, I know what it's like. God has no respect to person. God doesn't care who you are, which education is, which background is. Lack is lack, and God reigns on the just and the unjust. And we have been there.
Speaker 2:We have been through seasons with three kids and not being able to pay certain bills that were necessities. I don't want to get into the details because I don't want to spill tea, but no beloved. We know what it's like to go to Aldi's and have to stretch $50 for two weeks with a family of five. We know what it's like to drive on a quarter of a tank of gas between two people working for a week. Somehow God made it happen. I don't even know how. We know what it's like when we have two cars, both of them broken down, and we have to rent a car and we don't even know how we're going to pay that bill and the light bill is coming due and we don't have any ends for that man.
Speaker 2:We know, we know struggle, but we also know his grace. We know we found that when we were struggling, if we could just take rest in his grace and again, this is something like Paul, we had to learn to do. We had to learn to rest and take rest in his grace and know that his grace has to be sufficient for us and know that his grace has to be sufficient for us. Because what we didn't know and we'll learn and I'll elaborate more as we get into other areas that there's so much in the grace of God that if we take hold of what is in the grace of God, it will allow us to say and rest. See, the grace of God, we know, is God's unmerited favor and it is. But there are things within the grace of God that if you look at in 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 12, 2 Corinthians 9, even in Philippians, that you will find there's so much in the grace of God that if you would just study to show that self-approved that you will find you can rest in it.
Speaker 2:You don't have to struggle with everyday struggles If you just learn to take your rest and teach your family. That way they won't trip either. Teach your kids, baby. I don't know how we're going to solve this, but we're going to pray, we're going to believe in the grace of God, that that grace of God will cause solutions to happen, that, in the grace of God, he will cause people to bring things to us. And even if he does it, god will bring, he will send it himself. God will provide manna by day and quail by night. He will cause things to happen. Well, we are covered by the grace of God. Therefore, it is impossible for him to fail us. Teach your kids that, teach your spouse that, and when they see it come to pass, they will grow in their faith.
Speaker 2:Take your eyes off of what you don't have and what you lack and put your eyes on him, in him. You have no lack In him. You have no need. Though outwardly it may look that way, inwardly he's going to take care of it, and if he can make you see it inwardly first, it will manifest outwardly next. But get your eyes off the clock, stop looking at the time, stop putting God on a time limit. God's not subject to time. And guess what God's in you? So guess what? You're not subject to time If God can make the day, stand still and not have night. When Joshua's fighting, you think he's going to cause that to happen to you. God will stop time for you. Believe that God will stop the hand of whoever is coming against you.
Speaker 2:God is God. He is sovereign. God is powerful, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-omnipresent, all over the place. God is everywhere. Man, listen to me. If nothing else you get out of this, understand this beloved. The grace of God is going to cause you, if you allow it to, to rest, learn to be content. And because why can you be content? Because you're sufficient in Christ. You don't have lack. You have, if anything, you have, a deficit in your faith in him.
Speaker 2:Again, your faith is not on the outcome. Your faith should never be based on whether God comes through or not. Your faith is in God alone. Whether he comes through for you, the way you think he should or not, does not change your faith. Your faith is that I trust God because he does all things well. So if I have a timeline and this bill has to be paid by tomorrow and it's not paid, then God still does all things well. He's still good. We are still thriving. We'll put up candles and flashlights. We're still good If God does come through. God is good, not because he provided, but because he loves me, regardless of whether he provides this for me or not, because he's an all-knowing, all-seeing, all-loving God.
Speaker 2:My faith is not based on transactions but on trust. My faith is not based on things but on my love for him and his love for me. My faith is not based on results. It's based on him being with me in attorney towards the result. Whether it be something I prefer or something I don't prefer, I still walk with him, I still talk with him and I still know he loves me as his own. Do you understand the difference now? Do you understand the difference now? We have to get away from this American faith mindset where we think our faith is predicated and built upon results and outcomes. That's not faith, that is.
Speaker 2:I saw this quote and I think it's important. It says faith. The word of God is says the Word of God is for daily consumption. It is not a cake for special occasions. Again, it said the Word of God is daily provision. It's for daily consumption. It is not a cake that's brought out for special occasions. In other words, you don't use the Word of God to get results for when you have a need or a lack. The word of God is for every day, for you to be changed, and to change it's for daily consumption. That's why it's called daily bread. It's bread, not cake.
Speaker 2:I pray this word has blessed you. I pray that, for those who may be experiencing lack or impoverishment, that this word helps you to grow in your faith, to grow to understand how, even though you may not have what you need you may not have even the things that your family needs you still are sufficient, not in yourself, but your self-sufficiency is in Christ, and that in that alone, in Christ alone, you are more and you have more than you need because you have him, and no matter what you're lacking in, he's going to take care of you and your loved ones. So don't fret, don't trip, don't worry, don't cry. Pull up your pants, pull up your. Tighten up your neck. Stand up, get out that ball. Stand up, strengthen, wipe your face, wipe those tears.
Speaker 2:Get out that ball, stand up, strengthen, wipe your face, wipe those tears. Stand up and give him thanks for being your Lord and Savior, for being Jehovah-Chara, the Lord who provides and it shall be seen. He is your God, he is your Lord, he is your Savior, he is your Master and he is the lover of your soul. I pray this word blesses you and that it keeps you and covers you. In the name of Jesus. Lord, I thank you that, at the hearing of my voice, that those who may be struggling right now, those who may not know where the next meal is coming from or where the next provision is coming from, that they take rest in your grace, that your grace takes them through the journey and that they take their eyes off of the end result and that they put their focus on you and your grace and they learn how to take rest in your grace. God, let this word marinate in their spirit and manifest in their soul and bring healing to their body and bring peace to their lives and the lives of their loved ones. You've given them lord thank you, father that they can do all things through christ, who strengthens them and empowers them to fulfill their purpose. God, let them find their self-sufficiency in Christ, understanding that they are ready for anything and equal to anything. Through you, holy Spirit, strengthen them now, infuse your strength and your peace and your confidence in them now. Let them see you differently now. Through this word, this we speak in the name of Jesus, we declare this done. Amen, amen, amen. Well, I pray and thank you for hearing this word. Let it be meat, let it be milk to you In Jesus' name, amen, love you. Hey, thank you for listening to another podcast.
Speaker 2:For now we're going to offer the call of salvation and I'm going to offer you two scriptures. The first one is Romans 10, 9. Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. The other one Ephesians 2, 8, 9. For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing. It is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Speaker 2:So now I'm going to ask you to pray this with me, in faith, and I want you to believe that everything you pray is true and God will answer. So pray this after me, lord, I admit I am a sinner. I need and want your forgiveness. I accept your death as the penalty for my sin. I recognize that your mercy and grace is a gift you offer to me because of your great love, not based on anything I have done. Cleanse me and make me your child. By faith, I receive you into my heart. By faith, I receive you into my heart as the son of God and a savior and lord of my life. From now on, help me live for you, with you in control, in Jesus, precious name, amen.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the family. Feel free to give us a shout out on our Facebook page or our Instagram page, or you can email us at alptrinity1 at gmailcom, or however you choose to reach out to us, but we want to know if you received Christ. We want to make information and materials available to you. If you have for your next steps and if you need help finding a faith-based Bible, teaching Bible, believing church home, we have resources available to you. So we look forward to hearing from you. We are excited for you. Welcome to the family. We love you and God bless you.
Speaker 1:Welcome home Columbia. Beautiful, beautiful Sheva.
