The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#566: If God Is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us? Mar 18, 2022

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The Big Idea:

There is no truth more fundamental in all of God’s Word than this truth. God is for us. God is not against us. God is not neutral towards us. Because of Jesus Christ, once and for all the question is settled. God is for us.

Main Points:

1. Paul’s question is, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” In other words, who can really fight against us, who can defeat us, if God is on our side?
2. Name the enemies of the people of God. Can the devil stand against us? No, because he has been defeated. Can the world stand against us? No, because Jesus has overcome the world. Can the flesh destroy us? No, because in Jesus Christ we overcome the temptations of the flesh. So, today, let’s be secure in our victory! Who dares to stand against us if God be for us?
3. No matter what Satan, our accuser says, no matter the circumstances we face - nothing can come against the love God has for us and win. We may be mocked, beaten, bruised, or even killed for our faith in Jesus. Even if we face the worst of circumstances, we are loved and accepted by our Heavenly Father because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 8:31 - “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Psalm 23:4 - “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
Matthew 28:20 - “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”.

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#565: How Great is our God? Mar 17, 2022

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The Big Idea:

If you read the Bible from cover to cover, you will come away with the knowledge that God is great. There is no limit to His power. There is no end to His creativity. He is a miracle-working God.

Main Points:

1. As much as we would like to, we cannot fully understand the greatness of God. We are finite, but He is infinite.
2. Over the centuries, Bible scholars have done their best to describe and articulate the greatness of God, but when it comes to God words will always fail us. The language of humans is incapable of accurately describing the greatness of God.
3. He is the one true God. He has no beginning and no end. He created all things and all things exist by his divine power. He has no peers. No one gives God advice. No one can fully understand him. God is perfectly holy. He is pure and righteous in every way.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 145:3-7 - “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”
Job 23:13 - “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases”

Isaiah 55:9 - “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

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#564: Being Imitators of Christ Mar 16, 2022

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The Big Idea:

We should desire to be like Jesus in our values, beliefs, character, and behavior. The only way we can be imitators of God is that we would follow him. We must come to know Him. We must learn from Him, and it’s only then that we would know what to imitate.

Main Points:

1. In some ways, we cannot be like God. You and I will never be all-knowing or all-powerful. We will never be omnipresent. We cannot be unchangeable like God. But there are characteristics of God that we can emulate.
2. We can imitate His characteristics like love, kindness, forgiveness, generosity, patience, grace, and mercy. We can be like God by living in purity, righteousness, and holiness.
3. To imitate God means that we follow his example, and we should follow it closely. When we were born again we entered into his family. We belong to God and we bear his name.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Ephesians 5:1 - “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”

Romans 12:2 NLT - "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Ephesians 4:13 - "...“become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”

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#563: Are You Wearing the Belt of Truth? Mar 15, 2022

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The Big Idea:

Where do we find absolute truth? We find truth in the Bible. What God says is true, and it is true absolutely. There is no wavering in God’s truth. Truth does not change according to polling data or by decisions handed down by Congress or the Supreme Court. Why? It is God’s truth. Truth is what God says.

Main Points:

1. We don’t usually think of a belt as a piece of armor, but the belt was important because the breastplate was tied into it. The belt even held the sword and the helmet when they were not in use. It was the first piece of armor that was installed.
2. The Apostle Paul gives us this image: we should tie up all the loose things in our lives with the belt of God’s truth. If we are going to stand when attacked we must have a firm grip on spiritual truth.
3. Studies conducted by the Barna organization showed that only 22% of Americans believe in absolute truth. It is no wonder so many people lose more spiritual battles than they win. It’s no wonder they get tripped up in Satan’s schemes.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Ephesians 6:14 - “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.”
John 18:37b-38 - "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate.
John 8:32 - “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

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#562: Developing Holy Habits Mar 14, 2022

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The Big Idea:

When we come to Jesus and make Him our Savior and Lord, he begins to work in our lives and strips away old ways of living that conflict with scripture and dishonor the Lord. Through the Word of God, He teaches us a new way of living. As we break with the old sinful patterns and habits, we form new ones that please God, but also give joy.

Main Points:

1. It’s through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to break the patterns of the world that we have lived by for so long. Now, through Jesus, we can be transformed, and this transformation takes place by a renewal in our minds.
2. In today’s culture we sometimes talk about habits in their negative connotation. We’ll say, I’m struggling to break some bad habits.” But what if you could form some new habits. What if you and I developed some holy habits? What if we created some habits that helped us grow spiritually?
3. Remember, there is a difference between behaviors and habits. Anyone is capable of a particular behavior from time to time, but a habit is done instinctively and consistently. How do we develop a habit? Through regular repetition. As we do so consistently, the behavior becomes a regular and almost involuntary part of our lives.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 12:2 - “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

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#561: Listening for God's Voice Mar 13, 2022

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The Big Idea:

We live in a very loud culture. The sound of our day is filled with the voices of media, news, politics, music, movies, sports, social media, friends, teachers, spouses, and much more. We hear it all, but have we heard the voice of God? God doesn’t have a speaking problem. We have a listening problem. He is speaking and it’s critical to hear what He is saying.

Main Points:

1. I believe God is a speaking God. In fact, I know He is a speaking God. On many occasions, I have heard the voice of God. No, not in an audible voice, but in the quiet of my spirit. God has confirmed his voice many times. You can’t convince me that God does not speak today.
2. The struggle is not God speaking, I believe He is always speaking. The challenge is in listening. We struggle to get quiet before the Lord. We don’t always make time for Him and sometimes we haven’t been in the practice of listening for his voice.
3. When someone speaks in a whisper, you have to get very close to hear. In fact, you have to put your ear near the person’s mouth. We lean toward a whisper, and that’s what God wants. The goal of hearing your heavenly Father’s voice isn’t just hearing his voice; it’s intimacy with Him.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Revelation 2:7 - “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says…”
John 10:27 - “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

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#560: We Cannot Forget What the Lord Has Done Mar 12, 2022

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The Big Idea:

It’s so important to remember the Lord’s faithfulness. In our times of anxiety, fear, and discouragement, the remembrance of what God has done brings peace to our souls.

Main Points:

1. When it comes to what the Lord has done for us, we cannot forget. Repeatedly throughout scripture, we are called to remember what the Lord has done.
2. Decides to remember God. A strategy for fighting discouragement and doubt and darkness is remembering, pondering, and meditating on the deeds, wonders, and works of God.
3. If you are struggling with discouragement, grab a sheet of paper and a pen and begin to write down what God has done for you. Remember his blessings. Remember his faithfulness. Remembering will bring hope into your soul.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Chronicles 16:11-12 - “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.”

Psalm 77:7-9 - “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
Psalm 77:10-12 - "Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

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#559: Are you Spiritually Alert? Mar 10, 2022

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The Big Idea:

Through the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us we can be watchful, alert, and on guard against Satan’s attacks. We can recognize spiritual warfare when it comes. We don’t have to be caught unaware. We can resist, and with God’s strength, stand against our enemy’s attacks.

Main Points:

1. I have been noticing that quite often the scripture calls for us as believers to be alert, vigilant, to be sober-minded, to watch, and to be on guard.
2. The Word of God calls for us to be spiritually alert because spiritual warfare is a reality each of us will face. The enemy of our soul is not content to allow us to serve God without opposition.
3. We must remain spiritually alert so that we can stand against Satan’s attacks against our faith. The attacks come in the form of temptations, lies, false teaching, discouragement, unforgiveness, bitterness, and more. These enemies of the heart threaten our faith. As we are watchful in prayer we keep our hearts and our souls where need to be with God. With God’s help, we will remain strong.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Peter 5:8-9 - “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”

Ephesians 6:10 says we can “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”

John 8:44 - that the devil “…does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it."
1 Corinthians 16:13 - “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith.”

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#558: The Word of God Endures Forever Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:

God has ordained that His Word would last forever. No man can destroy the Word of God. It remains throughout every season and every generation.

Main Points:

1. Scripture has never been more available than it is today. As of September 2020, the full Bible has been translated into 704 languages, the New Testament has been translated into an additional 1,551 languages. Now, through the means of technology, Scripture is even more available to us than it ever has been before.
2. Since the enemy’s attempt to destroy the Word of God has failed, he has changed his strategy. Today his work is to discredit the Bible. We are told that any thinking person couldn’t possibly take the Bible seriously.
3. Since the devil cannot keep this book out of our hands, he now attempts to keep the book out of our hearts. As we read Scripture we come to know the author of the book. These words are life to us. Satan knows that if you read the Word of God it will change your life.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Isaiah 40:8 - “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
1 Peter 1:25 - “But the Word of the Lord remains forever.”

Matthew 24:35 - “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Psalm 119:89 - “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”

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#557: You Have a Spiritual Gift Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:

Your spiritual gifts determine how God wants to use your life. Are you willing to allow God to use your life, for His glory, to build the kingdom of God? Are you willing to say “yes” to God?

Main Points:

1. The Bible has a lot to say about spiritual gifts. There are at least 20 of them listed in the Bible. We don’t have time to define them all today, but you can read about them in these passages of Scripture: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4.
2. Peter contends that each of us has received at least one spiritual gift when he states, “As each one has received a gift.” These gifts of grace are to be distinguished from natural talents, skills, and abilities.
3. What this tells us is that God wants to use our lives in a unique way. He has gifted and enabled us to serve Him and others. God intends for your life to be a blessing to others. You have a particular role in the work of God and by the Holy Spirit, God has given you a gift to make this happen.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Peter 4:10-11 - “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

Romans 12:6 – “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”

1 Corinthians 7:7 – “But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”

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