The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#416: The Reward for Enduring Persecution Oct 02, 2021

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Episode 416 - Show Notes

Persecution for our faith comes in various ways. In its lesser forms persecution can include scorn, rejection, ridicule, hatred, and isolation. Sadly today, there are believers around the world who are facing Christian persecution in tragic ways. Persecution can include the confiscation or destruction of property, arrests, imprisonment, beatings, torture, murder, and executions.
In fact, the International Society for Human Rights has said “80% of all religious freedom violations in the world today are directed against Christians.”
We must realize the hatred of Jesus and his followers is inspired by Satan himself. In his jealousy of God, he acts out of his pride. His chief aim is to steal God’s glory and to oppose the work of God. As a Christ-follower you have aligned yourself with God, and as such, you are a target for the enemy.
While we don’t want to hear it, the Bible does not promise us a pain free, problem free existence. We should note that Jesus doesn’t say if you are persecuted, but when you are persecuted.
But as we study scripture we learn there are several reasons we can rejoice in persecution. First, we understand that suffering helps us grow spiritually. It is through adversity that we learn firsthand God’s ability to give us peace and strength.
Second, we rejoice because share in the sufferings of Christ. We are identifying with Jesus. We gain a greater understanding of what Christ endured and it draws us closer to him in relationship.
Third, we rejoice because Jesus promises a reward in Heaven for those who face persecution because of Him.

Matthew 5:11-12 - “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

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#415: Friendship with God Oct 01, 2021

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Episode 415 - Show Notes

So many today are living their lives without any thought for God. It’s possible to live as though God doesn’t even exist. You can live your life with no knowledge of God, no pursuit of a relationship, and no relying on his help or strength.
But when we are in trouble things change. In an emergency, when life is suddenly difficult, those who had no thought for God suddenly begin to cry out for him. How many have fell to their knees in prayer during a crisis? How many run to God for his help to get them out of trouble?
We must come to the place where we understand and know that God is not just a 9/11 call. He is more than emergency assistance. He is more than someone to call when life gets hard.
God has created us for relationship. Through Jesus and his sacrificial death on the cross, we now have access to God. We receive salvation by God’s grace as we place our faith in Christ’s death on our behalf. This salvation opens the door for us to know God in a personal way.
Without a personal relationship with God, what often happens is that we run to God in trouble, and then when the crisis has subsided, we forget God.
If you will pursue God everyday, He will reward that pursuit. If you will draw near to him, if you will intentionally seek him, you will experience Him in greater ways. There is a spiritual intimacy we can have with God where we talk to him and he talks to us.
If you are like me, you can look at your calendar and see a lot of appointments. I have meetings and responsibilities scheduled, so I won’t forget. So, let me ask you: “Are there any appointments with God on your calendar?” Today is a good day to reach out to him. I know for a fact, he is accepting new appointments.

Deuteronomy 8:10-11 - “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.

Exodus 33:11 - “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”

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#414: Recognizing the Voice of God Sep 30, 2021

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Episode 414 - Show Notes

There are some who do not believe God speaks today, but I believe God speaks to his children. The struggle is often recognizing God’s voice. How do we know when God speaks to us. After all, the impression we receive could be our own thoughts, or it could even be the devil.
Our God is not distant. He is close and personal. He wants to have a personal relationship with Him. You can know Him. He wants you to hear and recognize his voice. Isn’t this amazing?
Dallas Willard - “If God doesn’t speak today then the greatest disservice we could do to people is to tell them they can have a personal relationship with God.”
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.
Here is a powerful question: Is God’s voice the loudest voice in your life?
James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” The more we pursue a closer relationship with God, the more readily we will hear his voice.

John 10:3-5 - “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

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#413: Don't Hide Your Light Sep 29, 2021

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Episode 413 - Show Notes

Jesus used the metaphor of light because it carries enormous influence. Light makes an immediate impact. It is noticed instantly, and it’s very difficult to hide.
Jesus says you and I, as his disciples are the light of the world. It is not given as a suggestion. This is our calling. This is our purpose. It's who we are and why we live in this world.
Many Christians are hiding their light. They have been told that they cannot shine their light in public. They might even be ashamed to shine their light around others, after all, what would people think? What if my light is rejected? What if my light is offensive to someone?
Jesus calls us to shine our light because the only way out of the darkness is by following the One who is the Light of the World. And the only way most people will find the Lord is by seeing His reflection in us.
Take a look at Jesus' statement in verse 16. "Let your light shine before men." You can turn on a light in an empty room. It will dispel the darkness, and no one will see it. In the same way, if we live the Christian life in secret, no one is going to see Jesus. If your light is going to shine, it has to shine before men.

Matthew 5:14-16 - Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

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#412: Until Christ Returns Sep 28, 2021

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Episode 412 - Show Notes

What about you? If you really believed that Jesus would return tomorrow, what would you do differently from what you are now doing? Would you maintain the same schedule you have set for yourself? Would you adjust your plans?
Yes, as believers, we are waiting for Christ’s return, but our waiting is not passive. It is an active waiting. I believe there are three primary things we are to do as we wait for the return of Christ.
God gives each of us opportunities to represent him and to tell of his saving grace. As we wait for his appearance, we take advantage of these opportunities. We don’t ignore them. We don’t neglect them. We must be intentional about telling others about Jesus because time is short.
Christ is coming. That is a certainty. He will appear. It very well could be today. Are you ready for his return? Are you watching and waiting with anticipation? Are you staying busy doing his will so that when he returns he will find you being faithful?
In your prayer time today, ask God to give you a new awareness of his soon return. Ask him to help you to be busy doing his will and to give you opportunities to share his message with others.

Revelation 22:20 - “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Titus 2:13 says, “we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Matthew 24:44 - “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

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#411: I Believe in Miracles Sep 27, 2021

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Episode 411 - Show Notes

Some today believe God doesn’t do miracles anymore. Others say that miracles were reserved only for the Bible times. The intellectuals, the philosophers, and the educators say, there are no such thing as miracles.
Definition: Webster – “An extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.”
Christianity is a religion of miracles. If you take miracles out of our faith, we have nothing left. You might have a set of ethical instructions, but there would be no power to change the heart and the life. The Bible is a book of miracles, from the beginning to the end.
The New Testament church lived with an expectation of the power of God.
What could happen if we lived daily with an expectation that God will hear and answer prayer? All things are possible. “Without faith it is impossible to please God rewards those who diligently seek him.”
I understand the lack of faith from those who do not know God, but where is our faith? Our struggle is not faith in God’s ability, but faith in his willingness. The result is no expectation.
Every miracle points to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Miracles are not a random display of God’s power. Every miracle has a purpose. When God works a miracle, he is not just doing something, he is saying something.
If God can create billions of galaxies with four words (let there be light), what can’t he do?

“And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” (Mark 16:20)

“Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.” (Acts 2:43)

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#410: We Need More Courage Sep 25, 2021

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Episode 410 - Show Notes

Lately, during my prayer time, I hear the voice of God calling me to be courageous. I believe God is looking for courageous Christians. He’s looking to his followers to be people who live out their convictions with courage. He’s searching for those who will trust God with a bold faith. He is looking for men and women who courageously share the gospel message with others.
The dictionary defines courage this way: the ability to face and deal with a dangerous or difficult situation.”
You and I are no stranger to these feelings of anxiety during our times of transition. Perhaps as you look ahead right now you feel lots of uncertainty about your future.
Fear is often our natural response. We don’t have to think of all our reasons to be afraid; fear comes instinctively. But being strong and courageous doesn’t come naturally.
Where do we get courage? Faith. Courage is an act of faith, because the courageous person acts on what they believe to be right, despite the threat of real or apparent danger.
Simply put, we gain courage when we focus on Jesus, we remember his presence and his promises. “I can do this because he is with me. I can face this because he has promised strength and wisdom.”
Having courage doesn’t mean what you are doing is easy. Having courage means you do the right thing anyway.
Here’s how I pray…God give me wisdom to know what to do, and the courage to do it.

Joshua 1:7 - “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”

2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, of power and of a sound mind.

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#409: Only Jesus Satisfies Sep 24, 2021

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Episode 409 - Show Notes

We all know what it feels like to be physically hungry. But our hunger in life is much deeper than our need for the next meal. Our greatest hunger is spiritual. This hunger is what drives all of life. It impacts our search, our ambition, our goals, and our direction in life. We will do just about anything in our search to satisfy this hunger, and it can get us into a lot of trouble.
In other words, most of our pursuits in life are for things that are temporary. It’s like food. All food has an expiration date. It’s only good for a little while. Jesus is saying instead of putting all your focus and energy into the search for temporary fulfillment, and temporary satisfaction, we should focus on the food that endures.
In the NT we learn that crowds wildly pursued Jesus because he supplied them with material things. They like the idea of a Jesus who could give them fish and bread – someone who could give them the material things they wanted. But they failed to take a step farther and realize that a man who could miraculously supply bread was also the One who could meet the deep spiritual needs of their lives.
Jesus came to meet a need in our lives that we cannot meet ourselves. But oh how we try. There is not a person here today who hasn’t tried to fill this inner hunger and thirst that we all have. As you look back over your life perhaps you can see how futile your attempts were. You always came up empty.
Jesus doesn’t say, “I can give you the bread of life” or “I know where you can find the bread of life” or even “I have the recipe for the bread of life.” He says, “I AM the bread of life.” He is what we need.
Jesus said I am the bread of life and this bread satisfies our spiritual search, our spiritual hunger. What bread is to hunger, Jesus claims to be for the soul.

John 6:27 - “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

John 6:35 - “Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

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#408: When You Feel Overwhelmed Sep 23, 2021

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Episode 408 - Show Notes

Have you ever reached a point where you thought, “I just can’t take it anymore?” Maybe you felt like you couldn’t deal with the problems, the conflict, the stress, or the anxiety. You had reached your limit. Most of us listening today can identify with that feeling. Life has a way of overwhelming us.
As I read scripture this morning, I’m reminded that God doesn’t want us to be overwhelmed, he wants us to overcome.
Listen to the words of Jesus in John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We might wonder why we go through difficulties, and trials, and suffering, but in this verse Jesus tells us that in this world we will have trouble. It’s a certainty. It’s a part of the human condition and no one is immune from it. We all face trouble.
But I love the last part of this verse, Jesus says, “Take heart, in other words, be encourage because I have overcome the world.
Where did Jesus say we find peace? In Him! If we are not daily cultivating a close relationship with Him, there is no wonder we feel overwhelmed by our struggles.
We do not overcome in our own power, but in his power. And as we stand strong and give testimony of the power of God in our lives – we overcome!

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#407: Communion is Not a Tradition Sep 22, 2021

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Episode 407 - Show Notes

Communion is important for us because it is about remembering. We are forgetful people. Jesus left us with a tangible, visual to help us remember what our faith and our shared Christian experience is all about
Communion is about the church community, but it is also personal. It is a look back, a memorial. It is a look inward, a time to search our hearts, a time of confession and repentance. It is also a time to look forward to the task God has given us, and to the return of Christ.
For the experience of communion to be meaningful, we must remember. We must reflect. We must remember that Jesus died for our sin. We must recall that he suffered greatly so that we could experience salvation and forgiveness.
A person can go through the external motions of communion without experiencing the inward sense of fellowship and partnership that the Lord’s Supper was meant to express. You can participate in communion without having communion with God and others. In the same way you can sit down for a meal with your family, but mentally be in a completely different place, and ignore them.
Communion is also a commitment to the unity of the body of Christ. You know, each of the disciples had their own relationship with Christ, but they also had a relationship with each other. Communion is a picture of the church. It is our fellowship with Christ, but it is also communion and community with each other. Clearly Jesus wanted us to come together.
Communion is an anticipation that Christ will return for his church. As we participate in communion, we declare our faith in the future God has prepared for us. We are instructed to have this celebration together until the return of Christ.

Luke 19:22 Jesus said, “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:26 – “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

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