Abide In Me – Details, episodes & analysis

In this week's episode, I delve into Exodus 14 where God parts the Red Sea in order to save the Israelites from destruction. God is testing their faith and says to them, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Even though they believed in God and even feared Him, they still did not have faith that He could save them.

What does this story tell us about ourselves? How will we handle our own Red Sea moment? Will we prefer to be slaves rather than face the unknown in the wilderness? Will we have enough faith to stay the course and reach our promised land?

In the last six minutes of the podcast I read short Psalms that will give you strength and courage during times of change. They are also listed, along with other Bible reference, in the podcast notes below.

"Wait for the LORD, be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:14

Bible references:

Exodus 14:14 (The Lord Will Fight For You, And You Have Only to be Silent); Exodus 14:10-12 (Better to be Slaves than to Die); Exodus 7-12 (10 Plagues in Egypt); 1 Kings 19:1-14 (Elijah in Wilderness); Matthew 4:1-11 (Jesus in Wilderness); Galatians 1:17 (Paul in Wilderness); Exodus 14:21 (God Parts the Sea); Psalm 115:3 (God Does What He Pleases); Matthew 19:26 (Nothing Impossible with God); 2 Timothy 1:7 (Not Given Spirit of Fear); 1 Corinthians 15:58 (Be Steadfast & Immovable); Hebrews 12:3 (Don't Be Fainthearted); Exodus 14:24-25 (Egyptians Fear the LORD); Exodus 14:30-31 (Israel Saw, Fear and Believed); Numbers 14:20-32 (Rebellious Generation Will Not Enter the Land); Deuteronomy 32:52 (Moses Not to Enter Promised Land); James 4:3 (You Don't Receive Because You Pray for Your Passions); John 18:36 (His Kingdom if Not of this World); John 17:16 (Disciples Not of the World); John 15:18 (Hated You as they Hated Me); Matthew 6:33 (First Seek the Kingdom of God); 2 Chronicles 7:14 (Humble Yourself, Seek My Face); Jeremiah 7:16 (Do Not Pray for these People); 1 John 5:13-19 (I Do Not Say Pray for That); Psalm 51 (A Broken and Contrite Heart You Will not Despise); Exodus 7:3-4 & 14:4 (God Hardens Pharaoh's Heart); Matthew 7:6 (Don't Cast Your Pearls Before Swine); Revelation 2 & 3 (Judgement on churches); Revelation 3:14-15 (I Will Spit You Out of my Mouth); Luke 8:17 (What is Hidden will be Revealed); 1 Timothy 3:2 (Leaders to be Above Reproach); Exodus 15:1-3 (The LORD is man of War); Isaiah 42:13 (The LORD goes out like a Mighty Man); John 2:15-17 (Jesus Cleanses the Temple); Isaiah 42:14-17 (For a Long Time I Have Held my Peace); Exodus 20 (10 Commandments); Jeremiah 23:29 (Is Not My Word Like Fire); Psalm 57:3 (He Will Send from Heaven and Save me); Isaiah 30:15 (In Returning and Rest You Shall be Saved): Proverbs 3:5:8 (Trust in the LORD with all Your Heart).

The Psalms

18:2 - The LORD is my Rock and my Fortress

27:13-14 - Wait for the LORD, Be Strong

50:3 - Our God Comes

56:3-4 - When I am Afraid, I Put my Trust in You

57:1 - In the Shadow of Your Wings I Will Take Refuge

62:8 - Trust in Him at all Times

121:1-2 - My Help Comes from the LORD

123:3-4 - We Have More than Enough of the Contempt of the Proud

9:15-20 - Arise O LORD, Let Not Man Prevail

138:6 - The Haughty He Knows From Afar

• Abide In Me You Tube Channel

In this week's episode I talk about three different worldviews and their response to human suffering. Should we have faith in humans to solve the world's problems? Or will Artificial Intelligence give us the answers? Both humans and technology are flawed but if we have faith in our Creator and his sovereignty, might and faithfulness, we will feel more stable in times of suffering.

BIble references:

Isaiah 53:2-6 (He was pierced for our transgressions), Isaiah 55:6-13 (My thoughts higher than your thoughts) Isaiah 65:17-25 (New Heaven and New Earth), Revelation 21:1-7 (I am making  everything new), Isaiah 9:2, 9:6-7 (Wonderful Counsellor, Everlasting Father), Isaiah 26:3-4 (The Lord is an Everlasting Rock), Psalm 56 (In God I trust), Psalm 121 (My help comes from the Lord), Psalm 23 (Lord is my shepherd), 1 Peter 5:6-11 (Cast all your anxieties on him), Ephesians 6:10-20 (Armour of God), James 4:3 (You ask and do not receive), 2 Timothy 3:1-7 (Godlessness in the last days), 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (Wander into Myths), Psalm 46 (God is our fortress), Psalm 27 (The Lord is my light and my salvation)

Other references:

• How to Answer the Problem of Evil in Five Steps - Mike Winger (50 mins)
• The Moral Argument for God (5 mins)
• How to Silence Atheists on the Problem of Evil - David Wood (10 mins)
• The God Debate - Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Richard Dawkins
• The Resurrection of Jesus: Fact or Fiction? - Apologetics Roadshow (25 mins)
• Evolutionist Richard Dawkins Says There Are No Morals: by William Lane Craig (4 mins)
• Why the Bible Can be Trusted - J Warner (Cold Case Christianity) (47 mins)
• Making of the Bible - Tim Mackie (Bible Project) 2 hours
• Abide In Me You Tube Channel

In this week's podcast I talk about the difference between having knowledge about God versus knowing God. Why do so many people run away from having a relationship with their Creator? Are they scared of being judged, or angry about the suffering they have endured? I discuss how different personality types seek to know God and also delve into the reality of heaven and hell.

Bible reference:

Ephesians 2:9 (Whole fullness of Deity), Psalm 139 (You have searched me), Psalm 18:25-26 (Devouring Fire), Revelation 20:14 (Lake of Fire), Hebrews 1:1-3 (Jesus), John 1:1-4 (Jesus, The Word), John 14:6 (I Am the Way), Ecclesiastes 3:11 (Eternity), Isaiah 65:17-25 (New Heavens/New Earth), Psalm 42:7 (Deep calls to Deep)

Other Books:

Beyond the Cosmos: The Trans-dimensionality of God - Hugh Ross

The Great Divorce - C.S Lewis

Other external videos and links are listed below:

• What Happens When We Die? - John Burke & Near Death Experience Research
• Fight Against Child Slavery & the Sex Trade | Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard
• Abide In Me You Tube Channel

In this week's podcast I talk about the dumbing down of our society and how we can learn to see through the media spin and the many wolves in sheep's clothing that want to lead us away from the truth.

"One of the painful signs of years of dumbed-down education is how many people are unable to make a coherent argument. They can vent their emotions, question other people's motives, make bold assertions, repeat slogans—anything except reason." Thomas Sowell

"Yet we must say something, when those who say the most are saying nothing" Augustine of Hippo

Bible Verses:

2 Timothy 4:3 (Teachers to suit own passions), Genesis 3:5 (You will be Like God), Jeremiah 6:14 (Assurance of Peace), Exodus 32 (Golden Calf), Hebrews 5:11 (Discernment), Matthew 23 (One Father), Isaiah 30:20-21 (Your teacher hidden no more), Psalm 32, Proverbs 3:5-8, Psalm 8:4.

• Mathematical Problems with Darwin's Theory of Evolution - Meyer, Berlinski, Gelernter (14 mins)
• Sam Harris: Trump, Religion, Wokeness - Triggernometry Podcast (33 mins)
• Star Trek Next Generation - The Game
• William Lane Craig on Historical and Textual Criticism of Bart Ehrman (Part 1)
• William Lane Craig Responds to Bart Ehrman - Capturing Christianity
• How Badly Was the New Testament Corrupted? | Daniel Wallace at SDSU
• Bart Ehrman's Bad Arguments Go on Tour - Trent Horn
• Abide In Me You Tube Channel

In this week's episode I talk about the nature of criticism and how it is different to having true discernment. I also pay homage to some of great teachers and resources that led me to appreciate the diverse doctrines within the different Christian denominations.

Below is a selection of resources.

Bible References:

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (Is Christ Divided?), 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (Judgement Seat of Christ), Matthew 18:2-5 (Child-like Faith), Hebrews 11:6 (Without Faith), John 6:26-29 (Faith in Jesus), Matthew 16:24-26 (Pick up Cross), Matthew 11;28-30 (Lay down burdens)

• He Has You – Blog by Paul Balius
• How God is Both One and Three at the Same Time - Bible Project
• C.S Lewis and the Life Force
• C.S Lewis: The Reluctant Convert - Why is it Difficult to Believe in God?
• Cold Case Christianity - You Tube Channel
• William Lane Craig - Reasonable Faith You Tube Channel
• N.T Wright - You Tube Channel
• Elizabeth Elliot - You Tube Channel
• Charles Stanley - In Touch Ministries You Tube Channel
• Gavin Ortlund - Truth Unites You Tube Channel
• Derek Prince Ministries You Tube Channel
• By Design: Behe, Lennox, and Meyer on the Evidence for a Creator
• Is Anything Worth Believing In? | Professor John Lennox
• Richard Dawkins vs John Lennox | The God Delusion Debate
• Lecture: Biblical Series IX: The Call to Abraham - Jordan Peterson
• The Bible Project (You Tube Channel)
• Lord of Spirits Podcast - Orthodox Christian priests Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Fr. Stephen De Young host this live call-in show focused on enchantment in creation, the union of the seen and unseen as made by God and experienced by mankind throughout history.

Other Books:

Mere Christianity - C.S Lewis

Surprised by Joy - C.S Lewis

The Return of the God Hypothesis - Stephen C. Meyer

Darwin's Doubt - Stephen C. Meyer

God's Undertaker - Has Science Buried God? - John Lennox

Can Science Explain Everything? - John Lennox

The Devil's Delusion - Atheism and its Scientific Pretensions - David Berlinski

The Language of God - Francis Collins

How the world's most notorious atheist changed his mind - Anthony Flew

Beyond the Cosmos: The Transdimensionalty of God - Hugh Ross

Cold Case Christianity - J Warner Wallace

The Case for Christ - Lee Strobel

If You Can Believe - Paul Balius

Knowing God - J.I Packer

In this week's podcast, I talk about the Apostle Paul and how his life can be a template for us when we are seeking a relationship with God. I also talk about the importance of the resurrection of Jesus, why this is the central teaching of Christianity and why it matters to all of us today.

Bible references:

Acts 9:1-22 (Paul's conversion), Galatians 1:13-18 (Paul's persecution of early church), Acts 17:16-32 (Paul in the Areopagus), Exodus 19:6 (Kingdom of Priests), 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 (Importance of Resurrection), John 5:18 (Jesus' equality with God), 2 Peter 1:16 (Not cleverly devised myths), 1 Corinthians 13:12 (Being Known)

Other external videos and links are listed below:

• Ten Reasons Jesus Came to Die - Apologetics Roadshow (25 mins)
• The Resurrection of Jesus: Fact or Fiction? - Apologetics Roadshow (25 mins)
• Paul and The Cross - N.T Wright on The Victory of the Cross (1 hour)
• How Christianity Is Different From Every Religion - Professor John Lennox
• Five Resurrection Facts That Occurred by 36 A.D - Dr Gary Habermas
• Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? - Part Two: The Explanation - Dr William Lane Craig
• Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? - Part One: The Facts - Dr William Lane Craig
• Skeptics Respond To The Evidence For The Resurrection of Jesus - Mike Winger
• A Historian Explains the Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus (Dr. Gary Habermas)
• What are historical facts of Jesus and crucifixion- Nabeel Qureshi
• The Bible Project (You Tube Channel)
• Tim Mackie Talks and Sermons (Archive)
• Tim Mackie - Talk on Prayer - Tim Mackie is a Bible scholar and one of the people behind 'The Bible Project', talks about his struggle with prayer and how he came closer to God.
• Lord of Spirits Podcast - Orthodox Christian priests Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Fr. Stephen De Young host this live call-in show focused on enchantment in creation, the union of the seen and unseen as made by God and experienced by mankind throughout history.

Other Books:

Arise O God: The Gospel of Christ's Defeat of Demons, Sin and Death - Father Andrew Stephen Damick

Mere Christianity - C.S Lewis

Surprised by Joy - C.S Lewis

The Case for Christ - Lee Strobel

In this episode I talk about the ideas behind modern spirituality, which has at its foundation the philosophy of Perennialism; the idea that all religions have a common core and that there are many paths to God. But what is missing from this kind of religious pluralism? Even though these ideas seem accepting and tolerant, could they in fact be leading people down the garden path and away from God?

Bible references:

Luke 12:51 (Division not Peace), 1 John 1:8 (No sin, deception), Exodus 20 (10 Commandments), John 8:31-32 (Truth set you free), John 15:13 (No greater love), Hebrews 4:12 (Alive & Active).

Other external videos and links are listed below:

• Russell Brand God Debate and Perennialism Video
• How Does Repentance Help You Transform?
• Abide In Me You Tube Channel

Other books:

Mere Christianity - C.S Lewis

In this week's episode I talk about the difference between "Jesus: the religion" and "Jesus: the reality". After two thousand years of church history, I ask if we have fallen into the trap that the apostle Paul warned us against by being embroiled in "vain discussions" that lead us away from our faith?

Jesus called his followers to simply believe in him. He said that his sheep hear his voice, but if we are distracted by too many other voices we may not be able to hear him call. I talk about some of the visceral experiences I have had with Christ over the past few years that lead me know the reality of his existence. These experiences led me to have more faith in him as a person, who is available to all who would call on him, even today.

Bible references:

Warnings Against Vain Discussions, Quarrels Over Words & Irreverent Babble (1 Timothy 1:6, 6:4, 6:20); Jesus Confronts the Pharisees (Matthew 15:1-20, 22:23-33, 23:1-36); False Apostles ( 2 Corinthians 11 & Galatians 1:6-10, 2 Peter 2:1-22) World in Power of Evil One (1 John 5:19); Known By Fruits (Matthew 7:15-20); Foolish Shame Wise ( 1 Corinthians 1:27); Listen & Obey (1 Samuel 15:22); Keep Mouth Shut (Proverbs 21:23, 10:19) Bridle Your Tongue (James 1:26); Tongue Stuck to Roof of Mouth (Ezekiel 3:26) I Will Give You Rest (Matthew 11:28) Sleep & Dwell in Safety (Psalm 4:8); He Gives to His Beloved Sleep (Psalm 127:2); Returning & Rest You Shall Be Saved (Isaiah 30:15); Hear Word of God & Do it (Luke 11:28); Fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10, Psalm 33:8, Job 4:6); I Know Only Christ (1 Corinthians 2:1-2); Cross Folly to Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23); Boast in Knowing Lord (Jeremiah 9:23); They Refused to Know Me (Jeremiah 9:6); Here I Am (Isaiah 65:1) They Know Me Not (Jeremiah 4:22); Faces Like Rock (Jeremiah 5:3) Acknowledge Your Guilt (Jeremiah 3:13)Judgement on Unrepentant (Jeremiah 2:35); Stiff-Necked People (Exodus 33:3 & 32:9, Proverbs 29:1, 2 Chronicles 30:8) Face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6); Steadfast Love & Faithfulness (Lamentation 3:22-23, Psalms 26:3, 117:1-2, 86:15); Jesus Only Way to God (John 14:6); Simply Believe in Jesus (John 6:28-29, 6:35, 6:40; 6:47); New Heart & New Spirit (Ezekiel 11:19 & 36:26, Jeremiah 31:33); Clean Heart & Right Spirit (Psalm 51:10); Renewal of Mind (Romans 12:2); Sin, Iniquity, Transgression (Psalm 51:1-4); All Sinned & Fallen Short (Romans 3:23); Sacrifice of Gd a Broken Spirit (Psalm 51:16-17); Satan Exalts Himself (Isaiah 14:12-14); The Fall of Adam & Eve (Genesis 3).

Other Books:

The Pursuit of God - A.W Tozer

The Sign of Jonas - Thomas Merton

• What are Sin, Iniquity and Transgression? - Bible Project Word Study (5 mins)
• Abide In Me You Tube Channel

In this week's podcast, I talk about God's steadfast love and the healing power of His word. How does God's love differ to our love for each other? God's love often includes discipline, which means we can be left to our own devices until we freely turn back to God for healing. God's word heals us, which is why we need to abide in His word by reading the Bible, but also by hearing what He is saying to each of us individually. Sometimes He corrects us and sometimes He tells us what we don't want to hear, but He always tells us the truth and this is what transforms us.

Once we understand how God's love works, we will move beyond the shallow notion that a loving God will never be judgemental or allow us to suffer. God's love is steadfast and unwavering but He will not tolerate sin and He will bring ultimate justice to us all.

Bible passages:

Test the Spirits, (1 John 4); God is Love, (1 John 4:8 & 1 John 4:16); Ask and It is Given, (Matthew 7:7-8); Believe and You shall Receive, (Mark 11:22-24); Ask in My Name, (John 14:12-14); Serpent's Lie, (Genesis 3); Abide in Me, (John 15:4-11); His Steadfast Love Endures Forever, (Psalm 136); God's Word Give Eternal Life, (John 5:24 & John 6:68-69); Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So, (Psalm 107); God's Disciple, (Hebrews 12:3-12, Psalm 94:12-14, Proverbs 3:11-12); Universe Created by the Word of God, (Hebrews 11:3); He Sent Out His Word & Healed Them, (Psalm 107:20); Word, Spirit, Life, (John 6:63); The Truth Will Set You Free, (John 8:31); You Are of Your Father the Devil, (John 8:43-47); If You Say You Have No Sin, (1 John 1:5-10); Repent, (Matthew 3:2); Turn From Your Wicked Ways, (Acts 3:26 & 2 Chronicles 7:14); People Love the Darkness (John 3:19); Jesus Came to Set Captives Free, (Luke 4:18-21 & Isaiah 61:1); I Am the Way, (John 14:6); The Heart is Deceitful Above all Things, (Jeremiah 17:9); What Comes Out of the Heart Defiles a Person (Matthew 15:16-20); Incline Your Ear and Come to Me, (Isaiah 55:3); Old Life vs New Life, (Ephesians 4:17-32); Jesus Deals with Religious Hypocrites, (Matthew 23); The Way of Love, (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

• Abide In Me You Tube Channel

In this week's episode, I talk about Jesus' instruction to His disciples to abide in Him by abiding in His words.

"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you." John 15:7

The words we speak to each other and our own thoughts affect us deeply, so how much more will Jesus' words transform our inner selves?

Is this the reason that the Bible and Jesus's teachings are constantly attacked and derided in our society? Are the powers and principalities afraid of a humanity who understand how much God loves them? Because if we really understood this, they would no longer be able to control us through fear and division. It seems that today reading the Bible is a subversive act.

Bible References:

Upper Room Discourse, (John 14-17); I Am the Vine, (John 15); Early Church, (Acts 2-6); Jesus' Words & Eternal Life, (John 5:27); Jesus Living Water, (John 4:7-15 & 7:37-39); Sermon on Mount, (Matthew 5-7); Commandment to Love, (John 13:34-35 & 15:17); Love God/Love Neighbour, (Matthew 22:36-40); Pharisees & Commandments of Men, (Matthew15:9 & 23:1-4, Mark 7:5-13, Isaiah 29:13); Jesus Yahweh in Human Form, (Colossians 1:15-20 & 2:9, Hebrews 1:1-4, Philippians 2:5-9); Parable of Sower, (Mark 4:3-20); Holy Spirit Teacher, (John 14:15-26); No Other Gods, (Exodus 20:3-6); Test the Spirits, (1 John 4:1-6); God's Word is Truth, (John 17:17-26 & 8:31-32, Psalm 119:160, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16); Teachers to Suit Passions, (2 Timothy 4:3-4); Jesus Physician, (Mark 2:17); The Law Can't Save Us, (Roman 8:3-4, Hebrews 10:1-4, Galatians 3:23-29); Humble Yourself & Pray, (2 Chronicles 7:14); Search Me and Know Me, (Psalm 139); Lord is My Shepherd, (Psalm 23:1-3); As Far As the Heavens Are Above the Earth, (Psalm 103:11-17); The Shelter of the Most High, (Psalm 91); Delight Yourself in the Lord, (Psalm 37:4).

Other Resources:

• The Reality of The Moral Law - Mere Christianity, C.S Lewis (10 mins)
• Evolutionist Richard Dawkins Says There Are No Morals: by William Lane Craig (4 mins)
• Atheist MIT Professor Converts to Christianity - Lex Friedman (10 mins)
• Why the Bible Can be Trusted - J Warner (Cold Case Christianity) (47 mins)
• Making of the Bible - Tim Mackie (Bible Project) 2 hours
• How Badly Was the New Testament Corrupted? | Daniel Wallace at SDSU
• Abide In Me You Tube Channel
• I Am the Vine - Abide in Me (John 15)