As we look further at the story of Esther, we’ll learn more about how God brought her to a specific time and place in order for her to fulfill her destiny. Pastor Ford will encourage us to consider how God wants us to use the time He’s given us in our lives to fulfill our own destinies and to do great things for Him. Hear more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don’t try to substitute anything for obedience because there is no substitute.  Your service won’t substitute.  Your worship won’t substitute.  Your money won’t substitute.  Nothing substitutes for total obedience of God’s will for your life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to spirituality, sometimes we’re five miles wide and only a half inch deep. We know the lingo better than we know the Lord. So, we’re complaining in the light about what we’re sneaking around and doing in the dark.  And Jesus says to us, “Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”  Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford wants to remind us today that the Lord says to all of us, “If you believe Me and trust My word, you don’t need a verse.  You don’t need a chapter, a book, a section, or a testament.  You just need one word—Come!” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will remind us how we should approach worship. He'll explan that when we come to worship the Lord, we shouldn't judge the way others are worshipping. We should just worship the Lord in the way that the Holy Spirit and the truth that we’re hearing is leading us to, and let others worship the way in which they are being led. Find out more on today's Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re always going to get out of worship what we bring to worship. As we’re leaving a worship service, some of us may feel compelled to talk about how we feel after we’ve left God’s presence. Instead, we ought to talk about how God felt after we left His presence, because worship is all about Him. If we come to worship to get something out of it, then we’ve come for the wrong reasons. Learn more when you join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we think about the time we spend living our lives for the Lord, we tend to focus on duration. But God focuses on donation. We focus on longevity, but God focuses on legacy. We may hear someone say, “I’ve been saved for twenty years.” And that may be true, but that person’s been out of God’s will for eighteen of those years. So, Pastor Ford will explain that at the judgment seat of Christ, they’ll only get credit for the two years they were living in the will of God. Learn more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is God's manifested presence? How do we experience it when we come together for worship? The scriptures say that the Lord dwells in the midst of the praises of His people. That means whenever we praise God, He manifests His presence among us. And Pastor Ford will point out that scripture indicates the Lord actually comes and “sits down on” our praise. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a Savior Who loves us with an everlasting love. We have an Intercessor Who continually prays for us according to the will of God. Our Redeemer offers us grace, salvation and hope. And that should be enough motivation for us to keep hanging in there, no matter what we face.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God’s plan to redeem us has been in place since the beginning of time. He planned it and provided it for us before we ever sinned. In order for us to know this salvation that the Father appointed for us in eternity past, the Son atoned for us at Calvary and the Spirit applied it to us in time. Our part in the process is to accept the grace He has provided for us. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may find yourself in a difficult place. You may be the only believer at your workplace or in your family. But instead of lamenting about being the only believer in your circle, instead think of yourself as the first believer. Don’t quit or withdraw. Let your light shine so that those around you can come to know Who Jesus is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford remind us that we all need to understand everything Jesus gives us when we accept Him as Savior.  He gives us His person to live with, His purpose to live for, His priorities to live by, His provision to live on, and His power to live through. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On most tombstones, there’s the date of one’s birth and the date of one’s death, and then a dash in the middle.  We don’t control the day we’re born or the day we die.  But we do control what we do with the dash in the middle. So today, Pastor Ford will encourage us to use the time represented by that dash to make it count for the Lord. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you feel that you need a little more Jesus in your life? If we really love Jesus, then we’ll draw near to Him. We’ll also want to get to know Him better. How do we do this? Pastor Ford says we should seek communion with Jesus. Join us [for today’s Treasured Truth] as we start a new message from Hebrews 10.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When they were surrounded by enemies and their back was up against the wall, all that King Jehoshaphat and the army of Judah did was trust God. And God fought the battle for them. Today, Pastor Ford will remind us that it’s just like the good news of Jesus Christ. We have strong enemies that stand against us—the world, the flesh and the Devil—but we don’t have to fight them on our own because Jesus already did.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford reminds us today we must believe that where God leads, God feeds. And where God guides, He provides. We have to believe that when God directs, He always protects. Hear more about these important reminders on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we feel like our back is up against the wall, we ought to be expecting the fruitful provision from God, despite the fact that it doesn’t look like it’s possible for Him to provide in the midst of our problems. Even though we don’t understand what’s going on and we don’t like it, we ought to be expecting God to provide for us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2 Chronicles 20, the children of Israel praised God in the midst of the battle and they praised God after the battle was over.  And this is what we can learn from them—that in the midst of whatever is going on, we ought to be those who can say, “I don’t care what’s going on in my life, it’s not going to stop me from praising the Lord!” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue to study about praising God, Pastor Ford will ask us—are we giving God what He wants? Are we dying daily and following Jesus? Are we following His command to go into all the world and preach the gospel? According to Pastor Ford, if we’re not doing these things, maybe we don’t have what we want, because we haven’t yet given God what He wants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’ll continue to study 2 Chronicles 20 and see how King Jehopshaphat led the army of Judah into battle praising the Lord. And we’ll discover how that action on their part completely changed the outcome of the battle. And we’ll learn from their example that sometimes we can think our problems are too big, when the real issue is, our praise is too small.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat and the army of Judah were in a predicament. They were besieged, and in addition to being severely outnumbered, they didn’t have enough weapons. They didn’t have the right resources and they didn’t even really have the guts to stand up to their enemies. But they realized that God was going to be there, because they knew that battle is the Lord’s. So they chose to praise the Lord, instead of fearing their circumstances. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When confronted with enemies on every side, King Jehoshaphat and the army of Judah received a promise and instructions from God. And even though their back was up against a wall, and it seemed like their situation was hopeless, they chose to act in faith and believe that God was telling them the truth and that their circumstances were telling them a lie.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue to study in the book of 2 Chronicles, we’ll see how God gives King Jehoshaphat and the army of Judah a promise. Pastor Ford explains that God did that because they needed to understand what He was going to do in the midst of their current circumstance. He wanted to change their outlook, by telling them their outcome.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you only see the trials and the tragedies around you, or do you also see the Lord? Do you see the providential hand of God working in your life? If not, then you’ll want to listen as Pastor Ford reminds us today of how we can trust God when we feel like our back is up against the wall.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue to learn why every praise belongs to our God, Pastor Ford will explain how in the Psalms, King David was trying to get us to see why he was so blessed and that it was because he never put a limit on God. As David grew, God just very naturally poured out His blessings on him. So, Pastor Ford will ask us—what’s our capacity for comprehesion of Who God is? Because we only receive from God in correlation with Who we know Him to be. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we face trails and we feel like we have nowhere to turn, God wants us to know that He is bigger than what we are facing and what feels like it’s bigger than we are. And when we attach ourselves to God and trust His plan, we don’t have to worry about what we’re going through.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When our back is up against the wall, we have to seek the face of the Father. We have to know that Christ is there with us because He has promised to never leave us, nor forsake us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When our back is against the wall, do we realize that God is there with us? We may not feel like He’s there, but Pastor Ford will remind us today that the Bible tells us that He really is there, waiting to assist us in our time of need.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we wrap up our study in Hebrews 4 today, Pastor Ford will continue to explain Who it is that we serve.  Hebrews identifies Jesus as the Great High Priest and we’ll hear some practical application related to what the means for each of us as believers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our study in Hebrews 4, we’ll look further at Who Jesus is as our Great High Priest. And Pastor Ford will encourage us to consider Who it is we have on our side—He’s the Son of God, which makes Him the perfect person and the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, as Pastor Ford continues to teach us that every praise we have belongs to our God, he will point out that often what keeps us from praising God is that fact that we have an incomplete comprehension of God.  And that’s one thing King David expressed in Psalms—he’d experienced a comprehensive view of God and had discovered how incomprehensible, and worthy of praise God actually is.  Learn more when you join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this new year, we can be the success that Christ wants us to be if we realize that He’s the reason for our success.  And we need to understand that we serve The Great High Priest, Who is personal to us.  He’ll be for us whatever we need Him to be. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who do we serve?  Christ is described in scripture as “The Great High Priest” Who is present in our lives.  He proved through Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that He’s a very present help in the time of trouble.  But here’s the problem—we don’t really understand Who He is and many of us don’t recognize Him when He comes to us in our trouble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the beginning of this new year, we don’t need resolutions or a list of things to accomplish.  We need a revelation.  We need to understand Who we have in Christ and then confidently cling to Him.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most important questions you can ask yourself in life is who you’re going to serve.  That’s because the answer to that question determines the answers to any and every other question you will ever have in life.  And as we begin this study in Hebrews 4, Pastor Ford will remind those of us who have decided to serve Christ, Who it is that we are serving. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Biblical leadership requires compliance with Christ’s command to love others.  And true biblical compassion will result in a desire to serve and meet the needs of others.  Because when you love someone, your perspective about them changes, and it becomes easy to serve them.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will encourage us to freely praise God and one way we can do that is to sing to Him!  Even if we can’t carry a tune in a bucket, or we don’t know a piano key from a car key, we still need to sing! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we are confident about who we are in Christ, then we will more readily serve others.  As believers, we are children of the King and joint heirs with Jesus.  So, the act of humbling ourselves and serving others doesn’t diminish that fact or demean who we are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we say that we love others, we should ask ourselves, what is it costing us?  If we really love others like we think we do, then that love will require sacrifice.  Sometimes it costs us things like our pride or our dignity to take on the role of humility and serve people sacrificially.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The compassion that Jesus had that caused Him to serve was an intellectual compassion.  He willingly chose to love people and serve them.  And as believers, we need to think with the mind of Christ and learn from His example as we strive to serve others. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John 13 describes how Jesus washed His disciple’s feet in the upper room.  As we look at His example of leadership, we’ll see that Jesus was motivated to serve others out of His love for them.  He loved His disciples, so He humbled Himself and washed their feet to demonstrate for them true servant leadership. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we think about the birth of Christ today, we’ll be reminded that we shouldn’t really care about what day Jesus was born on.  We should just care that He was born.  We shouldn’t celebrate a day.  We should celebrate the Person of Jesus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The message of Christ’s birth brings us joy in spite of any sorrow we may be experiencing.  In the midst of whatever we’re going through, we can have joy, because Jesus came to earth to give us joy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God delights in using little and seemingly insignificant things.  We can see that in His choice of Bethlehem as the birthplace of His Son.  Even the prophet Micah said, “Oh thou Bethlehem Ephrata, little are you.”  So, Pastor Ford asks us today, “Are we little enough, to become big enough for God to delight in using us?”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we study the prophecies about the Messiah, Pastor Ford will remind us that the prophet Micah foretold Christ’s birth.  And Micah didn’t want us to miss his message: “Listen! The most significant person Who ever lived and Who ever will live, will be born in the most insignificant place—Bethlehem.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we really think about Christmas, we should gain a whole new perspective that differs from the world’s view.  Pastor Ford reminds us that God invaded human history when Jesus was born.  That should give us a whole new outlook.  He came the first time.  So, we know He’s going to come the second time.  We ought to be living like we know that He’s coming again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s easy to fall into the mindset that Christmas is just about the gifts and the celebrations.  But Christmas is really about the Christ Who came and took the center stage of history.  It’s about God being born as a baby, bringing comfort and conversion to all mankind. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may have heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”  And this time of year, that really rings true for us as believers.  Christmas is not about “the what” we know.  Christmas is about “the Who” we know.  We don’t celebrate Christmas about “the what” of Christmas.  We celebrate Christmas about “the Who” of Christmas—Jesus Christ! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joy is tied to the birth of Jesus.  The Gospel of Luke says that there would be tidings of great joy to the world at Christmas. So, as we celebrate our Savior’s birth, our celebration should be motivated by and filled with joy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ll take a break from our regular program line-up to allow Pastor Ford some time to answer your questions.  This episode of “Ask Pastor Ford” will cover topics like how to put all of your trust in the Lord, soul ties in relationships, and how to re-establish a close, personal relationship with God.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford will remind us today that Jesus didn’t say, “Be of good cheer, I’m going to get you out of this. Be of good cheer, it’ll all be over after a while.” No, He said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Jesus is saying, even when it doesn’t look like victory and doesn’t feel like victory, it still is victory, because He’s already guaranteed it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When asked about our commitment to Jesus, many of us have probably said, “Oh yeah, I live for Jesus… I’ll even die for Jesus!”  But today, Pastor Ford will ask these convicting questions—”How do you think you’re going to die for Jesus when you can’t even make it to church for Jesus? How are you going to die for Jesus when you don’t give Him a dime from a dollar? How are you going to die for Jesus?  You don’t pick up your Bible or even get on your knees to pray.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crises are discouraging and sometimes even overwhelming. But maintaining our commitment to Christ in the midst of a crisis should always be our goal. Because no matter what we’re going through or what kind of persecution we might face, if we still have the approval of Jesus, then that’s really all that matters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crises are a part of life for everyone and many times they bring suffering into our lives.  But as believers, we have actually been called to suffer for Christ.  We’ll learn today how suffering grows us, grounds us, graces us, and grooms us for what God has in store. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our study in Psalm 145, Pastor Ford will describe how our praise of God should be both personal and pre-meditated. In other words, we should voluntarily praise God for all that He’s done for us personally, and we should be purposeful about giving our praise to Him. Learn more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the process of becoming what God intended him to be, Daniel learned to wait on God. During his time of waiting, God developed his character and helped him understand that he was not fit to lead until he knew how to follow. Learn more from Daniel’s example about becoming what God intended on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God gives us certain gifts and equips us for what He has in store. We just need to be ready to respond when He opens doors for us. We’ll see how to be ready when we look at the story of Daniel and observe how he became what God intended him to be. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rahab’s name is mentioned in the genealogy of Christ that we read in Matthew chapter 11. But there’s no mention in that passage about the fact that she was a prostitute. Why? Because God took her past, redeemed it, then changed her life’s direction, so she could fulfill the destiny He had for her. She was no longer what she used to be!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us are never going to get where God wants us to be because we can’t let go of our past mistakes. We can’t let go of things, places, and people in the past. But what we need to understand is that the past is in the past. And in order to move forward, we have to leave it there. Learn more when you join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All of the “heroes and she-roes” we read about in the Bible had flaws, just like every follower of Christ. We all have flaws. But consider this—how are your flaws and imperfections allowing God to prepare you to do a great work for Him, just like Rahab and the others we read about in Hebrews 11? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue to study about worship, Pastor Ford will help us understand what the focus of our worship should be. He’ll explain that if we were worshipping you, then we could worship you your way. But we’re worshipping God and therefore, we should worship God His way. His way ought to override our way and our preferences about worship. Discover more about making God’s way of worship your focus on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that it’s December, are you making plans for special year-end giving? If so, there’s a different approach you can consider, which goes beyond writing a check to your church or favorite ministry. On today's Faith & Finance Live, host Rob West will explain how you can do year-end giving from your IRA. Then, he’ll answer some questions on a variety of financial topics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From what we can see about Rahab, it’s surprising that God used her. From the evidence in her past, she seems to be someone God would not choose to use. However, her commitment to God is right. And because of that commitment, God cancelled out everything that was wrong about her past and allowed her to become part of the lineage of Jesus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we begin to look at the example of Rahab, we’ll see that some of us as believers need to get a different script and quit throwing others’ past sins in their face, reminding them of what they used to be. It’s the Devil who’s called "the accuser of the brethren." So, we shouldn't follow his example. If it’s in the past, what we ought to do is leave it there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God tells us to walk by faith in the present, based on the word He gave us in the past, so that we know our future is secure. By this, what is God doing? He’s letting us see that faith keeps the person who keeps the faith. Learn more about faith on today's Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God is a friend to the friendless. He’s hope for the hopeless. He’s a shelter in the time of storm. He’s our rock in a weary land, our comforter in trial and trouble. And the only question is—what do you need Him to be for you right now? Whatever it is, that’s what He’s going to show Himself to be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever noticed that often the things that God tells us to do are things that don’t make sense? But what He ultimately wants to do is connect our “natural” with His “super” and give us the supernatural outcome which is for our best. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We don’t worship God because we’re worthy.  We worship God because He’s worthy!  We worship God because every praise belongs to Him.  We cannot really fathom His worth, but if God were small enough to be understood, then He wouldn’t be big enough to be worshipped.  Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, does the impossible and accepts the intangible. We can trust God even though we can’t see Him because He has revealed Himself to us in His word, through creation, and all that He’s done for us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford will share that faith always extends itself above and beyond the natural and logical circumstances of life and firmly embraces the supernatural based on God’s Word. Learn more of what the Bible says about the supernatural works of God on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Join us today to hear a unique message and learn how Abraham trusted God for “the there” when God did not reveal to him “the where” in this dramatized, first person presentation of Abraham’s testimony from Pastor Ford.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford will explain that you shouldn't let anything hold you back from becoming what God wants you to be. If you’ve got issues, God will look past those issues to do by faith what He wants done. And He’ll deal with your issues while you’re on your way to becoming what He wants you to be. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psalm 22 says that God dwells in the midst of the praises of His people.  So, Pastor Ford will explain that the best way for us to experience the manifested presence of God is to lift our hands and to open our mouths to say, “Hallelujah!  Thank you, Jesus!  I praise your name!”  Learn more when you join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When things don’t go our way, we should quit looking around us and start looking ahead.  We may find ourselves in the midst of a mess, but if we look ahead, we can be reminded of how God is going to take us where He plans for us to be. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us become frustrated and defeated—ready to give up, give in, and go back, rather than to go on—simply because things did not go our way. We believed that it was going to happen a certain way, and it didn’t. So now, we’re ready to go back to where we know God does not want us to be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When things don’t go your way, challenge yourself to rely on what you know instead of reacting to how you feel. In other words, don’t doubt in the dark what God has revealed to you in the light. Learn more about this important concept when you join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us as believers fail to reach our goals for the same reason that can prevent a swimmer from reaching the ocean’s shore—fog.  Fog has caused us to lose our motivation.  The fog of problems and the fog of discouragement—these issues obstruct our view of what the goal before us actually is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Genuine faith perseveres even when things don’t go its way.  Pastor Ford will explain that’s because a faith that can’t be tested is a faith that can’t be trusted. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will share with us some things to consider when we’re going through trouble at work.  As believers and followers of Christ, what should we be saying when we encounter trials of any kind?—"This is only a test!”  It’s a test to see whether or not we really believe and trust God.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God may not do things the way we want Him to do them.  He may not do them when we want Him to do them.  But, He is always faithful and will do them according to His will and always with our best interests in mind.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When things don’t go our way, we usually go away from God.  We don’t come to church.  We don’t read our Bibles.  We don’t pray.  We don’t get involved in the things of God.  When things don’t go our way, we usually pout, doubt, and we walk out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people we read about in Hebrews 11 had their faith “pinned down.” In other words, they didn’t have a faith that did not trust God when things looked like they weren’t going to go the way that they wanted them to go. Learn more about this on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have to be careful about who we are partnering with in life and ministry.  We need to try and partner with someone who believes what we believe.  Pastor Ford will explain that’s because many of us have allowed ourselves to be robbed of the promises of God because of who we are hanging with. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The partnership of faith requires forgiveness. We ought to make our minds up that whatever we have against one of our bothers or sisters will be forgiven. We should decide that we will not allow our unforgiveness to stop the promises of God and stop us from working together as the body of Christ for a greater good and a greater cause.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our study in Genesis 39, we’ll see how the biblical character, Joseph, went from the pit where his brothers placed him, all the way to the palace of Pharoah. And Pastor Ford will explain that just like Joseph, we can’t get to the palace without first being in the pit. And that’s why most people often don’t make it where God is taking them, because they quit when it gets hard.  They don’t understand that God is building them up for what He’s built for them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we look at the partnership of faith, we’ll see how God sometimes gives us a promise that’s not just conditioned on us obeying, but it depends on someone else obeying as well. Sometimes in ministry we will not accomplish what God has given us as a corporate body because we won’t obey corporately and work together. Learn more about this on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes waiting by faith requires us to go ahead and step out in faith. The key is in the promises. If we know what God’s promises are, then we can trust Him to lead us as we move forward, even if we don’t know exactly where we’re going. We can be confident that God’s going to provide for us, care for us, and guide us according to His promises.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part of waiting by faith is being obedient. As long as we’re listening to somebody else and following someone other than who God said follow (which was Himself) then we’re not going to hear from Him. We can go ahead and pray all we want, but He won’t speak. He is silent when we are disobedient.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking at the life of Abraham, we’ll see how he stepped out in faith to go where God was leading him, even though he didn’t know where it was that he’d end up. Like Abraham, are you ready to give God the blank check of your life, signed, and let Him fill it in? If you’re not, then Pastor Ford will explain that you’re not ready to wait on God by faith.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waiting by faith doesn’t mean you’re sitting in some place or you’re standing still. Rather, because you are waiting by faith, it means you’re making progress, spiritually speaking, even in the midst of what you’re going through.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will have some practical advice for those of us who find ourselves in jobs we don’t like. One way to find a better perspective is to consider the fact that God has placed each of us where He wants us to be. And if we see our job, not as a job, but as a mission and ministry that God has appointed us to, then we will have a completely different mindset.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes waiting by faith is closely related to our obedience. There are some things that you won’t get from God until after you do what He has told you to do. If you’re looking for it before, it’s not going to happen until after you do what you’re supposed to. Learn more about this important concept on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have flood faith? Do you have the kind of faith that allows you to believe whenever your storm comes—whenever the water is drenching you and you feel like you’re going to drown—you’re still trusting God? And even though you’ve gone under for the second time, you know that He’s going to save you. That’s the kind of faith we’ll hear about on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noah worked on the ark for over a hundred years before God actually made it rain. Yet Noah’s faith endured that long delay and he continued to prepare for the coming flood that God had warned him about. Noah had the kind of faith that trusted God implicitly. Do you have that same kind of faith?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Worship must be intricately tied to worth. When we worship God, we make an attempt to express to Him the value that we see He has.  But we can’t give God anything equivalent to all that He’s worth, so we give Him all we’re worth. That’s one way we can honor God and worship Him with our money. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If we want a vital, vibrant, victorious relationship and fellowship with God, then we have to do what Enoch did. We learn from Genesis 5 that Enoch spent time with God. His was a daily walk with God that shaped his life and defined who he was. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking at the example of Enoch from Genesis 5, we’ll learn today that if we want to walk with God, we have to be on the same page with Him. But we need to realize that a walk with Him also means being on His page and not on our page. It means doing it His way and not our way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we study further about how faith worships, Pastor Ford will teach us today that righteousness is accredited to our account. Holiness is the result of righteousness. So righteousness is positional, and gained by what Christ did for us on the cross. But holiness is something we practice in life as we seek to honor Him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we look at how faith worships, we learn about the difference between the offerings that Cain and Abel brought to the Lord in Genesis.  We’ll see how Cain brought what he thought was his best.  But it did not meet God’s standard.  This study will show us that our access to God is not through our best, but through His son’s blood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Often we spend more money than we should tyring to keep up appearances.  But today, Pastor Ford will remind us that we all are worth more than we think we are, because we are made in God’s image. So, we shouldn’t judge ourselves by where we live, what we drive and what we wear.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We can’t speak things into being. No matter how much faith we have that the words of our mouths will bring things to pass, we don’t have that kind of power. The only One who can create anything by the word of His mouth is God. Anything we get is based on what He has already called into being. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford explains that we typically want what the people in Hebrews 11 had, but we don’t necessarily want to do what they did.  And if you want what they had, then you have to do what they did.  And so what did they do?  They believed God fully by faith in His Word. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we look further at Hebrews 11, we’ll hear about how God honors those who act upon His word by faith, to obtain by faith in His word what they couldn’t obtain any other way. Learn more about this on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Faith has an object. That object is Jesus Christ. It’s not just faith in faith, for the sake of believing. In order to be saving faith, our faith has to be in Jesus, because faith in faith really amounts to nothing more than just positive thinking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God’s provision sometimes requires us to move out, without knowing what’s ahead. But if we trust God fully, we know His provision will come to fruition even if we can’t see right now what it is or how it will happen. According to Pastor Ford, faith is God giving us insight into foresight like it’s hindsight. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Pastor Ford begins to talk about how a lot of us need an extreme money makeover, he’ll share about the enticement of debt and how it draws us in. And he’ll point out how the ease of getting credit doesn’t help us resist debt’s allure. But the Bible offers clear and wise advice about avoiding debt and honoring God with our money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that as we live the Christian life, we walk by faith and not by sight. We may not understand the trials we encounter because we can’t see their purposes. But we can always trust that God has the best plan for us, and He allows those trials to take place for our good. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What comes to your mind when you hear the word worship? If you automatically think of the choir and the band at church, then you may not really understand what worship truly is. Pastor Ford wants us to understand that we ought to be able to worship God wherever we are and whenever He prompts us to worship Him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Pastor Ford begins a new message from Hebrews 13, he explains that the only reason we can come to God and give Him the sacrifice of praise is because Jesus provided for us the pathway to God and the power to worship Him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When dealing with temptation, if you ask yourself, “Is it sin?” about anything, then it’s a good indication that whatever you’re considering is a sin to you.  The Bible says, “Whatever is not of faith is sin.” So, if you can’t do whatever you’re doing in faith, then you shouldn’t do it, because it becomes a sin for you if it’s not done in faith. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No one is exempt from temptation. The Bible says, “…let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Your Bible knowledge is not going to exempt you.  Your service, or singing in the choir, or your giving record is not going to exempt you. So, Pastor Ford gives a warning to the super saints—the people who say, “It won’t happen to me.” None of us should ever say that, since we can’t know in advance what we will or will not do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As he finished out the book of Galatians, Paul wanted the believers there to know he had an allegiance to Christ based on what Christ had done on Calvary’s cross. He didn’t need anyone to challenge him to live for Jesus! Jesus Christ and His gospel were Paul’s number one priority and he had the scars to prove it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whenever we overcome temptation, the process of overcoming purifies us.  It makes us stronger and better; it builds us up.  Our roots grow deeper into our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we become more like Him. Join us for on today’s Treasured Truth, as Pastor Ford begins a new series about taming temptation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we conclude this study on teamwork, Pastor Ford explains what the priority of our commitments should be.  Our first commitment is to our Sovereign.  Our second is to the saints.  And the third is to the service, in that order.  If the service is messing up the saints, then it’s messing up our commitment to the Sovereign and whatever the service is, it shouldn’t be done.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s very easy to form your own agenda when you’re in ministry.  And Pastor Ford explains that you can know when you’re doing something for yourself and not for the Lord when something doesn’t go your way and you get mad about it.  That’s a clear indication that you’re not seeking God’s glory, but instead you’re seeking your own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we begin a new study in 1 Corinthians 3, Pastor Ford reminds us that we Christians are all on the same team and we must work together to accomplish ministry.  And Christians who realize that all unity in ministry is based on the finished work of Christ, will glorify Him by uniting themselves. Learn more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What you’re going through right now, what you’re worried about right now, and what you’re stressing about right now—that’s the now, it’s not the later!  And God wants us to understand that today is not the end of all that He has planned for us later. So don’t let failure now, rob you of your hope for the later.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Paul began to conclude his letter to the Galatians, he focused on the cross of Christ. He had praise for the cross. Then he explained the power, the promise, and the persecution of the cross. Learn more about what this means for us on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We need to understand that failure isn’t final. Sure, we all fail. But then we get back up, brush ourselves off, and start all over again. Failure is not final! How do we know? Because we’re still alive! And if we’re still alive, that means that God still wants to use us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we look at the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6, we discover several reasons why we ought to praise God. And if we are going to respond to those reasons, we need to consider making praise a priority in our lives, in order to give God all the glory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God gets all the glory, but He works through us to generate glorious results.  We’re laborers together with Him. And so, why do we do what we do? It’s all for His glory. So, Pastor Ford will explain that if we’re not doing something for the glory of God, we should stop whatever it is—now! Because everything we do should be done completely for His glory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grace saves us, shapes us, and then gives us the power to serve God. He gives us power to be able to do what we cannot do, so that He can use us to impact the lives of people and show them His grace. And because of His grace, we need to make sure He gets the glory out of our lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ll see today how the Christian life from start to finish is lived by grace.  Grace converts us and transforms us.  And that’s just a few of the reasons why it’s so amazing!  Learn more of what’s so amazing about grace on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In some of the final verses of his letter to them, Paul explained to the Galatian believers that the promise of victory and peace doesn’t apply to everyone, even as believers, but only to as many as walk according to a certain rule. In other words, Pastor Ford will ask us—if we don’t implement what Christ has given us for victory, then why are we expecting to have victory in the Christian life?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grace is amazing and should be extremely important in our lives. Pastor Ford will explain that if what we’re doing isn’t being done by the grace of God, then it doesn’t really count with God. If who we are isn’t because of His grace, then God is not pleased with us, because we’re not living by His grace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will share about how waiting is sometimes part of the opposition you are facing. And actually, the waiting can lead you to the opportunity that is still ahead. So, as scripture encourages us—if we don’t become weary, then we will reap if we don’t faint. We need to give God time to bring about what He has planned and to prepare the opportunity He ultimately has for us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes, when we realize that our opportunity is disguised as opposition, we need to change our plans. But many of us aren’t willing to do that, so we end up succumbing to the opposition instead of finding the opportunity. Learn more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Satan will often use opposition to discourage belivers.  But opposition is just opportunity that is cleverly disguised.  We’ll see today how the Apostle Paul realized that his opportunity was designed as opposition so he would become discouraged.  And we’ll see how to combat that same strategy that Satan tries to use against us.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Today, Pastor Ford will help us understand how Paul affirmed to the Galatian believers his comprehension of his own confirmation.  And then, in his letter to them, he celebrated his liberation from sin. We’ll see that Paul gave us a great example of how to respond to the good news of the gospel as we continue to look at the topic of embracing the cross of Christ.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue in the book of Jeremiah, we will learn more about how God is making it clear through this scripture passage that He alone knows what is best for us and He is working in our lives to accomplish it. And Pastor Ford will remind us that since God is in control, when He decides what is going to happen in our lives, it then becomes our destiny. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God comprehends and controls the situations in our lives. And today Pastor Ford will explain that just because we don’t know or understand what God is doing, it doesn’t mean God isn’t doing what’s best for us. It means God understands what’s best for us and we should trust Him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our study in Jeremiah 29, we’ll see that when God talks about having the knowledge about the plans for our lives, He’s indicating that He has all of the details of our lives—the decisions we must make and the directions we must go. Ultimately, God is the only one Who can tell us how to make the right choices.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God doesn’t just give us a second chance. He allows us to seek His forgiveness as many times as we need. He knows the plans that He has for each of us, and He’s willing to forgive us and bring us back into fellowship with Him, every time we stray.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scripture says that God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we could ask or even think. And today, Pastor Ford will explain that he actively acknowledges that fundamental truth by praying, “God, if this prayer of mine is not big enough, then please super-size it!”. Learn more about taking our limits off of God, on the next Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Treasured Truth,  we’ll look at how embracing the cross of Christ transforms us.  As scripture says, “…Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” So, Pastor Ford will explain that what God provided for us in our transformation is enough to give us a foundation for holiness and godly living. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford will remind us that God wants to take us from sin to salvation, from hell to heaven, from emptiness to everything, and from barrenness to fruitfulness.  He’ll turn our worries into worship.  So, if we can can begin to comprehend all of this about God and take our limits off of Him, then we won’t fear turning over our unknown to our all-knowing God! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s easy for believers to put God in a box.  But Pastor Ford will encourage us today to look beyond the way that God did things in the past for you.  Because God may choose to do things differently in the future.  If you keep looking for Him to do things the way He always did them before, then you may miss what He is doing in the present. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will point out that prayer is not peripheral, but rather, prayer is paramount in our lives.  It’s not optional.  It’s essential. Learn more about how effective prayer can be on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will share how important it is to have a place in your home, where you go to meet with God on a regular basis.  That’s one part of building up a better, more consistent intercessory prayer life. Find out more about how to pray for others when you join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of the prayers that Jesus prayed weren’t for Himself.  They were intercessory prayers that He prayed for other people.   And today, we need to follow His example.  Pastor Ford wants to help believers become better intercessors, so that God would be working through the prayers of His people.  Learn more about intercessory prayer on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bible teaches that we each gain so much through Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross.  Pastor Ford will remind us today that our pardon, position, power, provision, peace and preservation are all in Christ.  Learn more about what this means for us on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Pastor Ford, learning to be content with what you already have is one way to avoid being jealous of others.  And for those of us who are believers in Jesus and are seeking to honor Him with our lives, another way we can escape jealousy’s grip is to simply ask ourselves—can we glorify the Lord through our jealousy?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue to learn more about jealousy, Pastor Ford will not only share the negative effects that jealousy can have, but he’ll also share with us some practical ways to defeat jealousy and prevent it from taking root in our lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his writing, Shakespeare referred to jealousy as a “green-eyed monster”—and as Pastor Ford will point out today, that is a very fitting analogy.  Jealousy can have many negative effects and if we’re not careful, it can destroy us.  To learn more, join us for today's Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are there safeguards we can use to prevent ourselves from participating in gossip?  Pastor Ford shares eleven questions we can ask ourselves to help combat the natural tendencies that we all have toward the sin of gossip. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Satan likes to use division as a tool to disable the effectiveness of those who follow Jesus.   And one thing he uses to cause division is gossip.  Gossip often leads to confusion, arguing and fighting.  And when believers are involved with all of those things, they are not moving forward and they are certainly not being effective for the cause of Christ.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we begin an in depth look at the cross of Christ and how we can embrace it, we’ll learn that Christ’s vicarious death was deficient for none, sufficient for all, and efficient for everybody who believes in Him. Find out more about what this means, when you join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we’re going through a situation that involves misunderstanding, it’s easy to want to take things into our own hands and try to fix it.  But Pastor Ford will encourage us today to turn it all over to God.  We should pray that God will open the eyes of those who have misunderstood us.  We shouldn’t rush in and try to fix things ourselves.  We should let God handle it!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue to look at misunderstanding today on Treasured Truth, we’ll see that often manipulation can be a factor that leads to misunderstanding.  And sometimes people who might have their own interests in mind can complicate the communication process even further, for their own purposes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Misunderstanding can occur so easily.  And often, it can happen when someone who is involved in the misunderstanding assigns the wrong motivation to the person who is sending the message.  And Pastor Ford will point out today that no matter how good your motivation may be for what you are doing, there’s always going to be someone who will ascribe to you a different motivation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will challenge us today to consider these questions—Can you worship Jesus, even when you don’t get what you want? Even if you don’t get the job, if the sickness isn’t healed, if you never get a husband, if you never get a wife, or if your children never come back from “the far country”?  Like Job, can you still say, “The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord?”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do when Jesus doesn’t do what you want, how you want and when you want?  Today, Pastor Ford will point out that the mother we meet in Matthew 15 decided she was going to go beyond her expectation.  She expected Jesus to help her, but He was silent in that moment. So, she began an exercise in faith by deciding to sit and wait for Him to respond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we see a brother or sister in need of spiritual correction, we first need to take time to pray and really think about the best, most positive way to speak words of correction or words of rebuke to them.  We need to do it in the right spirit, and not permit ourselves to get upset when we don’t get the response that we think we should get or that the Bible says we should get from them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who do you go to when you have a problem?  Is the fact that Jesus is ready to help you with anything you need something that you remember in your time of need?  As we begin a new study in Matthew 15, Pastor Ford will introduce us to a woman who had an audacious faith and believed that Jesus was the only One Who could help her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford will challenge us today to consider the need we have to understand how our problems and pain can be motivating factors in our lives. Even though we go through difficulties, they can motivate us to live in our “not yet,” right now.  In other words, we can focus right now on the hope we have in our future with Jesus, instead of dwelling on our current situation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we face problems and pain in life, we need to understand that what we’re going through is for the future that we’re going to. That struggle is a part of making us who we’re going to become and it is designed to accomplish God’s purpose for our lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford will remind us today that sometimes the solution to our problem is in our problem.  In other words, our deficiency—which is apparent to us in our problem—may be the provision for the sufficiency that God wants to provide for us.  But often, we can’t easily see the truth about our situation. So, we must learn to trust God more fully for the outcome.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue to consider how to see purpose in our problems and pain, Pastor Ford will explain the various kinds of suffering we can encounter.  One of those is remedial suffering, and God uses it much like a potter uses heat to cure his clay.  So, it’s during those times when God uses suffering to burn character into us that cannot be changed, to burn compromise out of our life, and to burn off the carnality from our behavior—all of those adjustments help us resemble Christ and not the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue to look at how we should treat our brothers and sisters in Christ, we’re going to take a closer look at meekness. When someone is meek, it means that they have strength under control. Pastor Ford will explain that God delights in people who are meek. And God wants to use people in their meekness to restore the things that are broken around them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God has sent us the trials we are experiencing in our lives, and He wants us to see them in the way that He sees them.  And that’s because He’s shaping us to make us into something that we currently are not. And why is He doing that?   Because in the current shape we’re in, God won’t give us what He ultimately does want to give us, when we have eventually been conformed to His will.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s power in the name of Jesus.  So much so, that when we focus on Him and on magnifying His name, our perspective changes.  And the smaller the problems in our lives will actually become, in light of His glory.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we consider the purpose in our problems and pain, we need to realize that it’s not how much of Jesus we have, but it’s how much of us that Jesus has. We need to ask ourselves, do we really trust Him in our time of trouble? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our study in the book of James, Pastor Ford will ask us to consider this question—even though we’re going through something right now, are we more committed to Jesus’ purpose than we are to getting out of our pain? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may be going through a tremendous struggle right now, but as we begin to look at how there is purpose in our problems and pain, Pastor Ford will encourage us to not waste our sorrows. Instead, we should embrace them, realizing that God is up to something and is working in our lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Treasured Truth, we’ll be reminded that our fellow believers are our brothers and our sisters in Christ—we have been cemented together, sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ—and that ought to mean something.  And because of this, we should at least treat each other with decency, kindness, and respect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes, when we’re taking care of God’s business and serving in ministry, we are hesitant to acknowledge the gifts of other people in our midst.  We see them as an intrusion against our own ministry, instead of an infusion of help from God. And instead of seeing them as a threat, Pastor Ford will encourage us to discover the gifts of others, help them develop their gifts, and deploy them into service for God’s glory. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will help us identify some very practical ways we can tell if God has called us to a certain ministry, before we dive in headfirst to what we think we’ve been called to do.  We’ll learn how to discover our passions and priorities and identify our desire to glorify God, all while following His guidance. Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.                                                                    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God calls those who have believed in Jesus to do the work of His ministry in the church and around the world.  They’re called and chosen by Him because of their passion for certain ministries. But today Pastor Ford will explain that there are those who went but weren’t actually sent.  In other words, they were appointed to a certain ministry by man, but not anointed for it by God.  So, as we seek to take care of God’s business, we need to be sure we are called by Him to do what we’re doing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The widow in Luke 7 was mourning her son’s death.  But when she encountered Jesus, He told her to stop crying.  He had a reason to urge her to cease her mourning, because He knew His plan.  He was about to bring her son back to life.  To find out more about how Jesus miraculously worked in the life of this woman, join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our study in Luke 7, we’ll see how Jesus responded to the faith of the widow in this passage and brought her son back to life.  Jesus had a purpose in this encounter, and that was to demonstrate God’s great power.  And in doing so, to honor the faith of this seemingly insignificant woman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will explain that Paul’s teaching in Galatians makes it clear that the gospel of Jesus Christ doesn’t repudiate the law, but rather, the law is fulfilled in the gospel.  Because the central core and motivation behind what Jesus did for us is the fact that He loves us.  And in return, we should love Him and not squander the liberty He has afforded us. Learn more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is no such thing as coincidence with God.  Only providence.  Nothing is accidental.  Everything is Providential when it comes to the things that God allows to happen to His people. So, Pastor Ford will remind us today that it’s never too late to call on God to work through His providence on our behalf. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can we know if we are mature believers?  When His purpose is more important to us than our pain.  Some people won’t get involved in ministry because they know that they’re going to get hurt.  But Pastor Ford will explain today that we all must ask ourselves, is Calvary more important than our own personal comfort?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our study in 2 Corinthians, we discover that Paul had a unique perspective about his problems, because he chose to look at the Problem Solver, instead of at his problems.  Instead of looking at the Devil, who has some power, Paul chose to focus on the One Who has all power—Jesus Christ.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford will remind us that the Apostle Paul essentially encouraged us to not ever take our eyes off Christ and put our eyes on our problems or our pain.  By maintaining what Pastor Ford calls an abiding vision of God, Paul was able to accept his suffering when God chose not to remove it from his life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’ll continue to look at how the Apostle Paul described and dealt with his “thorn in the flesh.” Pastor Ford will point out that there was a tension, or a tandem nature about Paul’s situation—God graced the suffering to him, but Satan was the one who was giving him fits.  Satan was the one causing his pain.  It wasn’t God.  God was the one being gracious toward him.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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One reason why we’re fighting against what God is allowing to happen in our lives may be because we’re immature in our faith and we don’t understand that God’s not allowing our suffering to happen in order to hurt us. Instead, He’s trying to help us.  He’s not trying to destroy us. He’s trying to develop us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We need to remember that God can do with us whatever, whenever, wherever, and however He pleases.  And guess what—He’s not going to ask our permission to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ.  However, sometimes the best way He is able to do just that is through our suffering.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes all we can see is our problems. We’re surrounded by our handicaps, our sicknesses, and our liabilities—emotionally, physically, psychologically, socially, and financially. In order to look beyond all these things, we need a fresh, abiding vision of God. Pastor Ford will remind us that we can ask God to help us see Him in the midst of our suffering.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about his “thorn in the flesh.” And Pastor Ford will explain how Paul dealt with his suffering by keeping an abiding vision of God, so that it helped him to deal with whatever he was going through.  We’ll learn that Paul wasn’t looking at his suffering.  He was looking at the Savior. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we begin a study today from 2 Corinthians, and consider why God gives us challenges and liabilities that we must deal with in our lives, Pastor Ford will challenge us to consider this question—Is it conceivable that you have your disability not as a liability, but as a possibility? Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Galatians 5, Paul was trying to help the Galatian believers understand that if they were going to rely on the law to save them, then that necessitated obedience to all the law.  They couldn’t just can’t pick and choose! They couldn’t say, “We want to obey some of the commandments, not all of the commandments.” Pastor Ford will help us understand more of what Paul was teaching the Galatians about this important point on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If we encounter problems in our marriage, we will often blame God for allowing us to marry the wrong person.  But today, Pastor Ford will counter that notion by reminding us that we came up with the idea of marrying that person.  It was our choice to proceed in the relationship.  But now we say, “Why did God allow it?” But in reality, we did it.  We made the decision and the choice.  So, why are we blaming God? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Pastor Ford, you have to get a divorce from yourself, before you get into a relationship with a potential spouse.  There has to be two funerals before there’s one marriage.  Each spouse has to die to self!  That’s because marriage is not a 50/50 venture.  It requires 100 percent from each person. To hear more, join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford has this question for us today—what makes us want to get out of so quickly the marriage that we wanted to get into so desperately?  As we continue to discuss issues that may arise in a marriage, we’ll explore why so many people easily seek a divorce in today’s society, after desperately wanting to be married to their spouse in the beginning of their relationship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford will remind us today that Jesus died for our salvation and to give us the ability to be able to have a better marriage.  He did all that He did to redeem us from our sins.  Pastor Ford will also ask us—since Jesus died for us, then why is it that in our marriages, we can’t seem live for Him and forgive our spouses?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you married in search of happiness, then you didn’t really understand what marriage is all about.  The Bible says, “Therefore, a man will leave his father and mother, cleave to his wife and the two of them will become one flesh.”  Oneness is the goal of marriage.  Happiness is a by-product.  Join us today as we look further at the what happens when a marriage has a case of the “toos”.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a marriage has a case of the “Toos,” one thing that happens is there are too many unmet expectations.  And often married people will focus on the “what ifs” of life instead of on the “what is.”  And when the “what ifs” take precedent over the “what is,” then it often leads to disappointment and disillusionment.  We’ll begin to look at how to deal with expectations  in your marriage on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Perspective and perception are two key factors that affect our understanding of suffering. Our perspective governs our perception. In other words, the way we look at whatever we’re going through will determine how we perceive and comprehend it. So it’s crucial for us to try to gain God’s perspective on our suffering, instead of looking at it from our own perspective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God used Goliath, a giant, to bring David to prominence, because David was the young man whom God had chosen to later become King of Israel.  If he’d had no encounter with the giant, he would have had no prominence in his youth.  And then God used the Devil to bring Job to prominence—no Devil, no prominence.  He used the cross to bring Christ to prominence.  So today, Pastor Ford will ask—do you see how God uses suffering?  He uses it for His purposes and for His glory. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suffering always has a purpose.  As we begin a study in Revelation 13, we’ll realize that sometimes our suffering is actually related to our redemption.  When God allows us to suffer, He’s not trying to destroy us. He’s trying to develop us. But in order to understand the process, we have to see suffering from God’s perspective.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we conclude our look at the story of the paralyzed man in Mark chapter 2 we’ll see how this man’s friends were determined to get him to Jesus. In spite of the obstacles, they tore the roof off of the building where Jesus was teaching so that He could heal their friend. So Pastor Ford will ask today, what radical things are we doing to get our friends to Jesus?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Paul, the Galatians had the clear and simple message of salvation, but they let some people who were overly concerned about religious practices come alongside them and add stuff to it.  So, in the beginning, the Galatians had a message leading to salvation, but then they let others adulterate it, taking the truth away and making the message ineffective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our study in Galatians, Pastor Ford will remind us about what Paul was trying to teach the Galatian believers: We as believers need to understand the more human effort we bring to the table when it comes to the process of our salvation, the more we end up nullifying God’s grace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re looking at what Jesus did for the paralyzed man in Mark chapter 2.  What did the man think that he needed most?  Healing in his body.  What did Jesus know he needed most?  Forgiveness in his soul.  Based on this, Pastor Ford will remind us just how important our spiritual healing is to our Savior.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford explains that challenges are an important part of our journey.  What we’ve overcome determines how far we’ve come.  And if we find that we’re not anywhere new, it’s probably because we have not yet overcome the challenges that God wants to use to grow us. To learn more, join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you ready to break out of the box?  Are you ready to tear the roof off of all the limitations? Sometimes, in order to get people to Jesus, you have to overcome obstacles and challenges.  But Pastor Ford reminds us on today’s Treasured Truth that every effort to get someone to Jesus is worth it.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your life and testimony making Jesus attractive to the people around you?  Is anyone overhearing you share what Jesus has done for you in His person, His power, His plan, His program, and in His provision?  Pastor Ford asks today, “Who’s hearing you?”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we start a new message, Pastor Ford will ask us to consider how the friends of the paralyzed man in Mark chapter 2 carried him directly to Jesus so he could be healed.  In the same way, we should never let anyone or anything stop us from getting those in our lives who we know need Jesus to Him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we learn more about how we can transition from doctrine to duty, Pastor Ford will explain that the things learned in the holy place, should be lived in the marketplace.  So, he’ll encourage us to take what we are learning in church with us and share it with the world.  If we were doing that more often, then more people would be attracted to what we have and want to become a part of the church themselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, as we study John 12 and continue to learn about how Mary broke her alabaster box of fragrant perfume to anoint Jesus, we’ll see the extent of the sacrificial love she was showing to Him by doing that.  And perhaps her story will compel us to consider what it is that we will sacrifice for Jesus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Others can tell how much we love Jesus by the way we serve Him. They can tell by the way we give to Him.  They can tell by the way we worship Him.  You see, a lot of us have a fake “Zirconium Jesus.” Because if we all had a real “Diamond Jesus” then there’d be nothing that would keep us from going crazy about the Lord Jesus Christ! Find out what this means on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we live the Christian life, we need a love that will sacrifice for the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Because many of us have praise for Christ on our lips, but the rest of our lives doesn’t demonstrate our love for Him.  And according to Pastor Ford, in other words, we often have high praise, but low living!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we consider what the Lord Jesus did for us, we see the magnitude of it—He paid for the sins of the world.  We see the magnificence of it—we were enemies and while we were yet sinners, He died for us.  The majesty of it—the Creator died for the creature.  And the mystery of it—why would someone so holy die for a world of messed up sinners like us?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue to look at why God deserves all of our praise, we’ll learn that we can’t just join God’s family. We have to be born into it. So, what did Jesus do for us?  He traded places with you and with me, which allows us to become part of God’s family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the passage we’ll be studying today from Galatians 5, Paul says, “Stand fast therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. And be not entangled again, with the yoke of bondage.” So, Pastor Ford will explain what he means is that the law doesn’t empower us, it enslaves us. And if we try to follow the law, we end up with legalism, rather than liberty. [To learn more, join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Psalmist says that he sought God with all his heart and God had every part of Him as a result. So, Pastor Ford explains today that the heart of the matter is that it’s all a matter of the heart. Does God have your heart today?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will explain that praise should be done volitionally, as an act of our will.  It doesn’t matter how we feel, we should give God some praise!  We could feel like ten miles of bad highway, but we shouldn’t walk out of a worship service without saying something to God in a corporate setting and letting Him know that we appreciate Him, we’re grateful for Him, and we love Him! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 God not only deserves, but He requires our praise. Pastor Ford explains today that the word “Hallelujah” conveys to Him our highest praise. God wanted a word that every Christian could use, no matter what our culture or color, no matter what our creed, and no matter what our language, and the word that He gave us is “Hallelujah!”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When striving to live a successful life, we need to understand that when we meet the requirements, God gives us the rewards He has planned for us.  Pastor Ford explains that God tells us in His word that He is going to take use where we cannot go ourselves.  He’s going to make sure that He blesses us.  What a promise He has made to us!  Learn more about God’s promise on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford will help us understand that when we are not keeping the Lord’s commandments, we are not loving Him.  He’ll also address this question—what does it mean for us to be committed to Jesus Christ?  It means we love what Jesus loves and we hate what Jesus hates.  And that’s when we know we’re committed to Christ. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When trying to live a successful life, we must realize that God has already made provisions for us.  Pastor Ford says what we have to do is wait on God and just take a chill pill!  We have to say, “God we trust You and we understand that we can totally depend upon You.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Proverbs 3:1 says, “My son, forget not My law, but let your heart keep My commandments.”  And so, there’s the guideline for living a successful life.  Do you want to live a successfully?  Then you need to listen to God and keep His commandments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we wrap up our series on worship, Pastor Ford asks the question, “What is this worship we’ve been talking about?”  He concludes that worship is all that we are, responding to all God is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you reflect on the grace that God has given you, or do you think that you have just been lucky in life?  Today, Pastor Ford asks that poignant question and wants us to realize that God’s grace is constantly evident in our lives and that God doesn’t get the proper praise from us, because we don’t recognize all that He’s done through His grace for us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King David was motivated to praise God because he couldn’t help responding to God’s goodness.  Today, Pastor Ford will ask us—have you considered God’s goodness lately, and has it motivated you to praise Him? Find out more on today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever received a pardon, but refused it?  Today we’ll hear about a man named George Wilson, who did just that.  And Pastor Ford will explain that there are too many people who are like that.  God gives them the pardon they need, but sadly, they reject His offer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford prompts us to think about why the problems in our lives seem so difficult.  Whatever the problems are, they’re difficult because they’re most likely still in our hands, and not in God’s hand.  Consider this—have you put your problems in His hand yet?  We need to realize God is majestic and all powerful, and He can help us handle any problem that we face. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Treasured Truth, Pastor Ford reminds us about the exchange that took place between Christ and us.  He took our sin and gave us His salvation.  He took our sadness and gave us His joy.  He took our carnality and gave us His spirituality.  And He took our poverty and gave us His wealth. So, based on all that Christ has done for us, we have plenty of reasons to worship Him!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we turn to Isaiah 40, as Pastor Ford describes how God craves our worship.  He’ll explain that this passage drives us to worshipping God, by giving us a glimpse of His glory, so we will be mesmerized by His majesty, blinded by His beauty and humbled by His holiness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Ford wants us to realize that if we start telling God, “This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad”—even in the midst of what we’re going through—then the Bible tells us that God is going to receive our praise and change us from worriers into worshippers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If we want peace, Jesus is our peace.  If we want righteousness, Jesus is our righteousness.  Whatever element of our life we are struggling with, He identifies with it and redeems it in us.  So, when God sees us, He does not see our sin, He sees His Son—and that’s definitely something to be joyful about and worship Him for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As our study continues in Galatians chapter 4, today we’ll see that just like Abraham and Sarah received a promise from God, we all as believers, have received a promise too. It’s the promise that we will be delivered from the penalty of our sins through grace.  The new covenant frees us from the law and now we have the hope of salvation, but it’s only found in grace.  To find out more about God’s free gift of grace,  join us for today’s Treasured Truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will let us know that our real focus should be on worship.  Whatever we are going through, we ought to be able to say like the Psalmist says, “This is the day that Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Treasured Truth, Pastor Ford will explain that God has choreographed the day that lies ahead for each of us.  His sovereignty is all over this day that each of us will be living.  So we need to understand He chose for us specifically whatever we are going through.  He has a purpose that He’s trying to work in us, so that we would not lose our joy, and so we would stand firm in our faith in Him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will share the difference between thanksgiving, praise, and worship.  According to him, when we bless God for what He’s done specifically for us, that’s thanksgiving.  When we bless God for what He’s done in the world around us, that’s praise.  But when we bless God for Who He is, that’s worship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God desires for us to worship Him.  And He wants sincere worship from us.  Why?  Because He not only wants to redeem us, and for us to allow Him to use us for His purposes, He also wants us to be rejoicing in Him and expressing our joy to Him through our worship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Pastor Ford will remind us that God’s resources are reserved for those who fulfill His responsibilities. Our provision has to be linked to His purpose.  And the problem is that many of us want the provision, but we don’t want His purpose. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.