JesusSmartX

The Vantage Point Shift: Out of Your Head, Into His Heart | Jesus Smart 180, Ep. 370

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 14:55:00 -0400

When a situation hits, most of us go straight to our heads — cycling, analyzing, worrying. But the Kingdom move is a vantage point shift: get out of your head and lock into God's heart.

In this Jesus Smart 180, Brian Del Turco unpacks two connected disciplines... seeking God's perspective on your situations and refusing to be impressed by anything sourced in the inferior world of the Adversary. Discernment is a deliberate choice about what framing shapes your inner world.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/370

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast. Each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: The Vantage Point Shift: Out of Your Head, Into His Heart

Hey, welcome back. I'm Brian Del Turco. This is Jesus Smart 180 — our short-form format, 180 seconds, one turnaround. We have one of these each week alongside the full-length episode. Look for both in the feed.

Out of Your Head, Into His Heart

Two words for you today: situations and impressions. They're more connected than you might think.

Here's where most of us live when something hits. I know I do. Turning it over, analyzing it. A situation arises and we go internal, cycling through worst cases, best cases, our own read on what's happening and why.

But that's not the move for those who are developing in Christ. The move is to get out of your head and seek God's heart on it. Not your assessment of the situation. His. Not what it looks like from where you're standing, but what it looks like from where he's standing. Those are two very different vantage points.

And here's the key: don't just seek his heart on it. Lock into it. There's a difference between a passing glance at what God might be saying and actually positioning yourself in his perspective. Staying there. Abiding. Praying from there, acting from there, making your moves from there. That's what it means to lock in.

Refuse the Inferior, Receive What's Really Real

Now here's where impressions come in. And this is where it gets sharp.

We live in a world constantly competing for what impresses us, what grabs our attention, what shapes our perception of what's real, what's powerful, what's threatening. And a lot of what's vying for that territory is sourced in what I'd call, from a scriptural worldview, the inferior world of the adversary.

Inferior not because it isn't loud. But because it has no ultimate authority. It is not ultimate reality. It's a counterfeit kingdom pressing for your impressions.

So we have to refuse it. Refuse to be impressed by it. You're not pretending the situation isn't real. You're refusing to let the enemy's framing of it be the one that sticks.

Instead, let God impress upon you who he is ... his magnitude, his sovereignty, his active engagement in your situation right now. Let his designs, his purposes, his advanced plans be what shapes your inner world. Get on the front of the wave. Get over the horizon. Seek his heart.

Lock in. Refuse the inferior. Receive what's really real.

Show notes for this episode are at jesussmart.com/370. If this sharpens something for you, pass it on. I'm Brian Del Turco. Let's keep seeking his heart on the matter.

Thanks for listening to Jesus Smart 180. Your move. Visit jesussmart.com for show notes and more.

Not an Accident: God Has Designs on You! | Jesus Smart 180, Ep. 369

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:45:00 -0400

You are not an accident. God didn't improvise your life — he designed it. In this inaugural episode of Jesus Smart 180, a new short-form format in the Jesus Smart X feed, Brian Del Turco unpacks the Greek word 'prothesis' from Romans 8:28. What does it reveal about the deliberate, forward-leaning purpose God has for your lifetime right now?

This isn't a comfort verse for passive Christianity. It's a declaration for people on assignment, on point, and on time. 180 seconds. One turnaround.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/369

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Not an Accident: God Has Designs on You!

Welcome, friend, to the Jesus Smart X podcast. I'm Brian Del Turco.

Starting with this episode, we're adding something new to the podcast feed — a short-form format. We're calling it Jesus Smart 180. Three minutes or Less. Tight, focused, designed to land with something worth carrying with you through the day, through the week. 180 seconds.

But also a 180 is a turnaround. Because that's what Jesus brings through Kingdom reality in our lives. Each week you'll still get the full-length episode. Jesus Smart 183 runs alongside it. Same Kingdom DNA, just a different bandwidth.

A Word Worth Sitting With

Here's what I'd love for you to sit with for the next couple of minutes: God is filled with purpose. God has designs on you. Yes, the eternal Creator of the universe has designs on you, for your lifetime.

Unpacking 'Prothesis'

The Greek word for purpose in Romans 8:28 is prothesis. Let's break it down. Pro — before. Thesis — a place. Together it means a setting forth. Your place in this world. It's a deliberate, advanced design. Not improvised, not reactive. Intentional, forward-leaning, already in motion purpose from eternity past.

Your salvation didn't happen because God was scrambling. It flowed from his eternal purpose. And that same purpose is already leaning into what comes next.

The new heavens and new earth are coming — the full reconciling work of Christ. But in the meantime, he has a wonderful purpose for your lifetime. Right now. Right here. Right where you are in this season.

You're Already Positioned

You're not waiting to become useful to God's story. You're already positioned in it. It's simply a matter of awareness and yieldedness. And hearing from Jesus.

Romans 8:28 says all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. That's not a comfort verse for passive Christianity. That's a declaration for people who are on assignment, on time, on mission with Jesus.

Let's Receive It

So let's receive it. Let's pray it in.

Father God, we thank you for your wonderful purpose. We resolve to live and move and have our being in your Son Jesus Christ. And in your higher design for our lives. We praise you that our lifetime contributes to your great purpose. Amen.

Find the show notes at jesussmart.com. And if this landed for you, share it with someone who needs the reminder. They're not an accident. God has designs on them too!

Full-Spectrum Faith: The Holy Spirit, Global Governance, and the Alert Church with Travis Weber | Ep. 368

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:05:00 -0400

Most Western Christians have a faith that lives almost entirely in the head. Travis Weber — Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at the Family Research Council — argues that's not enough for the hour we're in. In this conversation, Travis shares what the Lord has been showing him about walking in an increasing measure of the Holy Spirit: displacing the enemy, receiving healing, and moving beyond intellectual Christianity into genuine spiritual power.

Then the conversation shifts to the geopolitical: Travis attended the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May 2024, and what he observed should concern every believer. The WHO pandemic agreement, the UN Pact for the Future, and the steady march toward global governance are not distant abstractions — they are a coordinated shift away from national sovereignty and toward centralized, unelected power. This episode equips you to do what the sons of Issachar did: understand the times, pray with authority, and act.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/368

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Full-Spectrum Faith: The Holy Spirit, Global Governance, and the Alert Church

INTRO

Welcome to the podcast. This is Jesus Smart X the Podcast. I'm Brian Del Turco, and today I'm joined by Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. There are two vital themes: what it means to walk in the full power of the Holy Spirit as individual Christ followers, and why Christians need to be awake to the global push for governance and the minimizing of national sovereignty. This is Episode 368 — a recast episode. I think you'll enjoy it. Show notes at jesussmart.com/368. Let's go.

Brian: We have a great guest on the podcast today — Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., holding a Juris Doctorate and a Master's in Law.

Two great themes today. The first is Travis's own recent walk with the Lord and what I've been calling full-spectrum Christianity — full-spectrum Christ following. It is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not just the Father, Son, and Holy Bible. We hold a very high view of Scripture — you can't get any higher — but we have to move beyond doctrinal assent alone. We have to engage the Holy Spirit. We have to track with the first-century Christ followers and their experience of the Spirit as seen in the Book of Acts and Paul's writings.

If the American church and the Western church are going to meet this hour, we have to meet it with the power of God. And the second theme: my wife and I attended a conference in early October in D.C. and heard Travis on a panel discussing the push toward global governance through organizations like the World Health Organization and the United Nations. We discuss our call to be aware, engaged in prayer, and willing to act where the Lord leads.

For the show notes and to go deeper on today's themes, visit jesussmart.com/368.

Brian: Travis, welcome. You're a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served as a Navy pilot, earned your J.D. from Regent University, and a Master's in Law from Georgetown. What was that LLM focus?

Travis: Thank you for having me. It's a Master's in Law from Georgetown — mine was in international law with a focus on international human rights law.

Brian: And you're increasingly involved in international outreach through FRC as well.

Travis: Yes. The family is really under attack globally. The things God established in Genesis 1 and 2 — his prescription for how we are to live — are under assault from the enemy worldwide. Many people are suffering. But it's important to understand that God is good. Suffering is not his doing — it's the result of the fall and the sinful brokenness man has introduced into the world. God is against suffering. He desires healing and hope. That's why he sent Jesus as the redeemer we can turn to and find life.

Brian: That reminds me of the chiropractic concept of subluxation — a misaligned vertebra pinching nerve energy from the brain down through the spine. So much of what's wrong in our world is that we are misaligned with God's created order. It crimps his energy and life flowing to us. You're seeing that globally — the assaults on gender, sexuality, marriage.

Travis: That's right. Being out of alignment with God's Word has caused enormous suffering. At the very same time we've seen profound technological advancement, the CDC is reporting elevated rates of teen suicide risk. We are technologically advanced yet suffering deeply in our overall well-being. That correlation is telling a story.

Brian: Jesus said in John 3 to Nicodemus, "You must be born again" — which implies we're fundamentally born wrong the first time because of the fall in Genesis 3. All of early Genesis seems to be under a coordinated, multifaceted assault — male and female, image of God, family, the creation mandate. Travis, on a personal level — what is the Lord showing you in this season? How is the Holy Spirit leading you?

Travis: One area the Lord has been showing me is walking closely with him to welcome his presence. When we welcome his presence — an increased measure of the Holy Spirit — it displaces the enemy and anything opposed to God. We need that presence to deal with physical and mental illness, to deal with demonic forces, to receive the Spirit's fruits of clarity, peace, and joy, and to receive his guidance in our decisions.

I did not always walk this way, but the Lord has awakened me to this reality. And when you read Scripture, it's all right there. There is nothing in Scripture that says the power of healing and driving out demons is not for today. You have to read that into the text or construct a theological framework to reach that conclusion. For those of us who claim Scripture as the rule of faith and life, the plain text says the Lord came, healed, cast out demons, and desires us to have that same power through the Holy Spirit.

Brian: Would you say there's a difference between the initial indwelling of the Spirit at salvation and an increasing measure of his presence as we grow?

Travis: Absolutely — and Scripture addresses this directly. The disciples couldn't cast out a demon, and Jesus said, "This kind only comes out through prayer and fasting." A certain level of power was needed that wasn't being brought to bear. That's clear in the text.

Many of us in the West are swimming in the sea of the intellect. We've absorbed information our entire lives — through education, culture, institutions — all of it conducted within that intellectual framework. God created the mind and we absolutely need right information. But intellectual knowledge alone is not enough. We need the Lord's presence and spiritual discernment. Psalm 91:1 — dwelling under his shelter and shadow — is a place of refuge. We will run into serious problems if we try to navigate spiritual forces with the intellect alone.

For more on full-spectrum Christianity and Kingdom living, visit jesussmart.com/368.

Brian: Paul told the Corinthians: "I did not come with words only, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." That's a challenge. The American praying church does operate in power, but it needs to grow. We need those Kingdom jet streams synchronized with heaven, releasing the power of God even into the geopolitical arena.

My wife Penny and I attended the Pray and Vote Summit sponsored by FRC in early October in D.C., and one panel you were on — with Michele Bachmann and Gabe Lyons, led by Tony Perkins — was focused on the push for global governance. You attended the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May of 2024.

Travis: Yes. The discussion there was entirely focused on how to increase governmental power to address future health emergencies. Individual rights, religious freedom, the question of whether pandemic measures even accomplished what governments claimed — none of that was on the table. When the entire focus is on control and coordination, you get an outcome skewed entirely in that direction.

The fruit of that was borne out in discussions on a pandemic agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations. The IHR amendments were finalized with incremental steps toward increased global coordination. The pandemic agreement wasn't finalized due to disagreements between countries, but work continues. The trajectory is toward global governance, not away from it.

Brian: And the United Nations Pact for the Future moves in the same direction — well beyond pandemics into digital governance, sustainable development, a crackdown on so-called misinformation.

Travis: The Pact for the Future is a 60-plus page priority agenda document produced by the UN bureaucracy — not by its member states. The UN was created after World War II to coordinate action to protect human rights and prevent another Holocaust. It was meant to serve its members. Instead, unelected bureaucrats are driving their own agenda, increasing the Secretary General's power, and expanding into digital governance and misinformation crackdowns. What's being done in the name of protecting democracy and stopping misinformation is in many cases suppressing legitimate perspectives and free speech. Believers need to observe these trends and discern what's actually being attached to those noble-sounding slogans.

Brian: Acts 17:26–27 says God "made from one man every nation of mankind, having determined their allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place" — so that people might seek him and find him. National sovereignty is woven into God's design. Nations serve as a check and balance against the concentration of global evil. Jesus said, "My house shall be a house of prayer for all nations" — he is a global God, and we need to be what Leonard Sweet calls "glocal" — locally rooted but globally aware. Like the sons of Issachar, we need a prophetic awareness of the times and what we ought to do.

Travis: That's right. The shift is away from national authority toward global power centers — New York, Geneva, Brussels. That shift is at odds with the biblical framework of nations and peoples. The Tower of Babel account shows God's concern about humanity concentrating power apart from him. We have to ask: is God being honored in what these governmental power centers are doing? That matters at any level, but it becomes critical when we're talking about consolidated global authority.

Find the full show notes and additional resources at jesussmart.com/368.

Brian: So practically — what does the Christ follower do?

Travis: Strengthen your immediate network of believers. Family, church community, close friends who are focused on the Lord — people who help you gaze on him and whom you help in return. Build those relationships of mutual spiritual support. And pray together — not just personal prayer but agreement prayer. Heart-level connection with the Lord, receiving from him, allowing him to heal and minister and strengthen. Then pray, vote, stand — FRC's tagline captures it well. Represent the Lord in whatever place and context he has called you. He has a place for all of us, and if we seek him, he will use us there.

OUTRO

Thanks for listening to the Jesus Smart X podcast today. A huge thank you to Travis Weber and the Family Research Council — visit FRC.org to see more about their important work and resources. Show notes for today's episode are at jesussmart.com/368. And if you're not yet on the Smart Edit newsletter list, I'd love to have you — it's free, weekly, and it comes from a Kingdom worldview. Sign up at jesussmart.com/smartedit. We will rendezvous next time.

Take Up Your Cross: Apostolic Living in a Sand-Built World | Ep. 367

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:15:00 -0400

A good dose of American Christianity has settled for blessing without the cross, comfort without death, resurrection without crucifixion. But apostolic Christ-following operates on a radically different principle: life comes through death.

In this episode, we're exploring what it means to build on the firm foundation of Christ in a world where everyone around you is building on sand. We're talking about pulling down the blueprint God designed for your life over your work, your family, the places your feet touch, and why the cross must precede the life of the resurrection in every area where you want Kingdom breakthrough.

This is the daily dynamic of dying to ego, perceived rights, and the small kingdoms we build for ourselves so the life of Jesus can be released through us. It's about living an ascended life where you operate from above rather than scramble from below.

If you're tired of half-life Christianity and ready to live out your full potential in Christ, this episode may challenge what you thought following Jesus meant.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/367

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Take Up Your Cross: Apostolic Living in a Sand-Built World

Introduction: The Question Before Us

Hey there, my friend. Welcome to the podcast. This is Brian Del Turco. Here's a question for us: What does it actually mean to follow Jesus in a way that brings heaven's culture into the now, into our everyday life? Not just spiritual theory, but actual Kingdom breakthrough — practically in our work, our family, the places that our feet touch, the things that our hands reach out to and touch. The world is waiting to see a witness of Jesus' Kingdom in a practical way.

I'm suggesting that most American Christianity has drifted toward personal life enhancement, comfort, blessing without the cross. But apostolic Christ-following — let's use that word as an adjective, apostolic — apostolic Christ-following, the kind Jesus modeled in His very life and that He calls us into, operates on a radically different principle: Life comes through death.

Today we're exploring what it means to build on the firm foundation of Christ Himself, to live out the blueprint that God designed for our life, and why the cross must precede the resurrection in every area where we want to see Kingdom breakthrough.

This is actually a recording of an episode, a short episode — it's very tight — that I did a number of years ago actually, and I'm just introing it right now. I did this episode out in the woods. I had a portable digital recorder. I was out with the trees and the sunshine coming through the leaves. So the sound is good — slightly different than a normal recording sound, but it's good, high-quality audio. It was done outside. I think I probably had a piece of paper with some bullet-point notes on it. I must have.

This is episode 367. I think we're calling this "The Cross Dynamic: Apostolic Living in a Sand-Built World." Again, I'm Brian Del Turco, and this is the Jesus Smart X podcast.

Before we dive in, if you want these Kingdom realities sharpened and applied to the noise of our cultural moment every week, please subscribe to the Smart Edit newsletter at jesussmart.com/smartedit. It's free, it's direct, cuts through the noise, cuts through the fog. I'd love to have you on the list.

All right, let's talk about what it means to actually follow an apostolic Jesus.

Apostolic Living: Building on the Firm Foundation

Yeah, in the middle of the trees, the sun breaking through the leaves. And I love the versatility of this kind of recorder to be able to do that.

I really believe that the Holy Spirit is restoring and breathing upon apostolic — apostolic as an adjective — breathing upon believers and wanting to restore apostolic Christ-following. Now, what do I mean?

Apostolic living under Christ is concerned with building as a master craftsman and pulling down the design from above over your life, over the lives of those you run with, your families, over what you're connected to in your work, what you put your hands to, over companies of believers — the church, the ecclesia. The design is foundational.

If you read the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, he would say things like, "I've laid a foundation, and that foundation is Christ." You see, apostolic Christ-following is not me-centered. It's not anthropocentric. It's not man-centered. It's Christocentric. It's Christ as the foundation.

And what He says — Jesus talked about the house that is built upon the foundation. If we listen to His words and activate what He says, it is like we build our house upon a firm foundation that can withstand anything. But if we don't, it's as if we're building upon sand.

And I've got to tell you, all around you is sand. Most people around you — the overwhelming majority — are building on sand. But you and me, as consecrated Christ-followers, as we quest for that, we build upon the firm foundation of Christ Himself.

It's the wisdom of God coming down. It's the strategies from above. It is a blueprint.

And I have to mention a friend and, frankly, a mentor — Paul Graham Hubbard. My thoughts today are provoked by his book, The Blueprint of Life. And I think I'll be able to leave a link to this book on the show notes page under Resources. You're going to want to check this out. This is some of the freshest teaching that I know of in this area. It's very inspiring, very challenging, and it is probably unlike anything you have ever heard.

Becoming Like Jesus: The Apostolic Continuum

Just by way of introduction: Jesus is an apostle, and He calls us to follow Him. So it makes sense that as we continue on that continuum of following Him, we will become apostolic. We will become like Him.

You see, what apostolic does is it brings the culture of heaven into the earth. It brings the culture of the kingdom of God into spaces and places. Wherever your feet go, whatever you put your hand to, whatever you apply your mind to, whatever words you release into settings, and the very lifestyle of your life — it brings more and more of the culture of heaven.

You know, we pray that prayer: "On earth as it is in heaven. Father, let Your kingdom come. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Well, it takes an apostolic edge in our lives to do that.

This is very challenging to the American expression of Christianity and to Christianity in the West in general. You see, following Christ is not about just personal life enhancement. It's not just the inheritance. It's not just prosperity — although prosperity is included in God's kingdom.

The Principle: Life Comes Through Death

Following Christ is a quest for death. I mean, Jesus actually said, "Look, if you want to follow Me, you have to take up your cross." If we don't take up our cross as we follow Him, we're really not following Him.

If we are born again, if we are saved, and if we do make it into the new heavens and the new earth, we will live half-lives. We won't live our full potential. We won't live out the full destiny, the full story without the cross working in our lives.

Here's the principle: Life comes through death.

If we want to live in resurrection life, we have to live a cross life. The cross precedes the empty tomb, not vice versa. It doesn't just start out with the empty tomb with no cross. We must take up our cross daily, Jesus said, and follow Him.

And every day will present us with numerous opportunities — little daily things that we can die to. Die to our ego. Die to what we perceive as our rights. Die to what we think is our standing. You know how this works — we just die to it. Just lay it down so that the life of Jesus more and more may be released through us.

The Ascended Life: Operating From Above

We certainly won't live an ascended life. You know, the ascension of Christ was even beyond the tomb. So we must go through the cross experience consistently. We must experience the resurrection life, the empty tomb experience consistently, to live an ascension life.

You know, Ephesians 2 says that we've been seated with Christ in heavenly places. But that has to become more than just a doctrinal truth that we mentally assent to. That has to become a living, practical dynamic that is outworking in this life. Now it's being demonstrated, and it's a witness to the ascended Christ, you see.

So resurrection life manifests in all kinds of ways: healing, release from poverty, release from the bondage of dark powers. Living an ascended life where you're actually the head and not the tail, if you will. You actually transcend situations, and you're no longer under them.

An Invitation to the Person of Jesus Christ

Here's the deal for this first little mini-episode: Apostolic Christianity is an invitation to the person of Jesus Christ. He is perfect theology. It's a person. It's not mental knowledge or mental assent to doctrine or a belief statement.

It is a living, dynamic, experiential relationship with the person of God's Son.

Frankly, my friend, we're actually invited into the fellowship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through the experience of being born again. Jesus said, "I want you to come into the glory that I have with My Father. I want you to come into that intimacy, the beautiful relationship that the Godhead enjoys." We are invited into that through Christ.

It comes through the cross experience.

And if we want the full design of our lives, if we want the full blueprint to come down over the affairs of our life, if we want to help others and multiply value in their lives by helping them to bring the design of God into their settings, if we want to reach towns and communities and cities and regions and nations, it must be the release of the life of Jesus, the dynamic of the ascension of Jesus.

And this can only come through an approach to Christ-following which is apostolic — where you penetrate uncharted territories with the culture of heaven.

Well, we'll talk more about this. If you have thoughts about this, contact me. Go to jesussmart.com and hit the contact page. I'll receive an email from you. I would like to know your thoughts. Perhaps we can talk more about this moving forward, with guests as well, where we can do a deeper dive.

The Challenge: Where Are You Building?

Thanks for being with me. So central, so core to what it means to follow Christ and what it means in the gospel of the Kingdom. It's obviously applicable year-round, 365 days.

So here's the challenge though that we face again: Where are we building on sand instead of the firm foundation of Christ? Where have we been reaching out for resurrection life, hoping for that without going through the cross dynamic, the cross principle in our life? Again, Jesus said if we're going to follow Him, we must pick up our cross, we must carry it. And it's not fun to our natural man to die.

I just went through something the past couple of days. I'm not even sure all of why it happened or why my emotions and even my mindset were being affected so much. I think it was a complex of issues, a complex of things that were happening, not just one one thing.

I'm learning — well, again, I'm learning. I've learned this all the time. Maybe I need to actually learn it so I don't have so many opportunities to learn it again, if you know what I mean. But I think these things cycle through our lives. We do go through trials, we go through tests. And we have to keep applying this dynamic, the cross dynamic in our life. I have to die to myself, die to my ego, die to my way of thinking, die to how I've been approaching life.

Where have we been reaching out for resurrection life without going through this cross experience? Where is God inviting us into this apostolic edge, bringing heaven's culture into uncharted territory in our actual life?

This is the blueprint coming down over your work, your family, your calling. But it only works through the daily cross — dying to our perceived rights, dying to our ego, dying to these small kingdoms we've been trying to build for ourselves.

Life comes through death. Resurrection follows the cross. And oh, is it worth it — the ascension life, even going further, where we practically live out of that place of being seated with Christ in the heavenly places, operating from above rather than scrambling desperately from below. That only comes through consistently walking out this pattern of cross, resurrection, ascended life.

Closing: Building a Company of Kingdom People

Now, if this stirred something in you, I want to hear about it. Go to jesussmart.com, hit that contact page, and send me your thoughts. You can also just email me directly at brian.delturco@proton.me — Brian with an I — and maybe we'll explore this further with some guests even who are living this out in the trenches. I think we have to explore it further because it's so central to what it means to follow Christ and to live victoriously in Christ.

Find additional resources and connect with the conversation at https://jesussmart.com/367

If this episode sharpened your thinking and challenged your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus in a world built on sand, share it with someone who needs to hear it. We're not building a podcast audience here. We're questing to build a company of people who actually live under the reign of Christ in the now, in the light of His complete reign which is coming.

I'm Brian Del Turco. This is Jesus Smart X, the podcast. Walk in the Kingdom.

Jesus Isn't Waiting to Be King: Understanding Psalm 110 | Ep. 366

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:45:00 -0400

Most Christians believe Jesus is waiting in heaven to become King. But what if He's been reigning all along? Brian Del Turco unveils Psalm 110—the most quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament—and reveals why the early church treated it as the master key to understanding Christ's present authority. Discover why Jesus reigning now isn't future hope but current reality, how the apostles saw Christ as King even under Roman persecution, and why "rule in the midst of your enemies" describes our world today. This is a tectonic shift in how you pray, view your calling, and participate in Christ's reign through prayer-born activity. The King isn't waiting. He's already on the throne. Read the full article at jesussmart.com/psalm110.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/366

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.

Sharpened, Not Softened: Meeting This Moment (EP 365)

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:15:00 -0400

In extreme times, the Body of Christ can't afford to be passive and polite. Drawing from the latest Smart Edit newsletter, Brian Del Turco explores holy provocation—the biblical call to sharpen one another toward love and good deeds. Discover why speaking truth in love isn't optional, how Millennials and Gen Z are driving a Bible reading resurgence, the power of Micah 7:8's declaration over chaos ("When I fall, I will arise"), and the Japanese principle of Kaizen applied to spiritual growth. This isn't about being comfortable—it's about being sharpened, not softened, to meet this moment. Subscribe to the Smart Edit newsletter at jesussmart.com/smartedit for weekly kingdom insights.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/365

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Sharpened, Not Softened: Meeting This Moment

Welcome to the podcast. This is Brian Del Turco, Jesus Smart X, episode 365, and we have something a little different today. I'm pulling from the latest Smart Edit newsletter—a few elements that I produce.

And if you're not subscribed yet, I really hope you will be. The Smart Edit exists to spark our development in Christ. It's not just content and ideas to consider, but truth and reality to live in. It's free, it's weekly, five minutes to grow, and you can subscribe at jesussmart.com/smartedit.

Before we get to that, I want to mention something remarkable. According to Edison Research's Share of Ear Study, we have hit a historic tipping point. Americans now spend more of their spoken-word listening time with podcasts than with traditional talk radio. Podcasts are at roughly 40% of spoken-word audio time, and it edges out AM/FM talk radio at 39%. That's an inflection point.

To give you a point of reference, back in 2015, AM/FM talk radio held 75% of spoken-word listening versus podcasting at only 10%. But by quarter four 2025, it flipped for the first time—39% radio, 40% podcasts. We're living in a podcasting revolution. I'm grateful you're part of it here with Jesus Smart X.

If you missed last week's episode, episode 364, "Grease the Groove: Spiritual Strength Training for Extreme Times," go back and catch that. We explored how micro spiritual workouts throughout your day can build resilient, responsive faith and a strong spirit. I'm seeking to employ this protocol in my own days. There's edges that need attention in my life, and I've got to stop thinking that I need huge blocks of time to address this in prayer. This concept of greasing the groove, which comes from athletics, can be applied to anything.

Holy Provocation: Sharpened for This Time

As I mentioned, this episode is a little different. We're pulling from the newsletter, featuring some elements there. Here's the first element: Holy Provocation—Sharpened for This Time.

The body of Christ was never really meant to be passive nor polite. Now, kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. There's no doubt about that. But you can be kind, discerning, resolute, and impactful at the same time.

There's a couple verses in the New Testament which specifically address this—Hebrews 10:24-25. The kingdom calls us to provoke one another toward love and good deeds that we're meant to walk in. And this New Testament word for "provoke" carries the sense of stirring up, urging somebody on, exciting somebody toward action.

Now, here's the question for me, for you: Are we open to being a kingdom provocateur? Or are we just going to ride the pews, be passive, be kind and polite, and not in a godly way agitate for change and transformation which meets this hour?

It's not intentional offense, though I'm going to be honest—some may be offended because when they're challenged, what it is is a holy push toward leveling up. Did you happen to see the intensity of the gold medal hockey game, men's hockey game in the Olympics? The United States defeated Canada in overtime. You can be assured that those teammates do not coddle one another to experience that level of winning. They sharpen each other. Excellence was demanded because the winning mission required it.

And there are edges in your life, in my life, that we need to win on, that we need to reconcile and bring for the kingdom. Maybe it's getting out of debt so we can be freed up with space and time to help facilitate our kingdom contribution. It could be anything though. Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another." There's a proverb which says that faithful are the wounds of a friend.

→ Read the enhanced show notes at jesussmart.com/365

In the Old Testament, Joel the prophet prophesied that there would be a time—and we're in that time now—when God would pour out His Spirit and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Prophecy does more than speak words. It reveals the heart of God. It can reveal the condition of the church, the pulse of society, certainly the condition of our hearts. In a real sense, prophecy, or having a prophetic point of view and having the trust between members in the body of Christ where giftings can be employed—it's getting closer to God's point of view on something. And that's what we want. That's what leads us to more fruitful, successful, impactful prayer and even prayer-born action steps.

But too often our—I'm putting it in air quotes now—"Churchianity" tends to default to and drift toward comfort, institutional self-protection, hopefully not, but sometimes leadership ambition which begins to eclipse really what Jesus is building, or fear of disapproval.

Paul said in Ephesians 4:15 that we can speak the truth in love, and as we do, we will grow to become in every respect—this is the actual verse in the NIV—we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is Christ.

We love the church. Christ is building her. But love does not compromise. Love sacrifices. It calls upward. When did we begin to think that love is love but it's never based in reality or truth? Real love is based in ultimate reality, and it has the highest good in view.

Here's what I can't seem to escape, and that's this: the thought that if we're going to meet this hour that we are in, if we're going to be faithful, we're going to have to harden ourselves a little bit and begin to more progressively walk worthy of the calling of Christ together as members of the body of Christ.

There's no reason why in a godly way, spouses cannot challenge each other. Friends, members in the church, that tight band of believers that you run with, maybe that project team that you're leading—there's simply no reason. And we just need to become more secure, more about excellence, more about the ambition of Christ Himself, and just not feel that we have to get into some kind of safe space and that we can never be confronted or can never confront or challenge.

Your voice matters. Your courage matters. And your willingness to receive challenge from others matters too. So here's the call to action: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where your voice can awaken, encourage, and strengthen others, and where your voice—and my voice, I'm looking in the mirror—where we need to receive right-sizing, correction, or sharpening. It's going to help us. It's going to elevate our kingdom game, if we can put it that way.

There's another related Smart Edit newsletter called "The Proximity Effect"—the importance of drawing near to the right people and the effect that they have on you and that you have on them.

Signals and Shifts

We have a section in this most recent newsletter which we call Signals and Shifts. I'll just briefly touch on a few of the points here. An encouraging point is that Millennials and Gen Z are driving a Bible reading comeback. According to Barna, weekly Bible engagement among U.S. adults has rebounded to 42%, and that is—listen—a 12-point jump from its 15-year low back in 2024.

So from 2024 it jumped 12 points. That's now up to 42%. This has been documented by numerous reporting and research. There is a Bible reading resurgence going on, and we think that this is indicative of people searching for meaning.

Another point we have in this Signals and Shifts section is Jonathan Cahn issues a warning that the dragon of Revelation 12 is rising. He says the dragon is a mega figure, but we need to remember that victory is meant to be the natural state of authentic Christ followers. You can chase that link there.

Another link: 25 tips that save money from a resource called the Penny Hoarder. This section, Signals and Shifts—quick hits where faith, culture, and global currents intersect—we try to curate some resourcing there that helps you see things in a new way, pray in a new way, act with kingdom clarity in a new way.

→ See the enhanced show notes at jesussmart.com/365

Enemy, Don't Rejoice Too Soon

We also have another inspirational piece in this newsletter called "Enemy, Don't Rejoice Too Soon." I don't know if you have an enemy or if you feel like you have an enemy or something's going on and you can't quite figure it out. Well, I kind of feel that often. I didn't have a great night last night. I had some insomnia, and sometimes I don't know—I've got to get the courage to get out of bed and pray at 3 a.m. instead of just laying there.

But it says in Micah 7:8, "Do not rejoice over me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise." What a confession. It goes on: "When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me." What a verse. Micah 7:8, well worthy of memorizing and praying and confessing.

So the idea here in this little feature is: Don't get comfortable just yet, O enemy, because the story isn't over. You may feel chaos right now. And you know in Genesis 1:2, the earth was formless, it was void. Darkness was on the face of the deep. The Hebrew language there conveys a meaning of chaos and sterility and just breakdown. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Now we know there is chaos in the macro in the world today—wars, geopolitical realignment going on. We're still suffering the aftershocks of the pandemic. Economic instability. There's exposure going on in society, exposure going on in the church, cultural upheaval. Nations are shifting. The church is being refined and judged.

There may also be chaos in the micro of your life. And I predict that there is. It's my belief that what goes on in the macro often filters down into the micro of our lives. And God is working at both levels. There may be setbacks, personal setbacks, or closed doors, or unseen battles. You carry battles that nobody knows about.

But here's what this segment wants to encourage: The dawning of Genesis reveals the pattern. Genesis 1:2, and then beginning with verse 3 and following, the Holy Spirit hovers. Then the decreed word comes over chaos and brings—let's use the New Testament word—cosmos. From chaos to cosmos. Cosmos is order, design, beauty.

It may be a right-sizing in your life, a realignment, sort of a breaking down of the vessel and then a rebuilding and reshaping on the potter's wheel into something more beautiful, more capacity. But we see this pattern in early Genesis: Holy Spirit hovering, and then the decreed word, the redesigning word from the Father coming over our chaos and bringing cosmos.

And we can pray this over the church, and we can pray this over our countries. As it says in Micah 7:8, you may fall, but you will rise. There may be chaos, but God speaks over you. And the church itself may be disrupted and purified but will rise in greater clarity and power as we, as the members of the church, rise.

So, enemy, don't rejoice too soon. We can pray simply something like this: "Holy Spirit, hover over my personal world"—and now here you can just insert an issue in the blank space—"And Father, decree Your redesigning word over me. I receive it."

Kaizen: Continuous Improvement

We have a very small feature called Kaizen, the Japanese word. Kaizen is a Japanese term often translated "continuous improvement." And the concept of Kaizen is an absolute refusal to settle into the plateau of what we could call arrested development.

Where does this come from? Well, it comes from Japan, and it's rooted in Japan's remarkably efficient manufacturing culture, especially post-World War II. And the principle of Kaizen applies just as powerfully to other areas of life—writing, music, athletics, art, our own spiritual development, business, and more. It means continuous improvement. How can I improve this continuously?

Here's a great verse in Colossians 3:10 which I think echoes this and mirrors it and really is a core value in the Jesus ethic, in the kingdom culture: "Put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him."

See, our new nature that we receive, that is awakened at our born-again experience, is not static—it's dynamic, and it's constantly being renewed. We could say that the principle of Kaizen is at play. Continuous renewal. And what is the benchmark? Christ Himself. So what about continuous refinement and development in Christ's kingdom? Kaizen. I love that.

Three Types of Eating

Finally, in today's episode, let's just feature one more element in the newsletter. Recently we like to feature elements that are related to wellness and to optimizing our bodies and our psychology as well as our spirit. This one has to do with eating. It's very interesting to me. There's actually a field called nutrition psychology. Nutrition psychology identifies three primary eating behaviors: homeostatic eating, hedonic eating, and emotional eating.

Let's briefly define each.

Homeostatic eating is our normal, natural biological hunger. Our body requires energy to think clearly, to work diligently, to serve faithfully, carry out our calling. When blood sugar drops and true hunger signals in our body arise—and a lot of this is hormonal—eating restores our strength and our capacity. That's homeostatic eating.

Hedonic eating—what does that word sound like? Hedonic. Well, it comes from hedonism. But hedonism is not just negative. The pursuit of pleasure can also be a positive thing. Hedonic eating is pleasure-driven. There's nothing wrong with pleasure in eating—taste, enjoyment, the brain's reward system. In moderation, hedonic eating is good. Shared meals are beautiful. Celebration, enjoyment. Pleasure is not the enemy. Here's the enemy: excess.

And Philippians 3:19 says that it's possible to make your stomach your god. So we just need to understand this. Homeostatic eating is our baseline. Hedonic eating is good in measure from time to time, episodic, but not a controlling factor.

Let's talk about the third one: emotional eating. What we do with emotional eating is we're actually trying—food is becoming a substitute. We're attempting to regulate our mood in some way. Stress, boredom—I mean, do you ever get bored late at night and want to eat half a gallon of ice cream? Loneliness, fatigue can drive the choice rather than real hunger.

I know if I can stop eating at 7 p.m.—and I'm horribly inconsistent with this—I win the day. It's no problem for me to eat well throughout the day until 7 o'clock. Seven o'clock is my temptation zone. If I can just get to bed without eating after 7 p.m., I can lose weight, I sleep better, I feel better the next day, my body chemistry is better, my sugar levels better. All of the major markers are better if we can stop eating at 7 o'clock.

But really, emotional eating is a pattern. It's similar to smoking. It's a coping mechanism. Excessive drinking. It soothes us temporarily, but it does not really strengthen us. And over a lifetime and over years, it hurts us. There's a link to an article there on emotional eating and how to stop it.

Here's what the Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 10:31: "Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God."

There is a theology of food. Food is stewardship. When we eat to the glory of God, are we eating primarily for strength and longevity and mission, or something else?

→ Enhanced show notes at jesussmart.com/365

Closing

Well, that is just several main features in this most recent newsletter. Formation, growth, and development happen when a renewed mind turns into obedience. That's what we're really after.

So we are after ideas and content in the newsletter, not just for content's sake or to just consume content and use that as a feel-good substitute for actual change. It is being challenged, being stirred up, sharpening our thinking.

And if this episode has done that for you, please consider sharing it with someone you think would value it. That personal connection is powerful. And with podcasts now surpassing traditional talk radio in spoken-word listening, you're part of a movement that's really transformational. It's reshaping how people receive content and truth. We just want to use this influence well.

And seriously, if you're not subscribed to the Smart Edit newsletter yet, I would love for you to get on the list. Your email is confidential. It'll never be shared, it'll never be sold. Every week I'm curating kingdom insights. I was just praying the other day, "Lord, just give me the ideas, give me the content. Bring to me what You want to be shared." Signals and shifts in our culture, globally, even practical wisdom, stimulation toward growth. It's free, it's weekly. It really takes you about five minutes to work through it, and I think it will sharpen us. You can subscribe at jesussmart.com/smartedit.

The full show notes and the transcript for this episode will be at jesussmart.com/365. As always, we remind ourselves that Jesus is brilliant. The future belongs to Him. So does the present. He knows how this life works best right now. It's a witness to Him, to His superior reality, and to His kingdom which is coming in its fullness. And as we continue to walk with Him, we will catch His brilliance in unique ways right where we are at right now.

I'm grateful to walk it out with you, and I'll catch you next time.

Grease the Groove: Spiritual Strength Training for Extreme Times (Ep 364)

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:20:00 -0400

Extreme times demand spiritual strength training. Discover how elite athletes "grease the groove"—training their central nervous system through frequent sub-maximal exercises—and how this same principle can be applied to training your spirit. Brian Del Turco reveals how micro spiritual workouts build resilient, responsive faith.

Learn the power of prayer bursts throughout your day, why gratitude becomes magnetic when practiced consistently, and how small acts of obedience compound into kingdom impact. This isn't about exhausting yourself—it's about training your spirit through short, frequent practices that optimize spiritual efficiency and maximize power.

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/364

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.

----------

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Grease the Groove: Training Your Spirit for Extreme Times

I don't think anybody is going to disagree with me that we live in extreme times right now. Do you sense that? I think most people sense that. Extreme times that demand real strength and impact.

The same principle that elite athletes use to build efficient power—we can really learn something about how we can train our spirit to meet this hour. Welcome to Jesus Smart X, the podcast. I'm Brian Del Turco. Thanks for connecting with me today.

I think you're going to enjoy this and be inspired by it, and I think it's something that's timely for us. Before we dive in, don't miss the Smart Edit newsletter. I'd really love to have you on the list—elevate your faith, how to live smart, making an impact in our personal world. We're all questing on these edges. It's free, it's weekly, five minutes to grow. You can simply subscribe at jesussmart.com/smartedit.

If you missed our last episode with Terry Hoggard on building a pathway to your preferred future, even as you relate in covenant relationship with God, go back and catch that powerful set of ideas and content.

Jesus Dynamics: Psalm 110 and the Reigning King

Before we get into this quick episode today, let's dive into today's Jesus Dynamic. I actually have a rather long article that's in the oven baking, and this Jesus Dynamic is taken from that article. It's unlike many things I've written. I think it's going to be unusual and unique. It's a lens through which we can view our experience with Christ in our times.

Most Christians picture Jesus in heaven doing primarily one thing right now—interceding for us. We know the New Testament Scriptures tell us that, and we appreciate and value that. And we imagine Him patiently waiting for the day when the Father says, "Go get Your bride," and He takes up His role as a king on the earth during the millennium and then the new heavens and new earth to follow.

What if this understanding is incomplete? I don't want to say it's fundamentally wrong, but incomplete.

There is one Psalm that shatters comfortable categories—Psalm 110. It's the most quoted Psalm in the New Testament, and the early church treated it as the Master Key that unlocked what happened for Jesus after the resurrection, meaning His ascension, His session in terms of His enthronement as king, and His current role.

I'll read just the first verse of the seven verses in Psalm 110: "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool."

Now this isn't symbolic language. This is what we could call throne language, governmental language. Peter actually quotes this Psalm in Acts chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the newly born church. He quotes this Psalm to explain what just happened. He doesn't say that Jesus will sit there someday. He says that Jesus is sitting there now, and that's why everything has changed. He's ascended, He's been enthroned. He's waiting for all things to be put under His feet, and He has now poured out His Holy Spirit.

Paul uses this language: "He must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet"—alluding to Psalm 110 in 1 Corinthians 15.

Now here's what's startling. Not only the most oft-quoted Psalm in the New Testament, but the most often quoted Old Testament passage, period. So this should speak to us. We should be paying attention to this.

Psalm 110 describes a king who rules while His enemies still exist and are even actively resisting. You see, the Father says in Psalm 110, "Rule in the midst of Your enemies." That sounds, does it not, exactly like the world that we're living in? Christ reigns, but opposition remains. The throne is established, but resistance continues.

Here's the picture: Jesus isn't waiting to rule. He's been ruling all along from the moment that He sat down at the Father's right hand. Yes, it will reach its zenith during the millennium and the new heavens and new earth to follow. But make no mistake, it doesn't start at His second coming. It started at His ascension.

What Is "Greasing the Groove"?

So with that kingdom framework in mind—Jesus reigning right now—let's talk about what it means to grease the groove in the Holy Spirit. What on earth do I mean? Am I making this phrase up? No, I'm not. This comes from Eastern European athletic programs.

Back in the day, sports scientists and trainers in the Eastern European nations and in Russia discovered that frequent sub-maximal exercises in terms of strength training—they called it greasing the groove. The Russian Pavel Tsatsouline came to the West and popularized this concept of greasing the groove in terms of training.

Greasing the groove trains not just our muscles but our central nervous system—our CNS. And this is the key: What this does is it optimizes muscle efficiency and it maximizes strength.

Now I'm on a personal experiment right now. I've been on a health quest since April of last year when I got hit with shingles.

Here's how it works: You get your maximum number of push-ups that you can do. In my case currently it was like 31. Then you take 50% of that amount, which would be 15, and you do these really quick short sets throughout the day—15 push-ups spread throughout the day in multiple sets, maybe separated by an hour, an hour and a half in between. And it's easy to do, of course. But what we want to concentrate on is form and technique, and it trains our central nervous system.

Now what I'm doing is I'm going through this process for two weeks, like six days a week for two weeks, and basically doing about a total of about 100 push-ups a day. But it's spread out throughout the day. It's not that difficult to do, although I am feeling a little sore and my body's not used to it. But hey, that's okay. It's good to be sore. It trains your central nervous system.

And then I'm going to test my max again after a two-week period. I'm sure it's going to jump from 31. I'm guessing it's going to jump to 35, 36 after these two weeks, and I'll be thrilled if it jumps to 40. But we'll see. My ultimate goal, Lord willing, is really to get to 70, 80, 100 push-ups max over months like this year.

Now today, this concept of greasing the groove—hey, it's not like I'm some kind of great physical specimen or great fitness person. It's not that. But I do value strength training and walking and exercise.

This concept is used across different domains now, including learning a new language or learning new anything. So for example, if you're learning a new language, you know how challenging that is. And maybe you got 60 minutes a day that you can budget towards language acquisition. Instead of studying for 60 minutes straight, it's better to study for four 15-minute segments. That's called greasing the groove. And the constant recall spread out throughout a day actually accelerates your learning and solidifies it.

So this can be applied to anything—learning a musical instrument or some techniques and processes in business efficiency or anything related to personal discipline and more. It started out in physical fitness, and now it's spread across different domains.

Training Your Spirit Man

Now likewise, small repeated spiritual practices can train your spirit to respond with precision and power. You know, the Apostle Paul tells us to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus in 2 Timothy 2:1. Strength in our spirit. And boy, do we need that today. It isn't a one-time surge. It grows through faithful repetition.

Each short prayer, for instance—you know, Paul said to pray without ceasing. How do we do that? Well, I think we need to have a dedicated time of prayer daily, preferably in the morning, but whatever works best. But then when he says pray without ceasing, what does he mean? Well, we have things to do. Of course we have to work, we got chores, we got things, projects, whatever—we got things to do.

In what sense do we pray without ceasing? Well, I think this could be it: remaining in a prayerful spirit throughout the day and then pulling aside for 60 seconds, 120 seconds, having a short prayer burst. That's like greasing the groove. Doing that set of push-ups.

Each short prayer, or each moment of gratitude, or each moment of consciously turning our attention and awareness of God and His kingdom throughout the day, each small act of obedience—obedience is faith in motion. It's like a micro workout. These are all like micro workouts for your spirit. And I think we can grease the groove with our spirit man.

You know, Paul said—I don't know where it's at at the moment, but I think he told Timothy that physical exercise profits a little, but godliness profits for all things. And you know, we could add for all time, for eternity. So yes, we need to exercise physically, but godliness, the exercise of godliness—those short prayers, those moments of gratitude, those small acts of obedience consistently.

Let's not wait to be obedient until we are in pain. Let's do it so that when the painful time comes, the trial comes, we are in a much better state of readiness for it. Or prayer—let's not engage prayer only when we are in a crisis. If we exercise prayer in this sense of greasing the groove, we will be better prepared to pray and speak to that mountain or speak to that crisis moment. We'll be strengthened, you see.

Just like physically, I want to strengthen my CNS, my central nervous system, so it can work in conjunction and alignment with greater efficiency with my muscular system in terms of movement, in terms of strength in my body. So too in my spirit, which I like to think of my spirit as having the capacity of revelational capacity, intuition, kingdom consciousness, presence consciousness—all of those different capacities of our spirit, discerning. I want to be strengthened in that. Everything flows from that core out.

That's why in Proverbs 4 it says to pay attention to our heart, for out of it flow the issues of life. So spreading across our days, spreading across our weeks, these micro spiritual workouts for our spirit create amazing results.

Practical Application: Micro Spiritual Workouts

So we can pray in bursts throughout the day—pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17. This isn't a call to prayer exhaustion, just like 15 push-ups will not exhaust me. It's actually comfortable in a sense, not in a total sense, but you know what I mean. So this isn't a call to prayer exhaustion, though we may have those times. Once in a while in our life we may pray for an hour, we may pray for two hours, we may exhaust ourselves in prayer. But generally speaking, this isn't a call to exhaustion. It's training our heart to stay connected, to stay in a conversational relationship with God and to pray, to intercede.

It looks like a return to gratitude frequently. Like in America and in Canada we have the Thanksgiving holiday in November. Is that the only time we want to give thanks during the year? No. We need quick moments daily, weekly to reset our heart and our mind towards God's goodness. And amazingly, the thing about gratitude, once we develop consistency and momentum in that, is it becomes magnetic. It's not some mind practice only. No, it's actually a heart set that God is drawn to.

And we obey in small consistent ways. Another way that we grease the groove—these tiny acts of aligning, tuning our will to God's will over time. These micro practices, they compound. They compound the miracle of compounding in a kingdom sense, in a spiritual sense, building a resilient, responsive spirit.

So Paul says in Ephesians 6:10, "You, however, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." This kingdom strength doesn't require marathon workouts to the point of exhaustion or failure. It is a rhythm of micro practices, of consistent consciousness, of awareness that grease our spirit, if we can say that, and train us to stand firm, to act and make movement in faith, and to bear abundant fruit.

You know, this thing about movement in faith, in the physical sense of exercise—there is so much information about the importance of movement. You cannot be sedentary. Walk, do weight-bearing, bodyweight exercises in your home or go to the gym. But all of the different ways of physical movement, how important it is—it helps our joints, it helps our circulatory system, it strengthens our heart, it's good for us cognitively, on and on and on.

But what about acting in faith, faith in motion? How important is that? That we make moves daily, weekly, in our faith from our spirit.

Closing Prayer

Persistent practiced alignment—can we say this? Persistent practiced alignment with the King's palace produces authentic power and a royal impact in the earth.

Holy Spirit, would You inspire us, motivate us, remind us to train our spirit? It's not a works righteousness, it's an alignment. It's exercising ourselves towards godliness, as Paul told Timothy. Obedience and movement, consistency and disciplining ourselves. And we're reminded, Lord, even now, that to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be a disciplined one. It is to be a pupil, a learner, a walker, a follower.

Walking with Jesus, moving with Jesus, yoked with Jesus, moving in the fields, pulling the plow with Him, bearing a load, coming against resistance, pulling with our Lord—in the earth we will experience the energy of Jesus, the royal anointing of Jesus, and the power and strength of walking next to One who is stronger than I, stronger than we. And yet we're trained and we're reminded of Jesus' statement even now: "When one is fully trained, they become like their teacher."

And that's a reference, my friend, to as we are progressively trained in the Lord, we become like Him. We really do. We have agency. "Greater works than these shall you do," He said. He looked at His men and said, "You feed them." He turned around in the boat after Jesus stilled the storm, after waking up and said, "Where is your faith?" He wanted them to do it.

So as we're progressively trained, as our character is forged—this takes some time—but we progressively do the works of the Lord.

Show notes and the complete transcript will be at jesussmart.com/364. You can share this episode with someone who you feel might value it, who needs to hear some of these ideas. That personal connection is a very powerful form of sharing information, of spreading awareness of something.

And don't forget to subscribe. I'd love to have you on the Smart Edit newsletter list. It's all about this quest to elevate our faith, to how to live efficiently and smart in this world by following Jesus, by using His principles and His worldview, and how to make an impact in your personal world. It's free, it's weekly, it's five minutes to grow. You can unsubscribe at any time, but we certainly hope you don't.

You can learn more about the newsletter and actually sign up right there at jesussmart.com/smartedit and begin to exhibit the brilliance of Jesus in your personal world. I look forward to being with you next time.

Your Covenant Pathway to a Preferred Future with Terry Hoggard (Ep 363)

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:30:00 -0400

Stop drifting and discover your covenant pathway to a preferred future. Veteran missionary Terry Hoggard reveals a transformative three-movement practice: foundation, strategic insight, and covenant with God. This isn't goal-setting—it's positioning yourself in the center of what God is doing. This calibration time gives God opportunity to download fresh vision for your next season.

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/363

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Your Covenant Pathway to a Preferred Future with Terry Hoggard

Brian: Welcome to the podcast today, friends. I have a great family member and friend and a co-laborer. We work together on some projects, some kingdom projects. Terry Hoggard is with us, and we are discussing something today. We're at the outset of the new year. I think these dynamics could be applied anytime. I don't think we have to do a reboot just in January, right, Terry?

Terry: It's a great moment to capture in my heart, so I love it. I'm cleaning up everything I know to do with the old year going out, and I want to be there hands wide open saying, "Here I am, Lord. I've got some things to talk to You about, and I'm sure You have some things to say to me."

Brian: Amen. Yes, absolutely. And sometimes people will listen to an episode like six months later. I put out something recently encouraging people to think about 90-day years—the winter season, the spring season, summer, fall. You can continually start afresh, start anew. But definitely at the beginning of our year is a great time. People are of this mindset, aren't they, in January? It's just a natural tendency, it seems.

Meet Terry Hoggard

Terry Hoggard has served for 30 years as a missionary leader across Europe with the Assemblies of God. He's provided pastoral leadership in Rome, Brussels, Copenhagen, and Malmö, Sweden. He has also equipped international teams and built cross-cultural networks around the world, including Asia, throughout his ministry. And Terry and his wife Ruthanne, my cousin on my dad's side, continue to invest in leaders globally. Thank you for being here. And what else could you say about the Lord's workings in your life currently?

Terry: Well, at this moment I'm still highly engaged with the network of churches, so I still have intimate connection to the four churches that you mentioned. But in early 2004, I think, we built out what we called FEIC—Fellowship of European International Churches. It's an incredible network still going strong.

And then in 2011 we met for a summit. Every year we'd gather, and in 2011 we were praying on our way to say goodbye. A friend of mine, his name is Al Perna, was praying, and he just felt like the Lord was saying, "Now's the time to extend the tent. We've been here together for almost a decade, but there's all these other churches and the movement of the nations and the diaspora." Three times God spoke to us. We have to do something.

Well, at this moment, our leader of the Assemblies of God World Missions was brand new. His name was Greg Mundus. I said, "Greg, you know we have FEIC. How would you feel about us bringing all the regions—Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, Northern Asia—and begin to create a network that would allow each one of these regions to be intimately connected internally, but by expansion they have the whole world?" And Greg said, "That's a good idea."

Brian: So that came out of prayer both in your own life and in partnership with others. Pattern recognition—what the Lord is continuously saying and doing. How important is it for all of us to be people of prayer, to be connected with others in prayer, to live our best calling before God?

Terry: Absolutely. In fact, all those things—it's all about the capacity of the community. These guys were lined up behind me or around me, and I didn't even know that this was something that anyone was percolating. I think God spoke sovereignly in that moment. And from that initiative, God birthed something that was just so amazing.

Brian: Percolating. I like that. Percolating in the Holy Spirit. I had a friend who said, "Kingdom currency runs on kingdom connections." That's vital, isn't it, for all of us to have quality, authenticity, kingdom connectivity so that the Holy Spirit can run on that?

Terry: Absolutely.

Three Words: Clarity, Closure, Catalytic

Brian: This is a time, Terry. I was actually thinking this morning about three words that begin with C: clarity, closure, and catalytic. What could you say about just the need to get clarity from the Lord, to maybe bring closure looking back to some things that need to close, and turn to the future and be catalytic with new things that need to open up? What do you think about that? Clarity, closure, catalytic.

Terry: Well, I guess I would say this. I think in every situation, but specifically in these kinds of things that are strategic and they're emerging, I think it's the posture of your heart. If you have something you want to take to the Father and you want to talk about it, it's a wonderful thing. But if you just go saying, "Lord, I'm not sure what it is. Let clarity come. Let there be catalytic realities that would confirm that this is what You want me to do." I know there's a lot of things we can do—we can read books and we can hear other things—but I think the seed is born out of the heart. And the posture and the positioning of the heart would be absolutely critical.

Brian: Yeah. And the partnership with the Creator in the prayer and the positioning ourselves to receive new initiatives and to really begin to pray them into being, right?

Terry: Yeah.

The Three Movements Toward Your Preferred Future

Brian: Now, you recently shared something with me, at my request, something that you and your wife Ruthanne go through every holiday season approaching the new year. You pursue—you're really going after a pathway that leads to a preferred future. I appreciate you being willing to share this personal practice that you do with your wife, but I think it can apply to all of us. What is that approach? What are those three movements? I'd just love to hear about that again.

Terry: Here's what it really is. My first expression is that I want to openly open my heart and openly confess. I'm here at the end of 2025, and I have some notes here that I carried out of this same moment a year ago. And, Lord, I know there are things here that I was so eager to engage, and somehow along the way, as much as God did glorious things, I think I left this one not unattended, but I didn't bring it into fulfillment.

So I began something knowing that. And then I began to realize this time—there's always a way it works. The first thing that struck my heart was foundation. And what I knew was I needed a foundation that was solid and sure. Because to live out the mandate of God is something that really needs to be built around the most powerful platform that anyone could stand on. I don't want to have one foot up on a ledge. I don't want to be right to the center or right to the left. I want to be right in the center of what God is doing. So that was really important to me.

The second thing that I found would be important to me is not just foundation, but that I wanted to have the opportunity to have strategic insight. Because I know there are things here that I need to see to get beyond where I am. And I want that to be a reality.

And then the other thing was that I wanted to come to this place where I would sort of make it a covenant with God—that these things that I've written and spoken with my wife about, and one of my daughters came with us (she loves to do this thing as well), I want it to be not just a matter of words and not even commitment as much as—I do love commitment—but I said, "Lord, before I leave this time of prayer, we spent the whole hour, two hours actually, doing our work and writing and praying at the end. But I want this to be a locked-in covenant so that I am being provoked every single day when I just stop and pray." I've been doing it now. I'm doing a lot of Bible reading and looking into the whole foundation thing because I think that's important. I think if we don't get a foundation right, we can somehow be swept away unintentionally, but it can be very traumatic.

Brian: So the basics, the basic foundational elements—the Word of God, prayer, consecration. And so you prioritize that and build off of that. And you're tapping the power of covenant. Correct me if I'm wrong, Terry—I'm learning, trying to learn all the time—but I'm not sure that many modern-day Christ followers fully understand or understand as much as they should about covenant, how God is a covenant God.

→ See the show notes page at jesussmart.com/363

Commitment vs. Covenant

Terry: Oh yeah. I came to Christ in 1970. I was 16 years old. I was from a Christian family, but it was commitment that captured me. I'm there listening to this speaker, and he said, "I want to just tell you something. The bottom line is this: Jesus did not die 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99.5%. Jesus laid everything down. He committed His life for this possibility for us to be reconciled to Him."

And he says, "Here's the struggle that I have. Most of you here obviously have some sort of draw, but the bottom line is your threshold is this: 'I want to be able to make sure my life makes my mama happy and my pastor proud.'"

And then he went back. "So if you're going to walk with Jesus, you've got to lay everything down." He was a football player, and he said, "You know what really aggravates the heck out of me? You come into a game that you've lost, the guys get in, they start laughing and goofing around and snapping each other with their towels. And our coach or someone would say, 'Hey, if you had that much energy in you, why didn't you leave it on the field?'"

Brian: Yeah, yeah.

Terry: So commitment is the thing that fires us. Covenant is the thing that saves us.

Brian: And draws on that partnership with God to execute, right?

Terry: So you live close. You live in the threshold of His presence because that's where I promised to be.

Brian: The capacities of Christ via the Holy Spirit flowing through us. Sometimes I think we probably have a tendency—we don't want to do a spiritual inventory or do an audit on how our year was because we're afraid of what we might surface. We may feel bad about it, but we have to overcome that, don't we?

Terry: We sure do. And I remember back in the days, in the '70s, it was in our church and maybe many others—it was this watch night, and the pastor was actually calling us out. "There are some things that you need to leave behind in this year." I need to leave a lot of stuff behind in 1970, I can tell you that. But he just gets us to the altar. It was just this moment—just left refreshed. My heart has been unburdened. I just feel as if He's a God who loves me so much. I know He's ready to help me walk in a different way. And if I make my covenant out of this commitment, the bottom line is I believe God can craft things into our hearts in such a timely manner that had we not made that pivot, it might have gotten right over us.

The Power of First Fruits and Spiritual Inventory

Brian: There's a power in using the first fruits principle, isn't there, Terry? Like taking that first period of time in the new year or in a week or even on a daily basis, consecrating it to God, and it draws the rest of it under an increased blessing and influence. Do you look then for significant things that you feel God is speaking to you, revealing or fulfilling in your lives at that point in time?

Terry: Oh yeah. I was a pastor for many years, and about a decade ago, Convoy of Hope invited me to come and be their vice president. At the time, I was leading the international program. Now I'm leading global network support. But when I was a pastor, I would let people know. I'd say, "If you want to know what the theme is going to be for the next year, you need to be at the watch night service." When we finished, I'd say, "Here's where we're headed. Here's what God is saying." I would probably have half the year already mapped out in my head because I was trying to take the things that the Lord was telling me and not making them just my call—but I wanted to say these are priorities, these are principles, these are things. And I had so much fun being a pastor because I'm preaching all the stuff that's just been lit up inside me. And of course, when you're pretty enthusiastic and people are tracking with you, it's like, "Man, we are just in a good space"—not just me, the community.

Brian: So we have to be willing to engage this and look in the mirror and look at God and allow the Word and the Lord, the Spirit, to reflect back to us a real-time, realistic appraisal of where we're at. Let them judge us in that sense of a positive appraisal. And then the pivots that we need to make, the changes, the new things we need to lean into can come out of that. Can somebody do this? What if they missed the first of the year? Can they do it anytime?

Terry: Anytime, man. Anytime that your heart or your spirit is being pricked, or you feel this sense in your own spirit that maybe you're struggling with some things at this particular moment—and it may be March or it might be October—the bottom line is I'm going to step inside here and I'm going to be brave enough to do a personal spiritual inventory. And the more you call yourself out, the more you weaken whatever it is that's trying to invade space that has been consecrated to God.

Brian: Yes. Amen. You talk about embracing the spiritual position that the Lord is requiring of you to make these changes so that they can be actualized or evident, realized. What could you say about that? Just an honest appraisal of embracing the spiritual position required.

Terry: Well, I think for me most often when I make that covenant, when I say I'm going to do that, I change something. So there have been seasons when I would get up very early and I would pray in the morning and read my Bible. And that was good, and it worked for a while. And then I came to understand I don't need these 45 minutes at 6 in the morning that's going to last the whole day. So then I would go to doing things kind of in measure. I'm a coffee drinker, so most folks would pray at their meals, but I'm good enough to pray for my coffee. And every time I'm doing this with someone in front of me, I want to tell you what the Lord was kind of talking to me about this morning. And so I just want to integrate it into my personhood. And at the same time, I want to model it so consistently that if I'm mentoring or discipling someone, I can put something in their hands that may be where they would want to start.

→ See the show notes page at jesussmart.com/363

The Power of Community and Partnership

Brian: Yes. And be exhortational and motivating in that sense. And not everyone is married, but a lot of people are married. Could you talk about what it means to be a couple in this together, in mission together? But also for those who aren't married, maybe with their quality friends or their boyfriend or girlfriend or their fiancé.

Terry: You know, I married your cousin. I have a Del Turco, so I'm very blessed to do that. But the thing about Ruthanne is she had no idea as to what I was going to do because I didn't know. I went to Bible school simply because I could not get into the police academy and I did not want to stay in Wichita. We meet at CBC, Central Bible College in Springfield, and she said, "So what are you going to do?" I said, "Yeah, I really don't know. I wanted to be a cop or a coach, but I don't know." "You're not going to be a pastor?" "No, no. Me, a pastor? Come on."

And then in 1980—we got married in '74—I felt God literally just speaking. This was the day of Keith Green, so that could be a big influence. And I just felt the Lord speaking to me so profoundly in that moment. It was 1980. I was pastoring this new church. And then in 1984, our daughters were maybe 4 and 6, and Ruth and I had been married for a decade. In that moment, we were chosen to be commissioned as missionaries. So I am at this point in my 42nd year of being a commissioned missionary, living in those four cities you talked about and doing a whole lot of other things. When I came to Convoy of Hope, I went everywhere. That's just how it landed for me. When I felt the prompting of the Lord, I was out of the chute and ready to go.

Brian: So from just the passion to get out of Wichita, the iteration of your calling, the promptings, steerings along the way—we never really can foresee the whole plan at once, can we? It might be overwhelming, frankly. But the Lord, the grace comes. And if you're married or if you have quality relationships with others in the body of Christ, this is important. We don't want to be in a silo. We want to be able in partnership with others to hear God. It affects us, doesn't it? Relationships.

Terry: Yeah. Well, and the fact is it was Ruthanne—who knows even how much that brought to our marriage? She brings a great heritage of godly people. Her grandparents, her siblings, my father-in-law. There's just—like you, you're in that same tribe. Could well be that I needed to marry a Del Turco to make my way to be a missionary.

Brian: Well, I mean, it's not good for the man to be alone, and "he who finds a wife finds a good thing, obtains favor," right? And the wife completes a lot of what's missing. But if you're not married or if your marriage has broken up, there is still this capacity within relationships within the body of Christ—being connected to great spiritual leaders, great quality fellow believers in the Lord, prayer partners and friendships. That is a dynamic that we need. I think the Apostle Paul said, "I have a great desire to come to you and to complete what is lacking in your faith." We...

Over-the-Horizon Questing: Faith for What's Next (EP 362)

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:43:00 -0400

You can't see what's coming over the horizon, but your faith can reach it now. Brian Del Turco explores four steps to cultivate over-the-horizon belief: worship and pray over the horizon (prayer as predicting the future), visualize and prophesy what's coming, fix your belief set points with sanctified desire, and act as if—filling your water pots before the wine arrives. Discover why desire means "of the heavens". Like Abraham crossing into unseen territory, you're called to exploit horizons.

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

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👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

----------

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Over-the-Horizon Questing: Faith for What's Next

Listener: The Jesus Smart podcast, to me, intelligently offers its listeners interesting discussions on important topics.

Brian: In this episode, it's all about cultivating our over-the-horizon belief, faith, and action.

There's a real sense in which our horizons are placed on a curve, and we look at a horizon just like Christopher Columbus sailing to new territory across the terra firma. So we too—we walk by faith, we sail by faith and not by sight.

I want to share with you for just a few moments how we can worship and pray over the horizon. Number two, how we can visualize in faith and prophesy over the horizon. Number three, we can fix our belief set points over that curvature in our life. We can't see it yet, it's not manifested yet, but our mind is already there. We're already touching it with prayer. We're already touching it with proclamation. And number four, let's make it complete. Let's be more complete in our faith and begin to act as if—begin to take action with what's coming over the horizon.

This is Brian Del Turco. Thanks for connecting with me today on Jesus Smart, the podcast.

What Is a Horizon?

A horizon is simply a place where the sky and the earth meet, right? Whether we're looking at land or water. Lord Byron is regarded as one of the greatest English poets. He was also a politician. Here's his statement: "Between two worlds, life hovers like a star, twixt (or between) night and morn, upon the horizon's verge."

When we come to Jesus, when we are transformed by Jesus and begin to walk with Jesus, we truly become people of the horizon.

I believe Abraham was first called a Hebrew in Genesis 14. The word Hebrew, scholars believe, could be derived from a Hebrew word meaning to traverse or to pass over, to cross over, referring to Abraham, who was sent by God and crossed over into the promised land. Abraham is set forth in the Scriptures as a prototype of the faith person for us. And Paul says in Galatians that we are the seed of Abraham in Christ. There's a Hebrew in the truest sense—a person who leaves one territory and crosses over into a new place.

Just like Abram left Ur of the Chaldeans, he traveled along the Euphrates River northwest to Haran in northern Mesopotamia, that Fertile Crescent region in the Middle East, and later in Genesis 12 was called down to Canaan into the promised land—a total, I believe, of about a 1,500-mile journey.

In Hebrews 11 it says that by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place—listen to this—which he was to receive for an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going, for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Now, my friend, what do you feel God may be asking you to cross over into as you quest after the horizons that He is setting before you? You will need over-the-horizon belief and applied faith.

→ Discover the four complete steps for over-the-horizon living at jesussmart.com

Living for the Ultimate Horizon

Let me read a Scripture to you from 2 Peter, chapter 3: "We are looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. According to His promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

My goodness. We are people of the horizon. That is the ultimate horizon—the coming of the day of God, the Lord's return, which will initiate the restoration of all things that Jesus spoke of. And there's some sense in which we hasten that day of God. Now we're going to have to explore that sometime.

And we're looking for the new heavens and the new earth. But all along the way there are many horizons in light of this macro horizon which is coming. And the Bible says that we now taste the powers of the age to come. And we begin to live now, my friend, a lifestyle of restoration in the now, foreshadowing the time of restoration of all things.

Now, what are those things that we can do to apply our faith practically, to begin to take action, to begin to orientate ourselves towards over-the-horizon living? Maybe it's a new geographical location God is calling you to. Maybe it's a change, a pivot in your career, your business, your work. Maybe it's some phase of education, maybe it's a new relationship, maybe it's starting a family, some interest, some cause, some justice issue that you're to pursue and quest after.

These are all many horizons that God may very well be calling you to and setting before you, which are just reflections of that macro horizon which is to come. Yes, and we begin to live now with over-the-horizon belief and faith and faith-born action in our lives right now. It's an adventure, it's exciting. You, as a human created in God's image, are wired to be facing horizons.

Step One: Worship and Pray Over the Horizon

So what can we do? Number one, worship and pray over the horizon. Remember the curvature of the earth. You can't see in the natural what's coming. You have not experienced it yet, but it's there. And you want to begin to pick it up with that radar of faith. And you want to begin to worship and pray over the horizon.

There's a real sense in which prayer is predicting the future. Think about the word prediction: "pre," meaning before or in advance, and "diction," meaning to speak or a saying. A prediction is a saying in advance of what's coming.

And what worship does is it transforms us further, it conditions us, and even more, it positions us in faith. And we can now predict in worship and in prayer—to say beforehand, to declare. Even our English word "predict" comes from the Latin, which means beforehand and to say. That is a prediction.

Think about Psalm 139. It says that even before we were conceived, all the days that were ordained for us were written down in Your book, O God. David says we want to say those pages. We want to predict and pray those pages and soak it all in a sentiment, an attitude of worship. Yes, declaring who God is.

Becoming Christocentric in our worship and adoration, allowing the person of Jesus Christ to eclipse all the drama, all the distraction, all the resistance—to get so big in our purview that we pray with a faith which will not falter, with a faith which is not double-minded, but is sincere and single-minded. And we believe we've picked up something of the mind of the Lord, of the counsel of the Lord, and we're praying over the horizon to that effect, to effectualize what wants to happen on the earth. Things want to happen in the heart of the Father that happen through us. It's a partnership.

Step Two: Visualize in Faith and Prophesy Over the Horizon

So worshiping and praying over the horizon, number one. Number two, visualize in faith and prophesy over the horizon. So we get before the Lord in His Word, in worship, in prayer. And now we begin to speak forth and to prophesy what we believe the Lord is saying, what His promises are to you, what He's leading you into.

We begin to visualize in faith. The Bible word "prophecy" in the New Testament means to forth-tell the counsel of the Lord, to speak forth the counsel of the Lord. See, the Bible says the mind of man plans his way, but the counsel of the Lord will stand—not only in yourself, but all around you. The minds of men and women are trying to plan certain ways and may even have thoughts about you. Your circumstances may be trying to say something about you and what your future looks like. But it's the counsel of the Lord that will stand.

And to prophesy in faith means to foretell that counsel, to speak it out. Speak it out over the curvature of your timeline. Let it address and begin to get on what's coming and begin to energize it in faith.

Here's what I want to say: Get the word of the Lord on it, and then get the word of the Lord on it. What do I mean? Get the counsel of the Lord, get the word of the Lord on that matter, and then through applied verbal faith, get that word on that matter, uphold it in faith. Release the creativity of God in faith. Speak forth in faith. Visualize and prophesy over the horizon.

Do I have a mirror here? Let me hold it up. Brian, what could it look like if on the most desired or even important or urgent edges in your life right now, if you were to consistently, on a daily basis, visualize in faith and prophesy on those horizons what you believe the counsel of the Lord is? There will be a momentum in the Holy Spirit, a momentum of releasing kingdom dynamics.

The old-school way of saying it is that prayer wheel, like that big flywheel. We get that prayer wheel moving, and every day we apply faith energy to it and we keep that momentum going.

→ Learn how to visualize in faith and prophesy effectively at jesussmart.com

Step Three: Fix Your Belief Set Points

Okay, maybe I can just podcast myself into a peak state of belief and faith. All right, number three, fix your belief set points. Listen, the Holy Spirit is calling you to believe for things. There are things that want to happen from the Father's heart. There is territory to possess. There are spaces to fill. There are things to catalyze and to initialize and to grow and develop that want to come into this earth. "May Your kingdom come. May Your will be done on the earth as it is in the heavens," in the Father's heart.

I recently discovered the word "desire." You know, David said in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Desire means "of the heavens" or even "of the Father." Think of the word like "D-E" (of) and "SIRE" (to sire, or of the Father), or some would translate it "of the heavens."

You see, when your heart is connected with the heavens, the desire from above becomes a very special thing. There are things that the Father desires for you and me. There are things in the heavens that want to happen on the earth. And a big part of our faith is sanctified or set-apart desire, right? We need passion, we need desire. That's an element of faith.

When that woman who was hemorrhaging blood for 12 years and had gone through all of this thing with doctors and had been totally liquidated of her finances—and think of the fatigue and the shame and the reproach in that culture of her issue—she had desire. And she snuck up on the Lord and pressed through that crowd and probably got low to the ground and touched the hem of His garment. And Jesus didn't even know she was coming, and yet healing virtue flowed out of Him into her. And He turned around and said, "Who touched Me? I felt virtue or power go out of Me."

What is that? Desire, passion which will not quit. So fix your belief set points. I encourage you to journal—digitally on your app or old-school analog journal. Write down your belief set points. I don't know, maybe put them on index cards, put a little clip on them, throw those things in your purse or pocket, take it out once in a while and just scroll through those cards and pray and say and believe and keep it before you and remind the Lord. "Lord, I believe this desire in me is of You, and I'm aligning right now—of the heavens, desire of the heavens. I'm aligning my heart on this earth with Your heart in the heavens, and I'm looking for a connection to see these things happen."

Step Four: Act As If

All right, so number one again, worship and pray over the horizon. Number two, begin to visualize in faith and prophesy forth, foretell what's over the horizon. Number three, fix your belief set points and don't be afraid of desire. Okay, we're going to close the loop on this. Here's number four.

Let's be more complete in our faith and begin to act in faith. Let's begin to act as if. Prepare for the extraordinary. Fill your water pots to the brim with water so that Jesus can bring new wine into your life. Remember that Mary said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." Jesus said, "Fill those 20- to 30-gallon water pots with water to the brim." And after they did so, He transformed the water into wine.

Do you remember the Old Testament account where they were praying for rain, and in this instance they were to dig their irrigation ditches while it was dry and dusty? Even before the rains came, they began to act as if and really in effect began to create the channels and the distribution system of the miraculous and extraordinary which would come. And the Scriptures are replete with this acting as if.

What about Noah, who for 120 years built an ark in faith before it rained? They really, even at that time, did not know rain as we know rain today. It was a whole different water cycle system. Scriptures are replete with this. What about the woman who was in terrible debt? And the prophet said to her, "Go out and gather vessels, as many as you can from your neighbors." And as many vessels as she was able to gather in advance and prepare and act as if, so the oil came and filled those vessels up.

So beginning to act as if. Begin to think, begin to say, begin to emote as if. Try to allow your emotional life to really latch onto your renewed thinking life and begin to allow your emotions to rejoice. You know, it says in Proverbs that a merry heart has a continual feast. Joy is an important part of walking with God. The Bible says to be glad in the Lord. Our emotions are important.

So begin to act as if. Think as if. Feel as if. Begin to take action. If you're believing to move and get into a different space, begin to prepare for that. Begin to get rid of things. Begin to stage your house, I don't know. Begin to prepare. Go into minimalism. Create space for new things. Many ways that we can apply this practically.

→ Get practical examples of acting as if in faith at jesussmart.com

Walk with Supervision and Kingdom Friends

So what are your belief set points? Write them down. What do you feel is over the horizon? Keep them before you in faith. And the Holy Spirit, my friend, will give us supervision to see by faith over the horizon. You know, like a supervisor sees things that the average person in the enterprise does not see.

We are to look over the temporal, look over what's now in our face, and to have supervision or to supervise our walk of faith with the Lord and see beyond by faith. Let the eyes of our understanding in Ephesians 1 be enlightened by the spirit of revelation, the spirit of wisdom in Christ, and begin to supervise. Supervision—that's what we need.

Now, we need to run with others. We need to align with others in the body of Christ. Get in a group, get in a cluster. Ask God for a kingdom friend, ask Him for a couple kingdom friends. People of like precious faith that are on similar frequencies. Get planted in the community of faith that God wants you to be in for this season of your life. Run with others.

There are things that we must do, things that want to happen, things that we do individually and with others that we pursue edges on corporately. And it all fits, it all aggregates together across the nation and across the world in the body of Christ to advance the story of Jesus. It all adds up to that storyline, that narrative, that unfurling kingdom that is Jesus Christ. And we're looking for that new heavens and that new earth, my friend.

Closing

Would you share this with one or two of your friends? That's the most powerful form of syndication. Talk about it. If you talk about something with others, you'll have 2x, 4x the retention of the principles and the ideas that you're talking about. Even as you share it, even as you talk about kingdom stuff, there will be a special sizzle and kingdom dynamic on what you're saying and on your own retention and appropriation of these things in your life.

Now, why do we call this thing Jesus Smart? Is it because I'm smart? Are you kidding? No, it's because He comes to renew our minds. He says, "Learn from Me." And we're questing after His coattails to have the mind of Christ and to think after Him. And we believe that the future belongs to Him, the new heavens and the new earth. But we also believe that in the meantime, as a witness to Him for His story, He knows how this life works best. Jesus is brilliant. As we walk with Him, we will catch His brilliance in a unique way right where you're at right now.

When God's Light Hits Your Situation (EP 361)

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:37:00 -0400

What if you could see that struggling relationship, that stalled project, that personal challenge in an entirely different light—God's light? The same creative pattern God used in Genesis—speaking light over chaos—is available to recreate your situation right now. Discover six practical steps to release God's light over the areas where you need transformation. This is about supernatural vision that opens doors to new seasons. When God's light hits your chaos, creation begins.

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/361

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

----------

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: What Happens When God's Light Hits Your Situation

Coming up, how you see things—really how we see everything—can actually transform things, opening the door to new seasons. Welcome, friend. I'm Brian Del Turco.

I believe that Jesus Christ knows how our lives work best and that He is passionate about developing us as His followers, as intimate friends and co-agents in His kingdom. If you want to go further with King Jesus and His enterprise, this is the podcast for you. I'm glad you're here.

Jesus Dynamics: Ask, Seek, and Knock

We have a newish feature in the episode called Jesus Dynamics. Let's get right to it. I was driving somewhere recently, just about a week ago, and I felt like the Lord dropped this in my heart—Jesus' statement about asking, seeking, and knocking in the Sermon on the Mount. You can read about this in Matthew, I think it's chapter seven, probably in the Gospel of Luke as well.

In the Greek language, the tense is a little bit different. Greek has, I believe, six tenses, whereas English has only three. In this tense, as it was written, it means to ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.

Here's what I felt. It all starts with conversation with the Father. Ask, talk with Him, get His input. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Don't lean on your own insight, but in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make your pathways smooth. Ask, even request in prayer.

Then begin to seek, begin to probe, begin to explore, begin to step out, begin to lean forward, lean into scenarios and horizons and opportunities, and even lean into challenges to overcome them, my friend. And then knock. Do you know that knocking is an expression of faith? Just as asking is, knocking on doors, checking out opportunities, seeing what opens up—and then it creates a narrow pathway on the other side of that door that leads you into a new space, a new level, some new territory that the Lord has for you.

Remember, it's about perseverance. Ask and keep on asking. Same with seeking and knocking. And don't just stop with prayer. Begin to seek, begin to quest. Actually begin to put some feet to your prayers and go out. Start knocking, start building things, start creating, start innovating, start pressing into opportunities and challenges.

The Power of Seeing in a New Light

Well, I'm excited about this topic today. Father, we ask for new light, fresh, extraordinary light from You to break out of our heart. May we see with the eyes of our understanding, the eyes of our heart. We believe, Father, that You can bring transformation and change to things by how we see them supernaturally and not just naturally. Thank You, Father. We commit our time to You, in Jesus' name.

Someone may say something like this: "I was having problems in a relationship, but things turned for the better when I saw her in a new light. When I saw him in a new light. Now I'm filled with hope." We can apply that to anything. "I was disparaging the situation I was in. I was looking down upon it. I was really thinking negatively about it. But when I began to see it in better light, a new light, it began to turn. It began to be transformed."

You see, seeing things in a new light can create new possibilities.

Stephen Covey, in his wildly popular book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, said that the way we see the problem is the problem. Does this resonate with you? It does with me. If we can just get the light of God on that issue, whatever it is, we will see it in an extraordinary light. Then you can call out the gold and even trigger, be catalytic to bring transformation.

Seeing Is Interpreting

Seeing things in a new light—I'm talking about an extraordinary light, not just natural light. I'm talking about insight. Seeing things in a new light is transformational. In a real sense, seeing is interpreting. Think about this with me.

In the natural, light reflects off an object. Maybe you're in a room somewhere—just look at an object. Or maybe you're outside. Look at a tree or look at an automobile. Light reflects off the object. It reflects off a person. It reflects off some landscape or some vista, and it enters your retina. And that visual information is transmitted to your brain, which then interprets what is seen.

Here's what this means: seeing actually happens in your mind, not in your eye. The eye is just a medium. It's just a portal. Seeing and interpreting actually happens in the mind. This is true in the natural. Your eyes and the optical nerves from your eyes to your brain are just simply the pathway, the gateway. Light reflects off of something, then we interpret what we see as we begin to grow in maturity. We give it meaning, we interpret it.

But can we take this a step further? Let's go above and beyond the natural. Because there is an insightful, extraordinary way to see things.

→ Discover how seeing with spiritual eyes transforms everything at jesussmart.com/361-seeing-new-light

Seeing things in a new light will give us the opportunity to understand and interpret things in a new, fresh way. I'm talking about the mental, emotional, and spiritual way that we see. Here are some examples. We begin to see that relationship in a new light. Maybe that seasoned, mature friendship has gone sour. We begin to see it in a new light. We begin to see it now as a diamond in the rough. We're both growing, and we're going to come into a new place as persons, and this relationship is going to come to a new level.

Maybe we see a challenge or an opportunity in a fresh light. Our question should be, "What's possible?" It shouldn't be a statement of "This is impossible." See the challenge, approach the opportunity, and see it in a fresh, extraordinary light.

What about that project? Can we see that project that we've been working on in a new light? Let me tell you, every project starts out with a high level of excitement. Then it enters a trough, it goes low. And many times projects don't make it through that trough and then begin to ascend again into a place of completion and maturity and fruitfulness. But can we see that project in a new light from God? It will achieve better results.

What about yourself? Instead of continuing to see yourself in that old light, can you see yourself in the light of God, in a new light? Higher design is possible and it's powerful.

God Is Light

Now, what could happen if we see things in a new light, an extraordinary light? We need more than natural light to truly live a successful life. We need extra-natural light. It's possible to be blind in the natural and to live an extraordinary life because you're seeing on the inside.

God's very nature is light. Can I tell you that John wrote in his letter in 1 John 1:5 that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. We get caught up in darkness. But God is not in darkness. And as we draw close to Him and receive more of His presence, more of His light, more of His reality into our life, things will get better.

If the ultimate Designer is light, here's the question: How can we access it? Remember, He holds the higher design for everything—about your design, about your life, about your calling, about those good works you're destined to do, about your very life. The question is, how can we see things? Indeed, how can we see everything in this new, extraordinary light?

Do you know what Jesus said? Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won't have to walk in darkness because you will have the light that leads to life." Do you see that? The light of Jesus leads us to life—abundant life, the God kind of life. God-designed life. It's another level of consciousness. It's a higher level of conviction from which we can live—resolute, directional, intentional, a heightened state of consciousness.

The New Testament says in Hebrews 1:3 that Jesus Christ is "the radiance of His [the Father's] glory and the exact representation of His nature, and He upholds all things by the word of His power." I love the way the Amplified translation renders this verse. "He, Christ, is the sole expression of the glory of God, the Light-being."

We are called to come to Christ and to yoke with Him as the Light-being. It says He is the out-raying or the radiance of the divine. Can we live a lifestyle that we would describe as radiant, a lifestyle that is within the out-raying of God Himself through Christ, the Light-being? This extraordinary light—God as light—comes to us via that second person of the Godhead, God's unique Son, Jesus Christ.

The Creation Pattern: Light Over Chaos

Now I just hope that some of these ideas can be a pointer to perhaps advance possibilities in your personal world, in my personal world, and through us, via us, into the world at large around us. Think with me about this dynamic. The earth at the beginning of creation was formless and void. We read this in Genesis chapter one. It's that Hebrew expression which means chaotic, uninhabitable, sterile, and a wasteland.

Now let's think about this. Then God said, "Let there be light" on day one of creation. Now, could it have been the manifest glory of God that was exhibiting and expressing that light? I think so, because we know from the Genesis account that the sun and the lights of the heavens were not created until day four. So what is this light on day one?

I think God was coming over that uninhabitable, sterile, chaotic situation and sort of turning Himself on to begin a re-creative process. Was it the light and glory of God in Jesus as the Son of God who shone over a darkened, chaotic earth? I suspect that it was. And then that creation process began.

It says in John, chapter one, verses three through five, "All things came into being by Him. Christ, in Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend or overpower it."

So God then begins to release His creativity and design through this process of creation or recreation. First He turns the light on. It's the glory of His presence through His Son. And we see that interplay and that harmonious cooperation with the Holy Spirit, the Son, and the Father in the creative process.

→ Learn the creation pattern you can apply to any situation at jesussmart.com/361-seeing-new-light

Now we're going back to seminal Genesis, early Genesis, for a dynamic that we can pull right into the present in Christ. This is how God creates and restores in our lives. Does something in your world right now seem chaotic? Does it feel like a wasteland? I think we can all identify and maybe list a few things where that's true in our lives or in our sphere of influence right now—things that we would like to see more of the creativity and design of God exhibited in.

Jesus can release brilliant light over that situation, just as He did at creation. Then the Father's redesigning word is released as a creative agent to create and to renew. Come on now. Say it again. Jesus can release brilliant light over that situation, that scenario you're in, that context, that challenge, that opportunity, even just as He did at creation. If He did it at that scale in that way in early Genesis, He can surely do it in your life right now. Then the Father's redesigning word is released to create and renew, redesign, to bring forth, to establish, to build things in your life.

Think of this as a kingdom template. We need to get into template thinking. Take that template in early Genesis and lay it over that relationship, lay it over that project, lay it over that domestic home life, lay it over your career. This is how God works in us and through us.

Seeing with the Eyes of Your Heart

So we really need to think, what are those one or two or three top areas in which you want to see the creativity of God activated? Don't think about it too long. When I first asked you that question, what immediately comes to mind? That's your gut talking to you. That's your intuition, your instinct. You're probably accurate. The first things that come up—don't overanalyze it. We all have them.

Here's the opportunity. Just like we said in the Jesus dynamic today about keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking, we can articulate those areas before the Creator in prayer. Invite, even invoke—a more intense word—invoke the light of God. Call down heaven, call down the courts of heaven into those spaces to see them transformed into something new. Let that space become more reflective and more of a witness to the design of God, to the good things which come down from above.

You know, there's a proverb in the Book of Proverbs that says that a person is satisfied from above themselves. James says that every perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. He's not inconsistent with His children. He's consistent. He's a good, equitable, generous Father—something beyond even what we're hoping for.

I believe that as you lean into these areas, you can claim Ephesians 3:20. If you're praying about it, if you're positioning yourself well before the Father and allowing Him to bring the heart transformational issues as well—many times when we pray about a specific request, there's a deeper underlying heart issue at play that God is also working on. But something beyond—it says that God is able to do exceedingly, well beyond what we're hoping for or imagining or asking for, according to that power, that transformative power operative within us.

This is a real kingdom skill, a real kingdom tool. This is an adequate metaphor that we can put into our kingdom toolkit—a kingdom skill. And that is seeing with the eyes of our heart, not our natural eyes. Seeing with the eyes of our heart.

You see, one of the main things that Jesus does in our lives is to wean us away from merely seeing with our natural sight. Paul says in 2 Corinthians, I think it's chapter five, "We walk by faith and not by sight." So one of the main things that He's at work at in our lives is to wean us away from natural sight, natural hearing, natural touch, and get us to see with the eyes of our heart, get us to hear His voice on the inside.

The Apostle Paul prayed a prayer for the ages in Ephesians 1:17-18 that we would do well to echo this prayer in our own life. In a real sense, enter into a prayer partnership with the Apostle Paul. Those prayers are eternal. What he prayed for the Ephesian church is still before the throne of grace. It's still come down through the ages. Many millions of people, I believe, have prayed this prayer.

"Father, would You give me a spirit of wisdom and increasing spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Your Son Christ, that the eyes of my heart would be enlightened?" There it is. The Amplified says, "By having the eyes of our heart flooded with light so that we can know and understand the hope to which He has called us, that we would know the riches of the glory of His inheritance"—that's in the saints. "And let's talk about power—that we would know the exceeding greatness of His power directed towards those who believe."

Check out that prayer in Ephesians 1. I'm going to say the enemy is going to resist you on praying that prayer consistently in your life because that prayer right there is kryptonite for the kingdom of darkness. It is supernatural and powerful.

Practical Steps to See in God's Light

How can we practically take steps to flesh out this concept of seeing things in a new light, an extraordinary kingdom light? These are just a few thoughts:

1. Know that God is supernatural light. Again, the Bible says that God is light. He dwells in unapproachable light. It is Jesus who brings this light to us. So fix your eyes on Jesus. Increase your intimacy with Jesus via His Word, via prayer, via time with Him.

2. Receive Christ more and more into your life. It's not just that first prayer you prayed that just initiated an ever-increasing process of knowing Christ and inviting Him into your life, that He abides in a richer way. Receive Him more and more.

3. Release that light of Christ over earthborn situations and challenges, even opportunities. How do we do this? We pray. We pray fueled by the Word of God. And then we release truth. We declare and speak to the tree, speak to the mountain, speak to the situation out of that womb of prayer that's been fueled by the Word of God. Release the light of Christ.

4. Walk in the light. This is critical. We can't just pray. We have to walk in the light. We have to be obedient. We have to stay in the light. Don't get into darkness. One of the ways we get into darkness is hatred and unforgiveness. The Bible actually says that those who hate walk in darkness and don't know what they're stumbling over. Isn't that amazing? As you remain in the light, more light will become available. Don't live in the shade. Don't stay in the shade. Don't get in that dark alley.

5. Intentionally wean yourself away from natural seeing and natural thinking. Transition. Grow up into spiritual seeing and thinking.

6. Discipline yourself to consistently maintain a high Word level. Understand that the Word of God is light.

→ Get the complete list of Scriptures for meditation and proclamation at jesussmart.com/361-seeing-new-light

Closing

Now here's where we're going to just drop the landing gear and come down on the tarmac and land this thing with Scriptures for meditation and proclamation. And these will all be on the show notes page. Seeing things in a new light can spark this transformation that God wants and that you want.

Inspired Scripture transforms things. Meditate on these verses. I have a list of verses here. I would suggest that you begin to speak them aloud in prayer and proclamation. Remember that the most powerful weapon in the universe is not a nuclear bomb. It's not a bioweapon. It's the sword of the Spirit. It's that spoken Word of God in your mouth. Ephesians, chapter six.

You can...

The Outlaw Christ-Child: Why Christmas is Still a Revolution (EP 360)

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:01:00 -0400

Forget the sanitized nativity—Christmas is a beachhead, an invasion, a sentence of doom upon the dragon. Brian Del Turco unveils Christmas through Revelation 12 and G.K. Chesterton's vision of the cave as an "outlaw's den"—a fortress in enemy territory where the King returned to shake kingdoms from below. This isn't about warm feelings and Michael Bublé—it's about understanding that the incarnation set in motion an advancing process that continues through us today. Discover four practical ways to live in "365 Advent". Pull out the eggnog if you fancy, but remember this: the dragon rages, but you reign in Christ.

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

----------

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: The Outlaw Christ-Child: Why Christmas is Still a Revolution

Hey, dragon, you've been resisting, you've been fighting, you've been raging, but we have a message for you. Ho, ho, ho, from King Jesus.

Well, I have my little Christmas tree with twinkling lights that my daughter so kindly set me up with right here by my podcasting equipment. I'm ready to go. This is the first in a miniseries on Christmas. Welcome to Jesus Smart, the podcast. Brian Del Turco here. Thanks for connecting with me today.

The Central Miracle of Christianity

C.S. Lewis, in his book Miracles, writes that the central miracle asserted by Christians is the incarnation. That's sort of a theological word which simply means God became flesh. Jesus came into the earth in the form of a human being. Lewis writes that they say that God became man. Of course, this is true. Every other miracle prepares for the incarnation or exhibits the reality of the incarnation or results from this, the incarnation.

In the Christian story, Lewis writes, God descends to re-ascend. Now listen to this, because you and I are swept up in this. In Christ, He comes down, down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity. But He goes down to come up again and bring the ruined world up with Him. Isn't that powerful?

Paul put it this way in his letter to the Philippians: "I press toward the mark of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Beyond the Hallmark Christmas

Now, I live with a lot of ladies—one wife and many daughters. We have four daughters, two still at home. So I know a lot about Hallmark. I have memorized the script-writing templates of Hallmark movies. I can predict the outcome of a Hallmark movie.

I don't mind. I enjoy sitting with my wife on a couch during the holiday season while they have a Hallmark movie on, and maybe we're eating a little something. And quite often, I might have, if I can just be honest with you, earbuds in. And I'm listening to maybe a podcast or something like that, kind of multitasking, glancing up at the Hallmark movie once in a while, but then getting some good solid content as well. This is how I—these are my coping mechanisms. This is how I make it with four daughters.

So I don't mind doing that. But I'm always after a deeper, more militant message concerning Christmas. And I know that this may challenge some people. Maybe not. Maybe you're listening, and this doesn't challenge you. I hope not.

The Christmas Story from Heaven's Perspective

Let's consider the Christmas story as told from heaven's perspective in the book of Revelation. You know, we sing "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night, Holy Night," and we think about the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. We put the Charlie Brown special on. We put the music on. If I hear another song by Michael Bublé, I don't know what I'm going to do. But all of these things are around.

But deep down, I'm understanding that Christmas is invasion. And this is how I like to try to keep Christmas well.

Consider from the book of Revelation, chapter 12: "The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child who will rule the nations with an iron scepter." Yes, take that, Michael Bublé.

"And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and his angels fought back, but he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring, those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus."

What is this account of the woman and the dragon and the birthing of the Christ child? I was having coffee with a fellow compatriot yesterday, and we concluded—I've done some study on it. Not a deep dive on Revelation 12, not super deep, but I see the woman there as a composite picture of first Israel, then Mary giving birth to the Christ child, and then the church as well, and the dragon making war. But we're overcoming.

The Outlaw's Den: G.K. Chesterton's Vision

Now, G.K. Chesterton—see, we have to read people from a hundred years ago. G.K. Chesterton, just hang with this here. He wrote in his book The Everlasting Man, in the chapter "The God in the Cave," that we need to take the fragrance of what happened in the birth of the Christ child. He calls it an explosion in the Judean hills 2,000 years ago. He sees the cave as an outlaw's den, as an outpost, a fortress in enemy territory. Yes, take that, Hallmark.

Herod's days are marked and the dragon's doom is sealed. Now listen to what he says:

"There is something defiant in this, something that makes the abrupt bells at midnight sound like the great guns of a battle that has just been won. All this indescribable thing that we call Christmas atmosphere." Just like the bells would ring maybe at midnight on Christmas Eve, he hears it as the great guns of a battle that has just been won.

He continues: "This Christmas atmosphere hangs in the air, something like a lingering fragrance or a fading vapor from the exultant explosion of that one hour in the Judean hills nearly 2,000 years ago. But the savor is still unmistakable, and it's something too subtle or too solitary to be covered by our use of the word peace. By the very nature of the story, the rejoicings in the cavern were rejoicings in a fortress or an outlaw's den."

Now this is how to keep Christmas well, right? Especially in our time and what we may face, friends, as we look at this next decade or two.

As an overcoming Christ follower, he continues, there in that image is a true idea of an outpost, of a piercing through the rock and an entrance into enemy territory. Yes. If I could just say, this is like D-Day. This is a beachhead. The King is back.

He continues: "There in this buried divinity, an idea of undermining the world, the world system, of shaking the towers and palaces from below." He sees the Christ child as underground in the cave, in the outlaw's den, shaking even as Herod—Herod the great king felt that earthquake under him and swayed with his swaying palace.

See, everything that can be shaken will be shaken so that what remains is the eternal kingdom of Christ. This is so beautiful.

Actually, give me my eggnog. Go ahead and put Hallmark on, but I'm going to be thinking and praying on these lines, and I'm going to be positively agitating people around me to consider these edges.

The Lord of Hosts

Now, my friends and angels, did you know that the compound name that represents Christ's nature most frequently in the Scriptures—do you know what it is? The compound name in the Bible that represents Christ's nature most frequently? It's "Lord of Hosts."

Get this: it appears nearly 10 times the sum of all the other compound names revealed in the Scriptures. Can you believe that? Do you think that God is trying to say something to us about the primacy of what His nature is, about the priority of what His agenda is?

Now listen, in Luke chapter 2: "In the same region, these shepherds"—and I hope they had their adult diapers on, because they probably had an adult accident—"shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened." I mean, no kidding. The sky unzips, there's like a veil that opens up, and the glory of the Lord manifests in white-hot light.

And the angel says to them, "Don't be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Now, if they didn't use their adult diapers yet, they may have right here in verse 13: "Suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying"—a multitude of the heavenly host, there it is. These were militant angels that manifested in the sky that were escorting, in a sense, the seed of the second member of the Godhead coming into the hostile environment of the earth.

And they said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

You see, hosts are angel armies. Jesus is the Lord of armies. They, in a sense, were coming to honor and to acknowledge their commander coming in human flesh. These angels are terrifying warriors. I think on the top of our Christmas tree in the house, we have a bow. Imagine if a real angel appeared on the top of your Christmas tree. Now that would be a Christmas to remember. I just want you to see the sense of raw power and the King is back in Christmas. Hey, dragon, ho, ho, ho.

Advent Is Advancing

Advent is not just us looking back to a baby. Advent is not just the anticipation of celebrating Christ's birth each December. It is that, and let's try to celebrate it as much as we can with as much understanding as we have of the true nature of what that incarnation is.

But even beyond and even more, the truth of Advent is that Christ coming into our world produces a sentence of doom upon the dragon, a sentence of doom upon all darkness. And it has set in motion a process which is transforming everything. You see, Advent is advancing through time.

And this comes right down to our personal lives. Christmas is invasion, guys and ladies. Because I tell you, the Lord is raising up some Deborah-like ladies today who are like judges and who, in their feminine way, are militant in their faith. I love it. We need it. Let's go for it.

Those angels in the skies over the Judean hills were a multitude of heavenly hosts. They were angel armies. Traditional Advent is this anticipation of celebrating Christ's birth. And in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we prepare our hearts. It's all good, it's all solid. I want to go deeper in that.

But Christ's coming is not just a one-off event. It's not just punctiliar, a point in time. It is process. You see, the incarnation has set in motion a process. He continues to come in fullness and in power through the body of Christ. And He continues to come in fullness and power even in our own lives, in history, since the birth of Christ and in our day.

Paul talked about this in Ephesians 4:13. He talks about growing and developing and "the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ"—the incarnation as process within our lives. We simply have to build this into our worldview. It's going to affect how we pray, how we make decisions, the actions that we take, the way that we align with others in the body of Christ.

And even we look into the future, and we also anticipate His coming again when there will be a complete revelation of Christ, a total revelation of Christ this time in the future, coming in overwhelming rule and completeness. So Advent is advancing. It's progressing through time. It's advancing through those who yield to His presence in our day.

You Reign in Christ

Jesus is no longer a baby. He is now ascended and seated as a king. He is filling all things. Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:22-23: "And He put all things in subjection under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."

You see, my friend, the dragon rages, but you reign. The dragon may rage, but you reign in Christ.

This coming of Jesus Christ—the King is back into the earth—is an existential threat to Satan's kingdom. The serpent of old is not pleased about it, but he's doomed. And we just need to understand that this raging antichrist spirit was in the earth for centuries, even prior to the birth of Christ. Then the demonized King Herod tried to murder the Son of God. And that same spirit has slithered through history since the Nativity.

Even now, my friend, as a Christ follower, much of what you may be going through—don't take it too personally. It's not so much about you as it is about Christ and His kingdom in you and through you. And yet greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. You overcome because Christ has been born in you.

Living in 365 Advent

Now let me leave you with four practical points that we can consider moving on. The kingdom of Christ increases constantly in us and through us. I'm calling it "365 Advent." I'm talking about living in the possibilities of the incarnation each day of the year, living in the light of this vision for your life.

From Revelation 11:15: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever"—beginning to live now in the light and the potential of that which is coming.

First, renew your alignment with the now ascended Christ. Let's really know Him. Deepen our relationship with Him. If we seek first Christ and His kingdom, everything else that everyone else is seeking for will be added to us.

Second, harmonize with the heavenlies via worship, via the Scriptures, meditation, prayer, affirmation. We're not trying to get to victory. We have the ability to live from victory. We're praying down into situations from our place with Christ, seated with Him in the heavenlies.

Third, see the rule of Christ extended through our lives like a scepter, like a royal scepter. Like Moses lifting up his rod over the Red Sea, let's extend His rule over scenarios and situations and opportunities and challenges. Let's live up to our station in Christ.

Fourth, advance into new life seasons with great joy and anticipation—the advancement of the Advent. Let's advance into new life situations with great anticipation.

Keeping Christmas Well

All right, pull out the eggnog. Put the Hallmark movies on. Let Michael Bublé sing and croon till the cows come home. But deep, deep, deep down, it's this outlaw den. It's this "King is back," it's this invasion, it's this incarnation and what that means. And then His ascension. And we are swept up with that. And even now we are seated with Him. And let's live according to our station from a royal, exalted, authoritative plane. That is how we can keep Christmas well.

Hey, dragon, you've been dragging on situations in our lives. You've been resisting, you've been fighting, you've been raging. But we have a message for you. Ho, ho, ho, from King Jesus.

Thanks for spending a few with me today. I'll catch you next time in the second part of our Christmas miniseries. Share this with one or two of your friends. I think they'll enjoy this message. Maybe it might challenge them, and it might put some fresh inspiration in them for a holiday season that could be a little bit different.

Jesus is brilliant. We love that baby Christ child who came into that outlaw den, but we also love Him as now the cosmic Christ, the ascended Christ. We'll see you next time.

Have Yourself a Very 'Chaordic' Christmas: When Chaos Meets Order with Terry Hoggard (EP 359)

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 08:54:00 -0400

We're coining a new Christmas greeting: "Have yourself a very 'chaordic' Christmas!" Chaordic—where chaos meets order. With decades planting churches in Rome and Brussels and serving with Convoy of Hope, Terry Hoggard helps us see Christmas as the ultimate disruptive innovation—an ongoing dance between heaven and earth. Discover why crisis is often the catalyst for much-desired transformation. This isn't your typical feel-good Christmas message. It's a call to intentional disruption and wholehearted seeking. Because when you're all in, God rolls out a pathway you never imagined possible.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/359

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Have Yourself a Very Chaordic Christmas: When Chaos Meets Order with Terry Hoggard

Brian: Hey there, friend. Merry Christmas. I'm glad you're with us. Thanks for connecting today. I'm Brian Del Turco, and you are connected with Jesus Smart, the podcast. Jesus knows how this life works best.

This is such an inspiring conversation, number 211—now being recast as episode 359. Here's the title—I'm confident you have not heard a Christmas greeting like this before: "Have Yourself a Very Chaordic Christmas" with Terry Hoggard. This, my friend, is a new wrinkle on keeping Christmas well.

Meet Terry Hoggard

Terry Hoggard is our special guest. He's a veteran missionary who has led international churches in Rome and Brussels. He's a leader of international leaders, a life coach, and he's an executive leader in Convoy of Hope, an international relief organization.

Here's an idea: why not gift this episode with a friend or two, and then they can gift it to others? I think you'll see that this is a gift worth re-gifting. But you get to keep the value when you gift a podcast episode.

Terry really encourages us that it is going to take a wholehearted mindset and heart set—the strength of our desire, the fortitude of our will. We have to have an all-in approach to engage this Christmas dance between heaven and earth.

The True Joy of Christmas

Here's the true joy of Christmas: when we understand that heaven and earth merge in us through the indwelling Christ, all bets are off. Unlimited potential can be released. You see, it's more than remembering Jesus as a baby in a manger. Christmas is a breakthrough merging of heaven and earth, and this changes everything.

The incarnation means that heaven and earth are reconnected again in a new way. A seamlessness between heaven and earth has been re-established. Think of it—it is the grounds on which we can now pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

What can this mean for you? What can it mean for me? God wants to be reconnected with us. Reconciliation is a huge meta theme in the kingdom of God—putting things back together again. And a huge part of what Jesus is after is the reunification of heaven and earth.

From Barely Enough to Abundantly More

Brian: Welcome, friend, to the podcast today. I'm really excited to bring to you Terry Hoggard. Terry, welcome to the podcast today. I appreciate you carving out some time.

Terry: My joy to be with you, Brian. Thanks for the invite.

Brian: Give us maybe just a sentence about a springboard theme for today's episode.

Terry: A sentence of theme would be this: it's Advent, and I always have some sort of Advent Christmas theme. This year I'm thinking in this way—celebrating the Christ who changes our "barely enough" into "abundantly more."

Brian: I personally need this. Tell us about your work over the years. You started out as a missionary with the Assemblies of God in Rome. Why don't you just bring us briefly up through the present?

Terry: Well, you're completely correct. 1984, Ruthanne and I, my wife, we answered the call to be missionaries, specifically felt called to Rome at that time. So we planted an international church in Rome, which was for our organization the second international church to be established in Europe. I stayed there 10 years. I then went to Brussels to pastor what was the first international church established for the Assemblies of God globally.

I spent 25 years living in Brussels—10 pastoring that church. Then I spent another 10 working in Sweden and Copenhagen, working with churches who wanted to reach their communities by encouraging diversity and inclusion with immigrants. After that, I stayed based in Europe for five years working with Convoy of Hope, overseeing the international program and the teams who drive the global work of Convoy of Hope.

→ Read Terry's complete missionary journey and life coaching story at jesussmart.com/359-chaordic-christmas

Christmas as Divine Disruption

Brian: This theme of abundance and getting past this scarcity mindset and scarcity experience that you're sensing this year in the Christmas theme—tell us about that.

Terry: Yeah. I think without a lot of heavy thought, all of us have stories of moments in our lives when things were just very hard and times were tough. And very likely we know someone right now by first name who's in the same kind of state. I have family members who are literally living on "barely enough."

And it's to them that I give my thoughts, knowing that Christ invaded—I like your word about interruption. He interrupted the world and all the life patterns that were normalized. People who were labeled were labeled, and people who were poor were poor, and that was just not going to change. But Christ came to turn all of that upside down.

Brian: I'm really enjoying the notion of Christmas as an invasion. The King is back. What are the implications for life, for work, for ministry? Do you see Christmas as an invasion of sorts—the Christ child coming into this earth, the incarnation?

Terry: My desire always is that these days—and I actually dial into the Advent as well because I want to redeem all of these days—our fervent resolve should be to make the most of every opportunity. A great Christmas is a wonderful gift to give to someone who's in a very difficult situation. But a great Christmas doesn't compare to the abundantly more that Christ could provide.

If we, in the act of kindness or in wanting to make someone's Christmas better, don't forget to give highlight to the most important thing—which is Christ coming not just to your home or your heart at Christmas, but becoming a part of your everyday—that's going to change everything.

Brian: I love working through the Christmas narratives in the Gospels and trying to tease out kingdom dynamics. This Advent dynamic—you know who Leonard Sweet is, right? I don't know if he invented this word, but "chaordic." It's a word that blends chaos and order. When something is chaordic, it's an opportunity wrapped in chaos. It seems like the birth of Christ was quite chaordic, doesn't it?

Terry: Oh, absolutely. Everything about Him was to disrupt normal so thoroughly that people could embrace change. People don't break change, they don't go to change until they're thoroughly done with the circumstances they're in. That's the tragedy. So you need someone to disrupt that.

Brian: Disruptive innovation is a business term. I'm just seeing the Christ child as sort of like the ultimate disruptive innovation.

Terry: Yeah, that's so true. There's nothing about Christ in reality that cuddles the best world image that can be presented. The nativity sets—Christ is this baby wrapped in these beautiful cloths and He's surrounded by hay. The most we can give is not even a glimmer of who the Christ of Christmas really is.

The Power of Crisis and Necessity

Brian: So practically speaking, in terms of everyday life, what suggestions do you have about pursuing an abundant life in Christ?

Terry: I'm thinking about what Philippians says to us. It's very clear that we've been promised that God will supply all of our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. That's why I want to promote this Christ who can change "barely enough" into "abundantly more."

Here's the thing. The reality of His capacity is only fully revealed to us in times of great necessity, necessity and scarcity. That's the only time we get it.

Brian: Someone has said that adult learning readiness equals pain. When we feel the need, when we're tired of it, we're better positioned for transformation.

Terry: And it's so true. I remember when this hit my life strong and hard. I was told I had thyroid cancer, and it had been in my neck for a long time. Up until that time, I was a pastor, raised in a Pentecostal family, believing in healing. I believed He was a healer, preached He was a healer, prayed for people to be healed. But in my life, I had never been in a spot where I needed a healer.

Never in my life have I prayed this phrase: "Lord, guard over, watch over my bones, my blood, my cells." I never prayed that prayer. But every morning when I have my morning devotions, that's the phrase: "Father, thank you. Guarding over—not just about my heart, but my body, my bones, my blood, and my cells."

In that moment, I felt so fragile. I felt like I had just barely enough. And yet Christ stepped in and changed that into abundantly more.

→ Discover Terry's powerful story of transformation through crisis at jesussmart.com/359-chaordic-christmas

You'll Never See More Until You Seek More

Terry: The second thing is that you'll never see more of Him until you seek more of Him. Abundantly more has already been predetermined and pre-positioned for all of us.

When I was 14 or 15, life was tough for me. I couldn't find my way, didn't have an identity. I ended up in a service where a speaker said, "Here's the problem for most of you. You have just enough faith to make your mama happy and your pastor proud." I thought, "Exactly. That's exactly what I have."

But his challenge was, "When Jesus died on the cross, what did He give up? 60%? 70%? No. He laid it all down. And until you lay it all down, you're never going to know Him."

And then he added this: "The greatest waste of our lives—it's not the years we spend walking in darkness. It's all the years that we spend refusing to give Him everything."

That was transformational for me. I made a decision. I'm done. I'm all in. That was July of 1970. I finished high school, went to Bible school. I met Ruthanne in '72. I married Ruthanne in '74. We had a baby in '75. I started full-time ministry in '76.

It was that moment when I understood I'm never going to move from barely enough to abundantly more unless I really get the fact that the wholehearted seeker has to engage at its highest level. That changes everything. Until you're all in, you just have no chance of abundantly more.

The Christmas Dance Between Heaven and Earth

Brian: Would you say one of the things we can learn from the Christmas narratives is that there is a dance between heaven and earth? Great things happen on Father God's dance floor. Heaven moves, but we need to move.

Mary receives the word. Simeon and Anna in the temple—they're people of intercession and fasting and prayer. They had a prophetic sense of what was happening. They knew the Christ child when they saw Him. Most people didn't see it or know it. What would you say about this Christmas dance between heaven and earth?

Terry: I think every Christmas has to be somehow disruptive. As much as we love the traditions, as much as we like the commonality of rhythms, there's something that we ought to do intentionally to disrupt our hearts and our focus and literally say, "Jesus, the fact that You came into this world, into my life, and You're ever present in my family and in this community, I have got to awaken something in my heart."

Brian: What can we do practically?

Terry: I think the prize goes to the seeker. The prize goes to the one who engages this. If we're careful and if we're wise, if we redeem the time and make the most of every opportunity, I think the Holy Spirit will drop on our hearts some things we can do—some inclusive pieces that are just disruptive enough that they probably will have impact beyond our hearts into the lives of our closer circles.

This is the moment to just not allow yourself to avoid or to not strategically include some kind of disruptive encounter where you just invite God to really show you what needs to awaken in your heart this season.

→ Get practical steps for experiencing a chaordic Christmas at jesussmart.com/359-chaordic-christmas

A Prayer for a Chaordic Christmas

Terry: I think the greatest way to say it simply—the chaordic for me means God blesses everything that you as a family enjoy. But as much as we love the tradition and the order, get ready for some spiritual chaos. Because this Christmas moment is not just ours to enjoy, it's His to orchestrate.

Father, thank You so much for the wonderful way You use Your sons and daughters. For Brian and his family, for Jesus Smart, and the ministries that flow. Lord, I pray most of all that this word that You've dropped into our hearts—thinking about disruptive innovation and Your possibility, Christ, to change our "barely enough" into "abundantly more"—I pray that this Christmas would be special in ways that maybe have oft been overlooked.

I pray they would experience something from You, something in their own hearts that would say this was destined by God. "This Christmas is not the same. This Christmas is different in this way." May the stories be told far and wide. May the name of Christ be all the more exalted and lifted up, in Jesus' name.

Brian: Amen, Lord. We pray that there would be an anointed chaordic anointing upon us, that when we walk into settings and scenarios, people would be shaken and wakened and disrupted and aligned with Your design.

I just can't take another Christmas of the same old, same old. I just want to see something disrupted dramatically. Thank you, Terry, for carving out some time today. Appreciate all that you are, all that you do.

Terry: It's my honor, Brian. Have a great Christmas, but highly chaordic.

Brian: I'm going for it. Love you too, Terry. Blessings to Ruthanne and your family.

WalkCast: A Kingdom Framework - Prayer + Planning + Spirit-Fueled Execution (EP 358)

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:16:00 -0400

What if the secret to breakthrough isn't just prayer or hard work—but a powerful combination of both with God's zeal backing your obedience? In this walk cast episode, Brian Del Turco unveils a kingdom framework: creative prayer plus strategic planning plus spirit-filled execution equals fruitfulness and fulfillment. Discover how to discern God's agenda (not just convince Him of yours), why prayer without planning is presumption, and how to tap into the zeal of the Lord that fuels ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. This three-step framework will help you align with how God designed things to work.

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/framework

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

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----------

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT - A Kingdom Framework - Prayer + Planning + Spirit-Fueled Execution

Hey there, friends. Welcome to Jesus Smart X, the podcast. This is Brian Del Turco. Thanks for being with us today. You make all the difference. Thank you for listening and thank you for sharing content with others if you find it valuable and think it would inspire and help someone you know.

Introducing the Walk Cast

We're doing something different today, calling it a "walk cast." I'm outside, as you can probably hear. You'll probably hear vehicles and people, perhaps, but this is what I'm calling a walk cast. I've been getting into walking in recent months—about the past half year, a lot. Many days I'm doing, thankfully by the grace of God, something like 10 to 12,000 steps a day.

This recent wellness quest over the past half year was triggered by a bout with shingles, from which I'm still dealing with nerve pain in my lower back. But God is faithful. I hear sometimes it can last as long as a year. I hope that's not the case with me, but I have enjoyed walking, doing some resistance training, and changing my diet and losing a lot of weight. So I'm excited about that.

Why Walking Enhances Creative Thinking

Walking is something that really enhances our creative thinking. Research proves this—movement, just moving your body like with walking, can really break mental patterns and open new perspectives. Did you know that Jesus did a lot of his conversation and teaching with his disciples as they walked? This was a rabbinic tradition. The rabbi would walk with his disciples, and they would converse and talk—questions and answers and illustrations—really something of a teaching method. There is something of an ancient practice called "walk and talk," part of a wisdom tradition.

We've kind of missed that today. We think we have to be sitting on our derrieres in a classroom or remaining sedentary. But walking and learning has a long history, and it clears the head, engages the body, and helps to free your voice up. So yes, a walk cast. We may do this from time to time, weather permitting. We'll see how things go.

A Kingdom Formula for Success

A secret formula, a kingdom template that I think can help us in a lot of areas. Here it is, sort of like kingdom calculus or algebra. You ready for this?

Prayer plus planning plus spirit-filled execution equals accomplishment and success.

I heard John Eldredge say that there's a way that things work, and this applies to the kingdom as well. I recently fixed my stove, and there is a virtue in being able to not have to outsource everything but fix a stove yourself. We had buttons on a Samsung stove that were not working, and now with YouTube and ChatGPT, I found out that there was a ribbon cable in there that becomes oxidized. You can simply unplug it, use an eraser on a pencil, clean it up, plug it back in—boom, all the buttons work. But there's a way that things work.

Stoves are designed to work in a certain way. They need to be maintained. There's a way to fix things. And in the kingdom, there is a way that things work. I think that this formula—prayer plus planning plus spirit-filled execution equals success—shows us that God wants to help us. We can lay this template, if you will, this pattern over most anything, I think: ventures, tough conversations we need to have with people, parenting, career dynamics, ministry initiatives.

James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift comes down from above from the Father of Lights. There's no variation or shadow of turning with Him. He's consistent with all of His sons and daughters. Every good and perfect gift comes down from above. But it doesn't mean that we can't pray and plan and use spirit-filled execution with these good gifts.

Step One: Creative Prayer

Let's start with creative prayer. I use the phrase "creative prayer" intentionally. Creative prayer isn't just asking—it's partnering with the Father's creative intent. We're actually tuning into what God is already doing.

Prayer is not just concocting our own list all the time and coming before God with what our ideas are, but it's also listening, picking up His heart, picking up His mind, what wants to happen from His heart. We're tuning into what God is already doing. Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has plans already designed for us. "I know the thoughts I have for you." He was speaking to the Jews who were in Babylonian exile. "But I have plans for you, to restore you, to bring you back." And it's the same with our own lives.

Creative prayer is discerning His agenda, not just convincing Him of ours. Prayer is picking up His heart, what wants to happen from His mind, His heart, and not just solely sharing our own. We're receiving what's already flowing from the Father's heart, listening to His thoughts, what are His dreams, what are His designs.

→ Read the full transcript with expanded insights on creative prayer at jesussmart.com/framework

Step Two: Diligent Planning

Number two, then move into diligent planning. See, prayer without action, prayer without planning is presumption. It's too passive. Proverbs 21:5 says that diligent plans lead to abundance. Diligent plans lead to abundance; haste leads to poverty.

Just doing things haphazardly, not planning, not praying—we need to preface our action with prayer. Then we need to plan, and we need to move on those plans. Once we receive direction, we have to get very strategic intentionally. How much desire do you have for it? What's the intentional level? Map out the steps.

We can have vision and then strategy, and then we have to break it down to tactical steps. What are our resources? What people need to be involved? What's the timeline? This isn't just trusting in your own planning more than God. It's not.

Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the Lord builds the house," but builders are still working under the Lord. He's the master craftsman. "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." So planning sanctified by prayer equals a high form of worship before God through our work.

Step Three: Execute with the Spirit's Energy

Number three: execute with the Spirit's energy. We have creative prayer plus moving into diligent planning plus now executing with the Spirit's energy. This is where a lot of things can stumble and stall, if I can be honest with you. We try to finish in our own strength what God prompted, what God started.

Galatians 3:3 says, "Have you begun by the Spirit? Are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Are you beginning something in the Spirit and now trying to execute on it or finish it in your own natural flesh? The same Spirit who gave the vision wants to fuel the execution of it. So we want to stay connected. We want to pray through each phase of it, be sensitive to course corrections.

Spirit-filled execution isn't anxiousness or frenetic activity. There's a grace to it. There's a rest to it. We're working hard while we're resting in God, and God is working through us by His grace. I think a lot of times we think of grace as remedial—"Oh God, give me your grace, I've blown it." It is that, but grace is also empowerment to live according to higher design. So grace is a key part of executing with the Spirit's energy.

→ Discover more about spirit-filled execution and avoiding common pitfalls at jesussmart.com/framework

The Outcome: The Zeal of the Lord

What's the outcome? What does it equal? The zeal of the Lord comes. It equals success and fulfillment and fruitfulness. Jesus said, "It's my Father's will that you bear much fruit and so prove to be His disciples."

The zeal of the Lord—in Isaiah 9:7, "The zeal of the Lord will accomplish this." It's talking about the kingdom of Jesus. "The government will rest on His shoulders, and His kingdom will never end." Zeal. What is zeal? We actually can receive the zeal of God.

Did you know that God is zealous, that He carries an intense passion and energy of burning commitment, fierce determination? One of our prayers that we should really key in on is, "God, give me your zeal for this. I want to know what you're thinking, what your heart wants, what your will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven. And now I need your zeal for it—in me, through me, on me, around me. Give me that fire, that passion for it."

As we follow this pattern, we tap into something greater than our own effort, our own natural energy. Creative prayer, strategic planning, spirit-filled execution—and woven through all of it and on all of it is the zeal of the Lord of hosts, the zeal of the Lord of the angel armies. His passion backs us up. It backs up our obedience. It backs up our faith movement. We get something of His determination for it flowing through us as we surrender to Him.

This is how ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things. So let's lay this template over everything. Maybe there's a relational issue that you need to steward in a new way. Maybe there's a very challenging conversation you need to have in business or in family life. Maybe there's a kingdom initiative you're pursuing.

Let's admit it—when we first get the vision for a kingdom initiative, it's very exciting, it's very fresh, but it's in the meantime, it's in the middle of it, it's in the afternoon of the project that the greatest challenge may arise. So we need to keep this template over it, I think. Become skilled in this.

We want to be on a pathway where we hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master." That's our horizon.

Here's a good challenge. What is one area this week that we can apply this framework to? Creative prayer plus strategic planning plus spirit-led, spirit-fueled execution equals fulfillment and fruitfulness and success. The zeal of the Lord of hosts rides on all of it. But what is just one area—small, medium, big—that we can apply this framework to?

→ Get the complete show notes, prayer, and practical application steps at jesussmart.com/framework

Appreciate you, and we will catch you in the next episode.

'Stuff I Got from Dad with Keith Payne' (EP 357)

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 07:23:00 -0400

Brian Del Turco converses with Keith Payne to explore how lessons from his earthly father shaped his understanding of God’s Father heart. From a tough, charismatic union leader to a redeemed man of faith, Keith reflects on the wisdom, protection, and love he received and how it points to the perfect love of our heavenly Father. Together, they discuss fatherhood, redemption, and the multi-generational impact of God’s favor and guidance. This conversation is full of practical lessons, inspiring stories, and a reminder that God can redeem any situation.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/357

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

----------

KEITH PAYNE

Get your copy of 'Stuff I Got from Dad' on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

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Carmia's Window Facebook page

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT - Stuff I Got from Dad with Keith Payne

See complete and enhanced show notes at jesussmart.com/357

Welcome to Jesus Smart X, episode 357. This is Brian Del Turco, and today we're stepping into a conversation that hits home for every single one of us because all of us have a father story. The gospel music bed you're hearing is from the Payne Family Group, a gospel group that Keith was part of along with his brothers.

I saw Keith Payne on Facebook talking about his new upcoming release, Stuff I Got From Dad, exploring how he relates his experiences with his earthly father to things about our heavenly Father—things he learned that transformed his understanding of God's fatherhood. He's on the podcast today talking about his new book by that title. It's a great conversation with an inspiring person, and I think you're going to enjoy it and benefit from it.

Understanding Fatherhood: Perfect and Imperfect

Maybe you had an amazing dad, or maybe your father was present but imperfect. Perhaps your experience with your earthly father was painful or even absent. No matter what your story looks like, your Father in heaven is not a reflection of your earthly dad. He is the perfection your earthly dad was only meant to point to, and God still can use it and show you some things. Please lean in.

God is in the business of redeeming fatherhood. He knows how to re-father us. The conversion experience in Christ is about re-fathering—Jesus introduces us now to God as Father to heal us and to teach us who He really is. This can unlock some healing and breakthrough in your understanding of the Father heart of God.

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A Quick Kingdom Thought: Dusted

Before we get the train rolling, I'd like to share something from a recent newsletter. We have a section called Thinking Above and Beyond. God says in Isaiah 55:9, "My thoughts are higher than your thoughts." So we need to reason with Him, think after Him.

Here's a quick hit thought: Dusted. In street language, to be dusted means defeated, wiped out. In Genesis 3, the serpent—Satan through the serpent—was sentenced to the dust. It was really a prophetic humiliation. God said, "On your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life."

Jesus later said that we would trample on all the power of the enemy. The enemy's realm is dust level. Don't forget that our authority in Christ is above that. We can stay and live out of that place of being seated with Christ in the heavenly places in Ephesians 2:6 and enforce the verdict that's been issued. Remember that because of Christ, his place is now under your feet, eating the dust.

All right, let's lean into this conversation. I believe it's going to speak to your mind and spirit in a powerful way.

Meeting Keith Payne: A First Podcast Interview

Brian: I'm excited today to have Keith Payne on the podcast. Some of you know Keith, and some of you will be introduced to him today. We're talking about a very primal topic, a seminal topic—the topic of your father and also the fatherhood of God. We've got a big problem in the world today on this issue. Keith, how are you today? I'm glad you carved out some time for us.

Keith: Thanks for having me, Brian. This is exciting for me because this is my first actual podcast.

Brian: Your first podcast interview?

Keith: Yeah. Back in the day, we did a lot of radio and a lot of TV stuff with our music ministry, but this is the first official podcast, so you are a record breaker, my man.

Brian: Well, we're christening it right here. That's wonderful. This could be the beginning of your podcast career. Who knows? I'm glad to have you here. What can the listener today expect to hear as we talk?

The Birth of "Stuff I Got From Dad"

Keith: The book is titled Stuff I Got From Dad: Lessons from My Father. The whole concept was birthed in the last year or two of my father's life. He started to get ill, and I started spending much more time up there helping him organize things and take care of family business. As you have an elderly parent, you reminisce.

What came from those conversations was a realization on my part of the many, many lessons through the years that I had gleaned from him. Not necessarily where he sat me down and said, "Son, let me tell you about how to do X," but it was actually just experiences that upon reflection, I realized there was a real lesson there. I learned what to do and what not to do. There were lessons of what to pursue and lessons about avoiding negative outcomes.

When I started reflecting on those, I said, "Man, I'm going to start writing down some of these stories." He would reminisce about his childhood or many years ago, and then I started reflecting: I've learned some lessons here. Then it made me think of my relationship with my heavenly Father. There are also lessons or deeper meanings even beyond what I got from my earthly father.

Somebody said in a conversation, "Your dad's life was so amazing, somebody ought to write a book." As soon as I heard that statement, I felt that voice in my head—through the years I recognize it as the Holy Spirit—giving me the unction to say, "Yeah, somebody should. It's you."

On that day, I said to myself, "I'm going to write a book." I had no experience. I didn't know where to start or what the proper methodology was. A lot of this was just me writing my thoughts and trying to organize them in a way that would be accepted or easily read by the reader. The whole origin was the last couple years of his life reminding me of the things I'd learned, which then directed me toward even deeper lessons from my heavenly Father.

Fatherhood as God's Design

Brian: Would you agree with the statement, Keith, that there is no father on this planet who's perfect, and yet God uses fatherhood to teach us about Himself and to bring blessing in our lives? Maybe, as you say, information or perhaps warnings even about what not to do?

Keith: Fatherhood was important to Jesus. He referred to His Father many, many times while He was on this earth. The example, the great example of what fatherhood should be—influencing your children, providing direction—He lived that example or referred to that example. So fatherhood is important to me. I've got three sons.

The great thing about my relationship with my dad, my earthly father, is when I was a kid, I thought he was Superman because he was big and fit and could do things. He could throw a football very far and jump high. When you're a four or five-year-old kid, you look at your dad who has certain abilities and you go, "Wow, is he fast, is he strong?" I literally looked at him and thought he was like Superman as a young child.

As you grow older, though, the thing that I learned is he wasn't Superman, but he was more like Clark Kent. He was human. He was a man. He had faults, he had frailties. Learning and accepting the humanity of who your dad is also helpful because it helps you with your own personal relationship with God.

Brian: Accepting the humanity, honoring all that is good that has come down. I know there will be listeners who do not even have a father present in their life, or it was an extremely toxic or dysfunctional relationship, even abusive. Right there, Keith, what would you say to that sort of situation about fatherhood and also about the fatherhood of God?

Hope for the Father-Absent

Keith: I would say that everybody has different situations. If there's a scenario of a listener that's father-absent, with no father present, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will provide a relationship with a heavenly Father. That Father always shows up. That Father never breaks His promise. And that Father is a comfort in time of need.

No matter what situation we face here on earth, the hope and the good news is there is opportunity to create a very close and lasting relationship with our heavenly Father.

Brian: Scripture says He's the father of the fatherless. So this book ties together your relationship with your earthly father and with the heavenly Father. As you were doing the storytelling—it's really a nonfiction book, but there's story embedded in it, the story of your relationship—how did that dual perspective shape the way you approached the writing of this book?

Deeper Lessons From Heaven

Keith: What it did is put a fine tip or focus on the fact that I learned some great things from my earthly father. My dad here on earth provided some things for us—strong will, an example of never giving up, an example of trying to figure things out, an example of how to deal with people, which he had skills in. There were things I learned from my earthly father.

But when I sat down and started thinking about it, I would get a lesson or reflect on a lesson I learned from my dad, and then I would think of the nature of God or my personal relationship with God, and I would say, "Oh, wow, there's even a deeper lesson there." In other words, it's good what I learned from dad, but there's even a better or deeper way to do that or approach a particular situation.

The Lesson of Outward Appearance vs. Inner Heart

Let me give you a quick example. Dad, very young in life, showed us you need to dress a certain way. He was a sharp dresser. As young guys, it's like, "Man, dad dresses pretty cool. He doesn't wear jeans and frumpy clothes. He knew how to tie a tie."

I tell a story in the book where I ran for class president in sixth grade, and he helped me get an outfit put together. He was showing me the importance of looking right, dressing for success. He was working with me on trying to read the room, see what people are saying and doing so that you can react properly to it.

Those are good things to know. It's important to know that you should dress properly and interact with people properly. But the reflection of my relationship with God—I started thinking about the story of young David, where the prophet Samuel comes in and he's told by God, "You have to go to this household, and you are going to anoint one of his sons."

The first son is tall and big, and Samuel goes, "God, this is the dude, man, this has got to be the guy. Look at this guy." The lesson there, so clear from scripture, was that God looks on the inside of a man's heart and not necessarily his outward appearance.

The deeper lesson for me: it's good to know how to read the room, interact with people, and dress a certain way. But beyond that, more importantly, if you have a heart for God and a heart for helping people, all those other things will take care of themselves.

From Poverty to Power: Dad's Journey

Brian: Now, your dad came from one of the poorest counties in the country, and he became a powerful union leader. It's really remarkable. Did he have higher education at all?

Keith: From that part of the country, you would consider him highly educated because he did get through 11th grade. He did not have a high school diploma. He came from McDowell County, West Virginia. If any of your listeners would look up "poorest counties in the USA," it would be listed in the top five in every search or every way that you want to measure—lowest income, highest unemployment, highest drug use. It's a very, very tough area, and that's where his family was from. To this day, it is a very, very tough area.

He left there in the 50s. Historically, there was a great migration from people from the south to the north looking for work in the early 50s—auto plants, steel mills, rubber plants. Cleveland, Akron, Chicago, Detroit. There's a huge migration of people from the deep south and from Appalachia.

Part of that group came in the early 50s from Appalachia up to Cleveland, Ohio, because it was a little smaller than Detroit and there were plenty of opportunities for what they would call non-skilled labor at that time. He went to work at Ford, and within a year got involved in the union movement there.

Union Leadership and Fighting for the Little Guy

Because of his background in West Virginia, which was very strong with the United Mine Workers, there were a lot of health and safety issues with the mines back in the day. It was birthed in him—it was part of his DNA—to stand up for the little guy and to make sure that the large organization or the company did not take advantage of the worker.

He went from a high school dropout to two terms where he was the president of the second largest UAW local union in the country. There were 15,000 members when he was the president.

Brian: Wow.

Keith: He had to get more votes than most mayors of a lot of these small towns in Ohio to get elected president of that local union back in the 70s and 80s when he was involved in that.

Brian: So do you think that was the primary fuel that drove him—his concern for the little man, making sure that employees' rights were preserved?

Keith: His nature was that he loved a fight. He loved a good fight, and he loved the opportunity where if somebody was trying to take advantage of somebody, he was going to be the advocate or fight for that person.

He was such a skilled negotiator. Here's a guy with not even a high school education sitting across the table from trained HR people, attorneys, CEOs, executives from a Fortune 100 company—Ford Motor Company, a very large company. They put their most skilled negotiators on the other side of the table.

Here's this guy from West Virginia saying, "Okay, we're not going to do it that way." He became so famous or noticed for his ability to negotiate these contracts that they finally figured out there was a guy from the same part of the country who was an executive in the Ford world. They would bring him in—his name was Bill Landers. They would bring Bill Landers in because my dad and Bill Landers could talk respectfully but directly with each other because they came from the same part of the world.

Brian: How about that?

Keith: It was one of the ways they negotiated contracts back in the day. They would call in this other guy from West Virginia to say, "You got to deal with this guy from Cleveland because we're not making any headway with him." That was his claim to fame.

Brian: He was wired for this. He just had a lot of innate ability. It was just in him.

Keith: His personality was he would light up a room when he'd come into the room, and you would have to quickly assess. You couldn't ignore him. You either had to position yourself as an ally or as an adversary pretty quickly because he just had that type of charisma. Anybody that met him or got to know him, even later in life, recognized that that was part of who he was.

A Season of Grace and Reflection

Brian: I'm sure those last few years of his life, when you spent a lot of time with him and probably gleaned a lot of the material and stories for this book, was very fulfilling for you, very rewarding. I'm sure it was really a time of grace. End-of-life issues can be really sacramental seasons with people. What was the most surprising thing or inspiring thing that you learned from your dad while you were going through this process?

The Transformation: From Tough Guy to Servant of God

Keith: When he was in his heyday of being the union leader, think of every negative stereotype of the union boss back in the 70s, and he was probably that person. He interacted with people that we would call mob ties. He was beat up. There were contracts taken out on him to shut him up. He had his political opponents one time accuse him of kidnapping to try to destroy his career.

What I'm trying to describe is a tough guy. When I was a very young child, my dad was not around a lot. When he was around, he commanded respect. Within the community, he was considered a tough guy.

One of the things that was just so amazing about these last couple years of his life was hearing about these old stories and reminding myself about who he was, to see...

The Authority of Being Clean - Living Beyond the Enemy’s Reach (EP 356)

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:49:00 -0400

Spiritual attacks and temptation are inevitable—but domination isn’t. Walking in the light, staying aligned with Christ, and cleansing our hearts gives the enemy nothing to grab onto. We uncover practical steps to remove footholds of sin and operate in Christ's authority in everyday life.

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See the full episode transcript below.

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👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/356

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If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT - The Authority of Being Clean: Living Beyond the Enemy's Reach

I want to start with a personal moment. There were many seasons in my life when I realized that the enemy of our soul—Satan, the devil, the adversary—had too much access into my life. He had ways and avenues to influence my thoughts, shape my emotions, and steer my decisions toward compromising choices that could have consequences.

I could see patterns, subtle patterns of compromise and sin in my life, and I could feel the weight of the foothold. I could feel the weight of the ground that I had given away. I wasn't falling into egregious sins or earth-shaking major mistakes, but small stuff.

And I could sense that I was being positioned for the potential of further compromise. Sin will take you farther than you want to go and faster. The Holy Spirit, prodding and bringing conviction, was a wake-up call.

A Jesus Tactic for Spiritual Victory

That's what I want to explore with you today—a real Jesus tactic for how to walk in the light and remove footholds from the enemy so that we can live and operate in the authority and success that God has given us.

Spiritual attacks and temptation are inevitable. As John Eldredge says, when you're born again—even when you're born the first time—you're born into a war.

And when you're born again, you're redeemed and saved, placed on a trajectory where you can become Christlike and victorious and share in the inheritance of Christ. You're still in a war, and maybe in a more heightened sense at that point.

Here's the good news: when we're talking about sin and compromise and temptation, domination—you being dominated, me being dominated by that—is not inevitable. It's inevitable that we will encounter it, but I'm talking about being dominated and controlled by it.

Jesus Had Nothing for the Enemy to Grab

Jesus knew, I think it was the evening before His crucifixion in John 14, the enemy was coming. And here's what He said: "The ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in me." There is no ground in me, Jesus was saying.

If we follow this Jesus tactic, we can really cut off the enemy's opportunity. Like Jesus, if we can say, "He has nothing in me." If Jesus could live with zero access for the enemy to penetrate His life and dominate and control Him, we can follow that same principle. The enemy only has as much access as we give him when we are in Christ.

Walking in the Light

There's an important passage in 1 John 1:5-9. If we can get this right or start getting it right, there is so much downstream stuff we could cut off from the enemy, so much time we could save, so many benefits.

"God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet we're walking in the darkness, we're lying and not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

Walking in the light means that we bring hidden attitudes and compromises and sins out into the open. We confess them before the Lord primarily. There may be times where, as it says at the end of James, we confess our faults and sins to one another, and healing comes in that way. We're allowing God's light to do a reset in our inner person.

It's not about perfection. When Jesus said, "You need to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect," the New Testament word for perfection is complete or mature or whole. It's not a perfection complex—totally sinless. What it is, though, is about progressive alignment, moment by moment, with the Lord.

Where Spiritual Warfare Really Begins

Real spiritual warfare starts on the inside. It's not outside of us. True, there are dynamics external to us which are manifestations of spiritual warfare, but it starts on the inside, in the realm of our thoughts, our emotions, and the choices that we make.

Things like anger, bitterness, lust, unforgiveness—all of these things will give the enemy territory in our hearts. And our heart shapes our personal world. Proverbs tells us to pay attention to our heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life.

Paul says in Ephesians 4, when talking about anger: "Be angry, but sin not. And do not let the sun go down on your anger." Come to a place of settled resolution the day of. And he says, "Do not give the devil ground."

Something like anger—if sin were a river, anger is up at the headwaters of it. All kinds of things flow out of anger: unforgiveness, bitterness, even murder. We don't want to give the devil an opportunity. Don't give him ground. Cut him off.

Read the full transcript with all Scripture references and deeper insights at https://jesussmart.com/356

The Authority of Being Clean

In Psalm 19, David says, "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever." Talk about lasting power. Being clean has lasting power, both now and forever. There's authority in being clean. This is what we're talking about today: dominion in being clean.

We want to be clean because from time to time we have to move in the authority of Christ. We've got to speak to that mountain. We've got to pray over somebody that needs healed. We have to mitigate against some vile thing in prayer.

We want to have the authority of the Lord, and being clean is a prerequisite to moving and living in the authority of Jesus Christ.

I love this thought from Francis Frangipane in his book The Three Battlegrounds: "Victory begins with the name of Jesus on our lips, but it will not be consummated until the nature of Jesus is in our hearts."

It's one thing to say His name, to confess Him as Savior and even Lord, but it's another thing to allow His nature through time to be progressively conformed to His image. Every thought, attitude and choice—the Holy Spirit begins to put His finger on things and ask for change and maturity. As the nature of Jesus is built into our hearts and lives, that's the consummation of victory.

Operating from Spiritual Authority

The devil's realm is dust level. He's not in your head. He can't be in your life. He's not above you. Our authority is above him in Christ. Ephesians 2:6 says that we've been raised up with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly places. So as we walk in alignment with the Lord, as we really game up our obedience and purity, we operate from a position of spiritual authority.

We can pray down into earthborn situations from our authority of being seated with Christ and out of the enemy's reach. We don't want to compromise that. Our prayer life can be crimped and hindered by sin. We want to be able to pray from our true authority of being seated with Christ in heavenly places. We're living above the line.

John Owen, the Puritan theologian, wrote in his famous book 'The Mortification of Sin': "Simply be killing sin or it will be killing you." There is no third option. It's very binary. Be killing sin or it will be killing you.

Be encouraged with this: our obedience to Christ is where the enemy's domination ends. Our obedience to Christ is not where temptation ends. It's not even where spiritual warfare ends or spiritual attacks.

But it is where the controlling domination ends, where we do not yield, where we live victoriously. The more we do this, the easier it will become. We can step into our position and watch his grip collapse.

Get the complete episode breakdown and practical action steps at https://jesussmart.com/356

Three Practical Steps to Remove Footholds

How can we do this practically? Here are three takeaways:

1 - Do a Personal Spiritual Audit

Do daily and weekly reflection. How are you doing? Is there something that needs to be brought into the light and confessed and abandoned? It can be thought sin, attitudinal sin, motivational sin, or actual conduct. Sin is not only sins of commission; there are also sins of omission. What should we be saying that we're not saying? How should we be acting?

David put it this way in Psalm 139: "Lord, search me, know me, see if there's any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." We want to be open to allowing the Holy Spirit to do audit work in our lives.

Be in connection with sound core members of the body of Christ where you can develop trust and communication, fighting for each other, helping each other win. As James 5 says, "Confess your sins to one another so that you may be healed." There is power in that. There is victory.

2 - Be Self-Aware and Notice Footholds

Notice footholds in your life. Is there bitterness, anger, any kind of repeated compromise? What is your speech like? What are you doing or not doing that you should be? How are you relating to people?

Identify areas where the enemy is trying to get a hook into you, trying to get a door open into your life. In Genesis 4, when God confronts Cain, He says, "Sin is at the door and its desire is for you."

In the Hebrew language, it's a word picture of a crazed animal that can hurt you. God said, "Its desire is for you. But you must master it."

That thing is not to dominate you and me. We are to dominate it. Everything is on the line. You may have some patterns you've seen in your own life where you know this is a particular weakness or vulnerability. Notice footholds.

3 - Lock the Door and Replace with Obedience

Lock down those doors. Close off those openings. Actively replace them with obedience. Use the power of confessing God's Word out loud. Use the power of praying Scripture—prayer architecture. Lay it over your life and pray the inspired, authoritative words of God.

And what about worship? Get your hands up in the air. Praise God. Declare His dominion. One of the ways we can trash-talk the enemy is finding the scriptural language that actually declares the dominion of Christ as King and speak that over the situation and over your life. What you're doing is reminding darkness what the future holds. We're on the winning side.

Use the power of God's Word. What did Jesus do in the wilderness? He used God's Word. Every time three waves of temptation came against Him, three times He confessed Scripture from Deuteronomy and declared it out loud to the enemy.

Access additional resources, prayer guides, and the full teaching at https://jesussmart.com/356

Do something today. What is one little thing today? Look for one area today and then this week that you can progressively align with God and remove footholds from the enemy in your life.

If this episode encouraged you or challenged you, share it with someone you think would value it. Subscribe to Jesus Smart everywhere podcasts are heard. We're seeking to uncover Kingdom dynamics that empower our walk with Christ. Let's live in victory, and I'll catch you next time.

Expanded show Notes & Resources: https://jesussmart.com/356

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The New Testament Like You’ve Never Seen It with Frank Viola, Part 2 (EP 355)

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:54:00 -0400

What if you could see the New Testament not just as history, but as a living story that’s still unfolding? In Part 2 of this conversation, Brian Del Turco continues with Frank Viola, bestselling author of The Untold Story of the New Testament Church. Building on Part 1, this episode dives even deeper into the context, relationships, and divine drama behind the letters of the apostles. You’ll gain a clearer view of how the early church moved with Christ—and how your own life fits into that same advancing Kingdom narrative today.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/355

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Hey there, my friend. Welcome to the podcast. This is Jesus Smart X. We're glad you're here. I'm Brian Del Turco. You're one of about 618 unique listeners in the last 28 days. Really glad you're tuning in.

This is episode 355. In episode 353, we kicked off a dynamic conversation with Frank Viola, prolific author and Christian leader, about his book The Untold Story of the New Testament Church. It’s a fresh lens on the early church—the book of Acts and the letters that followed, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and so on. If you missed part one, I recommend listening to it first, though part two flows nicely on its own.

Also, in episode 350, we explored Life in the Groove: Improvising with the Holy Spirit, looking at jazz and the parallels with walking in the Spirit. Today, in part two with Frank, we go even deeper. You’ll hear insights that could reframe how you read the New Testament, giving you context, storyline, and practical understanding for kingdom living today.

Before we dive in, I want to mention the Smart Edit newsletter. Go to jesussmart.com, sign up at the top of the homepage. It’s free, weekly, takes five minutes to read, and will help elevate your faith and influence your sphere.

Understanding the Untold Story

Without the story—the narrative of how it all fits together—we’re open to misapplying and misinterpreting Scripture. Specifically, the early church story is often misunderstood. We tend to read our own century into the New Testament, projecting our practices back onto the primitive church, which is a major mistake across denominations.

Some things stand out when the story is put together:

The Christian life was lived very differently than most Christians today practice.
The way assemblies (the Greek word ecclesiae) were planted and functioned was completely different than today’s churches.
The way ministers and church planters were trained in the first century was radically different.

People might say they were “archaic,” but if you look at how Jesus trained the 12, there are timeless principles superior to modern ministerial training.

Hands-On Leadership Development

Could you give an example of that leadership development?

It was hands-on. The disciples lived with Jesus for three years—they observed Him interacting with His Father, saw Him handle problems, watched Him lead. Then He gave them assignments and missions. Paul did the same with his team—training eight men (plus a ninth) in Ephesus for three years, in exactly the same hands-on way.

The book doesn’t make prescriptive applications. I don’t tell readers, “Do it this way.” I simply transport you into the first-century story, written in the present tense, and let you draw your own applications.

The Untold Story: Why It Matters

So the story is untold—it is what it is, right?

Yes. It’s “untold” because no one has presented Acts together with the epistles as one seamless narrative, filling in historical details. My presentation combines Luke’s account with the letters of Paul, creating a complete picture.

Applying the Story Today

So it’s seminal, almost like DNA—something readers need to contextualize in their lives, praying for guidance on how to apply it, without the book being prescriptive.

Exactly. It’s not a history book. People may think it is, but the goal is to unlock the New Testament letters with context, helping readers understand them in a fresh way. Most Christians miss much of the letters’ meaning because they don’t know the narrative behind them.

Key Takeaways

I look forward to reading more. One major insight—what would you want me to take away?

Think of the book as spiritual windshield wipers. The letters are in the book itself—you don’t need to stop and read them separately. You get the background story first, then read the letter, and it opens like a clear mountain stream.

Broad Impact

Even just one believer reading it can impact their sphere of influence.

Yes, pastors and groups are using it in bulk. You don’t need a particular theological stance—it transcends denominations, because the New Testament is one story, shared across all traditions.

Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom

From my perspective, the Holy Spirit is leading the body of Christ to reclaim the explosive gospel of the kingdom. My 2018 book, Insurgents: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, captures that. The Untold Story traces the kingdom theme from Matthew to Revelation.

I recently got an email from renowned scholar Paul Barnett praising the book as “astonishing” and “deserving to be widely used,” which was an incredible honor.

And for baseball fans, Aaron Judge has my book—he’ll read it next. So it’s reaching both academia and mainstream audiences.

Accessibility Meets Substance

The New Testament as we see it now is disjointed. We often lift verses out of context, creating doctrine or practice mistakes. This book helps correct that by giving the story, context, and continuity, preventing misapplication.

Fragmented thinking is an issue—we need thematic, integrated approaches. This book helps with that.

Closing Thoughts

Thanks, Frank, and encourage everyone to check out his resources online and in book form.

Thanks for joining us for episode 355 of Jesus Smart X. I hope this part two with Frank Viola helped you see the New Testament story and your place in it with fresh clarity. Go to the enhanced show notes at jesussmart.com/355 for links to Frank’s ministry and his book.

If you missed part one, that’s episode 353. And for a creative complement, check episode 354, Life in the Groove: Improvising with the Holy Spirit.

Grab the Smart Edit newsletter at jesussmart.com—elevate your faith, live smart.

Life in the Groove -- Improvising with the Holy Spirit (EP 354)

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:10:00 -0400

What if walking with God is about moving in rhythm with the Holy Spirit — like a jazz musician improvising in the moment? We explore what it means to live in a Heaven and Earth Jazz Jam session. Listening, responding, and co-creating with God. Drawing on Scripture, spiritual insight, and the creative lessons of jazz, we explore how to sharpen spiritual intuition and flow in unexpected moments in every area of life and work.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISOSDE TRANSCRIPT -- Life in the Groove — Improvising with the Holy Spirit (EP 354)

In this episode of Jesus Smart X Podcast, Brian Del Turco explores the idea of moving in rhythm with the Holy Spirit — like a jazz musician improvising in the moment. Drawing on Scripture, spiritual insight, and the creative lessons of jazz, we explore how to sharpen spiritual intuition, respond in unexpected moments, and co-create with God in every area of life and work.

Between Episodes: Continuing the Conversation with Frank Viola

Before diving in, Brian mentions the ongoing two-part series with Frank Viola. Episode 353, The New Testament Like You've Never Seen It, explores reading the New Testament as a single, unfolding narrative, discovering the heartbeat of the early church, and seeing how our personal life story fits into Jesus’ larger story.

Don’t forget to check out the Smart Edit newsletter at jesussmart.com.

Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly, each Thursday. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

Jazz and the Brain: A Spiritual Parallel

Listening to jazz activates nearly every part of the brain, enhancing focus, emotional depth, flexibility, and anticipation. Jazz requires us to listen actively, adapt to shifting harmonies, and respond creatively.

This is an excellent metaphor for walking with the Holy Spirit. Our relationship with God isn’t meant to be rigid or scripted. Scripture is our key signature — steady, unchanging, and true — while the Spirit invites us to improvise within that framework.

As Galatians 5:25 reminds us, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Walking with the Spirit is not marching in lockstep; it’s keeping time in a living rhythm, a cadence flowing from the Father through the Holy Spirit.

The Improvisational Life: Flowing with the Spirit

Jazz and the Spirit share a key principle: tension and release, anticipation, and responsiveness. Life with the Holy Spirit requires mental and spiritual flexibility — a readiness to pivot, adapt, and respond in a Christlike way.

As Dallas Willard taught, true discipleship is Christ in you, living through your life circumstances. This requires alertness, creativity, and continual renewal — exactly what Romans 12:2 calls the “renewing of your mind.”

Classical music offers structure, discipline, and symmetry, while jazz develops intuition, sensitivity, and improvisation. Life in the Spirit demands both: grounded truth and openness to surprise, ready to follow God’s lead in the moment.

The Heaven and Earth Jazz Jam Session

A powerful image: the Heaven and Earth jazz jam session. Just as musicians listen, respond, and create together, we are invited to move in harmony with God and with a community of believers.

This Micro Ecclesia — a small, tight-knit group — becomes a spiritual “studio” where prayer, worship, and collaboration sharpen our ability to listen to God and to one another. The Holy Spirit orchestrates, guiding the flow, rhythm, and improvisation of our lives.

Practical Ways to Improvise Spirit-Led Life

Five practical ways to cultivate this jazz-like flow with God:

Quiet Your Heart – Set aside time for stillness. Remove agendas and lists, leaving space for the Spirit to move.
Flow in Prayer – Begin praying, allowing the Holy Spirit to shift your words and thoughts. Let your prayers take unexpected directions.
Journal the “Royal Riffs” – Capture insights, nudges, or impressions from the Spirit. There is authority in recording what God reveals.
Partner with Others – Some revelations unlock only in community. Pray, worship, and move with other Spirit-led believers.
Take Spirit-Prompted Risks – Step out in faith when the Spirit calls you to speak, start, stop, or act. Trust His guidance, even in improvisation.

Each step strengthens your spiritual ear, teaching you to respond to God’s cues and to participate in the divine rhythm of life.

The Kingdom Symphony in Action

Walking with the Spirit is not about performance. It’s about partnership. The Holy Spirit leads, and we join in, improvising in sync with God’s rhythm. Ephesians 5:18-19 reminds us to be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Spontaneously, joyfully, and in harmony.

Whether in prayer, relationships, or ministry, this improvisational flow equips us to pursue God’s will on earth as it is in heaven. By listening, trusting, and playing our part, we become part of a larger Kingdom symphony, co-creating with God in real time.

Closing Thoughts

Brian encourages listeners to embrace a Heaven and Earth jazz jam session in daily life:

Listen attentively.
Respond creatively.
Trust God’s lead.
Partner with Spirit-led believers.

God has written the ultimate score of redemption, and He invites us to play within it. Life with the Holy Spirit is alive, dynamic, and deeply creative. Let’s keep in step with Him, improvise faithfully, and enjoy the melody He is creating in and through us.

Catch this episode and enhanced show notes at jesussmart.com, complete with a full transcript.

Remember: God is calling us to partner, not perform. Listen, trust, and play your part in the Kingdom Symphony.

The New Testament Like You’ve Never Seen It with Frank Viola, Part 1 (EP 353)

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 13:10:00 -0400

What if you could read the New Testament as a single, unfolding story—seeing the books in their real-life context and discovering the heartbeat of the early church? Brian Del Turco talks with Frank Viola, bestselling author of The Untold Story of the New Testament Church. You’ll see how the New Testament connects to your own storyline in Christ, as His Kingdom continues to advance today. This fresh perspective will help you unlock Scripture and your place in God’s epic narrative. Part 1 of 2.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/353

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Brian: Welcome to the podcast! Today, I’m thrilled to have Frank Viola with us to discuss his new project—a book every follower of Jesus will want to explore. Frank, how are you today?

Frank Viola: I’m doing well, Brian. I always enjoy being on your show, and I’m excited to talk about the book.

The Untold Story of the New Testament Church

Brian: I have my copy right here, and I’ve been using it… literally curling it for reps! Listeners, this is a hefty book—over 600 pages—but it’s surprisingly accessible.

Frank Viola: That’s right. Despite its size, many readers find it easy to read. The goal was never just a history lesson—it’s to unlock the New Testament, especially the epistles, in a fresh way.

Brian: So, what inspired you to take on this massive project?

Frank Viola: It goes back to when I became a believer at 16. I stumbled upon a small book that linked the Book of Acts with Paul’s letters. That exposure shaped everything. Over time, I studied New Testament chronology, influenced heavily by F.F. Bruce, and by 1998, I began constructing a full chronological account of the New Testament, filling in historical and cultural details.

Solving a Common Problem for Christians

Frank Viola: The problem many Christians face is not fully understanding the New Testament. The books aren’t arranged chronologically, and Luke’s account in Acts is highly condensed.

Add the 16th-century chapter and verse divisions, and it’s easy to misinterpret. My book reconstructs the story from Pentecost to Patmos, blending Acts with the epistles to provide context that has been missing for centuries.

Brian: That’s incredible. It’s vital for Christians to see the full storyline of the kingdom, from the early church to today.

Frank Viola: Exactly. And this approach has been endorsed by 20 preeminent New Testament scholars. It’s the first book to combine the entire narrative chronologically with full citations, based on up-to-date scholarship.

Challenges and Approach

Brian: Scholars will disagree on some chronological details. Can you give an example?

Frank Viola: Sure. The dating of James’ epistle is debated. Some scholars place it before Galatians, others after. Either way, it doesn’t affect the overall narrative, which is what matters.

Brian: So, it’s about scoping and sequencing—seeing the narrative as a whole.

Frank Viola: Yes. The book organizes the 27 New Testament books, focusing on Acts to Revelation, and even includes Jesus’ story and eternity past, giving readers the full picture of God’s kingdom from beginning to end.

Making Study of the New Testament Accessible

Brian: Were there points where writing the book became particularly challenging?

Frank Viola: Definitely. Balancing scholarly accuracy with reader accessibility was tough. I wanted complex historical and cultural information to be understandable for every Christian reader.

Sourcing was also a major effort—over 2,400 footnotes, distilling insights from over 1,000 books. The goal was to create a compelling narrative that brings the New Testament to life.

Brian: It sounds like it transforms the reading experience.

Frank Viola: It does. Understanding the full story of the New Testament changed my life. When readers see the letters in context, they experience the New Testament in a way most have never imagined.

Understanding the Full Narrative

Brian: I love your analogy with LEGO.

Frank Viola: Yes! Reading the New Testament in its current order is like trying to build a dinosaur with only 400 of 600 LEGO pieces. Acts gives you the main body, but the epistles complete the picture. Only by combining them chronologically can you truly see the full story.

Brian: That really illustrates why understanding chronology and context is essential for faithful interpretation.

Frank Viola: Exactly. This book gives Christians the key to reading the New Testament as a connected, coherent narrative. It’s transformative for personal study, ministry, and understanding God’s kingdom story.

High-Impact Prayer: A Micro Ecclesia Can Transform Outcomes (Ep 352)

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:48:00 -0400

A township board said a couple might have to leave their home over a permit dispute. Instead of giving in to fear, the husband turned to a small Micro Ecclesia prayer gathering. The board voted 4–1 in their favor. We look at how Micro Ecclesia—small, Spirit-led communities—carry real Kingdom authority. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 6, we’ll see why even the smallest gatherings of believers can judge matters and shift outcomes.

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/352

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

A Testimony of God’s Intervention

Imagine this: you and your spouse have just moved into your new home. Renovations are finished, everything is in place—and then you receive troubling news. Your township informs you that the permit for your home may be invalid, and you might have to leave. Suddenly, your plans feel like they’re hanging by a thread.

What do you do? Do you panic? Do you put all your trust in attorneys, boards, and bureaucrats? Or do you turn to something far more powerful—the ekklesia, the body of Christ?

That’s exactly what one of the members of our prayer group faced this past week. His story illustrates the often-underestimated power of a small, Spirit-led community of believers.

What Is a Micro Ecclesia?

A Micro Ecclesia is a small, highly functional group of growing believers. These are people on a quest, gathering intentionally—either in person or online—for the exchange of inspired ideas and prayer.

In our group, we often focus on national and even international issues. But we also make space for personal concerns. One of our brothers, a pastor who also serves in law enforcement and education in his town, shared a pressing need: his newly purchased home was being threatened by a challenge to its building permit.

To make matters worse, someone on the township board told him, “I’ve never lost a case like this.” That’s a bold (and inflated) statement—but God was about to show His authority.

Choosing Prayer Over Panic

Instead of rushing to the public board meeting that evening, our brother prioritized joining our Micro Ecclesia prayer gathering. He and his wife had already prayed, but this time he brought the concern before the group.

We prayed with authority. We treated our gathering not as a simple prayer circle, but as a *laboratory of Kingdom authority.* We asked God to intervene.

Later that evening, while we were still praying, he received a phone call: the board had voted 4 to 1 in his favor. Against the odds. Against the boastful words of a man who claimed he never lost.

We believe this wasn’t coincidence. It was God’s intervention, honoring the decision to prioritize His house of prayer.

The Scriptural Basis of Ecclesia

The word "ecclesia" originally came from the Greeks, later adopted by the Romans. It referred to a gathering of citizens, often at the city gates, to make decisions and determine policy.

Jesus took this secular word and infused it with Kingdom meaning: *“I will build my ekklesia.”* He promised His presence and authority whenever two or more gather in His name. That’s Kingdom quorum.

The ekklesia is more than a religious service. It’s a gathering of Kingdom citizens exercising Christ’s authority on earth. Local boards, national governments, corporations, and agencies are all subject to the name above every name.

Small Gatherings with Big Impact

The Micro Ecclesia is not meant to replace the local church. Instead, it’s another layer of Kingdom affiliation. In our group of just six people, six different churches are represented.

What happens in these small circles? We leave space for the Holy Spirit. We improvise in prayer, following His lead, sometimes into areas we never anticipated. Over time, as a group grows together, it learns to discern the Spirit’s leading with greater precision.

And as we saw in this testimony, these gatherings are not powerless. They carry weight in the Spirit that can affect real-world outcomes.

A Kingdom Call-to-Action

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6, challenging believers not to rely solely on secular courts for judgment, but to trust the wisdom and authority of the Ecclesia. He reminded us that one day believers will even judge angels.

That authority begins now. Micro Ecclesia gatherings are a rehearsal for the Kingdom authority we will fully exercise with Christ in the age to come.

This testimony shows that even small, earthly matters are not too small for God. When we prioritize His Kingdom, He takes care of our house.

Takeaway

Don’t underestimate the power of a small gathering of believers. Ask the Holy Spirit to connect you with one or two others and begin shaping a Micro Ecclesia. Bring your concerns to God, exchange them for His wisdom, and watch how He moves.

It doesn’t need to be formal. It doesn’t need to be large. But it can be powerful. When Kingdom citizens gather, things happen.

And to the man who boasted that he had “never lost a case like this”? He lost. Because the true authority rests with Jesus Christ and his Ecclesia.

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I’d love to hear your thoughts. Send me a message at brian.delturco@proton.me.

And if you know someone who would benefit from the theme in this episode, share it with them.

By Faith We Understand: Accessing Jesus’ Intelligence in Daily Life (Ep 351)

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:34:00 -0400

Faith unlocks understanding. In this episode, we explore how to access Jesus’ intelligence in daily life — from navigating challenges to making smart decisions. Discover why trusting in wisdom from above surpasses human reasoning. Real knowledge of the Holy One is the ultimate source of insight and understanding for life.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: jesussmartx.captivate.fm/episode/by-faith-we-understand-accessing-jesus-intelligence-in-daily-life-ep-351

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

The Backdrop of a Turbulent World

As I record this episode on September 18, 2025, it has been a tumultuous stretch in America and around the globe. Our world is broken and in desperate need of the regeneration Jesus promised — the new heavens and the new earth.

Recent events highlight this brokenness. America was shaken by the political assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. In Charlotte, North Carolina, a young Ukrainian woman was brutally murdered on a subway. London saw unprecedented crowds protesting the government, demanding change. In Nepal, younger generations rose up, burned the parliament building, and forced out corrupt leadership. All of this unfolds against the backdrop of war between Russia and Ukraine.

These are just a few flashpoints, but they raise the question: how do we process what’s happening? How do we interpret the swirl of events, both globally and in our own lives?

Faith as the Highest Understanding

Hebrews 11:3 tells us that “by faith we understand.”

Faith is not blind — it is the highest form of understanding. There are realities that human reasoning alone cannot fully grasp. Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

The Hebrew word for “understanding” carries the sense of discernment or insight — perceiving what is really happening. We are warned not to rely on our own insight but to acknowledge God intimately, and He promises to smooth out our path.

We Go Beyond Human Reason

Modern culture often exalts the human mind. Think of the Enlightenment and the famous phrase cogito ergo sum — “I think, therefore I am.”

Reason has value, but our supreme allegiance is not to our ability to think. It is to God Himself. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One brings true understanding.

Dallas Willard, in The Divine Conspiracy, reminds us that Jesus is the smartest person who ever lived.

He transformed water into wine, fed thousands with a few loaves and fish, calmed storms, and even raised the dead. He is the cognitive and practical master of all reality — physical, moral, and spiritual. To say “Jesus is Lord” must also mean acknowledging that Jesus is brilliant. He continues to oversee human history.

Wisdom That Penetrates Every Circumstance

A.W. Tozer wrote that Jesus is the "ultimate strategist, the perfect thinker, the one whose wisdom orders all things." John Piper has said that "Jesus’ intelligence is not abstract but always practical — it penetrates every circumstance."

This means He understands international conflicts, cultural upheavals, and national policies. But He also understands your personal challenges: family struggles, work frustrations, opportunities, and decisions.

From the macro of world events to the micro of our individual lives, his wisdom applies.

Faith Opens Our Perception

The Greek New Testament word for understanding, sýnesis, literally means “putting things together.”

Faith enables the Holy Spirit to help us see how the pieces of life fit together. Pattern recognition is one of the highest forms of intelligence, and through faith, God opens our eyes to see patterns, contours, and outlines of what He is doing — even if not yet in full clarity.

All of God’s people are prophetic in this sense, because the "testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10). The Holy Spirit within us helps us perceive and sense our way forward into the future.

Wisdom from Above

James 1 encourages us to ask God for wisdom in trials, and James 3 distinguishes between earthly wisdom and wisdom from above. Earthly wisdom is natural and even demonic. Wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, humble, and willing to yield.

We are not left groping in the dark. We have access to the One who knows the end from the beginning. Instead of saying, “I think, therefore I am,” our allegiance can be, “I belong to God, therefore I am.” "In Him we live, move, and have our being" (Acts 17).

By Faith, We Understand

Ultimately, understanding is more than data — it is spiritual discernment. The highest form of knowledge is the knowledge of the Holy One. There are puzzles and conundrums we cannot solve on our own, but by faith we understand.

So what are the top three challenges you’re facing right now? Instead of leaning on your own understanding, bring them to Jesus, the smartest man who ever lived. He will get into the mix. He will sway your thinking, shape your judgment, and smooth your path.

A Closing Prayer

Holy Spirit, illuminate our minds. Father, grant us Your wisdom. By faith, we understand. Teach us to acknowledge you in all things so that our paths are made straight.

My friend, in Jesus, you are a solver. Don’t be intimidated by the so-called elites or power brokers of this world. They have made a mess of things.

But you have the Holy Spirit, you carry God’s voice within you, and you can grow in the Word, in resonance with Him, and in being led by His Spirit.

Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement. And don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, the Smart Edit, at JesusSmart.com.

The Jericho Dynamic -- Prophetic Keys to Enter Your Promised Land (Ep 350)

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 13:05:00 -0400

Jericho was more than a military victory—it was a prophetic gateway into the Promised Land. Today, the same God who caused the walls to fall is calling you to silence doubt, lift a faith-filled shout, and step into new territory. The blueprint at Jericho can guide you in overcoming obstacles, align with covenant promises, and step boldly into the story He’s writing through your life.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Hey friend, welcome to the podcast! Brian Del Turco here with Jesus Smart X. Today I want to talk about something I’m calling the Jericho Test—or what I also think of as the explosive Jericho strategy.

It’s a biblical pattern that opens the way to promise. The truth is, each of us will face these kinds of tests as we pursue the promises of God in our personal world, our assignment, and our sphere of influence. Passing them not only glorifies God but also contributes to the greater Jesus story—the unfurling of His kingdom.

Success, God’s way

This is episode 350. Can you believe it? In the last episode—episode 349, Success, God’s Way—I talked about the importance of principles, push, and tact. We need sound kingdom principles, but we also need energy (push) and wisdom (tact) so things don’t derail. If you haven’t caught that one yet, I encourage you to go back and listen.

Facing the Jericho Test

In the Old Testament, God’s people stood at the edge of promise after 40 years in the wilderness. To transition into the land flowing with milk and honey, they had to face Jericho—the first major city in their conquest of Canaan (Joshua 6).

Jericho wasn’t ordinary. It was built on a hill, with two massive walls—an outer wall six feet thick and an inner wall twelve feet thick. Houses were even built into the structure. With no tanks or explosives, cities like this usually took months to conquer. But God gave Joshua and Israel a genius strategy that overturned human expectations.

The Jericho Test reminds us that before we move into God’s promises, there are obstacles we must face in faith.

Patterns and Precedents

Paul wrote in Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” The Old Testament is full of patterns and precedents that point to Christ and teach us how to walk in the New Covenant.

The glory of the New Covenant far surpasses the Old. What Israel experienced at Jericho was remarkable, but what we have in Christ is even greater. As Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

Encounter with the Commander

Before the battle, Joshua encountered a man with a drawn sword—what scholars call a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ (Joshua 5). Joshua fell on his face before the Commander of the Lord’s armies. Just as Moses had to remove his sandals before the burning bush, Joshua was told he was standing on holy ground.

This encounter shows us something essential: before we face our Jericho, we must position ourselves before the Commander to receive His directives.

Silence, Then the Shout

God’s strategy was unusual: Israel was to march around Jericho in silence for six days, with only the priests blowing ram’s horns. On the seventh day, they were to shout—and the walls collapsed. Archaeological evidence suggests the walls may have been pushed straight down into the ground, opening the way for Israel to ascend into the city.

Why silence first? Because Israel’s downfall in the wilderness was their grumbling and complaining. God shut their mouths for six days to discipline their words. Then, at the appointed time, their shout of faith released angelic activity and brought the walls down.

Psalm 118:15 says, “The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.” When our tents—our lives—are filled with joyful shouting, God’s right hand moves in power.

Four Takeaways from Jericho

Here are four takeaways we can apply today:

Seek fresh encounters with the Commander. Make His directives your priority. Position yourself to hear from Him.
Audit your signal-to-noise ratio. Filter out external noise from people and circumstances, as well as internal noise from fear and doubt. Amplify God’s true signal in your life.
Release your shout of praise. Don’t underestimate the power of declaring God’s promises with faith. Your shout is greater than the noise.
Expect God to ascend over your affairs. Psalm 68:1 says, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered.” As your life-shout increases, anticipate God rising over your specific challenges and opportunities.

Stepping Into Promise

As you engage this kingdom dynamic, you’ll progressively possess the land of promise God has destined for you. This isn’t about personal aggrandizement—it’s about His glory and the unfolding of His story through your life.

Paul writes in Ephesians 1:3 that we’ve already been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. The key is committing to the Commander’s directives and releasing a higher sound that God inhabits and angels respond to.

Closing Thoughts

This has been episode 350 of Jesus Smart: The Podcast. Do you know someone who would be encouraged by this? Share it with them—it could be the spark they need.

And I’d love to invite you to the Smart Edit, my weekly email. It’s a five-minute read designed to elevate your faith and help you make an impact. You can sign up free at JesusSmart.com.

Thanks for listening—I’ll catch you next time.

The Triad of Success: Principles, Push, and Tact in the Christian Life (Ep 349)

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 07:53:00 -0400

What does it really take to succeed God’s way? In this episode of JesusSmartX, we highlight biblical success principles that move you beyond theory into real results. True success isn’t about hustle alone — it’s about aligning with a Kingdom mindset and living Spirit-led.

We’ll break down the pattern of Principles → Push → Tact:

Principles: unshakable, Biblical first truths that set the foundation for success.
Push: Spirit-empowered drive to overcome inertia, resistance, and fear.
Tact: God’s wisdom in timing, tone, and method that transforms raw effort into fruitful outcomes.

When these three elements align, you unlock faith and success in your life, relationships, and calling. If you’re ready to break through resistance and live with purpose, this will equip you with biblical keys to good success.

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to the podcast, my friend. Brian Del Turco here with the Jesus Smart X podcast.

Have you ever had the right idea about something but just couldn’t seem to move it forward? Or maybe you pushed hard toward something only to realize the timing or tone was off, and it just didn’t work.

It’s a familiar struggle. We can have the right principles, but without the right kind of push, those principles don’t carry us forward. On the other hand, if we push without tact, we risk damaging relationships, squandering opportunities, and blowing everything up.

When these three elements—principles, push, and tact—come together, that’s when we step into what the Bible calls good success. And that’s our focus for today.

Good Success

The world measures success by numbers, influence, possessions, or comparisons. But true kingdom success looks different. It bears the mark of Christ. It’s rooted in Him, it produces fruit that remains, and it becomes a testimony to others—pointing them to the hope of Jesus and His everlasting kingdom.

This kind of success is both eternal and practical. It shows up in the now, in your life and work, and it points people to Christ.

Principle #1: Live from First Principles

The starting point is principles—God’s truth.

Jesus taught that the wise person builds their house on the rock. That rock is Christ Himself, along with obedience to His sayings. Kingdom principles are those foundation stones—values, realities, and truths—that cannot be compromised.

If we don’t start with God’s principles, everything else is misaligned. It’s like leaning your ladder against the wrong building. You might climb high, but eventually you realize it’s not where you wanted to go.

Principle #2: Push with Faith and Holy Drive

Principles alone don’t move the needle. At some point, we need to push forward in faith.

James says that faith without works is dead. Real faith involves movement. It requires effort and holy drive, energized by the Spirit.

Paul described it this way: “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).

This isn’t about performing to earn God’s favor. It’s about stewarding the calling He’s given us, pressing forward with His energy and strength.

But if we push without wisdom or sensitivity, we can squander opportunity. Which brings us to the third principle.

Principle #3: Tact—Timing, Tone, and Method

Tact is Spirit-led timing, tone, and method. It’s knowing how to apply principles and energy in the right way, at the right moment.

Think of Jesus. Though He carried divine authority, He never bulldozed people.

Instead, He always had the right word, the right touch, at the right time. He moved with both power and tact, in perfect sync with His Father.

Scripture tells us:

“He makes all things beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6).

Without tact, we risk hurting others, damaging our witness, and wasting time. But with tact, the Spirit transforms raw drive into fruitful outcomes.

Weaving It All Together

So here’s the framework: principles + push + tact. Miss one, and success falters.

Some of us lean heavy on principles, but we struggle to act.

Others push hard, but without tact, we bruise relationships and squander opportunities.

The Spirit invites us into balance—living from Christ-centered principles, moving forward with Spirit-empowered push, and applying Spirit-led tact.

Here’s a Prayer You Might Make Your Own

Holy Spirit, illuminate kingdom principles from Jesus for my life and calling. Empower me to push forward with Your strength. And give me Spirit-led tact—the timing, tone, and strategy—to walk fruitfully in Your story.

When these three elements are woven together, we step into good success under God’s hand.

Closing Thoughts

Friend, I believe this framework can change how you approach your work, relationships, and spiritual growth. It’s about building on Christ, pressing forward with His energy, and moving with Spirit-led tact.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who might need it. And if you’d like to go deeper, join me through the Smart Edit e-letter, my free weekly email. Just visit JesusSmart.com.

Drop in your email, and you’ll start receiving fresh insights and encouragement to live at a higher level in Christ.

Thanks for listening—I appreciate you, and I look forward to next time.

Your Prayer Potential + Cottage Cheese Hack for Wellness (Ep 348)

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 11:39:00 -0400

We explore the staggering potential you have in prayer—accessing the Father with Christ’s perfection, legal standing, and firstborn rights as a co-heir.

Plus, in our Smart Wellness segment, discover why a simple ½ cup of cottage cheese before bed can protect muscle, fuel metabolism, and support fat loss. All while you sleep. A Kingdom key for your spirit … and a small habit that strengthens your body.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/348

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to Jesus Smart X the Podcast! I’m Brian Del Turco, and I’m glad you’re here.

Today we’re talking about living with a sense of omnipotency in prayer. Of course, we’re not God—but because prayer connects us to the limitless, all-powerful God, it has no limits. When we pray, we’re partnering with His power and presence.

This theme is drawn from the Smart Edit Newsletter. If you’re not yet on the list, you can sign up at JesusSmart.com

Upcoming Podcast Guests

We have some excellent guests on the horizon ...

Gary Ingram from the Love and Truth Network will join us to discuss gender confusion, restoration, and biblical truth. He brings both expertise and personal life experience to this critical topic.

Frank Viola—a tremendous author and thinker who has deeply influenced me through his writing and mentoring—will also be back on the show.

If you missed recent episodes, check out:

Kingdom Forward: Living on the Leading Edge of the King’s Story

Faith Gains: Why Resistance Strengthens Your Spirit

Prayer = Living Without Limits

A Puritan once said: “In prayer, I have a sense of omnipotency.”

He wasn’t claiming to be God, but he recognized that when we partner with God in prayer, His limitless power is directed toward us.

Paul writes in Ephesians 1 that as we grow in the spirit of wisdom and revelation, we can know “the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe.” Prayer taps into that reality.

Here are three key truths about why prayer has no limits:

1. Prayer Gives Us Access to God's Throne

Through Christ, we have legal standing before the Father. His righteousness clothes us, quenching every accusation and giving us confidence to approach God’s throne. Prayer isn’t about twisting God’s arm—it’s about stepping into the access Jesus secured for us.

2. Prayer Carries Legal Authority

When we pray in Jesus’ name, it’s not just a tag at the end of our request. Jesus gave us His name as legal authority—as if holding His power of attorney before heaven’s court. This means we can act in His stead, backed by His rights and inheritance.

3. Prayer Joins Us to Christ's Firstborn Rights

Scripture says we are co-heirs with Christ. When we pray, we do so in partnership with Jesus’ firstborn privileges over all creation. That authority extends over people, systems, organizations, and even nations.

Don’t shrink your prayers down to your own resources—pray bold, big prayers that align with God’s will.

Prayer is limitless because it connects us to the limitless God. As James wrote (4:2), “You do not have because you do not ask.”

Let’s not leave blessings, breakthroughs, and opportunities on the table simply because we failed to pray.

A Wellness Bonus: The Cottage Cheese Bedtime Boost

Now for a surprising health tip I’ve been practicing—straight from my wellness journey after dealing with shingles earlier this year.

Since then, with God’s help and some lifestyle changes, I’ve lost 30 pounds and gained muscle. One of the small but powerful practices I’ve discovered: eating a half cup of low-fat cottage cheese before bed.

Here’s why it works:

Cottage cheese contains casein protein, which digests slowly and provides a steady release of amino acids overnight.

One key amino acid, leucine, signals the body to preserve and rebuild muscle tissue while you rest.

When paired with proper sleep rhythms and by shutting down the kitchen after 7 p.m. (to avoid insulin spikes), cottage cheese helps your body release human growth hormone (HGH) naturally.

The result: better recovery, stronger muscles, fat burning during sleep, and improved overall metabolic health.

This is about stewarding the body God gave us. Jesus cares about every domain of life—our bodies, minds, relationships, finances, and more.

Wellness is part of God’s design for human flourishing.

Final Encouragement

God invites us to pray bold prayers because His power is without limits. At the same time, He calls us to steward our lives wisely—including our health. Prayer and practical wisdom go hand in hand.

As Jeremiah 31:25-26 says: “I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul… and my sleep was sweet to me.”

May your prayers grow bold and your sleep be sweet.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that prayer is limitless. And maybe they could use a cottage cheese tip too!

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Smart Edit Newsletter for weekly insights at JesusSmart.com.

Kingdom Forward: Living on the Leading Edge of the King’s Story (Ep 347)

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:06:00 -0400

What does it mean to live Kingdom Forward? In this short, high-impact episode of JesusSmartX, discover how to align every decision, relationship, and prayer with the King’s agenda. Drawing from John 3 and Matthew 6:33, we explore how to seek first God’s Kingdom, live ahead, and advance His reign in real life — flourishing, now and forever.

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter -- Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Life on the Leading Edge of God’s Kingdom

Welcome to the Jesus Smart X Podcast. I’m Brian Del Turco, and here we quest to explore life on the leading edge of God’s kingdom. This isn’t just a belief system—it’s a dynamic reality we step into through the born-again experience (John 3, Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus). From there, it’s a process of growth, discipleship, and development.

A professor once explained it to me as punctiliar versus process: a point in time versus a continuing line. Entering the kingdom begins at a moment—conversion—but then becomes a lifelong process of growth in Christ.

From Tech Forward to Kingdom Forward

Recently, while on a fitness walk, I was listening to a podcast where a guest described people and companies as "tech forward"—early adopters leaning into technology. That phrase struck me. What if we thought of our lives as kingdom forward?

A kingdom forward person leans into God’s reign. They seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Their mindset, values, and decisions align with the King’s agenda, not with cultural trends or even religious habits.

Why the Kingdom Matters Now

In North America and Europe, many Christians tend to approach faith as “churchianity” or simply “getting to heaven.” But Jesus said we must be born again to see and enter the Kingdom (John 3).

This kingdom is not a side hustle. It’s the organizing principle for all of life.

The Greeks searched for the organizing principle of reality and called it the Logos. John takes that concept and applies it to Christ: Jesus is the Logos. Everything is created by Him, sustained by Him, and moving toward Him.

What It Means to Live "Kingdom Forward"

Being kingdom forward means syncing our story with the Jesus story.

Allowing our values, decisions, and relationships to be shaped by the King’s agenda.
Asking in every challenge or opportunity: "What action right now most advances God’s reign?"
Leveraging opportunities not for ego or competition but for the advancement of Christ’s story.

Living this way positions us for blessing and alignment with God’s purposes.

God Loves All—But He Likes Kingdom Forward People

Here’s a challenging thought: God loves all His children, but I believe He especially delights in those who are Kingdom forward. Those who seek His reign first are playing on a different field. They live ahead—carrying the King’s priorities into every space of life.

A Kingdom Forward Prayer

King Jesus, I choose to seek first Your kingdom and the Father’s righteousness. Holy Spirit, align my steps, words, and thoughts. Advance Your reign in me, through me, and around me. I trust You to add everything designed for me as I prioritize Your kingdom. Amen.

Live Ahead: The Kingdom Is Coming

Friends, history is moving toward Christ. He is returning with the fullness of His kingdom—the millennium, a new heavens and a new earth. The life we live now is a seed of what’s to come. Live ahead. Wake up each day with the kingdom first, always.

If this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend.

Faith Gains: Why Your Spirit Needs Resistance to Grow (Ep 346)

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:02:00 -0400

Just like muscles need resistance to grow, your faith needs tests to develop. In this short episode, discover how challenges are God’s signals to develop your spirit and advance you to the next level in Christ.

Don’t just survive the pressure—train through it. God is preparing you for greater things.

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to the Jesus Smart x Podcast, Episode 346. I’m Brian Del Turco, and today we’re talking about faith gains—why your spirit needs resistance to grow. Think of this episode as a short, punchy kingdom protein shake for your spiritual life.

Just like the body needs weights and resistance to develop, your spirit grows when it encounters challenges. Let’s explore how trials, tests, and even spiritual warfare can actually serve as catalysts designed to strengthen our spirit.

The Body Thrives on Resistance

In fitness, you don’t get stronger by lifting air. Runners don’t improve by jogging in place. Muscles need weight, lungs need exertion, and the body adapts when faced with stress.

Lift heavier weights, walk faster, or surprise your body with something new—rucking with a weighted vest, or mixing intervals into your walk. These fresh, novel signals push the body to adapt and grow. Without them, the body atrophies.

It's the Same with Our Spirit

Here’s the connection: your new life in Christ is designed to grow under a load. Under resistance. Your spirit is like a muscle. It only develops when it’s tested. Trials, obstacles, and pressures aren’t meant to crush you ... they’re opportunities to be trained by God.

Colossians 3:10 says we “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” Your new nature is dynamic, not static. Just as the body responds to weight training, your new man is renovated and renewed when tested.

Trials Are Growth Signals

James 1:2–4 reminds us to “count it all joy” when facing trials, because the testing of our faith produces endurance. And endurance leads to maturity, becoming complete, lacking nothing.

God is not trying to break you. He’s training you. Every challenge (and even an opportunity that requires faith) is a faith workout. When you see trials as invitations rather than interruptions, you shift into growth mode.

Takeaways for Faith Training

Shift your view — See tests as opportunities to grow, not as obstacles to avoid.
Lean into resistance — Pray, declare God’s Word, and obey His leading through the challenge.
Track your progress — Notice how your faith, peace, and endurance increase through past trials.
Don’t just survive resistance. Train through it. Let it shape you into a strong, mature follower of Christ.

The Joy Beyond the Test

Hebrews says Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before Him.” Likewise, your trials are not the end. They’re the path to joy and fruitfulness.

So lean into the resistance. Train through the trial. Let God turn your test into a testimony and your faith into strength.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that no trial is beyond us and no resistance is wasted. Train us through every challenge. Give us joy, steadfast faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Make us more complete in Christ, fruitful in every good work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Is the Micro Ecclesia God’s New Mega Move? (Ep 345)

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:35:00 -0400

Is the future of the Church small and powerful? In this episode, we unpack the rise of the Micro Ecclesia and why it may be Heaven’s disruptive blueprint for cultural transformation. Could the Holy Spirit be breathing on a grassroots model of spiritual governance—relational, agile, and infused with Kingdom power?

Jesus co-opted a secular term, “ecclesia,” and filled it with Heaven’s DNA and authority. Now, that ancient design may be reemerging as a city-on-a-hill movement built to shape culture.

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast. Each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to the Jesus Smart Podcast. I’m Brian Del Turco, and today I want to explore a big question: Is the "Micro Ecclesia" the real mega as far as Jesus is concerned?

Could something original, radical, and deeply powerful be recaptured by Jesus today—something that truly moves the needle in culture, justice, and society? Something that embodies what Jesus meant when He spoke of salt, light, and a city on a hill?

This idea might stretch you. For some, it will ignite fresh excitement. For others, it may raise big question marks. And that’s okay. This is a discovery journey, and I invite you to walk it with me.

Jesus Redefines "Ecclesia"

In Matthew 16, Jesus takes His disciples into Caesarea Philippi, a region steeped in paganism and idol worship. Standing before a massive rock facade, He asks them: “Who do you say that I am?”

Peter answers: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus responds: “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it.”

But here’s the key: the word Jesus used wasn’t “church” as we think of it—steeples, services, and Sunday mornings. The word was Ecclesia, a term from the Greco-Roman world that described an assembly of citizens empowered to make decisions and extend the culture of the empire.

Jesus took this secular institution, infused it with kingdom DNA, and declared that His Ecclesia would overcome the very portals of hell.

What Is "Micro Ecclesia"?

The Ecclesia isn’t about buildings or religious services—it’s about people with kingdom authority. Jesus validated this when He said in Matthew 18:20: “Where two or three gather in my name, I am there in their midst.”

That’s the kingdom quorum: just two or three authentically gathered in His name carries His headship and authority. This is what we mean by a Micro Ecclesia ... a small Kingdom gathering with massive spiritual potential.

It’s salt and light. It’s leaven in the culture. It’s not confined to four walls or one weekly service.

Salt, Light, and Culture

Early believers wouldn’t have thought of “church” as a building or liturgy. They would have understood Ecclesia as an assembly carrying the presence and authority of King Jesus—just as Roman citizens carried the authority of their emperor wherever they met (a concept called coventus in the Latin).

Imagine how this translates today. Small, Spirit-led gatherings in homes, workplaces, schools, or even coffee shops becoming outposts of kingdom influence.

Education, business, government, arts, media, family. These are all domains where Micro Ecclesia can permeate culture with the life of Christ.

Recovering Jesus' Original Design

Throughout history, Jesus has restored fresh dimensions of His design for His people. Could Micro Ecclesia be one of those rediscoveries today? Yes, fringe expressions may pop up, but that shouldn’t cause us to dismiss the heart of what Jesus is building.

This is not about churchianity or tradition. It’s about aligning with Jesus’ architecture for His people. Like Abraham, we’re seeking the city whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11).

Apostles and Kingdom Builders

Jesus also co-opted the term apostle—not a religious word in His day. An apostolos (Greek) was an admiral leading a fleet, carrying materials and people to build a new colony that looked like Rome.

Likewise, apostolic people in the kingdom are builders, pioneers, and makers. They are those who extend heaven’s culture into new territories. Philippi and Thessalonica were Roman colonies.

The church in those cities were a kingdom colony of heaven.

What About Today?

So what does this mean for us?

If you’re in education, find two or three who will pray and ideate together for kingdom influence in that space.
If you’re in business, government, media, or the arts, begin to gather in His name with other Christ-followers who share that sphere.
Think of your influence as a kingdom career. A parallel calling that extends far beyond your profession.

Like Paul’s handkerchiefs in Acts 19, even ordinary things we touch can become vehicles of transformation when saturated with the presence of God. What could you touch that drives away darkness and brings healing into your sphere?

Closing Thought

The Micro Ecclesia may just be the real mega. Not because of size, but because of alignment with Jesus’ original vision. Accurate alignment is conducive to his authority.

I invite you to explore this with me. Share this episode with friends. Whether they love the idea, feel curious, or even think it’s heresy! Let’s stir the conversation.

Jesus is brilliant, and whatever He builds is truly awesome. Walk with Him, and you’ll catch His brilliance in your own unique way.

Sleep Your Way to a Healthy Brain (Ep 344)

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:35:00 -0400

Your brain is a masterpiece — the most complex organ in the universe, using up to 25% of your body’s energy. But by day’s end, it’s cluttered with waste. Sleep isn’t just rest. It’s divine design for deep renewal.

In this episode, discover why sleep is your secret weapon for brain health and spiritual clarity. We’ll explore the power of the glymphatic system (your brain’s “night crew”) and why consistent sleep is more vital than even diet and exercise.

Focus points include:

The brain’s need to detox daily
How sleep deprivation hijacks your health
What the glymphatic system does while you rest
God's smart design for body, mind, and spirit

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart/344

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode woke something up in you (pun intended 😄), share it with someone who’s ready to live clearer, healthier, and more aligned with God’s best.

Be sure to follow the podcast. Each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Hey there, my friend. Welcome back to the podcast. This is Brian Del Turco with the Jesus Smart X Podcast, episode 344.

First, an apology—it’s been about three weeks since the last episode. Life has been a little crazy, but we’re back on track. This weekly podcast is meant to release consistently, and we’re tightening that up moving forward.

Today’s episode is a little different. I’m sharing a little research I did and a short article I wrote on JesusSmart.com: Sleeping Our Way to a Better Brain.

I truly believe God gives us wisdom for every dimension of life.

When Solomon asked for wisdom in the Old Testament, it wasn’t abstract philosophy. It was practical, skillful wisdom for living—how to make judgments, how to govern, even insights into nature and the created order. That same kind of wisdom is available to us today.

The Most Complex Matter in the Universe

Your brain is the most complex matter in the universe. At just 2–3 pounds, it consumes 20–25% of your total energy—oxygen, nutrients, and fuel. But with such high energy use comes waste.

By the end of a busy day filled with thousands of thoughts, conversations, and decisions, your brain literally accumulates waste products. If that waste isn’t cleared, your brain underperforms. Over time, it can even open the door to serious issues like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

This is why protecting and cleansing your brain is critical—not only for long-term health, but so you can think sharply and finish strong in your calling.

Three Keys to a Cleaner, Stronger Brain

Researchers highlight three lifestyle habits that help your brain clear waste and stay healthy:

Regular exercise. Walking, running, aerobic movement, resistance training—all of these support brain health.

Maintaining healthy blood pressure. High blood pressure harms the brain. Medication may be necessary at times, but lifestyle shifts like diet and exercise can also make a difference.

A brain-friendly diet. Vegetables, healthy fats, and antioxidants are key. Think olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, nuts. Avoid seed oils like canola or soybean oil, which damage the body and brain.

But the biggest factor may surprise you ...

Quality Sleep: Your Brain's Secret Weapon

Sleep is your brain’s hidden advantage. Yet in the U.S., 30% of adults and two-thirds of adolescents are chronically sleep-deprived. This impacts memory, learning, mood, and overall health.

Adults need 7–8 hours of sleep a night. Adolescents may need up to 10. Anything less risks not only cognitive decline but also inflammation, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.

Why is sleep so essential? Because that’s when your body’s glymphatic system kicks in.

Think of it as the overnight cleaning crew God designed for your brain. This system flushes out toxins, metabolic waste, and damaged proteins, replacing dirty fluid with clean.

When you shortchange your sleep, you shortchange your brain’s cleansing cycle. Over time, toxicity builds, performance drops, and disease risk increases.

Spiritual Warfare and Rest

This isn’t just biology—it’s spiritual too.

Sleep deprivation can be a form of spiritual warfare. Psalm 127 reminds us that unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain. It also promises that God gives his beloved sleep. Or even gives to his beloved in their sleep.

Good sleep is a gift, but we must steward it with practical habits:

Consistent sleep and wake times
Minimizing screen time before bed
A cool, dark room (or white noise, if needed)
Prayer and meditation before sleep

Do these things, and ask the Lord to bless your rest.

Shalom and Holistic Well-Being

Experts say sleep is the single most important factor in total well-being. On top of that foundation, you can build exercise, nutrition, and stress management.

The Old Testament word shalom goes beyond “peace.” It means wholeness, flourishing, nothing missing, nothing broken.

That’s what God desires for you ... full well-being, including your brain health.

A Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for fearfully and wonderfully making us. You’ve designed our bodies with recovery systems and cleansing capacities. We ask for the discipline to live wisely—eating well, moving our bodies, managing stress, and protecting our sleep. Grant us strong, clear minds to serve You for the long haul. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Share This Episode

This is episode 344 of the Jesus Smart X Podcast. You can read the companion article on the site here: Sleeping Our Way to a Better Brain.

Do you know someone who struggles with sleep or is passionate about wellness? Share this episode with them. Sleep is one of the most overlooked yet essential keys to brain health, spiritual vitality, and overall well-being.

Remember, Jesus knows how human flourishing works. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to the right resources, people, and practices for your next steps. He will guide you into greater wisdom.

Until next time, stay Jesus smart.

“Don’t Mention the Holy Spirit”—What These Iranian Women Were Told In American Churches (Ep 343)

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:08:00 -0400

Iranian Christian women, imprisoned for their faith, were urged by some American churches and publishers: “Please don’t speak about the Holy Spirit.” But for them, the Holy Spirit wasn’t a side note. He was central. He sustained them through persecution and gave them supernatural strength, guidance, and peace.

Why is much of the American Church hesitant, even resistant, to embrace the full-spectrum, present-day ministry of the Holy Spirit we see in the New Testament? Has a theological cognitive bias dulled our spiritual edge?

In this episode, we press into the tension between charismatic Christianity and the often rational, stripped-down theology of the West. And we ask: What can the persecuted church teach us about walking in the power of the Holy Spirit?

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode woke something up in you (pun intended 😄), share it with someone who’s ready to live clearer, healthier, and more aligned with God’s best.

Be sure to follow the podcast. Each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

----------

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Not everyone in American churches knows and experiences true Christianity. That reality was driven home in a recent panel discussion featuring three Iranian women who endured prison for their faith in Christ. Their testimony is both sobering and inspiring.

They remind us that we must value our freedom as American Christians—and use it. Our freedom is not just for personal enjoyment but to be a voice for the persecuted church worldwide.

These women shared that the only thing that sustained them in prison was their faith and the present ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The panel, Stories from Religious Freedom and the Growth of the Underground Church, was hosted on the Family Research Council website (FRC.org). I’ll link to it on the show notes page at JesusSmart.com.

One of the women was arrested and detained in a men’s detention center in 2009. That same year, the other two were imprisoned for promoting Christianity. They spent 259 days in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. Although sentenced to death, they were eventually cleared and released under international pressure.

Their stories, however, are not unique. Open Doors USA ranks Iran as the ninth worst country in the world for Christian persecution. (I’ll link to their resource on the show notes page as well.)

A Message to the American Church

The Iranian women explained that when they moved to the United States, they assumed it was a Christian nation. But soon they realized that not everyone believes in Jesus—or even understands true Christianity.

They compared it to Iran, where most people are born Muslim but may never read the Quran or deeply know their faith. In the U.S., many are born into Christian culture without a personal relationship with Christ.

Their message to the American church is clear: appreciate the freedom you have. The ability to worship freely, sing loudly, and gather openly is a precious gift.

But freedom should not be hoarded. It must be used to advocate for those who have none.

As one woman said, persecution could one day come to free nations, and then we may find ourselves needing the prayers and support of others.

How Can the Holy Spirit Be Silenced?

One striking part of their story is how often they were asked—by churches and even a Christian publisher—to avoid talking about the Holy Spirit. They refused.

“The only thing that really helped us in prison to stand in our faith was the Holy Spirit,” one said. “How can we not talk about Him?”

Their testimony reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not optional. He is central to survival and victory in persecution, and in everyday life.

A Theological Bias Against the Full Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today?

I believe we are living in the era of the Holy Spirit since Christ. And yet, much of the American church resists embracing His full ministry.

There is what I call a theological cognitive bias against the Holy Spirit’s work. Some seem to teach that He has been largely inactive for the last 1,500 years, reduced only to helping us interpret Scripture.

But that view robs us of the fullness of Christ. As Paul wrote, “The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

The New Covenant is far more glorious than the Old. Why would we believe that we have been downgraded from the first-century church—or even from Old Testament saints who saw God’s power firsthand?

The Book of Acts is not just history; it is precedent and pattern for the church age. Jesus Himself said it was to our advantage that He return to the Father so that the Spirit could be sent.

We cannot be fully Christ-centered without being fully Spirit-filled.

Remembering the Persecuted

The Iranian women urged the international community to stand up for those who suffer for their faith. Their words echo Scripture:

“Remember the prisoners as though in prison with them” (Hebrews 13.3).
“When you did it to the least of these, you did it unto Me” (Matthew 25.40).

As Christ-followers, we’re called to pray, to advocate, and to use our freedom for those who don’t have it.

Living in the Light of Christ

Jesus is brilliant and full of light. When Saul of Tarsus encountered Him on the road to Damascus, the brilliance of His presence blinded him. I find myself praying, “Lord, blind me to my natural way of seeing. Flood me with Your light and intelligence.”

The future is bright—new heavens and a new earth are coming. But even now, we can live in the light of that horizon, carrying the power and authority of Christ and His Spirit into our world.

Pt 2 of Stop Negative Thoughts: Healing Your Mind with Bruce Colbert

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:50:00 -0400

The journey to mental freedom continues. In Part 2, author and coach Bruce Colbert unpacks the six-step process to overcome negative thought patterns for good. We also explore the often-overlooked connection between your physical health and your thought life. Heart Intelligence isn’t just theory. It’s a practical, biblical pathway to renewed thinking and the abundant life Jesus offers.

👉 If this episode stirred something in you, share it with someone who’s sensing the shift and hungry for more. And be sure to follow the show—each conversation is crafted to help you live sharper, freer, and more Kingdom-centered.

Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcast

The Smart Edit newsletter -- Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level > https://thesmartedit.beehiiv.com/.

Stop Negative Thoughts: Healing Your Mind with Bruce Colbert (Ep 341)

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:09:00 -0400

Negative thought patterns can trap us in anxiety, frustration, and spiritual stagnation. In this episode, author and coach Bruce Colbert shares a step-by-step, biblical strategy to heal your mind and break free. Discover how Heart Intelligence—a scriptural key—can transform your thinking and unlock the life Jesus promises.

Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcast

From Water to the Best Wine: Jesus Upgrades the Story (Ep 340)

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:54:00 -0400

Pulled from the Smart Edit newsletter, this episode flows with a prophetic edge. We’re spotlighting a Kingdom Dynamic from John 2: the first miracle of Jesus—turning water into wine at a wedding.

But it’s more than a party trick. It’s a revelation. Jesus doesn’t just top off what’s lacking. He introduces something radically better, a new era, new wine, and a call for new wineskins.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast. Each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

In this episode of Jesus Smart X, Brian Del Turco explores the miracle at Cana — Jesus turning water into the best wine — as a prophetic picture of how Christ upgrades our lives and stories. Discover how He’s still transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary today.

What "X" Means in Jesus Smart X

Hey there, my friend. Welcome to the podcast! This is Brian Del Turco with Jesus Smart X. You might be wondering, What does the “X” stand for?

It’s actually a historical symbol for Christos (Christ) in the early church. But I also see it as representing Christ in you and you in Christ. That intersection — Jesus Christ with you, together — is where the kingdom works.

At Jesus Smart, we’ve always believed Jesus is the most brilliant person in the universe. As Dallas Willard said, He’s the “Master of molecules.” Jesus knows how to turn water into wine, heal the human body, and even pull up a fish with enough resources in its mouth to pay the tax bill.

He knows how life works best. Now and forever.

And that future? It belongs to Him. Not to the so-called “great singularity,” or to the globalist vision of a great reset.

This world will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Everything else is a counterfeit substitute.

Jesus’ message still calls out to us today: “Repent, for the kingdom of God has drawn near.” That word repent means to change your mind — and thus your lifestyle — so you can begin preparing now for the kingdom that’s coming in its fullness.

Podcast Overview and Recent Episodes

That’s what this podcast is all about. You can listen to most episodes at JesusSmart.com, and of course on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Audible — all your favorite platforms. Spread the word! Invite someone to listen in.

We’re at episode 340 today, and I’m drawing from The Smart Edit newsletter — which you can subscribe to at thesmartedit.beehiiv.com (that’s spelled b-e-e-h-i-i-v). You can also find it by clicking the Newsletter tab at JesusSmart.com.

The long-form newsletter goes out every Thursday. The short “B12 shot” arrives Monday mornings, a quick dose of motivation and calibration for the week.

From Water to the Best Wine

Let’s talk about John chapter 2 ... the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding.

Here’s what I love to say: There ain’t no party like a Jesus party, because a Jesus party doesn’t run dry!

In this account, the wine runs out during a wedding feast. It was a major cultural embarrassment in first-century Jewish life. A seven-day celebration suddenly teetered on collapse. But Jesus stepped in.

He took ordinary, common water and turned it into the best wine. Six large stone jars (used for Jewish ceremonial washings) were filled to the brim. And suddenly, the water was transformed into exquisite new wine.

This wasn’t just a fix for the moment. It was a revelation. John tells us it was the first miraculous sign Jesus performed — an unveiling of His glory, showing who He truly is.

The Old Is Ending. Something New Is Here.

Why did Jesus start His public ministry with this miracle? It wasn’t healing blindness or raising the dead. It was providing wine for a wedding feast.

There’s something deeply prophetic here. This moment prefigures the marriage supper of the Lamb, the sacred romance between Christ and His people. But it also signals that the old is ending, and something radically better is beginning.

The vessels Jesus used weren’t random. They represented the old order, stone jars for ceremonial washings. Jesus filled them with something entirely new.

He’s showing us that the old system, the old ways of thinking and living, can’t hold what He’s pouring out now. As He said in Luke 5:37–39, “No one puts new wine into old wineskins.” New wine demands new containers.

Becoming a New Wineskin

We’re in a similar moment today. The old wine is running out. Worn-out religious habits, outdated mindsets, broken systems.

The question for us is: Are we willing to become new wineskins?

Because Jesus is still in the “turning water into the best wine” business. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

He’s still transforming lack into abundance, ritual into reality, and the ordinary into the extraordinary — in our relationships, our work, our finances, and every life domain. But the upgrade won’t fit into yesterday’s mold. It requires fresh surrender and stretching.

He’s preparing His bride (you and me) for the ultimate wedding. And the miracle at Cana is a preview of that day.

Accelerated Miracles and Timing from Above

There’s something else about this miracle that stands out ... Jesus compressed time.

Growing grapes and fermenting wine takes months, even years. Yet in an instant, Jesus produced the finest wine. Maybe you need a miracle like that — something accelerated, something outside the normal timeframes of life. He can still do that.

Jesus is both the bridegroom and the head waiter of His own wedding. When the head waiter tasted the wine, he told the bridegroom, “Everyone serves the best wine first, and then the cheaper wine after guests have had too much. But you have kept the best until now.”

That’s the heartbeat of this story: Jesus saves the best for last.

Kingdom Dynamics and Higher Thoughts

In The Smart Edit newsletter, we often feature a “Big Idea” article, a key insight into how the kingdom of God works in real life. The water-to-wine story was one of them.

We also share sections called Higher Thoughts — quick insights to elevate how we think and live. Two from recent issues stand out:

Kingdom Identity Foreclosure:

In psychology, “identity foreclosure” happens when someone settles too early into a version of themselves that’s not fully developed. Spiritually, the same can happen when we settle into a version of the Christian life without letting the Holy Spirit shape us deeply. Don’t foreclose on your kingdom identity too early. You’re still being formed into the image of Christ.

Another insight from the newsletter ... Ballast in Your Boat:

Ballast keeps a ship upright in rough waters. In our lives, truth, prayer, discipline, and community serve as ballast. Without them, we drift. Paul said in Colossians 2:7, “Let your roots grow down into Christ.” In turbulent times, depth and weight in Him keep us steady.

Live Like the Wedding Is Already on the Calendar

So what does this miracle recorded in John 2 mean for us?

It means we can ask Jesus: What are You upgrading in me right now? How can I live like the big wedding is already on the calendar — in the beauty, love, and provision of that coming day?

He’s still transforming water into wine. Still turning the ordinary into something extraordinary. And He’s inviting us to be new wineskins that can hold His next outpouring.

If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who could use encouragement today. And remember, you can sign up for The Smart Edit newsletter at thesmartedit.beehiiv.com or JesusSmart.com (click the Newsletter tab).

Until next time, keep leaning into Jesus. He always saves the best for last.

From Brain Fog to Clarity - a Slower, Sacred Way to Think with Dr. Charles Stone (Ep 339)

Tue, 27 May 2025 15:32:00 -0400

Your mind wasn’t designed to live in overdrive. The pace, the pressure, the nonstop noise—no wonder we’re anxious, foggy, and missing the moment we’re in. But what if your mind could become a place of peace? In this rich conversation, Dr. Charles Stone (pastor + neuroscience guy) unpacks “holy noticing”—a practice that helps you tune in and actually live the abundant life that Jesus offers.

👉 If this episode spoke to you, pass it along to someone who could use a little more peace and clarity. And don’t forget to follow the show—each conversation is here to help you live sharper, calmer, and more Kingdom-centered.

Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcast

Pulverizing Mountains: 6 Above-Normal Advantages You Have in Christ (Ep 338)

Mon, 19 May 2025 15:50:00 -0400

What if the real reason you're feeling stuck isn’t a lack of talent or opportunity—but a lack of awareness about what’s already yours in Christ?

In this episode, we highlight 6 cutting-edge advantages that every Christ-follower can activate:

The authority of bold faith at the Throne of Grace
Access to “God-tel” — divine intelligence for real-world problems
How insane favor flows from alignment with Christ
What it means to carry Christ’s Name as legal authority
How the Romans 10 pattern of heart and mouth is a lifelong power dynamic
Supernatural energy and momentum from the Holy Spirit

Isaiah 41:15—“I will make you into a new, sharp threshing sledge... you will pulverize mountains.” This isn’t poetry. It’s your potential.

This isn’t hype. This could be our new normal.

I’m sharing this because I’m waking up to these truths myself—and I want you to experience the shift too. You’re not at a disadvantage. You’ve been regenerated in Christ.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Hey there, Friend — welcome to Jesus Smart X. This is Brian Del Turco, and you’re listening to episode 338.

Today, I want to share what might be called a listicle podcast — six ways you have a believer’s advantage as a Christ follower. You can pulverize the mountains that stand before you. This isn’t a complete list, but it’s a strong start.

Before we dive in, if you missed the last couple of episodes, check them out. In episode 337, I talked with Mary DeMuth — Jesus is a Champion of Women: He Rewrites Your Life Story. It’s a powerful conversation about the Kingdom of God and how Jesus restores women to their true design and purpose.

And in episode 336, I spoke with Len Hauser — Start Your Day with a Positive Mindset. Len has years of experience in radio, marketing, and ministry, and that conversation is full of energy and insight.

You can find these and our full archive of episodes wherever you listen to podcasts — Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean, and many other platforms. Just search Jesus Smart X and subscribe so you don’t miss anything new.

The Believer's Advantage

A lot of Christ followers don’t realize they have real advantages in Jesus Christ. This isn’t about self-improvement or a life-hack program — it’s about aligning your life with Christ and seeking first the Kingdom and His righteousness.

When you do, there are spiritual edges that form in your life — advantages that come directly from your connection to Christ. You’re not at a disadvantage. Let’s look at six key advantages that belong to you.

Access to the Throne of Grace

Hebrews 4:16 says we can come boldly to the throne of grace. Authentic Christianity is not timid religion — it’s confident access to God.

When Jesus died, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. That supernatural act opened the way for every believer to enter God’s presence freely.

When you approach Him in faith, things shift. Wisdom flows, peace fills your heart, and mountains move.

As James writes (James 4), sometimes we don’t have because we don’t ask. Coming boldly before the throne of grace is a tremendous believer’s advantage that releases Kingdom leverage into your life.

Godtel

Think of this as “God intel” — supernatural intelligence, revelation, and solutions. The Holy Spirit gives you access to the smartest mind in the universe.

George Washington Carver modeled this beautifully. As a botanist, he prayed daily in his lab, asking the Creator to reveal the mysteries of creation. God answered, showing him insights about the peanut that revolutionized Southern agriculture.

We talk a lot today about AI — artificial intelligence. But what about anointed intelligence? The Holy Spirit can give you real-time revelation, insight, and answers. That’s divine Godtel — and it’s one of your greatest advantages.

Insane Favor via Alignment

Favor isn’t random or luck-based. It’s the byproduct of alignment with Christ.

When you say yes to His ways, doors open. You walk into rooms you don’t qualify for. Things accelerate. Scripture says Jesus grew in favor with God and man — and because you’re in Him, that same favor is yours.

Don’t shrink back from it. Of course, we don’t deserve it in ourselves — but we have access because of who we’re united with. Alignment equals acceleration.

Exercise Authority in Christ's Name

Jesus said, “My name I have given to you.” That means you have spiritual power of attorney before the Father. You come to Him not on your own merit, but backed by the full credit of heaven.

It’s like holding a legal authorization that activates divine authority. When you pray, act, or speak in His name, you are backed by Jesus Himself — the full faith and credit of heaven. That’s not hype. It’s Kingdom reality.

The Romans 10 Pattern: Heart Belief and Confession

Romans 10 tells us we’re saved by believing in our heart and confessing with our mouth. That’s not just a one-time event ... it’s a lifelong operating system.

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved” (Romans 10.9-10 NLT).

When your heart belief aligns with your words, it creates a supernatural rhythm of transformation and manifestation. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Your words architect your reality.

Keep your speech aligned with God’s Word — both your inner talk and what you speak outwardly. Salvation (soteria) includes forgiveness, healing, deliverance, and provision. A complete redemption package.

Supernatural Energy from the Holy Spirit

You were never meant to live on your own battery. Romans 8 says the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. That’s resurrection power energizing your body, soul, and spirit.

When you feel depleted, wait on the Lord. Isaiah 40 says those who do will renew their strength, mount up with wings like eagles, and soar high on the wind of the Spirit.

This supernatural energy is an advantage that fuels every Christ follower to persevere, create, and overcome.

Walking In Your Advantages

Let’s summarize:

Power at the throne of grace
Godtel — supernatural intelligence
Insane favor through alignment
The authority of Christ’s name
The Romans 10 operating system
Supernatural energy from the Spirit

You’re not disadvantaged. Not in your calling, work, relationships, or purpose. You’ve been given an above-normal edge in Christ.

A Faith Affirmation to Declare

Rehearse these lines over yourself and thanking the Father as you do:

I have above-normal advantages.
I reject the lies that I’m late, losing, or lacking.
I choose to align with Christ and play huge.
I’m redesigned for wisdom and energy from above.
The Spirit of Christ animates me.
I advance today and this week with Kingdom force.

Cycle through this three times in prayer. You’ll feel a real shift.

Remember: you have the power to thresh mountains, reduce them to dust, and see God’s glory manifest in your life.

“Behold, I have made you into a new, sharp threshing sledge with double edges; You will thresh the mountains and pulverize them, and make the hills like chaff” (Isaiah 41.15 NASB).

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who’s ready to stop playing small. Subscribe and leave a review, and let’s keep advancing together with Kingdom force.

Until next time ... stay sharp.

Jesus Is a Champion of Women: He Rewrites Your Life Story with Mary DeMuth (Ep 337)

Thu, 08 May 2025 19:58:00 -0400

The image of God was never meant to be reflected by men alone. You were created with divine intention—female and male together—to carry His likeness into the world. And Jesus? He doesn’t just include women. He champions them.

In this episode with Mary DeMuth, we explore how King Jesus restores women to their full, royal place in His Kingdom. What’s at stake isn’t just dignity—it’s dominion.

Go further with the show notes page > JesusSmart.com/337

Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcast

Start Your Day Positive Mindset with Len Howser (Ep 336)

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 20:38:00 -0400

Kicking off your day with the right mindset sets the tone for a fruitful life. Good days lead to good weeks, and good weeks build a life of significance. In this episode, I’m joined by Len Howser from the Start Your Day Positive podcast. We dive into the power of new media, AI, and shifting worldviews—and why this might be the greatest opportunity of our lifetime as Christ-followers.

Be sure to visit the site for Len and Sara's podcast > StartYourDayPositive.com

Episode show notes > JesusSmart.com/start-your-day-positive-mindset-len-howser

Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcast

Flood the Zone—Overwhelm Your "Stuckness" By Taking Massive Action (Ep 335)

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:16:00 -0400

Feeling stuck? Whether it’s in your work, relationships, faith, or personal goals, the way forward isn’t waiting—it’s movement. In this episode, we’re talking about flooding the zone—a strategy to overwhelm your "stuckness" with action. It’s time to break the cycle. We’ll explore four ways to flood your life with momentum: expanding your network, stepping into new learning spaces, taking massive (imperfect) action, and focusing with intensity.

Your breakthrough is closer than you think. Don’t wait—move. If this resonates, share it with someone who needs a push. Let’s build momentum together.

Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcast

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT -- Flood the Zone: Overwhelm Your "Stuckness" By Taking Massive Action

Hey, everybody. Welcome to the podcast. This is Brian Del Turco with Jesus Smart X Podcast. I'm glad you're here.

We have low production value but hopefully very high content value today. There are some equipment issues and software transferability issues going on, so you're not hearing music or effects, but it'll come back. We believe the content is high in this episode, so let me ask you a question.

The Problem: Why We Get Stuck

Have you ever felt like you're waiting for that perfect moment to act or move on something? You're analyzing it—if we're honest, probably over-analyzing it. You're hesitating, overthinking it, maybe even procrastinating. But what if the key to breaking through into that new thing isn't waiting, but taking massive action?

If you're feeling stuck right now, whether it's in work, relationships, your faith, or a personal goal, project, or personal horizon you're pursuing, then this episode is for you.

Today I want to talk about a strategy—it's not original with me, but we can call it Flooding the Zone. When things aren't moving, sometimes the best thing you can do is overwhelm your stuckness with action.

Let's talk about why we get stuck. If you have faith in Christ, you have the resourcing of prayer, faith, and receiving vision from your Heavenly Father. These are tremendous resources that are above the normal. But there are also some very practical dynamics that we need to apply.

Maybe you've been trying to start something—a creative project, a healthier lifestyle, a business. Maybe you're wanting to get married and start a relationship. Or maybe you're facing an opportunity, but doubt is leaching in and uncertainty is holding you back.

One of the reasons we get stuck is that we're waiting for things to align perfectly. But here's the truth—let's just be real and honest about it. Clarity often comes after we start taking action, not before.

So instead of waiting, procrastinating, and getting in a fetal position thinking "it's just not going to happen," what if you just flooded the zone? What if you took so much action that being stuck became impossible?

Have you ever felt overwhelmed? That can often be a sign that the breakthrough is closer than you think. The stuckness and resistance coming at you could be an indicator that your breakthrough is near.

Four Ways to Flood the Zone

If you're a person of faith, you have the resourcing of prayer, reaching out to your Heavenly Father for counsel, and leaning into the Holy Spirit for ideation, solutions, and a lead. But if we can couple that with these practical concepts—if we can supersize them with our relationship with the Lord, with the creativity of the Holy Spirit, with the power of His Word and prayer—you can super-plus these practical steps.

1. Reach Out and Expand Your Network

We're not meant to do life or try to lead something or create something alone. If you're feeling stuck, maybe it's time to widen your circle.

You can get exposed by stepping into spaces that challenge the status quo. You have to disrupt yourself. We can step into spaces that disrupt ourselves and challenge our status quo.

Connect with new people who bring fresh ways of seeing things and fresh ideas into your life. These could be professional relationships or casual relationships. It's very healthy for you—mentally, emotionally, in terms of your perspective—to talk with strangers. Just strike up a conversation.

Engage with mentors or peers who challenge you. Maybe you have old mentors you'd like to breathe some life back into, or maybe you need some new mentors. Different seasons require different guidance. Life evolves and iterates.

Have conversations that spark insight. Don't underestimate the power of talking over coffee—the natural caffeination as well as, more importantly, the mental stimulation, the emotional caffeination, and the new perspectives that can percolate. Sometimes one key relationship changes everything, but you won't find it unless you put yourself out there.

Your relational network should never be static for years upon years. It should be dynamic. There will probably be some pruning, but there will also be growth. Someone says your worth is your net worth or the worth of your network. There's a lot of truth to that.

👉 Read the full transcript with expanded insights on networking at jesussmart.com/flood-the-zone

2. Get Exposed to New Things by Stepping Into New Spaces

We need to read books. Reading is one of the most powerful things you can do. Statistics show if you read the top three books in some area of interest or some space you're trying to grow in, you will be in something like the top three percentile of all people on the planet with expertise in that area. But it just takes the discipline of reading.

Television, doom scrolling, being envious and coveting others by scrolling—all of that will help you zero. But quality books, quality podcasts, quality YouTube videos—maybe you're taking a class, maybe you're in a full-on education program—these will help.

Attend events, attend conferences, or connect with online communities that stretch you. When you attend an event or conference, you're pulling yourself out of your normal space and rhythm, and you're in a totally new space with others who have very similar interests.

I like to think of conferences as conferring with others. If it's a faith conference, I see the conferring as two-dimensional. We're conferring vertically with God together and we're conferring horizontally with each other.

Don't stop being educated. The Latin root of "educate" means "to call forth." Education helps you emerge; it calls you forth. You can be more, you can do more.

Today, there's no reason not to learn. We have access to the internet. Everything is democratized. There are free courses—you could even take free courses from Harvard. There are all kinds of opportunities for education and skill-gathering.

3. Take Massive Action: Progress Over Perfection

A lot of people stay stuck because they're waiting for that perfect plan or perfect time. But real progress comes when you take imperfect action.

Jesus gives us a master class in leading people and getting them to take massive action. He only had them for three and a half years, and he left the most important thing in history with them. He immersed them, taught them, and then immersed them in action. They took massive action and matured quickly.

It doesn't have to be perfect. We're talking about progress, not perfection. Progress will open doors.

Instead of waiting to launch something, start. Get a minimum viable amount of information and resourcing to start something. You don't need a full-blown budget and master plan. Start it. You need something minimal—a vision, a mission, maybe some minimal resources. But just start and then iterate.

Don't overthink it. Commit to taking a step forward today. Trust that momentum will build as you begin to move. I'm on a journey too. I'm learning myself. The Lord seeks to coach me up as well, just as He does you.

Begin and iterate. Begin fast, fail fast, and iterate. Find out what doesn't work through movement and momentum.

You don't need the full picture to take that first step. Did Abraham have the full picture when God called him? No, it says he went out not knowing where he was going. But as he journeyed with God, he learned and progressed.

👉 Get more practical examples on taking massive action at jesussmart.com/flood-the-zone

4. Focus With Intensity

When you want to get unstuck with massive action, focus with intensity. Zero in on what matters. This is about eliminating distractions and taking a deep dive into what truly matters. When you do this, it creates the space for meaningful breakthroughs.

Distraction is the enemy of momentum. If you want to break through, you have to dial in. You've got to focus, you've got to lock in. Go for the signal, not the noise.

Schedule deep time where you can push towards your goals and be ruthless with your attention. One of the greatest commodities on earth today is time. The second greatest currency is attention—what you give your attention to in time. Be ruthless with your attention.

What you focus on magnifies, tends to grow, and positions you for success. As you flood the zone with focused effort and maximum action, things will start to shift.

Moving in Prayer-Born Action

You want to hear the voice of the Lord as much as possible, and you want to move in what I call prayer-born action. Pray about it. If you feel anything in your heart in terms of instinct or desire, begin to lean and move into it. Keep praying, keep moving, keep focusing, and things will start to shift. If it's off a little bit, the Holy Spirit will guide you.

Don't underestimate many small moves compounding over time. We get unstuck by making many small ones that compound over time. Periodically there may be a quantum shift or breakthrough, but it's surrounded by many small action steps that compound.

You can feel the peace of the Lord in your heart. You can feel the affirmation of the Lord. You feel like the Lord's smiling on this, and you draw down the Father's aspirational heart for you.

Your Next Move: Take Action Today

Here are the four tips again:

Reach out and expand your network. Increase your surface area.
Get exposed to new ideas and step into new spaces of learning.
Start taking that massive action. It's progress over perfection. Don't go by emotions—emotions trail massive action. We don't wait until we feel like it. We make a decision, take massive action, and the right feelings start when you're doing the right things.
Focus with intensity. Keep all of this covered in prayer and lean into the Lord. Trust not in your own understanding, but in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will straighten out and smooth your pathways.

What's your next move? Journal. Successful people journal. Write down your pain points, your aspirations, and what action steps you feel you need to start taking now. As you get ideas and insights, capture them, review them, rehearse them, pray over them.

What one action can you begin to take today to start flooding the zone? Maybe it's reaching out to someone. Maybe it's consuming some new idea. Maybe it's taking a bold step. Or maybe it's just a resolve: "Come hell or high water this week, I'm going to lock in my focus like an astronaut."

Whatever it is, don't wait. Move now.

👉 Read the complete episode transcript with additional insights at jesussmart.com/flood-the-zone

Build Momentum Together

If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone you feel would value it as well. That's what it's all about here at Jesus Smart X. Let's stop waiting and start building momentum together.

The world is waiting for you. There are things you're built to address. There are parts of the garden you're called to cultivate. There are solutions you're called to bring. There are answers you're called to deliver. The world is waiting for you. The body of Christ is waiting for you.

Until next time, stay focused, stay engaged, and keep moving forward.

Beyond the Dip: Get to the Good Stuff (Ep 334)

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 10:54:00 -0400

Often, the hardest part of pursuing something meaningful is getting through "the dip"—the season when progress stalls, and quitting feels like the easiest option. But what if the breakthrough you’re praying for, working toward, or hoping to see in your relationships, faith, or projects is just on the other side of that dip?

In this episode of Jesus Smart X, we explore the truth that the dip isn’t a dead end. It’s a refining process, preparing us to hold and experience what’s on the other side.

Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcast

Processed to Organic: Finding What Enriches Your Life (Ep 333)

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:51:00 -0400

In a world filled with quick, processed everything—content, spirituality, relationships—it’s easy to miss what truly nourishes us. In this episode, we explore how embracing what’s real and organic—from our faith to our relationships, work, and rest—leads to fulfillment and significance. Let’s shift from the artificial to the life-giving. If this speaks to you, pass it along to someone who could use a reset.

Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcast

The Smart Edit newsletter

Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level. (https://thesmartedit.beehiiv.com/)

Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).

God Spots: Making Space for God to Move (Ep 332)

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:27:00 -0400

We know God is everywhere—He’s omnipresent. But have you ever noticed that His power doesn’t always seem active in a given situation? That’s because His presence isn’t the same as His manifested presence. And here’s the wild part—He often looks to us to set the stage for that.

There’s a Kingdom protocol at play, and when we tap into it, we can create “God spots” in our lives—places where His presence and power break through. That could be over challenges we’re facing, opportunities ahead, relationships, projects, or even bold Kingdom initiatives. So, how do we partner with him?

Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcast

Newsletters!

The Smart Edit. Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level. (https://thesmartedit.beehiiv.com/)

Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).

Receiving 'Zero to One' Startup Faith for New Things (Ep 331)

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:08:00 -0400

Ready for something totally new? Maybe it's a desperate need. Peter Thiel’s idea of moving from "0 to 1" is about creating breakthrough moments, not just refining what we already know. This isn’t just for startups—it’s a Kingdom principle. Never-before-seen possibilities could be on your horizon.

Go further with the show notes page > JesusSmart.com/331

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The Smart Edit Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level. (New domain name www.smarteditaccess.com will be available by February 5, 2025 to subscribe).

Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).

Fully Alive: Embracing Your Identity, Belonging, Voice, and Personal Agency (Ep 330)

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:47:00 -0400

A new birth in Christ changes everything. It’s not just a new chapter—it’s a whole new quality of life. We’re reconnected with God as our true Father, freed from the grip of lies, and brought into His Kingdom. In this episode, explore how this change gives us a secure identity, a deep sense of belonging, a restored voice, and personal agency to live with purpose.

Go further with the show notes page > JesusSmart.com/330

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Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).

Herod’s Downfall and Satan’s Demise: The Power of the Little King (Ep 329)

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:42:00 -0400

This is how to truly keep Christmas well and celebrate! When the Little King entered the scene, the unhinged King Herod unraveled—a vivid glimpse of Satan’s downfall and the victory we share in Christ.

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The Smart Edit (thesmartedit.beehiiv.com). Advance in Christ. Live Smart. Free newsletter every Thursday.

Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).

Faith and Resilience: Navigating Global Governance Efforts -- Travis Weber (Ep 328)

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:27:00 -0400

In this episode, we discuss why living and working with God’s power is essential today. Plus, we look at global initiatives from the World Health Organization and the United Nations aiming for unified global governance—and what actions believers can take in response.

Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at the Family Research Council, dives into the powerful impact of hosting God’s presence more fully in our lives.

Travis Weber bio

Family Research Council

Go further with the show notes page > JesusSmart.com/328

Newsletters!

The Smart Edit (thesmartedit.beehiiv.com). Advance in Christ. Live Smart. Free newsletter every Thursday.

Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).

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10 Minutes on Outsmarting the Enemy: What to Do with the Devil (Ep 327)

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:04:00 -0400

In this fast-paced episode, we dive into the question: Is there really a devil? I’m convinced the answer is yes. Explore short, impactful thoughts on practical ways to counter the devil's influence in daily life. Take steps toward reclaiming peace and purpose.

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Challenges Are Opportunities in Disguise: Achieve More (Ep 326)

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 11:49:00 -0400

In challenging times, renew your vision by reaffirming your commitment and creating fresh, effective strategies. Stay grounded with gratitude to the Creator, fueling resilience and purpose. Finally, use your momentum to accelerate success. Challenges are opportunities, calling us to grow and achieve more. (Inspired by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson.)

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Over-the-Horizon Living: Faith, Prayer, and Action (Ep 325)

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 10:37:00 -0400

Looking to unlock new possibilities in your life from a higher dimension? In this episode, we dive into the power of over-the-horizon thinking and applied faith. We’ll explore four key elements: 1) worship and prayer, 2) visualizing and prophesying, 3) raising your belief levels, and 4) taking bold faith-filled action. Together, these dynamics will help you break through limitations and advance in your faith quest.

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Questing for the "Land" Marked Out for You (Ep 324)

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:59:00 -0400

(2 mins.) Each son and daughter of God has a "landedness" to claim. David reveals a dynamic reality in Psalm 16. The Lord has set the boundaries of our lives in custom places of blessing. We are then authorized to claim the "land" God has promised. Jesus Dynamics are sharp, impactful episodes empowering you to take hold of the life God has outlined for you.

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Will America Experience Its Full Destiny? (Ep 323)

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 13:43:00 -0400

America stands apart in world history, an "experiment" unlike any other. It’s a nation not shaped by ethnic origins or monarchies, but by lofty ideals—the "Laws of Nature and Nature's God." Our unalienable rights come from the Creator, not from man or government. Could America now be on the brink of a Third Great Awakening? Join us in this recast episode as we explore the spiritual DNA of this nation and what might lie ahead.

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Maximize Your Kingdom Impact with Frank Viola (Ep 322)

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 11:39:00 -0400

This conversation with Frank Viola is a fascinating look at what will increase true spiritual power in your life and circle of influence. These dynamics are timeless field-tested principles to steward God's power. Learn to release God's authority to make a lasting impact on others for good.

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Trump's Close Call: Is God Speaking? with Keith Guinta (Ep 321)

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 12:40:00 -0400

Keith Guinta asks a shocking question: Is God trying to send a message to Americans through Donald Trump? He wonders if Trump surviving an assassination attempt in July 2024 could be a message from God. Guinta suggests we look at the news differently ... instead of seeing things only through a political point of view, what if we try to perceive them with higher meaning?

The Wine Patch with Keith Guina

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Reframe Your Life: Unlocking New Horizons (Ep 320)

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0400

I visited a local Catholic church for a time of Scripture reading and prayer. I enjoy using this space to pull away from time to time. As I crossed from the lobby into the church, I experienced an unexpected insight that I’m motivated to share with you: we can reframe our life by unlocking new horizons.

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Voices of Faith: Hear Listeners and Friends of the Show (Ep 319)

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 15:36:00 -0400

When members of the Body of Christ listen to one another, amazing things happen. In this episode you'll hear from some of the listeners and friends of the show as they share insights and what they're learning. Together, we share updates, spark inspiration, and uplift each other.

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Secret Sauce: Living on Point, on Time, and on Assignment (Ep 318)

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 14:39:00 -0400

Some people think real success is about having lots of money, fun adventures, exciting travel, boundaryless sex, and fame. Others believe it's about reaching your personal goals. But we suggest an even higher path: we're proposing that the real secret sauce is living by a higher mission.

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Your Birthright: Reclaim Original Dominion in Your Walk with Christ (Ep 317)

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 09:33:00 -0400

While "Original Sin" is widely known, the idea of "Original Dominion" might be new to you. Original Dominion came before Original Sin. Learn how Christ empowers us to reclaim that primal dominion once more.

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Appeal to Heaven - Assert Your Legal Rights in Prayer (Ep 316)

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 14:58:00 -0400

Jesus tells us today we can assert our legal rights in prayer before the Father, seated on the Throne of Grace. Prayer is justice. We pray in the Status of Christ. As we’re born anew and then coached up by Jesus, we can develop in powerful, legal prayer -- brave, audacious prayer claims that yield results. Tune in to explore how to develop and harness this transformative power.

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Disobedience to Dominion: Jesus Seeks the Lost Vice-Regents (Ep 315)

Fri, 24 May 2024 12:25:00 -0400

In this thought-provoking episode, we explore humanity's age-old struggle with disobedience and the profound moment when Jesus asks, 'Where are you?' Is there a deeper meaning behind Jesus' mission to 'seek and save the lost'? Get ready for a robust shot of Kingdom Kaffeine.

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Prayer Power Play: Overthrowing the Reign of the Godless (Ep 314)

Tue, 07 May 2024 13:48:00 -0400

Episode 312 is a feature episode from another podcast I host -- the Wild Ox Prayer Podcast. You'll have to listen to appreciate the name!

Pray with me. First, we highlight the transformative role of being a Kingdom Emissary on assignment. Then we use "prayer architecture" in Job 34 to petition God to move the godless out of leadership and influence.

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Jesus Empowers Women with Mary DeMuth, Frank Viola (Part 2, Ep 313)

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:04:00 -0400

Part 2 of 2. Jesus is the ultimate champion for women. Guests Mary DeMuth and Frank Viola challenge misconceptions and show Jesus' revolutionary approach to empowering women. Discover insights from their collaborative project, "The Day I Met Jesus: The Revealing Diaries of Five Women from the Gospels." Popular recast.

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Jesus Empowers Women with Mary DeMuth and Frank Viola (Ep 312)

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 09:12:00 -0400

Part 1 of 2. Jesus is the ultimate champion for women. Guests Mary DeMuth and Frank Viola challenge misconceptions and show Jesus' revolutionary approach to empowering women. Discover insights from their collaborative project, "The Day I Met Jesus: The Revealing Diaries of Five Women from the Gospels." Popular recast.

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Carpe Kairos: Making God-given Opportunities Count (Ep 311)

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 13:46:00 -0400

Unlock the full potential of Kairos Time—special windows of opportunity given within the everyday hustle. Learn the secret of taking ownership of these opportunities for maximum impact. Jesus Espresso episodes are tight and deliver potent shots of "Kingdom Kaffeine" to power our quest to serve Christ!

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Rise with Resurrection Reality: Transforming Your Everyday (Ep 310)

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:16:00 -0400

Embrace the Resurrection Reality of Jesus Christ in your everyday. He can breathe new life into relationships, work, finances, wellness, and more. It's available in the here and now! Sync your life with God's Story and Glory.

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The Cross Factor: Unlock Your Life (Ep 309)

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 11:17:00 -0400

Unlock the abundant life that Jesus promised. The Cross Factor is the secret of embracing our cross daily as we follow Jesus Christ. It's a life that counts for the glory and story of God -- a life that elevates beyond the fallen plane.

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Take the Leap of Faith! with Rachel G. Scott (Ep 308)

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 14:34:00 -0400

When was the last time God called you to do something that felt terrifying? When God nudges (or rockets!) us into the unknown, it can be thrilling and overwhelming. Rachel G. Scott loves to help men and women navigate their God-given callings to live a leaping lifestyle. How can you prepare, plan, and execute that leap of faith? Visit RachelGScott.com

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It Does Not Take a Village: Unleashing Potential in Kingdom Clusters (Ep 307)

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 14:46:00 -0400

Unleash the power of small Kingdom clusters in your journey as an apprentice of Christ! Join us as we discover how Jesus and Peter navigated their 'village' to unlock greater possibilities. Ready to move the needle? It's time to rethink your approach and embrace the transformative potential of tight-knit bands of believers. Tune in to learn how.

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Beyond the Sheets: Big Picture Sex with Dr. Juli Slattery (Ep 306)

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 09:19:00 -0400

In this highlight episode, we explore how our intimate sexual experience is meant to point to something higher. Zoom out and see the big picture to experience greater meaning and fulfillment. And don't miss the more in-depth conversation with Dr. Juli Slattery of Authentic Intimacy in episode 242 - available on your favorite listening app or streaming on the show notes page.

Authentic Intimacy site

Sexual Discipleship site

Java with Juli podcast

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Elevating Eros: Sacred Sex Uncovered with Dr. Juli Slattery (Ep 305)

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 12:06:00 -0400

Beyond positions, casual sex, and shallow sexual activity lies a mystery of deep connection that goes beyond mere physicality. Uncover deeper layers of sexual intimacy in this short highlight episode with Dr. Juli Slattery of Authentic Intimacy. And don't miss the complete conversation in episode 242, available on your favorite listening app or streaming on the show notes page.

Authentic Intimacy site

Sexual Discipleship site

Java with Juli podcast

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America. Gone? Or Awakening? Excerpts - Jonathan Cahn, Rep. Gregory Steube, Sen. Katie Britt (Ep 304)

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 15:14:00 -0400

Pick up the pulse of America's spiritual awakening as Jonathan Cahn reveals ancient threats in 'The Return of the Gods.' Experience the power of prayer and repentance at the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance in Washington D.C.'s Museum of the Bible. Features stirring prayer from Representative Gregory Steube of Florida and Senator Katie Britt of Alabama. Answer the call to action.

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How to Resurrect a Dead Prayer Life with Dr. WilliamThrasher (Ep 303)

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 15:34:00 -0400

We believe prayer is vital—the most creative, high-leverage way we can invest our time and energy. But what can we do if we're in a season of spiritual dryness or need to resurrect a dead prayer life? Dr. William Thrasher, a teacher at Moody Theological Seminary, offers actionable insights on revitalizing our prayer lives.

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Blazing Insights with Jason Howard and Bruce Colbert: Blessed Are the Amateurs (Ep 302)

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 10:25:00 -0400

Join Jason Howard, Bruce Colbert, and Brian Del Turco in a Blazing Insights episode. Discover how God orchestrates surprising feats through amateurs ... everyday individuals like us. We explore playful risk-taking in faith as we quest after God's fingerprints in life and boldly mix our own. Celebrate the amateurs!

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Now and Next: Consecrate Today for Tomorrow’s Triumph (Ep 301)

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 13:54:00 -0400

In this episode we highlight the profound impact of renewing the consecration of our life domains - obedience to Christ, relationships, wellness, work, and more. Consecrate today to invest in your future life. Ready for what's next?

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Christmas Cadence 365: The Heaven and Earth Dance Floor (Ep 300)

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 10:38:00 -0400

Heaven moves. We move. The best things happen on the heaven and earth dance floor. We see this cadence in the Christmas narratives of Matthew and Luke. And because Advent is advancing, we can live every day with this Christmas Cadence.

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Have Yourself a Defiant Little Christmas! (Ep 299)

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 12:29:00 -0400

Uncover the revolutionary spirit of the First Christmas – an invasion led by the Outlaw Christ-Child. The King is back, and Advent is not just a historical glance. It's here. Now. And in the future, defiantly advancing. This revelation transforms prayer, expands possibilities, and elevates decision-making. Celebrate a defiant Christmas that heralds a new era starting now!

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Vintage Replay: The Beauty of a Beginner’s Mind, Opening Doors to Fresh Beginnings (Ep 298)

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 13:54:00 -0400

Unlock the timeless wisdom of Jesus: "You must be born again. You must become like a child." In this vintage 2018 episode, explore the beauty of a beginner's mind—a mindset of endless curiosity, openness, and boundless possibilities. Embrace fresh beginnings with the wonder and joy of a child.

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Savor the Journey: How Gratitude Changes Everything (Ep 297)

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 09:54:00 -0400

Gratitude changes everything -- it conditions us to live our highest life. Authentic Christ-Followers are trailblazers of the future, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in the extraordinary powers of the Future World. Beginning now.

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Experience Your Mountain-Move with Kingdom Kinetics (Ep 296)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:48:00 -0400

Unleash the limitless Potential Energy of Christ in you and ignite Kingdom Kinetic Energy to create momentum! Join us as we dive into five essential dynamics: Word-Based Transformation, Progressive Consecration, Prayer Precision, Living in Prophetic Alignment with the True You, and Deepened Connections within the Body of Christ. Get ready to make things happen!

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Overcoming JDD (Jesus Deficit Disorder) In Our World with Frank Viola (Ep 295)

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:32:00 -0400

Can you sense the palpable tension in our world ... and maybe in your personal circle of concern? Nature and humanity seem broken, busted, and disgusted. There's a deeper issue at play. We believe the Meta Malady is JDD: Jesus Deficit Disorder. All lesser maladies derive from that. The raw and insightful Frank Viola is with us. He highlights both the acute disease and the deep cure.

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Prosecute the Devil to Enforce Christ’s Victory in Your World (Ep 294)

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 13:52:00 -0400

Are you ready to step into your function as an Agent of the Kingdom? You can enforce the reality of Jesus' triumph in your daily life. In Christ, we have legal standing before the Throne of Grace to authentically express the victory of Jesus in our calling. As a developing Christ-follower, you have authority to bring His reality into the earth. (Scroll for scripture and a prayer)

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"And He (the Holy Spirit), when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment … regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged." -- Jesus in John 16

What do you think of this powerful prayer language from John Eldredge and Wild at Heart? Can you see yourself praying this prayer with faith and conviction?

I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit—every ruler, power, authority, and spiritual force of wickedness, their every weapon, claim, and device. [At this point, I specifically name all foul and unclean spirits that I know have been attacking me, such as fear, doubt, accident, injury, death, the religious spirit, pride, arrogance, etc.] I send all foul and unclean spirits bound to the throne of Christ, together with every back-up and replacement, every weapon, claim, and device—by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name. I command the judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the heads of those that refuse to obey, and I send them to judgment, by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.

Notice how the dark spirits are bound to the Throne of Christ. And notice how the judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ is proclaimed.

Heinous Invasion: Hamas Terrorizes Israel (Wild Ox Prayer Feature, Ep 293)

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 15:54:00 -0400

Join us! We highlight the Kingdom prayer dynamic of changing our life orientation via repentance. Then we pray over Israel, Gaza, and the Hamas terror invasion.

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God Is Supremely Faithful Via His Word with Jon Bloom (Ep 292)

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:38:00 -0400

Jon Bloom, cofounder and teacher at Desiring God with John Piper, has written a vital book of meditations for our time: "True to His Word: 100 Meditations on the Faithfulness of God" (Moody Publishers). What if you're struggling to believe that God is truly faithful? And what if it doesn't look that way to you right now? This conversation is for you.

Get your copy of Jon Bloom's book >> DesiringGod.org/books/true-to-his-word

See more on the book below.

Explore the free resources at DesiringGod.org

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Progressivism: Demonic Counterfeit to the Real Future (Ep 291)

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:49:00 -0400

What starts gradually as soft totalitarianism can evolve into terrifying tyranny. Is Progressivism a delusion? It's all the rage today. And it's not just political. It's leaking into parts of the Church too. Is progressivism a demonic counterfeit to the real future that Jesus will bring? This is a special recast episode.

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What Could a God-Crafted State of Ohio Look Like? with Steve Witt (Ep 290)

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:22:00 -0400

Jesus Christ is ready to develop your life as a preview of coming attractions. Part 2 of this loaded conversation includes a striking, prophetic viewpoint of the State of Ohio and Cleveland. Steve Witt says that if we center on Jesus and talk him up, a “spirit of prophecy” will be activated ... the dimension of what's possible opens. This is a special recast episode.

Be sure to listen to Part 1 too (Ep 287)!

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Is Cleveland Poised for a Spiritual Awakening? with Steve Witt (Ep 289)

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 13:49:00 -0400

Is Cleveland poised for a spiritual awakening?

This "everything is possible" conversation includes a prophetic understanding of Cleveland, Ohio. Plus ... could your life be a preview of coming attractions in ways you can't imagine?This is a special recast episode.

Go further with this episode > see the show notes for Is Cleveland Poised for a Spiritual Awakening? with Steve Witt (#287)

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What do you believe? > see the Jesus Smart Creed

Kingdom Living and Exponential Increase (Jesus Espresso, Ep 288)

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:01:00 -0400

Kingdom fruitfulness lives on an exponential plane. Put linear increase in your rearview mirror. Embrace exponential increase as a person of influence and in your practical, everyday life.

Go further with this episode > see the show notes for Kingdom Living and Eponential Increase (#286)

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Living with Heaven’s Sizzle! with Dr. Louis F. Kayatin (Ep 287)

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 14:19:00 -0400

Dr. Louis F. Kayatin is a key voice in the quest to develop as an apprentice of Christ and his Kingdom. Many are called to live with heaven's sizzle! In this tight episode, we dialogue around the following points and more:

Not entertaining hesitations when the Holy Spirit is leading.
The importance of Scripture intake to condition your inner man to hear the voice signature of God in your everyday life.
The indispensable importance of the 5 facets of Christ’s energies and ministry that we see in Ephesians 4:11-16.

(Jesus Espresso episodes are shots of "Kingdom Kaffiene" to stimulate our everyday walk of faith!)

Go further with this episode > see the show notes for Living with Heaven's Sizzle! with Dr. Louis F. Kayatin (#285)

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The Influential Mentor: Generosity, Humility, and Curiosity with Maina Mwaura (Ep 286)

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 10:29:00 -0400

Maina Mwaura is a freelance writer and journalist who interviewed over 500 influential leaders, including two U.S. Presidents. He discovered an intriguing pattern ... many were powerfully shaped by longtime Dallas Theological Seminary professor Howard Hendricks. Each of us can mentor with generosity, humility, and curiosity.

Visit Maina Mwaura's website > MainaSpeaks.com

Go further with this episode > see the show notes for the Influential Mentor: Generosity, Humility, and Curiosity with Maina Mwaura (#284)

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”Spring Up, O Well!” American DNA - Wild Ox Prayer Feature (Ep 285)

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:31:00 -0400

Join us! In this episode, we highlight the surprising force of clapping our hands and shouting to the Lord (Psalm 47). Then we pray for the well of American DNA to spring up!

Episode 283 is a special feature episode from an additional podcast I host -- the Wild Ox Prayer Podcast. Listen to appreciate the name!

Each tight Wild Ox Prayer episode spotlights a potent Kingdom Prayer Dynamic. Then we activate a prayer edge in culture, society, and the nations.

Wild Ox prayer. Untamed, mighty prayer for culture, society, and the nations. For notes and more, visit WildOxPrayer.com.

Go further with this episode > see the show notes for "Spring Up, O Well!" American DNA (#283)

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American DNA: Heaven’s Dream for a Nation (Ep 284)

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 13:16:00 -0400

Happy Fourth of July! The "American Experiment" is singular in world history. American DNA is made up of high ideas -- the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God." Our Unalienable Rights are given by the Creator. Not human government. Is America on the edge of a Third Great Awakening? Please share this vital episode with others.

Go further with this episode > see the show notes for American DNA Heaven's Dream for a Nation (#282)

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Engage the Practical with Faith: It’s Time for You to Accelerate! Series #3 (Ep 283)

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 16:06:00 -0400

The 3rd key is to take steps to engage the practical with faith. Faith that overcomes. There's likely something you need to accelerate in a big way. Addressing a challenge. Accessing a door of possibility. Ask the Holy Spirit what you should target with focus and acceleration.

This is the 3rd in a series on acceleration from Nehemiah.

Go further with this episode > see the show notes for Engage the Practical with Faith - It's Time for You to Accelerate Series #3 (#281)

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Pray It to Completion: It’s Time for You to Accelerate! Series #2 (Ep 282)

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:01:00 -0400

The 2nd key in our series on Acceleration is to pray it to completion. There's likely something you need to accelerate in a big way! Addressing a challenge. Accessing a door of possibility. Nehemiah and his team overhauled the walls of Jerusalem in a breathtaking 52 days! There are keys that we can use today ... as New Covenant Christ-followers!

This is Part 2 in a series on acceleration from Nehemiah.

Go further with this episode > see the show notes for Pray It to Completion: It's Time for You to Accelerate Series #2 (#280)

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Feel God’s Heart: It’s Time for You to Accelerate! Series #1 (Ep 281)

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 16:04:00 -0400

This is Part 1 in a series on acceleration from Nehemiah.

There's likely something you need to accelerate in a big way! Addressing a challenge. Accessing a door of possibility. Nehemiah and his team overhauled the walls of Jerusalem in a breathtaking 52 days! How could this happen? There are keys that we can use today ... as New Covenant Christ-followers! The first key is to feel God's heart on the matter.

To take things further with today's theme, see the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/279

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Podcast Archive > jesussmart.com/podcast

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280 Getting Current with Christ, Walking in the Spirit: Kingdom Gleanings (Ep 280)

Thu, 25 May 2023 13:12:00 -0400

Conversion to Christ is a pivot to Eden. Even now, we can learn to walk with Christ in the "cool of the day." One day, everything will be renewed. Your potential is to stay Updated and Upgraded with Christ. We quest to keep in step with the Lord -- everything in our lives can be infused with the Holy Spirit's intelligence and energy.

To take things further with today's theme, see the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/287

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Strike Your Ground with Passionate Faith!: Jesus Espresso (Ep 279)

Thu, 18 May 2023 15:54:00 -0400

How can we level up in our day with intense faith that completes the assignment? The Old Testament patterns and precedents speak to us now in Christ. Jesus Espresso episodes are shots of Kingdom Kaffiene to stimulate our day-to-day faith walk.

To take things further with today's theme, see the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/277

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Maybe the Most Strategic Prayer You Can Pray (Jesus Espresso, Ep 278)

Thu, 04 May 2023 15:21:00 -0400

Prayers never die. We can agree with the Apostle Paul in prayer. This may be the most strategic, high-leverage prayer you can pray.

To take things further, see the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/276

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Notes:

Have you ever felt stuck in your prayer life? One of the best ways we can level up is to pray the Scriptures.

I love the Apostle Paul’s prayer at the beginning of his letter to the believers in Ephesus. I find myself praying it often. And I can see the benefits.

I’ve also heard strong testimonies of others who have prayed this prayer.

Scripture for meditation, prayer, and proclamation -

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 NKJV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 ESV

The Good News Behind the Bad News Behind the Good News! (Ep 277)

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 12:17:00 -0400

There are a lot of back-and-forths today about the Gospel. We know there is bad news behind the Good News. But do we know there is Good News behind the bad news behind the Good News? This understanding of the Gospel will remake how you engage your Christian faith.

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/275

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The Cross: God’s Secret ”Technology” in Your Life (Ep 276)

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 11:27:00 -0400

If we want to live with the abundant life that Jesus promised -- a life that is above and beyond the natural, fallen plane -- we must learn the secret of taking up our cross as we follow Christ. The world needs us to show up with the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/274

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Repentance, Refreshing, and Restoration -- Wild Ox Prayer Feature (Ep 275)

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 15:45:00 -0400

Episode 273 is a special feature episode from another podcast I host -- the Wild Ox Prayer Podcast. You'll have to listen to appreciate the name!

Pray with me. We highlight the Kingdom prayer dynamic of repentance, refreshment, and restoration. Then we ask Father God to grant us the grace of deep and clear repentance.

Each tight episode spotlights a potent Kingdom Prayer Dynamic. Then we activate a prayer edge in culture, society, and the nations.

See the show notes page for this episode at WildOxPrayer.com.

Listen to the Wild Ox Podcast on Podbean, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. It's coming to Apple Podcasts, Audible, and other listening options.

Visit the new website for the Wild Ox Prayer podcast at WildOxPrayer.com!

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Men in Crisis: How Is the Church Failing Men with Bruce Colbert? Part 2 (Ep 274)

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 15:59:00 -0400

Here's the 2nd part of the conversation with Bruce Colbert. He's all about men reclaiming their power, acquiring wisdom, and generating good. He has a question: Why is the Church at large lagging in helping men to be better men in their families, homes, and in their spheres of influence?

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/272

Go further with Bruce Colbert at BruceColbert.com

It's time to relearn our masculine blueprint from the Creator, train in wisdom, and get busy shaping the world for God's glory.

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Show notes:

There is a movement of men today going to “secular” sources for encouragement, coaching, and equipping concerning their masculinity. This includes Christian men. Bruce Colbert sees Kingdom principles in some of these sources.

The question is why does it seem the Church at large is behind the game in helping men to be better men in their families and homes?

And what about their sphere of influence and assignment from the Creator? What can serious Christian men do to be equipped and empowered in a meaningful way?

How Is the Church Failing Men? -- scripture for meditation, prayer, and proclamation:Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion ..." Genesis 1:26-28 ESV

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it. Colossians 3:10 NASB

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV

Stellar quotes on men who follow Christ:

"The most critical need of the church at this moment is men, bold men, free men. The church must seek, in prayer and much humility, the coming again of men made of the stuff of which prophets and martyrs are made." A.W. Tozer

“Most of what you encounter when you meet a man is a facade, an elaborate fig leaf, a brilliant disguise.” John Eldredge, Wild at Heart Revised and Updated: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul

“We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.” C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man

"Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you." Dallas Willard

Men in Crisis: How Is the Church Failing Men? with Bruce Colbert (Ep 273)

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 13:45:00 -0400

Bruce Colbert is all about men reclaiming their power, acquiring wisdom, and generating good. He has a question: Why is the Church at large lagging in helping men to be better men in their families, homes, and in their spheres of influence.

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/271

Go further with Bruce Colbert at BruceColbert.com

It's time to relearn our masculine blueprint from the Creator, train in wisdom, and get busy shaping the world for God's glory.

Get the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

Podcast Archive >> JesusSmart.com/podcast

Show notes:

The question is why does it seem the Church at large is behind the game in helping men to be better men in their families and homes?

And what about their sphere of influence and assignment from the Creator? What can serious Christian men do to be equipped and empowered in a meaningful way?

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it. Colossians 3:10 NASB

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV

Stellar quotes on men who follow Christ:

“Most of what you encounter when you meet a man is a facade, an elaborate fig leaf, a brilliant disguise.” John Eldredge, Wild at Heart Revised and Updated: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul

“We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.” C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man

"Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you." Dallas Willard

Kingdom Dynamic: Repentance, Refreshing, Restoration --Jesus Espresso (Ep 272)

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:45:00 -0400

There is a grace for renewal and regeneration. The Lord's presence brings refreshment as we repent and change. Then we are positioned to experience restoration.

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/270

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Show notes:

Jesus Espresso episodes are strong shots of Kingdom Caffeine to power us through the days in which we live. We need a strong brew from the Father’s Cafe.

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. -- Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 3:19-21 ESV

Repentance (changing of the mind and heart which bears the fruit of a change in how we live) releases the refreshing presence of the Lord – “that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

And then there’s restoration. Jesus is in heaven until the time of “restoring all things” – the new heavens and new earth.

Jesus – “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne (Mt 19)

We know this is coming. It’s on the horizon.

And yet, we can begin to live now in the Kingdom Dynamic of that time when all things will be restored. We are present-future people.

The future has broken into this age. In Hebrews 6 it says we can “taste the powers of the Age to Come.”

Hebrews 6:4-5 (5 elements) – enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

So this is the opportunity: Repentance >> Refreshing >> Restoration.

Quotes on revival:

We cannot organize revival, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from Heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again. -- G. Campbell Morgan

Reformation is a return to the sound doctrine of the Bible. Revival is the practice of that sound doctrine under the power of the Holy Spirit. -- Francis Schaeffer

Michael Hoff on What the Asbury Awakening Can Mean for Us, Part 2 (Ep 271)

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 13:38:00 -0400

We continue our conversation in this episode with Michael Hoff, PhD candidate in Renewal Theology. He’s been to the recent Asbury Awakening. We discuss renewal movements beginning in the 1800s, throughout the 20th century, and into our time. What are the precedents and patterns that we see? How do past moves of God map onto renewal movements in our time?

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/269

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Michael Hoff on What the Asbury Awakening Can Mean for Us, Part 1 (Ep 270)

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 16:48:00 -0400

What did Michael Hoff experience in his visit to Asbury University in Wilmore, KY? How has the Holy Spirit moved in history? What could be next with the Asbury Awakening as a renewal movement? And what about the criticism? More importantly, what about you? How might you be refreshed and renewed by the regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit?

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/268

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269 Asbury Awakening Update -- Dr Jim Garlow (Ep 269)

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 15:45:00 -0400

The Asbury Awakening is drawing the attention of the nation and Christians around the world. What could be next for the movement birthed at Asbury University in the little town of Wilmore, Kentucky? Steven Strang interviews Dr. Jim Garlow on the The Strang Report podcast.

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/267

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Dr.Juli Slattery on Holy Heat! Designer Sex (Ep 268)

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 16:44:00 -0400

Holy Heat? What is Holy Heat vs. the world's heat? What if we could reclaim Designer Sex ... and truly experience what sex is meant to be? Grace and truth from Jesus empower us to live in harmony with Higher Design. Dr. Juli Slattery of Authentic Intimacy is with us in this episode.

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/266

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Are You Facing an Intimidating Challenge? Behold! The Power of the Underdog (Ep 267)

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 15:08:00 -0400

Are you facing an intimidating challenge? Or maybe a huge possibility ... but it seems like a long, long shot. There are benefits to being an underdog. The almost 3000-year-old account of David and Goliath is the perfect underdog touchstone for us.

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Trendline from Above? Is the Micro Ekklesia the New Mega? (Ep 266)

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 13:57:00 -0400

Is the Holy Spirit breathing on a Kingdom trendline today ... the Micro Ekklesia? Could an ancient-futurist expression of a "city on a hill" emerge that moves the needle in society and culture? Jesus co-opted a secular construct and infused it with Kingdom DNA -- and it's imperial authority!

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/264

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Charles Stone on If Jesus Gave a TED Talk -- Persuasive Communication (Ep 265)

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 15:12:00 -0400

What if Jesus gave a TED Talk? Dr. Charles Stone gives us principles we can activate from the most persuasive communicator in history -- Jesus Christ. We touch on neuroscience principles the Master Teacher used to influence others... personal relationships, one-on-one, small clusters, audiences, and mass crowds. Dr. Stone's new book is If Jesus Gave a TED Talk.

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/263

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Over-the-Horizon Faith for Your Life Story (Ep 264)

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 14:33:00 -0400

Over-the-horizon thinking and applied faith are vital to your life story ... experiencing new things that want to happen from heaven's point of view. In this episode, we explore 1) worshipping and praying, 2) visualizing and prophesying, 3) elevating belief set points, and 4) "acting as if" with faith action. All 4 of these elements make up over-the-horizon thinking to advance you in your faith quest.

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/horizonbelief

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Christmas Special: ”Hey, Herod! Unwrap This! (Ep 263)

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:12:00 -0400

Now, this is how to keep Christmas well! When the Little King showed up, the demonized, deranged King Herod cracked up. It's all a graphic portrayal of Satan's demise. And of our overcoming triumph in Christ.

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Frank Viola on the 48 Laws of Spiritual Power (Ep 262)

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 11:24:00 -0400

We have best-selling author Frank Viola with us discussing trench-tested principles to steward God's power. These dynamics are timeless. Let's learn to access God's might in our personal lives and as we serve others.

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What Identity Means to You -- Jesus Espresso (Ep 261)

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 11:04:00 -0400

What does identity mean to you? Personal identity is a prime mover in each of us. Just about everything in our lives flows from our identity.

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The Nations Feeling Their Way to God -- Wild Ox Prayer Feature (Ep 260)

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 11:54:00 -0400

Episode 258 is a special feature episode from an additional podcast I host -- the Wild Ox Prayer Podcast. You'll have to listen to appreciate the name!

In this episode, we highlight how changing the conversation in prayer can reset things. Then we pray about the nations feeling their way toward God. "And he made from one man every nation of mankind ... that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him" (Acts 17 ESV).

Wild Ox prayer. Untamed, mighty prayer for culture, society, and the nations. For notes and more, visit WildOxPrayer.com.

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/258

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Adam Carver on the Life and Power of Lamenting, Part 2 (Ep 259)

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 12:18:00 -0400

The 2nd part of our conversation with Adam Carver, a businessman and pastor in the United Kingdom. Everyone goes through demanding seasons. The best things are on the other side of discomfort -- lamenting is a robust interior process that can release us into new seasons in our journey with Christ. Listen to the first part of the interview in episode 256.

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/257

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Adam Carver on the Life and Power of Lamenting, Part 1 (Ep 258)

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 11:04:00 -0400

Adam Carver, a businessman and pastor from the United Kingdom is with us in this episode. Everyone goes through demanding seasons. Recent times have been tough. But are we aware of the Kingdom Dynamic of lamenting? It is a robust interior process that can release us into new seasons and spaces in our journey with Christ.

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/256

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”Adam, Where Are You?” Jesus Questing Via You! -- Jesus Espresso (Ep 257)

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 19:17:00 -0400

The Lord's question in early Genesis -- "Adam, where are you?" -- resonates through human history. You have a Life Voice Signature. Will the question of Christ reverberate via your life, reaching those you are appointed to impact? Jesus Espresso episodes are robust shots of "Kingdom Kaffeine" for your service to the King!

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/255

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Exploiting ”Kairos” Time -- Jesus Espresso (Ep 256)

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 11:21:00 -0400

In the New Testament, Kairos Time is an extraordinary window of time set within everyday time. It's a gift from above ... an opportune window of time. And it must be optimized or exploited in a positive sense. Jesus Espresso episodes are robust shots of "Kingdom Kaffeine" for your service to the King!

Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/254

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52 Days to Accelerate! Key #3 -- Engage the Practical (Ep 255)

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 15:44:00 -0400

There's likely something you need to accelerate in a big way. Addressing a challenge. Accessing a door of possibility. Nehemiah and his team rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in a record-breaking 52 days! Ask the Holy Spirit what you should target with focus and acceleration. The 3rd key is to take steps to engage the practical with overcoming faith. This is the 3rd episode in a short series.

Go to the show notes page for this episode >> JesusSmart.com/253

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Emerging Voices: Here’s What They’re Saying (Ep 254)

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 15:10:00 -0400

Good things happen when members of the Body of Christ hear each other. We update, catalyze, and uplift one another. It's an opportunity for leverage and acceleration. Hear listeners and friends of the show as they communicate what the Holy Spirit is highlighting with them.

Go to the show notes page for this episode >> JesusSmart.com/252

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52 Days to Accelerate! Key #2 -- Pray It to Completion! (Ep 253)

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 21:23:00 -0400

There's likely something you need to accelerate in a big way. Addressing a challenge. Accessing a door of possibility. Nehemiah and his team rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in a record-breaking 52 days! There are keys that we can use today ... as New Covenant Christ-followers filled with the Holy Spirit! The 2nd key is to pray it to completion. This is the 2nd episode in a short series.

Go to the show notes page for this episode >> JesusSmart.com/251

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52 Days to Accelerate! Key #1 -- Feel God’s Heart (Ep 252)

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 16:26:00 -0400

There's likely something you need to accelerate in a big way. Addressing a challenge. Accessing a door of possibility. Nehemiah and his team rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in a record-breaking 52 days! How could this happen? There are keys that we can use today ... as New Covenant Christ-followers! The first key is to feel God's heart on the matter. This is the 1st episode in a short series.

Go to the show notes page for this episode >> JesusSmart.com/250

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Be Super Creative in Christ for a New Season (Ep 251)

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 15:15:00 -0400

You desire to be super creative to see something flourish, right? Jesus Christ is creative without limits! So we have boundless potential to be super creative in Christ for a new season ... to pass through a door and experience what the Lord has for us. We can address needs, decode problems, engage workarounds, exploit possibilities!

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Flushing the Wicked Out of Leadership -- Wild Ox Prayer Episode (Ep 250)

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 21:14:00 -0400

Episode 248 is a special feature episode from another podcast I host -- the Wild Ox Prayer Podcast. You'll have to listen to appreciate the name!

Pray with me. We highlight the dynamic of being a Kingdom Emissary on assignment. Then we use "prayer architecture" in Job 34 to ask that God would flush the wicked out of leadership and influence. See the show notes page for this episode at WildOxPrayer.com/16.

Listen to the Wild Ox Podcast on Podbean, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. It's coming to Apple Podcasts, Audible, and other listening options.

Visit the new website for the Wild Ox Prayer podcast at WildOxPrayer.com!

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Topline Value: The Person Who Gains Souls Is Wise -- Jesus Espresso (Ep 249)

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 12:49:00 -0400

Be smart and win people to the Jesus Way! What if we were to align our lives with this topline value? The "soul" may be more than we think. "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and one who is wise gains souls" (Proverbs 11:30). Jesus Espresso episodes are robust shots of Kingdom Kaffeine for your service to the King!

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Why Not Quest for a 10,000% Kingdom Lifestyle? -- Dr. Louis F. Kayatin (Ep 248)

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 14:38:00 -0400

Jesus says that those who have a good and faithful heart will manifest KINGDOM REALITY -- 30, 60, and 100-fold (Parable of the Sower). Why not believe for a 100-fold return? That's a 10,000% yield on the Word of the Kingdom in your life ... and in your sphere of influence! Dr. Louis F. Kayatin is a time-tested practitioner of the "Kingdom Craft." Let's accept the challenge to level up! Special recast episode.

Stream and see the show notes -- JesusSmart.com/246

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Cultivating the Craft of the Kingdom -- Dr. Louis F. Kayatin (Ep 247)

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 12:05:00 -0400

Jesus sees you above and beyond your current level of experience! Dr. Louis F. Kayatin says there is always more to experience as an “apprentice” of Christ and his Kingdom. Develop a deep love for Jesus as King ... then authentically live a Spirit-filled life. Don’t stay stuck. Progress to live your highest life for the King. Special recast episode.

Stream and see the show notes -- JesusSmart.com/245

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Sex & the Really Big Picture --Dr. Juli Slattery Highlight (Ep 246)

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 15:36:00 -0400

We need to ZOOM OUT and see the really big picture. A Grand Narrative … how human sexuality points to something higher. This is a short highlight episode from a more in-depth conversation with Dr. Juli Slattery of Authentic Intimacy.

Listen to the complete conversation -- episode 242 on your fav listening app. Or you can stream it on the show notes page.

Authentic Intimacy site

Sexual Discipleship site

Java with Juli podcast

Show notes page for this highlight episode at JesusSmart.com/244

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Sacred Sex and God -- Dr. Juli Slattery Highlight (Ep 245)

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 15:29:00 -0400

Beyond positions, casual sex, and mere sexual activity ... fulfilling sacred sex in marriage engages a mystery above and beyond. This is a short highlight episode from a more in-depth conversation with Dr. Juli Slattery of Authentic Intimacy.

Listen to the complete conversation -- episode 242 on your fav listening app. Or you can stream it on the show notes page.

Authentic Intimacy site

Sexual Discipleship site

Java with Juli podcast

Show notes page for this highlight episode at JesusSmart.com/243

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Dr. Juli Slattery on God, Sex, and Your Marriage (Ep 244)

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 13:33:00 -0400

Ready to discover why the Creator cares about your sex life? Techniques and positions don't take sex far enough. Dr. Juli Slattery of Authentic Intimacy is interested in the Big Why of Sex ... God's design for intimacy and sexuality. See how the Big Picture beautifully elevates your love life.

Authentic Intimacy site

Sexual Discipleship site

Java with Juli podcast

Show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/242

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Living on Point, on Time, and on Assignment (Ep 243)

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 13:18:00 -0400

Some say that real success in life is more money, many things, adventure, fun, wanton amusement, travel, salacious sex, and fabulous fame. Others say that achieving the goals that matter to you the most is living successfully. But there's a higher way still -- we're proposing that the real secret sauce is living by a higher mission.

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Are We In the ’Days of Noah’ (Again)? Special Crossover Episode (Ep 242)

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 11:02:00 -0400

Listen to this special crossover episode with Stephen Lauterbach (Despite Popular Belief) and Mark Russak (The Russak Outlook). Jesus said the days before his Coming would look like the 'Days of Noah.' Join us as we dialogue about what those days looked like ... and if we are heading in that direction AGAIN.

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Heaven’s Dream for American DNA (Ep 241)

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 15:55:00 -0400

The "American Experiment" is singular in world history. American DNA is made up of high ideas -- the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God." Unalienable Rights are given by the Creator. Not man. Not human government. Is America on the edge of a Third Great Awakening? Please share with others.

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King Jesus to Humanity: ”Where Are You?” -- Jesus Espresso (Ep 240)

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 17:02:00 -0400

Humanity is on the run because of disobedience. King Jesus came in the cool of the day and asked this question: "Where are you?" And what did Jesus really mean when he later said, "I came to seek and save the lost?" Could it be that he's looking for his Vice-Regents? Jesus Espresso episodes are robust shots of Kingdom Kaffeine for your service to the King!

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How to Stop Your Past from Piling up in Your Today -- Mike Ashcraft (Ep 239)

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 12:10:00 -0400

One of the worst things we can do is drag our piled-up past into our present and future. God uses seasons. But if we don't do the hard work of getting authentic closure on a season, we won't experience the new beginnings God has for us. Feel stuck? Many do. This hope-filled conversation with Mike Ashcraft can help you break free from a limiting past. This is a special recast episode. See the show notes page to receive the free Personal Retreat resource from Mike Ashcraft.

Mike Ashcraft (Senior Pastor, Port City Community Church)

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Jesus Espresso -- The Kingdom of Heaven Has Come Near to You (Ep 238)

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 16:09:00 -0400

Jesus Espresso episodes are robust shots of Kingdom Kaffeine for your service to the King! "Change your mind and life. Why? The Kingdom of Heaven is drawing close to you." Jesus is bringing His World to this planet -- it's already overlapping with the NOW. The opportunity to align with the Kingdom of God is today ... and advancing into tomorrow!

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Stay Alert to the Transforming Power of Ideas (Ep 237)

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:00:00 -0400

Ideas are for living. They are king. If you think big ideas don’t reach into your life, well … you're mistaken. Ideas are seeds. They germinate. Grow up. And take over. This episode includes 5 tips to become proactive about ideas in your life.

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Your Legal Rights in Prayer -- Exercise Them! (Ep 236)

Wed, 25 May 2022 15:26:00 -0400

Jesus tells us today we can exert our legal rights in prayer before the Father, seated on the Throne of Grace. Prayer is justice. You pray in the Status of Christ. As we’re born anew and then are coached up by Jesus, we can develop in powerful, legal prayer ... brave, audacious prayer claims that get results.

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Wild Ox Prayer Feature:The Legal Nature of Prayer (Ep 235)

Wed, 11 May 2022 16:14:00 -0400

Episode 233 is a special feature episode from another podcast I host -- the Wild Ox Prayer Podcast.

Pray with me. In this episode, we underscore the legal nature of prayer. Then we pray together over what seems to be a convergence of God's activity: repentance with Christ-followers, the exposure of evil, and early signs of societal transformation in some countries.

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Your Secret Advantage in Christ: Releasing Kingdom Sound (Ep 234)

Thu, 05 May 2022 13:06:00 -0400

There comes a point in your walk with Christ when you need to consider a secret advantage -- receiving and releasing Kingdom sound. Developing in Christ is a continuum. The opportunity cost of failing to develop Kingdom sound is way too high. Elevate to your privilege as daughters and sons of God in Christ!

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Cultivating White Hot God Spots (Ep 233)

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 11:51:00 -0400

God is everywhere, right? Well, yes, he's what theologians call "omnipresent." But that doesn't mean he's necessarily manifesting in power. He typically looks to Christ-Followers to set the stage for that. There is a protocol available. We can create "God spots" on the earth -- over challenges, opportunities, all kinds of relationships, projects, Kingdom initiatives, and on and on.

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Land Questing: Jesus Dynamics (Ep 232)

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 12:57:00 -0400

In Psalm 16, David says that, first, the Lord is his inheritance. Then, the Lord assigns the "lines" of our lives in pleasant places. We each have a quest of faith to possess our "land." Jesus Dynamics are tight episodes that highlight how things work in the Kingdom.

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The Shocking Advantage of the Underdog of God! (Ep 231)

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:46:00 -0400

Are you facing an intimidating challenge? Or maybe a promising opportunity ... but it seems like a long, long shot. There are advantages to being an underdog. We’re forced to be creative and innovative. We break out of that limiting “box” to rise to a new level.

The almost 3000-year-old account of David and Goliath is the perfect underdog touchstone for us. The gargantuan Philistine arrogantly predicted how the death contest would play out that day. But he had no way of knowing what was coming to face him! He was about to be taken down by an Underdog of God!

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The Resurrection Is Already Here! (Ep 230)

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 16:31:00 -0400

For the genuine Christ-follower, every day is Resurrection Sunday! It's likely there is something in our lives that needs a resurrection -- business/work, finances, wellness, relationships, a project. This trust factor is always with us. The resurrection life of Jesus Christ is already here -- it's not just for a future day. And this brings glory to God.

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Stay Updated and Upgraded with Christ -- Kingdom Gleanings (Ep 229)

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 15:17:00 -0400

Conversion to Christ is a pivot to Eden. One day, all things will be renewed. We can learn to walk with Christ in the "cool of the day." Why not stay Updated and Upgraded with Jesus Christ? He will teach, mentor, and coach us. We quest to keep in step with the Lord -- everything in our lives can be infused with the Holy Spirit's intelligence and energy.

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Disney Reimagines Kids’ Sexuality -- Wild Ox Prayer Episode (Ep 228)

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 16:28:00 -0400

Episode 226 is a special feature episode from another podcast I host -- the Wild Ox Prayer Podcast. You'll have to listen to appreciate the name!

Pray with me. In this episode, we highlight our Imperial Authority in Christ. Then we pray about Disney dramatically increasing LGBTQ+ content and reimagining kids’ gender and sexuality. See the show notes page for this episode at WildOxPrayer.com/8.

Listen to the Wild Ox Podcast on Podbean, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. It's coming to Apple Podcasts, Audible, and other listening options.

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No, It Does Not Take a Village (Ep 227)

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 16:01:00 -0400

It takes a village, right? Not in the Kingdom. The "village" is probably in the way of you experiencing the best and highest as an apprentice of Christ! The real potential is likely in small Kingdom clusters. Do you need to move the needle on something? What is your "village?" Learn how to deal with it as Jesus and Peter did.

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Change the Conversation to Change Anything (Ep 226)

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 14:18:00 -0400

Changing the conversation on something is a life superpower. Especially in Christ when empowered by the Holy Spirit. You can change the conversation to change anything. Consider this dynamic in (1) prayer, (2) internal conversation, (3) conversation with others, and (4) your conversation about your work and influence.

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Wild Ox Prayer Feature: Peace and a Reset for Ukraine (Ep 225)

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 08:03:00 -0400

The Ox is back! This time for good!

Episode 223 is a special feature episode from another podcast I host -- the Wild Ox Prayer Podcast. You'll have to listen to appreciate the name!

Pray with me. In this episode, we highlight the Prayer Dynamic that great joy is necessary to pray for the nations.

Then we contend in prayer together for the nations of Ukraine and Russia, believing for overcoming peace. We pray for a spiritual and cultural reset in Ukraine.

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To Be Concluded: Find Hope for Your Future -- Mike Ashcraft (Ep 224)

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 12:36:00 -0400

One of the worst things we can do is drag parts of our piled-up past into our present and future. God uses seasons. But if we don't do the hard work of getting real closure on a season, we probably won't experience the new beginnings God has for us. Feel held back or stuck? Many do. This hope-filled conversation with Mike Ashcraft can help you experience grace and break free.

Go to the show notes page to receive the free Personal Retreat resource from Mike Ashcraft.

Mike Ashcraft (Senior Pastor, Port City Community Church)

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What to Do When You Don’t Know How to Pray About That Thing (Ep 223)

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:43:00 -0400

It could be a challenge, crisis, or even an opportunity. But what do you do when you don't know how to pray about it? In Christ, we have access to the Ultimate Resource -- the Holy Spirit. Make him your prayer partner. He will pray with you ... showing you what to pray for, how to pray about it, and refilling you with his dynamism.

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Seeing Things in a New Light (a Supernatural Light) = New Seasons (Ep 222)

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 15:06:00 -0400

What could happen if we see things in a new light ... a supernatural light? Could things be improved, even transformed? Walking in the light is a walk of possibilities. Invite the Light of God into situations and scenarios via you! See what can happen.

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Keep On Steppin’: Jesus Dynamics (Ep 221)

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 11:50:00 -0400

As we quest to please the Father and keep taking steps to the best of our capability ... the Lord will direct our steps. Dynamics are forces and effects that stimulate development. Kingdom Dynamics or Jesus Dynamics apply the Jesus Way to all of life ... and to everything.

This quick episode is part of the Jesus Dynamics genre!

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The Promised Head-Crusher Vs. the Nephilim | What Are the Nephilim? Part 2 -- Mark Russak (Ep 220)

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 13:08:00 -0400

What are the Nephilim? The Promised Head-Crusher Prophecy was a sentence of doom for Satan: "The Seed of the Woman -- the Messiah -- will crush your head" (Genesis 3:15). In this episode with Mark Russak, we explore the possibility that fallen angels impregnated women in a vain attempt to corrupt the human bloodline and thwart the Messiah from coming. Admittedly, this is difficult to process for the Western mind. Dive deep with us. You decide. Part 2 of 2.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/giants

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to episode 218 of Jesus Smart, the podcast. This is part two of my dialogue with Mark Russick exploring Genesis 6 and the Nephilim giants.

Brian: I believe that Jesus Christ knows how our lives work best in the now and that he is passionate about developing his followers as intimate friends and co-agents in his kingdom. I just took my shot of Linda's sweet honey Ohio Raw natural wildflower premium honey straight out of the bottle. By drinking out of the bottle, I ensure that none of my daughters or wife will access any of my honey. I don't watch sitcoms—I like to make my own sitcoms by giving shock value to the women around me. Penny and I with our daughters finally got together with my mom and sister for Christmas on January 23rd. My mom had Covid before Christmas, so we had to delay that gathering.

Understanding Your Promised Land

Brian: We have a new episode feature called Jesus Dynamics—applying the Jesus way to all dimensions of life. We all have a land we're designed to fight for and possess. David said in Psalm 16:5-6, "The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; you support my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places." The Lord himself is our inheritance. Then the Lord supports our lot in life. The Lord determines the dimensions of your life with your engagement. Not others, not your past, not even yourself apart from Christ.

Your view of the Lord and your view of yourself affects your ability to fight for and possess what the Lord has for you. Don't look at your land through the lens of your grasshopper self. David said, "I have set the Lord continually before me because he is at my right hand. I will not be shaken."

The promised head crusher prophecy was a sentence of doom for Satan in Genesis 3:15. In this episode we explore the probability that fallen angels impregnated women who bore these mysterious Nephilim. This is one of the most difficult passages in all of Scripture, but we're convinced by using solid historical, grammatical hermeneutics that this plain reading of Genesis 6:1-4 shows these were spiritual beings who engaged human daughters and produced the Nephilim.

The Book of Enoch and Dead Sea Scrolls

Brian: We see Enoch quoted in Jude and referenced in Hebrews 11:5: "Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death." It's not included in the Old Testament canon, but the early church was very familiar with his writings.

Mark: That's correct. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the mid-20th century included all the Old Testament except Esther. What's important is the Book of Enoch and other books were also included, which means the early church held high validity to these writings. There's Jasher and the Book of Jubilees which allude to Genesis 6:4 and the antediluvian period. The Ethiopian church also includes it as part of their canon.

Brian: So it's not inspired scripture that we hold, but a corollary piece of literature quoted in the New Testament. The Dead Sea Scrolls discovery was massive for Old Testament scholarship, right?

Mark: That's correct. It comes within 98% accuracy of what we read today. We can have high confidence that the Bible we read today is the same Bible written and quoted by Jesus and his disciples. All the prophecies of the Messiah's birth and crucifixion were written hundreds of years before Jesus and validated in the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery.

Harmonizing Ancient Texts with Genesis

Brian: What about harmonizing this verbiage from the Book of Enoch with Genesis?

Mark: Genesis 6:1-2 says, "When man began to multiply and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive, and they took as wives any they chose." Enoch 6 writes: "The angels, the children of the heavens, saw and lusted after them and said to one another, come, let us choose wives from among the children of men, and beget us children."

The Book of Jubilees, Jasher, and Josephus in Antiquities of the Jews all corroborate this. Josephus wrote: "Many angels of God accompanied with women and begat sons that were proved unjust despisers of all that was good. For the tradition is that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants." He also said the giants had bodies so large and countenances so entirely different from other men. The bones of these men are still shown to this day.

Brian: So Jewish scholarship preceding Christ and the early Christian tradition believed these were angels in Genesis 6. Only later came the sons of Seth view. I like to look at the generations closest to the events—the early church of the first, second, third centuries.

For a richer transcript and additional resources to go deeper, visit jesussmart.com/giants.

How Angels Reproduced with Humans

Brian: How do these angels materialize with reproductive systems? Could they have heavily demonized men and worked through possessing their bodies?

Mark: It's not thoroughly conclusive, but Jude says they left their place, their assigned position, and came down to earth to Mount Hermon. I believe they could have imparted themselves into men, that they had ability to utilize sexual parts. There are accounts in ancient Egyptian cultures and in Enoch of very freaky things. It would be my contention they had some means of either possessing or engaging with men.

Brian: We know angels can eat. Angels visited Abraham and sat down to a meal. They looked like men. Manna was called angel's food. Hebrews says entertain strangers, for some have entertained angels unaware. Is it possible that angelic traffic around Christ's birth and the early church was so high because of spiritual conflict and warfare?

Mark: I absolutely believe so. Think about the birth of Christ and the announcement the Lord made, that the heavens were rejoicing. The shepherds in the field, the signs in the heavens—angels are sometimes referred to as stars. There was the rejoicing, the overwhelming party that Jesus arrived on earth to save mankind.

Brian: There was a lot of angelic activity—showing up in dreams, guiding Joseph, the Magi. Those shepherds must have looked up and saw the host, the militant armies of angels. We know Satan was trying to kill Jesus through Herod.

Mark: No question. That's one of the missions and strategies of Satan—to destroy the bloodline leading up to the Messiah.

Satan's Attack on the Messianic Bloodline

Brian: Can you give us a survey of Satan's attempt to corrupt the Messianic bloodline throughout Old Testament history?

Mark: You think about Exodus, trying to destroy the male child—that's how Moses was set free. Then the ten plagues. Then Herod. Scripture points to no less than ten separate attacks on the bloodline from David in Second Samuel, Second Chronicles, Second Kings, and Esther. This was part of the strategy with the Nephilim.

Brian: This traces back to Genesis 3:15, the death sentence upon Satan.

Mark: That's where Satan received his death sentence. Then it continues after Jesus is born—the Spanish Inquisition, World War II. In 70 AD when Romans conquered Jerusalem, they killed over a million Jews. It's the bloodline of Jesus and his family.

Brian: Israel reconstituting as a nation in 1948—that had to be another death knell for Satan.

Mark: Put yourself in Satan's shoes. He sees in 1943-44 the buildup in Israel. So he invades Hitler himself and attempts to eliminate the Jews.

Brian: As to the reproductive process, are you saying these angelic beings materialized with reproductive systems or did it through demonization of humans?

Mark: I would say it's not definitive, but it could be either one or both.

Jesus' Statement About Angels and Marriage

Brian: What about Jesus' statement that angels do not marry in heaven? In Matthew 22, Jesus says they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. How is that different from Genesis 6?

Mark: He's speaking about what would happen to us after we die. But remember Jude where they left their assigned place. Now they are in the earth and it says they married. I would contend they forced themselves on these women. I would not equate it to our marriages today.

Brian: The state of angels in heaven who haven't abandoned their proper domain is different from those who have, right?

Mark: Correct.

Giants After the Flood

Brian: What about giants appearing post-flood in the Promised Land? It's as if Satan made the Promised Land a minefield. Where did they come from?

Mark: It's a question Christians wrestle with. God eliminated the Nephilim himself. After the flood, God empowered the Israelites to eliminate the Nephilim. He listed seven tribes—Goliath, King Og, and others—where he assigned Joshua to kill, destroy, eliminate every man, woman, and animal. That's unlike God's nature, so clearly there was something important there.

It's possible they could have gone in the water during the flood. First Corinthians 15 says there are different kinds of flesh—men, beasts, fishes, birds. Genesis 6 eliminates every man except Noah's family, beasts, creeping things, and fowls of the air, never alluding to anything in the water. Satan is often referred to as Leviathan, that ancient serpent, which is aquatic in nature.

The other possibility: Genesis 9 says Ham is the father of the Canaanites, and the Canaanites were one of the giant tribes ordered eliminated. In Jasher, the wives were selected seven days before the ark. Scripture says Noah and his family were pure, but that may refer specifically to Noah, his wife, and the three sons, potentially leaving open the question of the sons' wives.

Brian: Could there be another option, that this event happened again, that other angels abandoned their proper abode?

Mark: It's certainly possible, but there is no mention of it in Scripture.

Brian: We just know there were giants, right? Are you talking about archaeological evidence around the world?

Mark: I would refer to megalithic structures. The pyramids are built with such sophistication and weight that they needed supernatural beings. Stonehenge—45-50 tons put together with sophisticated pins. Puma Punku with 25-foot structures of 100 tons. Easter Island heads—13 feet high, 14 tons. Stone jugs of Laos at 30,000 pounds. Mayan villages and pyramids in Peru and Mexico. We're littered with this. Plus archaeological digs of colossal giants with skeletal structures 15, 18, 20, 25 feet long.

Brian: So this could have been a planetary event?

Mark: I think it clearly started near Israel in the Middle East. The pyramids' sophistication and cosmological alignment is astonishing. It can't be done by man. But we see it in South America, Central America, Easter Island. It definitely expanded beyond the Middle East.

For a richer transcript and additional resources to go deeper, visit jesussmart.com/giants.

UFOs and Spiritual Warfare

Brian: What about those in the New Age movement or extreme pursuit of knowledge about aliens? How do you differentiate that from the biblical account?

Mark: The Word says we are in this world but not of this world, alluding to another world outside of here. I think it's interesting that the government last year released accounts of UFO sightings with videos of military pilots. It's well documented. A lot of that goes directly into the ocean. This is possibly alluding to things that may have been available back then. Why is this information being released by the government now? For years you were considered a crackpot. Now the government says we've been visited and it defies anything we know. There are some who believe, if you believe in the pre-tribulation rapture, that this would be the reason they'd use as to why Christians are gone—that they were taken by aliens.

Brian: Yeah, priming the global population to have a really erroneous excuse as to what happened. I think that's a very clear possibility.

Practical Applications for Spiritual Warfare

Brian: How can this shape our understanding of spiritual warfare? Can it scale up our prayer and change our worldview?

Mark: Look at the degree Satan has gone in attacking Jesus, attacking mankind, attempting to impart his will. He is at war and we are supposed to be at war. I think in the West we don't acknowledge the gravity of what we're at war with.

These Nephilim, when they die, where do they go? They're part angelic being but part human, not created by God. According to Enoch, these are spirits that roam the earth. So we're possibly dealing with spirits here. One of the gifts we have is the discerning of spirits. Do we tap into these gifts? Do we acknowledge the power of the Holy Spirit? The Word says we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities. Do we put on the weapons of our warfare? Are we willing to engage in intercessory prayer, to free the oppressed, to free the sick?

I believe many mental institutions and hospitals are filled with people who are demon possessed. There's a mission field there for the church. Why did Jesus give us the gift of discerning of spirits? We need to tap into it. I think it's important to engage people in conversation. Look at the megalithic structures. Look at what anybody can see with their own eyes. We need to be studying, spending time in the Word. Let's look at early church writings. There's so much information we can glean. That's part of what you and I are doing right now—building up the church and edifying one another, but also reaching out to the lost.

Brian: Well said. Did not Jesus say, if I cast out evil spirits by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you? A core capacity of the kingdom is the displacement of dark powers. It's a shame if the world is becoming more interested in spiritual things—

Mark: That's an opening for us. There was a recent survey by Pew looking at Millennials. They acknowledge Jesus is real, but they felt like the church is glossing over it or trying to appease them. They're hungry for relationships with Jesus. Mario Morello said we don't need skinny jeans and fog machines. We need the preaching of the gospel in the church. I think we try to appease the culture rather than stick to who Jesus is and the authority he's given us.

Brian: A lot of times we're in these theological systems of belief that are limiting. We have to be open to the Word of God, to the Holy Spirit. If the Lord wants to break us out into new understanding, we have to be willing to follow Jesus in that.

I appreciate this so much, Mark. How can people learn more about your content?

Mark: Thank you and God bless you for the work that you're doing. You're such a precious commodity to the body of Christ. Russakoutlook.com is the website, and I try to post videos at least once or twice a week. There's a YouTube channel—just look up Russak Outlook. We're on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I'm looking to engage people with proper information, and if they don't know the Lord, this will give them information to consider.

Brian: It's R-U-S-S-A-K, Russak Outlook. There's a podcast on all major podcast platforms and YouTube with PowerPoint presentations.

Mark: What I do is PowerPoint presentations on YouTube, and the audio is streamed on podcast platforms. This year I'm building a video studio, expanding into live streaming, hopefully having some guests. I'd love to have you on to return the favor. I'm looking to where the Lord leads. I believe he's impressed upon me to engage more in video, live streaming, and engaging with others. My efforts are to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Brian: I appreciate that you're leaning into it. I think there is a rising tide of content creators. I believe the Holy Spirit is surfacing and emerging fresh new voices. It's happening. Well, thank you, Mark. God bless you.

Mark: God bless you. I'll talk to you soon.

Expert Perspective: Dr. Hugh Ross

Brian: Here's that promised audio excerpt from Dr. Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe. Who were the Nephilim?

Dr. Hugh Ross: Like with any controversial issue in the Bible, you want to look at all 66 books, not just Genesis 6. This subject pops up again and again. Genesis 6 says they were present before the flood and after. They're the result of the sons of God visiting the daughters of men. As you go through the Bible's chronologies, they show up with different names—the Anakites, the Rephaim, the Nephilim. They're all interchangeable terms. The last appearance is in King David's time. David's mighty men wiped out the last of the Nephilim.

They're tall—Goliath was at least 9 feet 9 inches. The king of Bashan had a bed at least 13 feet long made of iron. These were big people. No mention of women. They're all men with birth defects like six fingers and six toes. We know they're all evil. None are good. But they were mighty men in battle and a threat to the emerging Hebrew nation. That's why God set up procedure where they could be eliminated.

Jude 6 talks about a subcategory of evil angels who left their estate. Because they left their estate, they were consigned to the abyss, a place demons don't like. Every time Jesus cast out demons, they said don't send us to the abyss. Jude indicates it's a special place for demons who crossed the line.

Brian: What would be your recommendation as people study Genesis 6?

Dr. Hugh Ross: What I did in Navigating Genesis is lay out the three predominant hypotheses, give people the Scripture passages, and tell them: read these passages and draw your own conclusion.

Brian: Thanks again, Mark Russick. Explore the Russak Outlook podcast on your favorite app. He has a YouTube channel. The show notes page jesussmart.com/giants is rich with links and resources. You can stay connected with the podcast and jesussmart.com. Subscribe to be notified when new podcasts go live. Sign up for the e-letter to stay updated about new things...

The Promised Head-Crusher Vs. the Nephilim | What Are the Nephilim? Part 1 -- Mark Russak (Ep 219)

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 15:25:00 -0400

----------

See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/giants

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: THE PROMISED HEAD-CRUSHER ... WITH MARK RUSSAK

Welcome to Jesus Smart, the podcast where we explore how Jesus Christ knows how our lives work best. I'm your host, Brian Del Turco, and today we're diving into a fascinating topic from Genesis 6—one that may reshape your understanding of spiritual warfare, prayer, and the kingdom of God.

Jesus Dynamics: Planning Your Way While God Directs Your Steps

We all have promised territory in front of us right now. Proverbs 16:9 tells us that the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. The Lord has created the heart, and your heart knows. Just take that first step. The Lord works with us as we step into the promises. More is given as you take your first steps.

Proverbs 3:6 promises that when we acknowledge Him—know Him by direct, intimate contact—He will make our paths straight, direct, and smooth.

Understanding Genesis Through Both Word and Spirit

I believe in a hermeneutic that is historical, cultural, and grammatical in nature. We look at context and pay deep attention to word studies—what the Hebrew and Greek mean. But I also encourage wedding that hermeneutic with the hermeneutic of the Holy Spirit, who provides increasing illumination of Scripture.

In First John, we read that we all have an anointing from the Holy One. It's important to engage the Scriptures in community with others and with solid Bible study resources. Hugh Ross, a Christian astrophysicist, says we need a deepening understanding of nature and history. We need both the Word and the wind.

For the complete discussion on biblical interpretation methods and our full conversation about Genesis 6, visit jesussmart.com/giants.

Meet Mark Russack

Brian: I'm excited to bring you today's guest, Mark Russack. He's a media professional and an excellent Bible teacher. Thanks for joining us, Mark.

Mark: Delighted to be here. Thanks for the invitation.

Brian: Give our listeners some background about you.

Mark: I was raised Catholic, but around age thirty, I gave myself fully to the Lord, hungry for more of Him. Professionally, I've been in broadcasting and media. I believe the Lord has given me a gift as a teacher. My mission is twofold: to engage the veracity of Christ and Scripture through honest intellectual conversation, and to offer information Christians can use to share the Gospel within their sphere of influence.

Brian: Excellent. You deal with current events, Christian apologetics, and you value presenting both sides of an argument. We're really in a post-truth time, aren't we?

Mark: Exactly. I like to present different perspectives, bringing in archaeological evidence, eyewitness accounts, and historical records. I equate the listener as being the jury, and I'm presenting the case of the Lord Jesus Christ humbly, letting them decide whether this is truth or not.

Genesis 6:1-4: When Angels Impregnated Women

Brian: Today we're examining the possibility that angels impregnated women in early Genesis. Let me read Genesis 6:1-4:

"It came about when mankind began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the Lord said, 'My spirit will not remain with man forever because he is also flesh. Nevertheless, his days shall be 120 years.' The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown."

The word Nephilim means "fallen ones," and the Septuagint translates it as "giants."

Brian: What do we have happening in popular culture today with movies featuring hybrid creatures?

Mark: Films like Wolverine depict characters that are part man, part animal with attributes not natural to mankind. You see this in Hollywood movies and television.

Brian: Sometimes the world is more open to supernatural perspectives than the North American church.

Mark: I think that's fair. As Americans, we're bombarded with media and information—almost a sensory overload that dulls our senses and thwarts critical thinking. I think that's by intent and design.

The First Mention of the Gospel and Satan's Strategy

Brian: Genesis 3:15 is what theologians call the proto-Evangelium—the first mention of the Gospel. God speaks to Satan: "I will make enemies of you and the woman, and of your offspring and her descendant. He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel." You're contending that in Genesis 6, Satan attempted to corrupt the human bloodline to stop this prophecy. Is that correct?

Mark: That's correct. Genesis 3:15 is the Lord giving Satan his death sentence. Satan knows the Bible probably better than most people. This is a life and death situation for him. If fallen angels went into the daughters of men and created offspring, you're looking at mutant DNA—part human and part angelic. It's not the creation of God. That DNA is now potentially infesting the bloodline of the human race.

Three Interpretations of Genesis 6

Brian: I understand there are three different models of interpretation. Could you take us through that?

Mark: The three theories are: fallen angels as "sons of God," the godly line of Seth marrying Cain's daughters, or mythological symbolism. I contend these are fallen angels—the fallen sons of God.

Genesis 6:4 says there were Nephilim. The root word "nephal" means to be cast down, to fall away. "Havagibion" means "the mighty ones." When translated into Greek, it became "gigantes"—giants. There are many historical records of these giants.

The verse says "when the sons of God came into the daughters of men"—human women. Right there, there's a clear distinction: Nephilim (part human, part angelic), sons of God (angelic), and daughters of men (human women).

Brian: This was the dominant view of the early church and late Judaism, right?

Mark: That's correct.

Brian: Later, beginning with Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, some taught this referred to Seth's line. But I was amazed—the John MacArthur Study Bible, the Spirit-Filled Life Bible, and the Nelson NKJV Study Bible all hold to the ancient angels view.

The phrase "sons of God" appears consistently in the Old Testament referring to angels—Job 1:6, Job 2:1, Job 38:7.

For detailed analysis of the Hebrew phrase "sons of God," complete scripture references, and all supporting evidence, visit jesussmart.com/giants

New Testament Support

Brian: What about the New Testament witness?

Mark: Jude 6 says, "The angels who did not keep their proper domain but left their own abode, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day." They left their assigned area and engaged in fornication with women. Because of that sin, God put them in Tartarus—a level below hell.

Second Peter 2:4 confirms: "God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved for judgment."

Brian: Jude verse 7 mentions "just as Sodom and Gomorrah... indulged in sexual perversion and went after strange flesh." One scholar said in Genesis 6, angels initiated and went after human flesh. In Sodom and Gomorrah, there's an inversion—humans wanting sexual relations with angels visiting Lot.

Mark: That's exactly right. And Jesus himself said it. When asked about signs of his coming, he said in Luke 17:26, "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man." He also mentioned the days of Lot.

Brian: So in Noah's days, you have every sort of sin—and this egregious sin of angels crossing a barrier and having sexual relations with women. This precipitated Noah's flood.

The Book of Enoch Connection

Brian: What about Enoch? He's quoted in Jude, right?

Mark: Jude quotes the Book of Enoch: "Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied saying, 'Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones.'" Hebrews 11:5 says, "By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death."

Brian: God translated him—it's a foreshadowing of the Rapture, right?

Mark: Correct. The Book of Enoch goes into great detail about Genesis 6:1-4.

Blending Scholarship with the Holy Spirit

Brian: I encourage blending historical, grammatical interpretation with full engagement of the Holy Spirit for illumination. Scripture shows angels circling God's throne, seeing something new each time. They keep crying "holy, holy, holy" because they keep seeing another facet of God.

Mark: I agree. We prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide this conversation. The Lord is so vast and deep. Scripture shows that angels circle the throne and each time they see something new. His revelation and depth are available to us. We would be foolish not to engage the Holy Spirit and ask Him for revelation.

Brian: Absolutely. Always root yourself in sound scholarship, but if you can find strong scholarship that resonates with what you sense the Holy Spirit is saying, you're in a safe space for deep Bible study.

Why This Matters Today

When in doubt, zoom out. This is big-picture material that may deepen your understanding of spiritual warfare, prayer, and your unique kingdom contribution.

For the complete unabridged transcript, all scripture references, videos with Dr. Hugh Ross (Christian astrophysicist), and our full "Go Deeper" resource section, visit jesussmart.com/giants

Stay tuned for part two of this conversation with Mark Russack, where we'll dive even deeper into this biblical topic and its implications for kingdom living today.

Subscribe to Jesus Smart and never miss an episode. Visit jesussmart.com for our free weekly Smart Edit newsletter—5 minutes to elevate your faith and influence your sphere.

The future belongs to Jesus Christ. He knows how life works best. Let's align with that.

Resources: jesussmart.com/giants

Flaming Hot Takes Roundtable with Jason Howard and Bruce Colbert, Part 2 (Ep 218)

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 15:38:00 -0400

What are the core elements of hosting the presence of the Lord in our lives? Like sages for our time, Jason Howard, Bruce Colbert, and I convened at the roundtable to dialogue about this and a few other things ... like experiencing the character, charisma, and competencies of Christ, downloading higher solutions from above, and more. We even riff on the Metaverse. This episode is Part 2 of our roundtable. Listen to episode 215 for the first half.

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Flaming Hot Takes Roundtable with Jason Howard and Bruce Colbert (Ep 217)

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 07:38:00 -0400

Why are transitions in life often messy and challenging? Like sages for our time, Jason Howard, Bruce Colbert, and I convened at the roundtable to dialogue about this and a few other things ... like hearing from heaven about solutions and answers and putting feet to the promises.

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Here’s Why Christians Should Live a Wartime Lifestyle (Ep 214)

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:05:10 -0400

Many Christians in the West seem to settle into a peacetime mentality. Most do not have a sense of urgency about the Great Spiritual War. As a result, we do not know the positive things we’re missing when we do not live a wartime lifestyle. It is time to soldier up! The world needs Christ-followers who embrace a wartime lifestyle.

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Full Faith and Credit of King Jesus: Ultimate Underwriter

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 14:24:00 -0400

Who is your underwriter? The full faith and credit of King Jesus guarantee that you can experience his highest design. And it all contributes to his Royal Story. He’s your patron, sponsor, benefactor, bankroller, endorser, signatory, and guarantor. We can be more! And do more.

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The Outlaw Christ-Child Undermining the World (Ep 212)

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:40:30 -0400

Did you know that the First Christmas was an invasion? The Outlaw Christ-Child has come -- the King is back! Advent is not just something we look back to. It's in THE NOW. And it's in THE FUTURE. Actually, Advent is advancing! This changes prayer, what we imagine is possible, and our decision-making.

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Have Yourself a Very ‘Chaordic‘ Christmas! -- Terry Hoggard (Ep 211)

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 16:22:10 -0400

We're coining a new Christmas greeting ... "Have yourself a very Chaordic Christmas!" The incarnation means the King is back. And that's the ultimate disruptive innovation for our lives and everything we influence. Terry Hoggard is our special guest. He says it's going to take a whole-hearted mindset and heartset (an all-in approach) to engage the dance between heaven and earth. Our "just enough" can become "more than enough" because of Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Terry is a veteran missionary who has led international churches in Rome and Brussels. He’s a leader of international leaders. He's a life coach and executive leader in Convoy of Hope, a Christian international relief organization.

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Kingdom Crossover with Despite Popular Belief, The Writer‘s Lens, and The Narrative Wars (Ep 210)

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 12:32:17 -0400

A special Kingdom Crossover episode pulled together by Stephen Lauterbach of the Despite Popular Belief podcast and purveyor of ManifoldMinistries.com. JCL Faltot of The Writer's Lens and The Narrative Wars is also in the mix. Listen in as we pontificate (some may say bloviate!) about the Western Church, political agendas, and speaking Truth during the Holidays. Stick with us to the end and you'll get a chance to hear burning questions we'd like to ask God someday.

Despite Popular Belief

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The Power of Women to Create Intimacy in Marriage -- Dr. Juli Slattery (Ep 209)

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 16:09:40 -0400

Dr. Juli Slattery is with us to talk about the power of women to create intimacy in marriage. So what is this relationship superpower that a woman brings to marriage? And how does it differ from a man’s power? Are these powers complementary? The conversation today is rich with insight about intimacy in marriage. (Dr. Juli Slattery is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker, and broadcast media professional. She is the co-founder of Authentic Intimacy, a ministry dedicated to reclaiming God’s design for sexuality.)

Authentic Intimacy (AuthenticIntimacy.com)

Sexual Discipleship (SexualDiscipleship.com)

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Value of a Deep, Clear Repentance: Jesus Dynamics (Ep 210)

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 11:29:00 -0400

Repentance ("Wait, don't run away!") is a renewal of the mind and lifestyle -- a core Jesus Dynamic to experience his Kingdom Life. Dynamics are forces or properties that stimulate development and transformation. Kingdom Dynamics or Jesus Dynamics apply the Jesus Way to all of life ... and to everything.

This episode is the first in a brand new Jesus Dynamics genre!

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Family Discipleship Is the Secret Sauce for Your Kids -- Stephanie Rothman (Ep 207)

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 15:00:46 -0400

It will take fruitful Christian Discipleship in our homes to meet the societal and cultural moment that we face. Stephanie Rothman is a Children's Ministry Pastor. Her secret sauce is empowering families to disciple their children. Discipling children is a high-leverage quest that pays generous dividends over time! This episode is part 2 of 2.

Listen to the first part of this conversation -- The World Wants Our Children with Stephanie Rothman (Ep 206)

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The World Wants Our Children -- Stephanie Rothman (Ep 206)

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 16:04:42 -0400

The research says that Culture is transforming the Church. Stephanie Rothman is a specialist in Children's Ministry. Her secret sauce is empowering families to disciple their children. The optimal time for this is 18 months to 13 years. It's time for parents, grandparents, and others to opt-in! Discipling children is a high-leverage quest that pays generous dividends over time! Includes a 4-min. clip from researcher George Barna at the end of the episode. This episode is part 1 of 2.

Listen to the complete episode with George Barna - The Charisma News Podcast on the Charisma Podcast Network

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What‘s Your Peanut? A Life Lesson from George Washington Carver (Ep 205)

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 15:59:56 -0400

God to George Washington Carver: "I'll show you the secrete of the peanut." There's something vital we can learn from this committed Christian and world-class botanist. We're designed to co-work with the Creator and release the latent potential of things.

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Live Podcast: What to Do with the Devil -- Fast Primer (Ep 204)

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 15:10:44 -0400

Live Podcast. Is there a devil? I'm convinced there is. This is a fast (10 min) primer, a few quick thoughts about what to do with the devil.

Your Life as a Preview of Coming Attractions, Part 2 -- Steve Witt

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 11:56:00 -0400

King Jesus is coming. And he will restore all things ... the new heavens and new earth are on the horizon. (Are you up for this?) He wants to design your life as a preview of coming attractions. Steve Witt (Senior Leader, Bethel Cleveland) says that if we center on Jesus and talk him up, a “spirit of prophecy” will be activated. All things are possible. This is part 2 of a “pregnant” conversation. It includes a unique, prophetic perspective of the City of Cleveland and the State of Ohio. This is a recast episode.

Be sure to listen to Part 1 too!

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Your Life as a Preview of Coming Attractions, Part 1 -- Steve Witt (Ep 202)

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 11:48:46 -0400

Jesus is the Ultimate Coming Attraction -- both now and future. And he is zealous to design our lives as a preview of what's coming! Steve Witt (Senior Leader, Bethel Cleveland) says that if we center on Jesus and talk him up, a "spirit of prophecy" will be activated. He's living it. We can access the All-Possibilities of God. Everything is subject to transformation. This is part 1 of a "pregnant" conversation. It includes a prophetic understanding of Cleveland, Ohio ... poised for a Kingdom "Quake on the Lake." This is a recast episode.

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An Invitation to Prosecute the Devil (Ep 201)

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 14:19:11 -0400

Are you ready for this (?) ... as a developing Christ-Follower, you can legally enforce the reality of Jesus' World in your world. Jesus has won the victory. We're called to "enforce" all things before the Throne of King Jesus.

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Why Most People Will Never Be Successful: Viktor Frankl and Jesus (Ep 200)

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 15:55:23 -0400

Most people will never be successful ... authentically successful. Viktor Frankl (Holocaust survivor and author of 'Man's Search for Meaning') said, "You become successful and happy when you pursue something beyond yourself … when you dedicate yourself to others. Then success and happiness show up." What is authentic success? Jesus reconnects us with our deepest sense of meaning in God's eternal purpose -- and with that, we discover our highest life design.

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Your Quality Faith Is the Landing Strip for Heaven‘s Best (Ep 199)

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 11:36:57 -0400

Faith is a super high value with God. It's impossible to come to Him and please him without it. What is the source of faith? And how can we enhance the quality of our faith? Faith is a point of contact between heaven and earth ... our quality faith is a landing strip for the best things from Father God.

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Get Out of That Boat! Water-Walking Faith (Ep 200)

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 15:03:00 -0400

Will Jesus summon you to come out of your battered boat and walk on water with him? He just may if you show a faith initiative. What if you could express water-walking faith over difficulties and dilemmas? And what if you could even exploit opportunities and faith horizons with the audacious faith of Christ? In this episode we explore initiative, staying focused on Christ, getting a word from the Lord Over All, and more. (This may stretch your personal belief!)

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Accelerate Your Commitment to Your Future Self (Godspeed Episode! Ep 197)

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:18:29 -0400

Are you more committed to your past or present ... than to your future? In this quick Godspeed episode, we touch on 5 ideas on how to get unstuck and accelerate your commitment to your destiny path. Jesus is brilliant. He knows how life works best. Right here. Right now.

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Do You Want a Miracle? Stretch for It. (Ep 196)

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 12:19:10 -0400

It's simple. There’s a way things work. It’s always true in the natural. And in the supernatural too. As we diligently explore the Gospels in the New Testament with openness, we will realize there’s a way that things work when we want to experience something extraordinary. There is a simultaneous faith movement on our part with the corresponding activity of Jesus.

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Leverage Your Trials to Advance -- Frank Viola (Ep 195)

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 16:30:04 -0400

Trials are times of testing and pressure. Everyone experiences them. For the Christ-follower, trials are a unique opportunity to use Kingdom leverage. If we process well with the Lord, God can gain what he's looking for ... and we can gain new territory in our life and expression of our calling. Amazingly, James writes that we can live joyfully through our trials because of the advantageous outcomes.

>> To see Frank's book and course HangOnLetGo.com

>> Beyond Evangelical: The Blog of Frank Viola

>> The Deeper Christian Life Network

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Good Things Come to Those Who Groan (Godspeed Episode! Ep 194)

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:28:27 -0400

What's on the other side of your groaning? It's beyond worth it! "Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my groaning" (Ps 5:1). The GROANING GAP is that space between WHAT IS and WHAT WILL BE. It's there that you carry the creative tension of the Holy Spirit. Things want to happen ... in the groaning are seeds of design and destiny. So what are you groaning about? Embrace the potential.

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Developing Over-the-Horizon Faith (Ep 193)

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 13:12:20 -0400

There's a real sense in which the horizons of our lives are placed on a curve. Just like the curvature of the earth where the sky meets the earth. Over-the-horizon thinking and applied faith are necessary to journey into new things that want to happen from heaven's point of view. In this episode, we explore 1) worshipping and praying, 2) visualizing and prophesying, 3) belief set points, and 4) "acting as if" with faith action. All 4 of these elements make up over-the-horizon thinking and faith to move you into new territory.

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God and Hamilton, Part 2 -- Kevin Cloud (Ep 192)

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:46:42 -0400

In part 2 of this discussion with Kevin Cloud, author of God & Hamilton, we focus on slavery and today's race relations, the empowerment of women, and how we are co-creators with God. Alexander Hamilton was an influential American Founder ... second only to George Washington. How does his life speak to us in our time? Kevin Cloud's book draws upon Hamilton, the acclaimed Broadway musical.----more----

This is a recast episode. You can hear part 1 in episode 191.

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God and Hamilton -- Kevin Cloud (Ep 191)

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 12:24:07 -0400

The acclaimed Broadway musical Hamilton is now a part of the American cultural conversation. Inspired by the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, the extraordinary musical resonates with many on themes of faith, race, and immigration. Kevin Cloud, the author of God & Hamilton, is with us in this episode. Our conversation centers on spiritual themes from the life of Alexander Hamilton, an influential American Founder ... second only to George Washington. How does his life speak to us in our time? This is a recast episode. Part 1 of 2.

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Q4U: Is Progressivism a Hellish Counterfeit for the Real Future? (Ep 190)

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 16:35:19 -0400

Look around -- progressivism is all the rage today. And it's not just political. It's leaking into parts of the Church too. What starts gradually as soft totalitarianism can evolve into terrifying tyranny. True justice is beautiful. But is Progressivism a delusion?

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Even more, is it a hellish counterfeit to the real future that Jesus is bringing? This is a recast episode.

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Ready for Something New? Consecrate Your Frontiers (Ep 189)

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 19:05:22 -0400

In Christ you have a true superpower -- it's the capacity to consecrate things. We can consecrate new frontiers -- transitions, new seasons, opportunities -- bringing all things under the lordship and leadership of King Jesus. On the other side of each frontier is new territory you're destined to possess! Listen for 6 key takeaways.

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This is a special recast episode.

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Find Your Place in the Kingdom Story -- Matt Raines (Ep 190)

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 14:42:00 -0400

You’re designed for narrative ... your Personal Life Story and the Big Story that’s moving everything.

The Grand Narrative is the loving rule and reign of God. Jesus has come to put things back to right, restoring us as Vice-Regents under God as King.

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You’re going to hear from Matt Raines. Get ready for this. The 5 acts of the Kingdom Story -- nuanced and subtle, and yet writ large across time and space.

And in Christ, your life is written into the Big Story on the Big Stage. This is a recast episode.

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Royal Presence in You, Voice of a King, Mind of Christ, Future Is Now (Godspeed Episode! Ep 187)

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 15:01:13 -0400

I had an especially vibrant time with the Lord this morning in prayer and the Word. In this quick Godspeed episode, you'll hear the 4 min. recording of what I shared with a friend in Europe via a messaging app.

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We carry the Royal Presence of King Jesus ... the Voice of the King through us ... radiating the Mind of Christ ... and the Future Is Now.

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Wild Ox Podcast Feature: The Potential of a Deep and Clear Repentance (Ep 186)

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 15:14:38 -0400

Episode 186 is a special feature episode from another podcast I host -- the Wild Ox Podcast. You'll have to listen to appreciate the name! Pray with me. Discover the potential of deep and clear repentance ... it's a gift of God's grace.

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As we process with Christ, we become cleaner and cleaner. By cleansing ourselves, we become an instrument for noble purposes, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work he has for us (2 Timothy 2:21). Explore the new Wild Ox Podcast!

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Earth Governs Heaven?-- Page One Series, Part 3 (Ep 185)

Thu, 27 May 2021 18:47:08 -0400

The great 20th century Chinese Bible teacher, Watchman Nee, said that 'earth governs heaven.' Could he be right? Jesus said he gave us the 'keys of the Kingdom of heaven' to bind and to loose. What if there is a clear connection between our move and heaven's move? Part 3 of the Page One series.

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Be Uber Creative in Christ! (Ep 184)

Wed, 19 May 2021 14:06:44 -0400

You need to be super creative about something important, right? Jesus Christ is creative without limits! And the New Testament claims that Christ-followers have the mind of Christ. As we advance in the mind of Christ, we have boundless potential to be super creative ... uber creative.

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We can imaginate with a touch of heaven to meet needs, solve problems, and exploit opportunities! Then we can take action. This is a recast of a previous episode.

Includes audio excerpt with Sir Ken Robinson interviewed by Michael Hyatt discussing creativity.

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Holy Noticing - Blending an Ancient Spiritual Practice and Neuroscience to Live Our Best Lives - Dr. Charles Stone (Ep 185)

Thu, 13 May 2021 11:11:00 -0400

Stressed? Anxious? Brain fog? With our fast-paced lifestyles and digital hyper-connectivity, are we missing real life? We’re pushing, pushing, pushing to get to a next better moment and fail to appreciate the present one. The abundant life that Jesus offers is experienced IN THE NOW. Dr. Charles Stone is a spiritual leader with advanced degrees in ministry and neuroscience & leadership.

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Discover what the Bible, church history, and neuroscience say about a Christian lifestyle of Holy Noticing ... all to live our best lives for the Grand Story. This is an encore recast episode.

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9 Ways to Boost Brain Power -- Guest post by Dr. Charles Stone

Reframing Your Life With Powerful Horizons (Godspeed Episode! Ep 182)

Tue, 04 May 2021 15:03:56 -0400

Recently I walked into a local Catholic church for a time of prayer on a late afternoon. I pull away and pray in this church from time to time. I'd like to share a surprising insight that came to me as soon as I stepped across the threshold from the lobby into the church. This will probably be novel for you too. We can reframe our life with powerful horizons. -- Brian

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Jesus Is Good News for Women! Part 2 -- Mary DeMuth & Frank Viola (Ep 181)

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 11:10:13 -0400

Frank Viola and Mary DeMuth return for the 2nd part of this vital conversation. Does Satan have a heightened hatred for women? Is Jesus a holy feminist? Are femininity and masculinity questioned today? All this and more on this episode.

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Frank and Mary collaborated on 'The Day I Met Jesus: The Revealing Diaries of Five Women from the Gospels.' Part 2 of 2 episodes. Listen to the first part of the conversation (Ep 180).

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Jesus Is Good News for Women! Part 1 -- Mary DeMuth & Frank Viola (Ep 180)

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 00:04:58 -0400

Those who are not of The Way (following Jesus) may be tempted to feel that Jesus or the Church is bad news for women. Has too much of the Christian movement misrepresented Jesus about women? Frank Viola and Mary DeMuth think that's the case. Is the Holy Spirit restoring the place of women in the Church?

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Frank and Mary collaborated on 'The Day I Met Jesus: The Revealing Diaries of Five Women from the Gospels.' They write: “Put simply, your Lord is in the business of loving, honoring, and defending women.” Part 1 of 2 episodes. Listen to the 2nd part of this conversation (Ep 181).

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Be Fierce to Have Dominion -- Page One Series, Part 2 (Ep 179)

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 21:29:17 -0400

As Vice-Regents, we are designed to exercise dominion under the sovereignty of God as King. Have you lost your fierceness? It’s costing you. And those in your sphere of influence. Our full-on engagement is required to live our highest life for Christ. The authority is from above, but a fierce mastery must flow through us. Part 2 of the Page One series.

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>> Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/pageone

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Ruling with Christ -- Page One Series, Part 1 (Ep 180)

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 18:49:00 -0400

The Imago Dei -- what does it really mean to be created in the image of God? Many things flow from this core understanding of the relationship between God and humanity. The first thing God says after creating the man and woman in his likeness is "rule." So how can we bear the image of God well on earth? Part 1 of the Page One series.

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No One Elevates Women Like King Jesus -- Mary Demuth (Ep 177)

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 17:11:52 -0400

Ladies, it's time to get into your advanced place in God's story! The reality is the community of the Godhead designed humanity in the image of God ... fashioned as both female and male. If we're going to bear the image of God well, it will be fully expressed in both genders. What's at stake? Dominion. In this recast episode, you'll discover we're commissioned as Vice-Regents under King Jesus. Mary says we're "reStoried" to partner in the Royal Storyline.

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Keep Out the Devil! (Ep 176)

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:35:59 -0400

We can look to Jesus for best practices to experience our best lives as daughters and sons of God. In this recast episode, we explore a "Jesus tactic" -- give no ground to the Devil. As we grow, we can diminish friction and terminate self-sabotaging setbacks that work against momentum. (Live podcast recording)

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Build 3-D Immunity and Thrive in CrazyTimes -- Frank Viola (Ep 175)

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 18:05:44 -0400

Get ready for quality information. Humor. And a challenge. You can survive the current virus crisis ... even more, you can thrive! This is a recast of a conversation with the uncommon, indomitable Frank Viola. He's the author of more than 20 books, a speaker, and a consultant to writers. He says we can build 3-D immunity -- spiritually, psychologically, and physically -- to face down any threat. Plus, we can slay nutty conspiracy theories!

Get your free 64-page Survival Guide at FrankViola.org

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Wild Ox Podcast Feature: How the God Ethic Potentializes Prayer (Ep 174)

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:36:38 -0400

Episode 174 is a special feature episode from another podcast I host -- the Wild Ox Podcast. You'll have to listen to appreciate the name! Pray with me. Could it be that the fruit of our prayer and fasting flourishes or wastes away by how we live concerning the poor, the oppressed and afflicted, the hungry, and the homeless stranger? The promised blessings for those who live in harmony with the God Ethic in Isaiah 58 are stunning! Explore the new Wild Ox Podcast!

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Your Mountain Move (Godspeed Episode! Ep 173)

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 11:29:34 -0400

Moving mountains in your world are related to something much greater than yourself. "Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low ... and the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together" (Isaiah 40 NIV). Ultimately, mountain moves in our lives are about the fame of the Lord and a Larger Story. What Jesus said about Mountain Moves is astonishing. (Part 1 of 2)

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Strong Talk: Why Your Prayer and Fasting May Be Fruitless (Ep 172)

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 16:09:37 -0400

I welcome you into a growth process I think the Lord may be summoning me into. What do we do when our prayer and fasting about something seems to be fruitless? If I'm reading the words of the Lord in Isaiah 58 right, it may be that we have neglected the ethic of the Lord about the poor, widows, those in bondage, and more. The promised blessing of the Lord for those who get this right is astonishing. -- Brian

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Stand Before Kings! -- Stephen Lauterbach (Ep 171)

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 14:50:34 -0400

We are designed to be ambassadors for Christ, re-presenting Him well. Metalhead turned husband and father, Stephen Lauterbach lives with a strong theme ... he says we are called to excel and "stand before kings" (Proverbs 22:29). There's a condition to follow Jesus in this way: living with excellence in the various life domains. Are you up for this commissioning? There's good news. If you are, the Holy Spirit will guide and empower you.

>> Explore ManifoldMinistries.com

>> Listen to the Despite Popular Belief Podcast

>> Kingdom Heavy playlist on Spotify

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Holy Heat! Designer Sex-- Dr. Juli Slattery (Ep 170)

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 08:53:58 -0400

What if we could reclaim God’s design for sex ... and truly experience what sex is meant to be? Grace and truth from Jesus empower us to live in harmony with Higher Design. But is the Church losing the Creator's design for sexuality? And is the world out-discipling the Church about sex? Dr. Juli Slattery of Authentic Intimacy is with us in this recast episode.

>> Dr. Julie Slattery's site: Authentic Intimacy

>> Java with Julie Podcast

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Freedom: Illusions Busted by the Truth (Godspeed Episode! Ep 169)

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 16:52:24 -0400

God calls you into his freedom! And freedom is a gradient -- you can grow in it. Just upstream from freedom is truth. And that's a gradient too. The New Testament Greek word for truth also means reality. Did you know that when you're born again in Christ, you're born into a battle over what is real? Truth will increasingly protect you ... and release you into your potential.

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The Warp & Woof of Your Wild, Wonderful Life (Ep 170)

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 15:16:00 -0400

The warp and woof of your wild, wonderful life is the fabric of your world. Do you know that the weave of heaven on earth can begin to run through your life IN THE NOW? Once born again in Christ, you are a precursor to the restoration of all things ... the new heavens and earth to come. Here are some practical ideas to cultivate this stunning heaven and earth fabric.

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Is Progressivism a Hellish Counterfeit to the Real Future? (Jesus Smart Ep 167)

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:05:35 -0400

There's nothing more priceless than the truth ... and freedom is downstream from truth. Look around -- progressivism is all the rage today. And it's not just political. It's leaking into parts of the Church too. What starts gradually as soft totalitarianism can evolve into terrifying tyranny. True justice is beautiful. But is Progressivism a delusion? Even more, is it a hellish counterfeit to the real future that Jesus is bringing?

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Our Best Horizons: Chosen, Blessed, Broken, and Given -- Matt Raines (Ep 166)

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:19:07 -0400

Everyone wants to "find their life" -- their best life. Jesus' offer is on the table: "If you lose your life for my sake, you will find it." To be real, few discover this. Matt Raines helps us in our quest. He draws on thoughts from Henri Nouwen, a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer, and theologian. We are CHOSEN by Christ, BLESSED, BROKEN, and GIVEN to the world. This narrow path leads to our best horizons!

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Anno Domini 2020 Encore: 4 Vital Steps to Take When Your Vision Is Challenged (Ep 165)

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 11:11:10 -0400

This is a special 2020 Encore Episode. Agree with me at the end in a prayer of Providence and Design over your life. In challenging times, we have to be proactive with our vision. Here are 4 vital steps to optimize the challenge to your vision: 1) Recommit to achieving your vision 2) Innovate new powerful strategies 3) Key - Give thanks to the Creator 4) Now accelerate success. Challenges are a gift ... they are an invitation to step up. To be more. And to do more. (These powerful ideas are traced back to Dr. Bruce Wilkinson.)

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The Dance of Heaven and Earth -- 2020 Christmas Mini-Series, Part 3 (Ep 164)

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 13:14:12 -0400

We see the dance of heaven and earth in the Christmas narratives of Matthew and Luke. A faith-response on earth surrounds even the incarnation of Christ. And because Advent is Advancing, we can live today with this Christmas Dynamic. Heaven moves. We move. The best things happen on the Father's Dance Floor!

See the show notes page for this Christmas Series at JesusSmart.com/christmas2020

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Hark! It's Christmas Chaos Theory -- 2020 Christmas Mini-Series, Part 2 (Ep 165)

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 14:02:00 -0400

You can be Christmas Chordic this Christmastime! Opportunity is wrapped in chaos. Disruptive Innovation upsets and supersedes the status quo, and everything goes to a new level. How should we live in the true spirit of Christmas all year long? 1) The knowledge of the Holy One sustains us. 2) Welcome the Holy Spirit to overshadow your person, your situation. 3) Listen for the creative heavenly Word. 4) Then, take obedient action.

See the show notes page for this Christmas Series at JesusSmart.com/christmas2020

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Bonus Episode: It's the Manifold Ministries Christmas Crossover Episode! (Ep 162)

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 15:05:48 -0400

Hark! The Herald Content Creators speak! It's a special Christmas Crossover episode via MANIFOLD MINISTRIES. You'll hear Ally Rossborough from the Freedom & Truth blog and Stephen Lauterbach, the purveyor of Manifold Ministries and the host of the Despite Popular Belief podcast. And yours truly is in the mix too! We discuss everything Christmas ... traditions, truths, misconceptions, and who put up their Christmas tree before Thanksgiving. We had a blast coming together. Hark! We hope you enjoy the listen! Go see Manifold Ministries.

Parts 2 and 3 of the "Hey, Dragon, Yule Be Sorry" Christmas mini-series are coming to your chimney! Show notes page.

Hey, Dragon! Ho! Ho! Ho! -- 2020 Christmas Mini-Series, Part 1 (Ep 161)

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 14:22:18 -0400

Did you know that the First Christmas was an invasion? The King is back! Advent is not just something we look back to. It's in THE NOW. And it's in THE FUTURE. Advent is advancing! This changes prayer, what we imagine is possible, and our decision-making.

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Heaven's Secret Sauce: The Image of God In the Earth, Part 2 -- Bruce Colbert (Ep 160)

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 15:27:03 -0400

We can cultivate all things (think Eden!), releasing hidden potential all around us. Capture Part 2 of my coffee-shop dialogue with Bruce Colbert. Are we willing to discover our real life in Christ's Kingdom Enterprise? And let's reconceive something -- Ekklesia (the Church) is for societal good. Not a "Churchianity." It's all wrapped up in the image of God in us! (Listen to Ep 158 for Part 1 of our dialogue.)

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Chaos Theory, God, and You -- Insert These 5 Dynamic Variables (Godspeed Episode! Ep 159)

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 13:44:49 -0400

Is there chaos around you? This will be surprising, but you're positioned to experience something new. A different expression of Higher Design. Chaos Theory is the study of how tiny variables can transform chaos into new patterns of design and purpose. You have "Chaordic" Capacity in Christ! Insert these 5 Dynamic Kingdom Variables into the chaos to release a new order in your life and your world of influence.

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Heaven's Secret Sauce: The Image of God in the Earth -- Bruce Colbert (Ep 160)

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 17:46:00 -0400

As Creator-King, God places his image in the earth in man and woman. Everyone has it as a baseline expression. And yet, in Christ, God's image goes to a higher level. This is heaven's secret sauce for influencing all things via us! Right here. Right now. The image of God is renewed in us through the Holy Spirit. The opportunity cost for negligence is way too high.

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Godspeed! -- It's Time to Talk About Your Secret Advantage in Christ -- Supernatural Sound (Ep 157)

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 14:20:33 -0400

There comes a point when we need to talk about your secret advantage in Christ -- receiving and releasing supernatural sound. Developing in Christ is a continuum. Are you on the Christ Continuum? If so, the opportunity cost of failing to develop in supernatural sound is too high. Elevate to your privilege as daughters and sons of God in Christ! (Tight Godspeed episode!)

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Grow Up! You're Not Voting for Prom King -- J.C.L. Faltot (Ep 156)

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 21:31:56 -0400

Here's a dialogue, a confabulation, a royal riff with J.C.L. Faltot! We are called to lives of influence ... salt, light, Kingdom leaven, all pointing to the coming Kingdom. And, yes, this includes political engagement. How do we think clearly and navigate this? Upstream from politics is culture, then worldview, and then belief systems. And upstream from it all ... the unseen spiritual domain.

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America, Don't Drink the Kool-Aid -- Do You Hear the Sound of an Awakening? (Ep 155)

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 15:30:36 -0400

It's time for the American Church to rise with One Voice and refuse silence! Sean Feucht is leading open-air worship across the nation. In this episode, experience live worship from the capital of California and a prophetic decree from Samuel Rodriguez for the nation. Will you hear the sound of an awakening?

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More on You’re Designed for Super-Creativity — Adam Carver (Ep 154)

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 15:46:36 -0400

Go further on this theme of being super-creative in the Spirit. Keys include communing with the Holy Spirit as a matter of lifestyle and bringing order to your own life ... then from that core you can stretch and influence the world around you. As you develop, you can supersede challenges and exploit opportunities. This is Part 2 of a dialogue with Adam Carver, pastor and business owner from Shipley, England. (Catch up with the first part in episode 153.)

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Yes, You're Designed for Super-Creativity -- Adam Carver (Ep 155)

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 16:30:00 -0400

Why live under a lid? That's right -- you have the potential to be super-creative. In all life domains. And in the world you influence. Especially when you relate to the Holy Spirit and allow his creativity to partner with you. Challenges can be superseded. Opportunities can be exploited. Adam Carver from Shipley, England is our special guest in this episode.

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Godspeed! -- We Live by Perfect Pitch (Sound) and Not by Sight (Ep 152)

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 15:10:51 -0400

Successfully following Jesus means that we truly live by God's Perfect Pitch and not by sight. We live by Supernatural Sound and not the sights, sounds, and so on of this natural, fallen world. We position ourselves to hear, develop our inner ear ... and then we release Supernatural Sound with praise, prayer, and proclamation. It dominates, releasing blessing!

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Vice-Regents, Occupy the Empty Seat in the Supreme Court! -- Pray with Me Series (Ep 151)

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 17:14:42 -0400

Pray with me. Here's another empowering Kingdom Prayer Dynamic ... with forceful prayer, we can occupy spaces and places leading to the manifestation of God's will. In this episode, we draw on the Intercessors for America site and pray and decree over the empty seat in the United States Supreme Court. This is the 9th in a new prayer series we are creating that will become its own podcast soon. (This episode is more diesel than moped or vespa!)

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your Kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness" (Psalms 45:6-7 ESV).

Go to the article and prayer on the Intecessors for America site

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Hey, Overcomer! Consecrate Your New Frontiers (Ep 150)

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 15:31:43 -0400

In Christ you have a true superpower -- it's the power to consecrate things. You can bring things under the leadership and lordship of King Jesus. It's Higher Design. We need to consecrate new frontiers -- transitions, new seasons, opportunities. On the other side of each frontier is new territory you're destined to possess! Listen for 6 key takeaways.

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Is the Micro Ekklesia the Real Mega? (Ep 149)

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 15:38:35 -0400

Is the Holy Spirit breathing on a Kingdom trendline today ... the Micro Ekklesia? Could Jesus be recovering something original and radical? Is an ancient-futurist expression of a "city on a hill" emerging that moves the needle in society and culture? Jesus co-opted a secular construct and infused it with Kingdom DNA -- and it's the real authority!

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Apostolic Christ-Followers Series

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The Single Best Way to Win: Stay Above the Line

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 14:10:00 -0400

Are you "born again" as Jesus taught? Then you are "in Christ." And that means you are enthroned with him above everything IN THE NOW. So the key is to cultivate a consistent consciousness of that -- live and move "above the line." You can pray and decree down into earth-borne scenarios from King Jesus' POV - Point of View. And execute in life and work from your positioning with Christ! We can develop in this and positively win from heaven's perspective.

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Praying the Plumbline of the Ascended Christ -- Pray with Me Series (Ep 147)

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 12:17:28 -0400

Pray with me. Here's another empowering Kingdom Prayer Dynamic ... we can pray down the plumbline of Christ into earth-borne scenarios. In this episode, we pray for America and China. (If you live in another nation, you can use this prayer template in your context.) If you're "in Christ," then you are "seated with Christ" in the heavenlies. Pray down into scenarios. Pray that things will align with Christ's plumbline -- that the executive will of the Father will be realized in the earth. This is the 8th in a new prayer series we are creating that will become its own podcast soon.

"Behold I lay in Zion a stone for the foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily. Also I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet; the hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place" (Isaiah 28:16-17 NKJV).

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4 Vital Steps to Take When Your Vision Is Challenged (Ep 146)

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 16:23:23 -0400

Let's be real -- every vision is challenged. In those times, we have to be proactive with our vision. Here are 4 vital steps to optimize the challenge to your vision: 1) Recommit to achieving your vision 2) Innovate new powerful strategies 3) Key - Give thanks to the Creator 4) Now accelerate success. Challenges are a gift ... they are an invitation to step up. To be more. And to do more. (These powerful ideas are traced back to Dr. Bruce Wilkinson.)

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Praying for the American Election -- Pray with Me Series (Ep 150)

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 13:18:00 -0400

Pray with me. Here's another interesting Kingdom Prayer Dynamic ... prayer is limitless! As we develop in prayer, we access the total possibilities of God. This is the 7th in a new prayer series we are creating that will become its own podcast soon. We pray for the American election. (If you live in another nation, you can use this prayer template in your context at any time.) God is the "Supreme Judge of the World" (American Declaration of Independence). We stand in faith that God will sway the judgment of the electorate, tilting it in the direction of His design for the nation.

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Your Life as a Preview of Coming Attractions, Part 2 -- Steve Witt (Ep 144)

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 13:15:32 -0400

Be sure to listen to Part 1 too!

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Your Life as a Preview of Coming Attractions, Part 1 -- Steve Witt (Ep 143)

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 16:02:25 -0400

Jesus is the Ultimate Coming Attraction. Both now and future. And he is zealous to design our lives as a preview of what's coming! Steve Witt (Senior Leader, Bethel Cleveland) says that if we center on Jesus and talk him up, a "spirit of prophecy" will be activated. He's living it. We then access the All-Possibilities of God and everything is subject to transformation. This is part 1 of a "pregnant" conversation. It includes a prophetic understanding of Cleveland, Ohio ... poised for a Kingdom "Quake on the Lake."

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Your Future Self to You: "Make Strong Decisions and Go Bold!" (Ep 142)

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 14:52:18 -0400

Imagine what could be on the other side of your strong decision. Could there be a clear connection between your decisiveness and Providence moving to help you? Scottish mountaineer William Hutchison Murray is convinced there is. Inertia = misery. Movement = joy and energy. Is life asking you to make a move on something? Don't underestimate the interplay between you and Providence. What would your future self say?

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Praying for the Exposure of Evil -- Pray with Me (Ep 141)

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 18:11:34 -0400

Pray with me. Here's another interesting Kingdom Prayer Dynamic! ... We can pray for the full-on exposure of evil. We can start with our personal world and expand to the macro world of nations and even geopolitics (and everything in between). We are the light of God in Christ (see Ephesians 5)! The white-hot light of Christ exposes everything, producing clarity and acumen. In this episode, I share this Kingdom Prayer Dynamic and then we pray! This is the 6th in a new prayer series we are creating.

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God and Hamilton, Part 2 -- Kevin Cloud (Ep 140)

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 12:06:11 -0400

In part 2 of this insightful discussion with Kevin Cloud, author of God & Hamilton, we focus on slavery and today's race relations, the empowerment of women, and how we are co-creators with the Ultimate Creator. Alexander Hamilton was an influential American Founder ... second only to George Washington. How does his life speak to us in our time on these themes and others? Kevin Cloud's book draws upon Hamilton, the acclaimed Broadway musical. (You can hear part 1 in episode 139.)

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God and Hamilton -- Kevin Cloud (Ep 139)

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 14:30:33 -0400

See the show notes page to go deeper -- JesusSmart.com/hamilton

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What the Snake Doesn't Want You to Know: You Have Authority to "Name" Things (Ep 138)

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 11:32:17 -0400

So you're born again in Christ. Fine. But here's something the Snake doesn't want you to know -- you have authority in Christ to redefine and "name" things in harmony with Higher Design. It's a Sovereign King / Vice-Regent partnership. The Creator-human enterprise is back in play!

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Free Thinking About Racism, the Protests, and Rioting (Part 2) — Willie & Rachel Scott, J.C.L. Faltot (Ep 137)

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 16:30:44 -0400

Catch the 2nd part of this important conversation with Willie and Rachel Scott, along with J.C.L. Faltot ... they bring a fresh Kingdom point of view to racism, the protests, and rioting. Jesus is the Ultimate Free Thinker. And we're pretty sure he intends for those who follow him to be free thinkers too. Higher thinking. Includes a short audio excerpt from Dr. Michael Brown. (You can hear the 1st part of the conversation in episode 134.)

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/kingdomrace

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Heaven's Dream for America (Ep 141)

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 20:23:00 -0400

The "American Experiment" is singular in world history. It's not a nation founded on ethnicity or the legacy of a monarchy. American DNA is made up of high ideas -- the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God." Unalienable Rights are given by the Creator. Not man. Not human government. Is America on the edge of a Third Great Awakening?

Invoke the Leadership and Lordship of King Jesus Into Everything -- Pray with Me (Ep 120)

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 14:43:00 -0400

Pray with me. Here's an exciting Kingdom Prayer Dynamic! ... We can invoke the Leadership and Lordship of King Jesus into everything! This covers the Minutiae of our lives and Macro geopolitical and national issues (and everything in-between). We are Vice-Regents -- administrators for King Jesus. This is the 5th in a new prayer series we are creating!

Be sure to listen to the first 4 episodes in this prayer series: episodes 118, 119, 121, and 125.

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139 Free Thinking About Racism, the Protests, and Rioting -- Willie & Rachel Scott, J.C.L. Faltot (Ep. 134)

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 15:32:00 -0400

Jesus is the Ultimate Free Thinker. And we're pretty sure he intends for those who follow him to be free thinkers too. Higher thinking. Kingdom perspective. In this open discussion, Willie and Rachel Scott, along with J.C.L. Faltot, bring a fresh point of view to racism, the protests, and rioting.

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138: Run, Devil, Run! Live Podcast

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 15:43:00 -0400

Jesus was the brightest person to walk the planet. In this episode, we examine a "Jesus tactic" -- we don't have to yield ground to the Devil. Why should we continue to experience self-sabotaging setbacks that work against our best interests and our Life Story in Christ? This is an encore episode from a live podcast recording that has received a lot of attention.

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137: Effective, Powerful Prayer Is Your Top Life Skill

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 13:51:00 -0400

Prayer is the most creative thing we can do. It's high-leverage. The Prayer of Intervention invites the Life, Leadership, and Lordship of King Jesus into anything we target in faith. This is not the Zap view of prayer. It's accurate, aligned, anointed prayer that can cause something to 'stand down.' It can also release things to 'stand up' which need to manifest. In Christ, we can proclaim, invoke, and enforce Kingdom Reality as the Holy Spirit leads.

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/toplifeskill

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136: Our Christian Family in North Korea: Here's What We Can Do -- Arielle Del Turco

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 16:24:00 -0400

What’s “top of heart” with King Jesus? Justice, the poor, prisoners for His name. “Remember the prisoners AS IF chained with them — those who are mistreated — since you yourselves are in the body also” (Hebrews 13:3). Will we identify “AS IF” with our Christian Family in North Korea? This is a core component of Christ-following. Includes audio excerpt from escapee. Arielle Del Turco is Assistant Director of the Center for Religious Liberty at Family Research Council in Washington, D.C.

See the show notes page for the episode at JesusSmart.com/northkorea

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----more----

Arielle Del Turco serves as Assistant Director of the Center for Religious Liberty at Family Research Council, where she is responsible for international religious freedom policy and advocacy efforts. Through research and analysis of international religious freedom matters, she helps craft effective policy solutions along with coordinating FRC’s advocacy on this issue. Arielle’s work has appeared in the Jerusalem Post, National Review, Daily Signal, Christian Post, Washington Examiner, ERLC, and Townhall. She has conducted a number of media interviews on international religious freedom, and has herself interviewed key advocates and victims of persecution. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Politics and History from Regent University, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in International Relations.

Family Research Council site

Family Research Council Facebook page

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

Pray for North Korea

More info and download a country report from Open Doors

Pray North Korean officials will come to know God, for change within the regime and that the power of evil will be broken.
During a year when North Korea raised its profile on the world stage, Kim Jong Un continues to consolidate his power. Pray he will accept the one, true God.
Open Doors provides North Korean Christians with food, medicine and clothing and safe houses for North Korean refugees in China. Pray the church is strengthened and encouraged to endure by this provision.
Pray for Christians who suffer in prisons, labor camps and remote areas to have hope.

130: The Prayer You Wish You Knew Earlier

Thu, 28 May 2020 13:53:01 -0400

Yeah, it's cliche: prayer changes things. But it's true. We could even say it's real. The best kind of real. And there are certain prayers which change things more than others. Like Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1. You'll be challenged in this episode to build this specific prayer equity into your life. Get ready to experience transformation ... in and through you.

See the show notes page for the episode at JesusSmart.com/prayerdynamic

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129: Gleanings ... 4 Kingdom Concepts for a New Era

Wed, 20 May 2020 14:48:31 -0400

If you have to be in a cave for a time (like soon-to-be-king, David), you may as well optimize your experience! The optimization may determine things for you moving forward. Are we poised for a New Era? The Jesus movement is based on the currency of Kingdom Concepts. We explore these "gleanings" for a New Era in this episode.

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/newera

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128: Just for You ... Build 3-D Immunity to Face Any Threat - Frank Viola

Tue, 12 May 2020 08:34:14 -0400

Get ready for quality information, humor, and a challenge. You can survive the current virus crisis. Even more, you can thrive! Frank Viola is the author of more than 20 books, a speaker, and a consultant to writers. He says we can build 3-D immunity -- spiritually, psychologically, and physically -- to face any threat. Never let a crisis go to waste. Get your free 64-page Survival Guide.

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/thrive

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127: Before You Quit: Your Story of Blood, Sweat, and Coffee Stains, Part 2 -- Doug Gehman

Wed, 06 May 2020 13:38:03 -0400

The Christ-follower's Advantage is that we can access a Meta-Reality, a Transcendent Reality -- the Kingdom of God. We can lean into this way of living every day. Every week. And it gives us more than enough endurance on the natural plane. Don't quit and miss your next level. You'll profit from the second part of my conversation with Doug Gehman, President and Executive Director of Globe International, a missions-sending agency. (See episode 126 also.)

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/keepsweating

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126: Before You Quit: Your Story of Blood, Sweat, and Coffee Stains -- Doug Gehman

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 13:47:00 -0400

Is God gritty? Yeah, he's gritty. He tracks his purpose with fire and zeal. You could say he's the Ultimate Winner. And he's motivated to make us more like him in Christ -- aspiring to greatness for the Greater Story. Doug Gehman is the President and Executive Director of Globe International, a missions-sending agency. He says God uses difficulty to reveal to us who we are, what we believe ... and to surface what we deep-down desire.

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/keepsweating

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The Voice of the Lord Is a Force on the Planet! Prayer Focus: The Fire of Pentecost

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 15:11:00 -0400

The Voice of the Lord is a force on the planet! And that voice is to be released via born-again Christ-followers. Let's agree mutually in prayer as we prepare ourselves for Pentecost. We require fresh infillings of the presence and dynamism of the Holy Spirit. This is the 4th beta episode of something new -- we want to hear from you about it.

Show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/pray4

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Isaiah 30:31 (NKJV) -- For through the voice of the Lord Assyria will be beaten down, as He strikes with the rod.

Psalm 29:3-4 (NKJV) -- The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

Psalm 110:2 (NKJV) -- The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion (i.e., the people of God). Rule in the midst of your enemies!

124: Godly Grit: Those Who Are in Christ Are Built for Crisis -- Michael Hoff

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 13:46:39 -0400

Michael Hoff is saying that eternal life begins right now, right here in Christ. We can be renewed in the middle of stress and overcome the moment with a Kingdom Point of View. Jesus said, "In the world, you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] (John 16:33 AMP)

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/builtforcrisis

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123: He Experienced a Prophetic Dream: Could May 1, 2020, Be a Pivotal Moment for the Coronavirus (And the American Economy)? — Matt Peterson

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 15:29:50 -0400

On March 16, 2020, Matt Peterson experienced a prophetic dream — he encountered fearsome Chinese Foo Dogs (Chinese Guardian Lions) and bled profusely from his right wrist.

A former telecommunications officer with the federal government and now a pastor in North Carolina, Matt Peterson has sought the Lord for interpretation and insight. He’s advising May 1 could be a pivotal inflection point for the global pandemic (and the American economy) … if we contend in prayer and process with God.

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/beastmode

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A personal note — Brian Del Turco here. I’d like to share a note, and I know that Matt Peterson would agree. Even more important than dates and the understandable concern to see this struggle end, a more significant focus is, “Lord, what are you asking of me during this time. In what ways can I change?”

And another question: “Lord, in what ways are you asking your Church to change?” Our leading focus should be on transformation … personally and together with other Christ-Followers. The Society of Jesus can then please the Lord and more powerfully influence the Society-at-Large.

Related episodes:

Coronavirus Prophecies — Could They Be True? Plus, Spirit Is Greater Than Matter (Episode #117)

Be Absolutely Fearless About the Coronavirus Like Jesus (Episode #115)

122: All Killer, No Filler: Saints in Beast Mode (Psalm 149)

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:09:06 -0400

The Prayer Architecture in Psalm 149 is not suitable for Sunday School. It's for men and women, developing and seasoned ... fully conscious "Kingdom Agents." Not the semi-conscious. And it's sure not for unconscious church attenders. It's this kind of Prayer Voltage -- led and energized by the Holy Spirit -- which will meet the moment we face.

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/beastmode

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121: Tap the Kingdom Dynamic of a 'Solemn Assembly' (3rd Beta Prayer Episode)

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 12:00:52 -0400

Let's release the Kingdom Prayer Dynamic of the 'Solemn (Sacred) Assembly' in our lives ... and in our relationships, families, organizations, businesses, schools, communities of faith, and the nations. We can 'meet the moment' in faith with repentance and living clean. Let's agree together in prayer. This is the 3rd beta episode of something new we may be doing -- we want to hear from you about it.

Show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/pray3

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120: How Should God's People Live When Crisis Shows Up? -- Michael Hoff

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 14:56:00 -0400

How will we meet the moment when a massive crisis shows up? Michael Hoff says with perspective -- looking back to the history of Christ’s Movement and looking ahead to the New Heavens and New Earth. Plus we position ourselves for personal and corporate rejuvenation, giving due diligence to our calling as Christ-Followers.

Show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/godpeople

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119: Great Joy Necessary for Strong Prayer for the Nations (2nd Beta Prayer Episode)

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 14:58:35 -0400

This is a 2nd beta episode of something new we may be doing -- we want to hear from you about it. In this episode, discover the Prayer Dynamic of how joy strengthens our prayers to get strong results. And then we pray for the nations about the Coronavirus. Let's agree together!

This type of episode format may be added into the Jesus Smart podcast feed. Or it may be branded as an additional podcast.

118: Beta Prayer Episode -- Pray Against the Coronavirus. Plus, Add Rocket Fuel to Your Prayers.

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 16:54:49 -0400

Jesus' DNA in you includes praying for the nations. This is a beta episode of something new we may be doing -- we want to hear from you about it. In this episode, discover the Prayer Dynamic of personal transformation in Christ adding rocket fuel to your prayer life. And then we pray against the Coronavirus. Let's agree together!

This type of episode format may be added into the Jesus Smart podcast feed. Or it may be branded as an additional podcast.

See the show notes page for this episode at Jesus Smart.com/pray1

117: Coronavirus Prophecies -- Could They Be True? Plus, Spirit Is Greater Than Matter

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 18:24:29 -0400

Some have prophesied that the worst of the Coronavirus pandemic will be over by Passover (April 8-16). Could they be true? In this episode, you'll catch audio snippets from Lance Wallnau, Steve Witt, and Dr. Michael Brown. We take a look at these prophecies, the shelter of the Lord's presence, and the Kingdom Dynamic that Spirit is greater than Matter.

Show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/virusloses

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116: Your Best Life = Living on Point, on Time, and on Assignment

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 16:16:20 -0400

Some say that real success in life is more money, many things, adventure, fun, wanton amusement, travel, salacious sex, fabulous fame. Others say that achieving the goals that matter to you the most solves the puzzle. But there's a higher way still -- we're proposing that the real secret sauce is living by a higher mission. Go to JesusSmart.com/onpoint for more.

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Be Fearless About the Coronavirus Like Jesus!

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 18:34:00 -0400

In this special episode, we take a clear-eyed look at the Coronavirus. Let's get accurate about it. What is it, and what's the latest? We look at a prophecy by Shawn Bolz about the virus that you may find reassuring. J.C.L. Faltot dialogues for a few minutes about how we should be thinking about this. We explore best practices for prevention, how we can heighten our immune system, and what researchers in Israel may be on the brink of discovering in the next several weeks. And let's bring Kingdom Dynamics into the mix -- we look at marinating in Psalm 91, prayer targeting, and we pray together.

Explore the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com/stayhealthy for links and resources.

>> Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com for links and resources

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114: Was Jesus a Socialist? What Everybody Ought to Know -- Dustin Johnson

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 14:51:05 -0400

Does it seem that more people are starting to think that Jesus was a socialist? Seems that way. But was he? We continue with our special guest, Dustin Johnson of ChristandCapital.com. You may be startled if you take a thoughtful look at the Gospels in the New Testament. The teaching of Jesus in the Parable of the Talents will confront you, infuse hope, and wake you. You can catch Part 1 of this conversation in episode #112.

>> Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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113: Level Up! You're Wired for Royalty -- 1 Peter 2:1-10

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 11:43:32 -0400

You may or may not be in touch with it, but deep, deep down, you're wired for royalty. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is more than a regimen in sin management so that you can make it to heaven. Jesus announced and modeled for us the Gospel of the Kingdom. And a big part of it is that you and I are part of a "royal priesthood" in Christ. Let's level up!

>> Show notes page is on the way at JesusSmart.com

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112: Bernie Vs. Christ, the Capitalist - Dustin Johnson

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 17:25:12 -0400

Hate it or love it, you'll want to spread the word on this one -- Bernie (Sanders) Vs. Christ, the Capitalist. Our special guest is Dustin Johnson of ChristandCapital.com. You may find this a little provocative. Does the Garden of Eden inform our experience in Christ? Are we designed as Vice-Regents ... to reign on God's behalf? And can we access this in Christ?

>> Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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----more----

In this episode, we discuss the Garden of Eden as seminal, filled with Kingdom DNA and precedents for Christ-Followers.
What is the image of God in humanity? It’s not only a claim about the transcendental nature of human beings but also a claim about representation, role, and purpose.
What does the question “Adam, where are you” mean? Jesus said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and save the Lost.” What is Jesus seeking? We suggest that he is seeking to restore humanity to their place of exercising dominion under God.
Regeneration in Christ is the beginning of returning to the Eden Dynamic, starting now.
Those who are born again in Christ are to reign in Christ, on behalf of his Kingdom.

Explore the content on Dustin Johnson’s website — Christ and Capital

Check out the brand new Christ and Capital podcast!

Christ and Capital on Facebook

Christ and Capital on Instagram

111: American Churches to Iranian Christ-Followers: "Please Don't Speak About the Holy Spirit"

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 13:39:23 -0400

"Please don't speak about the Holy Spirit." That's what some American churches and a publisher told Iranian women who spent time in prison for their faith. And yet, their story is that the Holy Spirit was vital to their experience. Why do so many North American Christians have a "theological cognitive bias" against a full-spectrum, present-day ministry of the Holy Spirit ... the Holy Spirit we witness in the New Testament?

>> Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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----more----

The 6-minute audio segment in this episode featuring 3 Iranian Christian women who spent time imprisoned in Iran is from a panel discussion on religious freedom at the Family Research Council. Watch the complete panel discussion here: Stories From Iran: Religious Freedom and the Growth of the Underground Church (Panel discussion with Iranian women at the Family Research Council)

Persecuted Middle East Christians Petition International Community: ‘Stand Up for Your Brothers and Sisters’ (Decision Magazine – Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)

Open Doors – Iran

115: Who Else Wants the Devil Impeached and Convicted?

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 13:57:00 -0400

Well, good news. He is. Fear not, we're not going political in this episode. The whole impeachment trial sparked something about the Devil being impeached and convicted! Are you ready for this (?) ... as a developing Christ-Follower, you can legally enforce this reality in your world with a powerful effect.

>> Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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109: Personal Worship, Communion With the Holy Spirit, the Lord's Table - Kingdom Feed, Pt. 2

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 13:10:27 -0400

Connectivity is key. There is a Kingdom RSS Feed -- Royal Spirit Syndication. Straight from Jesus. Via the Holy Spirit. Discover 3 more practical action steps to stay connected with that feed and elevate your Kingdom Experience in Christ. (Listen to Part 1 in episode 105.)

>> Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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108: Story Meld. God's Story. Your Story. Guest Host -- JCL Faltot

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 11:52:05 -0400

As a developing Christ-follower, one of the most potent dynamics we can experience is a Story Meld with our Creator -- our Life Story fusing with the God Story. And all of this is woven in our Relational Venture with Christ! Special guest JCL Faltot hosts this Godspeed episode (swift, tight, and right!)

>> Show notes page at JesusSmart.com

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107: Downloading Scripts -- What I Shared With a Kingdom 'Mind Meld' (Godspeed Episode)

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 15:45:58 -0400

I engage with a Kingdom 'Mind Meld' (it's sort of how I think about it!) pretty much every Friday morning over java. You know, the four of us save the planet right from the coffee shop. Hear what I shared with them about downloading Kingdom Scripts into our New Nature in Christ. (Related to episode #106.)

>> Go to JesusSmart.com/godspeed to see a complete list of Godspeed episodes

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106: Downloading Scripts to Your New Nature Operating System (Godspeed Episode)

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 13:35:03 -0400

See what you think. I gained some insight during a Word and prayer time this morning. We are given a new operating system in Christ -- it's our new nature. Our old nature is dynamic, not static. It can develop. This is amazing to me ... we can receive "scripts" from the Holy Spirit. New prayer scripts. Prophecy scripts. Fresh proclamation scripts. And more. These scripts update our new nature and move the needle on just about everything!

>> Go to JesusSmart.com/godspeed to see a complete list of Godspeed episodes

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105: Subscribe to the Kingdom RSS Feed! Cutting Edge Christ-Following

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:07:31 -0400

We can "press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ." There is a Kingdom RSS Feed -- Royal Spirit Syndication. Straight from Jesus. Listen to discover 4 practical action steps to stay connected with that feed and elevate your Kingdom Experience.

>> Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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109: Salvation Is for 2020, Not Just Heaven

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 06:00:00 -0400

In Christ, we're born again for something special in the now ... not just to go to heaven someday. This is Higher Living.

The Father has special plans which he has prepared for us in advance.
As we're recreated in Christ, we're connected to those unique plans.
We get to walk them out with Christ-Energy.

Show notes page on JesusSmart.com is coming!

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108: Quick Thoughts for New Year's 2020

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 05:00:00 -0400

Our lives can be replenished like an eagle, empowering us to elevate to brand-new heights, engaging daily communion, and a quick look at Psalm 25. Happy New Year's! Tune in to a fast Godspeed episode this New Year's week.

>> See all the fast Godspeed episodes here

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107: Alignment and Consecration for Your Next Level - Christmas Week

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 15:42:00 -0400

A Merry Christmas! I have a fast Godspeed episode for you this Christmas week. To experience more of our potential as a Christ-follower, we'll want to align more accurately with Christ and his reign. And, we'll want to develop our consecration level with his grace. This heightens our life and the Kingdom gift we daily offer to Christ.

>> See all the fast Godspeed episodes here

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106: "Hey, Herod, Unwrap This!" -- Christmas Special 2019

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 02:00:00 -0400

The Son of God arriving in our world in human form was an incursion of the Kingdom of God. The demonized King Herod was crazed and paranoid about the Christ Child. It's all a graphic portrayal of Satan's demise. And of our triumph in Christ. Now, this is a Christmas to celebrate!

>> Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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105: It's the 100th Episode! -- Guest Highlights and Listener Comments. Plus, Expand Your Kingdom Footprint.

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:29:00 -0400

It's the 100th episode of Jesus Smart: The Podcast! We're serving up some guest highlights. And we hear from listeners and friends of the show. Plus, a pulse of motivation: Expand Your Kingdom Footprint.

----more----

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Podcast archive

Your rating, review, and subscription is the best way you can help this podcast — whatever your favorite listening option is. Thanks!

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Go Deeper — 100th Episode

In this episode, we feature highlights from these 7 guests:

Frank Viola

001: Are We Poised to Reclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom? With Frank Viola

Website: Beyond Evangelical

Ken Roberts

027: Discovering Your Kingdom North Star to Live Your Best Life with Ken Roberts

028: Jesus Wants to Develop Everything About Your Life with Ken Roberts

Website: Ken L. Roberts

Dr. Charles Stone

065: Holy Noticing – Blending an Ancient Spiritual Practice and Neuroscience to Live Our Best Lives – Dr. Charles Stone

Website: Charles Stone

Dr. Louis F. Kayatin

079: Level Up by Cultivating Kingdom Craftsmanship — Dr. Louis F. Kayatin

080: Quest for a 10,000% Kingdom Lifestyle! — Dr. Louis F. Kayatin

Website: Louis Kayatin Services

Dr. Juli Slattery

088: Designer Sex — Dr. Juli Slattery

Website: Authentic Intimacy

Attorney Travis S. Weber

037: Pastor Andrew Brunson Freed from Turkey! — Travis S. Weber, Family Research Council VP for Policy

Website: Family Research Council

Mary DeMuth

089: No One Elevates Women Like King Jesus — Mary DeMuth

Website: ReStory

104: You Can Be Super Creative in Christ!

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 16:16:00 -0400

I’m guessing you need to be super creative about something important. Jesus Christ is infinitely creative! And the New Testament worldview claims that Christ-followers have the mind of Christ. As we advance in the mind of Christ, we have boundless potential to be super creative. We can imaginate with a touch of heaven to meet needs, solve problems, and exploit opportunities! Then we can take action.

Includes audio excerpt with Sir Ken Robinson interviewed by Michael Hyatt discussing creativity.

>> Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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103: Ruling With Christ. Now. -- Matt Raines

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 15:13:00 -0400

Friend of the show Matt Raines confabs with me in a bistro about ruling with Christ ... right now. You've been found by Christ. For what? We can upgrade our thinking about what an authentic Christ-Follower is intended to be.

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102: People of the Future Live With Gratitude

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0400

Gratitude is special -- it conditions us to live our highest life. Christ-Followers are people of the future. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in the powers of the Age to Come. And gratitude is key.

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Seeing Things In Extra-Natural Light = Positive Change! Live Podcast

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 15:36:00 -0400

If you can simply get the light of God on that matter … you’ll see it in an EXTRAORDINARY LIGHT. Then you can call out the Higher Design and spark transformation! (Live podcast recording)

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Don't Be a Sheep! Be a Killer Sheep (Godspeed! Episode)

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 12:48:00 -0400

We have too much of a "follow culture" in too much of the Contemporary Church World. A hyped emphasis on sheep-identity shrouds much of our identity as Kingdom Agents. Advance to an ambassador mentality. A warrior status. Mark yourself as a Killer Sheep -- bad to the bone!

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Bonus Thoughts (Pt 2): A Gospel That Captures the Imagination of Young Adults -- Trinity Harrison-Clark

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 15:34:00 -0400

Bonus thoughts -- this is the 2nd part of our important dialogue with Trinity Harris-Clark. Listen to the 1st part in episode 095.

Trinity Harrison-Clark says that Jesus Christ has transformed her worldview and given her enthusiasm to create real change with today's college students. Are young adults experiencing the dimensions of what Jesus offers? You may be surprised by this conversation. Matt Raines joins us for Kingdom Color Commentary. Plus we have an audio segment from N.T. Wright, world-renowned New Testament scholar.

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Shut the Door, Keep Out the Devil! Live Podcast

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 14:02:00 -0400

We can look to Jesus for best practices to experience our best lives as daughters and sons of God. In this episode, we explore a "Jesus tactic" -- give no ground to the Devil. As we grow, we can diminish friction and terminate self-sabotaging setbacks that work against momentum. (Live podcast recording)

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Should Beth Moore Go Home?

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:35:00 -0400

Have you heard about the colossal kerfuffle? The big brouhaha? The hallelujah hullabaloo? At a recent conference, John MacArthur said that prominent Bible teacher Beth Moore should "Go home." Should she? What might Jesus think about women leading and teaching?

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Execute Your Legal Rights in Prayer to Move the Needle

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 15:12:00 -0400

Understanding your legal rights in Christ makes you dangerous. And it offers a promise that you can live and minister with beyond-belief horizons. Prayer is about justice and hope. It's legal. You can appear before the Throne Over All Things with brave, audacious prayer claims -- asserting your status in Christ.

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A Gospel That Captures the Imagination of Young Adults -- Trinity Harrison-Clark

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 12:03:00 -0400

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Experience Your Potential with Kingdom Kinetics

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 15:27:00 -0400

Science and the Kingdom are saying something ... you can transform massive Potential Energy in Christ into Kingdom Kinetic Energy! Five basic dynamics can make it happen: 1) Word-based transformation 2) Progressive consecration 3) Sharper prayer life 4) Living prophetically from the True U 5) More accurate association with others in the Body of Christ.

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Jesus Is the Ultimate Educator: Keep Graduating -- Denver Daniel

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 00:05:00 -0400

Jesus is the Master of Molecules, the most brilliant person to walk the planet. He is the Ultimate Educator -- the true Mastermind. Authentically coming to Jesus is to unlearn ... so that we can truly learn from him. And learning from Jesus is ultimate human development. He knows how life works best. Right here. Right now. And yet, is the world system out-teaching the Body of Christ?

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Godspeed! // Develop Into a High-Functioning Apprentice of Jesus

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 11:48:00 -0400

You have all kinds of potential on paper in Christ! Everything about life and godliness is given to you through the agency of the Word. But it's always been about a partnership between heaven (God) and earth (you). You have to apply the potential with faith and action. Eschew mediocracy ... develop into a high-functioning apprentice of Christ.

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Live It Well! -- Susan Jordan

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 14:48:00 -0400

You have a Life Storyline to live that is both beautiful and powerful. What if we could live strong -- body, soul, and spirit -- with optimal wellness and energy? It’s time for you to decrease pain and increase energy. Play long and strong. Run your race to win it. Finish your course with a dynamic from beyond yourself. Susan Jordan is a wellness specialist, health coach, nutrition consultant and fitness trainer. She's the Founder and Director of Live It Well.

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Step Out! God May Show Up Big

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:59:00 -0400

What aspiration is in your heart? Instead of being timid, what if God was just waiting for you to show initiative. He just may jump all over it with his energy and blessing! An incident in the Old Testament is a sign for us ... a precedent made even bigger in Christ.

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No One Elevates Women Like King Jesus -- Mary DeMuth

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 10:12:00 -0400

Women, it's time to experience your full place in God's story! The reality is that the community of the Godhead has designed humanity in the image of God ... fashioned in both female and male. If we're going to bear the image of God well in the earth, it will be more accurately expressed in both genders. What's at stake? Dominion. We're commissioned as Vice-Regents under King Jesus -- reStoried to partner in the Royal Storyline.

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Designer Sex - Dr. Juli Slattery

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 23:46:00 -0400

What if we could reclaim God’s design for sex ... and really experience what sex is meant to be? Grace and truth from Jesus empower us to live in harmony with Higher Design. But is the Church losing the Creator's design for sexuality? Is the world out-discipling the Church about sex?

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Look for These Signs Pointing to Your Best Possible Future

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 14:10:00 -0400

What if more of our work and beyond-work activities aligned us with our best possible future? We don’t have to complicate it — look for these 7 simple signs.

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Gotta Be Cool If You Want to Rule

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 17:04:00 -0400

Do you wonder if following Jesus is more than being born again, attending Church, and going to heaven someday? “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day …” (Genesis 3:8 NKJV). Jesus restores us to the Eden Dynamic. Our capacity to exercise dominion on Christ's behalf is connected to living in a "cool state" ... consistently relating to Jesus in the cool of the day. Mentored by Jesus. Coached. Developed.

>> See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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Godspeed! // Advance with Shocking, Monstrous Faith Initiatives!

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 12:20:00 -0400

Do you feel stuck, entangled in the status quo? What if you discovered that you’re not meant for that -- God may be waiting and looking for you to advance with audacious faith initiatives? Jonathan and his armor bearer model a clear precedent. Take quantum steps of faith to shift the battlefield and your Life Story!

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Like Abraham, Believe for the Higher Reality in Your Life - Brian Del Turco (Questing with God Series #4)

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 22:42:00 -0400

There's a severe battle over defining what is real in our lives. Circumstances, challenges, and people issues make this claim: “This is reality for you. Get used to it!” But there is “real” and there is "really real." Jesus says, “I have a HIGHER REALITY which supersedes LOWER REALITY. Trust Me. Work with Me. You’re going to get free indeed and experience everything I have for you.”

>> See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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You're More than a Wretch Saved by Grace to Go to Heaven Someday - Brian Sooy: Creative, Designer, Entrepreneur

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 01:02:00 -0400

Work and life as worship, setting your Personal Narrative in the Big Kingdom Narrative, cultivating latent potential in your sphere of influence, discerning Satan who tries to corrupt your Life Story, redeemed to live a life of dominion (not just "go to heaven" someday), and launching out into the deep where the High Adventure is! Brian Sooy is President and Design Director of Aespire (aespire.com).

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Godspeed! // The Devil Is Not at Your Level

Fri, 26 Jul 2019 11:39:00 -0400

No fear. The Devil is not at your level ... if you're a born again, Christ-Follower ... and if you're developing in Christ! We need a revelation of this. Walking in this understanding unleashes exceptional potential in every domain of life.

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Godspeed! // You Can Optimize Your Legal Standing Before the Ultimate Judge

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 13:07:00 -0400

It's safe to say that most are living beneath their legal rights in Christ. But it's something we can progress in -- we can optimize our legal standing before the Judge of All! It's about justice. Recognize your identity and standing in Christ. Understand your advantages. And quest for them in faith and prayer as you stretch for your high calling!

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Quest for a 10,000% Kingdom Lifestyle! - Dr. Louis F. Kayatin

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 14:42:00 -0400

Jesus says that those who have a good and faithful heart will manifest KINGDOM REALITY -- 30, 60, and 100-fold (Parable of the Sower). Why not believe for a 100-fold return? Why not quest for it in faith? That's a 10,000% yield on the Word of the Kingdom in your life ... and in your sphere of influence! Dr. Louis F. Kayatin is a time-tested practitioner of the "Kingdom Craft." Let's accept the challenge to level up!

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Level Up by Cultivating Kingdom Craftsmanship! - Dr. Louis F. Kayatin

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 16:44:00 -0400

King Jesus thinks you're way more than what you're currently experiencing! Dr. Louis F. Kayatin says there is always more to experience as an "apprentice" of Christ and his Kingdom. First, develop a deep love for Jesus as King. Then authentically live a Spirit-filled life. Don't stay stuck -- progress in the Kingdom to live your highest life.

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Encore Episode -- Can You Believe That All Things Belong to You?

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 09:31:00 -0400

This is an Encore Episode (#006)! Can you believe this? Here's a Kingdom secret that few experience -- all things belong to you, as you belong to Christ. This is what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth. "All things belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God" (see 1 Corinthians 3 in the New Testament).

It's as we truly value and belong to Christ, that all things are ours!

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Forgiving Others Unleashes Massive Prayer Power! - Deborah Porter

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 15:51:00 -0400

Are there times when it feels impossible to forgive someone? Know this about Jesus -- his hardest teachings are the most rewarded! Deborah Porter never saw her father growing up. But as a young adult, she forgave him and a relationship was restored. A Kingdom secret is that forgiving others unleashes massive prayer power which moves mountains and changes things!

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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Kingdom Smart: Your Tongue Steers It All -- Brent & Pastor Bruce McLaughlin

Thu, 30 May 2019 17:18:00 -0400

Not too long ago, the Holy Spirit prompted me to get and stay in the "Rudder Zone." See James 3:4 in the New Testament -- James writes that the tongue steers our life like the rudder on a ship. Even in the face of opposing, circumstantial winds. Don't flinch in the face of difficulty. Don't budge, yielding to negative incidents. Stay consistent with your faith language ... and you will journey in Christ's Big Story with Godspeed!

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Godspeed! // Pure Genius for Your Life ... the Breakthrough Jericho Strategy

Wed, 29 May 2019 12:49:00 -0400

Are you ready to transition into new "land" -- your Personal Promised Land? It's important for each of us to enter new spaces in life so that our Life Story fits into the big Jesus Story in a more fruitful way! Your "shout of faith" is key ... the silencing of negativity and uncertainty, your strong voice of praise, and even your Life Voice (the unique life message your offer). Get beyond your Jericho!

>> See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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Godspeed! // How to Align Your Life with the Real Future

Mon, 20 May 2019 12:33:00 -0400

On a recent morning, I was outside investing time with the Lord in the Word and prayer. I feel like the Holy Spirit gave me a fresh facet of insight about a popular verse - "Do not be conformed to this world (age may be a better translation), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind ..." (Romans 12:2). So I just did a flash recording on the spot. Here's the opportunity: we don't have to conform to this decaying age, but we can align now to the age that Jesus is bringing. And that has to mean more than we can imagine!

>> See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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Smart Discipleship That Advances Your "Kingdom Career" -- Isaac & Silvia Rowe

Tue, 14 May 2019 01:07:00 -0400

"Discipleship" is the maturation process of becoming more like Jesus -- in both his character and competencies (the ventures he modeled). The Holy Spirit is the Ultimate Teacher to help us "learn Christ." Kingdom Clusters (specialized affinity groupings) are emerging to accelerate our advancement ... small is the new big.

Listen to Part 1 of this conversation with Isaac & Silvia

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Full-Spectrum Christ-Following ... Ready? - Isaac & Silvia Rowe

Wed, 08 May 2019 00:45:00 -0400

All Kingdom life flows from the heart. Isaac and Silvia Rowe are pastors and business people. They value authentic relationships and deeper discipleship as Christ-Followers. Self awareness, accountability and trust, and advancing in faith are their quest -- for themselves and those they lead. It's more than church meetings and programs. Full-spectrum Christ-following is total life transformation.

Listen to Part 2 of this conversation with Isaac & Silvia

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Prayer Is Limitless Potential!

Thu, 02 May 2019 13:21:00 -0400

Prayer is such massive potential! And our development in prayer is limitless. As we discover more of our standing before the Throne of All, all bets are off! The lid is lifted ... in our personal affairs and in the contribution that we bring to life. Developing our confidence in prayer is a key element of overcoming faith.

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Why Is the Church So Shattered with Fiefdoms? - Craig Greatman

Wed, 01 May 2019 00:45:00 -0400

Craig Greatman -- pastor, Harley Davidson rider, Doctorate of Divinity candidate -- wonders why the Church is so shattered with fragmented fiefdoms. Are we adoring the icons of our own "Churchianity" cubbyholes? A miserly "meism" cannot experience the authentic Church that Christ is building.

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Godspeed! // Overcome Via the Power of Reckoning.

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 12:09:00 -0400

True faith counts it as so ... no matter what! "Reckoning" is an accounting term. "Kingdom Reckoning" draws a double line under what we are believing for. So we immerse ourselves in the Word. We pray. We speak. And we move in faith. No blinking - no flinching - no budging. Kingdom Accounting supersedes the natural plane and believes. Period.

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Ohio Heartbeat Bill ... Jesus-Followers Carry Resurrection Life - Janet Porter

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 12:59:00 -0400

Janet Porter is a seasoned warrior in the movement to protect the lives of babies. The Ohio state motto is, "With God, All Things Are Possible." Through an indefatigable faith, Janet has been a "Possibility" Point Person in launching the nation's first "heartbeat bill" in February, 2011. After an 8-year faith odyssey, Ohio became the 6th state in the nation to pass and sign a heartbeat bill (April, 2019) -- a baby cannot be aborted if a heartbeat is detected. There are presently 15 states in the heartbeat bill movement. Janet's question: Will Christ-Followers be confined to the "Church Ghetto?" Or will they reshape society as salt and light ... releasing the life of Jesus?

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You Can Experience Resurrection Life Now!

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 12:20:00 -0400

Jesus reframes our belief about resurrection life IN THE NOW -- just like he did with Martha when her brother died. We're designed in Christ to "taste the powers of the age to come" in our day (Hebrews 6:5). And that includes the resurrection life of Christ! Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life" ... it's a now statement. The truth is that the resurrection is already on since Christ was raised by the power of God. Everything can be affected by his life. Relationships. A business. A project. Anything. And yes, someone who has died. The question is -- are we willing and obedient to be "coached up" by Jesus?

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Godspeed! // Winning Thoughts

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400

This is Godspeed! ... punchy, bite-sized "tinysodes" from Jesus Smart. This is episode #66. We have between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts run through our mind each day. When our thoughts start to blend with strong emotions, our brain is deeply impacted -- for the good or for the bad. Our physical brain actually changes according to how we think. New neural pathways are created. It's important that we take time to notice how we are thinking and feeling and take charge of our thought life. How we think affects everything. Paul wrote, "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5 NASB).

Go to JesusSmart.com/godspeed to see a complete list of Godspeed tinysodes

Holy Noticing - Blending an Ancient Spiritual Practice and Neuroscience to Live Our Best Lives - Dr. Charles Stone

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 14:34:00 -0400

With our fast-paced lifestyles and hyper-connectivity to our smart phones in the Digital Age, are we missing out on real life? We’re pushing, pushing, pushing to get to a next better moment and fail to notice and appreciate the present one. But the abundant life that Jesus offers is experienced in the present moments. Dr. Charles Stone is an experienced pastor who has advanced degrees in ministry and neuroscience and leadership. Discover what the Bible, church history, and neuroscience say about a Christian mindful lifestyle ... all to live our best lives for the Grand Story.

Special guest: Dr. Charles Stone

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Godspeed! // Understanding Pneumagraphics, Psychographics, and Demographics Can Transform Towns and Cities

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 01:07:00 -0400

Welcome to Godspeed! ... punchy, bite-sized tinysodes from Jesus Smart. This is episode #64. Everybody knows about demographics. Housing, economics, politics, business, crime, education, family life, and so on. We get "news" of demographics every day. People in the know also talk about psychographics ... the mentality and emotional life of people, whether in rural settings, communities, towns, or cities. Psychographics shapes demographics. Those who develop in Christ and form a Kingdom worldview know that there's an even higher level. Pneumagraphics is on top of everything -- shaping psychographics which shapes demographics. This is the level of revelation, understanding, higher thinking, prayer, spiritual gifts, the Word, and somehow teaching everyone all that Jesus commanded. Understanding this framework can transform everything.

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Only the Best! Benefit from the Power of Faith - Brian Del Turco (Questing with God series #3)

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 11:12:00 -0400

We live our best lives by the power of authentic faith! And there's an unlimited supply ... sourced in the Living Voice of the Creator to us. As we advance our relationship with Christ, he continues to reveal himself AND his destiny for us. He expresses his thoughts to us -- this ignites and sustains our faith! Abraham quested after God. And the Story of God. Abraham is an "Only the Best" touchstone, the original pattern of faith. It's all now fulfilled in Christ! (Questing with God series #3)

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Godspeed! // Creating God Spots 2 - Two or Three Gathered in My Name

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:40:00 -0400

Welcome to Godspeed! ... punchy, bite-sized tinysodes from Jesus Smart. This is a 2nd part on creating God Spots -- see episode #60 for the first part. God is everywhere, right? Well, yes, he's what theologians call "omnipresent." But that doesn't mean he's manifesting in power. He typically looks to Christ-Followers to set the stage for that. There's a special "God Spot" potential when two or three gather in the name of Christ. He's present as "Caesar Christ!" Christ-Followers can move the needle with this Kingdom Dynamic.

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Move! Improvisation in the Holy Spirit - Matt Raines and Jason Howard

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 01:07:00 -0400

It’s high time to get rid of a Scarcity Script and start improvising with the Holy Spirit! Everything about God is abundant. Many have an under-resourced mindset ... but "This Is Our Father's World." And he is a more-than-enough Father! The Son has come to give us overflowing life! So do a personal audit: how are you doing with your vision and goals?

Special guests: Matt Raines and Jason Howard.

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Godspeed! Creating God Spots

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 16:16:00 -0400

Welcome to the debut of Godspeed! ... punchy, bite-sized tinysodes from Jesus Smart. God is everywhere, right? Well, yes, he's what theologians call "omnipresent." But that doesn't mean he's manifesting in power. He typically looks to Christ-Followers to set the stage for that. We can create "God spots" on the earth -- over challenges, opportunities, all kinds of relationships, projects, Kingdom initiatives ... and on and on.

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Be a World-Changer by Faith - Brian Del Turco (Questing with God series #2)

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 11:30:00 -0400

If you have "Jesus DNA" on the inside, you're called to change your interior world. To change your personal world. And to transform the world-at-large -- that personal sphere of influence you're designed to impact. Abraham quested after God ... and the Story of God. He's a world-changer touchstone. The original pattern of faith, now fulfilled in Christ. (Questing with God series #2)

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It's Way Beyond "The Secret" -- How to Have "Magnetic Faith" with David Ramos

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 15:52:00 -0400

Everyone has heard about "The Secret." It’s an inferior, counterfeit belief system to authentic “Magnetic Faith” from Christ. Jesus has more for you, and he’s looking for more exciting things from you as he restores all things. He’s remaking Creation and he invites us into the mix. Special guest: David Ramos.

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Pursue Adventure -- Be Like Abraham - Brian Del Turco (Questing with God series #1)

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:07:00 -0400

Are we ever more happy and energized than when an adventure begins? Clearly, we're created for something new and significant. Abraham quested after God ... and the Story of God. Now we can reach back to him for precedent. Abraham is a prototype of the Person of Faith. For us, it's all fulfilled in Christ! Are you ready to venture with God? (Questing with God series.)

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Healthy Soul Care -- To Receive God's Best for Your Life - Bill & Harriet Mouer

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 00:07:00 -0400

What new season -- something you’re designed for -- can open up for you as you take care of your soul? The Kingdom Dynamic of rest is built into creation. Get ready for God's best for your life. The Lord spoke through Isaiah the prophet … “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15 NKJV).

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Healthy Soul Care -- A Refreshing, New Normal - Bill & Harriet Mouer

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 00:07:00 -0400

The Old Normal is unsustainable. Here's what Jesus said about a refreshing, New Normal ... "I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me -- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly" (Matthew 11, The Message). Bill and Harriet Mouer show us why healthy soul care is so vital.

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There's a "Lid" Over Your Life Without the Right Kingdom Relationships - Jason Howard

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 00:07:00 -0400

We think that Kingdom-real, life-giving relationships are so vital, there's a "lid" over areas of our life without them. It's above and beyond attending church services -- what is Jesus building? And what gives Satan a killer panic attack? We think we're on to something innovative. Are your Kingdom relationships too safe and boring? Most likely.

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Locate Your North Star for Your Next Season - Ken L. Roberts (Achieve Series #4 of 4)

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 00:07:00 -0400

This 4-part series has been all about getting into a PEAK STATE of gratitude and abundance thinking for fruitful planning, goal setting, and action for any new season. The science ways we'll be more successful. The Christ-Follower should excel at this! Ken L. Roberts is a life coach, online trainer, author, and speaker -- he shows us how we can play our unique part in a Bigger Than Everything Story.

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4-Part Achieve Series

Smart People Know This: Your Tongue Steers Your Life - Brian Del Turco (Achieve Series #3 of 4)

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 01:00:00 -0400

Here's a case to keep a firm hand at the helm of your "ship" ... your life and personal world. And your sphere of influence. And what steers it all? Your tongue. Indeed, internals shape externals. This is #3 of 4 in the Achieve series -- cultivating gratitude and abundance thinking and mixing it with goal setting for a new season.

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com CLICK! >>> bit.ly/2DwNy4v

4-Part Achieve Series

Gratitude Powers Higher Achievement - Tom Schwab (Achieve Series #2 of 4)

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 01:00:00 -0400

A friend and podcasting influencer, Tom Schwab, thinks with me on this one. This is the #2 of 4 in a series on cultivating gratitude and abundance thinking and mixing it with goal setting for a new season. The research is clear: you'll be more successful with this approach. We’re made for horizons. A key aspect of happiness is having quality goals … and moving toward them.

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com CLICK! >>> bit.ly/2DwNy4v

4-Part Achieve Series

Hi-Def Living for a New Season - Joshua Faltot (Achieve Series #1 of 4)

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 01:00:00 -0400

A high value with the Creator is clarity. We could say he's Hi-Def ... infinitely Hi-Def. And so how can we live an intentional, proactive life, moving toward a preferred future in harmony with God? We can cultivate gratitude and an abundant mindset as we set goals for a new season.

As we pray, listen, and prepare, we position ourselves for a new season of optimal living. We learn to balance the creative tension between fully living in the Now Moment and yet leaning forward into The New.

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com CLICK! >>> bit.ly/2DwNy4v

4-Part Achieve Series

We Are Raised Now as Vice-Regents in Christ's Kingdom - Matt Raines

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 01:00:00 -0400

"[The Father] made us alive together with Christ ... and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:5-6).

In Christ, we die to ourselves as a False King. And we are raised as Vice-Regents in the Kingdom of God! A Grand Narrative is at play -- a marred Creation is moving toward the New Creation. The Father is putting all things right in Christ.

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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And the True Church (Ekklesia) is a microcosm of the New Heavens and Earth to Come ... a precursor of the fullness of the Kingdom.

Authentic Christ-Followers are key in this Story of God. The implications are stunning!

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

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We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best now. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him. Even more, the future is breaking into the present.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His commitment is that we level up.

Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Christ Is an Indestructible King! Ask Herod. (Christmas Series #6)

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 01:00:00 -0400

If you're a child of God through Christ, you cannot be defeated! God is a winner in every situation. Nothing frustrates his purpose. Christ was born as an indestructible king ... the demonized Herod soon discovered this. As we're obedient to the Word, and keep in step with the Holy Spirit, we always experience the triumph of Christ. The DNA of Christ and his kingdom simply cannot lose.

6 of 6 in the Christmas series

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

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We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Advent Is Advancing and the Dragon's Doom (Christmas Series #5)

Mon, 24 Dec 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Advent is not just the anticipation of celebrating Christ’s birth each December. Advent is advancing each day. Each year. Each century. The real truth of Advent is that Christ coming into our world pronounces a sentence of doom upon all darkness. The incarnation is an existential threat to the Serpent of Old and his kingdom. Christmas has set in motion a powerful process which is transforming everything ... and this comes right down into our personal lives!

5 of 6 in the Christmas series

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JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

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We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Alert: What You Say Shapes Your Future (Christmas Series #4) (Ep 45)

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 11:24:00 -0400

Can it be that what you believe and say shapes your future and can release Heaven's Design into the earth? It sure seems so when we consider the experience of Zacharias, the priest and father of John, the forerunner of Christ. It's the nature of things and how they work -- our heart-state and words affect things. The call is to align with Higher Design.

4 of 6 in the Christmas series

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Is That Your Heart Talking at Christmastime? (Christmas Series #2)

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 11:58:00 -0400

Our hearts are limitless. The beautiful and good things we desire in life are signs pointing us to Someone and Something -- the Creator and His Dream. These wonderful things seem to be stirred each Christmastime. It’s an opportunity to more closely harmonize with The Design for our lives. The weeks and months to come can be different. Much different.

2 of 6 in the Christmas series

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

The Birth of Jesus and Ultimate Disruptive Innovation (Christmas Series #1)

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Disruptive Innovation is a concept from the business world—something new and innovative disrupts what has been and introduces something never seen. The Ultimate Disruptive Innovation was birthed in a little town outside Jerusalem roughly 2000 years ago.

Disruptive Innovation has big-scale potential for us. And my Friend, the Christmas Dynamic is Ultimate Disruptive Innovation.

1 of 6 in the Christmas series

Show notes page at JesusSmart.com----more----

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Encore Episode -- Benefit with a "Beginner's Mind" (Minisode 6:57)

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0400

A beginner’s mind is a beautiful mind. It’s the mind of a child — questing, questioning, welcoming, learning. It is supple and receptive.

This is an Encore Episode. See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com.

“Beginner’s mind” is a concept that comes from Zen Buddhism. I’m not a Buddhist, but this particular concept resonates with me. It’s a mindset, an approach to life that is open, boundless, limitless and infinitely wealthy. Interestingly, Jesus spoke of becoming a child again through the born again experience.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Our mind easily becomes closed and limiting. We may feel secure and proud in our dogmatism. But it stifles life-force.

The key is becoming a child again. Not childish. But embracing fresh beginnings as a child would.

Much possibilities overflow in a child’s mind. The mind of a child innovates. A child will figure it out and find a way. The belief level soars, not yet jaded by the world of big-adult “expert” ideas.

Jesus spoke of this: “You must become like a child to enter my world, a higher dimension of living with new possibilities.”

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Understand the Kingdom Story, Acts I-V -- Find Your Place with Matt Raines

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:29:00 -0400

You’re designed for narrative -- your Personal Life Story and the Big Story that’s shaping and moving everything.

The Grand Narrative is the loving rule and reign of God. Jesus has come to put things back in order, restoring us as Vice-Regents under God as King.

You’re going to hear from Matt Raines. Get ready for this. The 5 acts of the Kingdom Story ... nuanced and subtle, and yet writ large across time and space. And in Christ, your life is written into the Big Story on the Big Stage.

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JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His commitment is that we level up.

Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Elevating My Internal State to Live My Best Life (Ep 40)

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0400

I can live a better life on the outside if I invest in my life on the inside. We live from the inside-out . . . our internals shape and sustain our externals.

When I’m in a higher internal state, I sense renewed hope. Fresh energy seems to ignite. At times, my body can be energized. New ideas show up. I start imagining potentials -- both near and far. My faith is strengthened. I feel more authoritative. Like anything can happen.

Are there things I can do to achieve a higher internal state?

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His commitment is that we level up.

Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

039: War of the Worldviews with Joshua C. Faltot

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0400

You’re called to do more than just consume content ... you’re called to create it. And by so doing, you engage the Narrative Wars.

False narratives live in television programming, film, video, audio, music, curricula and education, writing, public policy and law, and more. Upstream from the Narrative Wars are the Worldview Wars.

In the 2nd half of this conversation, Joshua and I discuss content and the war of the worldviews, and how even in the Church, many believers are compromised. See episode #34 for the first part of this conversation.

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

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Joshua C. Faltot is a science fiction author in the post-apocalyptic genre. He’s a creative. Entrepreneurial. He carries a strong interest in thought, worldview issues, culture, and society. He hosts a solid podcast, The Writer’s Lens, which focuses on writing and publishing, storytelling, entrepreneurial questing, and society and culture. You can find it on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast apps.

Visit Joshua C. Faltot's website: JCLFaltot.com

Follow Joshua on Facebook

The Writer's Lens podcast

The Writer's Lens Instagram

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His commitment is that we level up.

Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

038: Apostolic DNA: Engage Spiritual Warfare -- Minisode 14:53 (Apostolic Christ-Followers Series, No. 9)

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 15:23:34 -0400

Question for us: Has Christianity degraded as a movement from the powerful, uncomplicated, and original to the overly-complex and institutional … what Paul referred to as a form with no power? The core DNA element of Apostolic Christianity is the Gospel of the Kingdom. What is “Good News (the Gospel)”? The Good News is the announcement of the Caesar Christ -- Christ as King, God as King. This implies conflict.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

A Few Takeaways:

Christ is a warrior -- it’s in his power that we fight
Like King David, we’re going to have to outwit the enemy with the mind of Christ -- stratagems
Develop higher belief set points
Build a new internal reality map which empowers you to navigate and succeed on the battlefield
Make your stand -- insist on enforcing the victory Christ has won.

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His commitment is that we level up.

Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

037: Pastor Andrew Brunson Freed from Turkey! -- Travis S. Weber, Family Research Council V.P. for Policy

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 15:51:33 -0400

Many of you have heard about American Pastor Andrew Brunson who was imprisoned in Turkey for 2 years. Pastor Andrew and his wife Norine served in Turkey for more than 2 decades where they established Izmir Resurrection Church. They openly shared Christ and also helped Syrian refugees – some of them Kurds.

In 2016, there was a failed coup attempt against the president, and in the crackdown which ensued, Pastor Brunson was falsely accused of being a CIA agent and plotting with Kurdish terrorists.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

He was arrested in October 2016, three months after the coup attempt. He faced up to 35 years in prison if convicted of espionage.

Travis Weber was in the courtroom when Pastor Brunson was released on October 12, 2018. Within 24 hours he was in the Oval Office of the White House, praying for the President of the United States.

This event is an international showcase of …

Sustained, overcoming prayer in America and around the world for the release of Pastor Andrew.
The quest to contend for religious freedom in America and internationally.
The influence of King Jesus as salt and light in government, the international relations space, media, and more -- all thru his followers.
A KEY TAKEAWAY: As a Christ-follower, you have dual citizenship -- the nation in which you live and the Kingdom of God. You are an ambassador of a higher authority … you have access to higher wisdom, authority, and resources.

"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men (and women) to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His commitment is that we level up.

Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

036: Pray-Vote-Stand with Brent Keilen, Director of FRCAction

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 01:00:00 -0400

I was at a massive pumpkin festival of all places when I sat down on a tour bus for a few minutes with Brent Keilen. He's the Director of FRCAction, the legislative affiliate of Family Research Council in Washington, DC. We discussed the vital significance of Christ-followers engaging the political space with consistent prayer, political participation, and standing strong for the values of faith, family, and freedom. It's more than the political space though -- we're called to be salt and light in education, arts and entertainment, and all arenas of influence. Will you embrace the call?

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

ValuesBusTour.com

FRCAction

Facebook

Shut the Door, Keep Out the Devil! -- Jesus Tactic (Ep 35)

Thu, 18 Oct 2018 13:19:00 -0400

Give no ground to the devil. The Adversary gains advantage against us when we give him ground.

“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” (John 14:30 NKJV).

There was no anger in Jesus … no lust, bitterness, disobedience, or anything not in harmony with the Father’s design. The devil had no ground against Jesus.

The devil cannot overcome us unless we give him the ground to do so.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

"How do we defeat the enemy? Our victory begins with the name of Jesus on our lips, uttered in fervent prayer. Our triumph is consummated by the transformation of our nature, where Christ Himself dwells as Lord in our hearts." ― Francis Frangipane

"The reason for many people’s discouragement and defeat is because at some point, they are not in right alignment with the Lord’s ways—either because they don’t realize it or due to outright disobedience. Learning how to align in God’s ways is essential to establishing a life that is efficient in moving on in the victory Jesus has for us." -- Jack Hayford

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His commitment is that we level up.

Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

034: Take the Red Pill -- Wake Up to the Narrative Wars with Joshua C. Faltot!

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 01:00:00 -0400

It's like being in the Matrix and taking the red pill. You want the truth, no matter what. You begin to realize what's going on and now you want the brutal truth about reality and the freedom it unleashes. You're ready to make a mark with your Life Voice ...

Joshua Faltot and I found ourselves relaxing on adirondack chairs on a late summer night. The only thing lacking were pipes. You know, we fancy ourselves after the order of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and some friends, in a corner of an English pub with pipes in hand, discussing ideas that matter. Something like that.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

Our dialogue edges include:

We underscore the need to cultivate a strong inner narrative … greater than the false narratives surrounding us.
The human quest for a greater storyline, a grand arc over our lives.
How our life as a micro narrative can be woven into a macro narrative -- we can be co-creators with the Ultimate Creative.
From the place of a strong life narrative, are we ready to engage the narrative wars?
Do we have a passion to find our voice and create content instead of merely consuming it?

"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men (and women) to shut up" ... indeed, that's a paraphrase of Edmund Burke’s famous statement.

Take the red pill with us -- we go further. This is part one of our conversation. Be sure to listen to next week's episode for more of our dialogue.

Visit Joshua C. Faltot's website: JCLFaltot.com

Follow Joshua on Facebook

The Writer's Lens podcast

The Writer's Lens Instagram

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His commitment is that we level up.

Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

033: Brushstrokes of Heaven with Tammy Heidenreich

Tue, 09 Oct 2018 12:55:06 -0400

She struggled with trauma as a child, adolescent, and young adult. It came to a point where she felt … and these are her words ... “Like some people are born to be stepped on.” But she discovered healing and restoration.

And now with empathy, gifts of healing, and creativity, Tammy Heidenreich moves toward pain and suffering, bringing the compassionate touch from the Father Above -- the Artist of All who touches the earth with Brushstrokes from Heaven.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

Tammy is happily married, has three amazing children, and two hilarious dogs. She has a bachelor’s degree in Art Therapy, a License in Social Work and Chemical Dependency Counseling. She worked for several years as a chemical dependency counselor. She has also served in children, youth, adult and inner healing ministry. Her own recovery from an unusual variety of life challenges has fueled her passion to help people who feel beat up by life to heal emotionally and live in wholeness and joy. Right now she is pouring most of that passion into her writing. Besides writing, she loves reading, hiking, taking nature photographs, creating song lyrics, and making fun memories with family and friends.

Get your copy of Brushstrokes from Heaven

Visit Tammy's website: TammyHeidenreich.blog

Follow Tammy on Facebook

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JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best now. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

032: Apostolic DNA: The Word (Minisode 11:25) — Apostolic Christ-Followers Series, No. 8

Thu, 04 Oct 2018 16:13:00 -0400

The DNA of the Church is Apostolic Christianity. DNA contains genetic information. When it's turned on, that information is expressed.

One of the key aspects of Apostolic DNA is an emphasis upon the Word or Kingdom teaching. "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42 NASB).

Authoritative teaching is an outflow of Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28: "... teaching them to observe all that I commanded you."

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

It's vital that we are established in truth. And we are to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 3).

Remember, the written Word always points to the Living Word -- Jesus Christ. "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these (the Scriptures) that testify about Me" (Jesus in John 5).

Takeaways:

Fully appreciate the primacy and value of the inspired Scriptures in your life.
Prioritize the Word as you quest after Jesus. Everything else works better as we value the Word. It's a key part of the way we fulfill our destiny.
Anchor yourself in truth and doctrine, yet know that it all points to a Person -- Jesus the Living Word.

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JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Be Jesus smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

031: Homelessness. Trafficked. Abused. Jesus Offers a New Name with Dr. Gary Brewster

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 17:07:09 -0400

A six year-old boy can't take watching his stepdad mercilessly beat his mom. He drives a knife into his chest. A young girl, trafficked for the lust of men. Rescued. Only to be sexually abused as a foster child. A young boy. Drugged. Penetrated by his uncle. Then wakes up in a dog house ... an actual dog house. Dr. Gary Brewster has worked with these individuals and many more. Jesus cleanses, heals, and gives them a "new name" -- everything changes as they experience their new identity.

Catch Part 1 of this conversation on episode 30.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best now. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Jesus Offers You a New Name -- An Unlimited Destiny with Dr. Gary Brewster (Ep 30)

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:02:00 -0400

Jesus offers you a white stone with a new name on it. No one knows this name but Jesus and you. It's a unique destiny -- a singular purpose which no one has but you.

In Christ, you're clean and qualified to live out your design. Your destiny. Your assignment. Do you believe there are "habitations" which Jesus has prepared for you ... spaces and places for you to express your best life? Now and in the new heavens and earth? It's all there for you.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best now. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

029: Apostolic DNA (Minisode 8:59) — Apostolic Christ-Followers Series, No. 7

Thu, 20 Sep 2018 18:04:17 -0400

DNA contains genetic information or instructions. In a healthy organism, the DNA gets "turned on" and expressed. The design of the DNA will manifest unless there is a mutation or disease which suppresses the accurate expression of the DNA. In the history of Christianity, error and negative dynamics have been introduced which have worked against "Apostolic Christianity." But many believe that the Holy Spirit is restoring what Jesus envisions throughout the world today.

Takeaways:

Thank God that you’ve been born again by the word or seed of God. DNA.
Ask the Holy Spirit to fully turn on and express the DNA of the Kingdom ... Apostolic Christianity.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Be Jesus smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

028: Jesus Wants to Develop Everything About Your Life with Ken Roberts

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 13:37:33 -0400

Following Jesus means that every area of our life is developed to a high level -- to bring God glory, to fully participate in Heaven's Story. But we have to be intentional about it. It's a process of faith and obedience. Following Jesus is holistic. Everything can be transformed. The old falls away. He makes all things new.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

Ken Roberts is a speaker, trainer, author, and coach – assisting people in their personal growth and spiritual development.

Listent to episode 27 for Part 1 of this conversation. Get ready to rethink salvation and what it means to live in the World of Jesus!

Learn more about Ken's course - The Life Focus Online Course Visit Ken Roberts site at KenLRoberts.com
Facebook

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Be Jesus smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

027: Discovering Your Kingdom North Star to Live Your Best Life with Ken Roberts

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 13:05:53 -0400

We all want to make a difference, a contribution, right? But too many of us struggle with this. How can we get an accurate read on where we’re at? And beyond this, how can we get unstuck and advance into our purpose and destiny?

Ken Roberts is a speaker, trainer, author, and coach – assisting people in their personal growth and spiritual development.

This episode is for everyone ... yet Ken and I believe that Christ-followers should be the most creative and purposeful people on the planet!

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com Learn more about Ken's course - The Life Focus Online Course Visit Ken Roberts site at KenLRoberts.com
Facebook

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Be Jesus smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

026: The Antioch Dynamic: Prioritize Ministry to the King (Minisode 15:16) — Apostolic Christ-Followers Series, No. 6

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Apostolic Christ-Followers prioritize ministering TO the King. Then they minister FOR the King. Our representation of the King is sourced and sustained in our ministering to the King in worship, prayer, and fasting. The experience of early Christians at the church in Antioch (Acts 13:1-3) is a pattern and precedent for us today. The Antioch Ekklesia activated and powered the missionary journeys of Paul.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Be Jesus smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Encore Episode -- Frank Viola, Author of Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom (Ep 25)

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 01:00:00 -0400

This is an Encore Episode, a replay of the very first episode of the Jesus Smart: The Podcast.

Is there a "Kingdom insurrection" underway among Jesus-followers?

Frank Viola has a strong conviction we may be in the beginning stages of an insurgence -- a resurrection insurrection within the Church to reclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT WHAT JESUS SAID

Explore what Jesus said again. And what he modeled in the Gospels of the New Testament ...

It's stunning. How have we missed this? His life message and work was the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Not churchianity. Not a gospel of sin management. Neither legalism nor easy-believism. Not a fantastical "pie in the sky" faith.

Clearly, the fullness of the Kingdom of God is coming to the earth at Christ's Coming. But we need to remind ourselves that it starts now. Right here. In the midst of true Christ-followers and communities of faith.

Is your heart moving for something more? The Holy Spirit may just be trying to radicalize you!

Listen in on this conversation with Frank about his new book, Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Take the next 90 days and re-examine your faith. See what happens!

FRANK VIOLA LINKS:

Explore Frank's new book, Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom at insurgence.org. You will discover free resources there too. And don't forget, for a limited time you can receive 3 beneficial bonuses when you purchase the book.

Visit Frank's popular blog Beyond Evangelical.

Explore Frank's The Deeper Christian Life Network, a premium online community that provides virtual mentoring and connection with others who desire to grow deeper in Christ.

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

024: Stop Cheating -- How Not to Have an Affair with Ivan and Desaray Shores

Tue, 28 Aug 2018 01:00:00 -0400

I had the opportunity to sit down with Ivan and Desaray Shores to talk about how to stop cheating and not have an affair. Desaray wrote "Letters to My Lover: Journey of an Adulterous Woman." It's vulnerable. Gritty. It's a true-life story of desperation, passion, infidelity, and heartbreak. But it doesn't stop there. It's a testimony of redemption and a quest for higher life-design.
----more---- See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com Visit Desaray's site at DesarayShores.com Facebook Instagram

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Be Jesus smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

023: Why You Should Use Kingdom Force Multipliers (Minisode 13:44) — Apostolic Christ-Followers Series, No. 5

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Force multipliers exponentially increase impact. This is Part 5 in the series Apostolic Christ Followers. Seeking the Lord via the Word and prayer is the most creative thing we can do -- it is a prime Kingdom Force Multiplier. And there are others too! Become excellent in those things which yield the most return.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

Force multipliers (force multiplication) comes from military science. Force multipliers are factors that exponentially increase impact. They are tools, processes, and approaches that amplify your effort.

A prime Kingdom Force Multiplier is seeking the Lord via the Word and prayer. It’s the most creative thing we can do. “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate (inquire) in His temple” (Psalm 27:4, NASB).

See more on the show notes page at JesusSmart.com.

022: It's Way Beyond Attending Church -- It's the Kingdom Contribution You Make Out There with Troy Thompson

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Troy Thompson wants you to win -- he wants you to find your lane out there and do your Kingdom thing. It's beyond attending church. Even serving in church. It's finding your place in Jesus' Kingdom realm. And making your Kingdom contribution in our Father's world. ----more----

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

There's a royal anointing in you if you're born again as Jesus taught. You must live in harmony with that anointing or you're going to be frustrated.

It's way beyond attending church. Even serving in church. It's about the Kingdom contribution you make out there.

Your identity and purpose are your secret powers.

In Jesus, you've been born of incorruptible seed ... the thoughts, words, and DNA of God the Father. Live according to your Higher DNA.

Everyone talks about what happens on the ground -- demographics. But the real controlling forces are psychographics (mentalities and emotional states) and pneumagraphics (spiritual realities).

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Be Jesus smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

021: Good-Bye Linear ... Hello, Exponential (Minisode 8:40) — Apostolic Christ-Followers Series, No. 4

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 16:59:00 -0400

Kingdom power and fruitfulness = exponential power. Kingdom reality lives on an exponential plane.

Linear growth is a +1 progression ... 1 becomes 2 becomes 3 becomes 4 and so on. Exponential growth is a compound doubling ... 1 becomes 2 becomes 4 becomes 8 and so on. If you take 30 linear steps, say 3 feet or a meter, you end up 30 meters away. If you take 30 exponential steps you end up a billion meters away. That distance can go around the Earth 26 times. The is the power of exponentials! ----more----

See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

Consider, the Scriptures say one shall put 1,000 to flight. Two shall put 10,000 to flight. That's a ten-fold increase or 1000%. What would 3 put to flight? One-hundred thousand.

The Creation Commission in Genesis 1:26-28. Be fruitful, multiply, fill, subdue, exercise dominion.

Abiding in the Vine to bear much fruit in John 15:1-8.

The Parable of the Talents.

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Be Jesus smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Optimize Kingdom Dynamics — Better Than Blended with Willie and Rachel Scott (Ep 20)

Tue, 14 Aug 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Marriage and family life are not for the faint of heart ... but the beauty and benefits are next level. What you’re about to hear is a conversation with Willie and Rachel Scott, founders of Better Than Blended, an organization which resources and equips blended families. There’s something here for everyone. Be sure to catch episode 18 for the first half of this conversation.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

Optimize the high-leverage outcomes of immediate obedience to God. Be quick to obey and reap the harvest.
Do things afraid. Train yourself to be bold and seize the prize.
We need others. You can find and run with your kind -- those you're meant to run with. It makes all the difference.

Visit BetterThanBlended.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

019: Love Powers Kingdom Living (Minisode 8:48) — Apostolic Christ-Followers Series, No. 3

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 01:00:00 -0400

God is love. Everything that comes from him is love-based. All of creation is "coded" with love. So things work in their best state when authentic love is present. When we live a love lifestyle, we harmonize with God's design in all things.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

What is built according to the "Master Craftsman" must be built with love.

Love is laying down your life for someone or something -- "By this we know love, because He laid down his life" (1 John 3:16).

Love is the basis for everything. Things work in their best state when powered by love.

If we want to live in the Kingdom Flow Zone, we will intentionally develop in the love of God.

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Be Jesus smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

018: Marriage and Family By Design -- Better Than Blended with Willie and Rachel Scott

Tue, 07 Aug 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Family is vital -- it's a ginormous value with the Creator. Willie and Rachel Scott are the founders of Better Than Blended. The reality is that the family is under assault. But the good news is that the family spirit of God overcomes the challenges today’s families face. We are empowered to enjoy the potential of a beautiful and powerful family life.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

We are created to cultivate and keep (guard) things. Think Garden of Eden. Parents "cultivate" their families ... drawing out the latent potential of each child.

Parents have singular power to pray over their families. "Prayercast" the future. It's the most creative thing we can do. It's high-leverage!

Have a restoration mindset. Stay focused and on task. Let your attitude be, "I won't come down" from the wall (Nehemiah and those who rebuilt Jerusalem)!

Visit BetterThanBlended.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

017: Pushing the Mission of God Forward (Minisode 11:03) -- Apostolic Christ-Followers Series, No. 2

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Apostolic Christ-following is missional -- it pushes the mission and story of God forward. And here's the beauty ... you get clear on your life story and set it within the larger story of Jesus.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

Apostolic Christ-following sees over the horizon. It's next-level thinking and seeing.

Apostolic Christ-following starts new things in new spaces and places. It's fresh Kingdom expression.

Apostolic Christ-following is about Higher Design. We become skilled craftsmen (and craftswomen) under the Master Craftsman.

Apostolic Christ-following prioritizes Christo-centric foundations and frameworks.

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

We engage stellar guests. And we’re questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled. There's no need to be stuck. His desire is that we level up.

Be Jesus smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

016: Jesus Is Our Model of the Normal Christian Life with Jake Veach

Tue, 31 Jul 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Jesus is the standard. The template. He models for us what the Normal Christian Life looks like. There's a difference between the Average Christian life and the Normal Christian Life. Jesus shows us what the norm is.

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See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com

HIGHLIGHTS

As we progressively know the Creator -- the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit -- we understand creation and our role in it.

As we progress in our revelation and knowledge of Christ, we progress in our identity and destiny. We understand who we are and what we can do.

Jesus wants to coach us, bringing us to more and more breakthrough points. He wants us to see him differently with each successive advance.

It’s all about seeking the Lord Jesus Christ. Seeking his kingdom and righteousness. As we do, everything we’re designed for is added to us.

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

015: Take Up Your Cross (Minisode 9:22) -- Apostolic Christ-Followers Series, No. 1

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 01:00:00 -0400

I believe the Holy Spirit is inviting and prodding Christ-followers today to develop into "apostolic people."

It has everything to do with a CHRISTO-CENTRIC faith experience and lifestyle. It's not man-centered. Or me-centered. Christ is the foundation of the Higher Design in our lives. In everything we become. In everything we do.

And he's the foundation of the Father's work in our world.

If we want to live with brimming, abundant life, a life that is above and beyond ... we must take up our cross and follow Christ.

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See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

HIGHLIGHTS

Jesus is the Ultimate Master Craftsman. And he invites us to build with him in our Father's world.

There is a Higher Design from above which is good, beautiful, and fruitful.

Following Jesus is not about being me-centered.

Becoming apostolic means we enter uncharted spaces and places, releasing the influence of King Jesus.

Becoming apostolic means we release the culture of heaven -- the world of Jesus -- into our spheres.

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

014: What's All the Ballyhoo About? Jesus Is Perfect Theology with Jake Veach

Tue, 24 Jul 2018 01:00:00 -0400

There’s so much wrangling and ballyhoo about theology! What is God like, really? How does he relate to us, and interact with us? What is the Kingdom of God anyway? In this episode: Jesus is perfect theology.

What you’re about to hear is a conversation with Jake Veach. He’s a staff pastor at Bethel Cleveland, with Senior Pastors Steve and Cindy Witt. He’s also the Director of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry Cleveland.

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See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

HIGHLIGHTS

Jesus Christ is perfect theology. That’s a powerful statement. Yet he is the embodiment of truth. He carries the Kingdom of God. He perfectly conveys the nature of the Godhead to us.

And here’s an insight that we can run with … far and fast. The more understanding we have of who Christ really is to us, the more we will understand our identity. We’ll be empowered to experience our best life in the Larger Story Jesus is writing.

There’s more … in the conversation we discuss supernatural guidance (I like to think of it as God-intel), spiritual gifts for today (the abilities of Jesus distributed throughout his Body on earth), plus how challenging times are actually a blessing. It’s in the challenging times that we discover more of who Jesus is TO US, and who he can be THRU US.

Here’s a simple prayer we can pray without ceasing … Holy Spirit, show me more and more who Jesus is. Disclose to me everything that he has.

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Benefit In Life with a "Beginner's Mind" (Ep 13)

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 01:00:00 -0400

A beginner’s mind will open us to new possibilities.

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See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

HIGHLIGHTS

Our mind easily becomes closed and limiting. We may feel secure and proud in our dogmatism. But it stifles life-force.

A beginner’s mind is a beautiful mind. It’s the mind of a child — questing, questioning, welcoming, learning. It is supple and receptive.

The key is becoming a child again. Not childish. But embracing fresh beginnings as a child would.

Jesus spoke of this: “You must become like a child to enter my world, a higher dimension of living with new possibilities.”

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

012: Kingdom Currency Flows on Kingdom Connections with Ronald Smith

Tue, 17 Jul 2018 01:00:00 -0400

When you seek the Larger Story of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, your personal life story works at its highest level. You position yourself for the Higher Design you crave deep down.

A key part of this quest is meaningful connections in the Body of Christ.

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See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

HIGHLIGHTS

Some of the highlights from my conversation with Ronald Smith:

Your pathway to your best life design is set within the larger story of the corporate design of the Body of Christ. "Seek first the kingdom, and all of these things will be added to you ...."

The Ekklesia: we gather to experience the dynamic of Body Life under the headship of King Jesus. Many who follow Christ have never experienced this.

The explosive power of koinonia -- one accord, relating together in unity, caring for others. Over and over in the Book of Acts we see that koinonia is the landing strip for the power of the Holy Spirit. He rests upon koinonia. This raises the ceiling for the extraordinary over Christ-followers.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Do you have meaningful connections in the Body of Christ?

Ask the Holy Spirit to connect you -- to place you in the Body of Christ according to His design. This is his prerogative.

Walk with people who can help you see more clearly, to enter more deeply into Kingdom life.

We believe the Holy Spirit is restoring the Church. Align yourself with this Holy Spirit trend line. Live accurately.

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

011: The Surprising Power of the Underdog (Minisode 9:53)

Thu, 12 Jul 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Are you facing a stiff challenge? Or maybe a promising opportunity, but it seems like such a long shot. There are advantages to being an underdog—we’re forced to be creative and innovative. We break out of that limiting “box” to potentially rise to a new level.

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The almost 3000-year-old account of David and Goliath is the perfect underdog touchstone. The ginormous Philistine arrogantly presumed how the life and death contest would play out. But he had no way of knowing what was coming at him! He was about to be taken down by an "underdog!"

See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com (See the Ted Talk and book by Malcolm Gladwell)

DAVID'S SUPER GENIUS

Yes, David was a highly skilled "slinger." But when he released that stone, it was really riding on the higher energy of …

David’s connection and covenant relationship with God.
His faithful lifestyle of intimate worship.
The personal victories he was building upon in his private life (he killed the lion and the bear while watching his father’s sheep).

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SEVERED FROM YOUR LIFE?

Let’s think about it … what needs to be nullified (listen to the podcast to understand what I mean here) in our lives, or in the world around us?

Is it something relationally?
Is it in the realm of finances or business?
Is there a challenge in the areas of physical, mental, or emotional well-being?
Is there an impact you desire to make?

If we feel intimidated or overwhelmed about something, let’s start allowing hope to rise within. Like David, let’s go deeper, develop our internal state, and discover hidden keys to execute a surprising victory!

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Kingdom Childhood: Lectio Divina for Kids! Part 2 with Harriet Mouer and Rebecca Tobar (Ep 10)

Tue, 10 Jul 2018 01:00:00 -0400

So how's the signal-to-noise ratio in your life? We surely know what the noise sounds like. But what about the signal of God's voice signature? It makes all the difference.

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Imagine a child learning to tune themselves to the voice signature of the Creator. What could the course of their life be like? And what about you as an adult? Will you embrace Jesus' offer of a Second Childhood ... this time setting you up for the full music and story of your life? We must be born again. We must become as children to enter the Kingdom. Discover a spiritual practice traced to Third Century Christians which has been adapted to children.

Listen in on Part 2 of an intriguing conversation with the creators of the Mystart Journal, Harriet Mouer and Rebecca Tobar.

See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Ancient-Futurists: Lectio Divina for Kids! Part 1 with Harriet Mouer and Rebecca Tobar (Ep 9)

Tue, 03 Jul 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Kids are being taught to slow unplug, slow down, and hear God through his Word! Coaching our kids to tune their inner person to the voice signature of God is vital for their lives. Lectio Divina is a spiritual practice which began in the 3rd century. It's seeing a resurgence in recent years. We believe it's a Holy Spirit trend line! And now, it's been adapted for children!

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To our knowledge, there's no resource out there like it. Hear Part 1 of a fascinating conversation with the creators of the Mystart Journal, Harriet Mouer and Rebecca Tobar.

www.MyStartJournal.com

See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

The Master of Molecules Has the Best Information for Your Life (Ep 8)

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Jesus has every answer and solution we need or want. And in every sphere—personal, family, finances, business, community, society. Is there something in your life that is screaming for the extreme mastery of Jesus?

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What information do you need from Him? Is there something in your life or sphere of influence that requires the brilliance and mastery of Jesus?

See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Ekklesia -- Jesus Said He Would Build What? Part 2 with Hope Taylor (Ep 7)

Tue, 26 Jun 2018 13:22:00 -0400

Is the Holy Spirit restoring the church today? Something closer to what Jesus really meant when he said, “I will build my Ekklesia” … a Kingdom community of Christ-followers who bring heaven’s culture into all spaces and places? If the Church is vital to the Big Story that God is pursuing -- as vital as the New Testament claims -- then we really can’t afford to get this wrong.

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This is part 2 of my provocative conversation with Hope Taylor, an influencer in a movement today that is seeing the church restored to the concept of Ekklesia that Jesus taught. (Listen to Part 1 in episode 5).

See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

All Things Belong to You -- As You Belong to Christ (Ep 6)

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Here's a Kingdom secret that few experience -- all things belong to you, as you belong to Christ. This is what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth. "All things belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God" (1 Cor. 3). It's as we truly value and belong to Christ, that all things are ours!

----more----See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Ekklesia -- Jesus Said He Would Build What? Part 1 with Hope Taylor (Ep 5)

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 01:00:00 -0400

It's stunning what Jesus said: "I will build my EKKLESIA." It was a secular Greek concept and word. The Romans adopted it as well. The meaning is a called-out assembly of citizens who gather. Their objective was to bring the rule and culture of the emperor to a new area.

Is Jesus looking for his church to colonize the earth with his world ... the Kingdom of God? If so, this is much bigger than attending church.

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See show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Taking Radical, Overcoming Peace to the Streets with Kim Snyder (Ep 4)

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Jesus-followers are uniquely positioned to bring reconciliation into settings. The Apostle Paul wrote that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation from Father God. Reconciliation simply means to connect or put back together again.

Kim Snyder is an intercessor, someone who stands inbetween and bridges the gap. She's filled with love for the police. She's equally filled with lover for activists, protestors, and even rioters.

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She has a special love for Cleveland, a city in the United States. She ministers in hot spots in other major cities too.

Kim is courageous, loving, and challenging ...

We’re all going to be challenged to get involved in some way. We are blessed to be a blessing.

See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Jesus Is a Chain Breaker! Get a New Lease on Freedom with Kim Snyder (Ep 3)

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 03:00:00 -0400

Dallas Willard said that God is the only perfectly free being in all of reality. Here’s what’s amazing: The Godhead invites us into Ultimate Freedom.

That is, until she was born anew -- born from above -- and radically converted to Jesus Christ and his world ... his Kingdom. Now her life is all about freedom.

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Kim leads an initiative that brings hundreds and thousands into more of the freedom that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit enjoy.

See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

Our true freedom is jump-started by what the New Testament calls regeneration -- a regening which happens when we’re born again as Jesus discussed with Nicodemus in John 3.

It continues as a progression, a process as we know Jesus Christ more deeply, and aggressviely press into his Kingdom.

Stay connected with Kim at Freedom Center Network.

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

A Power Protocol -- Shift the Environment. Pray. Speak! (Ep 2)

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 01:00:00 -0400

Is something sick or dying in your world? It’s comeback time ...

Peter modeled 3 Kingdom dynamics to see someone or something experience new life. He learned it from Jesus -- and there’s no reason why we can’t do the same.

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It's a "Kingdom template" you can lay over any situation ...

A relationship. Finances, career, or business. Ministry. A project. A cause.

See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.

Are We Poised to Reclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom? With Frank Viola, Author of Insurgence (Ep 1)

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 11:37:00 -0400

Is there a "Kingdom insurrection" underway among Jesus-followers?

Frank Viola has a strong conviction we may be in the beginning stages of an insurgence -- a resurrection insurrection within the Church to reclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom.

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See the show notes page for this episode on JesusSmart.com

A RESURRECTION INSURRECTION!

Take a fresh look at what Jesus said. And what he modeled as seen in the Gospels of the New Testament. It's stunning. How have we missed this?

His life message and work was the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Not churchianity. Not a gospel of sin management. Neither legalism nor easy-believism. Not a fantastical "pie in the sky" faith.

Is your heart moving for something more? The Holy Spirit may just be trying to radicalize you!

Listen in on this conversation with Frank about his new book, Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Take the next 90 days and re-examine your faith. See what happens!

FRANK VIOLA LINKS:

Visit Frank's popular blog Beyond Evangelical.

Explore Frank's The Deeper Christian Life Network, a premium online community that provides virtual mentoring and connection with others who desire to grow deeper in Christ.

JESUS SMART: THE PODCAST

Click to receive the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

We’re resolved that Jesus Christ is the most brilliant person to walk the planet! He knows how life works best. And the future belongs to him ... and those who follow him.

Stellar guests are on the docket. And we’ll be questing after Kingdom themes -- what Jesus taught and modeled.

Be smart. Subscribe and stay connected with your favorite podcast platform. Visit JesusSmart.com.