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A weekly podcast of Sunday morning‘s message from Catalyst Church. www.iamcatalyst.net
Episodes
Monday Jun 06, 2022
Monday Jun 06, 2022
Don’t fake it till you make it. Face it till you make it.
4 Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, 5 and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” 6 So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. 7 Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people.8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 9 So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! -Numbers 21:4-9 NLT
You’re gonna spend your life running from snakes, afraid of snakes, and being a snake until you face your snakes.
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” -John 1:29 NLT
“And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.” -John 3:14-15 NLT
"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” -John 12:32 NLT
Tuesday May 31, 2022
Tuesday May 31, 2022
But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all. Mark 9:34-35 NIV
However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.Matthew 17:27 NLT
Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. John 13:3-5 NLT
Living scared will cause you to stand up when you should stand down.
Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. John 19:10-11 NLT
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil… Psalms 23:5 NIV
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Matthew 27:12-14 NIV
You’re louder when you’re living scared.
But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. Luke 23:23 NLT
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20 NIV
You are able to be still when you’re living in the Spirit.
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14 NIV
Don’t let what scares you stop you.
Tuesday May 24, 2022
Tuesday May 24, 2022
“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was going to another place for a visit. Before he left, he called for his servants and told them to take care of his things while he was gone. He gave one servant five bags of gold, another servant two bags of gold, and a third servant one bag of gold, to each one as much as he could handle. Then he left. The servant who got five bags went quickly to invest the money and earned five more bags. In the same way, the servant who had two bags invested them and earned two more. But the servant who got one bag went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. “After a long time the master came home and asked the servants what they did with his money. The servant who was given five bags of gold brought five more bags to the master and said, ‘Master, you trusted me to care for five bags of gold, so I used your five bags to earn five more.’ The master answered, ‘You did well. You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my joy with me.’ “Then the servant who had been given two bags of gold came to the master and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of gold to care for, so I used your two bags to earn two more.’ The master answered, ‘You did well. You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my joy with me.’ “Then the servant who had been given one bag of gold came to the master and said, ‘Master, I knew that you were a hard man. You harvest things you did not plant. You gather crops where you did not sow any seed. So I was afraid and went and hid your money in the ground. Here is your bag of gold.’ The master answered, ‘You are a wicked and lazy servant! You say you knew that I harvest things I did not plant and that I gather crops where I did not sow any seed. So you should have put my gold in the bank. Then, when I came home, I would have received my gold back with interest.’ “So the master told his other servants, ‘Take the bag of gold from that servant and give it to the servant who has ten bags of gold. Those who have much will get more, and they will have much more than they need. But those who do not have much will have everything taken away from them.’ Then the master said, ‘Throw that useless servant outside, into the darkness where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.” Matthew 25:14-30 NCV
YOUR MONEY.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.””
Luke 6:38 NIV
YOUR TIME/FOCUS.
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” 1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Luke 5:16 NIV
YOUR ABILITY/ALL OF IT.
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10 NLT
Monday May 16, 2022
Monday May 16, 2022
It takes maturity and security to make better moves.
Make Better Moves Simple-
WATCH/LISTEN.
Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say. -Isaiah 28:23 NIV
Whoever listens to what is taught will succeed, and whoever trusts the Lord will be happy. -Proverbs 16:20 NCV
Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. -1 Timothy 4:16 NLT
Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good. -Proverbs 4:25 NCV
LEARN.
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity… -Hebrews 6:1 NIV
So we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. Then we will not stray away from the truth. -Hebrews 2:1 NCV
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. -Hebrews 5:11-14 NLT
DO.
I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins. -Luke 6:47-49 NLT
Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice. -Luke 11:28 NLT
Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder. -Genesis 49:27 NIV
Monday May 09, 2022
Monday May 09, 2022
Kicking over sacred cows.
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. -Matthew 5:3-12 NLT
Back door guests are best.
“Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” -Luke 5:31 NIV
Jesus was an Alpha.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. -Revelation 22:13 NLT
“So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” -John 2:15 NIV
John 8:4-10
Religion has taught us that we have to take what life and the enemy throws at us and accept. This is a scared cow - Take this junk and take it nicely.
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. -John 10:10 NLT
Monday May 02, 2022
Monday May 02, 2022
“Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” -John 20:21-22 NLT
Supernatural Power Comes From God’s Presence and God’s Word.
Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.” -Matthew 22:29 NLT
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…" -Acts 1:8 NLT
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” -1 Corinthians 4:20 NIV
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13 NIV
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” -Ephesians 3:20 NKJV
Normal Isn’t The Goal In The Kingdom Of God.
“Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!” -John 9:6-7 NLT
“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” -Acts 2:1-4 NLT
"They stood there amazed and perplexed. 'What can this mean?' they asked each other. But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, 'They’re just drunk, that’s all!'" -Acts 2:1-13 NLT
Being Hungry For More Of Him Opens Your Heart To More Of Him.
“I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Open your mouth and I will feed you.” -Psalms 81:10 NCV
“They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” -John 6:30-35 NLT
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.” -John 14:16-18 NLT
Awkward Isn't Always Bad.
“For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.” -1 Corinthians 14:2, 18-19 NIV
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” -Romans 8:26 NLT
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” -Ephesians 6:18 NLT
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Jesus saved your life. You choose to change it.
SIN
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. -James 1:14-15 NLT
All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up. -1 Corinthians 10:23 WEB
For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. -1 John 2:16-17 NIV
Jesus raised up again and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one judged you guilty?” She answered, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “I also don’t judge you guilty. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.” -John 8:10-11 NCV
Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. -Acts 3:19-20 NLT
SELFISHNESS
And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.” -Matthew 3:9 NIV
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. -James 3:16 NIV
When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. -Philippians 2:3-4 NCV
SHAME
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. -Psalm 3:3 ESV
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. -Romans 8:1 NLT
As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” -Romans 10:11 NIV
The Lord says, “Come, let us talk about these things. Though your sins are like scarlet, they can be as white as snow. Though your sins are deep red, they can be white like wool." -Isaiah 1:18 NCV
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
"In a little while the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live, too." -John 14:19 NCV
“I am the door, and the person who enters through me will be saved and will be able to come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life—life in all its fullness." -John 10:9-10 NCV
"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." -John 14:21 NIV
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33 NLT
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” -John 9:3 NLT
You don’t live by winning. You live by losing.
…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” -Philippians 2:8 NIV
"Those who want to save their lives will give up true life, and those who give up their lives for me will have true life. It is worthless to have the whole world if they lose their souls. They could never pay enough to buy back their souls." -Matthew 16:25-26 NLT
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" -Luke 9:23-25 NLT
Clarity is a by-product of living.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” -Luke 24:31-32 NIV
"Why do you look for the living among the dead?" -Luke 24:5 NIV
EASTER IS EVERY DAY!
"The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you." -Romans 8:11 NLT
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." -Romans 6:4 NIV
"By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also." -1 Corinthians 6:14 NIV
"He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" -2 Corinthians 5:15, 17 NLT
"I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death." -Philippians 3:10 NLT
"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus." -Ephesians 2:4-6 NLT
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Hurt isn’t an excuse.
“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength…” -Acts 9:17-19 NIV
2 options-
Lose yourself in your hurt.
“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” -Hebrews 12:14-15 NLT
“An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin. Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.” -Proverbs 29:22-23 NLT
Learn from your hurt.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” -Romans 12:2 NLT
“When there’s no vision, the people get out of control, but whoever obeys instruction is happy.” -Proverbs 29:18 CEB
"My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge…" -Hosea 4:6 CEB
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Faith happens when you don’t have formulas.
“Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.” -Hebrews 11:1 NCV
When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region. John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” -Matthew 11:1-5 NLT, Matthew 11:6 NKJV
Believe God for the best, but trust God no matter what.
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open:” -Revelation 3:7 NLT
“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” -Luke 18:1-8 NLT
KEEP COMING.
“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” -Luke 6:21 NIV
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” -Hebrews 10:36 NIV
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” -Galatians 6:9 NIV
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” -Romans 8:18 NIV
“…Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” -Psalms 30:5 NLT
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” -Psalms 126:5 NIV