The Living Waters Podcast

In today's episode, the guys discuss the Great White throne judgment of God. They talk about how God is actually very judgmental because He holds us humans to high standards. God is a good and perfect judge, and He will give out wrath and condemnation for unbelievers. Our culture today says that judging others is wrong and most people don’t want to talk about how God judges us. However, to deny that God is a judge is also to deny that God is good. If He was a passive judge, then there would be something wrong with the judge. As Christians, we want judgment for those who wrong us, but we don’t want God to judge us. There is an element about judgment that delights the Christian, because we gratify people getting justice when they do us wrong. A good example the guys talk about is when Osama bin Laden died. All Americans rejoiced that he was killed because of what he did to us on 9/11, and for how he destroyed our freedom and democracy. We celebrated that justice was served. God is a holy and just god, and will give each person their reward or condemnation on judgment day.  Next, the guys confer about how fear is actually a good thing and is our friend. Fear reminds us to keep our seatbelts on or to not get too close to alligators. Fear is the beginning of wisdom. We won’t let our sins go, unless we see danger from the fear of God. He already knows everything and is omniscient. They also discuss the facts from the Bible from the book of revelations that we can refer to. These facts include: Jesus Christ will be the judge and Lord, all unbelievers will be judged by Christ and they will receive wrath, unbelievers are storing up for themselves wrath that will be given, God will give to each person according to what he has done, and believers will be judged but because of Christ’s righteousness given to us and our names are written in the book of life, we will be rewarded.  In addition, the guys also explain two very big distinctions from the judgment seat of Christ and the Great White throne judgment of God. They talk about how the Great White throne is when God will condemn the unbelievers, but the judgment seat of Christ is for when God will judge all of the believers. But, as believers, we do not need to fear being condemned by God because we can live in confidence that God won’t leave us or forsake us. God will take a survey of what we have done with our talent, time and treasure, and He will give us a reward in heaven based on what we have done. Another element the guys talked through is that every believer in heaven will be happy and there will be no envy in heaven. Envy is created by a lack, but there will be no lack in heaven. They also discuss Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

Today’s episode is part two of a live recording of a Q&A held at the recent Ambassadors Academy. First, the guys answer how we can help other Christians understand that the Sinner’s prayer is not a very good idea. We are reminded that when we are born to God, he does all the work himself. We often make the mistake of bringing our modern desire for instant gratification into our discipleship. Evangelism and discipleship is a long investment game, and the Sinner’s prayer often disrupts what God really wants us to do. Pastor Philip DeCoursey adds that the prayer can be used as a tool to some extent, but when it gets in the way or hinders someone's true expression, it becomes a problem. It is out of the heart that the mind speaks.  Next, they make their case for the position of an evangelist within the local church. Pastor DeCoursey believes that when it comes to the people in our local churches who have a special gift or calling in evangelism, it is their job to model their passion and equip others to do it, too. In the book of Acts, the Apostles went everywhere and appointed elders in every city. The ultimate goal of evangelism is to do the same, equip our churches for the work of ministry to be His ambassadors in this world.  Then, they share how a new believer can increase their fear of God, especially in seasons where they don’t fear God at all. First, you should study the nature and character of God revealed in the Scripture. The Bible is the revelation of God’s nature and character that we will face on Judgement Day. The Bible tells us that it is through the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil. Our calling as Christians is to know God, and the more we know Him, the more we fear Him. The more we become familiar with the holiness of God and contemplate who he is, the more we realize our own lack of holiness and will begin to fear who He is.  Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

Today’s episode is part one of a live recording of a Q&A held at the recent Ambassadors Academy. Before getting into the Q&A, they share a little bit about the annual Ambassadors Academy. While keeping the handpicked group of participants small, AA is essentially a crash course for evangelism. Many participants enter on the first day never having spoken publicly about their faith before and leave with the confidence to do so. Many have even started their own groups within their church that ultimately nourish their community at large. Joining the guys for this Q&A is their senior pastor of Kindred Community Church Philip DeCourcy.  To begin the Q&A, Ray is asked about his first open air springboard. Then, they are asked to share advice on the best resources for someone struggling with assurance on their salvation. They recommend Saved Without a Doubt by John MacArthur and always turning towards the sufficiency and truth of the Word of God. In moments of uncertainty, there is nothing better (besides God’s Word) than having pastors and people of faith alongside us to affirm and hold us accountable. Scripture makes it clear that God has given us eternal life based on the fact that we have placed our own worth in Him. We are reminded that despite what we may feel, we can continue to show our faith by our works by continuing, in obedience, all that Scripture calls us to.  Next, the guys are asked about open air preaching in places where public speaking is deemed illegal. First, we are urged to explore areas in which public speaking is allowed. However, when it comes to the proclamation of the gospel, the only time we have a right to rebel against authority is if we are commanded to do something God forbids or are forbidden to do something God commands. Thus, we should generally always obey the orders of God over the orders of man. Then, they offer encouragement about handing out biblical tracts in person. Before wrapping up, they identify the key thing they want participants of AA to leave with: a sense of joy over evangelism.   Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

In today's episode, the guys discuss how to be an effective ambassador for Christ. This topic never gets old, because it is all about living out who we are in Christ. We are reminded that each of us is a witness for Christ. What a person believes is much less important than the way that they act. Our Christian lives should gravitate people towards us who are ready to hear the gospel. 2 Corinthians 5:20 proclaims “Now, then, we are ambassadors for Christ.” If we have been born again for Christ, we are automatically His ambassadors. When we remember who Christ is, it is astonishing that he has called upon us sinful human beings to be His ambassadors. An ambassador is defined as an accredited diplomat sent from a country as its official representative to a foreign country. We should remember that this world isn’t our home, we are only passing through in exile. Our mission here is singular: To bring glory to Christ and to make Him known.  The number one most important trait for an ambassador is discretion with words. This refers to the ability to know when not to say and do certain things as to avoid offense. The ultimate work of evangelism actually has little to do with our power to transform lives. God calls on us to be His ambassadors as a way to live out our faithfulness to Him. Anger, sarcasm, demeaning comments and self righteousness are some traits often seen among evangelists who forget that they are also ambassadors. We should be careful to avoid these traits as we walk through life. If you haven’t shared the gospel with others in a while, the guys urge you to get started just by being friendly in public places.  It is important to keep in mind that as ambassadors, we are not just representing the Lord, but also other Christians. Our witness has the potential to extend far beyond what we can imagine. Christ left us an example of what we should do for one another as believers, and it all starts with the representation of the love and service within church. In closing, we are reminded that we represent the God of the universe. This realization should sober us, honor us and lead us to recognize the seriousness of our calling. It is in His grace alone this calling may be achieved.   Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

In today's episode, the guys discuss Catholicism. To begin, they reiterate that they are in no way trying to talk down to Catholic people, but rather are speaking the truth and being honest about a religious institution which they believe has serious harmful teachings. Catholics and Christians do have things in common, such as believing in the existence of God and the person of Jesus Christ, but the glaring differences can not be overlooked.While Christians believe we are saved by grace and not ourselves, Catholics believe that we are saved by grace and by our actions. When we say that we were saved by grace, we are saying that we as individuals had nothing to do with it and we can not upkeep out salvation. There is no need for Christians to worry about losing our salvation after a sinful action. It is by our faith alone that we receive the gift of justification.While it is possible for a person to be saved and be part of the Catholic church, the guys believe it would have to be despite the official teachings of the Catholic church. It is in response to the grace that has been given to us by God that we may pursue righteousness, not out of fear of condemnation or eternal hell and punishment. Even if you have everything else sorted out, if you don’t have salvation right, then you won’t have eternal life. When it comes to eternal life, the Scripture should serve as our guideline, and all traditions of man should fall to the wayside. Today, all we have to do is look upon the curse of Jesus on the cross and live. We do not look to the Pope, the sacraments or to tradition, but to Jesus alone. Before wrapping up, the conversation shifts to discussing the idolatry common within the Catholic church.  In closing, we are reminded that our debts were paid by Jesus on the cross in perfect righteousness. Repent, place your faith in Him and let Him set you free!Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

In today's episode, the guys discuss legalism and its destruction. Legalism itself comes in two forms. On one hand are the legalists obsessed with their obedience to the law as a condition for acceptance with God. At the heart of this is the idea that works are a condition for justification. The other kinds of legalists demand that others submit to his own image of what constitutes spirituality and judge those who fail to measure up. It is inevitable that legalism ends up in hypocrisy.  Then, the guys share about their own encounters with legalism. Oftentimes, those who are legalistic are trying to give an outward appearance of piety, holiness and righteousness, but the corruption that is still within ends up coming to the surface in other ways. It is, however, often the byproduct of a sincere zeal for God that is lacking in knowledge. Looking to Christ and His righteousness outs to death any idea that we can gain, earn, prove or pay off the righteousness that has been given to us through Jesus. Legalism comes from a very man-centered way of viewing himself. Legalism forgets about grace and mercy and replaces it with appearance by negating the gospel.  We are so prone to want to demand our own ways and become frustrated when things don’t go according to our own plan. We may often find ourselves in situations where we are demonstrating self absorption, and should recognize that these times should be flipped as an opportunity to demonstrate God’s grace. Next, the guys differentiate between legalism and what isn't actually considered legalism. Legalism is distorting the gospel by adding conditions to free grace, substituting manmade regulations for the word of God, majoring on the minors and neglecting the more important issues, overconcern with externals while disregarding matters of the heart and regarding with contempt or judgment based on matters of personal conviction. Legalism is not a zeal for the Commandments of Christ, a ministry that teaches others to follow Christ and obedience and having strong personal convictions not required for others. In closing, we are reminded that a part of grace is recognizing that our quality is not based on the output of our performance. When we recognize that the love of God is where our true value lies, we are freed from the need to prove ourselves in life.  Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful couSend us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

In today's special episode, the 100th episode of the show(!!), the guys welcome back special guest Emilio Ramos for a third conversation!  This discussion is the broadest of the three, and it focuses on Christian worldview and how to strengthen it.  To get things going, the guys first consider what worldview is, focusing on a definition from Got Questions: “A worldview refers to a comprehensive conception of the world from a specific standpoint,” and it is a person’s big picture and way of both understanding reality and making decisions.  Emilio explains how a significant worldview issue among Christians today is that they leave eschatology out of their worldview formulations.  They think of eschatology, or the study of the last things, in terms of apocalyptic predictions and church debates, relegating it to the sidelines of their lives.  In reality, eschatology is central to the Bible’s storyline, and is present from the very beginning in the hope that God will bring all things to a beautiful redemptive culmination.  Eschatology, and our theology more broadly, the guys urge, has everything to do with how we live now! Of course, factors other than theological misconception oppose the Christian worldview.  As people living in the world, Christians must immerse themselves in Scripture to curb the influence of the world on their worldviews.  The guys revel in the sufficiency of the Bible as the standard to build our lives on, and work through dangers of modernism, a gnostic dismissal of the present world, the deeply self-refuting “worldview” of atheism, and the problems of process theology.  They explain how people can be boiled down in terms of worldview to Christian theists and practical atheists, and how the three absolutes of truth, goodness and beauty - central pieces of worldview - require something transcendent to define them.  A biblical worldview is grounded in the fear of God, and it has its start with the miracle of regeneration, when a person is given a new heart and desires.  As the conversation wraps up, the guys offer insight on drawing non-Christians toward the true worldview of Christianity, sharpening one’s own worldview as a believer, and helping to train up children in a biblical worldview.   Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!Check out The Evidence Study BiblSend us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

In today's episode, the guys are joined by Emilio Ramos, and they all discuss the idea of transhumanism, which is the integration of technology into human life and experience. Transhumanism is all about how technology can help the advancement of our human lives, and how technology can aid us. The guys discussed wearable examples of this such as the ring doorbell or our smartphones. However, this can become very serious when transhumanism enters posthumanism, which is when technology is used to achieve versions of humans other than what constitutes humans now. Transhumanists are saying that technology will take us to the next stages of evolution and that we can play a part in it. They believe that integrating technology into our bodies will be the next stage.  The guys talk through these four stages of posthumanism. Phase one  is “wearables” or technology that creates benefits for humans. They gave an example as a pacemaker, which keeps people alive and helps people lead more comfortable lives. The second phase is integration of silicone technology for our health. The hosts mentioned this technology called “CRISPR”, which futurists expect to put an end to diseases such as cancer. The third phase is “enhancements,” where futurists believe scientists will be able to adjust genetic mutations for diseases, but then also mutate genetics for preferences, such as specific eye colors, higher IQ’s, etc. They discuss that in this stage, changing genetics will only be available to the elite and to the wealthy. People will not be created equal anymore. The last phase is where these futurists want to transfer our subconsciousness into a computer, virtual reality or an avatar in order to “live forever.” The futurists are saying that technology will give birth to future centiens and not just humans. They also discuss what does it actually mean to be human and what consciousness really is.  The guys also talk about how this idea of posthumanism is really humans trying to become like God and how this idea is not really new. Humans have been trying to become like God since the beginning of time. It all started with Satan wanting to become like God and then convincing Eve that she could be like God as well if she ate the fruit. But, we are already like God by being made in the image of God. In the story of Babel, the people tried to build the tower to reach into the heavens, but God destroyed the tower and did not let their plans succeed. Every time we try to be like God, it falls apart because we created something less than good. No matter how much man tries to reach His level, God will always be on His throne in heaven. God is in control and it all comes down to whSend us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

In today's episode, the guys welcome special guest Emilio Ramos to talk about an important and relevant topic: technology and how it will challenge our faith in the days ahead.  In order to wrap our minds around this topic, we also need to understand the related concept of futurism.  “Futurism” is an umbrella term that deals with predicting what our lives will look like in the future.  Thinkers ranging from philosophers to tech developers weigh in on this future, and their ideas are not only relevant to the future, but have ever-growing implications for today.  The agenda for tech now and moving into the future is more and more integration into our lives, and we can see even now that tech giants inform us not so much about new gadgets as about what these gadgets can do.  Technology is part of our lives, and is becoming nearly part of us.  And as things continue to move forward, we step toward a point of “technological singularity,” which will occur when tech will advance so far that we won't be able to comprehend what it will look like to live in that world or to be human in that space.   This may sound concerning, but the guys also explain that technology in itself is amoral; this lack of a clear moral problem is, in fact, what complicates the situation of developing tech for us as Christians.  The guys love technology for many reasons, but are wary of dangers that it brings along with it.  Technology can, for instance, oppose our resting before God and our meditating on His Word, and we can easily transition from using technology as a tool to help us to being used by technology.  Technology can turn us into overly political or conspiratorial people, distract us from the gospel, and have negative effects on our kids.  Ultimately, technology shaping us is not a new thing, but it is a matter that we have to deal with in new and different ways.  As developers pursue life-extension tech and delve further into VR, we must remember that these things can never be true eternal life.  We must always work to be wise in our use of technology, saying no to things that will be unhealthy in our lives and homes, and factoring in the realities of technology and its influence in our discipleship relationships.  Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!Check out The Evidence Study Bible, Ray’s book Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

In today's episode, the guys discuss John Wesley, founder of the Methodist faith. He was born June 17, 1703 and died March 12, 1791. His father was a minister in the Church of England and he was 15th out of 19 children. This was a man who lived constantly with the realization that he shouldn’t be alive. He was driven by the eternal and once said “I have thought that I am a creature of a day, passing by life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and returning to God.” He attended Oxford and was immediately recognized as an extraordinary student, and became a minister right off the bat.  He arrived in Savannah, Georgia, where he was invited to serve as a pastor for the colonies.  He was converted in May of 1738. He writes of the reassurance he felt at this moment as Christ had saved him from sin and death. In order to know his savior, Wesley first had to understand his sin. In order to experience mercy, he had to know wrath. He began to feel uncomfortable by the emotions his preaching often elicited and warmed to the new method of ministry.  His journal reveals his intimate relationship with God, which is what likely helped him complete all of the amazing things he did over his lifetime. For example, he averaged about 5,000 miles a year in travel, equal to traveling around the globe 12 times. Most of this he did on horseback. He delivered an average of 15 sermons per week, mostly in the open air, and under difficult circumstances. Over his lifetime, he preached a total of 42,400 sermons. His list of extraordinary accomplishments goes on, including planting over 400 small local churches. Then, the guys discuss how we should respect our forefathers not as God, but as wise men we can learn greatly from. In closing, we hear Wesley’s wish to see the world grow closer to God in body, soul and substance before his own passing. It is reported that his final words following an illness were “Best of all is God is with us.” And he is with you, too!  Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro