The Living Waters Podcast

Today's episode focuses on the topic of fasting, which is arguably as nebulous and misunderstood  as it is crucial to the Christian life.  Rather than the sort of seasonal recreation many Christians consider fasting to be, it is actually meant to be treated as a spiritual discipline.  Fasting offers to be a restraint on the flesh, testimony of humiliation, and preparation for prayer.  It provides a way to recall mortality, flee from sin, repent, and even grow in gratitude for gifts like food that the Lord provides.  There is a profound spiritual dynamic to prayer and fasting, with fasting reminding us of the relationship between the physical and the spiritual and pushing us to feed on the Word of God and depend on the Spirit, rather than depending on the flesh.  And since the Bible speaks of the"when" Jesus' disciples fast (versus "if"), it's clear that fasting is an expected practice in the life of the believer.While the Bible makes it clear that Christians are to fast, it doesn't prescribe a certain way of doing so.  There is no legislation of time frame, regularity, etc.  Of course, standard practice is to fast from food, but Christians can fast from other things, as well (and for some, medical necessity limits them to fasting from things other than food!).  The guys talk through their own practices of fasting, and give an idea of how to get started with the practice.  They suggest listeners looking to jump in invite friends for accountability, start small, and make fasting a regular practice.  There are some people who hold to extremely long fasts, following the 40-day pattern of Moses' and Jesus' fasts.  However, most hold to shorter fasts, and the guys can testify to the spiritual benefit of even trading a meal or two in a day for prayer and time in the Word.  People's souls (and even bodies!) are helped, they are trained up in greater spiritual fitness, and they have opportunity to use time and money usually dedicated to food for other good things.  And at the end of the day, since God has prescribed fasting, we must simply obey and see what He does!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

The driving topic for today's episode is the dangers of gluttony.  Gluttony is one of the "respectable sins" in our culture today, but in spite of our efforts to laugh it off or treat it as no big deal, it is a serious sin.  We must tackle this sin head-on for what it objectively is if we are to live in the temperance and freedom God calls us to, be the most winsome witnesses to the gospel that we can be, and honor God in how we engage with food.  Food is a good gift from God, and He gave it to us not just for sustenance, but for enjoyment!  But with food as with other gifts God gives us, we have a tendency to overindulge and turn the gift into an object of worship.  We corrupt God's good gifts to us, and harm ourselves in the process.  Gluttony may take the form of overeating (and is a main cause, though not the only cause, of people being overweight), but it can also take other forms of paying excessive attention to food.  As it is an example of lacking self-control, it is a symptom of a larger disease that can spill into other areas of our lives.   In light of the dangers of gluttony and its pervasiveness in our culture, what should we do?  Ultimately, we should eat physical food in a way that tends to the satisfaction of our souls and the glory of God.  Food is meant to point us to God and to eternity, and to be handled with self-control.  Self-control is part of the fruit of the Spirit, and relating rightly with food requires being led by the Spirit rather than controlled by the flesh.  Some practical tips for leaning into self-control and fighting the fight against gluttony include pursuing accountability, avoiding food shopping while hungry, planning meals and tracking caloric intake, drinking a lot of water, and intentionally remembering what food is actually for.  And the good news for those who have already failed in their relationship with food is that they can repent.  The Lord stands ready to forgive and to give fresh grace to use and enjoy the gift of food in moderation rather than being controlled by it.   Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!Check out Ray's book, The Ultimate Health Foods (and stay tuned for a future recipe resource!) 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

Join the hosts of Living Waters as they dive into the topic of transgender women in sports. They begin the episode by talking about the different views on this topic along with sharing some of their own personal experiences with this in their ministries. With today’s culture of promoting feminism, the hosts speak about the irony of allowing men who identify as women compete in women’s competitions, which ultimately results in an unfair playing field. They share some of the most recent stories of how this is true in women’s sports today and how it has created an unfair atmosphere in sports.  They then dive in deeper to this topic and focus specifically on gender dysphoria and how this is a real struggle many people face. They define what gender dysphoria is and discuss how scripture offers a solution to those who struggle in this area. Many look to the world or sin to fulfill their longings, and the hosts point out the truth that only Jesus and his truths can truly satisfy those longings. They dive into Romans 8 and the truths it has to offer in our struggle with sin. These truths provide Christians with a way to communicate the gospel and its truths in a loving way to the LGBTQ community and help them find the fulfillment they are looking for that only Jesus can fill.  Next, they focus on the topic of learning how to die to sin rather than feed it and allow it to grow. As Christians, we need to encourage others by confronting their sin in love and compassion. Affirming lies is not going to save people from their struggles and temptations. When it comes to gender dysphoria, the hosts encourage conversations filled with love and truth to be had rather than judgment and condemnation. They also discuss real case scenarios of parents who have been confronted with this by their children and how the response needs to be one of seeking to show them truth in a loving way. They conclude the podcast by talking about the purpose of gender in showing that we are each made purposefully by God.  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 Bible. 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 of Living Waters, the hosts focus on the topic of how to honor God in the workplace. The majority of our time and effort is spent at work, and the hosts start out by focusing on some common misunderstandings when it comes to how work is viewed. Some view work to validate their existence or to place their identity in. However, the hosts take time to correct these views and how all work is meant to be done with integrity and with the aim to glorify God. This is done through integrating the Lord into all you do and putting him at the center. Additionally, they go one to discuss how God is our source of life and fulfillment, and work is the way we can serve and honor him in making it our mission field.   The episode goes on to talk about how changing our view of work can change our attitudes towards it. Finding fulfillment in God and using work to honor him can change work from being a place of exhaustion and pressure to a place of glorifying God in all you do. They dive into this deeper and share how this can be done through loving and serving co-workers, doing everything to the best of your ability, and seeking for ways to be God’s hands and feet. Additionally, they also speak about making the goal of work be first and foremost to honor God rather than to please others or make ourself look good. We can be a testimony of the gospel through actions that reflect the respect and truth that God teaches.  Next, the hosts speak about looking at work as more than a way to simply make money and instead as a calling and mission field from the Lord. This opens the door for work to be a place where the gospel is shared through having an attitude of working for the glory of God and being fully devoted and present in the place the Lord has you. They encourage listeners to be fully present and devoted to the work the Lord has them in. The hosts also point out the importance of taking time to rest and how it helps increase efficiency and refocus on what is important. Lastly, they encourage listeners to not let fear of failure stand in the way, but instead to focus on staying faithful in the circumstances God has them.  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 Bible. 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

Walking in integrity is a topic which most young people seem not to have a clue about. E.Z. defines integrity as the quality of heart by which an individual manifests and maintains a consistent decision-making pattern rooted in the key principle that they will, in no shape or form, to any degree, in any circumstance or situation, intentionally or deliberately compromise an obedience and allegiance to the ways, commandments and leading of their God. When broken down, this covers every area of life. In this day and age, integrity is especially in trouble. The supreme test of goodness is not in the greater, but in the smaller incidents of our character and practice.  When talking about integrity, we are really talking about integrity. Social media has amplified our desire as humans to market ourselves as something we aren’t. However, when we try to pretend to be something we’re not, we destroy a piece of who we really are. The beauty of the gospel is that integrity does not mean we have to be perfect. Rather, it means we have to be honest about our entire selves, including weaknesses and shortcomings.  The guys then share a message for those who want to be more integrous in their line of work. We have to remember that, eventually, integrity will cost us something. We should serve God with integrity and if you achieve no success, at least no sin will lie upon your conscience. There is freedom in honoring the Lord at all costs. In everything we do, we must remember that our children are watching and we are actively setting an example for them. Having integrity is not that we never do wrong, but that we are quick to repent when we do. Proverbs 20:6  says “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.”  Something that hinders us from integrity is the fear of what people might say or think, but it is so silly of us to compromise our convictions to the Lord. In closing, they share a list of characteristics of a person with integrity. Integrity is freeing, liberating, honoring to God and is ultimately a blessing to you and those around you.  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!Check out our new tract, 11 weeks. 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

To be saved, to know you’re saved and to know that you can not become unsaved: That’s the question we’re dealing with today. The frantic fear that one may lose their salvation can become destructive in your walk with the Lord. On the flipside, there are people who boast in their salvation while living in flagrant sin. The guys discuss the controversial phrase “Once saved, always saved.” This can serve as comfort for those who are working out their salvation to know that once they are saved and God begins good work in them, he is faithful to carry it out. However, this does not mean that God’s grace allows us to do whatever we want and live an unrighteous life. Salvation is not a one and done thing, but rather the entrance into a transformative and eternal relationship with God.  This is not to say that a Christian can’t struggle or fall into sin. However, a true, regenerate, born again believer who has been sealed by the Holy Christ will always return to God. When you become a Christian, you love righteousness and thirst off of it. You also have the fruit of praise and of thanksgiving, and the praise of God comes naturally from your humble heart. Hebrews 10:26 speaks to the Christian, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment.” We are all born compulsive sinners until the day we die, but it’s the person who sins wilfully, joyfully and pridefully who should be concerned for their salvation. There should be no sense of security for anyone living in sin.          For a Christain to lose his salvation, God would have to go back on His word and undeclare what He previously declared. Though we should feel convicted by our sins which we will be corrected for, we will never be condemned for them. Jesus was punished so that we will never be punished.  We must not forget that everything comes back to the Scripture. Furthermore, it is the unity and community of our church we come to know by being an active participant which God intends us to affirm our faith. What a joy it is to have security in Christ! Let us remember that our hope for salvation is in Christ. We have been sealed with the seal of the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance.  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!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, the guys want to make an inroad to a topic that is surrounded by much confusion even among Christians: baptism!  The confusion relates in part to the current trend of downplaying baptism.  Not only does this indicate confusion about what baptism is, but it also causes the confusion to deepen and proliferate.  The downplaying of baptism is rooted in a well-meaning course correction to theological errors that over-emphasized baptism, such as the doctrine of baptismal regeneration.  But what Christians need at this point is not to over-correct their way into neglecting the rich truths surrounding baptism, but to construct a robust doctrine that values baptism while knowing how to respond to those who consider it necessary for salvation. This notion of baptism being necessary for salvation is at the heart of the theological error the guys want to zero in on today, namely, that of baptism regeneration.  Baptismal regeneration is one of a few major views of baptism that are commonly held, and it maintains that the act of baptism is sufficient in itself (by conferring or completing grace) to save the soul.  The Roman Catholic Church holds to this view, whereas Lutherans hold that baptism is a sign and seal of the New Covenant and those in a Reformed or Covenantal camp see baptism as a culmination of faith - expressing faith, bringing believers under the care of the church, and functioning in a way analogous to a royal coronation that decares rather than creating the reality of kingship. The guys have spent a lot of time discussing the doctrinal problems of baptismal regeneration not only with Roman Catholics, but also with members of the Church of Christ, who hold that baptism is necessary for salvation.  This position, of course, has logical shortcomings; after all, what about those who are converted with no time or ability to be baptized?  The position also contradicts the overall teaching of Scripture regarding both baptism and salvation, and the guys explain how to understand the true context of passages used in support of baptismal regeneration.  Finally, they celebrate the beautiful whole-Bible threads of meaning that baptism picks up, baptism’s picture of the gospel, and the connection between baptism and the great commission! 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 Living Waters evangelism 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 all about how we as Christians can address the topic of evolution when it comes up. The guys explain that unless someone is schooled in the reality of creation, they will typically drift to what they were taught in school. It is a tragedy that the idea of evolution is so widely adopted without much thought. When engaging in conversation with someone who holds an opinion different to yours, we are advised to be slow to speak and quick to listen. Furthermore, asking good questions inspires critical thinking.  All things have been created for and designed by love. Creation was created out of the love that the Father has for Himself, and outflowing from that is the reason we exist. This speaks true to the longings of our heart. We must not divorce creation from the heart and intents of the Creator. Often we get so caught up in the argumentation to prove God created the earth that we forget the who, what and why of the ultimate creation. As we talk about the story of creation we see in Genesis, we need to keep these questions at the top of our minds: who created, what did He create, and Why?  Then, in an effort to help prepare listeners to debunk evolutionist arguments, the guys share factual rebuttals of the most common points made by evolutionists including the ape-like creatures from which evolutionists claim humans came. Within the concept of Darwinian evolution, there simply isn’t enough time according to their own computations to go from the ape-like creature to a human being. World view and perspective is what we need to interpret the evidence we have. The ultimate answer to why evolution can not be true is simply because of the Bible, our ultimate source of authority. Asking deep questions to those who deny God’s creation can be used as a segway to direct a conversation towards the gospel.  A Christian can not believe in evolution, because Matthew 19:4 tells us “In the beginning, God created the male and female.” In closing, we are reminded that Christians are by no means anti-science, but approach it subjectively. This determines the conclusions at which we arrive based on the information we receive.  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!Check out our video, Evolution vs. God and Ray’s book, Made In Heaven.  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

This episode is all about the recent leak of the Roe v. Wade opinion by the Supreme Court. They begin by discussing the shocking leak and its implications for our country, including how it could directly result in abortion being banned in dozens of states promptly. Next, they talk about what the Bible has to say about this sensitive topic, and how God is unashamedly pro-life from Genesis through Revelation. They urge us to understand that this is a spiritual war; there are demonic influences at play in this incredibly important battle for the unborn. Finally, they discuss how we as Christians should react to this news, including what we can do to help end legalized murder in America. They end by encouraging us to look to Jesus in all things, because in Him we find not only strength to continue to fight against the evils of this world, but we also find forgiveness that purges even the most vile of sins, including abortion. 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 Bible. 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

This episode is all about the two greatest commandments found in scripture and how to fulfill them. They begin by pointing out how these commandments to love God and to love others are a foundational part of one’s walk with the Lord. These commands come directly from Jesus in the New Testament, and the hosts then spend some time to explain the connection between the two.  In order to truly love others, it must come from a genuine love of the Lord. They speak about what it means to view others through the lens of all mankind being made in God’s image. A genuine understanding of God and desire to honor him will lead to a desire to honor him through loving those he has created.  Next, the hosts then move on to talking about what it means to love. They speak about the different types of love, such as romantic love, brotherly love, and agape love. They focus on the agape love which is based upon the sacrificial love of serving others and putting others before yourself. This love is found first in out love for God through gladly obeying his commandments out of a heart that desires to honor him. They also point out how this love grows through spending time with God and making it a point to know him better daily. Additionally, they relate it to the kind of sacrificial and covenantal love between a husband and wife. Ultimately, we were made to love God and for this love to flow into how we treat and serve others.  Finally, they conclude the episode by diving into the question of how to love God with all your heart. This is done through glad and ready obedience to his commands. Out of this will then flow a love for others- even those who may be hard to love. They then relate this to the story of the good Samaritan and the sacrificial love he showed. Additionally, they reference 1 Corinthians 13 and use this as the definition for what true love means and how we can be encouraged and strengthened in our pursuit to love God and others. They tie it all together in the end by speaking about the ultimate display of love Jesus showed through his death on the cross and resurrection.  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 Bible. 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