A Voice in The Desert Podcast

Guiding Sheep to Heaven

Guiding Sheep to Heaven:   “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Ps 116:15). Let’s not let our joy become overshadowed by the tears and grief at a Christian funeral. Another soul for whom our Redeemer shed his blood has passed into the kingdom of glory. Alleluia! Another guest at the heavenly banquet has arrived, even as all Christians—both the living and the dead—await the final resurrection. Praise the Lord! That pastor can rest in peace celebrating the fact that, as a spiritual warrior, he has once again foiled the enemy’s hellish plans. The apostolic ministry has triumphed, as it always does; a whole string of shepherds, through whom our Chief Shepherd worked, were likely instrumental in the victory.   Every pastor knows that it is dangerous to live by sight, for the victory remains hidden in the form of a cross. Yet we pastors forget how significant our calling is. Because the choices that people make in their short time on earth have repercussions for their eternal destinies, your job is one of the most important in the world. So, although the world thinks you are just performing empty ceremonies and ancient rituals that are therapeutic at best, God sees it differently.

Stages of Subversion in the Church

  Stages of Subversion in the Church   This strategy of subversion through worldly influences has progressed through several overlapping stages, some of which are only now being completed in our current generation.   The first stage is *penetration* (or “worming in”). In this phase, our agents infiltrate Christian groups and organizations with the intent to influence and manipulate them over time.   The second stage is *demoralization* (or “softening up”). Here, we aim to undermine the Church’s spiritual and social fabric through means such as deviant teachings and public scandals. As this occurs, Christian morale declines, and believers gradually lose their instinctive ability to resist. For instance, it has been observed that leaders within the Christian right in America often find themselves in compromising situations, which exposes their hypocrisy and deepens discouragement. As Marx noted about a similar tactic, “the goal is to instill poison wherever possible.”

The call to clarity

1 Corinthians 14:8: The Call to Clarity and Purpose in Our Communication   Dear Beloved in Christ,   As we gather today, I invite you to turn your hearts and minds to the profound wisdom found in 1 Corinthians 14:8, which states, “If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” This verse, though brief, carries immense significance for our lives as followers of Christ and the church’s mission in the world.   Contextual Background   To fully appreciate the weight of this verse, we must understand its context. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, a community rich in spiritual gifts but struggling with disorder and confusion in worship. The church was experiencing a vibrant expression of spiritual gifts, yet this led to chaos rather than unity. Paul’s letter aimed to bring instruction and correction, emphasizing the need for clarity, purpose, and love in the exercise of these gifts.   In ancient times, the trumpet served as a crucial instrument in military and civil contexts. It was used to signal the beginning of battle, to rally troops, and to communicate essential commands. A clear sound was vital; without it, soldiers would be unprepared, confused, and vulnerable. Paul uses this metaphor to illustrate the importance of clarity in our communication, especially in the context of worship and fellowship.

The Role Of The Holy Spirit

The Role of the Holy Spirit: Conviction and Transformation     Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,   Today, we gather in the spirit of fellowship and faith to explore a profound truth found in the Gospel of John, specifically John 16:8. This verse reads: “And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” As we delve into this message, let us open our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit, who is our counselor, guide, and the very presence of God within us.   Understanding the Context   To fully appreciate the significance of this verse, we must understand its context. Jesus spoke these words during the Last Supper, a moment filled with intimacy and impending sorrow. He was preparing His disciples for His departure, reassuring them that although He would leave, they would not be abandoned. The coming of the Holy Spirit, referred to as the Advocate or Comforter, would bring them strength, guidance, and empowerment.  

Guiding sheep to heaven

Guiding Sheep to Heaven;   Books on spiritual warfare are a dime a dozen. It’s a popular topic because every faithful Christian is assaulted by the unceasing attacks of the world and the devil in his or her day-to-day life. The shelves of my local Christian bookstore are cluttered with self-help material listing ways to subdue temptation and prevent the evil one from gaining territory.   Fictional novels on the subject compel us to question whether God is actually in control of the universe and if he could use our help. A few books address the unique spiritual and mental struggles that pastors suffer in their ministries. Then there are the rarer, more intriguing books on demon possession. These books can feel like the snuff of Christian literature for both clergy and laity alike; when we read them to satisfy curiosity, they can make our spiritual lives even worse.   The one message that stands out amidst this jumble—the Holy Bible—offers us the only entirely trustworthy window into these unseen realities, ensuring that we’re not “outwitted by Satan” (2 Corthians 2:11) through ignorance or misunderstanding.

Faith Alone

One of the five rallying cries of the Reformation was the statement that we are saved by faith alone—sola fide! These words declared that salvation does not come from looking at our own works of righteousness, but from looking outside ourselves to another, to the person and work of Jesus Christ. This statement grew out of a desire to return to the biblical text and to the teachings of the early church fathers, a cry to reform the church and return it to biblical orthodoxy.   Centuries have passed since the Reformation, and we may wonder: Does sola fide still matter today? Is the notion of justification by faith alone just a relic of days gone by, reflecting a nostalgia for a previous time? As will be evident throughout this book, I believe that the Reformation cry of sola fide should continue to be taught and treasured today because it summarizes biblical teaching, and God’s Word never loses its transforming power.   The Word of God speaks in every era and in every place. While some may hold on to sola fide to uphold tradition, I believe we should hold on to the tradition of sola fide because it accords with the Word of God. Justification by faith alone isn’t the product of rigid and brittle orthodoxy. It speaks to the minds and hearts of people all throughout history because it tackles one of the fundamental questions of our human condition: How can a person be right with God?

Unwaivering Faith

Unwavering Faith” ;     Romans 1:2–5;   There are few questions that have arisen over the course of human history that have caused more controversy than, “Who is Jesus?” As you well know, there is a wide variety of opinions on this matter, but not for Paul. The gospel he preached has as much to do with who Jesus is as it does with what He did. By the second verse of this letter he’s already begun to clarify who this Person is, who his Lord is, and there’s not a hint of doubt in his tone as he writes. For him, Jesus is the promised Son of David and the divine Son of God, and he spends no time at all trying to explain how He could be both of these things at once. Maybe such unwavering faith came easily for Paul because he actually saw Jesus in His resurrected glory and heard Him say, “I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 22:8). Or maybe his unwavering confidence came from his “out of body” experience (2nd Corinthians 12:2–4) which I assume took place when he apparently died and was resuscitated after being stoned at Lystra (Acts 14:19–20). Seeing the glories of heaven with your own “eyes” must settle many theological questions. You’d think that after an experience like that, one would be inclined to simply believe. But few of us have had experiences like his, yet God still calls us to believe and surrender our lives with unwavering trust like we see in Paul. How can that happen? How can we believe so completely without first seeing the resurrected Jesus with our own eyes?

The Devil’s Method

The Devil's Methods;     But allow me to delve a little deeper into the topic. How does the devil provoke wars?    First of all, the devil produces rebellion. He attacks the mind, and that was the original temptation: rebellion. When God established His law for man and woman in the garden, the devil questioned it immediately. Rebellion! Set aside law and order; take justice into your own hands; do what seems right to you. Ultimately, that is the cause of any kind of war, including the moral war taking place in various countries today. It is the source of the major problems surrounding us. Violent robberies, murders, and all acts that tarnish a nation's life stem from anarchy, which comes from the devil.

Confía en el Dios que Se Preocupa por Ti Parte 2

Confía en el Dios que Se Preocupa por Ti   Parte 2   El apóstol Pedro les dijo a los creyentes que sufrían que echaran “toda [su] ansiedad sobre él [Dios], porque él tiene cuidado de [ellos]” (1 Pedro 5:7).    Por donde quiera que mires en la Biblia, Dios le da a su pueblo imágenes que describen las maneras en las que se ocupa por su pueblo. Según el Salmo 91, Dios es nuestro refugio y fortaleza, nos salva de nuestros enemigos, nos protege bajo sus alas y nos ayuda a no temer, porque está con nosotros cuando lo invocamos.    Hebreos 7:25 afirma que Dios puede salvar a aquellos que se acercan a él. En Isaías 40:11, descubrimos que Dios nos cuida como un pastor amoroso, tomándonos en sus brazos, llevándonos cerca de su corazón y guiándonos con delicadeza. Incluso en medio de valles de sombra de muerte, no debemos temer mal alguno, porque Dios está con nosotros (Salmo 23:4).

Confía en el Dios que Se Preocupa por Ti

Confía en el Dios que Se Preocupa por Ti   Sufrir de ansiedad y ataques de pánico puede hacernos sentir incapacitados. Los sentimientos de temor y pánico son sumamente reales y fuertes, y parecen imposibles de resolver. La ansiedad y el pánico parecen surgir de la nada. Ni siquiera sabes qué estás pensando, y de repente, entras en pánico.   El problema empieza poco a poco, pero si no se trata, la ansiedad y el pánico pueden afectar toda tu vida. Quizá incluso sientas que tienes miedo de tener miedo. Tal vez empieces a preocuparte que puedas tener algún problema médico extraño que provoca tantos síntomas físicos raros.   Antes de abordar el problema de tu ansiedad, es importante entender qué son los ataques de pánico y cómo afectan al cuerpo humano promedio. La ansiedad se define como “un estado de intensa agitación, incertidumbre y temor que resultan de la expectativa de un evento o situación amenazadores, a menudo al punto de desestabilizar el funcionamiento físico y psicológico”.   Parece un trabalenguas, pero en esencia, significa que tienes tanto temor o aprensión de que algo malo suceda que te afecta físicamente. A veces, la ansiedad puede estar ligada a un pensamiento o situación en particular; otras, quizá no haya una conexión evidente con nada de lo que ocurre en tu vida.