The Living Waters Podcast

In this podcast, the hosts discuss the power of hymns and worship music in evoking emotions and honoring the Lord. They explore the controversies surrounding music in Christian circles and emphasize the need for discernment. They also share heartwarming stories and recommend books that reflect the impact of music on faith. The podcast dives into the depth and beauty of hymns and encourages listeners to rediscover traditional hymns for worship.

In today’s episode, guest RL Solberg (Rob) joins the conversation in an interview at the NRB conference to discuss the Hebrew Roots Movement and what RL has termed as Torahism. They chat about Hebrew Israelites and distill the misunderstanding of where theological errors begin to form in their theology. Listen in to better be equipped to evangelize to these groups and gain resources for informed responses to fringe conversations that are becoming more prevalent through social media!  RL shares about his new book, Torahism, that was spurred on through conversations he engaged in with people who were adamant about keeping the Old Law. Are Christians required to keep the Law of Moses? Rob is an author, apologist, and professor who shares here his definition of Torahism, and the story that started him down this journey. Learn about the Facebook conversations and blog articles that got turned into a book.  Rob shares about the umbrella of belief systems that says Christians are required to keep the Law of Moses—a system often named Hebrew Roots, Messianic Christians, and a variety of other terms. Through street preaching, the hosts share their own experience of the importance of names used for Christ. Rob’s book helps people better know how to answer the difficult questions Torahists present. Learn where this error begins to form in their theology and how, while many may be sincere in their search for truth to go deeper into the roots of their faith, they often go too far. Rob explains that to understand a deep, rich, and theologically sound Christianity, you do have to understand the Jewish roots. So, where does the theological and exegetical error start? There is not just one “silver bullet” in scripture to address this, there are many verses! However, Rob touches on the complexity of the issue that this is not just an intellectual thing, there is a spiritual and emotional commitment of these people for what they’re doing. There is often a pre-commitment to thinking the law is still binding. Patience is necessary to approach the Word and get into it with Biblical literacy that steps back to look at the contact of the proof texts.  As the episode draws to a close, listen to how RL suggests one might respond to an online post regarding these topics. Learn why it is so important to first emphasize where both sides do agree, before starting to tease things apart. RL discusses the work of the law and of Christ with the New Covenant, deciphering between principal and expression. While God is unchanging, His people do change. How do you properly and practically interact with the Old Testament laws? RobSend us a textThanks 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

If we love anything before or above God, we are setting our affection on the gift rather than the giver. The Bible refers to this as inordinate affection and is a direct violation of the first, second and tenth commandment. Our discussion today is centered around a topic which every Christian has found themselves in danger of: idolatry. Our call to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength is constantly something which makes us susceptible to idolatry. Idolatry is defined any time we love something more than we love God. In fact, you can never break any of the other commandments without breaking the first one. In today’s world, we see idolatry everywhere, from the cars we drive, the homes we live in, social media, our reputations and more. Idolatry can refer to idolizing good things, too.  The human heart is an idol factory. We must be aware of our own hearts and identify the false idols all around us. Nothing dissipates the fear of the Lord like idolatry. The guys distinguish the three different types of idols: cultural, personal and religious. At the crux of the matter is the fabrication of Gods from things which are not. The two elements of idolatry are not worshiping God and worshiping God in the wrong way. There is only one Savior and only one God, and He sees the grand picture of everything. Therefore, we must surrender to him and trust His plan. It is in our nature to become what we worship and we have the choice to become more like our Creator or like our blind and mute idols. While it’s valuable to call out false idols, you are advised to be prepared for the backlash you will receive in turn. Cultivating a fear of the Lord will help keep us from falling into idolatry. Ways to identify our own idolatry is to get involved in a faith based community and ask yourself through prayer and meditation reflective questions on where your idols lie. Through the sovereignty and goodness of God alone can we understand our deepest desires.  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 Ray’s book, World Religions In A Nutshell. Send us a textThanks 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

As many people are opting not to get married at all, while others are quickly dissolving their existing marriages, the sanctity of marriage is currently in big trouble. On today’s episode, the guys offer advice for listeners who are not yet married on what to look for in a future spouse. They begin by sharing how long they have all been married to their wives: Ray for 51 years, Mark for 22, Oscar for 10 and E.Z. for nearly 26 years. What a joy it is for each of them to think about the beauty of a marriage rooted and grounded in the Lord. We are reminded that the institution of marriage was not man’s idea, but God’s. Beginning in Genesis, the first thing we look for in a future spouse is the opposite sex. It is when people redefine or reinterpret God’s word on the basis of current cultural trends that we get into great danger. Then, they share how to advise our kids on choosing a future spouse. We are reminded that beauty is vain and what is most important is that a person really loves the Lord and will push you, as their spouse, closer to Him.  We often believe that falling in love will be this enchanted kingdom experience, but we need to love others in a gospel, rather than a selfish, way. We’re reminded that expectations can either be disappointment or a saving grace entering a marriage. Beginning with what a man should look for in a wife, the guys identify first and foremost that she should love and fear God no matter what. Proverbs 31:30 reads “Charm is deceitful, beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” In a world which has tainted every aspect of God’s original design, there is nothing better than to see a man and wife fulfilling their God given roles. We must help our daughters understand the importance of choosing a man who has a biblical understanding of leadership and masculinity. Other attributes for potential husbands is someone who is a hard worker in whatever he does. God calls for man to emulate the greatest love that this world has ever known. For the women listeners, you are told not to settle when choosing a husband. We must be satisfied in the Lord before we can ever be satisfied in our marriage. As the episode wraps up, the guys share some hard questions one should ask a potential spouse.  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 Ray’s book Send us a textThanks 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 politically charged climate, the guys have noticed that Christians are often confused and split on how to engage with politics.  What is the proper role of the Christian in the political space?  The foundational truth the guys want to convey is that God wants us involved in the public square - and this includes politics!  And in the US, we not only have the responsibility to be involved, but the privilege of easily accessible ways of doing so.  Voting is one way of engaging with politics, and it is both a gift and a responsibility; after all, not voting at all gives tacit approval to the status quo!  Some Christians might argue that, since God is sovereign, we do not need to involve ourselves in politics.  What these believers miss, though, is that God uses means to accomplish His ends, and our involvement in the politics of our nation is one of those means.  God is advancing His kingdom in the world, and He has given His followers a moral, ethical, and spiritual command to engage in this work, willing the good of others through action.  We obey, in politics and other areas, and trust that He is bringing His plan to completion. The real question, then, isn't whether or not Christians should be involved in politics, but how they should be involved.  The guys discuss the importance of being aware of politics on a local level and loving nearby neighbors before centering attention on national issues.  They also talk through the problem of hypocrisy in politics (and the disillusionment it brings) and work through the dynamics of being willing to partner with non-believers in politics while still holding to biblical values.  Christians must, they explain, avoid the pitfalls of adopting secular expectations of the world around us, elevating politics such that it takes priority over our faith, allowing political engagement to crowd out spread of the gospel, and looking at others as merely conservatives or liberals.  We must give to politics what belongs to it without making it the center of our identity, and we must encourage the presence of evangelistic Christians in politics.  As the conversation ends, the guys talk about a healthy balance of news intake, the importance of praying for political leaders, and aiming to impact the world by raising godly children. 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!Send us a textThanks 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 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 a textThanks 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 a textThanks 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 a textThanks 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 a textThanks 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 a textThanks 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