When we encounter opposition to our faith in Jesus, often our knee-jerk prayer is for God to deal with those opposing us. Or for God to protect us.  Neither of those is necessarily wrong. We see examples of both kinds of prayer in the Bible.  But in Acts 4:23-31, the apostles pray in such a way that offers a real challenge to us. Their prayer is not for God to remove the opposition or to provide protection. Their prayer is for more boldness to do what God called them to do - to speak the message about Jesus.  Even though it may bring hardship and difficulty.  Even though it may garner pain.  They pray for boldness to speak because that's what faithfulness to Jesus looks like.  What if we focused on praying for the strength, courage, and even boldness to be faithful, regardless of the the costs or the outcome?   Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with me: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Acts 2 describes what happens when God first pours out his Spirit and begins the age of the Messiah. It's like the birthday of the church if you will, and it shows us what kind of community the Holy Spirit creates.  It poses a real challenge to the church today ... and forces us to ask, what are we trying to create? What do we pour our time into? What metrics do we use to measure a "great church"?  Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with me: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

When we're mocked, insulted, attacked, or mistreated, how do followers of Jesus respond?  Someone ridicules you or attacks you on social media. A family member is rude and unkind. A coworker or neighbor mistreats you.  This is the stuff of everyday life, and the way of Jesus is incredibly unique in how we disciples respond to this stuff.  The entire New Testament is clear that we don't respond in kind. Instead, we actively do good and bless them.  In 1 Peter 3:9, the apostle Peter instructs us: "not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing."   Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with me: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

In John 8:31-32, Jesus tells us the key to living free in Him. He says, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  What does it mean to "continue" in His word? And how can we do that?  Check out this episode as we explore the how to live free in Christ by engaging deeply in his word. Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Connect with me: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

What's the Measure of Spiritual Maturity? Is it how involved you are at church? Is it how much you volunteer and serve? Is it bible knowledge? Prayer?  What is the goal we should be aiming for in our own spiritual growth and when helping others grow too? Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with me: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

In Psalm 43:4, God is described as our "exceeding joy." The Holy Spirit grow joy in us (Galatians 5:22). Jesus wants us to have overflowing joy, and told us the secret to it (John 15:11).  So it's not surprising that the apostles assume that we go through life with incredibly great joy (1 Peter 1:6-9) and called us to live lives of joy (James 1:2 and Philippians 4:4).  When we know Jesus, we have joy! I hope this episode encourages you as it did me. May we fix our joy on the unshakeable foundation of Jesus and his promises! Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with me: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Habakkuk 2:4 is a key verse for walking with God, and it's quoted several times in the New Testament in this regard.  Habakkuk may be my favorite Old Testament prophet. If I'm honest, the prophets can be hard to understand at times, but I get Habakkuk. And I love the message of trust in God, even when He doesn't make sense. In this way, Habakkuk shows us what God wants most from us: loyal, trusting love for God.  Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with me: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.  

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it. - Romans 8:24-25 Hope is a one of the major engines that drives our life as followers of Jesus. So in the final episode in this series, I want to look our perspective and our approach to life as we live during the overlap of the ages. What perspective shapes our life? What’s our approach to life in view of the tension between joys and sorrows, blessings and hardships that’s normal right now?    Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with me: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

One of the ways the already and not yet shapes our life is that we are citizens of heaven living in the present evil age. This means we are to live out the life of heaven in the cities and countries where we live ... to be a colony of heaven on earth.  The apostle Paul calls us to this when he says, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" - Philippians 3:20.  Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with me: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Flesh vs. Spirit is often talked about as if Christians have two natures that are battling within them, the flesh (the so-called "sinful nature") and the Spirit. But this fails to pay close enough attention to Paul’s language … and how it’s shaped by the already, not yet overlap we’ve been talking about. Paul speaks of either being of the flesh or of the Spirit - both/and.  So in this episode we'll explore: two key texts - Romans 8:1-9 and Galatians 5:16-24. what Paul means by flesh how to walk by the Spirit So that, here in the meantime, we can follow Jesus more fully. Because you can’t follow Jesus unless you walk with the Spirit! Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with me: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.