Chris Burge Ministries' Podcast

It seems like we live in an era where everyone, and every politician, seems to have a plan to help to address poverty. However, did you know the bible has already addressed it? It may surprise you to know the bible has outlined some very clear principles on financial provision while simultaneously warning us of the practices that lead to poverty. Unfortunately, far too many Christians go through life without an awareness of these principles and are causalities of their ignorance.

It seems like we live in an era where everyone, and every politician, seems to have a plan to help to address poverty. However, did you know the bible has already addressed it? It may surprise you to know the bible has outlined some very clear principles on financial provision while simultaneously warning us of the practices that lead to poverty. Unfortunately, far too many Christians go through life without an awareness of these principles and are causalities of their ignorance.

It seems like we live in an era where everyone, and every politician, seems to have a plan to help to address poverty. However, did you know the bible has already addressed it? It may surprise you to know the bible has outlined some very clear principles on financial provision while simultaneously warning us of the practices that lead to poverty. Unfortunately, far too many Christians go through life without an awareness of these principles and are causalities of their ignorance.

It seems like we live in an era where everyone, and every politician, seems to have a plan to help to address poverty. However, did you know the bible has already addressed it? It may surprise you to know the bible has outlined some very clear principles on financial provision while simultaneously warning us of the practices that lead to poverty. Unfortunately, far too many Christians go through life without an awareness of these principles and are causalities of their ignorance.

The word “hope” in the New Testament means to have a confident expectation. As Believers it is critical that we go through life being “aggressively positive”—or, simply put, we need to live with expectation that something good is going to happen to us. Think of being “aggressively positive” as a form of “inverse paranoia”—which means that you live your life with the belief that there is a conspiracy to do you good! Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV) says “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” This is a powerful verse, because it tells us that a confident expectation will be an anchor in our life. It will stabilize us, and keep us from worrying. It is critical that we go through life being aggressively positive—instead of being aggressively negative. Faith is focusing on what could go right. Fear is focusing on what could go wrong. The law of expectation states that whatever you expect with confidence tends to be your own self-fulfilling prophesy. To put it another way: Whatever you look for

The word “hope” in the New Testament means to have a confident expectation. As Believers it is critical that we go through life being “aggressively positive”—or, simply put, we need to live with expectation that something good is going to happen to us. Think of being “aggressively positive” as a form of “inverse paranoia”—which means that you live your life with the belief that there is a conspiracy to do you good! Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV) says “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” This is a powerful verse, because it tells us that a confident expectation will be an anchor in our life. It will stabilize us, and keep us from worrying. It is critical that we go through life being aggressively positive—instead of being aggressively negative. Faith is focusing on what could go right. Fear is focusing on what could go wrong. The law of expectation states that whatever you expect with confidence tends to be your own self-fulfilling prophesy. To put it another way: Whatever you look for

The word “hope” in the New Testament means to have a confident expectation. As Believers it is critical that we go through life being “aggressively positive”—or, simply put, we need to live with expectation that something good is going to happen to us. Think of being “aggressively positive” as a form of “inverse paranoia”—which means that you live your life with the belief that there is a conspiracy to do you good! Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV) says “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” This is a powerful verse, because it tells us that a confident expectation will be an anchor in our life. It will stabilize us, and keep us from worrying. It is critical that we go through life being aggressively positive—instead of being aggressively negative. Faith is focusing on what could go right. Fear is focusing on what could go wrong. The law of expectation states that whatever you expect with confidence tends to be your own self-fulfilling prophesy. To put it another way: Whatever you look for

The word “hope” in the New Testament means to have a confident expectation. As Believers it is critical that we go through life being “aggressively positive”—or, simply put, we need to live with expectation that something good is going to happen to us. Think of being “aggressively positive” as a form of “inverse paranoia”—which means that you live your life with the belief that there is a conspiracy to do you good! Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV) says “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” This is a powerful verse, because it tells us that a confident expectation will be an anchor in our life. It will stabilize us, and keep us from worrying. It is critical that we go through life being aggressively positive—instead of being aggressively negative. Faith is focusing on what could go right. Fear is focusing on what could go wrong. The law of expectation states that whatever you expect with confidence tends to be your own self-fulfilling prophesy. To put it another way: Whatever you look for

The word “hope” in the New Testament means to have a confident expectation. As Believers it is critical that we go through life being “aggressively positive”—or, simply put, we need to live with expectation that something good is going to happen to us. Think of being “aggressively positive” as a form of “inverse paranoia”—which means that you live your life with the belief that there is a conspiracy to do you good! Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV) says “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” This is a powerful verse, because it tells us that a confident expectation will be an anchor in our life. It will stabilize us, and keep us from worrying. It is critical that we go through life being aggressively positive—instead of being aggressively negative. Faith is focusing on what could go right. Fear is focusing on what could go wrong. The law of expectation states that whatever you expect with confidence tends to be your own self-fulfilling prophesy. To put it another way: Whatever you look for

One of the keys to transformation is experiencing agape—or unconditional love. Unfortunately, many people have never experienced this from their parents. This is not an excuse to blame our parents, as most of them were doing the best they could with the information that they had. Nevertheless, in order to fulfill your destiny, you still need to experience the essential components of unconditional love. In the absence of agape love, most people will spend their entire lives trying to prove themselves to the world. We must first learn to draw our identity from God. It is also critical that we find people who will give us what our parents did not provide. God gave you your spiritual family to provide what your family of origin is incapable of giving you!

One of the keys to transformation is experiencing agape—or unconditional love. Unfortunately, many people have never experienced this from their parents. This is not an excuse to blame our parents, as most of them were doing the best they could with the information that they had. Nevertheless, in order to fulfill your destiny, you still need to experience the essential components of unconditional love. In the absence of agape love, most people will spend their entire lives trying to prove themselves to the world. We must first learn to draw our identity from God. It is also critical that we find people who will give us what our parents did not provide. God gave you your spiritual family to provide what your family of origin is incapable of giving you!

One of the keys to transformation is experiencing agape—or unconditional love. Unfortunately, many people have never experienced this from their parents. This is not an excuse to blame our parents, as most of them were doing the best they could with the information that they had. Nevertheless, in order to fulfill your destiny, you still need to experience the essential components of unconditional love. In the absence of agape love, most people will spend their entire lives trying to prove themselves to the world. We must first learn to draw our identity from God. It is also critical that we find people who will give us what our parents did not provide. God gave you your spiritual family to provide what your family of origin is incapable of giving you!

One of the keys to transformation is experiencing agape—or unconditional love. Unfortunately, many people have never experienced this from their parents. This is not an excuse to blame our parents, as most of them were doing the best they could with the information that they had. Nevertheless, in order to fulfill your destiny, you still need to experience the essential components of unconditional love. In the absence of agape love, most people will spend their entire lives trying to prove themselves to the world. We must first learn to draw our identity from God. It is also critical that we find people who will give us what our parents did not provide. God gave you your spiritual family to provide what your family of origin is incapable of giving you!

Repeatedly the bible tells us that Jesus was “moved with compassion.” An English translation of that term is “pity.” Godly compassion is designed to move us to action to help others, but when we consume that compassion by obsessively focusing on ourselves, it becomes self-pity. Satan’s goal is to have us engaged in a daily pity party, so instead of using our gifts to serve people, we worship our problems. This is a very dangerous practice.

Repeatedly the bible tells us that Jesus was “moved with compassion.” An English translation of that term is “pity.” Godly compassion is designed to move us to action to help others, but when we consume that compassion by obsessively focusing on ourselves, it becomes self-pity. Satan’s goal is to have us engaged in a daily pity party, so instead of using our gifts to serve people, we worship our problems. This is a very dangerous practice.

“Dis” means to move away from. The word discouragement means to move away from courage. One of the primary ways that Satan discourages us is through failure. We need to recognize that failure is an event/experience—not how we’re defined. It is critical that when we experience failure we do not personalize it, but use it as a learning experience so we do not become discouraged. When we experience failure it is imperative that we do three things: (1) Have the right perspective – God is not surprised by what has happened to us. (2) Surround ourselves with the right people – We all need to have a Barnabas in our lives—Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement”. (3) Say the right words – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”This will ensure that we stay motivated!

“Dis” means to move away from. The word discouragement means to move away from courage. One of the primary ways that Satan discourages us is through failure. We need to recognize that failure is an event/experience—not how we’re defined. It is critical that when we experience failure we do not personalize it, but use it as a learning experience so we do not become discouraged. When we experience failure it is imperative that we do three things: (1) Have the right perspective – God is not surprised by what has happened to us. (2) Surround ourselves with the right people – We all need to have a Barnabas in our lives—Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement”. (3) Say the right words – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”This will ensure that we stay motivated!

We live in an era where people fail to count the cost. Most people get very excited about starting, but few count the cost to see if they have enough to finish. Finishing well is one of the most difficult—but important—things to do in life. These sentiments were echoed by both the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 and Jesus Christ in John 19:30. In order to finish well you need to calculate the cost in advance. There are five main areas where we have to count the cost: the pace of life, pains of life, pressures of life, problems of life, and changes in life.Luke 14:28 (NKJV)“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it…”

We live in an era where people fail to count the cost. Most people get very excited about starting, but few count the cost to see if they have enough to finish. Finishing well is one of the most difficult—but important—things to do in life. These sentiments were echoed by both the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 and Jesus Christ in John 19:30. In order to finish well you need to calculate the cost in advance. There are five main areas where we have to count the cost: the pace of life, pains of life, pressures of life, problems of life, and changes in life.Luke 14:28 (NKJV)“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it…”

We live in an era where people fail to count the cost. Most people get very excited about starting, but few count the cost to see if they have enough to finish. Finishing well is one of the most difficult—but important—things to do in life. These sentiments were echoed by both the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 and Jesus Christ in John 19:30. In order to finish well you need to calculate the cost in advance. There are five main areas where we have to count the cost: the pace of life, pains of life, pressures of life, problems of life, and changes in life.Luke 14:28 (NKJV)“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it…”