Bloom Church Podcast

REASONS WE STRUGGLE BECAUSE OF WHAT WE’VE DONE TO OURSELVES BECAUSE OF WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE TO US BECAUSE OF THE DEVIL HAS A PLAN FOR OUR LIVES “The problem is most people overestimate or underestimate spiritual warfare. Funny how the devil likes when we over believe or under believe just don't bible believe” C.S. Lewis   Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT   For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NLT   Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:13 NLT   KNOWING YOUR SPIRITUAL CLIMATE IS CRITICAL TO RECEIVING THE VICTORY THAT IS ALREADY YOURS.   The thief’s purpose

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45 NLT   Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NKJV   We all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. James 3:2 NLT   I love you I hate you We are having baby I wish you were never born You look great You've gained weight I’m giving you a raise You are incompetent I see potential in you. You are a failure You’re smart You’re stupid You make me happy You annoy me I forgive you I should have never married you I do I want a divorce   WHEN WE PULL THE TRIGGER OF NEGATIVE WORDS TOWARDS SOMEONE IT’S LIKE SPIRITUALLY SHOOTING THEM.  WE BECOME LIFE-TAKING!   So the lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the

Forgiveness   Forgiveness   The pain you ­­feel today is the pain you can heal today   Bitterness   “…And make sure no one lives with a root of bitterness sprouting within them which will only cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.” Hebrews 12:15 TPT   Forgiveness is a choice   Why is it so hard to forgive others? 1.     We have the wrong idea of forgiveness   Forgiveness is not: -        Minimizing the hurt you feel or the offense that took place   -        Reconciliation   “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 NIV   Forgiveness is our choice   I will not let my external circumstances dictate the condition of my heart -        Instant Restoration of Trust   Through true forgiveness, it is possible to build trust again   2.     We don’t think its fair   Forgiveness   For(Give)ness   “but God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 NLT   If we are waiting for the other person to be worth

THE ACT OF GIVING UP CONTROL TO JESUS IS ACTUALLY THE BEGINNING OF FREEDOM!   Trust in the lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT    You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees. Psalms 119:68 NIV   Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:8 NLT   The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalms 37:23 NLT   For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 NLT   WHAT YOU HOLD ONTO BECOMES YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN, BUT WHAT YOU SURRENDER TO GOD HE BARES.   Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NLT   Give all your worries and cares to God, for he c

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:20-23 NLT   SPIRITUALLY OUR HEARTS REVEAL THE HEALTH OF OUR LIVES.   Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 NLT   The lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT   FOUR BLOCKAGES OF THE HEART   1. SELFISHNESS   Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23 NLT   BLOCKAGE CAN OCCUR WHEN WE WANT TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OURSELVES RATHER THAN WHAT IS BEST FOR GOD!   He (JESUS) chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He

Freedom   God desires for you to live in freedom   “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.” Galatians 5:13   “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling. For you have been called by God.” Ephesians 4:1 NLT   You can’t lead a life that is worthy of the calling God gave you if you aren’t walking in the freedom that He designed you to live in To live in freedom we must choose freedom Tree of Life The Tree of Life takes the focus off me and my strengths and puts the focus on God and His strengths   “For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV          Freedom was never meant to be hard   “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30  

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 NLT   3 PARTS   1. THE SOUL   MIND   WILL   EMOTIONS   “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord .” Joshua 24:14-15 NLT   2. THE BODY   Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. James 1:14-15 NLT   3. THE SPIRIT   'Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human hear

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.  The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9 NLT   Tree of Life TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD & EVIL *FREEDOM *BONDAGE *GRACE *THE LAW *ETERNAL LIFE *LEADS TO DEATH *GOD IS GOOD *GOD IS GOOD TO HIS FAVORITES *GOD IS FORGIVING *GOD IS A JUDGE *GOD IS LOVING *GOD IS ANGRY   SIN SEPARATES US FROM LIFE AND BROADCASTS THE MESSAGE OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE.   This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Colossians 1:21 NLT   …God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. Colossians 1:20 NLT   For “Everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 NLT  

  WE CAN LIVE IN FREEDOM EVERYDAY   Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.  The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:8-9;16-17 NLT   KNOWLEDGE IS YOUR MINDSET.   Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 NIV   The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT   The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in th

WHEN ANGER LEADS TO ACTIONS THERE TENDS TO BE NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. Matthew 5:21-22 NLT ANGER AND INSULTS ARE AN UGLY SYMPTOMS OF A DESIRE TO GET RID OF SOMEONE WHO STANDS IN OUR WAY. - JOHN STOTT 'What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ' James 4:1-2 NIV So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone h

The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. John 15:19 NLT   "It is impossible to please all men; there will always be those who criticize you, no matter what you do. So focus on doing what is right, and let the rest go." Epictetus   Makarios: Joy which has its secret within itself, that joy which is serene and untouchable, and self-contained that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and changes of life.    THE FOUR SOCIAL QUALITIES THAT ARE BLESSED   Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7 ESV   1. COMPASSIONATE IN SPIRIT: O the bliss of the merciful!   'Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and test

We are multipliers! We are a Great Commission Church and we are an equipping center for disciples. We are multipliers! Individually, we are all responsible to disciple those younger in their faith and invite those far from Jesus into a life-giving community. We are multipliers! Corporately, we are called to plant churches, pastor cities, and father and mother leaders to multiply the Kingdom impact. We are multipliers!   Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT   But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts of the A

What is Influence – Week 4   INFLUENCE   WE ARE MULTIPLIERS   LOVE   THE CHARACTER OF POSITIVE INFLUENCE   How not to be a negative influence   How not to be negatively influenced   How to become a person of Influence   A Person of Influence has integrity with people A Person of Influence Nurtures People and Relationships A Person of Influence Has Faith in People A Person of Influence Listens to People A Person of Influence Seeks to Understand People   How to Become a Person of Influence   All we need is interaction to influence   A person of influence connects with People   When you connect with people you come alongside them   “Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you

How to Have Influence What is Influence – Week 3   INFLUENCE   WE ARE MULTIPLIERS   “So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 TPT   LOVE   “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal “1 Corinthians 13:1 NLT   THE CHARACTER OF POSITIVE INFLUENCE   How not to be a negative influence   How not to be negatively influenced   How to Become a Person of Influence   All we need is interaction to have influence   If our lives in any way connect with other people we have influence   “Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim.   “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to s

INFLUENCE   “In the same way, let your light shine before others…” Matthew 5:16 NIV     Influence: the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something…   “…so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16 TPT   You have influence   “If your life in any way connects with other people, you are an influencer.” – John Maxwell   On average, most people will influence around 10,000 others in an average lifetime   Your influence matters   What type of power are you giving your influence?   Positive and Negative   Positive Influence: the impact of a person, group or situation that motivates, encourages, or inspires others to make positive changes or decisions in their lives. It can lead to the growth, development and the well-being of individuals and communities   Negative Influence: the impact of a person, group or situation that encourages or leads others to make harmful or

  So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT   “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16 NLT   If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal 1 Corinthians 13:1 NLT   “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you! Luke 17:5-6 NLT   “Consistency compounds. What you do each day matters, and will build over time.” John Maxwell   PRAYER IS A CONVERSATION THAT LEADS TO AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD   Whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 NLT 1. Our prayers must be upward   As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went,

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.   2 Chronicles 7:14   Prayer is a conversation that leads to an encounter with God.   “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.” Psalms 119:103 NLT   But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:6-8 NLT   I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,

At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NLT 1. Prayer is done out of love, not an obligation. Loving success and relationships more than God hardens our hearts and impairs our sense of purpose on earth, ironically making us less effective in fulfilling our dreams.   True health is spiritual, not physical! And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:26 NLT 2. Prayer is to know God better And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. John 17:3 NLT   This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their

“It has often been said that prayer is the greatest force in the universe. This is no exaggeration. It will bear constant repetition. In this atomic age when forces are being released that stagger the thought and Imagination of man, it is well to remember that prayer transcends all other forces.” F. J. Huegel   “Sinned as we have as a nation, yet to our sin we have added pride in our sinning. The world has lost the power to blush over its vice; the Church has lost her power to weep over it.” -Leonard Ravenhill   I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike. And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth… Joel 2:28-30 NLT   That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” R