It's crucial to discern emotions through the foundation of God's word rather than letting feelings dictate actions. The guys encourage Christians to renew their minds with God's truth, letting the reality of eternity motivate their actions.

As a new believer, introspection becomes an essential action. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar talk about the difference between unbelievers, who ride their feelings like a wave, and believers, who have a foundation with which to discern their emotions. Emotions and feelings are self-centered and unreliable. This is why Christians have to be careful not to approach the word of God without letting feelings dictate actions. A solid foundation in God’s word prevents being led astray. Understanding your emotions in their proper context is crucial.

Today’s culture emphasizes feelings. This has led to a false belief among believers that if you can’t feel God, He isn’t there. The cultural narrative that feelings should be validated, and that others must conform to them, is flawed. The guys contend that emotions are God-given gauges of our heart’s condition and should inform, not control, us. Christians might have irrational fears that don't align with truth. Being governed by feelings leads to self-prioritization, but as Christians, we are guided by God’s law.

Society dictates which feelings are valid, leading to destruction. Only God knows our true selves. The world celebrates all feelings, making heroes out of those who feel they are different from their biological sex, leading to serious consequences. Many young people tragically turn to homosexuality because they’re told to celebrate all feelings. Without God as our truth, we live by lies. Renewing our minds and discerning what is good and perfect is essential. Meditate on God’s word to resist temptation. The guys recognize that men and women are both emotional beings, but they express emotions in different ways. Women are perceived to be more emotional, but we see in Psalms and other places in the Old Testament that men are also expressive of their emotions.

For believers struggling with feelings, self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. Christians possess this quality and should examine themselves to grow in sanctification. Don’t feed wrong thoughts and feelings; ignore them. What if you don’t feel like sharing the gospel? The reality of hell should motivate you, and you’ll rejoice in sharing the gospel. Often, we don’t feel like doing profitable things, but the fruit of our labor is worth it. Don’t let feelings dictate actions; use them to identify areas needing submission to the Lord. The guys share stories of pushing past their feelings of hesitation

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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!

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 Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro

It's becoming more common to hear about pastors falling into sexual immorality, which should grieve believers for their families and the false leadership that misled many. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar remind believers that every public failure stems from numerous private sins. God desires purity and will not allow His name to be marred, reflecting His jealousy and concern for His glory. He wants His bride to remain holy and will remove any stains.

What if a pastor falls into sexual immorality? Pastors can fall from various sins, not just sexual immorality. God instructs us to respect our calls and take them seriously. The fall of a trusted pastor can impact people for a lifetime. Some excuse the pastor’s behavior out of loyalty, while others discredit them entirely. As Christians, we need to separate the virtue of theology from the virtue of the theologian. The good a fallen pastor did isn't negated by their sin. Our ultimate Shepherd is the Lord, and we should look to Jesus for guidance.

Understanding God's gifts and callings to repentance is crucial. A pastor can be a great teacher but still fall into sin. Ray shares an experience where his pastor, despite being a great teacher, had an inappropriate relationship with his secretary. This pastor's fall caused chaos, highlighting that sins have widespread consequences, affecting the testimony of the gospel. To pastors on the brink of sin: humble yourself. The Bible should be more than a teaching tool. Honestly assess yourself and seek the Lord's guidance. Confess your sins and let Him cleanse you. Prioritize your relationship with the Lord and avoid identifying in your vocation. A pastor can be restored to the Lord and to his family, but restoration to the pulpit should not be made an idol.

Church leaders must uphold God’s standard. Christians are called to be blameless. Sexual sin can linger in minds for years, so leaders must be blameless before the Lord. How do we handle information about a leader’s sin? Sinning leaders need their sins exposed for church discipline. Be impartial and exhort your brother.

The guys express love for these brothers and desire their restoration. Pastoring is hard work and can lead to sin due to exhaustion. If you’ve fallen, remember you are God’s child, and He offers true spiritual freedom. Like David in Psalm 51, recognize your sin, repent, and accept the gift of freedom. If you are hiding sin, humble yourself. Confessing and forsaking your sin brings compassion and grace from the Lord and others. The Lord wants you to come to Him.

Send us a text

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!

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 Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro

Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar are talking to Rachel Zwayne (Ray’s daughter and E.Z.’s wife), founder of Joyful Mothers on Facebook and Instagram, who created the platform to offer encouragement through various life seasons. Her passion is to support women in spiritual growth, echoing the historical reliance on older generations for guidance. She notes that today's social media often exacerbates loneliness and anxiety. Rachel suggests unfollowing unhelpful accounts or leaving social media altogether and emphasizes the importance of being involved in the church.

Daily engagement with God’s word is crucial. Prioritizing scripture allows for fulfilling roles and ministries God assigns. Trust in the Lord grows from feeding on His word, leading to a sense of fulfillment and security. Rachel acknowledges the challenges of maintaining devotional time, especially with young children, but stresses that investing in scripture nourishes the soul. She advises against rigid expectations for devotionals and encourages moms to remember their identity in Christ, which brings confidence and peace. Comparing oneself to others is unfruitful as it ignores the full picture. Walking in truth ensures security in the Lord.

Rachel highlights that parents can't impart an identity in Christ to their kids without having it themselves. Demonstrating a genuine fear of the Lord at home influences children profoundly, as they can see through facades. Speaking truth to oneself, especially in weakness, and continually returning to scripture reinforces identity in Christ. While resting in His grace, believers must still take sin seriously, maintaining conviction to honor God in private. The fear of God leads to living for Him, and modeling a righteous life for children involves humility and faithfulness, recognizing the importance of each day.

Rachel and E.Z. share insights on growing within marriage. Wives should understand and prioritize what is important to their husbands, frequently refocusing and reflecting on their roles. Rachel shares personal experiences from their early marriage, emphasizing the ease of making amends and the importance of apologizing if communication goes awry. She advocates for connecting with other women and church involvement, which may vary through different seasons but should remain transparent. Rachel advises smiling and laughing often, even amid life’s challenges. Scripture provides the encouragement needed to find joy. She also stresses the importance of self-care for moms who are constantly caring for others.

Send us a text

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!

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 Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro