Greg Durante Podcast

To walk in the Spirit is one of the keys to living a victorious Christian life. Because the Holy Spirit will be the one who will give direction and guidance in a believer's life. Without the Spirit's guidance, we are prone to sin and frustration. But with Him, we have peace divine, power, and direction. 

A true believer in Jesus Christ can be easily distinguished by their characteristics, confidence, joy, and behavior. These set them apart from everyone else, especially during times of trials and temptations. These are evident in their faith and their relationship with God. More than these, their words carry power, especially when uttered in prayer and declaration, because they are backed up by the Word of God.

Yes, we are made kings and priests because of what Jesus Christ has done on Calvary. We have the power and the authority. We have been given dominion. In Christ, we are kings and priests. And so he is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The Bible also states that we have to imitate Christ, because of the simple but profound truth that whoever is in Christ, received Him as Lord and Saviour, now also has the same inheritance as Him, for the glory of God our Father. 

In life, doors mean access or opportunities. In the Christian life, it signifies spiritual growth, a test of faith, or the fulfillment of a destiny or a calling.  It can also mean a blessing or a breakthrough. These open doors from God mean He approved them and has already made the directions for you to take. But these are only given to those who trust Him fully. That even despite hardships, we will continue steadfastly moving towards the goal while actively using our faith through prayer, listening, and reading His Word, praising, worshiping, thanking God, and living a life of holiness.  

The fear of the Lord is not the same as being scared or terrified because you have sinned and you have something to hide from Him. It is something like being scared or terrified of being away from the presence of God. Because being away from Him means doing your own thing, not having someone who knows everything about you, be there for you when life's questions overwhelm you. Not having the wisdom from above to discern good from evil, Godly or Satanic. So the fear of the Lord gives you wisdom, knowledge, and perception differently from what man gives, and so you'll have victory every time.

The world bombards us with thousands of definitions of growth. From timid to loud, from a life full of challenges to a life fulfilled with huge successes, from constant dissatisfaction to consistent gratification, from being a nobody to being the darling of the crowd. But Christianity defines it differently. When you are being transformed by the Word of God, in successes and even in trials, that's when you grow. When you exercise your identity in Christ and do not lose your faith amidst great confusion, that's when you grow. When you refuse to stay in your current situation but look unto God and believe that His promises will come about in your life, you're growing because you are being transformed in your mind that God is ever true and faithful to His Word.

The Kingdom of God is not something that can be seen with the naked eye. It is not something grand and earthly, not even some dramatic event that will mark its birth. But it is within us, as the Bible says, calling us to live, think, and speak differently from all the others and helping, to the best we can, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to bring about the will of God here on earth. 

Jesus promised us in His Word an abundant life. This is central to Christian living. And this abundant life is about spiritual fulfillment, purpose, joy, peace, and contentment in God. It is not merely wealth or earthly success, but a deep and abiding relationship with God.

Many of the believers have become lukewarm or distracted today. Many things make one busy. Many priorities have taken the place of the important ones because of urgency. That is why the need for revival has never been greater. Our hearts must cry out for revival for God to restore and rekindle the fire that was once inside of us, erase wordliness, and fill the lack of hunger and passion for Jesus Christ again.

The kind of faith that pleases God is a faith that produces good works. Genuine faith never remains passive. It naturally produces obedience to God, His Word and promises, His love and commandments. If we say we have faith, but do not do what God says to us, then that faith is questionable. Because faith is active and demonstrated by actions or good works that honor and glorify God.

Some of us place a high priority on truth. Others give high regard to grace. Sometimes, we tend to debate which one would rule. And that would cause misunderstandings, because one would rely on truth and the other on grace. After all, we want people to feel ok. But Jesus Christ came full of truth and grace. He exercised both. He didn't diminish truth, and He didn't compromise grace. He came full of both.

Jesus Christ has already defeated the grave, sin, and all the powers of darkness. As Christians, we are not to sit around and wait, but to actively participate by overcoming and prevailing in the spiritual realm, enforcing the verdict that Satan was defeated already and that victory is ours, whatever battle we are facing, because of what Jesus Christ has done on the cross. And this requires engagement and enforcement of the power and authority given to us. We have to continually pray and seek Him, read the Word, and live it; put on the whole armor of God; come to church and be strengthened and strengthen other believers. We are victorious. God has already won. Satan is a defeated foe. In Jesus' name!

The gracious nature of God is a very profound and central theme throughout the Bible. From the very beginning, God showed His goodness and mercy to his chosen people again and again, and then made Himself closer to mankind through Jesus Christ, offering redemption and salvation. And this grace also sustains believers in their spiritual journey and helps them reflect it to others so that they may also know and experience the goodness and graciousness of God.

When you have the gifts and the talents, the resources and blessings, the skills and abilities, given by God, use, develop, and share it to others. Do not let it sit idle. Do not let it benefit just you. Use them for the glory of God.  And God will multiply it so that He will be glorified continuously in your life, through those gifts and talents.

Our Father, the endearment we can freely call God because of what Jesus did for us. The closeness of the relationship cannot be denied, compared to the affinity they had in the Old Testament. And to describe our Father with the words we know and ever know is always and forever an understatement. Because nothing can truly describe Him. His greatness, His beauty, His love and mercy. And aren't we glad we are His?

The Bible has given us promises and truths about us being victorious in every battle and crisis in life. There is power and authority in being a child of God. There is wisdom and peace in trusting God. There is hope and eternal life in receiving Christ as our Lord and Saviour. There is joy and gladness in serving the God of all creation. There are blessings to those who are obedient and who diligently seek the Lord. So, get it all, for it is freely available to every Christian believer who dares to take and use it. 

In uncertain times, we must remember that we are more than conquerors through Christ. This powerful affirmation tells us that no matter what is happening around us, nothing can outweigh the victory we have in Christ. It serves as a reminder that our identity is not connected with defeat but with triumph, always.

We must be exceedingly glad that we are saved from the punishments of our sins. But this salvation that we have must not rest in us. For we were saved because others might have prayed for us, interceded for us, coached us, or guided us in knowing Christ. We must spread the light we received, which shone in us while we were still in the darkness, wallowing in our sins and unbelief. We are called out of the darkness and have been tasked with going and preaching it. So share this faith. Tell of God's love. Make known the resurrecting power of Jesus Christ to bring someone out of the depths of sin and the punishment of death.

As Christians, we are called to believe in Christ and all that He has done for us. When we share this belief, we must share our faith, and not our doubts. We must not be a stumbling block to fellow believers, and most especially, to unbelievers. So we must spend more time knowing Christ, so we can be confidently assured, from the depths of our hearts, in what we believe in, that the people we talk to will not only listen to our testimony, but will also see the fruits of this belief in all the ways that we do. 

Being a Christian does not stop when you have completed a training or program. It does not stop either when you get baptised. It is a day-to-day decision, wherein your faith will be tested by even mundane and ordinary things. And in all of it, we must exercise and portray Christlikeness. The characteristics of Christ when faced with problems must be evident in the ways that we act, speak, and move. Just as the famous acronym is, WWJD, what would Jesus do?