The Bible Speaks to You

190 – When you pray, do you start with the problem or the solution? This week we take a deep dive into how to pray more effectively. And so we're going to look at how Jesus prayed and see how we can follow his example. Jesus never started his prayers with the problem. But isn't that what we do sometimes? We try to explain to God how bad the situation is, as if He doesn't already know what's really going on. Jesus always started his prayers with the solution. Just look at how he taught us to pray. None of these lines in the Lord's Prayer are trying get God to fix the problem. The more we follow this model, the more effective our prayers will be. Jesus said his purpose on earth was to bear witness to the truth. He could see what was true in heaven about a given situation, that God was supreme and in charge. When challenges come up, ask yourself: What is true about this situation in the kingdom of heaven? Then be quiet and listen for an answer. The more you do this, the better you’ll get at hearing God’s voice. Your prayers will no longer be an attempt to fix or change something or to get God to change something. More and more, they will become a joyful opportunity to bear witness to what is true in heaven right now. Thanks for listening. To read all the Bible quotes in this episode, go to the shownotes page thebiblespeakstoyou.com/109. Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

189 – What do you do when you feel rejected? It can be a pretty lousy feeling. When you feel rejected, sometimes it's hard to know what to do. I’ve been hearing from people lately who have been rejected in one way or another. For some it’s being rejected by a family member or someone at school, or not getting the promotion at work they had hoped for. I have several friends who have been rejected by their churches because they were misunderstood and misjudged, or sometimes because they disagreed with the pastor on some topic. There are all kinds of rejection. It happens all the time. Some situations are not as significant as others. But sometimes a rejection, or series of rejections, can cut right into your sense of self-worth. In this week's episode, I talk about several people in the Bible who were rejected for various reasons, some appropriate, some not. Some of the folks dealt with rejection better than others, but Jesus gives the best example: to love and forgive. For a full transcript of this episode and all the Bible quotes this week, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/189 for the show notes. How do you pray when you feel rejected? If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts. Thanks. Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

188 – The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea have the same source. Why are they so different? Have you ever noticed how many water metaphors there are in the Bible? One of the most important ones is not specifically mentioned. You have to know the geography of the Holy Land to understand it. The Sea of Galilee has fresh water coming into and water flows out of it. As a result, the Sea of Galilee is teaming with life. The Dead Sea has fresh water flowing into it, but there's no outlet for the water. It can only evaporate. All the minerals and sediments are left behind. Over thousands of years these deposits have become so concentrated that nothing can live in or around it. These two seas are metaphors for how we live. Are you someone who receives and gives in return. Or are you someone who takes, but never gives back. In this week's episode I talk about several Bible characters who either have the Dead Sea approach to life or the Sea of Galilee mentality. The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea don’t have a choice as to how the water comes in and goes out of them. But you and I do have a choice. Be a cheerful giver. And I would add, be a cheerful and grateful receiver. You probably already are. It’s not about the amount of resources you are given or how much time or money or effort you give. It’s about the gratitude for and generosity of God’s love that overflows in your heart to bless those around you. To read the full transcript of this episode and to study all the Bible references mentioned this week, check out the show notes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/188. Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

187 – What if the book of Revelation is not a prophecy of what will happen in the future, but a guidebook of how to follow the Lamb in the midst of Babylon? This week I talk with Scot McKnight, author of Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple. Scot warns against the tendency to read the book of Revelation through speculation as to who in the world today might be fulfilling specific prophecies. This misses the main point of Revelation, which is to alert Christians to be faithful to following Jesus in the midst of Babylon's influence in the world. Some of Scot's main points: Check out the episode and let me know what you think; contact info is below. To purchase this book: Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple* Check out the show notes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/187 *Amazon affiliate link Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

186 – With all the challenges in the world and in your life, is it really possible to stay faithful? Yes, of course. Sometimes we think of our faith in a big sweeping way. But staying faithful sometimes is about tiny little baby steps of doing what's right in the moment. In this week's episode, I talk about When you feel your faith is challenged, or you've lost your faith, just pick something from the Sermon on the Mount or a chapter from one of the Gospels that calls out to you. Be faithful over one thing that God is calling you to do. Being faithful over a few things is not so much a final destination. It’s the way we journey one step of faith at a time on the path of life. Each step leads to the next. Our faith grows and we are made rulers over many things. And then, from His infinite abundance of grace, love, and goodness, God gives us immeasurable gifts of the Spirit. Show notes: Bible references quoted in this week - thebiblespeakstoyou.com/186 Previous episode mentioned: # 91 – Using Your God-given Talents Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

185 – What does it really mean to dwell in the house of the Lord? Usually we think it means sometime way off in the future after we die. But the Bible gives a lot of clues which point to the fact that we live in the house of the Lord right now, and always. That's what this episode is all about, living in the house of the Lord right now. Here are some of the key points: Jesus wants us to get over a limited form of worship, constricted by a location, a building, or thinking your church is the only one that can worship God correctly. You can worship God wherever you are, because you are always in the house of the Lord. You are always in God’s presence, dwelling with and in Him. This is true for everyone. The house of the Lord is where you live, right now. To see the show notes, with all the Bible quotes and links to the original Hebrew words mentioned in this week's episode, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/185. Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

184 – Does it bother you if someone says they don't believe God is omnipotent? There's a lot of fresh discussion around this age old question, "Is God omnipotent?" A lot of people are challenging this concept and tying to be honest with themselves about what they really believe. So that's what we're talking about today. In fact, a lot of people are deciding that they no longer believe God is omnipotent. If God was all powerful, why would He allow all the evil in the world? In this week's episode I dig into this age old question about God and whether He is all-powerful. Some of the highlights: Just because you don't believe God is omnipotent, doesn't mean He isn't. Just because you believe He is, doesn't mean He is. Maybe the question should be, Does God see Himself as omnipotent? Isaiah has several things to say about that. This is really a mindset issue. If you start with the premise that God is not omnipotent, then you will see "proof" of that everywhere you look. It's like looking through tinted sunglasses and everything is the color of your lenses. The color is in the lens, not the object you're looking at. The conviction that God is not omnipotent is in you, in the lens or mindset you're looking through, not in God or an event. And it colors all you see. I'd love to hear your thoughts. How do you answer the question: Is God omnipotent? To review all the Bible quotes in this week's episode, check out the show notes at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/184. Scroll all the way to the bottom. Thanks for listening. Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

183 – What is the best way to minister to the people most people ignore, the "least of these," as Jesus called them? This week on the podcast, I talk with Kit Cummings about his ministry in prisons and institutions, including men on death row. My favorite Kit quote: “A selfless act of service wakes up something inside of a person that, I don’t think, can be touched any other way.” We talked about You will love Kit's heart for Jesus. He truly sees Christ in each person he talks to in his ministry. Kit encourages you to find a way to minister to the least of these. It doesn't have to be people in a prison. It could be someone in church who is lonely or someone in a nursing home that has no one to visit with. Website: kitcummings.com Books:* Peace Behind the Wire, a Nonviolent Resolution The New Convict Code, Bringing Peace to the Streets from Behind the Wire Check out the show notes page: * Amazon affiliate links Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

182 – Have you ever wondered how Jesus could say “I have overcome the world,” before he was crucified? Easter is in just a few days and I’ve been thinking about something Jesus said to his disciples after the Last Supper and just before he went to the Garden of Gethsemane. It’s his famous saying, “I have overcome the world.” I’ve been pondering what he meant. Jesus knew exactly what was coming. He had tried to warn his disciples ahead of time that he would be arrested, tried, falsely accused, and crucified. And he also explained he would return after these ordeals. But they just couldn’t take it in. They had no hooks to hang that information on. Getting ready for Easter In this week's episode, I talk about the fact that Jesus claimed victory over the world before his crucifixion and resurrection. Here are some of the points I cover: Spend some time this Easter season rejoicing over God’s love for all mankind, and being grateful for Jesus’s gift to you of his victory over the world. To study all the Bible quotes in this episode, check out the show notes at thebiblespeakstoyou.com Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

181 – It's easy to see what your eyes see, but have you ever wondered how to see spiritually? Recently a listener asked me to comment of 1 Corinthians 2:9-14. She wanted to know what it means to see spiritually and how we can do that. This famous passage points out that the material senses, even the human mind and heart, cannot see or perceive the spiritual things God reveals to us. They can only be discerned spiritually. That's what this week's podcast is all about: how to see spiritually. I share several Bible stories that had to do with seeing spiritually, seeing things that you couldn't see with your eyeballs. Jesus had a lot to say about seeing spiritually, Right this minute, you have the ability to see spiritually. Jesus said to his disciples, and it is true for you and me today, "Blessed are your eyes for they see." He was talking about spiritual vision. In this episode I talk about how to let go of the things and thoughts that keep you from seeing spiritually all that God is revealing to you. Show notes, transcription, and Bible verses mentioned this week: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/181. Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

180 – Have you ever had a "burning bush" moment and felt like you were standing on holy ground? God appears to us in so many ways and situations. Even when it seems you're wandering in the desert, hungry and thirsty, either literally or figuratively, searching for answers and solutions to problems, in need of healing and love, maybe even at the end of your rope, right there and then, you are on holy ground. God is ready to guide you, protect you, love you, and heal you. You only need to be humble, listen for and obey His voice. Even though it may not seem like it with all your challenges, you are on holy ground, when you turn to God for help. In this week's episode I talk about several characters in the Bible who found themselves on holy ground, even though it didn't always seem holy at the time: The fact is you are always on holy ground. You are always a nanosecond away from hearing and obeying God’s voice, no matter how far you may feel from God at the time. Right this moment, you are standing on holy ground. Take off your sandals, anything that would make you feel separated from God. Be quiet. Be still. Be humble. And listen. God will tell you what to do next. To check out the full show notes and transcript of this episode, along with all the Bible verses quoted, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/180. Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

179 – Why did God rest on the original Sabbath day? Was God tired? What does it mean for God to rest? How does this apply to you and me? Is there something we need to know about the original Sabbath day, that helps us find a Biblical rest and what it really means to obey the Fourth Commandment? In this week's episode, I talk with Gregory Hall about what the original Sabbath is and how we can remember it the way God intended. Here are some of the things we talked about: These are just a few of the questions we dove into. We also talked about Greg's new book Rethinking Rest, Why Our Approach to Sabbath Isn't Working.* And check out Greg's podcast: Rethinking Scripture podcast. To see the full transcript of the episode and all Bible quotes, go to the show notes at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/179. * Affiliate link Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

178 – How do you see yourself? There's a lot of debate these days about how some people choose to self-identify when their choices don't follow society's stereotypes. Who or what is that defines us? You are so much more than whatever label you put on yourself, how you see yourself, and how others see you. The real question is: How does God define you? How does God see and identify you? Whether you think you're defined by your circumstances, your past, etc., or whether you think you can define yourself however you choose, your true spiritual identity is already established. You are the image and likeness of God. Three previous episodes of The Bible Speaks to You Podcast that talk about your identity: You Are the Image and Likeness of God. What the Heck Does that Mean?Why Is It So Hard to Put Off the Old Self?Finding Your Identity in ChristCheck out the Bible quotes in this week's episode: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/178 Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

177 – Are you searching for the pathway to healing? Have you ever felt like you were a long way off from getting an answer to your prayers? Maybe you’ve been praying for a long time about a resolution to challenge of some sort, guidance in making an important choice, or maybe you’ve been praying for healing, either physical or emotional, in your own life or for a friend. Sometimes it’s tempting to wish Jesus was here and we could just walk up to him and ask him to heal us, solve our problem, or guide us to make the right decision. If you’re looking for healing in your life, the spiritual transformation that comes as a result of God’s presence in our lives, I’ve got some good news. You are not so far away from healing as you might think. In this week's episode I talk about the pathway to healing. Where ever you are, whatever your circumstances, whatever your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual state, you are on the pathway to healing and Christ is coming to you, finding you, encouraging you, strengthening you, and bringing healing to you. Whether you know it or not. Whether you believe it or not. You are always on the pathway to healing because you can never be separated from Christ. Christ is meeting you wherever you are, or rather wherever you think you are, and revealing to you where you truly are, the pathway of healing, the pathway of your wholeness, your presence in the kingdom of heaven. To see the Bible quotes in this episode: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/177 Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

176 – Have you ever wondered if how much you love will have an impact on the future? A couple of weeks ago during my prayer time, God dropped this question into my heart: How much do you love the people who will be born 100 years from now? It really blew me out of the water. In this week's episode, I share some possible answers to this question. And I encourage you to think how you would answer it. If you’re doing what God has called you to do, that will have an influence on those you know and they will pass it along to the people they know. That’s how the gospel of Christ has come to us down the ages to this present moment. This same process will continue. Even if people 100 years from now never know your name or that you even existed, the influence you have on the people you love and bless right now will have a ripple effect into the future. Jesus fulfilled his purpose here on earth. He didn’t live his life just for himself or the people who lived in his time period but for all mankind throughout the ages. When you live your life in fulfillment of your God-given purpose, you too will be a blessing for generations yet to come. How will that happen? I have no idea. But I deeply believe that when we follow Jesus’s example of doing God’s will in our own lives, as Jesus did, it will bless others, just as Jesus did. And there is no time limit on that blessing. Previous episode mentioned this week: Episode 8 – How to Experience the Spiritual Power of the Lord’s Prayer Show notes for this week (with Bible verses mentioned): thebiblespeakstoyou.com/176 Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

175 – How is it possible to live in the kingdom of heaven today? Recently I was talking with a new listener to The Bible Speaks to You Podcast about what it means to embrace the mind of Christ on the subject of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. If that's really true, how can we be more conscious of its presence? Can we actually live in the kingdom here on earth? And what does that look like? These are some of the things I talk about in this week's episode: A lot of folks think that the kingdom of heaven should appear in some grandiose and dramatic way with angels flying around blowing trumpets, but more often heaven appears following the model in Isaiah 28:10 – Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little. When you notice and are faithful over the little ways the kingdom of heaven appears, you’ll be ready to receive more of it in the future. Think of something or someone in your life right now that’s giving you a bit of a challenge. Just from the three parables mentioned above, is there an aspect of heaven you can bring to your situation? Can you add just a little bit of spiritual yeast to the situation like the lady in the parable? What do you need to focus on that is of great spiritual value? Where in your life do you need to wait on God’s timing of events? Jesus promises us that the kingdom of heaven is here. It is at hand. And you can experience its presence now. Previous episodes mentioned this week: Episode 2: The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand Episode 34: Windows into Heaven Episode 46: Are You Working to Establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth or Are You Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

174 – Getting from hurt to hope Are there things hurting you from the past you're still carrying around? Or do you know someone who is? This week's podcast episode is full of healing. I'm talking with Steve Wormer about his work as a minister, and the Hurt to Hope program he works with to help churches and individuals find healing in their lives. It's a Bible-based program that helps someone move from the hurts of the past to hope for the future. We talk about what it takes to bring healing to a person's life as well as to a whole church membership that may be hurting. Here are some of the main points we cover: Connect with Steve Wormer: Website: https://hurt2hope.org/ Email: steve.wormer5@gmail.com Book: Rivers of Hope (Amazon affiliate link) Check out all the Bible references we talked about: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/174 Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

173 – Is there anything you need to surrender to God? This week's episode is a parable about six year-old Charlotte, who tries to take all 12 of her stuffed animals on a hike, crammed into her backpack. But it's not so easy to keep them all tucked away. One after the other they either fall in the water, get left behind, get covered in mud, or fall in a thorn bush. But Charlotte is determined to take all her "friends" with her each day. Join in the fun and listen as the wise little six-year old summarizes the camping and hiking trip: “I had the best time ever and my favorite thing was that I learned sometimes the things you love, hold you back when you hold onto them too much. Sometimes you have to let go of the things you love so you can go where you want to.” The question is on the table for you and me: What will you take out of your overloaded backpack? What will you surrender so you can follow Christ more closely? Check out the full transcript of this episode at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/173. I also make mention of a conversation I had with my friend Pam Fields, host of The Mom Next Door: Stories of Faith Podcast. Pam shares how she was able to surrender something from the past and accepting the Holy Spirit's gift in exchange. Two previous parables on The Bible Speaks to You Podcast: Episode 14 – Would You Let Jesus in Your House if You Hadn’t Cleaned Up for Weeks? Episode 32 – The Parable of the Unbaked Cake Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

172 – What is it like to live in the Holy Spirit? Is it still possible today? Yes, it is! To understand why, we need to go back to when Jesus promises his disciples he will send the Holy Spirit to guide them, teach them everything they need to know, and remind them of everything he taught them. In this week's episode I talk about Are you willing to let go of your agenda, your preconceptions, your opinions about what and how things have to be done, and be completely willing to go where the Holy Spirit guides you? Is your church willing to do this collectively? Never think you are exempt from being "employed" by the Holy Spirit to further the Cause of Christ in the world. God can use your talents and abilities, and even your perceived lack of them, to His greater purpose. It’s not about how capable or holy you are, but how capable and holy God is. My prayer for you is that you will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life, that you will live in the presence of the Holy Spirit and that the light of Christ in you heart will shine out into the world to bless all mankind. Blog posts mentioned in this week's episode: What Does the Holy Ghost ACTUALLY Do?” The Holy Spirit: Advocate, Comforter, and Defense Attorney Bible verses quoted this week are in the show notes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/living-in-the-holy-spirit/ Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show

171 – Have you ever wondered why Jesus spoke in parables so often? Recently I got an email from a listener, Brian, wondering why Jesus spoke so often in parables but didn't ever explain things to the crowds of people who were listening. He only explained them to his disciples. So I decided to do a whole episode about this. There's actually a lot to it and Brian actually had a lot of related questions. Here are the questions Brian asked and that I talk about this week. He was referring specifically to the Parable of the Sower: I also talk about the number 1 problem in trying to figure out what the parables, or any of Jesus's teachings, mean. And I share the very best way to actually discover the meaning of Jesus's parables. To see all the Bible verses quoted in this week's episode, check out the show notes at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/171. NOTICE: If you have a topic you'd like me to talk about on The Bible Speaks to You Podcast, please click the contact link in the bio below. Support the show_________________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Questions? Contact him here. Want James to talk or conduct a workshop on the Bible for your group? Reach out today. Subscribe to the podcast Praying with the Mindset of Jesus Make a donation to support the show