Faith Is Hope

“To whom much is given, much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” That’s Luke chapter 12 verses 48. The idea of “to whom much is given, much will be required” is that we are held responsible for what we have. If we’re blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, or whatever it’s expected that we use these talents well to glorify God, and benefit others.

So, let me ask all of you one question; are you “woke” or awake?

There really is a huge difference. If you’re awake you can see what’s going on in the streets of our cities, our communities. You see and hear the lies being taught in our schools and colleges. You see what our once-trusted media and government are doing. If you’re awake you can see and hear everything that’s going on around you. And, if you’re awake, you probably find what’s going on not only offensive but ungodly.

What is a Prophet?

Well, some people think that a prophet is someone who can see into the future. Someone who can accurately predict coming events, like Nostradamus, but was he really a prophet? A prophet, a true prophet is a messenger of God, and they deliver God’s message, not their own. They don’t need to look into bowls of water with ink in it or gaze into some crystal ball. And they sure don’t need drugs. In Numbers chapter 12 starting at verse 4, And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. And he said, “Hear my words; If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision, I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him, I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles.

I want to start this podcast with an explanation. Nobody is perfect, we all fall short of the Glory of God. And from what I can see there is not one government on the face of the earth that doesn’t lie, or as they call it, spin the truth, tell their version of truth or part of the truth. They cheat, and steal from their citizens, and other nations. But when someone intentionally lies, and perverts the truth, I’m gonna come down on them. And that’s why I call out Mr. Biden, his administration and our government. Because they know what they’re saying is a lie, meant to deceive and hurt people. And what they’re doing is criminal. But, they don’t care. They have put themselves above every other person in this nation. They have made themselves God, and they condemn to prison (hell) anyone who won’t follow and worship them.

What’s important to you? Is it your family and friends? What about your faith? How about your job, or an expensive house, car, or clothes? Or is it your freedom? So, let me tell you what’s important to me. Truth, that’s it. God’s truth, is written in his commandments, laws, ordinances, and statutes. The truth is written in his word.

The Church. If I asked you to tell me about your church, what would you say?

Would you tell me about the size of the building? Or maybe, what it looks like inside. Or would you tell me about the people? Now this might be a stretch for some people but think about this for a minute. In Ephesians chapter 5 starting at verse 25, Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing with water through the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church. We are members of his body. We are the church. Not some building, the people. Do you think that Christ is returning for some building? Or is he coming again for you and me?

One World Order. New World Order. New One World Order.
We’ve all heard these phrases, but what does it mean?

God created the heavens and the earth and all things therein, great and small. On the sixth day, God created man. Adam and Eve walked in the Garden of Eden in the presence of God. They walked with God, they talked with him, and God spoke directly to them. Until man fell from God’s grace with the sin of disobedience. Adam and Eve were separated from God, by sin, and we still are to this day. So what did the man do to try to find his way back to God? He created religion. So God gave man his commandments, laws, ordinances, and statutes, but we still couldn’t get back to God and be in his presence. Why? Because our physical bodies are sinful by nature and therefore cannot be in the presence of God.

Truth. How much truth do you see and hear coming from the world? Too big? Okay, how about how much truth do you see and hear coming from right here in America? Still too much? Alright, how about the government, the media, the education system, how much truth do you see and hear coming from them? Still too much? How about the church, and our communities, how much truth do you hear and see coming from them? How about you? How much truth do you see and hear coming from you? God is truth, and whatever is not the truth, is not of God. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” So, how much truth do you see and hear coming from you?

What comes after? Well, first we need to find out what comes first.
Have you ever gone into one of those all-you-can-eat buffets? You get your plate, go up to the serving tables, get something, and go back to your table, sit down, and eat. Then get up and leave, still hungry? No way. If you’re like me, you eat till you’re so miserable you can hardly breathe. So, have you ever gone to church, listened to the sermon that day, and walked away still hungry? Are you sitting on the floor begging for scraps from someone sitting at a grand table, in a big mansion, who drives expensive cars, flies around in a private jet, dressed in the finest clothes? These pastors, ministers, priests, religious leaders whatever you want to call them are nothing more than modern-day Pharisees and Sadducees.

Okay, I have to ask, why do so many Christians, fear tribulation? I mean Jesus told us about it, and his disciples told us about it, so it’s not like we didn’t know it was coming. So why fear it? I mean Christians would rather run away, would rather be raptured away than face that time of tribulation, why? What are you afraid of? I’ve heard it said that we only fear what we don’t know. But if you’ve come to Christ. If you’ve accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. If you’ve accepted his gift of forgiveness and salvation, then what don’t you know? Maybe you don’t know if you really are truly saved. That sounds more like a problem with faith.

Change of plans. Since my healing in 2016, I’ve received over three dozen visions from God, and hundreds upon hundreds of messages. None of the visions give me a date or time, but God does show me day and night, winter, spring, summer, and fall. See, if you wait to prepare for a tornado when it’s ripping the roof off your house, it’s too late. And you’re going to suffer for it, you might end up dead because you decided, you chose not to listen to the warning of your local weather. But God, Jesus Christ and his disciples, and the prophets of the old testament gave us warnings, are you listening to them, or are you choosing not to?

Matthew 16:1-4 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him (Jesus) they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.” You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”

Attacks. All throughout the bible and throughout history there are those who are attacked and those who do the attacking. It’s nothing new, even the majority of the reasons are the same. Land, possessions, money, riches, faith, beliefs, there’s really nothing new under the sun. People have been attacking people ever since Cain and Abel. But what’s going on right now, is different. I can’t remember any time in history when people, nations, and the world attacked a person’s faith, religion, and God the way it is now. SO WHAT’S CHANGED?

In my last podcast, I was talking about some of what I’ve been shown by God in visions and dreams coming. Let me make this perfectly clear. I’m not psychic. I can’t predict or see into the future. What I’m shown isn’t something that I dream of or make up for my benefit. I haven’t written a book, made a movie, or gone on television telling the world about my being healed. I don’t run around telling people that I’m some sort of modern prophet who receives visions from God.

I want to talk with you for a little bit. Credibility-The quality, capability, or power to elicit belief. Now that’s right out of the dictionary. So, I ask you, is it the message or the messenger that must be credible? If the message is credible, doesn’t that lend credibility to the messenger? I’m just a messenger, no different than any other Christian who shares God’s truth. The message is God’s not mine, and you can find everything that I’m telling you is right there in his word; The Bible. His message is truth.

I love my new car! I just love my new house! Don’t you love that new iPhone 14? We love this, we love that, but when is the last time you heard someone say “I love God”? Or “I Love Jesus Christ”. How about I love the gift of salvation through the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for all of us on that cross? The love of God has grown cold.

Preparing for Christ’s return. Just how do we prepare for Jesus? Well, first we need to acknowledge who Jesus is. He is the Son of God, his only begotten son, the Messiah. He was born, lived, and was crucified, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus shed his blood as a sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the world. And He is coming!

Satan’s government. I think that we can all agree that the entire world has gone to hell. And it’s no surprise since the world is under the influence of Satan. But, this current administration and government have shown themselves to be the children of Satan. It’s not a democrat or republican thing. It’s the beliefs, the agenda and ideology that is of satan. Our government lies, cheats, steals, deceives, and corrupts the hearts and minds of the very people that it claims to represent. We elect people to represent us, to speak for us, but do they? Does a government that doesn’t support the sanctity of life represent your beliefs? Does a government that persecutes and condemns God, Jesus, religious beliefs, and an individual's faith, speak for you?

Are you a Christian? Peter denied Christ three times because he was afraid of what might happen to him. Are you afraid of what the woke radical democratic socialists might do to you? Can you imagine the look on your face? There you are, standing before God the Father on Judgement day, everything you have ever thought said or did laid out there at His feet. And Jesus says; He’s afraid to admit I know you. 

In John chapter 1: 29 when John saw Jesus coming he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”. But why did John refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God? Why was that declaration so important? Jesus was literally born to be the blood sacrifice for the sins of the world. He was perfect, without sin. His blood was to be shed, not to cover the sins of the world, but to wash them away. Jesus came into this world as a sacrificial lamb, meek and without blemish, but he’s not gonna return as a lamb. Revelations 5:5 When Jesus returns it will be as a lion. And what happens when the lion roars? All those who are a part of the pride see him for who he is, the king. All the other animals run in fear.  

Just one thing. I listen to people talking about how hard life is. The crazy upside-down multi-tasking at a thousand miles an hour with their hair on fire world. Yep, there are hills and valleys, rivers, and oceans. Life is difficult, it’s challenging, and it’s simple. If you remember that life is all about just one thing. Now I can already hear it. People shouting okay, so just what is this one thing? Well, that’s for you to find out. I’m not being a smart (forgive the word) ass, but it’s true. Each of us has to find out what that one thing is. What that one thing is for me most likely won’t be the same for you. Maybe it will be, who knows? But you’re the only one who will know what that one thing is, and when you find it.

Visions. Have you ever heard of a near-death experience? Some people report having an experience where they hover above their bodies. They can look down and see themselves, and what’s going on. That they enter into a bright light or a tunnel of light that takes them to heaven. Some have said they saw Jesus, talked with him, or maybe visited with a relative that had been dead. These experiences usually come as a result of a severe illness or injury where the person literally dies for a short period of time. But what would you call an experience when the person wasn’t sick or injured, someone who wasn’t near death?

A wolf in sheep’s clothing. We’ve all heard it, and probably seen it in cartoons. But what is it?
A wolf in sheep’s clothing is symbolic of someone who outwardly appears harmless, and kind with good intentions, but inwardly is full of hate, evil, and deceit. A predator who appears meek and mild, and by the time you figure out who and what he is, he’s got you by the throat, ripping your lungs out. But did you know that this little saying came right from the bible, and not some fairy tale? In Matthew 7:15 Jesus warned us to “Watch out false prophets, They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” This was a warning about false teachings, false prophets, false preachers, and teachers.

Slavery- A person or people that are owned and controlled like property by another person or entity. First, slavery is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord and should be in our eyes too. Americans are being told that America is systemically racist. That the constitution was written by a bunch of slave-owning white men. Yes, slavery existed in America, and around the world, for tens if not hundreds of thousands of years. And, sadly in some countries it still exists. But, as a nation, haven't we learned from the mistakes and atrocities of the past and moved on from those times, and practices? Have we truly ended slavery or just changed the name?

The Birth of Forgiveness and Salvation.
I’ve been listening to people talking about how Christmas is a white holiday, a celebration of religious oppression. That Santa (saint Nick) isn’t real, he’s just something, I don’t even know what. It’s just about money, and commercialism. Man, talk about your grinches. Does anyone really think that the birth of Jesus Christ is about the color of someone's skin? Or about some toy that a child wants? Oh, it is about oppression, but it’s the oppression of sin, and we’re all oppressed by that.

So, let’s set the record straight. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, well there was. And his real name was Saint Nicholas. He was an early Christian bishop of Greek descent. His reputation evolved from his habit of secret gift-giving which gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus. So, Nicholas gave to people he may or may not have known, secretly, without expectation of reward, or recognition. Who only wanted to share the gift of love, God’s love.

I think that there are very few things that have the exact same meaning to every single person, every single time. If you ask my little girl, no means no until my back is turned, then it magically transforms into yes. But, Jesus, who he is, what he is, and what he isn't’ has never changed. Now some folks may not want to believe or accept who Jesus is. But that doesn’t change him, it changes you.

There have been all kinds of speculations or what I call, what if made about Jesus. And I gotta tell you some of the things people are saying really, for lack of a better word “piss” me off. I mean there’s a pastor that said, he supports abortion. He said God gives us a choice, and that’s true, he did. So tell me how’d that choice work out for Adam and Eve? God did give us the ability to choose. He also gave us his commandments, laws, ordinances, and statutes, and those he chose to educate us about them so we'd know the difference between right and wrong and be able to make the right choice. This pastor said that he’s been studying the scripture all his life, and for some reason thinks that supporting abortion is what Jesus would do. Well, I gotta tell you pastor, and all you pastors, ministers, and priests, satan knows the bible inside and out, forwards and backward, and in every language spoken. But Satan isn’t using it to do God’s work, and if you’re perverting God’s word, then you’re not using the scriptures to do God’s work either.

Church, what does that mean? I’d imagine to most it’s the building where you go each week to worship. But is that the church? Jesus told Simon Peter you are the rock I will build my church on. So what is the church?

The church is the people. The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come, and he answered them. “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, Look, here it is! Or There! For behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:20-21) Jesus also said, “For where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matt. 18:20) Now Jesus is talking about two different things here. If you have a problem with someone, and they have sinned against you, go to him. If he listens then you gain your brother. If not, take your evidence, with one or two witnesses to the elders of the congregation. The other thing that Jesus was talking about is that when you come together, brothers and sisters, and you pray and you worship God, you’re his church. The church isn’t some million-dollar building with a hundred-thousand-dollar sound system and some big screen monitors. Jesus spoke to thousands while sitting on the side of the mount of olives. Just Jesus, the people, and the word of God. And after that, after Jesus spoke, he didn’t charge them, he fed them. So, are we being fed the meat, the bread, the wine? Or are we being given the scraps, going hungry, for the word of God?

I’m not a pastor or minister. I haven’t spent years studying the bible. I don’t know why God chose to heal me, to make me walk again after fourteen years. I don’t know why God shows me things in visions or speaks to me in dreams, but he does. I didn’t ask for it, I don’t deserve it, and most of the time I don’t even know what to do with it. Now you can call it a miracle, but God didn’t heal me to make me special. But, if you need a miracle, well okay. God making me walk isn’t a miracle. The miracle is God’s love, mercy, and grace, and God wants to give it to all of us. So if me walking again is what you need, to know that God is, to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, fine. Call it whatever you want. As long as it brings you to God, and we give God the glory.

I tell the truth. Not my truth, God’s truth. Found in his word, the bible. People may not want to hear it. But at the end of the day, there’s only one truth, God’s. Today, I’m going to talk about the storm that’s coming. But know this. None of us, not one of us has the right to judge others. No one has the right to attack or harass others, not even in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus told us to love our enemies, not attack them. So to sit in judgment of others is to play God. And that means you’re part of the storm that’s coming. 

First I want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. For me, Thanksgiving isn’t about turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy, pumpkin pie, okay, well maybe the pumpkin pie. It’s a time to remember and reflect on all that I am grateful for and thankful for. For everything that God has given me because everything comes from God. And he has truly blessed me and my family. And that’s why I say thank you.

Let’s talk about sin and what it is. We all have our own ideas or beliefs of what sin is. But, what does God say sin is?

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as 1. An offense against the religious or moral law. 2. An action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible.

The Bible defines it as 1. A transgression of the law of God. (1John 3:4)

Okay, so sin is the breaking of God’s laws. But aren’t religious laws and moral laws the same as God’s laws? Well, yes and no. If we think of sin as a crime, then they are the same. Stealing is a sin, and it’s a crime. So why is it so difficult for people to know what sin is and what it isn’t? Well, mainly because mankind keeps changing the rules to suit themselves. God said that murder is a sin. Mankind says murder is a crime. But, if you use the word abortion instead of murder then it’s alright. It’s the same thing, they just changed the rules. God said that stealing is a sin. Mankind says stealing is a crime. But, if you steal less than a certain amount then it’s alright. It’s still stealing, they just changed the rules. 

Faith Is Hope Podcast S1 E10 - Round Table with Dave, Bob and Jeremy.

Last week I said that we were going to have a couple of special guests on the podcast today. But, a member of Jeremy’s family took ill. To me, nothing is more important than God, and family. No matter what else is going on, when someone you love and care about is sick or hurt, they come first. Our families, our friends, and our lives are a gift from God. You want to honor God, and thank him for the gifts he’s given you. Then put his gifts first in your life, before yourself and the world.

In my previous podcasts, I’ve tried to walk softly, so to speak. I’ve tried not to be too confrontational about the evil that I see being done by our government, the media, and so many others. I didn’t want to offend anyone, but recently I feel like I’ve been offending God by not standing up and speaking out against evil. Well, no more. Thomas Paine said; “Those who dare not offend cannot be honest.” And if you can’t be honest with God, then you’ve got a real problem. Well, I know what satan looks like. I know what he sounds like. And, I’m not gonna dance to his tune.

Charles Baudelaire wrote, “that the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn’t exist.” Well, I’m here to tell you that satan is real, and hell is real, and believe me, you don’t want anything to do with either one. 

So what does satan look like?

I want to start with this. I call out the lies and the deceit that I see. It doesn’t matter where I see it, or who is saying it. If it’s not the truth, God’s truth, then I’m gonna say so. I’m not anti-government, or anti-education. I’m anti-satan, and I will call him out every time I see his works, or hear his lies. I will not close my eyes to the evil, and the harm being done to others. I think, no I know it’s time for everyone to look at what’s going on in our country, and around the world. And stand up and call out the lies and deceit that we see. That being said...

Trees and their fruit. Imagine this. You’re walking down a path in the country and you see a tree off to the side of the path. You see some apples on the ground around the tree, you look up and see some still hanging on the tree. So, are the apples good? You’ve had apples before, but not from this tree. Is an apple an apple, are they all the same? But all apples aren’t the same. There’s Granny Smith’s, Golden Delicious, and Macintosh, they all look different and taste different. See, you don’t judge a tree by how tall it is, how deep its roots go, or its bark, but by the fruit it bears.

In my last podcast, I talked about Gifts, and how the bible separates them. I was gonna talk about individual gifts and spiritual gifts, but the vise-president made a statement that I have to address. 

Our faith is a gift.

The vice president made the statement while speaking at an abortion rights conference in Connecticut that “Americans don’t need to abandon their faith to support abortion rights in the united states.” Now I’m not judging anyone. I’ve done things in my past that I truly believed that God would never forgive me for. And thank God, I was wrong. I found that there’s nothing that God can’t and won’t forgive if you just have faith. Paul said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. This is not of your own doing, it’s the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2: 8-9) It is by God’s grace that we’re saved, through our faith. So, what kind of faith in God does a person have if they don’t believe what God has commanded us? I’m not sure but I wouldn’t want to bet eternity on it.

What are gifts? Well for most people if you give something to someone, without the expecting to get anything in return, that’s a gift. But in the bible gifts have a couple more categories. There are the gifts we give each other. Then there’s the gifts that we give to God. And there are the gifts God gives us, especially in connection with salvation, righteousness, and his grace.

Truth, what is truth? Well, Webster defines it as; The body of real things, events, and facts: something that is actual, factual

But biblical truth is defined as the knowledge of the law of God and its application, and this is what keeps us whole. When we’re apart from it (God’s law) there’s only confusion, and destruction, because sin creates confusion, and causes death and destruction. Destruction is the natural consequence of when people depart from God and his law and follow the law of the world living in sin. Look, when we turn from God we turn from the truth. And when we deny the truth, we deny God. How can God be with us if the truth isn’t in us? Check out (Hosea 4: 1-10). I don’t want to take away your hope, by talking about the evil, and sinful nature of the world. I want to give you hope through God’s message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The hope we receive through faith in Christ. 

The "I'm Dave" episode is the introduction to the Faith Is Hope podcast series.