This episode begins with the question, "why do believers often struggle to have peace, while unbelievers, when circumstances are favorable, seem to be at peace? The answer rests on the nature of both. Believers delight with the law of God in the inner man, while they struggle against residual evil. They are conflicted until they substantially set their minds on the things of the Spirit, leading to life and peace. Unbelievers, by contrast, are dead spiritually, so there is little opposition to their minds set on the flesh, temporarily allowing for a superficial peace when sinful desires are satisfied. If believers resign themselves to being Romans 7 Christians without allowing the promise of Romans 8:2 to manifest, their lives will largely be defined by the conflict of the flesh verses the Spirit. Mature believers however apply the Romans 8:2 promise to their lives and intentionally set their minds on the things of the Spirit, leading to life and peace. The latter part of the episode addresses the superficial peace of the wicked who are largely successful at suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. Critically they rationalize that their apparent peace will endure beyond the grave, for they actually think that God is just like them. (Psalm 50:21) The program concludes with the shattering of the peace of the wicked in an eternal hell. Lastly, the episode posits that the same distorted picture of God as infinitely tolerant among unbelievers also colors the perception of Christians who bank all on the imputed righteousness of Christ, without cooperating much with the Spirit of truth that sanctifies them. The loss of peace is usually the result.
“Listen carefully to Me, and Eat what is Good”
This final episode cites the example of Brother Lawrence, who applied the resurrection of Christ to everyday life, in his case, doing the dishes. Menial everyday tasks, noted Brother Lawrence, should be filled with the presence of God. The episode highlights the modern equivalent, the hours most of us spend plowing through traffic. How might most of our lives be transformed if we intentionally communed with God amidst our mundane activities, instead of droning on in endless self-talk? The never-ending treadmill of anxiety that modern Christians endure is largely the consequence of solving our problems without God. The solution is clearly articulated in Isaiah 55:2: "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?" Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance." Isaiah contrasts futile reliance on our own abilities with attentive listening to the voice of God, resulting in a bountiful harvest of good things. This final episode invites all Christians to abide in the resurrected Christ at ALL times, listening to Him, as we walk in the newness of life.
Avoid the Goading of the Enemy
This episode is a continuation of a spiritual warfare series based on 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 in which believers are admonished to only fight God-inspired battles using divine/spiritual power. The broadcast highlights the numerous ways in which the devil sidetracks believers into fighting unwinnable battles that are based on fleshly categories like "winning arguments, ego contests, the rat-race of popularity, seeking the approval of others, etc. The devil often establishes the narrative that Christians foolishly embrace. Spiritual Christians should constantly be vigilant about the underlying spiritual goals of Christ which is winning souls for Christ and/or inspiring believers to commit to Him more. Spiritual warfare is often less about "winning" verbal contests than portraying the respectful, magnetic character of Christ that woos people to love Him. Additionally, successful spiritual warfare is often less about the evil out there, than dealing with our own sympathies with demonic agendas and devices.