In order to be whole as an individual, we must go to the "basement" of ourselves - where our deepest fears and trauma reside. We give spiritual, psychological, and emotional explanations for why it is imperative as believers to be connected inwardly, in order to have a meaningful dynamic with Jesus and each other.

Matthew 12:22-30

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Everykingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they willbe your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of Godhas come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is notwith me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Our Master is not "Christian Values" but identifying with our master. Paul demonstrates what it means to be a student of Christ and identified with our Savior. It is no longer I who live but Christ in me.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

We see in the parable below how Jesus confronts the person with the power differential and commands they forgive the people their debts. Reconciliation is dependent on forgiveness, following genuine repentance.

Matthew 18:21

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.

On today's episode, we explain the importance of being comfortable with our anger and pain and not cutting ourselves off from those emotions. Structurally, we can categorize the way we handle our anger and pain into three categories: A dormant volcano, an eruptive volcano and a Hawaiian volcano. The dormant volcano, surppresses it's feelings of anger and pain, an eruptive volcano is behaviorally reactive, and often lashes out, a Hawaiian volcano is constantly flowing, connected, aware of itself and tends to be productive.

Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger."

Being up "on the mountain" with him, in his presence, is not righteous living, which is outward, but is evidenced by my eyes set on eternity and what is waiting for us there; which is an internal and eternal perspective. Who is your master? Your outward life and identity or your inward allegiance to following Christ?

Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Philippians 1:21 "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." We hope this episode encourages you to ponder if Jesus has a place in your life or if He is your life. Would you be willing to stand alone in your conviction that He is your life, even if that means you stand alone?

Can we have true sincerity apart from Christ? In today's episode, we talk about how our sincerity as believers is crucial for true inward growth and true knowing of those who are closest to us. When we focus on this world and its obsessions, we lose sight of eternal hope and purpose in this life. Jesus Christ IS the epitome of internal sincerity and as believers, we should be like Him.

Today we look at what it means when the passage 1 Corinthians 13 states, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest is love." We see that in eternity there will no longer be a need for faith and hope, but only perfect love. The chapter that we mediate on gives us the truth we need for our life now, and we don't have to wait until heaven to experience the passing away of former things and know the completeness that is offered to us.