Episode Transcript
Transcripts are displayed as originally observed. Some content, including advertisements may have changed.
Use Ctrl + F to search
0:04
Welcome , dear listeners , to Lucidity
0:06
for Life , a beacon of light in a
0:08
world veiled in chaos . I'm
0:11
your host , dewayne Pressin , and I'm
0:13
honored to embark on this transformative
0:15
journey with you . In
0:17
each episode of Lucidity for Life , we
0:19
invite you to join us as we explore
0:21
the intersection of biblical insight and
0:23
the timeless wisdom of Jesus . Together
0:26
, we'll navigate the complexities of
0:28
life , drawing from sacred texts
0:30
and teachings to illuminate our moral and
0:32
spiritual pathways . By sharing
0:34
the testimonies , life examples and
0:36
teachings of Jesus and his disciples
0:39
and applying them to our life's
0:41
journey , we aim to empower you
0:43
to navigate life's twists and turns
0:45
with grace , integrity and unwavering
0:47
faith . So I hope you will
0:49
come and join us as we embark on
0:51
this sacred journey together , drawing
0:54
inspiration from the internal wisdom of Jesus
0:56
to cultivate moral clarity , spiritual
0:59
focus and a life of purposeful
1:01
Lucidity in an ever-changing
1:03
world . So , without further
1:06
ado , let us dive into today's lesson
1:08
, alone and confused
1:11
, but not forgotten , and
1:13
let's uncover the profound truths that
1:15
await us today . Welcome
1:17
to Lucidity for Life . How
1:25
could this be happening ? How could
1:27
he have found himself in this tumultuous
1:29
position , his life seemingly
1:32
at odds with the very prophecies that once
1:34
heralded his coming greatness ? The
1:36
promise is so sure and divine
1:38
echoed in his mind . Yet reality
1:41
was trying to twist them away from hopes
1:43
and brace His family
1:45
. Those custodians of heavenly
1:48
truths had woven tales of grandeur
1:50
around him since his birth , proclaiming
1:53
his destiny to be irrevocably
1:55
intertwined with the glory of God and
1:57
the ultimate salvation of mankind . But
2:00
now , as he languished in solitude
2:03
in prison , estranged
2:05
from all that he held dear , he
2:07
couldn't help but question the path he
2:09
had walked these many years , the faith
2:12
he had held so close to his heart . This
2:15
was not the script he anticipated , it
2:17
was not the narrative he envisioned as he
2:19
walked the righteous path of service to God
2:22
. To find himself isolated
2:24
, shunned by those he loved and
2:26
served was a bitter irony
2:28
. And in this desolation
2:31
, as he yearned to stand by the side
2:33
of the anointed one , the longed-for
2:35
Messiah , who was the very embodiment
2:38
of his preaching , he found himself
2:40
cast adrift , his purpose
2:42
obscured by the shadows of doubt . The
2:45
fulfillment of his ministry , the
2:47
very reason of his existence , lay
2:49
tantalizingly close , yet
2:52
agonizingly out of reach , unless
2:54
the hand of God intervened on his behalf
2:57
. How could the calling
2:59
that he had so fervently embraced
3:01
lead him to this lonely precipice , where
3:04
his devotion to the Divine will of God
3:06
now seemingly spelled
3:08
out a fate of persecution and martyrdom
3:11
. He pondered , reflecting
3:14
on the twist of fate that brought him here
3:16
, wondering at the purpose of
3:18
God in orchestrating this intricate
3:20
dance of suffering and redemption
3:22
. He hadn't sought the
3:24
mantle prophecy , nor
3:26
had he begged for the weight of a divine mandate
3:29
to bear upon his shoulders . Yet
3:32
in his obedience he
3:34
never faltered , he never turned
3:36
away from the burden thrust upon him by
3:38
God's divine decree . In
3:41
his mind's memory , he traced the
3:43
journey back to its inception , to
3:45
that faithful encounter with the celestial
3:47
messenger at the temple where his
3:50
father , zachariah , stood bathed
3:52
in awe and fear , as
3:54
the angel Gabriel delivered the news of
3:56
John's impending birth , as described
3:58
in Luke , chapter 11 . And
4:01
there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing
4:03
on the right side of the altar of incense
4:05
. And Zachariah was troubled
4:07
when he saw him and fear fell
4:09
upon him . But the angel said
4:11
to him Do not be afraid , zachariah
4:14
, for your prayer has been heard and
4:16
your wife Elizabeth will bear you a
4:18
son , and you shall call his
4:20
name John , and you will have joy
4:23
and gladness , and many
4:25
will rejoice at his birth , for
4:27
he will be great before the Lord . Yet
4:31
the joy of that moment now seemed a
4:33
distant memory , it's warmth
4:35
drained by the cold harshness
4:37
of his present reality . The
4:40
promise of God , once
4:42
intertwined with the fabric of his life's
4:44
purpose , now felt frayed
4:47
and worn tested by
4:49
the relentless trials of life . In
4:52
the desolate confines of his prison
4:54
cell , john the Baptist wrestled
4:56
with doubt , his once
4:58
unshakable faith now teetering
5:01
on the edge of uncertainty . In
5:04
the dim flicker of torchlight he sought
5:06
solace , a sliver of assurance
5:08
that his arduous journey had
5:11
not been in vain , that his divine
5:13
calling remained steadfast amidst
5:15
the encroaching shadows of life . Summoning
5:19
his disciples with urgency , john
5:21
dispatched them to the one beacon of hope
5:23
amidst the engulfing darkness Jesus
5:26
of Nazareth . With trembling
5:28
hearts , they posed the question
5:31
that weighed heavily upon their master's
5:33
soul Are you the one
5:35
who is to come or shall we
5:37
look for another ? As
5:39
the disciples lingered expectantly , a
5:42
hushed anticipation filled the air
5:44
. And as they waited intently even
5:46
more , jesus did not offer
5:48
lengthy explanations
5:50
or placating reassurances . Instead
5:54
, with unwavering clarity , he pointed
5:56
to the tangible evidence of God's
5:58
divine presence and his unfolding
6:01
plan and life-changing power
6:03
. He simply declared the
6:06
blind sea , the lame walk
6:08
, the leopards are cleansed , the deaf hear
6:10
, the dead are raised and
6:13
the poor receive the good news . His
6:16
voice resonated with authority and
6:18
truth for anyone who would listen
6:20
to his words . John's
6:23
disciples returned to John with an urgency
6:25
in their steps that the times demanded
6:27
, and upon their arrival , they shared
6:29
from their hearts the words given by Jesus
6:31
. In that moment
6:34
, john's doubts were dispelled
6:36
like shadows flinging from the dawn
6:38
. A flicker of joy
6:40
illuminated his weary brow . A
6:43
glimpse of a smile began to form
6:45
on his lips as he embraced a profound
6:48
realization that God's plan
6:50
had truly unfolded according to
6:52
his divine will , transcending
6:55
the confines of his earthly trials
6:57
and tribulations . With
6:59
just a few simple words from Jesus , john
7:03
found renewed strength and purpose
7:05
, his faith rekindled
7:07
amidst the tumult of his final
7:09
hours , though imprisoned
7:11
and facing imminent death , john
7:14
clung to the unwavering promise of God's
7:16
divine fulfillment , his
7:18
gaze fixed on the eternal glory
7:21
that awaited him beyond the veil
7:23
of his earthly mortality . In
7:26
those fleeting moments , jesus'
7:28
words dispelled the confusion
7:30
and chaos thrust upon him by the
7:33
world , allowing him to
7:35
see clearly once more what he already
7:37
knew in his heart that he
7:39
was in God's perfect will and
7:41
serving a heavenly purpose . Even
7:44
in the midst of an intolerably imperfect
7:47
world , spinning out of control and filled
7:49
with confusion , john found
7:52
comfort in his own heart . It
7:54
wasn't because everything had changed
7:56
around him , but because
7:59
, despite what his senses told him
8:01
, what his surroundings declared
8:03
to him or what he saw
8:05
at that moment , he knew
8:07
that God was in control . Like
8:10
John , our lives were not
8:12
heralded by a messenger of God laying
8:15
out the blueprint of Heaven's design
8:17
for our existence with perfect
8:19
symmetry and unwavering certainty
8:22
of our path . Yet , just
8:24
like John , the culmination
8:26
of our life's journey may lead us to
8:28
uncertain destinations , to
8:31
our own unexpected dungeons , with
8:34
the clamor of captors surrounding us
8:36
declaring our demise , crying
8:39
with all its might to extinguish
8:41
our hope . But , akin to
8:43
John , we too possess
8:45
a choice we determine
8:47
where our faith will guide us , where
8:49
hope will anchor and where we seek
8:52
solace in moments of despair , crying
8:54
out in times of confusion and hopelessness
8:57
. John's life cries
8:59
out to us today , urging
9:01
us to rise up and cry out
9:03
to God , even when we don't understand
9:06
what's transpiring in our lives right now
9:08
. He challenges us to
9:10
refuse silence , to resist slipping
9:12
quietly into the darkness of forgetfulness
9:14
, where our voices are forever silenced
9:17
. Instead , he beckons us to
9:19
take one last question to the throne of God
9:21
Is this the end of the story
9:24
, god , are you in control
9:26
, or should we look for another ? John
9:29
didn't seek answers to life's problems by
9:31
turning to earthly governments or faithless
9:34
leaders , and neither should we . He
9:36
didn't ask for clemency , nor did he plead
9:38
with Herod , offering apologies for
9:41
proclaiming the word and trusting to him by God
9:43
, a word that demanded the king's
9:45
genuine repentance . By
9:48
that very God-given declaration
9:50
, john set aside forever his
9:52
own safety and comfort and
9:54
once again entrusted his care into
9:56
the mighty hands of God . Just
9:58
like John , we find ourselves
10:01
amidst a chaotic world , engulfed
10:04
in confusion , with no clear path
10:06
to victory or serenity . It's
10:09
a world manipulated by the media , spreading
10:11
fear and chaos to serve its own agendas
10:14
and fill its pockets Through
10:16
tainted stories and insinuation
10:18
. It sows seeds of fear and doubt
10:21
, driving nations against nations
10:23
, citizens against citizens and
10:25
neighbor against neighbor , until trust
10:28
becomes a distant memory and
10:30
discerning friend from foe becomes
10:32
an impossible task . Ultimately
10:35
, if we continue to listen to its steady
10:37
downward drumbeat , it causes
10:39
us to retreat to our own corners , isolated
10:42
and alone in our own fears and questions
10:45
, bracing for the enemy's next
10:47
onslaught . But it's time
10:49
we heard for the first time perhaps , or
10:51
remember again one more time
10:53
, the words of the sons of Korah that are
10:56
found in Psalm 46 , a
10:58
reminder of whom we can call on in
11:00
times of trouble , in moments of
11:02
fear , and who remains in
11:04
ever-present aid in our trials
11:06
. God is our refuge
11:09
and strength , a very present
11:11
help and trouble , they said . Therefore
11:14
, we will not fear though the earth gives
11:16
way , though the mountains be moved into the
11:18
heart of the sea , though its waters roar
11:20
and foam , though the mountains tremble at its
11:22
swelling . Be still
11:25
and know that I am God . I
11:27
will be exalted among the nations . I
11:30
will be exalted in the earth . The
11:33
Lord of hosts is with us . The God of Jacob
11:35
is our fortress . Psalm
11:38
46 , verse 1 through 3 , and
11:40
verses 10 and 11 . In
11:43
our world , leaders are consumed by
11:46
their own egos , making decisions
11:48
driven by societal status
11:50
, wealth and the futile
11:52
pursuit of approval from everyone on
11:54
this earth , without a second thought of seeking
11:57
approval from the one who created
11:59
the earth and the whole universe that surrounds
12:01
it . The more you listen to
12:03
these leaders , governments and media
12:05
publications you begin to realize
12:07
, the less you can trust their words . Yet
12:11
amidst this confusion , jesus Christ
12:13
beckons us to remember that
12:15
he is for us , ready
12:17
to aid us if we would but call
12:20
upon his name once more . He
12:22
invites us to trust him
12:24
for our families , our nation
12:26
and our future , whether we've known
12:28
him all our lives , like John , or
12:31
if we've never even heard his name until today
12:33
. He stands near , eager
12:36
to hear the cry of our hearts
12:38
. Jesus beckons
12:40
the body of Christ , his true
12:42
disciples , to lift their eyes
12:45
heavenward to behold the King of kings
12:47
and Lord of lords , the Savior of
12:49
the world , radiating wisdom
12:51
, grace and mercy . He wields
12:53
unrivaled power , shielding
12:56
his faithful against the ceaseless onslaughts
12:59
of the enemy . Those
13:02
who faithfully follow him have known
13:04
his faithfulness and unyielding support
13:06
. Yet life's trials
13:08
and tribulations may have tested that knowledge
13:10
, much like John , shrouding
13:12
it in the darkness of their own personal
13:15
dungeons , failed relationships
13:17
, financial uncertainties and
13:20
years of unanswered prayers , breeding
13:23
a heart heavy with doubt , questions
13:25
and even cynicism . In
13:28
the midst of overwhelming challenges , a
13:30
heart burdened with ache dares
13:32
to ask are you truly the answer
13:35
we seek , jesus , or should
13:37
we look elsewhere ? Jesus
13:40
responds with tranquil assurance to his
13:42
disciples . Then and now
13:44
, his words brimming with faith
13:46
come and witness the works of God
13:48
, inviting each soul to
13:51
seek and find the answer first
13:53
hand with their own personal experience
13:55
with God . Though
13:58
the arrows of the enemy may have nicked the armor
14:00
of faith in our lives , jesus
14:02
beckons us once more , declaring whosoever
14:05
will let him come
14:07
. Rather than seeking
14:10
answers from directionless earthly
14:12
governments , let us fix our
14:14
hearts , minds and souls on the things of God
14:16
. Let us once again call
14:18
upon Jesus and witness his miraculous
14:21
intervention in the most unexpected
14:23
places , bringing aid and comfort
14:26
beyond measure , like
14:28
John , when life blinds , sides
14:30
us , overwhelming us in its fury
14:32
, let us once again lift our voices
14:35
in prayer to the One who loves us beyond
14:37
measure , who fights on our behalf
14:40
when we can no longer stand , who
14:42
lifts us up when we've stumbled
14:44
and helps us find firm footing
14:47
to continue the journey along
14:49
life's pathway . Once again , even
14:52
when darkness shrouds our sight
14:54
, he illuminates us with the hope
14:56
and peace that his message brings , that
14:59
One whose name is Jesus . He
15:02
came to declare a message of deliverance
15:04
coupled with power to set mankind
15:06
free from lies , vices and struggles
15:09
, to heal broken hearts burden with
15:11
the cares of this life . Through
15:14
the lives and words of John and Jesus , may
15:17
you be reminded today that no pit is
15:19
too deep for God to reach you if
15:21
you are willing to call on his name . There
15:23
is no enemy so formidable that
15:26
God's promises cannot thwart their
15:28
vices of discouragement and
15:30
despair . Yes
15:32
, the world we inhabit can be bewildering
15:35
, full of chaos , where
15:38
we're besieged by an abundance of voices
15:40
peddling shallow solutions to
15:42
life's many dilemmas and daily
15:44
struggles . These voices we
15:47
hear so many times are fickle , their
15:49
counsel ever changing , rooted
15:51
only in human reasoning and
15:53
the frail fabric of man-made philosophy
15:56
. Situationally inept
15:58
at best , destructive at
16:00
worst , their responses
16:02
lack moral clarity , built upon
16:05
the crumbling foundation of flawed human
16:07
wisdom . Is that
16:09
truly where we wish to anchor our hopes and
16:11
seek peace in this turbulent world
16:13
? I reckon we
16:15
already know the answer and
16:17
I'm grateful to affirm without hesitation
16:20
that Jesus and the legacy
16:22
of the life he left us still
16:24
holds the key to the questions
16:26
that stir within our hearts . And
16:28
let us not forget , when life closes
16:31
in around us , attempting
16:33
to ensnare us in isolation , that
16:36
though we may feel solitary and bewildered
16:38
, we are not forsaken . Recall
16:40
the words of Jesus recorded in John 16
16:43
. I have said these things to you
16:45
that in me you may have peace in
16:47
the world . You will have tribulation , but take
16:49
heart , I have overcome the world
16:51
. I issue a challenge
16:54
to you today when you find yourself
16:56
adrift , when the way forward
16:58
seems shrouded in uncertainty , call
17:01
upon the name of Jesus in prayer and
17:04
discover that he is an ever-present help in
17:06
time of need . As
17:08
we conclude our time together today , I pray
17:10
that the words you've encountered
17:13
will serve as a guiding light on your journey
17:15
through life . May they offer
17:17
solace and wisdom as you wrestle with
17:19
the questions that stir within your heart , echoing
17:22
the faith and hope akin to that of
17:24
John the Baptist . May
17:26
you find in Jesus' words , in John's
17:29
example , the peace , comfort
17:31
and strength needed to navigate
17:33
life's twists and turns . I
17:37
pray that the words shared today have ignited
17:39
a flame of reassurance within your soul , reminding
17:43
you that , with God , all things
17:45
are possible , if only we
17:47
believe .
Podchaser is the ultimate destination for podcast data, search, and discovery. Learn More