Year in Review: Reflecting On God’s Work & Trusting His Spirit

Year-end conversations get real fast when you measure a year by people, not projects. We sat down with Pastor Mark to trace God’s fingerprints across 2025—sending out a new church plant, welcoming guests from around the world, celebrating dozens of baptisms, and watching a young woman meet Jesus and start serving kids with contagious joy. We also faced hard moments head-on: losses, strained marriages, and the wear and tear of a world that doesn’t always make room for hope. Through all of it, the refrain was steady: Jesus is near, Scripture is sure, and the Spirit helps us endure.

From there we pivot to what’s next. Our theme for 2026 is drawn from Zechariah 4:6: not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit. That line isn’t a slogan—it’s our strategy. We unpack a balanced, biblical vision of the Holy Spirit that avoids hype and honors His person and work. Think deep prayer, Scripture illuminated, gifts used to build up the church, and everyday mission with supernatural help. We’ll preach through Zechariah, learn from Acts—the real “Acts of the Holy Spirit”—and keep planning hard while holding plans loosely, ready for God’s “left turns” that lead to better fruit.

We also celebrate a powerful act of generosity: a $218,000 in one offering, given by the whole church family from kids to grandparents, fueling missionaries, church planters, and local partners. Generosity is how our hearts follow God’s heart, and it turns encouragement into action for people on the front lines. As we look ahead, we’re asking God to deepen our dependence, widen our witness, and make our church a signpost that points past us to a great God.

If this resonates, follow along: subscribe, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find the conversation. What’s one way you’re trusting the Spirit as you step into 2026?

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:22

What's up, Life Talk family? Welcome back to the Life Talk Podcast coming to you end of 2025.

SPEAKER_03 0:31

This will be our last recording of the year. And who better than Pastor Mark, our lead pastor, to be with us uh today?

SPEAKER_00 0:39

There are many better, but you know, I'll take it from you, Nate.

SPEAKER_03 0:44

Yeah, no, we appreciate you being here. I think third time this year. So who knows? We get we got our you know scoreboard of guests, but no, I know you always very well gracious to see.

SPEAKER_00 0:54

You and I talk all the time. And so, you know, we do it on different platforms. This podcast, we do the the Monday reflection video, and so it kind of like it all just runs together in my in my mind and in my head.

God’s Faithfulness And Unexpected Church Plant

SPEAKER_03 1:06

All good, but appreciate you taking the time and hopefully for the Life Talk family. This is our 42nd episode of 2025. So it's been quite the journey. I know we just talked with you a few weeks ago on the We Love in December, but man, today we just wanted to kind of take some stock of God's faithfulness in 25, maybe do some looking ahead to 26, get some perspective. But I think just dropping that question, how have how's God worked? Do you feel in Lifehouse in 25? Just looking back, did you things that so I'm very thankful?

Joys, Sorrows, And Enduring With Hope

SPEAKER_00 1:40

You know, it is um it always amazes me to think about what God does and what takes place within one year's time. Um, time flies as it is to me. I mean, it just seems as I get older, it just seems to go faster and faster. But literally to think back, and I know that unfortunately I can't remember all of it because there's so much to remember. But yeah, I mean, things that were not even on our radar this time last year, uh, I think about specifically the church plant and Karish Community Church Plant and saying goodbye to and sending out like God would raise up and call forth from our congregation, a large number of people, Manny in particular, leading them as their lead pastor, that wasn't even on our radar at that time. We had still, we're still kind of adjusting and getting used to having released Danny down to go uh plant a church in Destin, Florida, and Joel to plant a church up in Westbrook, Maine. And so not fully recovered from that. I don't think we wanted to think about another church plant, and yet God's timing, he knows what he's doing. And I'll I'll say, you know, there was some wrestling, like, you know, when that opportunity was first presented to me, not in a negative way, but I would say, yeah, struggling. And I and I kick myself and I get frustrated with myself for ever even wrestling because God has demonstrated improved his faithfulness through things like this, these church plant journeys, time and time again. Uh, but yeah, that's one thing that we must celebrate. I was just talking to Manny out in the lobby, and and things are going so well. I mean, God is at work in and through that church plant that was sent forth from us, and it's a huge thing, you know, about God working in people's lives. I think about all the different people that we did not know that God sent here from all over the world, literally. Um, those new relationships, uh, people coming to saving faith in Christ. I was just talking to a young woman that's now working at our uh student uh Lifehouse Early Childhood Center, uh, has come to Saving Faith in Christ, and she is on fire for Jesus. So Jesus wasn't necessarily on her radar last year at this time, but over the course of this year, he has captured her heart and she is so on fire for him. And now working in our uh child, investing in children every day and a part of our young adults' ministry, and she is loved here. So I yeah, so when I think about it, always gets me excited when I think about the upcoming year. I know we're here to kind of do both, look back and then also look forward. But as I look back, it definitely excites me to think about man, if God did all that, you know, in one year, like he's gonna do it. I mean, he's the same yesterday, today, for and forever. You know, having said that, I will also say it hasn't all been roses and rainbows. I mean, there have been hard things to deal with, you know, devastating situations and circumstances. People have passed away. Um, you know, working through marriage situations and different challenges that people face. We live in a sin-cursed world that's filled with sorrow and suffering. And so I know, unfortunately, I'm I'm thankful that we know and that Jesus came to redeem us from this lost and dying world, and this world isn't our home, we're just passing through. But but the reality is like we need to, you know, be prepared, to not be caught off guard when those surprises uh come against us, those trials and tribulations. We have a savior who's with us, a spirit that helps us, you know, that guides us. We have the word of God, and we're able to endure those things. And so, yeah, when I look back, yeah, we've endured some things, we've wrestled through some things. Tears were shed last year. I know that tears will be shed next year, but I'm still thankful because the Lord's in it all, he's sovereign over it all, and he'll he's he's never left us, nor will he ever, he's never forsaken us, nor will he ever. He is with us, you know. Yeah.

Growing Closer Through Scripture, Prayer, Community

Jesus Builds His Church Through People

SPEAKER_03 5:47

It just kind of makes me think, as you're talking, reminds me, over the course of a year, you know, it's a good time to sit back and like not that we're we were in a bad place individually or corporately, but that God is faithful and over time, you know, we are now a year closer, you know, as in my football career used to say every game you're one game closer to the end of your career, which not so good, but in thinking that way. But in our faith context, we're one year closer to being with the Lord and seeing his faithfulness. And I always think too, like, if we are truly on a strong faith journey, even despite the tears, you know, being transformed from one degree of glory to the next, every day we should look at it as like really kind of the best day, because I'm one day closer to one day more of God speaking into our life and just seeing amazing things and growing in our trust. So hopefully, I know we're taking stock, you know, again, life house-wide, but hopefully for the listeners, a good time to think about where were you a year ago and how has God shown his faithfulness? How are you drawing closer to him? And really every year you should think, how have I grown this year? If you've been in the Word, if you've been in prayer, if you've been in community, it's hard not to grow, you know, really hard if you're doing those things, seeking God that you don't see as faithfulness, even in the hard times. You know, I know Ash and I went through, you know, was kind of blessed. I think this is the first year we've had in the last three or four where we did not have a loss in our family. But you know, even despite those losses, just seeing, you know, parents, grandparents, you know, uncles, but you know, we really see God's faithfulness and drawing, continuing to draw closer. You know, we draw closer to the Lord, he draws closer to us. Always kind of like think of it perspectively that each year that passes by, like you say, we can underestimate what God can do sometimes in that time frame.

SPEAKER_00 7:36

Yeah, and as you're talking and just thinking about like we're one day closer to his return, it makes me think of I think it's Romans chapter 13, where he says to believers, the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Our salvation is nearer to us now, today, uh than it's ever been. You know, and I'm paraphrasing there. But but yeah, and that's you know, an exciting reality, you know, but it's also a sobering because as our salvation is nearer to us now, so is by implication the condemnation of those who are not saved. And so we've got work to do while we can, because we have opportunity, we must do what we can while we can. I say that often here. Today is the day of salvation, tomorrow may not be, 2 Corinthians 6.2. So let's make the most of the time. And and yeah, like we can do a lot. I I, you know, it it does seem kind of cliche-ish at this point because every year I say it. So we'll be celebrating our 14th year in 2026, February uh 12th of 2026. We'll celebrate our 14th year. But looking back beyond even just this past year, but over the 14 years, truly, and it is not dramatic or sensational to say at all that he has done exceedingly abundantly above and beyond all that I would have ever imagined in regards to what Life House has become. I mean, Jesus did it, you know, he's allowed us to be a part of this journey. Jesus continues to do it. Jesus said, I will build my church. That's what Life House is a reflection of. He's doing what he promised to do 2,000 plus years ago when he uh walked this earth and part as a part of his earthly ministry. That's fascinating to think about, you know, in building his church, it's all about people. Like people are the church, right? We are the church. And so that's yeah, like when I think about again, just to compare, reflect on the last year, all the people that the Lord has sent to us from all around the world. Yeah, that's Jesus building his church. And I think about, yeah, who's who's he gonna send next year? You know, like who who who this next week, even I mean, every week there's first time guests that are visiting. Some don't stay, but some do and come and they're a part of our family now. Truly, there are people that I did not know last year that I consider brothers, you know, brother in Christ, but literally like like family, you know, and that's really the way we should consider our church family. So it's exciting, it really is.

Remembering As A Spiritual Discipline

SPEAKER_03 10:06

14 years, kind of crazy. And I was even thinking as we were preparing to come on, you know, we did Malachi this year, and at the end of Malachi, you know, obviously ceases, we have a time of silence, but at the end of that reminds like the people were writing down like a book of remembrance and the reminder of Malachi is like remember what God has done. And too often we in our society were so busy thinking about what's next in our schedules, we don't take time to often reflect on the faithfulness and things, and we're just worried about what's in front of us or particular circumstances. But truly, when we take time to remember, you know, just remember, and like you say, even just new people. I was thinking of baptisms this year. I know I think we've had like 50-60 baptisms and yeah, you know, people professing their faith that we get to come alongside. It's amazing. Yeah, it's always incredible.

SPEAKER_00 10:57

Yeah, remembering, reflecting is a good spiritual discipline. I know two years ago our theme for the year was the spiritual disciplines, and we focused on 12 different ones throughout the year. I don't think remembering was one of them, was it?

SPEAKER_03 11:12

Well, yeah, and I mean if you read that book, I would um journaling is something a lot of people don't. I struggle hard. I wish I could journal better than I do, but I know many people who do. And if you uh listen to the podcast for the listeners a couple weeks ago, Stephanie Light shared it was through her journaling, you know, just their walk of the journal reminded her of like those key moments of God's faithfulness and it would encourage her. So kind of building into what you're saying, like when we take that time to remember and to reflect.

SPEAKER_00 11:42

So I would say spiritual disciplines-wise, both journaling and kind of meditation, prayer spending time are a part, like reflecting is a component of that, but even just in and of itself, reflecting, remembering is a very good discipline to do. And I think this time of year, as we enter into a new year, right? People think about new year's resolutions. Like, what do I need to continue doing? What do I need to stop doing? You know, it's a good time to reflect. Like what's been profitable, like, like, you know, it's just a very good discipline to reflect and remember, and not just, you know, for the sake of doing it, but let it motivate you, let it inspire you, let it encourage you, let it comfort you in ways that are appropriate, you know, because as we reflect and remember all that God has done, it's not just about him doing things, it's him being faithful, like it's him demonstrating his love for us in ways that are not cannot be denied. And so, yeah, that emboldens us. That that definitely strengthens us so that we can continue to persevere when we meet the different trials and tribulations that we face, or when we come up and face different opportunities. Like we see and we know what our God can do because he has done great things. And so it's exciting.

Always A Work In Progress

SPEAKER_03 12:58

Yeah. I was even reflecting too, like I always like, where were we at the start of 25? And you and Tammy were doing experiencing God, probably seems like forever ago, or maybe it just seems yesterday, but we start like yeah, that was the start of 25. We did experiencing God, and yeah, just seeing you know that, which reminder of experiencing God, seeing where God's working, and you know, if you truly are experiencing God, like those are the things that you'll impact and remember, and you know, kind of see that faithfulness grow. And because I say our trust should grow every year as we have experienced that faithfulness, like our trust and our faith should grow, not be, you know, a stagnant faith or a backsliding faith. And we know things happen and struggles come up, but really that should be the trajectory, you know, each and every year, seeing how's God working in our life? How is he, like you said, bringing people into our lives and so many opportunities? That's what experiencing God is. Where is God working and looking forward, but also remembering where he has so that we have more confidence, yeah, looking forward.

Culture Shifts And Wise Dependence

SPEAKER_00 14:00

Yeah, and just even in our church and in our individual lives, you know, I mean, just to kind of reinforce, and I know you know this, Nate, but I used to apologetically in the very beginning years of our church, tell people, you know, bear with us were a work in progress. And I remember as I would express that in my mind, I thought that one day we wouldn't be. Like one day we would just figure it all out. We'd be a well-oiled machine, we'd be going and blowing, we'd have all the systems in place necessary, you know, to be able to do everything that God has placed before us. But I have realized into our 14th year now going that we're always going to be a work in progress. And that's a good thing, you know, because the world around us is changing. The world is not what it is now in the same way that it what it was 14 years ago. When I think about the different issues and the politics and just the the challenges that we're facing with technology and AI and all these different things, and you know, LGBTQ and transgenderism and the gender confusion and ideologies that are uh so in our faces today. Like we're not even issues 14 years ago, you know, concerning that they they were maybe issues, but not on the forefront. And just yeah, a lot has happened over 14 years, but even in one year. And but we yeah, we should grow. We are a work in progress. And so, yeah, I think it's good to reflect and remember, but also assess like where can I improve, where can I grow as I look ahead.

SPEAKER_03 15:34

Yeah, and as you were saying that too, reminded me some of those issues you brought up. I think 2012 was when like the smartphone reached like kind of a market penetration, was just 2012, you know, as well recent, you know, that started to release in 2009, like the iPhone, but really like social media and so many of those things that have been catalysts, and like you say, and I share your thoughts too, because I know you know me, I'm a precrastinator. I always like let's get things I'm like at some point I'll get everything done, right? Like you said, we'll get there. And it's like, no, but that's if we ever are, we've lost that dependence. You know, I think that relationship with God is that dependence of absolutely and again it's one of my favorite Bible verses in uh first or second Corinthians, but one degree of glory to the next. Yeah, until we reach that perfection and when we have that, you know, standing in God's presence, it's one degree, right? Being transformed, being renewed on a constant basis, which is that relationship. If you've ever gone beyond the relationship, you're in a bad place, you know, in in terms of the walk with the Lord.

SPEAKER_00 16:38

Absolutely. I mean, anything that is a God thing, a God opportunity journey, which we are on as Christians, faith is going to be a part of the equation because we're told in Hebrews 11 6, I think it is, that without faith, it's impossible to please God. So you can bet your bottom dollar that faith is going to be a part of the equation, at least to some degree. We walk by faith, right? And so, yeah, like which means that we need Jesus, his strength, his wisdom, his provision to do what he's called us to do. If we're not walking by faith, we're doing something wrong. We aren't where we should be, right? So faith must be a part of the equation because we want to please God with our lives. Definitely so.

Faithfully Different And Radical Generosity

SPEAKER_03 17:21

Well, anything else from 2025 as you've kind of read about it.

SPEAKER_00 17:24

Yeah, I mean, I think about our theme for the year was faithfully different, you know, and I definitely think that that was a fruitful endeavor to really focus on different aspects of what it means to be faithfully different in this lost and dying world. And so hopefully that was impactful to our congregation. I think it was as I assess. I'm looking forward, you know, to next year's theme. I guess we'll wait to talk about that, you know, it'll be a little bit different. Um, but but that that was a profound moment for me. Um, the generosity journey, once again. So that was just a couple weeks ago. We announced it this past Sunday. But our in one offering, our congregation gave$218,000. You know, that is in addition to that's supplemental to the generous offerings that we receive every single week. I'm amazed, truly. I I mean, and I and I shouldn't be. Like I, you know, to a degree I do expect it because I have learned that our congregation is generous, but it is an act of grace, and we should consider it as such. You know, it is a move of the Spirit of God because I know our congregation. I mean, we've got kids in college, we've got people that, you know, I mean, these is not a church of millionaires, and it wasn't like one person gave a million dollars, you know, and then everyone else gave a little bit to add up to that amount. It's it's a reflection of participation across the board, young, old. I know our our youth group gave$218. Team Kid actually beat the youth group. The children gave$300 and some dollars, and it was so precious. Letitia showed me little envelopes, you know, where you know, one was written like, you know, a dollar and thirteen cents, or you know, two dollars and fifty-six cents. And what that told me was there were some kids emptying out their piggy banks. You know, it wasn't just like mom give me five bucks or dad give me a dollar, like, you know, they don't even make pennies anymore. And our government 2025, the end of the penny. But yeah, that just to me, that's such a beautiful thing, you know. And uh I I just am amazed and so thankful, blessed to be a part of this congregation. And really, you know, so it's not just the offering, you know, it's a glorious offering, an act of grace, but it's going to meet tangible needs and bless missionaries and church planners all around the world, literally in an impactful way. I know these missionaries, these church planners. I know they're on the front lines and it's hard, and they often feel forgotten. You know, they often feel forsaken. Not by God, they know that God would never do that. But they feel alone at times, isolated. And this is an expression of love. We are going to say, hey, we see you. We know where you are. We're praying for you and we love you. You know, keep doing what you're doing. Fight the good fight. You know, continue running the race and really be able to invest into ministry opportunities and needs that they have. And so it's really, really exciting to think about all the different aspects of what this uh reverse offering means.

Encouraging Missionaries Near And Far

SPEAKER_03 20:28

Yeah, I think, like you said, multiple things to go into, but yeah, the faithfulness of our congregation to go above and beyond just the regular and to give sacrificially, you know, and to see little kids participating and you know, just being part of that. And then, you know, you could probably share a little bit international, but also national and even local. You know, a lot of this is going to great organizations here in, you know, Delaware area, you know, a door of hope and neighborhood house, you know, so like athletes. In Jesus' name, yeah, you know, this money is going forward. And not that, you know, people couldn't individually do some things, but how much demonstrates as a congregation how God brings us together to make that big impact together. You know, it's not just one individual, it's all of us corporately as the body, and in Jesus' name, you know, making this impact on multiple levels. So yeah, just such a blessing to see that.

SPEAKER_00 21:23

And I really feel as though the Lord has blessed our church. I think about the verse, he who's faithful in little will be faithful in much. And I do think that the Lord has seen, and it's not me, it's by God's grace, and it's our elder team, it's all of us, and the faithfulness demonstrated by our church family, like so he entrusts us with these opportunities and these resources, I believe, by his grace, because we've shown faithfulness in these little other smaller areas and opportunities. And so, yeah, I it's humbling to be a part of this congregation and to serve the Lord here. Yep.

SPEAKER_03 21:59

So a lot of good stuff in 25, but kind of looking ahead, you know. So we've had spiritual disciplines, we've had faithfully different, which yeah, I think so appropriate, you know, in time and cultural things going on, you know, especially even that we saw this year. But what are we looking ahead to in 26? How are you feeling?

Looking Ahead: By My Spirit Theme

Planning Hard, Holding Plans Loosely

SPEAKER_00 22:18

In addition to all the surprises, you know, that we just talked about, the things that I know are not on our radar at all, the people that God will send that are not on our radar, like that's gonna happen. And so let's just right now take a moment to just say, like, bring it on, Lord, like we are ready in you to receive those things, excited to receive those things. But I'm excited about what we've planned for our theme for next year, is based off of Zechariah 4.6. The theme that verse says, Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. You know, and we know that uh that Jesus says in John 15, 5, apart from me, you can do nothing. But we are, you know, we want to lean on and rely on the power of the Spirit to be guided by Him, His wisdom, to be empowered by Him, His strength, to be equipped by Him with the gifts that He gives us to do what He's calling us to do in greater ways than we did just last year and over the course of the 14 years that we've that have led up to this point. We want to do greater things. We want to do more, not just for the say, and it's not about us. It's for the glory of God. We don't want people to say, look at Lifehouse Church, what a great church. We want people to look at God and say, what a great God. We want people to give our Father in heaven the glory that he deserves. To do that, we are going to need the Spirit of God to help us, to lead us, to guide us, to equip us, to empower us, to give us wisdom, to enlighten us, to illuminate scripture. It just across the board. And so I'm really excited to dive into that theme, uh, the sermons, uh, the sermon calendar that's planned. And again, all of it, we have a plan. Yeah, but hey, that's the thing. Like, God is a God of left turns. Like He's gonna say, you know, in when we least expect it, take a left turn or do something that you didn't plan, you know, walk by faith. So we have a plan because biblically it says who does not first, if he's gonna build a tower, count the cost. So we have counted the cost, and we have a plan, but we're ready to respond in faith. But we're gonna preach through the book of Zechariah, you know, where that uh verse, Zechariah 4-6, is found. Uh, some passages in the book of Acts and throughout scripture, all throughout different genres of scripture, different books that point to the ministry and the work of the Holy Spirit. In a way, you know, we don't want to be sensational. I think that some ministries and denominations have done that to uh a fault, right? You know, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is always pointing to the Father and to the Son, and so we want to honor that ministry. However, we do want to acknowledge that there is a third person of the Trinity who is God, right? And not less than God, not third tier, not third string, but but just he's equal, you know, Father, Son, and Spirit. And I do think that I know myself, I often not intentionally, but I do think that there is much to learn, much to experience, uh and be a part of in regards to the Holy Spirit. And so, yeah, we want to pray for the Lord to take us deeper and farther in understanding with Him and specifically the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_03 25:28

Yeah, a couple good things. And one I'll say, yeah, we make our plans, and then I think it's in Proverbs, but God establishes the steps. And uh, my brother Phil and I talk a lot, give him a shout-out. I think he listens sometimes, but we talk frequently, he's in the Air Force. Planning is a very valuable thing. We should be praying, we should be planning, we should be thinking ahead and trusting. But plans are usually, you know, I think it's the old adage, make your plans and see what God does with them.

Honoring The Holy Spirit Without Hype

SPEAKER_00 25:56

So plan on the plan to change. I mean, honestly, I mean it's tongue-in-cheek almost, and it's almost again, we do want to plan in a way that honors God, you know, and that we really want to think through things.

SPEAKER_03 26:08

It's really unfaithful to just fly by the plans completely.

SPEAKER_00 26:12

We don't do that. That is not God honoring, but but we do hold our hands open in essence in regards to those plans. And I do want to, I hope, and I think that our congregation knows that so much prayer, you know, our core value of prayer is not just a Christian cliche that Rob says at in our worship services, we pray first and we pray always. Like we are committed to prayer. And we continue, we don't just pray before 2026 about what's going to happen in 2026. We pray through 2026. We you can count on that. Like we will continue to pray, seeking wisdom, seeking uh provision, like seeking direction from the Lord in the different situations that come up, the plans, uh, all the opportunities that the Lord places before us. Like this is a not only is it a generous church, it is a prayer-filled, prayerful church. And so, and that is reflected from our leadership, our elders, all of those men are men of prayer. One of my favorite things to do is pray with people. I don't know. Uh, so there's an opportunity. The African Connection Group is having a excuse me, prayer night on the 31st. Yeah, watch night service. Yeah, praying in the new year. Listen, it starts at 10 p.m. That is already past my bedtime. And I can't even tell you, I can't remember the last time I stayed up past midnight on New Year's Eve. But I'm gonna do it. I'm Tammy and I are gonna go and be a part of that uh service here in the gathering place. Invite anyone else to come if they'd like to pray. Like, let's pray. Like, prayer is a good, it's a profitable thing to do.

SPEAKER_03 27:51

Well, and I think then in the plans, like you said, talking about the the Holy Spirit and you know how we make our plans, but we depend on the spirit. And you know, to the point you mentioned, uh it'll be faithfully looking at because a lot of times you said like some people forget about the Holy Spirit, like we get focused on the Father and the Son, but Jesus says it's to your advantage that I go away, because physically I'm in one place with a few people, but when I send the spirit, he's in all places with all people and guiding us. And then, like you said, the danger is some people make it all about the spirit, and honestly, like on demand, you know, like we'll just call down the spirit, he'll show up, and you know, we'll have our you know, speaking in tongues or whatever, you know, we'll go into the specifics, but like how we can faithfully depend on the spirit, rely on him, allow him to guide. So maybe you kind of talk about how you know we can faithfully look at that in terms of you know that dependence and guidance, but not making it where you see kind of errors on both sides.

Experiential Knowledge And True Guidance

SPEAKER_00 28:52

Yeah, and I I want to say that this pursuit is humble in the sense where you know we we want to be humble and not attribute things and emotions essentially to the Holy Spirit that are not of him. I mean, that's essentially blasphemy, right? Attributing saying that's God, that's the Holy Spirit, when really all it is is you getting excited, you know what I mean? And and I do think there are emotions connected, feelings connected to the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit, but I do think that many have in error, you know, gotten excited about something and said that's God, or that's the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Spirit is leading me. No, that's not you, that's your flesh leading you, you know. And so we do need to be very careful and humble about the Holy Spirit is our guide, he is our helper, you know. I I think another thing to point out, it's He is He, not it. He is not an It. He is the third person of the Trinity. Uh that's how Scripture presents him, that's how uh God presents him in Scripture, and so yeah, he is a he, a person. Um, and so yeah, I'm just excited though, but I don't I that I don't want people to think that this is like an a journey uh to get emotional and to to hype up people in ways that are disingenuous, right? Like we can do we're not gonna this isn't a high school football game, we're not cheerleaders like saying like let's get excited, but let's do get excited because I believe absolutely what I see in scripture is that there is more to know and that there is more to learn and more to experience. You know, when when we see uh the word no in scripture, it's not I think that our English language, the word no kind of downplays what the Greek word is, genosko. It's an experiential knowledge that I'm talking about. Like this isn't just cognitive, you know, reading a book, studying, you know, and you can know something in that regard. But the knowing that we're referring to here in regards to knowing more is experiential firsthand knowledge. So yeah, I hope that makes sense.

Expecting God’s Surprises In 2026

SPEAKER_03 31:00

God doesn't want us to just know about him, he wants us to know him. It wants to us experience, you know, we talk about experiencing God, like that walk, that relationship, and that comes from a lot of the Holy Spirit, the walk with the Holy Spirit, the allowing guidance, you know, dependence, you know, direction. Yeah, so many things looking forward to that study in the new year for sure. So absolutely. So we we talk a lot more, but it's like, hey, we're just excited to see what God's gonna do. But Zachariah, and I know you mentioned Acts, you know, a lot of people have their Bibles. A lot of times Acts says the Acts of the Apostles. Yeah, really, it's the Acts of the Holy Spirit. When we read Acts, I know it's the Spirit did this, the Spirit set apart, the Spirit, you know. So it really the apostles were following the Spirit in the early movement of the church, and we can learn so much from how that works because it's still how God works today.

SPEAKER_00 31:51

Amen. So yeah, lots to look forward to, really. I mean, I really we we will say it again next year. Should the Lord tarry. I mean, really, Jesus come come back this year this year. I mean, behold, He comes, he does, and it could be this year, you know. Uh the table is set. Expectingly, right. But if if he should tarry another year, I guarantee you, like you I I am not a betting man, but I put money on the table that we will sit here and say, Wow. Like, look what he did. That we weren't thinking about that. We weren't expecting that, or them, or you know, I mean, and look what happened, look who God sent, look what God did, look how he revealed himself, his power. You know, we don't want to just go through the motions. This isn't our 14th year, isn't just another old year to check in the, you know, okay, one more year accomplished. No, like it's gonna be a new year, a new day with new things to learn, to experience all for his glory and for our good. Amen. Don't bet on red or black, bet on the Lord.

What’s Next For The Podcast

SPEAKER_03 32:54

There we go. Right, there we go. There we go. Bet on him. You're not gonna go wrong betting on God and putting your faith, putting your trust. Yeah, so many things. So well, appreciate your time. It's been, yeah, just a wonderful year, taking some time to reflect, so many things, you know, just even looking at podcast episodes we've had of so many amazing guests and uh following the theme, been a blessed year. And so for Life Talk listeners looking ahead to 26, we're uh looking forward. The Life Talk Podcast will be doing some Bible talk. Uh kind of we'll be preaching through on Sunday, Zechariah, but we're gonna take the book of Luke, you know, which is a great and leads into the book of Acts and uh be talking through that some and we'll continue to bring you some great testimonies and uh we'll get Pastor Mark back every now and then. Hey, I'm down anytime. Just let me know.

SPEAKER_00 33:41

Bible talk is good talk.

SPEAKER_03 33:42

I can tell you right now. We'll get on your schedule. But absolutely. But thanks for making some time for us. Yes, great to just think about 25. Appreciate your vision for 26, and we're just gonna be looking forward to what God does. So let's do it. Well, Life Talk family, thank you for journeying with us in 25. It's been a blessing, and uh just hearing a lot of feedback and uh just how different episodes have been a blessing, and uh pray that everybody sticks with us in 26 to see what God does and just continue to grow, continue to transform. So thanks for joining us. We will see you all next time. Thanks for tuning in to the Life Talk Podcast. If this episode encouraged you, please be sure to like, comment, subscribe, and leave a review so others can find this content as well. And we'll look forward to seeing you next Monday for another great episode.