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Life Around "The Fire"
Life Around "The Fire"
Breaking Free: Living in God's Now
What happens when you step outside time's constraints and enter God's eternal now? It's a radical shift in perspective that transforms everything about how we experience faith, relationship, and life itself.
For many believers, spiritual life becomes fragmented across time - we're either haunted by past failures, anxiously anticipating future challenges, or caught in a strange limbo between the two. This scatters our attention and dilutes our capacity for authentic connection. But what if the kingdom of God operates on a different timeline altogether? What if eternity isn't just waiting for us at the end of our lives but is available as a present reality?
Through powerful scripture passages and the compelling metaphor of an elephant trained to believe it's still chained when it's actually free, we explore how Christ liberates us from time's tyranny. Just as adult elephants remain tethered by invisible chains from their youth, many believers continue living within past limitations even after salvation has broken those bonds. The revelation is both simple and profound: salvation covers us completely while also addressing specific areas of bondage.
The implications are life-changing. When we truly grasp that "what time is it in God's kingdom?" has only one answer - NOW - we begin experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised. We discover that eternal life isn't just about duration but about a quality of existence available today. Relationships deepen, anxiety diminishes, and we become living testimonies to Christ's liberating power.
Ready to break free from yesterday's chains and tomorrow's worries? Join us as we explore what it means to fully inhabit God's eternal now. Connect with us at lifearoundthefire@gmail.com or visit our website for more resources to fuel your spiritual journey.
Loving Yeshua/Jesus, Loving people... Come as you are and you will be loved!
Feel free to check out our website by typing in lifearoundthefire.com or Life Around The Fire ... We think you'll find some beneficial stuff to look at and apply to your life.
Shalom to you and your home.
Before we get going any further, I thought it would be good to kind of give an FYI, a little update on this podcast, life Around the Fire. We are a podcast that is about four years old and our primary purpose is spiritual growth, and our primary purpose is spiritual growth, and in saying spiritual growth, what we mean by that is growth, intimacy, real relationship primarily with God first and foremost, and then relationships with one another, and our outreach has now grown to about, I guess, around 1,200 cities around the world and 74 countries, and we're on all continents. So our footprint is getting larger, but still we're a drop in the information ocean. But I like to say we are God's drop, or one of God's drops, and so my name is David Zutari and I will be your host today, and it's a privilege to take some time and really open up the scriptures and see them come alive. And see them come alive.
Speaker 1:I personally believe that it is really it's wrong man, it's wrong to bore people with the Bible. The Bible gets a bad rap and we around here live and breathe by the scriptures. I mean, they are for us the baseline for what we do. We might not always give the address. You know the exact location where something's coming from, like Genesis, chapter 2, verse 3. Spoken and break it down and get a concordance and pick out a word that we've shared. You'll find a biblical reference, even though we might not give the address for where it's located. So, all that being said, it's a privilege to share with you the Word of God, the living Word of God, and hopefully to do so in a way that reaches in and both changes your life for the better, but also motivates you into action, into doing things concerning what you're learning, not just gaining more information. We are perhaps all of us are notorious for mistaking knowing things and equating them with information that we have gathered. And now that is mission completed. That's like not mission done right, that's step number one. So it's our desire to see intimacy with each of our relationships grow with God, to have that interaction with him that's real, and also to have healthy relationships with one another as people and you know people do people things and it can be a real challenge to love one another. When someone does a people thing to you, you know they people you and it can be hard to get that off, but we need to work at that because without that we build barriers and not bridges, and we are called to be united.
Speaker 1:Jesus prayed a prayer. It's located in John, chapter 17. And it's a powerful prayer and it really centers in on relationship with God and relationship with one another, and we would become one. And if there's any prayer that's going to be answered, it's going to be that prayer. And so Holy Spirit is at work within us, teaching us how to love one another and giving us opportunity for that, but also teaching us how to grow in relationship with Jesus and so doing Jesus showing us how to enter in relationship with Jesus and so doing Jesus showing us how to enter into relationship with the Father, and we can have a complete relationship with God the Father, god the Son and God the Spirit, god, the Holy Spirit, three in one, one in three, the mystery of mysteries being one, three being one, one being three, perfect in unity, always has been, always will be God. Relationship with God, not just relationship with a real cool person, but relationship with the king of the universe. God Most High loves us and has in his heart a desire for relationship with us, real relationship, not the formation of some sort of dead religion in which we go through things that we do without any feeling as it means, by which we try to appease God, any feeling as it means by which we try to appease God. Jesus appeased things on our behalf by going to the cross and dying on our behalf, taking our sins with him and releasing to us his life by his spirit sent by his father to dwell within us so that we become partakers of the divine nature, united with him and also united with each other. That's our purpose and I believe that's why you are tuning in, and I want to thank you for your prayerful support, because it enables us to continue to do so.
Speaker 1:So I was looking throughout just kind of going throughout my notes recently and I was noticing a theme that was emerging, and it was kind of a sub-theme actually, because the theme that was emerging was the centrality of Jesus and the efficacy of his work on the cross and resurrection and ascension and the fact that he's returning soon in fact, I think, sooner than we may think, perhaps in our lifetime. Signs are pointing to the fact that we are living in the day and year on which things are escalating at a level that are just staggering. Even knowledge is escalating so quickly that the appearance of things coming to a closure, I mean, it's more easily believable for me, anyway, it's more easily believable that time is coming to a close and that God is fulfilling his purposes, and part of it is the revelation of his presence in a unique and powerful way across the nations right now, greater than a revival, greater than an awakening, a sovereign demonstration of God and his kingdom unprecedented, perhaps saved the revelation of Jesus walking on the earth and his resurrection. Outside of that, what we're about to experience, what we're experiencing, what we're in the early stage of experiencing, and we're about to experience more of, supersedes anything outside of that, and so the sub-theme, though the sub-theme that I was noticing, was the, the fact that we are called I'm called by God to let go of the past and not worry about the future. I'll say it again one of the things that I am called to participate in now is a way of life that lets go of the past yesterday is gone now is a way of life that lets go of the past Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come and to live life today or to live life now, and to understand that eternity isn't something that's going to take place down the road. Eternity is now. We just happen to be living in a realm called time and space that is carved out of eternity, because eternity is still in existence and we are designed to live according to the ways of eternity. It is our privilege to live in the now. Yesterday is no longer, the bad is no longer, but also, what we did, that was good. It was good then, and now God has something unfolding that can be built onto that, but that's gone. We can't rest on our previous accomplishments and tomorrow there are no guarantees. In fact, I wrote recently a note to myself and it goes like this Yesterday is too early and tomorrow is too late. Yesterday is too late and tomorrow is too early, too early. Yeah, I mean, in essence, learning to live in the now.
Speaker 1:I want to take a moment and read from the scriptures. Since I boasted on them a moment ago, I might as well read from them, right, and I'm just going to read these passages without any commentary and let them just kind of each hang in the air and let you and Holy Spirit work them out, and then we'll close things off with a few comments. But I'm just going to read from the scriptures, concerning yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. Live life today. Matthew, chapter 6, verse 34.
Speaker 1:Jesus said, therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient, for the day is its own trouble. Proverbs 3, verses 5 through 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths. James, chapter 4, verse 14. Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Philippians 4, verse 6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Speaker 1:John, chapter 14, verse 27. Again, jesus said Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Psalm 118, verse 24. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Speaker 1:Hebrews 13, verse 8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Romans 8, 28. And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. Proverbs 17, verse 22. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Speaker 1:Revelation 21, verse 4. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Proverbs 27, verse 1. Do not boast about tomorrow, for you don't know what a day may bring. John 10, 10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.
Speaker 1:Isaiah 41, verse 10. Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will hold you with my righteous right hand.
Speaker 1:Philippians 4, verse 13. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Ephesians 3, verse 20. Now to him who is able to do more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. Let me read that again Ephesians 3, verse 20. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.
Speaker 1:Matthew 6, verse 25 to 34. Therefore, I tell you, this is Jesus talking to 34. Therefore, I tell you, this is Jesus talking. Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. It Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing. Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the loins of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin. Yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Speaker 1:I'll read a couple more 1 Peter 5, verse 7. Casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. Hebrews 13, verse 5. Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for he said I will never leave you nor forsake you. Two more Philippians 3, verses 13 to 14. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own, but one thing I do forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal of the prize, of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. And finally, matthew 6, 6, verse 27. Jesus said and which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to your span of life?
Speaker 1:This whole notion of us letting go of the past and not being concerned about the future, or worried about the future, anxious about it or even anxious about the past, to live free from that anxiety. When Jesus sets us free from that, we are free indeed, and he has come to set us free. We've used this particular illustration before and it's worth repeating. One of the ways that people would train adults, excuse me, one of the ways that people would train elephants is they would take a baby elephant and put a bracelet on its ankle and chain it to a and so it would try to break free, but it was tethered and could only go so far until eventually it gave up, and then the trainer could take the chain off and leave the bracelet on, and the elephant would only go so trained as a child, as a young baby elephant, so that even as an adult it was still tethered, even though it was free.
Speaker 1:And Jesus wants us to be free from that mindset of being tethered to the past. Being free from our past is a gift. That's part of salvation. Salvation covers our body, it covers our mind and it covers our spirit. It's part of what God provides. When he gives us his nature, he deals with that nature that is contrary to that, as we allow him to and as he shines his light on it.
Speaker 1:And for some of you, just by hearing these words right now, brings a light onto that situation within your life that you've been tethered to the past. The past and it has produced fear of the future and it causes living in the present to be filled with mixed feelings that are oftentimes distracting and frustrating. And you, hearing this, is enough to inspire you and Holy Spirit to work on that area and for you to give God permission to touch that specifically. See, because salvation is specific, it's not just a general thing. Yes, it covers us completely, but we're also called to deal with things specifically. That's a very significant word right there. Salvation covers us completely, which enables us to deal with things specifically, and some things need to be dealt with specifically. The past sometimes needs to be dealt with specifically, things that have held us.
Speaker 1:And by hearing this now, you can't unhear it. Praise God. That's good news. The good thing about preaching and teaching is, when we are exposed to it, you can't unhear it and sometimes it's like oil it just stays with us. It's like oil being placed on us and it's not just easily wiped or washed away, thank God. And it's not just easily wiped or washed away, thank God.
Speaker 1:I'm so thankful that I have been set free from my past, because there were things in my past that were not pretty. They had me in bondage, and sometimes I would be reminded about that and it would seem like I was still living it, or I was limited by it, if not living it. And the fact of the matter is we are not limited by that. We've been set free to live in a way that is literally a demonstration of God's kingdom, a demonstration of his kingdom, of his culture, of his life. Now. Eternal heaven, now in part, and we're called to enjoy it, not just to get through it and finally get to the other side.
Speaker 1:Yes, we have some of that Sometimes. We just have to go through things, of course, but there are other times where we are really. We need to enjoy life, to live it, to enjoy relationship with God, to enjoy relationship with one another, not just to tolerate things, but to enjoy it, to have a robust, real relationship, alive with God and with each other. So it becomes attractive for other people to look at it and say how does that happen? And we can say Jesus is how it happens. And then the answer becomes another question. And the question is what do you mean, jesus? I'm glad you asked and we're off to the races.
Speaker 1:But it's not just for other people to look in on. It's for us to live and enjoy individually and together, relationally with God, free from the past, and to live in the now. Because the time that we're in the kingdom what time is it in the kingdom right now? It's now. What the time right now? It's now what the time is now. The time is now and the time is now for you to be set free by inviting Holy Spirit to impart to you the power of the resurrection that defeated the enemy and enabling you to walk free from being tethered previously, even though you still have the sense of that anklet on you. It's gone, that bracelet is gone, that bondage is gone and we are free to live. And also, tomorrow hasn't happened yet. So there's no sense in us being preoccupied with that and spending a lot of speculative time as to what that's going to be all about when we have the opportunity to live right now.
Speaker 1:Relationship with God right now.
Speaker 1:Now.
Speaker 1:Relationship with God right now, relationship with one another right now, being alive and aware of it right now.
Speaker 1:Let's pray. Father, you live and breathe eternity. Thank you that you've called us into it and you've called us out from the bondage of living underneath the weight of the world, the mindset, the weight of the world, the mindset of darkness and death, and you've given us revelation and understanding and filled our hearts with light, flooded them with light, light flooded them with light. We love you, we honor you and we invite you, holy Spirit, to empower us to live life now, today, free from worry, free from guilt, free from shame, free from fear. Thank you, we pray these things in the name of Jesus, standing here in his name, praying and saying amen, amen, amen, amen, amen. All right, folks, I love you. If you have any thoughts, questions, concerns, please feel free to drop us a line at lifearoundthefire, at gmailcom, or type in lifearoundthefire and look us up on the web. We've got some really cool music, some worship songs, some pretty interesting bog things that might benefit you, and we'd love to hear from you In the meantime. God bless you. Adios amigos.