Episode 1 - Living From The Inside Out

Welcome to Tetelestai Radio! The official podcast of eXchanged Life Recovery. This episode starts at the beginning of this podcast endeavor to apply the Bible in a real and easy-to-understand way for those struggling with addiction or problematic behaviors.

Whether you are thinking about trying the Spiritual aspect of recovery for the first time, or have been going to church all your life, this podcast brings the Bible to recovery in an applicable and real way.

Religion means "rules". If you think God is all about rules and regulations and that makes you want to run or rebel, then you've ran into religion. Religion is not a true relationship with God. God wants a relationship with you because He loves you and there's nothing you can do about it.

About the host: Caleb spent 10 years in the Marine Corps and worked in the Intelligence Community. During that time and years after, problematic drinking coincided with his different careers and relationships. In recovery, Caleb found the exact audience that needed to hear of God's unconditional love and grace. In this podcast, he shares that with you.

Transcript

Thank you for tuning into episode one of "Tetelestai Radio." This is the official podcast of "Exchanged Life Recovery." This is a ministry where we proclaim an unchanging truth, and that's when Jesus declared the word "Tetelestai on the Cross," meaning it is finished. He wasn't announcing defeat, but victory. The work of redemption was completed. The power of sin was broken, and a new life was made available to every believer. Here at XLR, what we call "Exchanged Life Recovery" for short, we don't focus on self-striving to be free from addiction and problematic behaviors. We learn how to live from the freedom of Christ, that he has already secured for us. What you're about to hear is the mission statement of "Exchanged Life Recovery." It reveals our heart, our direction, and our guiding principles. At the heart of "Exchanged Life Recovery" is the belief that the promises and principles of the Bible provide a solid and lasting foundation for living a life free from the chains of addiction and problematic behaviors. Our ministry seeks to empower individuals to embrace a recovered life, grounded in the transformative truths of scripture. By leaning on God's word, we discover not only guidance for our daily lives, but also the authority and strength to overcome challenges that once seemed unbeatable. Central to our message is the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. His sacrifice secured freedom and victory for every believer, equipping us with the power to confront and conquer struggles that once controlled our lives. Through faith in his redemptive work, we can live as overcomers, walking in the grace and strength that Christ provides. XLR is a ministry where we celebrate this freedom. We encourage one another and grow together in understanding how to live in the abundance God has promised. Our ministry is more than a recovery program. It's a community, united by our new identity in Christ, with which we experience the fullness of life Jesus offers every believer. By focusing on biblical promises and Christ finished work, rather than our own work of steps and traditions, we aim to inspire lasting transformation, not just in breaking free from addiction and problematic behaviors, but in every area of life. Together, we are learning to walk in and apply the freedom, joy and purpose that comes from living an exchange life. This first message I have is one that I consider a foundational message, one of our ministry, one of what I believe really holds the key to understanding why why Christians believers sometimes still struggle with problematic behaviors even though they're born again. 
This This message I've entitled living from the inside out recovery through revelation, not self-effort. The root issue, I believe, is misunderstanding who we are. Problematic behavior is not our deepest problem. Misunderstood identity is. Many believers live far below what Christ has already accomplished, not because they lack sincerity or discipline, but because they misunderstand who they are in Christ and how God designed us as Spirit, soul and body. Scripture teaches that at salvation, our spirit is made new, instantly and completely. Second Corinthians 5:17 says this, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold. All things become new. Our Spirit is reborn at the moment of salvation. We are instantly reconnected to the Father, but our mind, our soul, still needs renewal and our body still lives in a fallen world. Spirit, soul, and body is elaborated on or at least spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. May your whole Spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless. When recovery efforts focus only on behavior modification, for example, start this, stop that, do these steps, do this homework, take this program, they miss the foundation. Freedom flows from identity outward, not behavior inward. You don't recover to become free as most secular recovery teaches. You learn who you already are because Christ has set you free. That's a big difference. The real battlefield is the mind, not the Spirit. Most Christian struggle happens between the ears, not in our Spirit. At the moment of salvation, our Spirit is reconnected to the Father, 100%. Our born-again Spirit is not confused, it's not addicted, weak or sinful, but our unrenewed mind still reasons according to feelings, experiences, trauma, and past failures. Romans Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. The renewing this truth that our Spirit, our Spirit Man, is 100% reconnected to God if we're born again. However, too often, feelings are treated as truth. For example, I feel addicted. I feel defeated. I feel like I'll always struggle. Scripture never tells us to be led by feelings. It tells us to be led by truth. John 17:17 says, "Your Word is Truth." Second Corinthians 5:7 says we walk by faith, not by sight. Feelings are real, but they're not authoritative unless we allow them to be. When feelings contradict God's word, they must be corrected, not obeyed. Cravings, emotions, and thoughts are loud, but they're not the Lord. Remember that truth out ranks sensation. Also know that God is not distant. He lives in you. Recovery is not about reaching God. It's about recognizing where he already is. Religious or legalistic thinking often portrays God as distant. For example, they may think, or you may think, "I have to pray harder. I need someone holier to intercede for me. Maybe God is withholding help to teach me a lesson." But Scripture says God is far off. He dwells within the believer. Colossians 1:27 says Christ is in you the hope of glory. For Corinthians 6:19 says your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our only high priest. No other mediator is needed. Not Mary, not angels, only Jesus. 
And because we have this, we have Jesus inside of us. Hebrews 4:14 through 16. Read those scriptures, the point I want to get to in that scripture is let us come boldly to the throne of grace. We can come boldly. We don't have to cower and feel shameful in front of God. He already lives inside of us if we're born again. This means recovery does not require begging, earning, or proving worthiness. We approach God as sons and daughters, and not condemn servants. We don't have to get God's attention. You already have his presence. 
The next point I want to make is nature versus behavior. A lot of times people identify with their struggles. I'm an addict. I'm an alcoholic. I'm this and I'm that based off the definition of their issue. But know this, sinful behavior does not mean a sinful nature. nature. There's a big distinction between nature, which is who you are, and your behavior, which is what you do. At salvation, your nature changed even if habits didn't disappear overnight. Roman 6:6 says our old man was crucified with him. Roman 8:10 says the spirit of life because of righteousness. If someone continues to see themselves as an addict, a failure or broken beyond repair, they eventually live in alignment with that belief. Proverbs 23:7 says as a man thinks in his heart so is he. True transformation happens when identity changes first. Another scripture Ephesians 4:22-24 "Put off the old man. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Put on the new man." You don't act free to become free. Even though that seems exactly what we should do, you act free because freedom is who you are. Freedom is in you. 
My last point is that victory comes through revelation, not effort. Freedom flows from believing rightly, not trying harder. Effort based recovery. It says things like, "White knuckle it. Try harder next time. Be more disciplined." Grace-based transformation says "See who you already are." I agree with what God says about you. Let truth reshape behavior. 
John 8:32 says this, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." 
2 Peter 1:3 says this, "His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness," not some things, not most things, all things that pertain to life and Godliness. Victory increases as revelation increases. As your identity in Christ becomes clearer, grace will flow more freely. Romans 5:17 says "Grace reigns through righteousness. Recovery is not powered by willpower." Maybe a better statement is "Real recovery is not powered by willpower." It's powered by revelation. So, in closing, remember this, you're not fighting for freedom, even though it may seem like that. A better way to think of it is that you are learning to live from freedom. The more you identify with your spiritual reality in Christ, the more cravings lose authority, shame loses its voice, behaviors lose their grip. This is not a denial of struggle. It's an alignment with truth. 1 John 4:17 says this "As He is, so are we in this world." As we close today, remember this, you're not fighting for freedom. As much as it seems like that. Your learning had to live from freedom. The finish work of Christ didn't just forgive your past, it redefined who you are right now. Recovery is not about trying harder, managing behaviors, or white-knuckling your way to change. It's about revelation. As truth becomes clearer, grace flows more freely. As identity is renewed, behavior follows. Cravings lose authority, shame loses its voice. Old patterns lose their grip. Again, this is not a denial of struggle. It's an alignment with truth. And the truth is this, Christ lives in you. You are not distant from God. You are not broken by nature, and you're not powerless. Here at Exchange Life Recovery, and on Tetelestai Radio, we're learning together how to walk from the inside out, grounded in Scripture, anchored in grace, and rooted in the finished work of Jesus Christ. I thank you for listening to Tetelestai Radio, the official podcast of XLR. Until next time, keep living from who you already are in Christ.