S10E27 - Suffering And Honor
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
Suffering and honor are deeply connected in the life of faith. This episode looks at how choosing honor before God can shape the way we endure hardship, follow Jesus, and keep eternal perspective. Suffering is not always evidence of failure or deficiency Jesus suffered because He was honorable and obedient to the Father Humility comes before honor — Proverbs 15.33 Honoring God is central to spiritual identity Faith tested by suffering can result in praise, glory, and honor — 1 Peter 1.7 Present affliction is temporary, but eternal glory carries weight — 2 Corinthians 4.16-18 To...
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S10E26 - Humility And The Kingdom
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
Humility is more than a virtue—it’s a key to the Kingdom. In this episode, we explore how Jesus reveals humility as a pathway to freedom, honor, and true life. “Poor in spirit” → spiritual dependence (Matthew 5) Repentance = turning from bondage → toward freedom (Matthew 3–4) Humility unlocks the “door” (John 10) Pride traps; humility frees through Christ David’s life models returning to humility (Psalm 51) Jesus gives “keys” to the Kingdom (Matthew 16) God opposes pride, gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5) Jesus ultimately holds all authority (Revelation 1.18) To...
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S10E25 - What Is My Kingdom Mission?
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
What is your personal kingdom mission? This episode explores how Jesus’ mission becomes ours. Jesus’ purpose → making disciples (Matthew 28.16–20) Reconciliation as our shared mission (2 Corinthians 5.18–19) Living under Christ’s authority, not our own Discipleship: go, baptize, teach Unique calling: each life shaped for kingdom impact Ongoing presence: “I am with you always” Motivation: doing good + sharing (Hebrews 13.16) To read the full notes and learn more:
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S10E24 - How Do I Pray The Kingdom Way?
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
Praying the Kingdom is about aligning your heart with God’s will and priorities, following the pattern Jesus gave. • Jesus’ model of prayer — Gospel of Matthew 6 • “Your kingdom come, your will be done” as the central focus • Intentional prayer reveals God’s priorities • Faithful prayer honors God and testifies to others • Kindness in prayer shifts focus from people to spiritual causes • Boldness through Christ — Book of Hebrews 4 • Hope anchors prayer in future promises — Epistle to the Romans 8.24 • Prayer aligns us with God’s actions, not just answers •...
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S10E23 - What Is Organic Growth?
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
Organic growth isn’t manufactured—it’s formed through a living connection with God and others, modeled by Jesus. Here, we explore what it means to live an organic kingdom life: Honor as the foundation of true value and relationships Wisdom that flows from God, not the world (1 Corinthians 1.25) Forgiveness as essential to freedom and restoration (Matthew 6.14–15) Dedication to purpose, truth, and alignment with God Justice and kindness as core motivations (Micah 6.8) Living from the inside out through connection with Christ To read the full notes and learn more:...
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S10E22 - What Makes A Kingdom Marriage?
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
What does a kingdom marriage really look like? In this episode, we explore God’s design for marriage—placing Him at the center and building a relationship marked by honor, humility, and unity. In this episode: What defines a kingdom marriage The 3-way dynamic: God, husband, and wife Why honor and humility are foundational How unity shifts from conflict → “us vs. the world” Scripture anchors: Mark 12.25, James 4, Hebrews 13, 1 Peter 3 The role of marriage in God’s bigger purpose A clear, Scripture-rooted look at how marriage reflects God’s design for family and His Kingdom....
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S10E21 - What Makes A Kingdom Home?
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
This episode explores God’s original design for family, rooted in Psalm 127 and Psalm 128, and how redemption restores what was lost. In this episode: The influence of your upbringing and family dynamics God’s purpose for home and family from the beginning Psalm 127: God as builder, protector, and provider Psalm 128: blessing, fruitfulness, and generational impact The role of parents, marriage, and children in God’s design What it means to walk in reverence and alignment with God A reflective look at how God restores and builds homes that reflect His kingdom. 🔗 Read the full notes...
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S10E20 - What Is Kingdom Character?
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
What does it mean to live with true kingdom character? This episode contrasts earthly wisdom with wisdom from above and explores how Christ’s character forms within us and flows outward. In this episode: Wisdom from above vs earthly, natural, demonic (James 3) Character as lived, not just believed The “one another” life: love, serve, bear, encourage Peace as the evidence of spiritual maturity Transformation from inside out Kingdom character is not self-improvement—it’s Christ formed within us. 🔗 Read the full notes & go deeper: 📬 Weekly teaching, reflection tools &...
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S10E19 - Am I Experiencing True Community?
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
What does real community actually look like? In this episode, we explore Jesus’ prayer in John 17, where He reveals the foundation of true community—oneness with the Father that leads to meaningful connection with others. Isolation is common today, but Scripture shows that authentic community grows from truth, shared faith, and a deep relationship with God. In this episode: What Jesus’ prayer in John 17 reveals about community Why truth is essential: no truth, no community How oneness with the Father leads to unity with others Recognizing people in our lives as gifts from God ...
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S10E18 - How Does Spirit Happen for Me?
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
How Does Spirit Happen for Me? How does the Holy Spirit become real and active in your life? This episode explores what Scripture teaches about embracing Jesus, receiving the Spirit, and learning to live by His power. In this episode: One God, three persons — understanding the Trinity Why John 14.6 defines the starting point Receiving the Spirit as the pledge of our inheritance (Ephesians 1) The Spirit’s intercession in Romans 8.26 “Not by might… but by My Spirit” — Zechariah 4.6 A clear, Scripture-rooted foundation for spiritual growth and real transformation. 🔗 Read the...
info_outlineKnowing Jesus is very personal. Even though millions have and will believe in Him, every relationship is individual. Unique. Filled with potential for personal honor. Jesus' disciple John watched all of this unfold with his own eyes, and several decades later wrote down his gospel so that we, too, could experience belief that would be able to sustain us in this life and carry us into the life to come.
This growing belief (faith) helps us to interact for our own personal spirituality. John used the word "believe" to describe this in his gospel and his letters. Believe means to entrust ourselves to Him and have confidence in the power and truth of His Words. In this podcast we contemplate what it looks like to have growing faith in Jesus. It doesn't matter what background story you have - your ability to believe is a gift from God - if you want it!
To do this we follow some of the "thread" John includes in his Gospel. This can help us unfold the hundreds of examples and teachings through the stories found in the Word of God.
JESUS IS THE FOOD & WATER OF LIFE
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst." (John 6:35)
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38)
In short (and long) Jesus is the One Who sustains us. We can come to Him for spiritual food (see John 6) and by believing in Him have received the water of life which has been placed within us. This allows us to live lives of continual reconnection with our Father-Creator.
THE GROWTH OF OUR FAITH
"...but if I do these works, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” (John 10:38)
When speaking with the woman at the well: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25) So He feeds us spiritual food in this life, sustains us with living water placed within us (the Spirit), and gives us the gift of resurrection after this life is finished. We will NEVER die!
THIS PROCESS BEGINS THE MOMENT WE BELIEVE
We now move into a life based upon Light rather than darkness. No longer are we groping around - we have the lamp of God showing us our path through darkness and into light.
“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." (John 12:46) This includes living above and beyond fear, which is a huge gift found through believing. In John 14:1 Jesus says “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me."
WE BECOME CONDUITS OF LIFE TO THOSE AROUND US
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." (John 17:20)
This is cool:
“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:24-31)
Belief in Jesus is a life-giving process that once begun - never ends! I begin to learn about my Father through my believing Jesus connection, and over and over again find myself "...drawing near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
Lots of turbulence around us for sure!
Peace to your believing heart!
Dave and Burnadette