This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: Power to Forgive.
"But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house."
— Luke 5:24 (KJV)
Imagine the scene in that crowded house. A paralyzed man is lowered through the ceiling, desperate for physical healing. But Jesus addresses his deepest need first, saying, "thy sins are forgiven thee." To prove He had the divine authority to do so, Jesus performs a visible miracle, telling the man to stand up, pick up his bed, and walk home.
This miracle makes one thing undeniably clear: only Jesus has the power to wash away our sins.
Yet, we often fall into the trap of looking elsewhere for peace. We seek forgiveness through human systems, empty church rituals, or self-help formulas. But these are dry wells. No man, no routine, and no book can cleanse a human soul—only Jesus can.
And it is the Holy Spirit who opens our eyes to this beautiful truth. The Holy Spirit’s primary mission is to always point us directly to Jesus.
Today, many people chase after dramatic spiritual experiences, claiming they are of the Holy Spirit. But we must test these moments with honest questions: Did those experiences bring you to a deep, reverent fear of God? Did they anchor your faith in Jesus alone, and inspire you to follow His teachings alone? If a spiritual experience doesn’t lead you directly to Christ and His Word, then it is not from His Spirit.
If you are carrying the heavy weight of sin today, or if you’ve been distracted by empty religious forms, stop looking to the world. Simply come to Jesus with an honest heart. Talk to Him directly. Seek His forgiveness, and let His power set you free.
Let's pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your sovereign power to forgive and heal. Forgive us for the times we have looked to empty rituals or human efforts to cleanse our hearts. Holy Spirit, keep our spiritual vision clear. Guide us away from counterfeits and draw us close to the feet of Jesus today. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
Richard Templin Hancock
Encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily.
Christian - forgiven - grateful
Welcome. My name is Richard Templin Hancock and I’m here to encourage you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. I'm glad you're here—let's walk this path together.
A Word with Power
This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: A Word with Power.
"And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power."
— Luke 4:32 (KJV)
Imagine standing in the synagogue at Capernaum, listening to the teachers of that day. They had plenty of rules and complex traditions, but their words lacked life. Then, Jesus stands up to speak. Instantly, the atmosphere changes. The Bible says the people were utterly astonished at His teachings because His word was filled with real, sovereign power and authority.
When Jesus spoke, sickness fled, broken hearts were mended, and souls were set free.
Keeping that in mind, shouldn't the Word of Jesus hold the absolute centerpiece of our daily lives? Jesus did not leave us with empty philosophies; He passed His powerful words and His living teachings down to us so they could shape who we are. True followers of Jesus, and the faithful ministers who proclaim Him, always keep the focus right where it belongs: on the living Word of Christ.
So today, we must look in the mirror and ask ourselves some honest questions. How are our lives practically aligned right now? Have we placed our trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation? Are we following only Him, and are we truly living out His teachings? Or, if we are honest, have we quietly settled for a comfortable religious form that completely ignores the real, active life of daily discipleship?
Let's step out of the empty routines and step into the power of His Word today.
Let's pray: Lord Jesus, thank You that Your Word is alive and filled with transforming power. Forgive us for the times we have settled for a dry religious routine while ignoring the call to truly follow You. We place Your teachings back at the center of our lives today. Help us to walk as true disciples, trusting in You alone. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
"And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power."
— Luke 4:32 (KJV)
Imagine standing in the synagogue at Capernaum, listening to the teachers of that day. They had plenty of rules and complex traditions, but their words lacked life. Then, Jesus stands up to speak. Instantly, the atmosphere changes. The Bible says the people were utterly astonished at His teachings because His word was filled with real, sovereign power and authority.
When Jesus spoke, sickness fled, broken hearts were mended, and souls were set free.
Keeping that in mind, shouldn't the Word of Jesus hold the absolute centerpiece of our daily lives? Jesus did not leave us with empty philosophies; He passed His powerful words and His living teachings down to us so they could shape who we are. True followers of Jesus, and the faithful ministers who proclaim Him, always keep the focus right where it belongs: on the living Word of Christ.
So today, we must look in the mirror and ask ourselves some honest questions. How are our lives practically aligned right now? Have we placed our trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation? Are we following only Him, and are we truly living out His teachings? Or, if we are honest, have we quietly settled for a comfortable religious form that completely ignores the real, active life of daily discipleship?
Let's step out of the empty routines and step into the power of His Word today.
Let's pray: Lord Jesus, thank You that Your Word is alive and filled with transforming power. Forgive us for the times we have settled for a dry religious routine while ignoring the call to truly follow You. We place Your teachings back at the center of our lives today. Help us to walk as true disciples, trusting in You alone. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
A Jesus Preacher
This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: A Jesus Preacher.
"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction."
— 2 Timothy 4:2 (BSB)
A true messenger of the gospel is not someone driven by popularity, personality, or platform. They are someone commanded to preach the Word. Paul’s charge to Timothy is crystal clear: the preacher’s task is not to entertain people, echo the culture, or soften the truth. It is to proclaim God’s Word faithfully, whether the moment feels favorable or not.
This is what marks a faithful preacher: readiness “in season and out of season.” They do not preach only when people are receptive. They preach when it is costly, when it is inconvenient, or when it is opposed. Why? Because Christ is Lord, His Word is truth, and eternal souls are at stake.
But this verse also reveals a preacher’s heart. True biblical preaching includes correcting, rebuking, and encouraging. It must confront sin, correct error, and strengthen the weary. A faithful messenger doesn't just comfort, nor do they only confront. They do both—and they do it with great patience and careful instruction. Truth must be delivered with courage, but always wrapped in longsuffering love.
Ultimately, the question is not whether a sermon is impressive, but whether it is faithful to Christ. God's messengers simply open the Bible, proclaim its meaning, exalt Jesus, and feed His people with the truth.
The church does not need more performers. It needs people who will stand firm and preach the Word of Jesus.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, we ask that You raise up Jesus preachers to reach the lost enslaved to sin. Give all of us the courage to stand firm in season and out of season. Help us all to preach Your truth with bold courage, but also with patient, Christ-like love. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction."
— 2 Timothy 4:2 (BSB)
A true messenger of the gospel is not someone driven by popularity, personality, or platform. They are someone commanded to preach the Word. Paul’s charge to Timothy is crystal clear: the preacher’s task is not to entertain people, echo the culture, or soften the truth. It is to proclaim God’s Word faithfully, whether the moment feels favorable or not.
This is what marks a faithful preacher: readiness “in season and out of season.” They do not preach only when people are receptive. They preach when it is costly, when it is inconvenient, or when it is opposed. Why? Because Christ is Lord, His Word is truth, and eternal souls are at stake.
But this verse also reveals a preacher’s heart. True biblical preaching includes correcting, rebuking, and encouraging. It must confront sin, correct error, and strengthen the weary. A faithful messenger doesn't just comfort, nor do they only confront. They do both—and they do it with great patience and careful instruction. Truth must be delivered with courage, but always wrapped in longsuffering love.
Ultimately, the question is not whether a sermon is impressive, but whether it is faithful to Christ. God's messengers simply open the Bible, proclaim its meaning, exalt Jesus, and feed His people with the truth.
The church does not need more performers. It needs people who will stand firm and preach the Word of Jesus.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, we ask that You raise up Jesus preachers to reach the lost enslaved to sin. Give all of us the courage to stand firm in season and out of season. Help us all to preach Your truth with bold courage, but also with patient, Christ-like love. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
Simply Following Jesus
This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: Simply Following Jesus.
"And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him."
— Luke 5:11 (BSB)
When Peter, Andrew, James, and John walked away from their fishing nets on the shores of Galilee, they didn't enroll in a formal seminary. Jesus didn't hand them a complicated curriculum, set up a multi-year program, or require them to pass academic courses.
So, what did He do? He simply lived with them, loved them, and taught them.
When we look closely at the Gospels, we see that Jesus never established different classes of believers. There was no "us-versus-them" attitude. To Jesus, every single follower was simply a disciple—a word that literally means a "learner."
Now, He did appoint some as apostles, pastors, and teachers to help the church. But all were taught not to be proud, but to walk as fellow believers, using their different gifts to lift each other up.
And that same beautiful, uncomplicated call is extended to you and me today.
Following Jesus isn't about measuring up to a rigid system of religious performance or acquiring fancy titles. It is about being a daily learner of His teachings. As disciples of Jesus, our calling is incredibly straightforward: we spend time in His Word, let His teachings change our hearts, and then pass those simple truths on to the people in our lives. Disciples making disciples—it is as simple as that.
Today, let go of any pressure to perform. Jesus isn't looking for religious professionals; He is simply looking for people who are willing to pull their boats ashore, leave their old ways behind, and walk with Him daily.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for the beautiful simplicity of Your call to follow You. Remove any religious pride or "us-them" attitudes from my heart today. Teach me through Your Word, and give me the grace to share Your simple truth and love with someone else today. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
"And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him."
— Luke 5:11 (BSB)
When Peter, Andrew, James, and John walked away from their fishing nets on the shores of Galilee, they didn't enroll in a formal seminary. Jesus didn't hand them a complicated curriculum, set up a multi-year program, or require them to pass academic courses.
So, what did He do? He simply lived with them, loved them, and taught them.
When we look closely at the Gospels, we see that Jesus never established different classes of believers. There was no "us-versus-them" attitude. To Jesus, every single follower was simply a disciple—a word that literally means a "learner."
Now, He did appoint some as apostles, pastors, and teachers to help the church. But all were taught not to be proud, but to walk as fellow believers, using their different gifts to lift each other up.
And that same beautiful, uncomplicated call is extended to you and me today.
Following Jesus isn't about measuring up to a rigid system of religious performance or acquiring fancy titles. It is about being a daily learner of His teachings. As disciples of Jesus, our calling is incredibly straightforward: we spend time in His Word, let His teachings change our hearts, and then pass those simple truths on to the people in our lives. Disciples making disciples—it is as simple as that.
Today, let go of any pressure to perform. Jesus isn't looking for religious professionals; He is simply looking for people who are willing to pull their boats ashore, leave their old ways behind, and walk with Him daily.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for the beautiful simplicity of Your call to follow You. Remove any religious pride or "us-them" attitudes from my heart today. Teach me through Your Word, and give me the grace to share Your simple truth and love with someone else today. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
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