DARING 2 B U
DARING 2 B U
ANCHORED: A FORTIFIED FAITH
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When the storms of life threatened to upend my own boat, I found an anchor in Christ that held steadfast. Now, I invite you to be captivated by the faith story of Dr. Cyntrel Janeau, a living testament to the transformative power of unwavering belief in God. With a spiritual journey that spans from the waters of baptism to the pulpit, Dr. Janeau's tale intertwines divine purpose with the professional rigor of healthcare, showcasing how a single life can ripple out to touch countless others. Her dual role in ministry and medicine exemplifies the embodiment of service and integrity, an inspiration for anyone seeking to live a life that echoes beyond the here and now.
Have you ever considered how your daily interactions could resonate with a higher calling? Our episode traverses the landscape of everyday evangelism, where ordinary moments become extraordinary opportunities to share the gospel. Dr. Janeau and I share heartwarming stories, like Mother Gracie, whose faith shone like a beacon even as her memory dimmed, illustrating how steadfast belief can light our way through the darkest times. We also delve into the profound impact of personal trials on our faith, celebrating the strength and hope that can emerge when we choose to hold fast to our convictions.
Concluding our heartfelt exchange, we explore the ebb and flow of life's journey and the assurance that comes from trusting in God's grand design. We reflect on the importance of spiritual growth, the supportive role of community and mentorship, and the value of proper training for effective ministry. Dr. Janeau's story and the wisdom we share serve as a clarion call to embrace the trials and triumphs of faith, assuring you that your journey, too, can be fortified by the relationship and growth found in the embrace of God who is with us. Join us and be inspired to cultivate a faith that not only withstands life's detours but thrives because of them.
Fortified Faith
Speaker 1Greetings , greetings , greetings , and we are excited . Today . You and I both are certainly in for a treat . Today we're discussing fortified faith . We're talking about how to stand in the midst of all things and how to celebrate our God , who is always faithful . And today we have Dr Centrell Geno , and she is going to share a remarkable journey . She's a woman who is full of faith and full of the Spirit of God , and so we're so excited to have her .
Speaker 1She is described as a woman of impeccable character . She exudes extraordinary confidence and boldness and you will certainly see that holy boldness that she stands in that authority . She's a woman of integrity who is passionate about the things of God . She accepted the call of God on her life to preach in 1991 . She was ordained in 1997 at Greater St Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans under the impeccable leadership of her spiritual parents , bishop Paul S Morton and Dr Deborah B Morton , where she served for 15 years in various leadership positions , including the church council , chair of the College of Ordained Elders , pastoral assistant and armor bearer . Listen , she has put in the work . She has proven herself to be a student who is seeking after the heart of God . She has served as the co-pastor of changing a generation , full gospel Baptist church . And what is that ? Boutie Boutie yes , boutie Louisiana , alongside her husband , pastor Chris Geno , for 17 years , nationally , she served the full gospel Baptist church fellowship in hospitality protocol and was the first assistant for the College of Ordained Elders . She is a partner of Change Global and a member of Daniel's Den , a mentoring and coaching program led by Dr Darius Daniels . Wow , and both of us are certainly learning and growing and being challenged and expanded by Dr Darius Daniels .
Speaker 1Listen , she has an amazing story she's going to share . She comes with 30 years plus of leadership and nursing experience . She has an earned doctor of nursing practice in healthcare systems leadership and she graduated with the highest distinction . She is a proud member of the prestigious Nursing Honor Society , a great 100 nurse . She's certified in electronic fetal monitoring , a legal nurse consultant and a nurse paralegal . She is a wife , she's a mother , she's a mentor , a coach , a teacher , a preacher , an intercessor and a worshiper , and she loves the Lord , jesus Christ . She shares her faith in a way that is going to set your soul on fire and you might want to get a tissue or two ready , because she is oily everywhere that she goes and we're excited about having her and I yield the floor to her . Let us know , dr Geno , let us know how you have been walking on this faith . How did you come to know the Lord Jesus Christ , and how is it that you walk with such distinction and authority ?
Speaker 2Well , good evening , good afternoon , good morning , whatever time of day your audience is tuning in . Thank you so much , dr LaTisha , and I'm so grateful to be here today . So you know , faith is one of my favorite subject matters in the Bible that I like to speak about . But how did I get to this point in my Christian walk ?
Speaker 2Number one I remember as a very young child my mother took myself and my sister to be baptized . I was like in the first or second grade , right , we would go to church on Sunday , which was like in the very next block of our home . My mother decided to get baptized and she wanted us to get baptized too . So you know how that goes when a parent get baptized and they want to baptize the kids as well . Of course I was too young to really understand who God was , didn't really , I can't say I had a relationship with him at that time , but my mother was doing what she thought was the right thing to do . So we got baptized and of course I , you know , grew up , lived my life , did some things that probably did not please God but my father , because initially my mom and dad wasn't together . They wasn't together most of my childhood . Right . Years later they reconnected and eventually got married and obviously I was grateful for that . But when my dad came into my life , my dad was in church . He was serving as a deacon in church and my dad would come and get me when I was in believe it or not in high school to go to New Year's Eve service at his church .
Speaker 2Now in New Orleans , on New Year's Eve night , we want to go to the French quarters . We were on Bourbon Street , we were out on a river walk , we were just hanging out downtown , right . So I didn't want to be in church on New Year's Eve night , right ? But be that as it may , I will go to church . And as soon as we got out , as soon as the clock struck 12 , because we would stay there to midnight or later then I would meet up with my friends and go have fun .
Speaker 2But lo and behold , years later my dad took me to a revival at Greater St Stephen . At the time it wasn't a full gospel Baptist church , it was a missionary Baptist church and at the time he wasn't Bishop Paul Morton , he was Reverend Paul Morton and he had a revival every year and Pastor Jasper Williams was there . And I went to the revival and I was so blessed by the worship experience , by the word , so I decided to go one Sunday and I just started going and going . And on one particular Sunday I went with a friend of mine . I was a guy I was dating at the time and my Leneesa nephew , because my sister and I were sharing an apartment at that time and I promised I had an encounter with God like I had never had before . I wasn't a member of the church , I was sitting way in the back of the church and the invitation to discipleship went forth and I promised she was almost like heaven and out of body experience . I got up , had never stood up in church before in my life . Remember raising my hand and I promise you I felt like hands touched my hands and in that moment I turned and I looked over to the guy I was dating . I said I'm about to go up , are you coming ? He said no and guess what ? The next thing I know I was walking on the out .
Speaker 2I ended up at the front of the church and ended up joining Greater St Stephen , january the 15th 1989 , and have never looked back and because of the teaching , because of the preaching , because of the presence of God . Because of the power of God , my life was changed dramatically . Was I perfect ? No , I was still in college , still going out and doing what college girls do , right . But at some point , as I grew in the grace and knowledge of God , old things passed away and all things became new , and I began to put my hands to the plow and did not look back . I was working for God , serving in the kingdom of God , and as I serve God and remain faithful to the things of God , god begins to bless me . So that's my journey to my Christendom and how I begin to walk with God and how I get to the place that I am now . So there you have it .
Speaker 1Oh wow , I love that . I love that because that is just a reminder that it doesn't matter where we are right , it doesn't matter where we've been . God is always able to reach us and he is always pursuing us right . What that shows is that God has been pursuing you your whole life right . He's been wanting you and coming after you and courting you , giving you space to grow right and to begin to understand who he is and to walk with him .
Speaker 1I love that . You said that you weren't perfect . Right , you still were a person who was learning about the things of God , but you gave yourself to understanding more and more . As you grew in the knowledge and grace of God , you gave yourself more and more to his will and to his working in your life . That reminds me to always remember that , just because you are found in a certain space , in a certain place , god never leaves us where he finds us Right , right , right His love is so overwhelming .
Speaker 1Yes , right , exactly , I love your story yeah .
Speaker 2And you know what ? Can I share this with you ? Can I share this with you Because I thought about this as you was talking just now . I want to encourage the parents who may be watching right . Most adults may be walking with God right now , but yet your children , whether they're teenagers , young adults , they may not be walking with God .
Speaker 2One thing my dad did not do , even though I gave him some pushback , he was persistent in coming , and at the time I wasn't living in the same house as my dad . So my dad would come and get me religiously to take me to church with him , right , and every opportunity that I had with him I would ask him questions that I didn't understand . I didn't understand how a man could be a nobler for three days and live and not . You know , it just didn't make sense to me . How can God be three in one ? How can three persons be one entity ? So I would challenge my dad with these questions . Now , I didn't know God , I didn't know the Word of God , I never relationship with God . But guess what my dad did ? He took the time to invest the Word of God that he knew into me and he answered my questions . He didn't see them as like being ignorant questions or stupid questions or like why you don't know this . Right , he took the time to answer those questions .
Speaker 2But then also , for those of you who work in environments , because I had a job at the time when I was in college and going out early on , before I became a nurse , I was a nursing assistant and I worked in a nursing home , so we took care of elderly patients and there was a lady in the nursing home , a patient , who every time you went into her room , she would talk to you about Jesus . Right , I'm on my job working . I used to go in the room to take care of her and she would talk to me about Jesus , and the security officer on the job will be at his security desk reading his Bible . And you know what God did ? God used those opportunities to plant the Word , to water the Word so that he can give the increase .
Speaker 2When I didn't understand what I didn't know , god was surrounding me with people and I promise you , I believe it was the prayers of my , whether it was my mother , my grandmother , my father somebody was praying , and so I want to encourage the parents and those of you who are out there who have young people out there who seem like they're not even interested in God . If you pray the right prayers , god will cause them to cross the path of people who will plant that Word , who will water that Word . And you know what ended up happening when I was going out to the nightclubs , leaving my job , going to the nightclubs . I used to be outside the nightclubs talking about God .
Speaker 2I ain't even know it right , but it's amazing because I would just repeat what I heard my daddy tell me , or what I heard the old lady at the nursing home tell me , what I heard the security officer on my job tell me . It's amazing what God would do right and how he will move . It was a setup right and , like you said , god is always in pursuit of us . You know he's pursuing us when we're not even thinking about him . It's amazing , I just love it .
Speaker 1I do too . I do too , and what I heard you talk about your father's patience , his willingness to answer the questions . Listen , you know , you may not have all of the knowledge and all of the information , but sharing what you do know from the Word of God , sharing what you've heard from the Word of God , is important , and not being intimidated or offended by those questions .
Speaker 1I think , that's important , especially today , where young people are inquisitive and they ask questions , they want to know , and the truth is , if we , you know , push them away or dismiss their questions , they're going to ask someone else , and there are so many things and options out there that can lead them down a dark pathway and open some portals that don't need to be opened right , and so I think it's important in the body for us to be prepared to give an answer . That's what the Word of God teaches us . You don't have to know everything , but we ought to know something right and be willing to share it .
Speaker 1So , wow , and that's just a testimony of listen . God will send people . Everybody has a small part . Yes , and every small part is actually a great part in the kingdom .
Speaker 2Yes , yes , right , yeah .
Speaker 1Because the same thing happened for me , yeah .
Speaker 2Yeah , I'm sorry I was going to say , and I think , another takeaway from that experience we as believers have to always be willing and obedient to share the Word of God when God gives us opportunity , because every soul is important to God . Somebody could look at me back then in that day and time when I wasn't walking with God , wasn't even worrying about God , and that you know young people when you're in college , you know sometimes you just kind of ignore certain things . They didn't have to obey the spirit of God and allow God to use them to plant the Word . And so I say to those of us , even in this day and time we live in a generation now where people the Bible says it's going to wax colder and colder , right , and even though things might seem like they're bad now , they will get worse . But we have to be both soldiers on the front lines and not afraid to teach and preach the Word of God when God gives us an opportunity to share the Word of God because we want to be used by God . Right , just like we have family members out there that we praying for that God will save and God will send people in their paths . Somebody's praying that we will give the Word to their loved ones , right ? And so I want to encourage those of us who are watching to don't be afraid to plant that Word , to water that Word , because , guess what , somebody's praying for you to minister to their loved one . You know , whether you own your job in the hair salon , at the nail salon , in the marketplace , wherever right
Living the Gospel Daily
Speaker 2.
Speaker 2So we have to be bold enough , with that Holy Ghost bonus , to do exactly what God has called us to do in these last and evil days . Right , it's not by happenstance that we were born in this day and time . Right , he need both soldiers on the front line . That's not afraid . Not afraid nor ashamed to preach the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ , because we're all called to do that . He said go into the highways and the byways and compel men to come . Compel means guess what I mean ? You got to be persistent about it , right ? Not that you have to be people over the head with the Word . However , you got a weapon , you're in warfare and you have to take a stand because God has called us to go and transform lives through the Word of God .
Speaker 1That's right , oh yes , yes , yes , yes . I think something you said that really captured me too is that it was in your everyday , getting up , going to work life yes , that people were having an impact on you , but it was also in their everyday , doing what they do , lives that they were willing to share . And the Bible says that we should the words of Christ to the disciples go . Ye , therefore make disciples of all nations . Right , that's it . Well , we always say that word go means go , and certainly it does . But the truth of the matter is , in the original language it really means as you are going , do these things . So God intends for us to do it in really practical ways , right and everywhere we find ourselves on our jobs , right in the grocery store , in our friendships and relationships , in our casual acquaintanceships , right , everywhere we find ourselves . We are to be a light in a dark place and to share the goodness of the gospel of Christ to our lives .
Speaker 1And I'm hearing that in real , practical ways mother in the nursing home sharing out of her spirit you know , things don't work like they used to anymore , body parts don't move like they used to anymore , but there's still a liveliness down on the inside of her because her spirit was speaking of the God that she had relationship with Reminds me of a woman that when I was in seminary I was doing some work at a church , I was interning , and there was a mother there and my mentor .
Speaker 1She was the senior pastor and she would encourage me to just kind of come early and do some things , and so I would come in and I would always see Mother Gracie . Mother Gracie was in her 90s . She didn't remember much of anything else , but every Sunday she would raise her hands and say thank God for Jesus and I just remember . She , like she doesn't remember much of anything , but she remembers every day to thank God for Jesus because , although she can't remember all the details of her life and days go by , gone by she could remember Jesus Saved her , jesus had given her what she needed every day and so she lived that , even when other things had faded away , that was still strong in her .
Speaker 1And that's what faith is for us in dark times right , that's right so share with us how have you used your faith to overcome Maybe share with us some particular instances where it got a little rough for you but you were able to stand on your faith and how you did that .
Speaker 2Yes , oh , my God , I can think about so many , but I guess how I shared this particular one .
Test of Faith and Miraculous Release
Speaker 2My husband and I have been married now for 31 years , right and so when we obviously when we initially got married , we were believing God for a daughter , we were like 10 years into our marriage and we still could not conceive , right and so we were about to go through the process , what they call the infertility workup . You know how , at some point when you're not able to conceive , they're saying to the specialist just to see if there's something going on that's preventing you from conceiving . So this was definitely a test of faith , because in many cases , you know , one of the things that you believe in life is you want to get married , start a family , you know , have children , you know , to raise your children , and so to be at that point where you're not able to conceive , it could really really take a toll on you , right and so at this particular phase in my life , I had a brother . Well , I have a brother . He's still among us , like if he's passed on , but he's still here .
Speaker 2He had gotten into some trouble with the law and he ended up being incarcerated , right and so back then I was a partner with Benny Hens ministry and he would do these partner conferences and I went to this conference and one of the things he had asked us to do was something that we was really believing God for , something we was in faith for . And at the time I had two things on my prayer list . At the top of my list , one I was believing God to conceive . Right , I had , of course , prayed many prayers , had people to touch and agree with me , had people to lay hands on me . I had done soul sees , I had done , you know , stood on the word of God , believing God for my daughter going through the process . But then , when this situation came along , I wanted my brother to be released from jail , right , and the backstory was my nephew got robbed and my brother . They were out there . So , of course , they retaliated . Somebody ended up dying , and so they were charged with first degree murder . Right , they were there , they did it . They were guilty . Right , they went to jail . They was going through the process . I was sorry about the life that was lost .
Speaker 2However , that was my brother and I really wanted him home . I would have you to know , when I went to this conference with Benny Hinn . He said you know , we have many things on our list . He said but I want you to think about one thing , one thing . So I had to choose between my brother and my baby , my brother and my baby . And so I said , god , you know how much I want a baby , but , lord , I want my brother home as well . So I'm at the altar .
Speaker 2The spirit of God is so high and it was like Benny Hinn couldn't lay hands on everybody . But this is what I felt in my spirit . God said , and I believe it was the spirit of God that said you don't need a touch from Benny Hinn , you need a touch from me . And I promise you , I felt the spirit of God in that place . And that was in December . What I was in November , I think , because in December we got word , because what I prayed for , I felt like I sacrificed my daughter because I really want my brother home . So I said , god , if you just give my brother release from jail .
Speaker 2My brother got released from jail right over some secondicality . I don't know what happened , but he was released . All charges would drop right , I'm telling you . And they were guilty . They did it , god , you know , and I know sometimes I share that testimony . Some people get a little bent out of shape because it felt like what your brother did , what he did . But God is a gracious God . Paul killed people too , but look at the apostle Paul , because his love , his grace and his mercy and God is a God of another chance we covered it with the blood of Jesus . He repented , he asked for forgiveness , you know . And so God did it . And guess what ? The very next month I found out I was pregnant . So let me tell you baby .
Speaker 2So we're talking about a test of faith . When I could not concede , my brother was locked up . Well , he was going to face either life or death . You know what I'm saying ? Because here in the state of Louisiana they still have the dead penalty , you know , and when you have first degree murder you don't get out of jail , they don't even set a bond . But I'm telling you , it was during that time .
Speaker 2Well , my faith in God went to a whole another level . I had already had faith . Now I'm going to tell you something . Like you know , God has given all of us a measure of faith . And he said we have faith as the grain of a mustard seed . I went to Jerusalem , like in May 2000 , and asked him for the very first time it's so , what a mustard seed looks like . It's so small that you could barely see it . And God says if we have that amount of faith , we can speak to a mountain , okay , and cause it to be removed . Right , I'm talking about a mustard seed . Faith can move an entire year . When you talk about a mountainous , it's actually an analogy , right ? Is it something huge in your life ? To me , my brother being locked up was huge To me , not being able to concede was huge , huge .
Speaker 2But I'm telling you , when you work your faith , and when people say they don't have enough faith , when God says , I see it like that , he said I dealt all of you all a measure . It's like dealing cards . You know , here's your faith , here's your faith , here's your faith . So we have , we just have to work the faith that he has already given us . He's given us all that we need to get whatever we need . But it's according to our faith that is going to be done unto us . And I am a firm believer that there is absolutely nothing too hard for God , nothing too hard . Somebody back in the day would say , girl , there's no anywhere your brother's getting out of jail First degree murder charges a technicality , that was a Holy Ghost technicality . You know what I'm saying . When you work your faith , god will show up and he will move on your behalf and do something miraculous . He will do the impossible . He makes the impossible possible , amen . But it's according to our faith that is going to be done unto us .
Speaker 1Yes , I love it . I love it because , you know , the word of God teaches us that God loves to respond to our faith .
Speaker 2Right .
Speaker 1Because without faith it's impossible to please God , and so that means that our faith is pleasing to him , that it causes him to respond . That's right . I love it , and I remember the first time I heard a preacher sharing about Stephen being stoned and , as he was being stoned , him looking and seeing Jesus standing up because it was his faith in Christ and the Spirit of God helping him in the moment that he was being stoned to death .
Speaker 1It was his faith standing up and responding to say forgive these people , they don't even know what they're doing , they don't really understand what they're doing , and Christ responded to that . That was his faith talking yes , and we don't see many times in the Scripture where Christ is standing up . Right , we don't see that . So I love that . What you described is a faith that is fortified in trial , in tribulation . It's fortified . It's not that the trial strengthens it , it's our responding to .
Speaker 1God in the midst of the trial , in the midst of hardship and pressing our way through . That actually brings us to the place where our faith is activated , all the more right .
Speaker 2Yes , yes , look at you having church on here too . Yes , it's all right .
Speaker 2Yes , jesus . Well , you know this is the thing too , because a lot of believers , people pray for faith , you know , when God has already given it to us . But you can have the gift of faith , you know . Of course people can seek earnestly the best gifts and ask for gifts . But a lot of times people ask for faith but they don't realize . In order to get that faith you got to go through the crushing right .
Speaker 2The Bible says thinking not strange concerning the fire or trials , which is to try you as though some strange thing has happened to you , but rejoice to the extent that you partake in Christ's separate Amen , because you will have to go through something . He says the trying of our faith . Work at patience , but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and entire , wanting nothing of . So when you pray for faith , you can best believe you're going to go through something . Your faith will be tested , your faith will be tried . Your faith will have to be proven right , so you have . When you welcome faith , you're going to have to welcome being tested , amen .
Speaker 1Oh wee , that's a whole word right there . We don't understand what that means when the Bible speaks of us being perfect or perfected , or something like our faith causing and the patience working , a perfect work in us . That perfect means maturing right . Yes , yes , it takes hardship to grow us up . It takes adversity right to bring out what's in us .
Faith and Trust in God
Speaker 1And I think unfortunately , sometimes it's been bad theology , when people didn't know better and they were sharing a myth , or sometimes , in just our finite understanding , we put God in a category . I like to say a big us . We make God a big old us . I make it , god , a big old Dr Tish . And God is not a big old Dr Tish , god is a big old God , god is God and there is an otherness , an absolute otherness , to God and the way that God does things , and we don't have to understand them in order to have faith . As a matter of fact , faith is not understanding , but choosing to believe anyway .
Speaker 2Yes , yes , yes , yes , yes , yes . That is so good .
Speaker 1That is so good . You hit the nail on the head with that . Go a little bit further , come on . Come on , go a little bit further in there with us .
Speaker 2Oh my God . So let me just say this People are always talking about what is faith , what is faith , and we always go to Hebrews 11 and 1 . Now , faith is something , that's a thing . Hold for it . And if people can argue that that's not a definition of faith but a description of faith , it's the substance of things . Hold for it , the evidence of things not seen .
Speaker 2Here's a way I like to talk about that when I talked about when I was believing God for my baby , when I was trying to get pregnant , and one night my husband and I went to dinner right , and in this restaurant they had this little arrow where you can buy items and they had a frame with a ballerina skirt on it . Now I wasn't pregnant yet , right , I was going through the process . I purchased that frame and I said my baby's picture is going to go in this frame and I put that picture in my house . And what that picture reminded me of , my interpretation of that text , is that picture was the substance . That frame was the substance of things . Hold for it . It was symbolic of my baby , because my baby picture was going to go in this frame and it was the evidence of things not seen right . So I was believing God to have a baby and I stepped out in faith and began to make purchases for a baby I hadn't not had .
Speaker 2You know what I'm saying . That's what faith does . Faith is trusting God and believing God despite what your situation looks like . Right , it's about taking God at His word . But you know how you get there . Number one you have to know it . You have to know God , you have to experience God , you have to have had an encounter with God , having heard about God and then getting to know Him for yourself . And then , when you get to know Him based on His word of God , then you can begin to walk by faith . Because the Bible says the just shall live by faith . Right , and we have been justified by Christ . Right , it's called justification .
Speaker 2So when you think about what you've done because you said I don't deserve that because of the life I live and the things I've done , and the places I've been and the people I've been with , and the things no , no , no , no , no , no , no , no , no that is covered by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ it's just as if you never did it . So when God sees you , when you go to God in faith and asking God for whatever it is you need God to do , that stuff has been covered by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ . So it's just as if you've never done it . So you don't have to go before God , timid , with your head down and your tail between your legs . No , you go up there like you are child of the most high God , because it's not on your works , it's not about your works of righteousness , because it's not about what you did , but it's about what he did . It's about the finished work on Calvary's cross , amen .
Speaker 2And so you can take God at his word and believe God , for whatever you need God to do in your life , he is well able to do , exceedingly , abundantly . Above all , that you can ask or even think , according to what the power that works on the inside of us . You know what that power is . It's the Holy Ghost power . That's also the power of your faith , amen .
Speaker 2It's about trusting God and taking God at his word . That's right . It's about trusting God and taking God at his word that he loves you . If God let me say this all the time if God loved you enough to die for you in the midst of your sins , how would he not much more give you anything that you desire when you put your faith in him ? You know what I'm saying , my God . If he loved you enough to die for you , surely these things that we believe in God for he loved you enough to give it to you , right ? That's what the word says . If we being even know how to give good gifts to our children when they ask , how much more would the Heavenly Father give those of us who love him ?
Speaker 2It's all about working our faith , and that fortified means you have strong faith . You are secured from your faith , right ? In other words , I don't care what come up against me , because of who . I am in Christ , because greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world , that I know that no weapon that is formed against me shall prosper and never tongue their rods against me shall be condemned . You know why I can believe like that ? Because of my faith in God , because of my faith in the word of God , because I tried him and I know him and he has never failed me yet and I stand on the promise . If he did it before , he's going to do it again . He is the same God and he changes not . That's the God that I serve .
Speaker 1That's it , that's it , that is it and I think we I think sometimes we make it hard in the body for people to understand what it means to have a fortified faith . Come on , and what you described was a cultivating of our faith . God has given us the faith . The seed of it is in us already . We cultivate it and nurture , and it increases as we encounter the things that we encounter . But we cultivate it by continuing to read his word . We cultivate it by staying in relationship with him . We cultivate it by hearing the word and by speaking the word , not just by speaking it , because a lot of people have gotten into something else . It becomes something else when I think that I can conjure something up to manipulate God . No Right .
Speaker 1A faith is a faith that is a godly faith is a faith that hangs its hat on God's ability , on the nature of who God is , on what God has already said in God's word . And so if we are repeating to God what God has said about the situation , what God has said to us , if we are speaking to God , look at the Holy Spirit . I am speaking and ministering to myself even as I speak this , because God works that way . Listen , yes , if we speak what he says based on who he says he is . He says he is based on what we've already seen him do , based on his character and his nature that we see in the word of God . Guess what he has obligated himself to do Come on .
Speaker 1Respond . That's right , and we know that . The word says that God is not a man that he should lie , nor the son of man that he should have to repent . That means that he is not going to lie to us based on the changing of situations and circumstances . There is no shadow of turning in God . That means he ain't shady , he's not a liar , he's not a deceiver . There is no wickedness in him , that he always has our best interest at heart . Because of who he is , his name . He has put his name on the line . Come on , come on , and so God will not shame himself . Come on . By not doing what God has said , god will come through . Is it always the way that we want him to ? No , but it's always for our good Right .
Speaker 1Even when it doesn't happen the way we want it to , he's still faithful .
Speaker 2Oh my God , yes , that's what . And he always comes to write on time . You know , write on time , he is an on time God . Right , oh my God , I'm just so blessed . It's just oh my God .
Speaker 1Give us . I have a life verse . Do you have a life verse ?
Speaker 2A life verse .
Speaker 1I have a life verse . There's a verse that is a go to Now , I love the word of God and I study the word of God and all of that , but at the end of the day , there is a verse when things get really crazy , yeah , right , and and and you know , even with a fortified faith , the enemy is going to always keep trying Right To kill , steal and destroy . And so , even with a fortified faith , sometimes life gets heavy and we have to really key in , lock in and , you know , turn the plate down and write and spend some time with him and all of that , and and when times are that way for me and it looks crazy , there is a verse that really speaks to me and brings me back to a place of understanding to not stop fighting , to not stop staying in God's face and to not just trust him but to not give up on the God that's in me , and that is Philippians 1 C .
Speaker 2Yes , yes , yes .
Speaker 1And God is a good , great , amazing , overwhelming work in us . He will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus . That means that God is always going to do God's part . God is always working , god is always moving . God is always doing what God is going to do in order to bring to pass everything that he promised me for my life .
Speaker 1And so , even when I miss the mark , when I fail , when I fall to , when I mess up , when I take too long to make a choice or decision , god knows how to get to me and he is not giving up on me . He is always doing the greater work . He will bring the work that he started to completion . God finishes what God starts , and God started the great work , and God will finish it . That's what that verse says to me , and so it pulls me out of the space where the enemy would want me to go , to give up . You understand . So that's my life . So give us a verse that you hold on to that really stirs you up that way , because the Word of God is alive and active right .
Speaker 2Yes , yes , yes .
God's Plans and Faithful Journey
Speaker 2So one of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29 and 11 . For I know the plans I have for you , says the Lord . He says plans to give you a hope and a future . He said I don't plan to harm you , he said , but I want you to know what I have planned for you . He says it will come to pass , amen . And so I thank God for this particular word , jeremiah 29 and 11 . For I know the plans I have for you declass the law of plans to prosper you and not to harm you . Plans to give you a hope and a future . In other words , my life is in God's hand .
Speaker 2So , no matter what I go through in life , no matter the good , the bad , the ups , the downs , the challenges , the struggles , the issues , whatever I might face , all I know is God has a plan for my life , amen . And if I continue to trust God and walk by faith , whatever he's designed for me , whatever he has predestined for me , it can help . But come to pass , because once he said it , it is good as done . Amen . You simply take God at his word and watch God show up and do what he promised to do . Amen . So he knows the plans that he has for you , plans to give you a hope and a future . That's it . I love it .
Speaker 1I love it . I think that the truth of the matter is that we know that if we read the Word and if we begin to really study it , if we look at what Jesus' life was like , if we look at even the work that the apostles were able to do after him the disciples listen what we see is that a life surrendered to God yields amazing fruit .
Speaker 2That there is a fruitfulness .
Speaker 1That is why our lives are not our own . Yes , we make plans , but God orchestrates everything that needs to happen in order for us to reach that expected end that you talked about , and sometimes it's a detour and then another detour and then another detour . So I think that we've done a disservice in , I guess , allowing people to think that it's a straight line .
Speaker 1That once you receive Christ . It's a straight line ? It's not . It's never a straight line , but that is why the Word of God is so rich and so relevant in every season , because if we just read through the Psalms , they help us to understand that it's not going to look like everything is okay all the time . It's not going to look the way we would prefer it to that .
Speaker 1it won't be easy , and there is a beauty in reading the honesty of the Psalmists as they wrote , there's a beauty of being able to see the honesty that Solomon talks about in Ecclesiastes . It's a season and a time for everything . There are ebbs and flows in life . It's a season for joyful exuberance , but there's also a season for grieving and recognizing that , whatever the season may be , that God is with us through it all and His peace , as we lean into Him , guards our hearts and minds . And that's not predicated upon our goodness , that's predicated upon God's goodness . That's the thing that I love about grace and why it is so amazing . It's not based on us , it's based on God .
Speaker 2Yes , yes , yes , lord , as you were saying that , as you were saying that , I thought about how can you talk about these ebbs and flow , you know , and how we , as believers , we can make plans . You know , the Bible talks about many other plans of a man's heart , but it's God's purpose that will prevail . But when you talk about the ebbs and flow , it made me think about Abraham . Right , you know , when God had made him a promise that he would be the father of many nations and any blessing with a seed , isaac , and then he asked him to sacrifice the seed , you know . So , even though we have these ebbs and flow , it's not going to be a straight path to where we're going . Right , so you can believe God . But then sometimes it seems like a monkey rich is being thrown in the plan of God . Right , but we have to recognize and realize that God is in full control . And sometimes God is just testing our faith , just to see how strong our faith really is . Because I believe , even though God had made Abraham a promise , the promise had manifested . And now God is saying he want me to sacrifice the promise , when he had already promised me that . You know , it's going to be my seed . It's going to be as a sign of the seed . You know what I'm saying .
Speaker 2Abraham was probably thinking one or two things , even if he take eyes and he has the ability to raise him up . Right , you know what I'm saying ? Because he already knew that wasn't going to take him , because what he said he told his men stay right here , because me and the lag gone and we're coming right back . You see what I'm saying . So it's like there's going to be some times of testing , some challenges , some ebbs and flow , but when you know God and you have a relationship with God and you tried God and God has already approved himself to you , and then God has already given you a word , then you stand on the word that God has given you amen . And so , even though those ebbs and flow comes and goes , those highs and those lows , when you stand on the promises of God , you already know that you're going to come out as pure gold . Right , you're going to go through , we go through to come out . Right . There's always there's a reason why we go through these different times of testing .
Speaker 2Like you said earlier , god wants to . It's going to fortify our faith . It's going to help us go to the next level in God , amen , so that we can go from glory to glory . And God uses it all . Uses it all for his glory , amen . So I too believe that , even though we may have hills and valleys , we're going to be up some days and we're going to be down some days . And even now , whether we up or we down , god is always in full control . He is so sovereign , he knows exactly what he's doing , and we trust the sovereignty of God , and you said it earlier , he's always working with our best interests at heart , amen . And so we have to live our life in such a way that , no matter what comes our way , when we know God is in control , we can rest in God , knowing that guess what ? It's going to work together for our good . That's what the Bible said , that's scripture , right there .
Speaker 1Yes , yes .
Speaker 1I think one of the things that is important to always remind people of is that , as we are growing , god is refining , yes , and he is purifying our hearts before him but , we have to be reminded that , as humanity , there are struggles that we'll still have right , the flesh is still a real entity and there are things that we will fight against and ways that we sacrifice ourselves . The Bible says that we are to be living sacrifices , and so being a living sacrifice means that matter of fact , when I was in seminary my pastor when I was in seminary , dr Walter Malone Jr he used to say you have got to learn to vote against yourself . So I don't want people to think that we're saying that you'll get it right all the time . We're not , we're not , and that's what brings us , that's part of what brings us so much joy . We know we didn't get it right all the time .
Speaker 1We know we still don't get it right all the time . Joy comes in having relationship with God . Who knows that we won't get it right all the time ? But the blood of Jesus still covers us . The grace of God still covers us , not giving us an excuse to sin or a reason to sin , not giving us a free pass , but what it does for us is causes us to recognize that God is not seeking to condemn us , and so you don't have to wear the condemnation of pass sin . You don't have to wear the condemnation at all , because the Bible says that in Christ there is now , therefore , no condemnation . So , as you hear us , please know and recognize that we are not saying that perfection on our end is achievable . It's not on this side . What we're saying is that our God is perfect in His ways and that His love that covers a multitude of sins , that the blood that covers us , that purchased our pardon because we could not be good enough , could not that love , that blood , is always working and because we grab hold of that truth .
Speaker 1Listen , dr Centrell described for us . She described for us what it really means and going through the fortified faith that happens in the growing of us in the times of testing and all of that . God uses that to mature us in our understanding of our faith and our understanding of who God is . And so don't suppose that God is punishing you all the time when things are not going your way . Don't suppose that God has grown weak when things are happening .
Speaker 1Listen , god knows exactly what's going on . God knows exactly what you're going through , and that is why the book of Hebrews serves my heart . So , because we have in Christ Jesus one who understands what it means to have to go through . He understands it not just in a cognitive sense in his head , but he understands through experience , as God with us , emmanuel having walked the face of this earth and endured temptation , having been betrayed , having been wounded by those he came to save and killed by those he came to save . Listen , god knows exactly what we're going through . He sees us , he knows us , he is God who is with us . And Christ lives , always making intercession on our behalf , always praying for us , always standing in the gap for us when we miss the mark .
Speaker 1So don't beat yourself up . Don't beat yourself up . Continue to seek him , continue to read the Word of God . You may not be able to sit down for two and three hours a day and getting your word , but you can , everybody can . You see this ? This is a cell phone . Everybody can access the Bible app can Google scripture we have access all the time where , if you can just read a couple of verses a day and reflect on what the word of God says and ask God to clarify for you what it is that you're reading , listen , if you ask him , he'll respond to you and he will do it , and it happens over time .
Speaker 1It's not something that happens always immediately , but as you continue in your daily walk , asking him to bring understanding , as you are in a place and a space where you can hear the word of God that is sound and is preached from the scriptures . If you're hearing something and you can find it in the scriptures and it makes sense in the scriptures and it aligns with what you read in the word of God , then you continue listening and you continue asking God what does this mean ? What are you saying to me ? Help me to understand as I read your word , listen , god is faithful to respond to you , and when you don't have understanding , he sends people to help bring clarity even to his word . That is why he gives gifts to people who are a part of the body , and by the body we mean the church , because the church was never meant to be just one congregation here or one congregation there . The church is called the body of Christ , and so all who are a part of the body , no matter what part of the world they are in , god will provide for them what they need so that they can grow and develop in him , so that they can understand what salvation means in a way that's really practical . So he does that for us .
Speaker 1The Bible says that if we ask for wisdom , he gives it liberally to those who want to know , and so God will help you to understand , even if you don't quite understand it all right now . There is nothing that we have that is magic . It's just the spirit of God that dwells on the inside , and just like Dr Centrell spoke about , listen if something on the inside of us that is working , that's the spirit of God , and the Bible teaches us that when we believe and we choose to receive the truth about who Jesus Christ is , that the seed of the spirit on the inside of us is there . And as we cultivate and we continue to stay in relationship with him , we cultivate that relationship reading the word and praying with God . Praying to God , spending that time with him , whether it's 15 minutes a day or two hours a day or four hours a day . As long as our hearts are sincere and truly seeking him , god responds and he matures us through the everyday workings of life , the challenges of life , because life gone , life , but God is gone .
Speaker 1God , that's right . That's right . And so speak to the people , minister , to the people who feel like they really want to grow in their faith and they're seeking to believe God . What would you say to them ? And I'll let that be our last word to them .
Speaker 2Okay
Strengthening Faith Through Relationship and Growth
Speaker 2. So for those who number one , who may not have a relationship with God , may not have a pastor or covering a church home , I think those are foundational . Number one you have to get to know Christ , have a relationship with God through Christ , accepting him into your heart , asking him to be your Lord and savior , to be the master of your life , and you confess what your mouth believe in your heart and he will save you . So that's foundational . After accepting Christ in your heart , you do need to connect with a local body , find your church home , be prayerful , be led by the spirit of God . You can go and visit some places . You can talk to family members , friends , coworkers , neighbors . Find out where church is that is preaching the unadulterated truth of the word of God and so that you can grow spiritually , so that you can connect with God through a local fellowship . So having a pastor is so key , it's so important because they can teach you the word of God , so that you can grow into things of God . And as it relates to growing in your faith , I can just reiterate what Dr Tish has stated . Number one spending time in the word of God , spending time in prayer , spending time in worship . It's at your fingertips . You can just put in a search word on a Google engine and it'll pull up scriptures on faith , on prayer , on whatever it is you believe in . I'm God to do in your life at this point in time ? Go to YouTube , find your worship playlist there's so many out there .
Speaker 2Spend some time in worship , in prayer , and as you grow in God , your faith will go to the next level , and so I just wanna encourage you to cry out to God . He will answer . He hears and he answers . Pray and ask and then lead you , and he definitely will lead you . And then just be intentional about seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness , and all these other things will be added unto you , and then you'll have the peace of God . And even as you go through these last days , god will put in you all that you need to be that light , to be that witness , to be the person in your family that can cause other ones to come along , your neighbors , your friends . You'll be that light that's gonna shine bright in the midst of this dark world . And guess what ? God will continue to be there for you and he will continue to make ways for you . And so one thing you don't wanna do . I don't know who said it first . You don't wanna leave earth without him . All right , so be encouraged on today .
Speaker 1Yes , yes , thank you , thank you . This has been an awesome conversation about a fortified faith , and we didn't just hear her testimony . She shared with us how to fortify our faith in the midst of life circumstances . Thank you so much . Are there any resources or things that you would like to tell people about that you have coming up ? Feel free to share those with us and any way that they may reach out to you .
Speaker 2Okay , so I will be delighted if you guys would follow me on all forms of social media , as at Dr Centro . Do you know I'm on every platform there is that I'm aware of . I'm sure there's some I'm not on because there's some things I'm not even aware of myself , but the popular ones you'll find me there . And also if you're in ministry whether you're a minister , an elder pastoral assistant or an assistant pastor I have an online offering . It's called Now that You're Ordained , what's Next ? What Every Elder Should Know
Training for Effective Ministry
Speaker 2.
Speaker 2What I have discovered is some people have been ordained , but they haven't been properly trained , and so I wanna help you take your ministry and your service and the kingdom of God to the next level , where you can have efficiency , effectiveness and operating excellence with boldness , competence and being competent right . So search me out on any platform . The information is there and I would love for you to join with me as we go on this journey together to go and grow in the things of God . So I thank you , Dr Tish . This has been a wonderful opportunity . I just wanna thank you for the invite . I was blessed by your ministry always . You're such an awesome woman of God and I just feel honored and privileged that you have invited me on your platform , so thank you again .
Speaker 1Thank you for sharing with us . Thank you for being here . You have blessed my soul , and so I'm sure that others are blessed as well . Thank you for sharing with us and thank you for daring to be . We'll see you next time .