Faith Producers International Podcast

IT'S RESURRECTION DAY-HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. GEORGE WATKINS Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior and lord. As we do, we remember the significance of this great occasion, which brought a conclusion, the old covenant, and ushered in the new covenant.  When Jesus rose from the dead, it sealed the prophecies of old and became proof of what God had promised to mankind, a savior that took away the sins of the world. Just think about the magnitude of that statement; one man could reverse the curse that one man brought to the earth. Adam brought it, and Jesus took it away. That's the foundational story of this great Resurrection Day that we celebrate. When I had my resurrection day 73 years ago, we were also celebrating the resurrection of Jesus on that same day. As I sat, listening to the story of the resurrection of Jesus with my mother in Brean Chapel, I was not concerned about the whole world needing Jesus, but I knew I needed him. That night, I experienced salvation, or by the description

THE POWER OF THE SEATBELT The crackle of the loudspeaker comes on, and the captain announces departure. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are preparing for takeoff. Will everyone please take their seat and fasten your seatbelts." Then here comes the seatbelt cops, otherwise known as the stewardess.  After catching a few of those not paying attention, they tell us the plane can only depart once you fasten your seatbelt, sir. Seeing that I was born long before the seatbelt became mandatory, it took me some time to get used to buckling up. As a matter of fact, all the cars that I have before 1962 are not required seatbelts. We still have fond memories of all five of us in the seat of our 56 Ford F 100 with not a seatbelt around. Yes, I know that was then this is now, and I'm not totally ignorant of the purpose of the seatbelt. It does save lives. So today, I am telling you to fasten your seatbelt and prepare for takeoff. And according to the principles of the Scriptures and the kingdom of God, certain things don't take

IF SATAN IS DEFEATED, WHERE DO BAD THINGS COME FROM? After decades of ministry and counseling a multitude of people, the above statement may be the most repetitive one I've heard. When bad things happen to good people, we scratch our heads and ask how that could happen. The next thing we do is try to figure out who to blame. For the unlearned ones, they blame God because the church has told them God is in control of everything. When in reality, that is not the case. How thin is it that those who seem to be doing everything right suddenly have disasters come upon them? Interestingly enough, we see the same question in the life of Jesus when they ask him who sinned that this boy is blind? The Scriptures tell us that Jesus took all the power away from Satan and gave it to the believer. So how often does Satan take advantage of the believer and bring on such chaos and trouble? The answer is straightforward compared to the complex system that it represents. Satan can take advantage of us because he lives in the sy

THIS COULD BE THE START OF SOMETHING BIG Among life's foundational principles is that everything starts with a seed. Jesus even referred to our faith as a mustard seed, and he said it was the smallest seed, yet it produced a large tree where the birds of the air could find a place to build a nest. Everything we do in life starts small, and the outcome depends on our actions from then on. The farmer who plans to seed then needs to water the seed. If he plays by the rules that govern his world, he will have a harvest at the end of the season. And so it is with our spiritual journey as we develop and mature into sons and daughters of God in this world. Oh, it's true that the moment we receive Jesus, we have the fullness of God and all of the gifts he has given us.  However, like a baby born into this world comes fully equipped to accomplish anything they puts their mind to, they must mature first. This could start something big if we listen and obey the next step in God's plan for our life. All of us have had go

TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND BREATHE OUT HIS NAME The alarm goes off, and you lay there staring at the ceiling, wondering what day it is. Then you let out a moan when you realize you have to go to work again. The telephone rings, and you ignore it, knowing it's the school again reporting little Johnny's misbehavior. As the phone keeps ringing, you wonder what am I going to do with that son of mine; he just doesn't listen. And it's 100° in, and you've been stuck in freeway traffic for an hour. The old jalopy finally gave up, and you're sitting beside the road and your phone battery just died. Mommy, there's a man at the door. He says he's the landlord and wonders where the last month's rent is. He doesn't look very happy. TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND BREATHE OUT HIS NAME If your heart is still pumping blood, you must be alive, and if you are, you have already lived through some of life's trials above. If you know about our heavenly father and how spiritual principles function, do what I do when these things press in on yo

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE VS THE MIND OF CHRIST-WHO WILL WIN? Here they are again shouting in our ears. Are those intellectual elites of the world preaching the gospel? This time the master race will rise on the wings of artificial intelligence. We don't need a god; they say we are our own God, and we rule our lives through technology. And so it continues the same old message of the antichrist influence, dressed up in a new suit, trying to influence the new generation. Godlessness and human superiority have paraded themselves across history for ages, sticking its finger in the eye of God and saying we will conquer you. So far, all I see is the defeat of those who have shouted the loudest. As he was dying, one of the Roman emperors named Julian, blood ran down his chest, shook his fist at the sky, and said, " Oh thou Galilean, you have won at last? The new monster they have released from the closet is called artificial intelligence. They are boasting that this invention of man's mind will eventually take over th

FAITH, LUCK OR FICTION-WHAT SAY YE?   What's the first thing that comes a head of a flash flood? You're right. Trash! What is the river runs dry things begin to collect in that dry riverbed so when the fresh rain comes in the mountains it washes all the trash ahead of it. So here we are, at the beginning of a third great awakening in our nation in the world. The signs of the flood are starting to show up such as Asberry College. And what do you know here comes the trash talk. Unfortunately, most of the trash talk comes from the church itself. How sad. The elder brothers, the Pharisees, the religious folks, all have something to say in the negative, but God begins to break through in a new floodtide of revival and renewal. So is it faith luck or is it fiction? You will be forced to make a choice as God continues to pour out his spirit into this new generation of believers. As the glory of God continues to be revealed in all of its weird and wonderful ways. Everyone will make a choice whether they are conscious

ADJUSTING OUR BEARINGS FOR TRUE NORTH We were living in an age of technology unimaginable 50 years ago. The computer and the downsizing of the chip in those computers have made it possible for incredible results.  For instants, in our aviation, the computer flies the airplane moments after takeoff and two moments before landing. During the flight, the pilots observe our modern technology doing its job with precision. Are fighter jets dominating the air with weapons and equipment that you and I, as outsiders to that world, would not even understand? Some of our fighter jets come close to half $1 billion in value, and with just one in the air, they can fight at multiple levels and targets.  Yet among all the high-class weapons is an old antiquated tool that protects that multi-million dollar plane from destruction. When the jet is attacked by rockets, it releases batches of tinfoil to do a straightforward task, distract the missile, and take it elsewhere. Everything thrown at us from the enemy, from a headache

I CRIED UNTO THE LORD, AND HE HEARD ME   Just about the time we believe that we have figured out the correct way to pray and get answers, something shifts. The shift doesn't come on God's part; it comes with us because of our narrow view of the mercy of God. When Jesus said suffer the little children to come onto me for such is the kingdom of heaven he was giving us a primary key on approaching the throne room. The Pharisees and scribes of Jesus's day were like the paparazzi of our day. They never left him alone. Every time he stepped out into the public forum, they were there to criticize and scandalize his approach to God. He brought up the children that day to show them that even baby talk would get the heart of God, and he would listen to you.  The Testament is filled with various types of people, both important, influential and unknown, and weak, that called under the Lord, and he heard them. Moses cried into the Lord and began a series of events that broke the power of the greatest nation on earth, Egyp

THE IMPORTANCE OF DECLARING THAT JESUS IS LORD    Many traditions we have as Christians had their beginnings as a directive from our heavenly Father. Unfortunately, many of them have turned into dead works, becoming lifeless to us because we have lost the purpose they were given.   For instance, one central section of our worship time is confessing who God is through song and speech. Somewhere in our liturgy, we declare who Jesus Christ is to us and what authority the heavenly Father has in our affairs. Let's take a snapshot of why that's important to us and why our rituals of worship and decorations are essential for spiritual life and strength.   The story of mankind from creation to our present time has been disobedience to the original command of submission and obedience to Jehovah. As a representative of the first generation of mankind, Adam failed that commission.    The second generation of mankind that was produced from the seed of Noah and his family failed again. Instead of reproducing mankind to fi

BUILDING THE KINGDOM IN TIMES OF TROUBLE   There's a song from the church that says, "anyone can sing when the sun's shining bright, but he gives a song in your heart at night." Why does trouble come our way? Trouble comes our way for the same reason they put those little bumps on the side of the highway. When you start to drift off course, the first thing you hit before you hit the ditch is those little bumps to wake you up. Most of the trouble that comes our way is simply a reminder to refocus on what matters most; our relationship with the father. Take note of the story of Nehemiah in the Old Testament when he restored the city of God. Nehemiah proved to be a leader capable of building the wall during trouble. Even though he had permission from the king, he was constantly harassed by groups of protesters in the city. The first thing Nehemiah did was take a survey of what it would take to complete the task. After the survey was complete, he was able to organize his workforce. One of the essential keys to th

APPROACHING THE SOUND BARRIER-THE VOICE OF GOD   October 14-1947, the day Charles 'Chuck' Yeager broke the sound barrier in his supersonic airplane named "Glorious Glennis." Seven hundred sixty-one miles an hour is how fast sound travels. To break that invisible shield that was thought impossible, Chuck had to travel faster than that in his hypersonic airplane. No one thought it could be done, a barrier impossible to break, yet he did the unthinkable after nine attempts.   History is filled with stories just like that impossible barrier broken. Somewhere within the human soul, God planted a passion for overcoming the limitations surrounding us and breaking the barrier. You see it in the race car driver, the mountain climber, the deep sea diver, and the crazy one that jumps out of an airplane without a parachute. The quest to go farther, faster, deeper and higher is a gift God planted deep in the psyche of the human heart.   Why is it, then, when it comes to the passion of adventure and discovery, religion lag

GODS SECRET WEAPON-RESTORATION   "Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your healing (restoration) Will quickly spring forth. (" Isaiah 58:8) Only God has reserved the ability to restore his creation to its complete and perfect beginning, and restoration is a gift from God and only from him.  Nothing else but the work of Jesus on the cross and the Resurrection can bring broken things back to their original perfection.  The scripture tells us in Matthew 5:48 be ye, therefore, perfect even as your father in heaven is perfect. So what does it mean to be perfect? Who has set the standard for perfection? May I suggest that only the author of a great novel has the authority to correct and edit that novel?  So it is with you and me as the byproduct of God's incredible creation calls the human race. Only the creator knows what perfection is and has promised to bring us back to that perfection through Jesus Christ.  The confusion comes when religion tries to set the standard of perfection, such as things y

THE DYNAMIC DUO- YOUR WILL AND FAITH   Among the many myths and misconceptions of God that rumble around in the church is the idea that God does all the work, and we sit back and watch. Because of that false understanding of our relationship with God and our part in the outcome of events, we suffered many evils that we shouldn't have. The teachings we have received concerning our faith life these past years are a fantastic revelation of our ability to believe in God. However, the Scriptures teach us that a hidden trigger makes faith work; it's called our self-will. It seems apparent in the Scriptures that even though God has presented us with food and other necessities of life, we must be willing to receive and use them. It is said of our heavenly father that he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth. Yet when we look around us, we see that has not happened. Why? Because even though God has offered us eternal and divine life, we must be willing to receive

PRIVATE TIMES WITH THE FATHER -PRAYER   Imagine, with me for a moment, you go to your mailbox on Monday morning and open a letter from your favorite superstar. It could be football, Hollywood, politics, or the author of the latest runaway novel. The letter addresses you by name and says they will be in town next Thursday and have set aside private time to be with you.  With that same imagination, what would your response be now that you have that favorite superstar in your mind? Of course, by now, you can see what I am trying to illustrate by this imaginary picture. Knowing human nature as I do, I can't fathom that you would turn them down or make an excuse concerning this private meeting. "oh, I'm sorry, I have a hair appointment on Thursday." "Sorry about Thursday. I have to meet with the boys at the hot rod club." Now listen to a bona fide invitation from the creator of the universe inviting you to a private meeting so you can interact with him about your life. Isaiah 1:18 says, "come now let us reason tog

SECRETS I LEARNED IN THE PIGPEN   "Only one life will soon be passed only was done for Christ will last." Wow, where have I heard that before? Like every day of my life. It must have been my mother's favorite quotation. So then, how long did it take me to understand the meaning of that phrase? How about last Thursday? Well, you catch my point about the slow learning curve we have in life. I've decided that this life we live is one long lesson. And with each lesson we pass, we understand our father's purpose for us in a greater way. The story that Jesus told us in Luke 15 of the two sons in conflict with their father is a mini snapshot of our life journey in understanding who we are in the kingdom of God.  The story is focused on the prodigal son who left home and ended up in the worst possible condition a Jewish boy could find himself in. Feeding the pigs of a gentile Farmer.  Buried in the story of this boy's redemption are two secret keys you and I can use daily when we need to move forward in our purpose.

I GOT EXPOSED TO GOD-NOW. I'M CONTAGIOUS   The fear of contagious diseases has overwhelmed the population for several years. Because of the many voices that have shouted at us from all sides, we have been forced to separate, hibernate and shield ourselves like fearful orphans on a cold winter's night. The message was clear if we got too close to the wrong thing, we would go straight to the hospital. If, by a miracle of the Holy Spirit, I could motivate and inspire the body of Christ to freely expose themselves to the glory of God, the infection process of that glory would spread like wildfire. A song we sing in the church tells us to "taste and see that the Lord is good." Believe me; it doesn't take much of a taste to be addicted to the things of God for a lifetime. One exposure to a healing miracle will shake you to the core and change your view of his grace and power.  Or perhaps a divine rescue from a deadly accident that spared your life will impress you to the point of passion for him. All it takes is a

SEEDS ARE US-THE MINISTRY OF SEED PLANTING   My grandpa and grandma Erickson homesteaded 600 acres of farmland in Montana around 1900. The stories that I remember them telling us about those days are both thrilling and agonizing. The labor and uncertainty of life that they endured to make a farm life possible is beyond our comprehension. Our society today cannot grasp the amount of effort that it took to build our nation and its people.  Around 1925 my grandparents were forced to sell their farm and move south, ending up in California. They were forced out of their farm life because of the power of early cold winters killing the seed before it could be brought to harvest. As kingdom people serving our Lord, you and I are also seed planters and tillers of the soil. And by the miracle of God living in us, we are also planted seeds in the ground.  Because his grand plan orchestrates our life, we have been selected to be planted in fields of his choosing; until we realize that "the steps of a good person are orde

GOD SAID, I WILL LOVE YOU TILL IT HURTS   The story is told of a young man in love with a young woman, and he sends her a note to express his love for her. "My dearest Beth, Today I pledge my love to you forever. And I will prove to you how I love you. I will climb the highest mountain. I will swim in the deep sea. I will fight the wild beast of Africa. And cross the desert on my knees. And, by the way, if it's not raining, I'll be over Saturday night." That sounds a little suspicious to me; all smoke and no fire. When God committed his love to us and said, I'll love you till it hurts he fulfilled that promise at the Cross. Scripture tells us that Jesus looked at the Cross and all its pain and sorrow and saw the Joy on the other side of it. He suffered and died for us because he knew our redemption was much more valuable than his momentary pain. And he did this all for you and me so that we might be brought back to the father as sons and daughters. God paid the price with his pain so that we might enjoy and l

SOME BATTLES ARE JUST FOR PRACTICE   Have you ever got tired of asking God why? Why did this happen, or why did that happen? Every once in a while, we would hear something to help ease our anxiety, and then we went on with life. However, the next time a battle came into view, we always wondered why. I have an answer for you, which you may not have thought of before.  Some battles are just for practice. Where do you think the old wrinkled face slightly bent over saints get all their wisdom and faith from? They've been through their share of battles as they've collected all this wisdom.  I have a friend; when he introduces me to people, he tells them I've been around the block a few times. That's a gentle way of saying I am "mature in the years." The truth is I've seen my share of battles also. When the children of Israel were set free from 400 years of bondage by God's sovereign miracles, they left Egypt and took with them treasures that may have equaled or surpassed the value of any other nation in the world.