Identity, Radio Interviews

Finding Your True Identity ¦ Audio

Audio

Do you value yourself? Do you sometimes struggle to know who God really made you to be? Do you sometimes feel confused, lost unsure of what to do or even like you were a mistake in the first place? I went to Premier Christian Radio to talk about what God’s Word says about this and how the truth of the bible can set you free from your identity disorder!

Listen to the full interview here.

Here’s a short video snippet:

If God has used this teaching to impact you by His Spirit, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it!

>> More info about David Steele

Big Questions, Devotionals, Power & Authority

Who’s In Charge? ¦ Devotional

Scripture: We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. – 1 John 5:19

How many times have you heard someone say “If God is a God of love, why is there so much suffering in the world?”. Sadly, many Christians struggle to answer this question because they don’t understand today’s verse.

Every time we pick up a newspaper or check our news app, we are bombarded by devastating news. Murder, violence, terrorism, wars, famines and the like. Does it sound to you like the God who loves us unconditionally is calling all the shots in this world? The answer is clearly ‘no!’. So who is in charge?!

God is sovereign. That will never change. He is the ultimate authority over the heavens and the earth. In the beginning God gave Adam authority over everything that lives and moves on the earth (Genesis 1:28). Psalm 115:16 confirms this when it says ‘The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.’ The authority Adam was given was strictly limited to the earth.

Unfortunately the story didn’t end there. Sadly we all know what happened next – Satan came along. Satan was an angelic being (previously named Lucifer), created by god with the necessary power to fulfil the tasks required of him in heaven. When Lucifer rebelled and was kicked out of heaven, he lost his God-given authority and no longer had a place to use his power. You see, power is the ability to do something, but authority is the right to use that power.

(For a full video teaching on this, watch ‘Why Is The World In Such A Mess?‘)

It is so important that you and I understand that we give authority to whom we obey. Satan knew that if he could get Adam and Eve to obey him, he would have their authority. When Adam and Eve obeyed the serpent, they literally handed their God-given authority (over the earth) to him. That’s why Satan could say to Jesus in Luke 4:6 “I will give you all their authority and splendour; it has been given to me”. And that’s why today’s verse explains our current situation.

Next time you see something terrible happening in this world and you think ‘God, how could you let that happen?’, just remember that the bible teaches clearly that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. Many people today are angry at God because they have mistakenly attributed the pain and destruction inflicted by the ‘god of this world’ to the God who loves them and wants the best for them. Satan is out to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus Christ came to give us life in abundance (John 10:10).

When you were born, you were born into Satan’s domain. When you were born again, you were born into God’s Kingdom. ‘For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves’ (Colossians 1:13).

Jesus, our King, was never under the authority of Satan. He wasn’t born like you and I, He was born of the Holy Spirit and was therefore the first man (since Adam sinned) to walk the face of this earth with a higher authority than the god of this world. This is why demons had to obey him, the wind and waves obeyed him and people were astonished at the authority he spoke with. He loves you, He has a plan for you and He wants to restore you to be the person He created you to be.

Remember, you give authority to whom you obey. Your choice today is whom you will decide to obey. I know who I’m choosing!

Prayer: Father, thank you for your everlasting and unconditional love for me. I am so sorry for the times that I have attributed the terrible things that happen in this world to you and I’m sorry for when I’ve blamed you for them or been angry at you. I recognise that you are not the one who seeks my destruction but that your desire is for my restoration. Thank you that I have the opportunity to obey you today and to hand the authority over my life back to you. Would you help me to do this, and to experience more and more of your abundant life as I do so. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If God has used this teaching to impact you by His Spirit, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it!

>> More info about David Steele

Source:  Seeds of the Kingdom

Decisions & Guidance, Hearing God's Voice, Radio Interviews

Understanding God’s Will For Our Lives ¦ Audio

Audio

The bible says that God has a unique plan for each of our lives and that we’ve all been called to bear fruit for His Kingdom. However, sometimes we struggle to know exactly what God is calling us to do or where He’s calling us to go. So, is God willing to speak to us specifically? …and if so… how can we recognise His voice?

Listen to the full interview here:

If God has used this teaching to impact you by His Spirit, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it!

>> More info about David Steele

Interview Transcript Show
Money & Giving, Video Teaching

Money ¦ Video

Video

One of the things I’ve thoroughly enjoyed since becoming a Christian is learning about God’s way of handling finances. In this sermon I share some personal stories as well as three things the Bible says we shouldn’t do with our money, and three things it says we should do!

Comments that have been posted online about this teaching:

‘Awesome practical teaching on money.’

‘Fantastic teaching. I wish every sermon was like this. So practical and easy to follow. The examples are so encouraging and honest too.’

‘A must to watch and put into practice what God wants us to do. God reminded me today to say it s better to give than receive. Amen. Paul the apostle said if we have food and clothes to be content with that. Amen. Glory to God.’

‘This is a great talk I found it very helpful. Decided after hearing to treat my giving as an adventure with God and have seem some amazing and very amusing things happen!’

‘Great teaching, great examples.’

‘Incredible teaching. Thank you so much. Challenged me to see things differently and I pray to become that cheerful giver!’

‘Very powerful sermon,God help me to be a hearer and do what it says.’

‘I worried so much about my needs. So comforting to be assured of His LOVE and daily provisions, Thank you Lord.’

‘God is good. Thank you so much. I have been truly blessed by this and hope it’s ok to share with my family.’

Devotionals, Physical Health

Look After Your Body ¦ Devotional

Scripture: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19

I was recently teaching in Serbia on ‘Steps to Freedom from Addiction’. As I spoke about the fact that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit I got convicted myself!

How well do you look after your body? Do you exercise regularly and eat healthy foods?

As I was teaching I felt God reminding me that He’s chosen to dwell in my body by His Holy Spirit. He’s chosen to use this physical shell as His vessel, and He wants to glorify Himself through me. If I don’t feed it properly, or keep it strong, I may be inhibiting what He can do through me on the earth.

Some of us don’t exercise because we’re simply lazy, or we over-eat because we’re greedy. We need to recognise that this isn’t looking after our bodies, and we need to exercise more discipline. No amount of friendly encouragement will fix this. We need the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and then to simply respond with repentance!

But for some, discipline is not the answer. Some of us know we’re not looking after our bodies properly, but we’re over-eating because we’re looking for comfort. No amount of discipline, will power or beating ourselves up about this will bring healing. We need a touch from the One who came to heal the broken hearted. Often that healing process starts with forgiving those who’ve hurt us, and with taking our pain to Father God.

It’s interesting that emotional pain is also behind the opposite extreme. The person who over-exercises and is too severe in their dieting is probably also covering pain. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal what’s driving our behaviour, and lead us on a path to freedom, so we can enjoy the abundant life Jesus came to give us!

The people in Serbia responded sincerely to what I was saying, and the Holy Spirit came in a very special way. Some were in tears as they handed their pain over to God and received the healing and comfort that only He can bring. God is the great restorer of broken lives, and He wants to restore yours too.

The morning after I returned to England I went for a run. Well if God speaks to us and we do nothing about it, I don’t need to tell you this: it’s no help at all! Can I encourage you to make an effort to start looking after your body today? There are many people in your life who need you to be strong and healthy, so you can reflect Jesus to them, and fulfil God’s plan for your life.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the body You have given me. I am so sorry for the times I have not looked after it properly. I am also sorry for the moments I have sought comfort in food and others things rather than looking to You. Thank You for choosing to dwell in me by Your Holy Spirit and for turning my ordinary life into an extraordinary existence. This is a tremendous privilege. Please reveal to me any areas of my life that need Your healing touch and help me to trust You to be my source of all comfort. May my body be healthy and strong and ready to be used by You for Your purposes! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If God has used this teaching to impact you by His Spirit, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it!

Source:  Seeds of the Kingdom

Devotionals, Extraordinary Living

Living Beyond Your Natural Ability ¦ Devotional

Scripture: ‘We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself’. – 2 Corinthians 1:8

Have you ever sensed that God’s calling you to do something that you know full well you don’t have the ability to do? Perhaps as a Christian you’ve found yourself in situations that have been impossible to endure without God’s help?

When I read about the life of the apostle Paul, I sometimes think to myself “HOW ON EARTH did he do that?! How did he go around preaching so boldly to people he knew were very likely to reject his message, and how did he endure such persecution in city after city?” In today’s scripture we even see Paul himself admitting that the trials he faced were too much to bear! So how did he do it?

Fortunately, he gives us the answer in Colossians 1:29. He says ‘To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me’. The two key words here are ‘his energy’. Paul makes it absolutely clear that he didn’t do any of these things in his own ability, but that God was supplying the physical, emotional and spiritual energy he needed. The result was a man who lived far beyond his natural ability.

There have been times in my life where I’ve not wanted to ask God what He wants me to do in the next season of my life, because I’ve been afraid that I wouldn’t be able to fulfil it. Now I realise that that’s the whole point! In fact, how will God be glorified if I live within my own natural ability?

I’ve come to realise that the Christian life is supposed to be lived in such a way that the people around us have no doubt whatsoever that we’re living with a power that’s not our own. So,if you’re facing situations today that seem beyond your natural ability to endure, perhaps they are! Perhaps that’s the whole point. Perhaps God wants to be glorified as you step forward in His strength and live beyond your natural ability.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You haven’t called me to live the Christian life in my own strength. Sorry for the times when I haven’t asked You to provide the strength and the energy I need to endure the situations I face. I want to humble myself before You now and accept that I can’t do what You’re calling me to do on my own. I need You. I need Your grace, Your strength and Your power to endure. I believe that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, so I ask You right now to clothe me with power from on high, to enable me to carry out all that You ask of me in this life. In the powerful name of Your Son, Jesus, Amen.

If God has used this teaching to impact you by His Spirit, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it!

Source:  Seeds of the Kingdom

Devotionals, Extraordinary Living, Miracles

The Pattern of a Miraculous Life ¦ Devotional

Scripture: But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” – Luke 1:30-34

Perhaps you feel very normal as you read this devotional today, not considering that your life is very ‘miraculous`. Mary probably felt exactly the same way until the angel Gabriel appeared and told her that she was going to be used in miraculous ways to fulfil God’s purposes.

When Gabriel had given her the first part of his message, Mary was clearly wondering how on earth such a thing could possibly happen to her, a virgin. “How will this be?” she began to ask, before reminding Gabriel that the suggestion was (humanly speaking) totally impossible, “since I am a virgin”.

I wonder how many Christians stop believing that God will use them in miraculous ways because it seems totally impossible. I read a quote recently that said ‘you don’t always get what you want in life but you always get what you expect’.

I love the fact that Mary didn’t simply state that it was impossible and stop there, but she asked Gabriel “How will this be?” Her ‘mustard seed’ of childlike faith was evident as she allowed herself to wonder how God might do such a thing. She got her answer in the next verse.

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (verse 35). Wow, what a response! Gabriel basically told her not to worry because she wasn’t going to be required to do the impossible bit and that the Holy Spirit would take care of that.

Mary then demonstrated great faith and complete submission to God’s will by saying “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said” (verse 38). Of course we know now that it did happen exactly as God had said and millions of lives have been changed as a result.

In this story I see a pattern for miraculous living. Firstly, God is always the one who initiates – the vision has to come from Him. Secondly He requires us to respond with faith and submission to His will, even if our minds are screaming ‘this is impossible!’. Finally, we are not expected to ‘produce’ the miracles. He is the one who brings about the miracles by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You have a special and important part for me to play in Your Kingdom purposes on this earth. I want to say sorry for the times I have backed away because I’ve felt that the ideas or visions You were giving me were impossible to achieve. I choose to believe that nothing is impossible for You. Today I want to submit myself to Your will afresh and recognise that Your Holy Spirit can overshadow me and my weaknesses at the time You want to do the miraculous with my life. Help me to hear Your voice and follow Your leading. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Source:  Seeds of the Kingdom

If God has used this teaching to impact you by His Spirit, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it!

Radio Interviews, The Holy Spirit

Understanding the Holy Spirit ¦ Audio

Audio

In the run up to Pentecost 2015 I was invited onto Premier Radio’s inspirational breakfast show to talk about the Holy Spirit.

Listen to the full interview here:

If God has used this teaching to impact you by His Spirit, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it!

You can also watch a short 4-minute video snippet in which Lisa Mainwaring and John Pantry ask me about the manifestations of the Holy Spirit:

Watch the 4-minute video snippet

Death & Dying, Freedom from Fear, Video Teaching

Overcoming the Fear of Death ¦ Video

Video

The bible says that death has lost it’s sting, so why do we as Christians sometimes still fear death? Do we need to? How can we be free from it? In this sermon David explores these questions and looks at how we can overcome the fear of death.

If God has used this teaching to impact you by His Spirit, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it!