Sunnyvale FBC Podcast

Welcome to episode 50 of After God's Heart. We hope you have enjoyed this program as much as we have enjoyed bringing it to you every week. We're in the middle of a series on the Book of Joshua, and today, we are looking at chapter 3. To this point, God has set aside Joshua as the new leader of Israel. He has identified the task of leading Israel into the land of Israel. The task that God is asking Israel to do in Joshua chapter 3 isn't a difficult task. In fact, what He is asking of them is pretty simple. Just walk from here to there. What makes this task difficult is the obstacle between those two locations. It wasn't what He was asking them to do; it was what He was asking them to go through. The obstacle was what made the task impossible. But God was about to do something impossible ... again. Take your Bibles, turn to Joshua 3, and look at a message entitled, The Impassable River and the Untrodden Path.

Maybe the greatest word in the English language is grace. Every Christian knows it. You've experienced something that you did not and cannot deserve. You've been given life that can only come as a gift from God. Today, as Dr. Biles continues his series entitled Living Courageously we're going to look at a story of God's grace that is unexpected.

One of the great things about being a Christian for a long time is that you build up memories of all the times God has been faithful. It is those memories of how God has been faithful that help us trust that He will always be faithful. Today as Dr. Biles continues a message from Joshua 1 we're reminded of how Joshua was encouraged to be strong and courageous and how we can apply those same lessons to our lives.

We live in a world of change. In fact, change may be the most common aspect of our culture. We've grown accustomed to it. We've even come to expect it. Today, Dr. Biles is beginning a new sermon series in the book of Joshua. This is a sermon series entitled Living Courageously. The book of Joshua begins with an earthshaking change. The book traces the story of God's faithfulness to His people even in the midst of all the changes in their lives. In fact, He is their constant in a world of change.

If you just casually surf the internet, you will find all kinds of people talking about how to be content. Some will talk about a program, others about habits, and others about a certain mindset. Today, in the concluding message on the book of Philippians. Dr. Biles is going to unpack Paul's final instructions in the letter and they are about THE SECRET TO CONTENTMENT.

Almost everyone wants peace. From beauty pageant contestants to government leaders. Everyone talks about peace. But the Bible says that ultimate peace is only found in Christ. Today, as Dr. Biles continues his series through the Book of Philippians, we will see a description of the kind of peace God wants for our lives.

As Americans, we pride ourselves in our heritage. We teach our heritage to our children. We have holidays that are centered around the celebration of our citizenship. Often people from countries around the world want to come here because they know the benefits of American citizenship. But, far greater than being a citizen of America is being a citizen of heaven. Today, Dr. Biles is continuing his series through the book of Philippians, and in this passage is talking about our citizenship in Heaven.

We live in a world preoccupied with many things. In our passage this morning, Paul talks about the importance of one thing. As Dr. Biles continues his series through the Book of Philippians, we are looking at Paul's priority in life and ministry. This message is entitled, "One Thing I Do".

There's a world of difference between knowing "about" someone and knowing that person. Many people in our country are fascinated by celebrities. They know facts about lifestyles, their habits, the lyrics to their songs, or the lines in their movies. They may know a lot about that person, but they don't KNOW them. Take your Bibles and turn again to Philippians 2 as Dr. Biles concludes this message he entitled, "The Surpassing Value of Knowing Christ." It is a reminder from Paul of the value of knowing Jesus.

They say, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Today, as Dr. Biles continues his series through the book of Philippians, we will learn from the Apostle Paul what was the highest value in his life. More than anything else, Paul wanted to gain Christ. He gave up pursuing what didn't matter to seek what ultimately did.

In today's episode of After God's Heart, Dr. Biles continues his series entitled, To Live is Christ. This message from Philippians 2 is about finding the right man for the job. Paul considered one option but felt led of the Lord to choose another. From this passage, we learn a lesson for our lives about making wise choices.

The book of Philippians is rich in theology and pastoral appeal. Today, as Dr. Biles continues a series entitled, To Live is Christ, we'll see how Paul addressed a theological issue of our work and the work of God in us. Believers are instructed to complete the work God is providing all the ability for us to complete.

Today, as Dr. Biles concludes this message, we'll see the greatness of Christ and the standard for all of us. In this passage, Paul talks about things that have happened. The passage highlights evidence that is sometimes unseen. It is considered one of the richest passages about Christ in all of Scripture. In it, we learn about His humility as well as His exaltation. Paul began the message with a challenge to us to let this mind be in us that was in Christ. Open your Bibles again to Phil 2, to a message entitled, Let this mind be in you.

The Bible says that God has already given us everything necessary for life and Godliness. We are in the middle of a series through the New Testament book of Philippians. Last week, we looked at the thesis statement of Paul's life. He said, "To Live is Christ." Today, Paul examines that further by explaining how that is possible. If we are going to be like Christ, Paul says, it begins in the mind.

We are in the middle of a series entitled, To Live is Christ. It's a series through the book of Philippians. Today, Dr. Biles will complete a message that highlights the pivotal truth that God uses what happens to us for our good and His glory. Take your Bible and open again to Philippians chapter 2 and listen as Dr. Biles concludes a message entitled, "The Things that Have Happened."

Today Dr. Biles is continuing a sermon series through the Book of Philippians. The series is entitled, To Live is Christ. In this passage, Paul talks about things that have happened. In the message, Dr. Biles will highlight evidence that is sometimes unseen.

This is our first broadcast of 2024. To start this new year, Dr. Biles is beginning a new sermon series through the book of Philippians. It's a book that expresses joy, a prayer of faith, and a testimony of confidence in Christ. In this study, believers will be reminded that our life is in Christ.

It's hard to believe 2023 has come to an end. But, we approach the new year with confidence in the Lord who is our Shepherd. That's why this message is so timely. It's a reminder of how faithful the Lord has been and gives us confidence to trust Him whatever comes in this new year. I want to invite you to take your Bibles and turn again to Psalm 23 as Dr. Biles concludes a message entitled, He's My Shepherd.

Welcome to a special Christmas edition of After God's Heart. On today's episode, Dr. Biles is unpacking one of the most beloved passages in all of Scripture. So many believers down through the centuries have found comfort in these words. The chapter is just 6 short verses, but the message is profound.

This is the last episode of a 4 part series that Dr. Biles entitled, Unto Us. We are looking at the four pairs of descriptions from the pen of Isaiah the prophet of Jesus. In this series, we've looked at Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. Today, Dr. Biles is going to look at the last of four pairs of descriptions of Christ as the Prince of Peace. These words, written 750 years before Christ are never more needed than today. We live in a world that doesn't and can't fully understand peace, because it's never really known it. But, the Bible tells us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

In today's episode of After God's Heart, Dr. Biles continues his Christmas series entitled, Unto Us. We are working through the 4 pairs of names assigned to Christ in Isaiah 9. So far in this series, we've seen Christ as the Wonderful Counselor and the Mighty God. Today, in the third message of a four-part series, Dr. Biles is going to look at the description of Jesus as the Everlasting Father.

Have you ever wondered how big God is? On today's episode of After God's Heart, Dr. Biles is going to describe the greatness of God in the Incarnation of Christ. Christ became flesh. He was fully man and yet fully God. Dr. Biles is continuing a series entitled Unto Us. This is the message of Christmas. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor - and today we'll learn He is the Mighty God.

Dr. Biles begins a New Christmas series he's entitled, Unto Us. The series revolves around the 4 pairs of descriptions of Christ from Isaiah 9:6. These words have been the expression of worship for so many believers for centuries. They have inspired hymns, books, sermons, and hearts. But, as exalted as these words are, they pale in comparison to the greatness of Christ. In this series, we celebrate the love of a Father and the greatness of a Son sent Unto Us.

In today's episode of After God's Heart, Dr. Biles continues his message entitled, Promises, Pretense, and Prophecy. We've seen how Jonathan kept his vow to David, but Saul and Michal really didn't. In the conclusion of his message, we'll see God's providential care of David's life, His fulfillment of His Word to make David king, and His faithfulness to His Promises to David.

Has anyone ever made a promise to you that they did not keep? In 1 Samuel 19, we are going to look at four promises made to David by four different people. Not all of them kept their promises, but we'll see that God did keep HIS promises to David. Saul is continuing his efforts to kill David and in this passage, even tries to convince his son, Jonathan to assist him. But, Jonathan is faithful to his covenant with David and God used Jonathan's faithfulness to his friend to fulfill HIS covenant with the future king.

Today on After God's Heart, Dr. Biles finishes a message called Coping with Success. The success of David exposed a character flaw in Saul. In reality, David's defeat of Goliath led to Israel's victory over the Philistines. His success was Israel's success. But, rather than celebrating with David, Saul resented him. It wasn't long before that resentment led Saul down a downward spiral of anger and hate that would mark the rest of his life. Even though David defeated their enemy, Saul's son Jonathan was his best friend, and Saul's daughter loved David, Saul tried to kill him ... FIVE times! Take your Bibles and turn to 1 Samuel 18 as Dr. Biles continues a message on how to handle success.

How do you respond when God blesses somebody else? Are you happy? Or, is there just a small part of you that is jealous and maybe wishing it had happened to you instead of them? Today, on After God's Heart, Dr. Biles is continuing a series through the life of David. The passage we will look at is right after God used David to defeat the Philistine giant, Goliath. The lesson we will learn from this passage is a lesson all of us need to learn about handling success.

Today on After God's Heart, Dr. Biles continues his message entitled, "Is There Not a Cause?" David is on the battlefield facing his greatest enemy. His enemy is bigger and has better weapons, more armor, and more experience. But, David came to the battlefield with someone the giant didn't have. David came in the power of God.

Today, on After God's Heart, Dr. Biles looks at the battle between David and Goliath. It's a great story of God's work in David's life. But, as we'll see, it's much more than that - it's a story of how God works in our lives when we have faith to trust Him.

Today on After God's Heart, Dr. Biles continues a message entitled, Even if We Didn't Notice. The text for the message is 1 Sam. 16:14-23. The occasion was right after God rejected Saul as king and chose David as his replacement. But, Saul was the last person to notice what God was doing. In fact, Saul never seemed to see it! Let's listen to learn how not to miss what God is doing.

Today, on After God's Heart, Dr. Biles looks at a time when God was doing something in both Saul's life and David's life. Only Saul didn't notice! Saul saw David. But, what he saw in David was what everybody else saw about David. Saul saw his physical appearance, his musical skill, and his military ability. Eventually, Saul noticed that when David was around him, good things happened to him; and when David was not in his presence, bad things happened. But what Saul didn't notice was the Spirit of God had left him.

Today on After God's Heart, Dr. Biles continues a message entitled, The Choice of a New Generation. Israel's first king rejected God's will and pursued his own plans. 1 Samuel 16 is the beginning of God's provision of a new king for His people. We will see what God was looking for in His choice and learn lessons from our choices.

As we saw last week, ACT 13 is one of two places in the Bible where David was described as a man after God's Heart. The focus of this study is not as much on David as it is on God. Our goal isn't to be like David but to be like the one whom God was seeking. Let's listen as Dr. Biles finishes a message from Acts 13, entitled, Seek and He Shall Find.

If you grew up in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School, you learned some of the stories of David's life from childhood. There's so much we learn from him. In this message from Acts 13, Dr. Biles explores what God was looking for and found in David. This passage reveals God's heart and reveals what He saw in David's heart.

Last week, Dr. Biles began a new series on the life of David. In this study, we will walk through the life and ministry of King David. David was a great man, even though he wasn't always a perfect man. His life is a challenge for all of us to be faithful to the Lord.

How do you define, "greatness"? For some people that might mean money or status or power. By any standard, David was a great man. Today, Dr. Biles is going to begin a series on the life of David. Everything David did was great. But, not everything David did was right. As we will see in our study of David, even his sins were great. But, God is not concerned about greatness; He's interested in your faithfulness. Dr. Biles is going to begin this series on David by looking at Ps. 78:70-72.

Today Dr. Biles wraps up his series entitled, Rise Up. Throughout this series, we have been following how God was using Ezra and Nehemiah to lead his people to complete a task (rebuilding the walls) and reestablish their worship of the Lord. In the first part of this message, we saw from Nehemiah 13 that we can't afford to let sin back into our worship or our work. Now let's turn again to Nehemiah 13 and continue this final message in the series, as we Rise Up in Perseverance.

We've all heard the expression, "When the Cat's away, the mice play." That's a pretty good description of what happened before the events of Nehemiah 13. For reasons we are not told in the text, Nehemiah was away from Jerusalem for an extended period of time. While he was gone, Israel fell back into sin. As Dr. Biles concludes this series entitled, Rise Up, we'll see how Nehemiah challenged the people to persevere in their faith. It's a lesson we all need in faith and regularly need to be reminded of ... Rise Up in Perseverance.

How do you respond when you KNOW you have been blessed by God? What is an appropriate way to express gratitude to God? As believers in Jesus Christ, we have been richly blessed by God. Today, Dr. Biles is continuing his series called Rise Up, and we will learn from the example of the Children of Israel in Nehemiah 12 HOW to express our gratitude to God!

Today, Dr. Biles continues his message from Nehemiah 9. Last time, Dr. Biles talked about how Obedience to God means grieving over our sins AND separating FROM our sins. Today, let's open up our Bibles to Nehemiah 9 & 10 and continue the message of Rising Up in Obedience.

The Hebrew word for sin means "to miss the mark." The image is of an archer shooting at a target and missing. In Nehemiah 9, the Israelites are JUST NOW realizing that they have missed the mark of God's expectations of them. In this passage, we see how genuine worship recalibrated them. In Nehemiah 8, they were confronted with their sin. In Nehemiah 9, they obediently respond. As Dr. Biles continues his series entitled, Rise Up, we will see HOW the children of Israel confront a challenge to Rise Up in Obedience.

What is the greatest need in the world today? Is it money? Influence? time? relationships? The Bible teaches us that the greatest need in our lives is a closer relationship with God through Jesus Christ. In this message, Dr. Biles looks at Nehemiah 8, with a challenge for believers to rise up in worship.

At the end of Nehemiah 5, the work of rebuilding the wall around the city was halfway done. Sometimes, at the halfway point, opposition from the outside increases. When the challenges mount, our trust must increase. So, as Dr. Biles continues his series through the Book of Nehemiah, today, we're going to look at Nehemiah 6. In this series entitled, Rise Up, Dr. Biles highlights faith's challenges and responsibilities. Today, we are reminded that believers need to Rise up in Trust.

What would it look like if our lives resembled the faith we profess? One of the reasons the believers were first called Christians is because they reminded people of Christ. Today, from Nehemiah 5, we will see that God calls His people to holiness. Dr. Biles is continuing a series entitled, Rise Up and we look at the challenge today to Rise Up in Holiness.

We live in a world that doesn't always agree with our Christian values. It takes courage to live a faithful Christian life. Today, Dr. Biles continues his series in the book of Nehemiah called, Rise Up. In this message called, Rise Up in Courage Dr. Biles looks at Nehemiah chapter 4. As Nehemiah served where God led him, he encountered opposition that he faced with courage. From his faithful example, we learn lessons we can apply to our lives today.

What does it take to complete a GREAT task? It takes commitment. Today, we continue our sermon series entitled, Rise Up. The title of the message today is Rise Up in Commitment. The task before the people in Nehemiah 3 was a BIG task. It's why it hadn't been completed before. The walls of the city had been destroyed for over a century. They were destroyed when Babylon captured the city in 586 BC. They were down the 70 years Judah was in captivity. But, even when God allowed Judah to return to Jerusalem, they still weren't rebuilt. Judah returned to Judah in 539 BC, but the walls still were not rebuilt. In fact, by the time Nehemiah was called to the scene, Judah had been back in the land for 90 years. The wall around the city was their physical security. But, broken down walls represented a people who were broken in other ways ...

There is SO much we could talk about in the book of Nehemiah. It is a fascinating story! But, the book isn't written just to chronicle a story, it is written to strengthen our faith. In this lesson today, we learn that faith waits. But, in the meantime, we are preparing so that we are ready to respond in God's time.

The one thing we need MOST is often the last place we turn in a crisis and that's prayer. Dr. Biles mentions in this sermon, "Despair should always lead me to prayer." That's where Nehemiah was. He received word that Jerusalem was in crisis. But, he was living in a foreign land. What could he do about it? First, he could pray. The Book of Nehemiah is an autobiography of Nehemiah's faith, opposition, vision, and leadership. Throughout his ministry, we see him as a man of prayer. Today, Dr. Biles begins a 10-week sermon series on the book of Nehemiah. He's entitled the series, Rise Up. The title comes from Neh. 2:18, which was the people's response to Nehemiah. Nehemiah encouraged them to rebuild and they responded, "Let's Rise Up and Rebuild." Throughout this series, Pastor Deron is encouraging all of us as believers to "RISE UP."

We have a big announcement, we are moving to the radio! Check out this last episode, our 40th, as we reflect on 40 episodes of "Life After Sunday". We also introduce our brand new radio show on KCBI 90.9 FM, "After God's Heart".