Richard Ellis Talks

Some things that God asks us to do may seem very silly. But we need to trust that He's got a greater plan in mind, and when we obey Him we're taking part in His plan. The story of Rahab is a great example of a woman who left the sin in her life behind her, obeyed God, and became part of the genealogy of Jesus!

Too often, churches focus on getting people saved - making spiritual babies - and then getting them baptized, then moving on to the next "potential convert". However, our calling from Jesus is to then start the discipleship process of spiritual maturation, like a mother would care for and nurture her child. Let's make sure that we have someone in our own lives pouring into us, so that we can then be mature enough to reach out to new believers, gently and patiently helping them grow in their Christian life.

The Bible gives us instructions for living our whole lives on fire for God. It's easy to get excited at the get-go when we become Christians, but we can tend to fizzle out as life goes on. Let's follow what the Scriptures say, to arm ourselves against the devil, and focus on God’s will for our lives each and every day!

We all face situations in our daily lives that can grind on us, and often seem unbearable. While it's important that we pray with persistence in asking God to change the situation, we also need to be open to allowing Him to change us, embracing the situation as an opportunity for growth. Our joy and peace come from faith in Him, regardless of our circumstances.

God's designed a "warning system" for believers, by placing the Holy Spirit inside of us, to warn us when we're about to go against God's will and make a mistake. The Holy Spirit takes up residence for us to heed His warnings, stop what we’re doing, and obey Him, so that we can avoid the dangerous consequences of sin.

God's in the "cleaning business", graciously cleansing us from our messy lives, to make us suitable to do His work. When we repent of our sins and allow Him to wash us clean, He uses us to reach out to others and lovingly help them to get clean through Jesus!

No matter how good we act, our goodness will still be seen as filthy rags to God, because we're poisoned by sin from the start. However, when we trade in our filthiness for the forgiveness and grace offered to us because of Christ’s death, we become God’s children and inherit His riches!

We too often waste time when issues arise in relationships by avoiding what we know we need to do. When it comes to our relationship with God, let's be sure to respond to Him immediately, by repenting our sin and living in obedience!

"I read the end of the Book, and WE WIN!" Have you ever heard that phrase about the Bible? As corny as it might sound, the thought is spot on. Because of Jesus's selfless gift on the cross and His glorious resurrection, He defeated death and the grave, and has provided a bridge for us back to the Father, back to a life of hope & purpose, and back to an ultimate Heavenly Home! So, YES, WE WIN!

There are many Christians who may be doing all the right things for awhile, but then slip back into old sin habits. Let's be watchful for these brothers and sisters, and be ready to help pick them up when they fall, knowing that there may be a time coming when we'll need that kind of help. God promises to bless those who obey Him all the way to the end!

Accepting God’s salvation through Christ can’t be earned, it’s His FREE GIFT to anyone who asks! And then comes living the life, running the race, combining good works with our faith, as we’re called through obedience to live out with endurance, keeping our eyes on the prize.

Matthew 6:25-27 is perhaps the most clear portion of Scripture about replacing fear and worry with faith and trust in God for EVERYTHING we'll ever need. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns — and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” 

The way that God designed His family is to work together in unity as a team. When we work together - each doing what we're called/gifted/led to do - we accomplish the tasks that He's given us, especially the command to share the Good News with others. It's essential that if we decide to follow Jesus, that we participate in and on His team!

Everyone struggles with sins that seem nearly impossible to quit. However, the Christian has God's strength through Christ to break any addiction, and He promises to fill us with joy when we obey!  But the longer we continue to disobey God, the greater the pain that comes with God’s loving discipline.

News flash: we, aren't, God! And sometimes, just like it is with the earthly parent/child relationship, our Parent knows what's best for us, regardless of whether or not we understand His reasoning. The faithful and obedient thing that a Christian can do, is spend regular time in prayer and Word study, extracting God's Truth, understand what He reveals, and then trust Him for all the rest!