Richard Ellis Talks

Every day, we're faced with the choice to deny ourselves or to deny God. Jesus could have denied us for being sinful, but instead, He chose us when He died on a cross, was buried and raised from the dead for our sins. Are you willing to deny yourself so that you can stand up and proclaim Him to those around you?

God is good in His very being. He's worthy to be praised! He cares for all of our needs as a loving Father. And when we submit to His will, and to living the way He instructs, He promises to never withhold any good thing from us.

Milk is the key to a baby's physical growth -- and a baby Christian's spiritual growth is no different. New believers need someone to feed them, teach them, and support them as they grow. Churches should consistently be filled with a healthy mix of new Christians and those who help them mature to the point of discipling others.

Have you ever watched a kid try to run while holding onto their security blanket? The blanket inevitably winds up on the floor (or in the dirt!), being dragged along and slowing their momentum. Sin is our security blanket. We hold onto it because we think it brings us stability, yet all it does is keep us from running towards Christ. But the reality is, nothing we cling to is better than the life He offers us when we cling to Him.  

Blue flame is so hot that the heat is almost unimaginable, and it represents complete combustion. Sometimes, God turns up the heat in our lives to a "blue flame" degree by walking with us through seemingly unimaginable situations. But because He's God, He has the ability to turn those difficult circumstances into moments of refinement, and in doing so, develop us into a "blue flame" for Him: able to cut through anything and accomplish more for His glory than we could ask or imagine.

How often has God called you to obedience and you've responded with...an excuse? No matter how legitimate the reason might seem to you and to me, every excuse not to obey God is a lame excuse. He's merciful to forgive our disobedience, and He's faithful to take care of our needs when we submit to Him first.

Are you growing in your relationship with God on an ongoing basis, or are you stuck in toddlerhood? Growth is a sign of spiritual maturity, and it's also vital to our ability to disciple other believers. Progress, not perfection, will be shown on our crown in Heaven one day -- the crown that we can then turn around and lay at the feet of Jesus.

The devil's out to steal, kill, and destroy...and he's "killing it" at his job. But God offers us another way of life -- abundant life -- when we yield our will to His and walk in obedience to Him.

When Jesus walked the earth, it was filled with Pharisees and people who had studied Scripture -- yet they still did not believe He was the Christ, the Savior sent to redeem humanity. But when we look through Scripture and see prophecy after prophecy, we can clearly see that He was the Son of God, the only One who can save us from our sins and change us for all eternity.

"Do not steal" is such an important subject to God that not only is it talked about all through Scripture, but it's one of the Ten Commandments. Yet there are seemingly small areas of our lives where, as Christians, we might think it's okay, or that it doesn't really "count" as stealing. One example of an area in which we steal from God is by not tithing back to Him what was rightfully His to begin with.

The devil doesn't need to attack the people he's already won over -- the people who are already trapped in their own sin. But when we live in faithfulness to God, clothing ourselves with His armor and trusting His call for us, we become a serious threat to the enemy. Hell's "most wanted" is the devil himself, and it's where he'll end up for eternity. The question is: Do we want to end up there with him?

The Bible talks a lot about submission to authority -- in marriage, parenting, and throughout life. But the ultimate authority we've got to be willing to submit to is God's authority. As our Father, He wants to direct us to the things that are not only pleasing to Him, but that are best for us.

Is it my truth, your truth, or God's Truth that we follow? False doctrine and false teachers are everywhere, saying things that are designed to "scratch the ear" of the listener. And what they say can sound good -- until it isn't. It's important to always run what we hear through the filter of Scripture and ask whether it aligns with God's Word.

Scripture describes Christ as the Shepherd, and His followers as the sheep. And although He promises to come after His sheep when they stray, it's better for the sheep to listen to His voice and obey Him from the start. When we hear God's voice telling us what to do, let's remember this life is short -- and we're better off not wasting it in disobedience!

The Bible is perfectly clear: There's only one way to the Father, and it's through the Son. In a world where live-and-let-live mentalities prevail, countless religions profess to hold the secrets to happiness, and we're all encouraged to seek our own "truth", it can be difficult for us to focus on what's actually true. But Jesus Christ alone died, was buried and raised from the dead for our sins, and the only road to eternal life is through accepting Him as Lord and Savior.