God Still Speaks

Week of October 18, 2024

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2, NKLV)

We live in a time if we see something someone is doing and its successful then we want to do the same thing. Companies want to do the same thing and churches are no different. God doesn't want us to trust in programs or methods He wants us to trust in Him. When we expect God to speaks to us in predictable ways we limit the way we can experience God. When we read the pages of God’s Word we discover that God spoke in dreams, visions, signs, prophets, a still small voice, fire, fleece, angels. He spoke in the dead of night, at mealtimes, during funerals, while people were walking along the road and in the middle of the storms.

God in other words has many different ways and times that He speaks. So the important thing is not how He speaks but that He does speak.

Therefore don’t limit yourself only to a predictable way of hearing God speak to you. Open yourself up and allow the Holy Spirit to show you God’s message in many ways and many times. God still speaks and He will speak to you.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

What’s Priority

Week of October 11, 2024

“7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:7-8, NKJV)

          In this letter we also see Paul's impressive resume in Philippians 3:4-6. Paul was at the top of his class. If the name of Paul was brought up everybody knew who he was. But then Paul met Jesus, not face to face, but met Him as Savior of his life. Paul's world was turned upside down. The very one he saw as his enemy, even imprisoning Christians, was now his friend. Meeting Jesus forced Paul to have a new set of values and priorities. 

          Our resumes also have some elements of accomplishments. Has Christ’s claim on your life given you a new set of values and priorities? Hopefully what was so important and shaped your goals is no longer that important in light of Christ having priority in your life. 

          Paul's explanation of the change in his life was because his life had been radically altered by Christ. Jesus was now number one in Paul's life. 

          The Bible says Matthew 16:26  “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Of course the answer is nothing. All the degrees, accomplishments, and prestige doesn’t compare to experiencing God’s amazing grace. Maybe a good question to ask periodically is: What would it mean to value knowing Christ so much that all the things of the world became secondary in our heart and our priorities. 

God Bless, Pastor Rick

God’s Word Convicts The Heart

Week of October 4, 2024

 “When the King heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.” (2 Kings 22.11, NKJV )

After David and Solomon, some of the Kings of Israel turned from God. Some of the kings married foreign women, which was forbidden. They served foreign gods, and when the Almighty God had enough he allowed the northern Kingdom, Israel to be attacked and overcome by the Assyrians. Josiah became king of the other half of the kingdom called Judah.

Years of spiritual neglect had eroded the people's faith in God, they even misplaced the scroll of scriptures. But one day the scroll was found and taken to Josiah. The king listened as the scripture was read, words he had never heard before. God’s law gripped at his heart. He realized that all the problems they had was the result of their forefathers along with themselves not following the words written in the scrolls. He was convicted and even tore his clothes.

Josiah was more than sorry, he took action. He pulled down altars of false gods, he kicked out their false teachers.

When God convicts us of disobedience do we follow Josiah’s example? Hopefully we feel genuine conviction and we take action to once again walk with God in truth.

God Bless, Pastor Rick