Faith That Doesn’t Need A Sign

Week of October 28, 2022

“A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.” (Matthew 16:4, NKJV)

Is your faith one that always needs a sign in order to remain strong?  Do you always need a miracle in your life?  Do you feel like God always wants to do the spectacular?  My theology is that God does not always provide a miraculous escape from all the difficulties of life.  Our text reveals that Jesus condemned those that insisted on a sign.  He knew they could not believe without a steady stream of miracles also taking place.  Jesus condemned this kind of faith.  I believe this is so, because if we are not careful we will start preferring the miracle to the miracle worker. 

In the Old Testament, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced the fiery furnace because of their obedience to God.  Here are their words to King Nebuchadnezzar, “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18, NKJV).  They believed in God’s ability to deliver them and they trusted Him, whatever the outcome.

Does your faith need miracles to sustain it?  Hopefully, your faith is one that can say “But if not, I will still trust the Lord.”

God Bless, Pastor Rick

Be Good For Your Word

Week of October 21, 2022

One of the greatest gifts we have is our words.  Words are extremely important and words can mean everything!  Sadly, some people have not realized the power of the word.  One of the greatest disappointments of life is when someone says they will do something but then does not stay true to their word.  Commitments always come with a cost, so do not be careless with your words.

Now let’s consider our recent promises to God for a moment.  What have you said that is committed to Him?  Maybe a promise to read His word, to tithe, to serve, or to be a better spouse or parent.  Have you been faithful to follow through?  Also, consider the promises you have made to others.  When you tell a friend you will do something, do you follow through?  God will hold you accountable for the things you say. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37 NKJV).  God said in the book of Ecclesiastes to not make a promise and then not keep it.  Why is this so important to God?  Well, Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”  Words can and do bless people’s lives but, they can also destroy and devastate lives as well.  The way you follow through with the promises you make will help or hurt relationships. 

Remember, words mean everything!  Be a person who is good for his word because if your words cannot be trusted then you cannot be trusted.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

So He Prospered

Week of October 7, 2022

“And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart.  So he prospered.” (2 Chronicles 31:21, NKJV)

The key to prospering in what you do is to always remember to serve the Lord with all your heart. During the time of the Judean king Hezekiah, idolatry was the accepted religion of the day.  His parents had rejected God and encouraged people to worship other gods; (2 Chronicles 28).  Hezekiah could have also rejected God but instead, he chose to serve God with all of his heart.  He followed God’s commands and he made efforts to promote worship of the one true God.  As a result of Hezekiah’s determination to serve, God blessed him. He thrived in an unsettled time because he resolved to always follow God.

God will honor the person that commits to follow Him.  Notice the words of this next verse from 2 Chronicles 26:5 speaking of Uzziah. “He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.”  It has always taken courage to seek after God.  God is pleased to prosper those who strive to please Him. Hezekiah stands in contrast to Rehoboam an earlier King of Judah.     2 Chronicles 12:14 says, “And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.”  When you don’t set your heart to seek the Lord, calamity is the most likely result.  The surest way to prosper is to diligently pursue God with all of your heart.

God Bless, Pastor Rick