If Anyone Lacks Wisdom

Week of June 28, 2024

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

           Companies very often hire consultants. Athletes seek out special coaching. Individuals seek out counseling in their personal lives and careers. In the business world we recognize the need for outside assistance. We are open to new ideas. Well God promises that to us by asking.

          Unfortunately God and the Scriptures are the last place some look for wisdom. Well let's read a book, let's ask a friend, let's attend a seminar. We would expect that from those who are not Christians but we have the greatest resource available to us, God himself.

          Now don’t misunderstand all the above services can be used by God. But our most important source of wisdom is God. He is waiting for us to express our need which opens the door for Him to impress upon our hearts what He has said in His Word and it also opens the door for His Spirit to direct and guide us.

          God's promise is that He will pour out His wisdom “liberally” when we ask, “without reproach” or without condemning us for not knowing in the first place. Do you have a need for God’s wisdom to guide you today? Don’t just stand there, ask Him for it.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

Perseverance

Week of June 21, 2024

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31(NKJV)

Waiting is not fun.  In fact, do you hate it with a passion?  You wait at endless red lights.  You wait to be checked out in line.  You wait for the doctor to call with your results.  Let me ask, when you’re coming up to a red light, do you examine which line you believe will move the fastest?  And then you watch to see if you were right, and if not, you’re hopping mad.  Waiting is an essential part of God’s plan for our lives.  So you’re not wasting time.  When you wait on God, your focus is on God.  We wait expectantly because we are convinced that God is up to something in our life.  Something good because the gifts from above are good gifts.  The great news is those who wait on God don’t wait in vain.

The secret of perseverance is not to grit our teeth as time passes.  The secret is to focus on God, knowing that in His good time, the right time, He will accomplish His purpose in our lives.  While we wait, God is working behind the scenes in ways we can’t imagine, preparing the situation, preparing other people, maybe even us, for something special.  Don’t faint; God’s timing may be right around the corner.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

Greater Works

Week of June 7, 2024

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12 (NKJV)

Have you ever read this verse of scripture and asked how in the world can I do greater works than Jesus?  That's because we are thinking in terms of raising the dead, healing the sick, or feeding thousands with a small boy's lunch.  Jesus wasn't saying that we would do more of those things.  Those are not the primary reasons He came.  So what were the primary reasons He came?  To communicate the good news of God's forgiveness of sin to all humanity.  In His lifetime, He did that in the tiny country of Palestine.  When Jesus ascended back to His Heavenly Father after his resurrection, He sent the Holy Spirit to live inside each believer.  With His empowerment, God uses us to carry the gospel to far more people throughout the world than Jesus himself met in Palestine.  I believe that this is the point that He was making.

So, the question we must answer is, are we doing our part? Are we telling our friends and neighbors about Christ? Are we praying for those who serve as missionaries? If we are, then we are doing "greater works" than He did because we are going to more people to tell them about Him.

God Bless, Pastor Rick