Better News Podcast

How can a believer have free will and choose Christ and God be sovereign and choose those who would receive Him? Pastor Ricky will be tackling this controversial issue with his teaching today. The truth of the matter is that you can't completely understand the vastness and majesty of God's being and His ways. You have to trust that somehow, someway both these truths are a reality and work in God's plan. As a believer, you must be comfortable with God's mysteries and trust Him.

"Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Paul had such a good way of preaching the gospel. Pastor Ricky relates Paul’s methods to us today. Paul educated himself on the people group he was going to preach to and then related to them prior to bringing in the big guns of the gospel. He found common ground that got them listening then began to preach the good news. Take Paul's example and apply it to your life. Get to know those around you and be a missionary in your own town. You don't need to travel far to share the good news.

"Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Anything we choose that takes the Lord off of the throne of our lives is considered an idol. Many believe that they don't have an idol because they don't have a carved wooden image in their home that they worship. However, if there is a hobby, a job, a car, a person that you put before Jesus, it is an idol. The Lord comes first in our lives or we will become enslaved by whatever we allow before Him.

"Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

We have a responsibility before God to examine everything in light of scripture. You will stand before God and will be judged. We will be held responsible for what we believe, the choices that we've made. Pastors and teachers will also be held accountable for what they’ve taught. Know that there will be no way to say that you didn't know. God's word says to find out the truth and not just blindly follow. Pastor Ricky implores us to take every teaching we hear and compare it to the word of God.

"Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Today Pastor Ricky encourages us to take everything to the Word of God. The tendency of our human heart seems is to want to make choices based on our own self-interest. Paul would preach in different places and Luke pointed out that some of them compared what he said to the Word of God, then they believed. This is what we are called to do, to rightly divide the Word. We’re not supposed to just believe everything that comes our way. We need to compare it to scripture then make our choice.

"Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

After Paul is stoned in Lystra, he regains consciousness and goes back into the city. Pastor Ricky shows how this is a picture of Christ. When both Paul and Christ were mistreated and sinned against, neither one of them cursed their aggressors. They both went back to them to tell them the good news. This is so unlike our human nature. Running away or fighting back are more common but they continued to love.

"Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Paul and Barnabas were thought to be Zeus and Hermes. Paul could have allowed these people to continue and make sacrifices to him. Instead, he stuck his neck out and preached the gospel. You may be faced with times like this too when it would be easier to not be the odd man out and stand up for the gospel. You may not want to be known as “that person”. Paul didn’t just preach the popular gospel that God loves you but he preached that what they were doing was wrong, they needed to repent. 

"Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Pastor Ricky teaches about the church in Antioch, their faithfulness to follow God's leading. They faithfully pursued God's word which made them have hearts and ears that could hear His leading. You may be listening today and confused about a decision that you have to make. Diving into God's word and following hard after Him will help to make the right choice clear. It will clear out your heart and mind of the things that don't matter, refocus you in His clear direction for you.

"Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

The church in Antioch gave us such a great example, they loved and cared for others so much. They didn't stop at the members of their own church. They supported other churches that were in need, whether financially or needs of manpower, they helped. They sacrificed in ways that so many people find difficult. Pastor Ricky encourages us to follow their example, to care for others, to break down the walls, and really get to know our brothers and sisters in Christ and love and care for them.

"Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Peter showed such a great example of not allowing dividing walls stop him from sharing the gospel. Today Pastor Ricky shares the huge divide between Peter and Cornelius. In their day, Jews weren't even supposed to receive Gentiles. They weren’t supposed to eat or stay with them. Peter went to a Gentile, Cornelius, because the Lord told him to break that divide. This one act of obedience by Peter opened the door of salvation to a huge people group that otherwise would have been shunned.

"Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.