Ray Bentley

God loves us so much. He helps us in the most amazing ways. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. All things. And again, the secret meaning of the Greek word all is all. That's exactly what it means. All things through Christ who strengthens me. Spread. You see all these people coming down before the King.

God is fully invested in the lives of his children. He influences us and helps lead us where we need to go. God will use people. He will use nature. He will use situations. He will use your environment. He will use circumstances. God is involved arranging circumstances today to prepare you for what's going to happen tomorrow.

When we pray, in effect, we confess our dependance on our Heavenly Father. Tell God what you need. That's what prayer is. And I want to say that there are some of you that have this idea to be needy. There's something wrong with that. We are needy. And in fact, as you develop this whole concept of needing the Lord, you will be powerful.

Do your prayers ever seem to go unanswered? Often times. The way God works is not to my liking. And that's why a lot of times in my prayers, I give him advice and I have noticed he doesn't really take my advice that often, and his ways are always better than mine.

The Apostle Paul said it twice rejoice in the Lord. Again I say, rejoice. Paul's answer to all of life's problems is to rejoice in the Lord. Notice again he does not say, rejoice in your circumstances. I'm a slave or I'm in prison, or I rejoice in my pain. No, but he does rejoice in the Lord in the midst of his circumstances spread.

When life is tough. The Bible tells us to rejoice. That's a challenge. This is what you ought to rejoice and rejoice that your names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Now that is the most important thing of all. Now, what the Lord has done through my life are the gifts he's given to me, or the lives that have been touched.

The Apostle Paul was concerned in his day, as we are today, that some soft cell the faith. Paul says there are some who are enemies of the cross, not enemies of the gospel of grace and mercy and the love and the forgiveness. We like all that. But then talk about self-denial. You know, picking up your cross and following Jesus or sacrifice.

Paul had the kind of faith that depended on the Lord and the Lord alone. Paul had a current testimony of Jesus. Do you have a current testimony of Jesus? Paul was able to say, there burns within my heart. One thing and one thing only. I want to know him. I want to know the one who's coming back for me and preparing a place for me.

From the example of an Old Testament king. We need to humble ourselves and admit our need for God. King Jehoshaphat himself got down upon his knees and prayed. Oh, God, I don't know what to do. I need help. I love that. Let me tell you who else likes them. Our father in heaven. He loves to show himself strong.

Believers sometimes make unbelievers feel uncomfortable.That often leaves them to react. See, the world will, in essence, test Christians. They're wondering if there's any reality, if there's any validity, if there's any sincerity, if there's anything to this that you claim. And when their world comes crashing down, they will be drawn to those who actually have some light inside of them.