Richard Ellis Talks

It's one thing to pray for someone to come to a place of repentance towards God and to turn their life around. It's another thing to pray as if we're expecting to actually happen. Let's believe for heart transformation and be like the father of the prodigal son, ready to party as we welcome them home!

It takes courage to persevere in the midst of tough times. But when we recognize that nothing and nobody is stronger than the God who lives within us, we find the fortitude to face whatever battles come our way. As we do so, we can serve as an encouragement to others who might be facing similar struggles and show them the hope they need to keep going.

Jesus sacrificed more than just His blood when He was nailed to the cross on our behalf; He sacrificed Himself. Because of the price He paid, we've been offered the gift of forgiveness from our sin. His blood washes us clean so we can live in right relationship with God -- and guilt and shame no longer have a hold on us.

God's promised in His Word to give us a future and a hope. But until we let go of the sin that marks our past, we'll never be able to grab hold of what He offers for our future. When we allow His power to overcome our sin, we ensure that the future won't be a repeat of the past, but a new life of freedom in Him!

It can seem like this life will stretch on forever. But in reality, our time on earth is a blink in the scope of eternity. Scripture teaches us that our lives are like a vapor, here one moment and gone the next, so we've got to use what limited time we have to do honor the Lord and do His will.

WE may have the right to do something without it being sinful for us -- but if our actions cause somebody else to stumble, then it's not the right thing to do. We can make choices that might not be "wrong", but that doesn't always mean they're wise. As believers, let's be aware of other people's struggles and make sacrifices where needed to help them walk in the right direction instead of being a stumbling block for their sin.

Scripture tells us that as believers, we walk by faith and not by sight. The Bible itself is filled with stories that seem crazy to many, but those who believe are given the privilege of seeing and experiencing the power of God. And the best part is this: the miracles that Jesus performed when He walked on earth are the same miracles that continue to happen today through us, the Body of Christ!

One of the biggest gifts wrapped up in God's design for His Church is the blessing of being part of a community. God never intended for us to suffer or celebrate alone and in isolation. We're all part of the Body of Christ -- and when one part hurts or rejoices, the whole Body needs to hurt or rejoice alongside that part.

The taming of the tongue comes directly from the Holy Spirit. Without it, we lack a filter not only for our mouths, but for our hearts and our minds. But just as animals can be tamed to obey commands, God can tame us so that we can obey Him. Instead of trying to filter our thoughts and words through our own doing, we should focus on growing our relationship with the Lord so that HE can do that work in us.

Pride is one of the biggest barriers that prevents us from turning to God. The Bible promises that one day, every knee will bow before Him, but we can't wait until eternity to do so. When we submit ourselves to Him here on earth, He's able to carry out His plan and His purpose for us -- and no matter how far gone we think we may be, there's hope for anyone who's prepared to yield their will to His.