Richard Ellis Talks

It's not a pleasant thought, but the reality is this: every minute of our earthly lives is a spiritual battle. The devil is always looking to attack us where he knows we're weak. The only way to protect ourselves from the enemy is to put on the full armor of God, and to surround ourselves with brothers and sisters in Christ so we can help to protect one another from his temptation and his lies.

The Bible gives us simple instructions, but they're not always easy: repent, follow Jesus, and obey what He tells us to do. Even when we can't see how something is possible, if God calls us to do something, we have to trust that He can do all things. And when we're obedient in the simple ways, He can use us to do even greater things for the Kingdom.

Parents don't discipline their children out of anger, but out of love. The same is true of God: He disciplines us because He loves us. And as His children, it's our responsibility to stay within the boundaries set for us in Scripture and be obedient toward His instruction to abstain from sin.

Jonah's story of running from God is an illustration to us about the effects of our disobedience, not only on our own lives, but on the people around us. Our actions always have an impact on other people, for better or for worse. And when God calls us to do something, it's our job to obey Him not only so our obedience is rewarded, but so other people can reap the rewards of our obedience, too.

The Body of Christ doesn't need the jerk who thinks he has the answer to all problems! The Body of Christ needs family members who rejoice together in good times and weep together in hard times. When a member of the body is struggling, it's not our job to fix them, or to speed their healing process along -- it's our job to listen and love.

Have you ever seen or been a parent trying to reason with a child about something beyond what they can see? In the same way, our human view is so limited in scope, but God always sees the bigger picture, and He often calls us to trust Him in situations where we can't see things from His perspective. When we step out in faith as He leads us, He can do even the "impossible" through us!

Scripture tells us that sin is basically a guarantee in our lives. And while that might not be the most comforting thought, there's a light at the end of the tunnel: God has made a way through His Son for us to be forgiven and redeemed, and no matter how far we've strayed from Him, He's always waiting for us to return to His love. Sometimes it feels like we're barely making progress, but no matter how small the steps we take, if we're moving back in His direction, we're moving forward.

Scripture tells us that there are standards for those in church leadership roles. The Church already has one Leader, and His name is Jesus, but those who have been entrusted with positions of authority in the Body of Christ are called to lead by example as servants first and foremost.

There's a saying about judging other people: "When you point a finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at you." As Christians we tend to "point the finger" at everybody else's transgressions while ignoring our own. But we'll never be able to fully experience God's mercy and grace until we can own up to our own sin -- and we'll never be able to extend that same mercy and grace to others when they sin against us, either.

We spend so much time chasing after temporary pleasures in this world. But the reality is, we'll never find genuine fulfillment in anything or anyone but Jesus. We only have so much time on this earth -- do we want to make the most of it by pursuing God's plan for us, or do we want to get to the end knowing we wasted the life He gave us?