Richard Ellis Talks

Being smart and being wise are two very different things! We're all surrounded by bad advice anywhere we look, yet God promises to give us wisdom if we seek it. When we follow His direction for our lives, we become useful to Him for growing His Kingdom by reaching others.

When Jesus met with Moses and Elijah on the mountaintop, He unveiled His glory, as witnessed by some of the disciples. That glory-light of Christ that shined through Him that day is inside every Christ follower! And if we allow His light to shine in and through our lives, He can use us to bring others to Himself.

It's aptly called a "two-edged sword", but we can grind down the discouraging and demeaning side of the tongue if we invite God to be our language filter! Let's use words to build each other up, rather than tear each other down.

The believer's Great Commission, given by God Himself, is to share the Good News of hope, forgiveness, and eternal life to all the world. But the enemy's great commission is to steal, kill, and destroy as many people as possible. Let's always be mindful of this ongoing spiritual battle!

Salvation secures us from being lost forever, separated from God. Once we’ve received it, we can then give up our lives for the sake of following Christ and gain heavenly rewards that we can have to offer Him in eternity.

"Leggo my EGO!" (pun intended...) Part of our daily battle - if we're honest - is allowing the fruits of the Spirit to rule and reign, squashing our selfishness and our need for receiving credit! It's only when we put aside ego and hypocrisy and align our hearts with our actions, are we truly living a Christlike life.

Once someone is born again, they instantly become filled with the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. This "Heavenly Pilot Light" can draw us back to the Father no matter how far we stray!

A new believer's spiritual growth parallels in a way with a baby's growth. Their spiritual diet consists of simple truths and basics - the "milk" of the faith. Then, as they're discipled by mature believers, they can be "weaned" off the milk, and move to more of a "spiritual meat diet", which equips them to eventually disciple other new believers!

The Great Commission was given to all believers: go into the world, share the Good News of hope and grace in Jesus, baptizing them in His name, and then continuing the important step of discipleship. The Church's focus of "disciples making disciples" will keep its purpose in focus!

True repentance comes with the realization that we've sinned against the One who paid the price for our eternal soul! God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness are always instant and complete. But when we're convicted of sin, let's not take it lightly, let's remember the ultimate price that was paid to wash away that sin.