Richard Ellis Talks

The Bible says that God has specifically placed those in authority in their positions for His plans and purpose. We must trust that He knows what He’s doing, and follow His lead on when and where we need to take a stand.

Discipline is a necessary thing for a parent to inflict on their children so that their children can grow to live in obedience. In the same way, our Heavenly Father disciplines His children so that we can learn obedience to Him and live the life He intends for us to live.

God designed His Church, His children to function in such a way where we link arms with one another and help each other in our Christian journey. While we can worship God alone anytime, we cannot be a working member of His family without actually being involved and living life together.

Alcohol is something that many have used to ruin their lives, but alcohol itself is not a sin. When we choose to do something, whether drink alcohol or any other thing, we need to make sure that we are doing it for the glory of God. Rather than getting drunk with alcohol, the Bible instructs us to get drunk in the Spirit and let Him lead us and guide us in the things He wants us to do.

Since the Church is made up of human beings it is inevitable to be messy because sin is involved. We need to understand for ourselves and for others that change is a process and God works on His people in His own timing and we must extend grace while He works.

God wants a relationship with us more than He wants to give us whatever we ask for. Rather than letting our prayers be all about asking for whatever we want, we must first seek a relationship with Him and then He will change our hearts to ask for what lines up with His will for us.

It’s never wrong to ask God for something, whether it be a way to make our lives easier or a way to avoid suffering that is coming. But when we choose to ignore the answer He gives us because we don’t like it, we set ourselves up for more suffering in the long run. We must first be willing to say “Yes” to God in anything He asks, and that is when we will learn to be content with Him when His answer is “No.”

There are many examples in the New Testament where the apostles were persecuted for preaching the Gospel, yet they responded by rejoicing in the Lord and He blessed them for it. When we follow their example, we may not receive the blessing here on earth but He gives us peace to endure the suffering and promises to bless us in Heaven.

When we find ourselves in difficult circumstances we need to call out to God and ask for His help, then keep our eyes open to recognize how He chooses to help us. We never need to fix ourselves before approaching God because only He can fix us anyway.

The Bible tells us that Jesus took on our sin so as to heal us from it, but that doesn’t mean we won’t face suffering in this life. It is better that we suffer for obeying Him than for choosing sin.