Richard Ellis Talks

When we repent from the sin that's left our lives broken and in pieces, we experience God's forgiveness. As we begin changing because of His grace, we need other people to help us pick up the pieces and show us what it looks like to live the Christian life. And as our lives begin to be made whole, we get to a place where we're able to help others in their brokenness, too.

 

People walk through the doors of a church from all kinds of backgrounds and with all kinds of baggage. But no matter how different we are, God's called each of us to be part of His Church, and to be in community with one another. Let's live our lives as both "rockers" -- rocking the world by living out the Gospel -- and "knockers" -- pursuing God at all times!

Being smart is not the same thing as being wise. We can accumulate all the knowledge we want, but as children of God, we're instructed to grow in wisdom in order to make wise choices. The more we begin seeing things through God's eyes, the more we're able to live in obedience to Him.

Jesus taught us not to retaliate in the midst of our suffering, and He lived by His own words when He endured beatings and crucifixion on the day of His death. The Bible also tells us to have discernment and to seek God in every situation -- including in situations of abuse and domestic violence. If He tells us to stay and endure, we've got to trust that He has a greater plan for us, but if He tells us to go, then it's time to go.

Too many people want the benefit of salvation without the lordship of Christ in their lives. Only when we fully submit to Jesus do we experience the freedom He brings from the sins and entanglements of this world.

One of the greatest ways to determine how well we're letting God use us is to examine the parts of our lives that have been wasted. Instead of falling into temptations of distraction and temporary pleasure, we've got to run with endurance down the path He's called us to. We need wisdom in order to recognize the lies that the devil uses to take us captive, and choose to flee from them while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.

When we realize that Jesus’ death was the justice for our sin, we find peace with God. God provided a way of justice for our sins through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, so that we can be brought into perfect peace in relationship with Him. And when we have peace with God, we can see past our differences with others and extend peace to them, too.

Scripture compels us that no matter how spiritually mature we might act or feel, if it's not rooted in God-honoring love, it's meaningless. If God shows us an area of our lives that needs to change, our maturity is deepened when we listen and respond in obedience. Let's examine our hearts, listen to the counsel of others, and grow in love the way Christ first loved us!

We're called to give an account for what Christ has done in our lives. When we're prompted to share the Gospel, we have to summon the courage to step out in obedience and testify -- because we never know what God's doing behind the scenes.

There's nothing in this world -- no physical or spiritual power -- that can come against us if we're living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God's given us His power to be more than conquerors. Let's walk with confidence in that truth, knowing He's already won (and because of that, we have too!).