Pastor Ricky reminds us today that we're called to fight in a war. Although we easily get caught up in the daily details of life, much bigger things are going on all around us. He says evil forces are constantly striving after you. Due to sin, we're actually part of this dark kingdom. The good news is you don't have to stay there, it's easy to transfer. The only thing you need to do is believe. Believe that Jesus is God's son and that He died on the cross for you. Choose to follow Jesus today.
Who Am I? - Marriage in Christ, Part 3
When people hear the word submission, it gives them a sour taste in their mouths. This is because of our flesh. We hate the idea of submission. Submission does not mean to agree, it means to obey even when you don't agree. Pastor Ricky will be teaching on the importance of the unique roles in marriage that wives and husbands are to play. When wives submit to their husbands, and husbands love their wives, a beautiful picture of Christ and the Church is reflected.
Who Am I? - Marriage in Christ, Part 2
God instituted marriage as a picture of the union between Christ and the Church. Christ demonstrated His love toward us by leaving His throne of divinity in heaven, to come down to this dark world, to die on a cross, to save us from our sins, and to give us gifts by His Spirit. What amazing, unconditional, sacrificial love the Lord has for the Church. This is the kind of love that Paul exhorts us as believers to have toward our spouses. How are you shaping up? Do you love like Jesus loves you?
Who Am I? - Marriage in Christ, Part 1
The Apostle Paul will be contrasting love and lust regarding marriage in this text today. The only way a marriage can survive is when two believers genuinely love the Lord. If you don't have a good vertical relationship with the Lord then all your horizontal relationships with others, including your spouse, will become weakened as well. Lust is extremely selfish and when conceived will grow up to bring destruction in your life. However, love is selfless and found in Jesus' example.
Who Am I? - Holiness in Christ #2, Part 2
As Pastor Ricky continues teaching on the benefits of being in Christ, he will be emphasizing the importance of being filled with the Spirit. Paul exhorts all believers to understand what the will of the Lord is, that it's to be filled continually with the Spirit. When you're filled with the Spirit, you have peace and joy in your life. The benefit of receiving the filling of the Holy Spirit not only gives you peace and joy but he empowers you to live a victorious Christian life. Ask the Father for a fresh filling today.
Who Am I? - Holiness in Christ #2, Part 1
Do you completely understand the benefits that you have in Christ? This is the question that Pastor Ricky will be posing throughout this teaching. Many believers have no problem understanding that they're justified and that they're going to heaven. However, they don't completely understand the fact that sin no longer has dominion over them. One of the greatest benefits in Christ is not just being saved from hell but having the power to be saved from living in sin here on earth.
Who Am I? - Holiness in Christ #1, Part 2
Pastor Ricky will be teaching today on the counterfeit to genuine love words God and towards others. The counterfeit is lust and sexual immorality. Giving in to lust and sexual immorality is a direct result of not understanding your identity in Christ. Paul exhorts all believers to imitate God as dear children. When you understand that God truly loves you and that you are His child, you will be motivated to please Him. Don't allow the sexual relationship to become perverted. Obey God’s ways.
Who Am I? - Holiness in Christ #1, Part 1
The reason that believers are called the “salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” is because of their holy conduct. Holiness in Christ is what makes you stand out in a dark world as a believer. Pastor Ricky will be teaching a new chapter today that will be primarily talking about our love towards God, and our love towards others. Jesus said if you love me you will obey my commands. When you genuinely love God, you will obey his commands and become holy and set apart unto God.
Who Am I? - Love Towards Others in Christ, Part 2
The good news of being in Christ is that He is perfect and He is just and we can trust in His character and have true rest. The Apostle Paul says that you have every spiritual blessing in Christ. You can find your satisfaction in Him alone. If you stop abiding in Jesus you begin to bring forth bad fruit such as anger and wrath. Pastor Ricky will be exhorting you today to rid yourself of all selfishness and anger so that you can live in harmony and love towards others in Christ.
Who Am I? - Love Towards Others in Christ, Part 1
The Apostle Paul's main mission in the book of Ephesians is to get across the idea that all believers need to remain diligent in keeping their identity in Christ. The moment you stop believing your identity is in Christ your actions begin to show it. Paul will be exhorting the Ephesians to live a life of love and unity towards the rest of the body of Christ because they all share the same identity. In this text, Pastor Ricky will be teaching on some practical applications of how to truly love other believers.
Who Am I? - New Life in Christ, Part 2
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. One of the most prideful things you can do is act as if you're able to live a sanctified and holy lifestyle by your own strength. It’s Christ that has given you the power over sin and darkness. Your job is to simply cooperate with the finished work that Jesus has already done for you. When you realize that you can do nothing in your flesh, that is when you begin to draw strength from the Holy Spirit. Ask him to fill you afresh today.
Who Am I? - New Life in Christ, Part 1
Today Pastor Ricky will be warning us not to believe the lie that tells us that we don't need to change our sinful behavior. As well as the lie that we can’t change. Christ died for you so that He could deliver you out of your sin, not just to save you from the punishment of sin. God commands that you live pure, just as He is pure. That you be holy, just as He is holy. He didn't save you so you could stay the way you. He has delivered you out of bondage so you can now choose life.
Who Am I? - Built in Christ, Part 2
The world has a lot of diversity in such as gender, religions, cultures, skin color, ethnicity s, and much more. Yet Christ has torn down that wall of separation when he died on the cross. Anyone can come to Jesus and they will be a part of His body. You are in the body of Christ so you should purpose at all times to live in unity with your brothers and sisters in the Lord. There is sweet fellowship and love that should be taking place among us and if there isn't, then there is a great need for repentance.
Who Am I? - Built in Christ, Part 1
Do you know what your identity is? Many find their identity in their job, marital status, or what defines their personality. However God desires you to find your identity completely in Christ. Being a Christian should be what dominates all aspects of your life and when you genuinely believe your identity is in Christ, it shows by your Godly lifestyle. When you're not firm in your identity in Christ you may begin to believe what the world and the devil say about you.
Who Am I? - You Are, So Be, Part 2
Genuine transformation to a person's character only comes from the Gospel. There are many cults and false teachers out there that would tell you that you can attain salvation by doing works and by being a good person. This is not so. All throughout the Bible, it is very clear that there is no one that's righteous, no, not one and that we need a savior. Our righteous deeds are as filthy rags before God so we must lean on Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. When you truly receive this truth, humility will flood your life.
Who Am I? - You Are, So Be, Part 1
Pastor Ricky will be starting a new chapter in the book of Ephesians today. He will be teaching on rejecting religious rituals that distract you from a relationship with God. The Lord desires obedience and not sacrifice. Many times believers keep a do and don't list so that they can feel better about themselves but Jesus wants our heart . If Jesus has your heart then you will want to obey out of love and you will surrender all to Him. It’s much easier to love God than it is to keep a list of rules.
Who Am I? - I Am Strengthened, Part 2
The same way you would pray for a family member that has fallen ill, that's the way you should be praying for the spiritual condition of those in the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul was burdened for the Church of Ephesus and he labored in prayer for them before the throne of God. Just as Paul lived a selfless life and was more “others-focused”, we are called to live sacrificially and focus on others as well. You should always pray for yourself but don't neglect to lift up the body of Christ.
Who Am I? - I Am Strengthened, Part 1
Pastor Ricky will be teaching on being strengthened through prayer and praying for the strength of others. While Pastor Ricky expounds on this text in Ephesians, he will be giving us a model that the Apostle Paul used to pray. Paul didn’t pray by giving God a list of requests and giving God the agenda he desired for himself. Paul sought God's heart and desired that his mind and life would be conformed to God’s agenda. When you go before God, allow Him to reveal Himself and His will to you.
Who Am I? - The Gathering
Many times believers act as though God is far off in the distance, rather than realizing He pours out His presence in our midst. Just as God promised the Jews that He would dwell among them, Christ has promised us that He will dwell inside of us, make his home in us as His temple. As a believer, your worship should be powerful and intimate. We don’t worship God so He will choose to dwell among us. We worship God because He does dwell among us. Are you delighting in His presence?
Who Am I? - I Am Reconciled, Part 2
If you’ve been reconciled to the Father, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, you've now been reconciled to other believers as well. Believers are all a part of the body of Christ. He's broken down the wall of separation between all Christians. Even though we all have differences, those differences should never get between our love for one another. Jesus said by this all will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another. Is there anyone you need to reconcile with today?