If you have pride in your heart, you may approach scripture with an attitude that you think you know better in certain areas, or you simply find it hard to listen and obey. Yet as Pastor Ricky will point out today, that as you approach scripture humbly and receive it as authoritative, you'll get to know God more deeply and as you get to know God, you'll grow in wisdom and faith. If you see God as He is in His Word, you'll recognize how much you need Him to speak to you. Receive the Word of God with reverence daily.
Behold - How to Find God's Favor, Part 1
Do you live your life trying to do certain things or avoid others in order to get the attention and favor of God? Well, the Bible is clear. The Lord looks with favor on the humble. It's not about trying to find the magic formula of religious activities but instead, it's about recognizing yourself rightly in relationship to God. Today Pastor Ricky will emphasize the importance of having a contrite heart and humility in recognizing your need of God. The Lord offers grace and forgiveness. Turning to Him is the only way to be saved.
Behold - Final and Forever Christmas, Part 3
There is a deep longing in believers for the new heaven and new earth the Lord will bring someday. Conflict, violence, and hurt will be replaced by peace, love, and harmony. Looking ahead to this should bring you great joy and hope as you wait. Today, Pastor Ricky will encourage you to look forward to this future made possible because of Jesus’ sacrifice, believe in Jesus as your Savior and King. When you know that that future is there and is certain, it should transform you and strengthen you in all you do.
Behold - Final and Forever Christmas, Part 2
When you look toward the future on earth, there's often fear of what might happen because this world is a broken place. Because you can't control all things, you might have a dread deep inside about what will happen to you or those you love. Yet as Pastor Ricky will remind you today, God is preparing a new heaven and a new earth for all believers that replaces terror with blessing. You'll have peace because you'll have nothing to fear and the nearness of God will be better than anything you can imagine.
Behold - Final and Forever Christmas, Part 1
This journey through life can be difficult at times. There’s sorrow, brokenness, death, and futility. God sometimes seems far away yet in Isaiah, God gives a beautiful glimpse of the new heaven and new earth to come. Today, Pastor Ricky will walk you through the beautiful place that God will bring about someday. All creation will be renewed and glorious, unmarked by sin anymore. Sorrow will be replaced by never-ending joy. If you look ahead knowing that this is coming, it should strengthen you in your walk of faith.
Behold - Longing for More, Part 2
Underneath all of the longings that you have for your life, there's a deeper longing to be in relationship with the Lord. It's how He created you. Yet you are even unfulfilled in that because of sin. You can never bring yourself closer to God in your own efforts. Today, Pastor Ricky will explain how you must come to the end of yourself, acknowledge your sin and ask Him to act, and the beautiful news is that He will. He sent Jesus to bridge the gap between our sin and God's holiness and to bring all people back into a relationship with Him.
Behold - Longing for More, Part 1
There is within each person a fundamental longing. Believers and non-believers all long for love, safety, peace, and honor. Today, Pastor Ricky will explain how God created everyone to long for these things from Him. God can uniquely and fully love and protect you because of who He is. He created you for a relationship with Him. Instead of turning to the world for these things that you long for and excluding God, turn first to Him. He'll fulfill all of your longings in amazing ways and transform your heart.
Behold - Don't Stop Now, Part 2
For the believer, this world is not your home. There's something much greater to come. God calls you to live differently than the world while you're here in the world. Pastor Ricky explains today that you should feel a bit restless as you long for eternity to come. He encourages you as you give up desires and lose things you love to remember that every loss will be redeemed more than you can even imagine. Have the perspective that the good to come will far overshadow anything you lose now. God will restore all things on that day.
Behold - Don't Stop Now, Part 1
The world today lives for the here and now, wrapped up in all the pleasure and comfort of the moment. Yet Isaiah encourages God’s people to fix their eyes on eternity instead. There's something much better to come. Today, Pastor Ricky will challenge you to have God’s longing for the full salvation of His people. Yes, you experienced a bit of salvation life now, but the complete glory and righteousness to come are more than you can imagine. Creation will be redeemed completely. You’ll be fully restored and perfect for eternity.
Behold - People of Destiny, Part 2
Despite what the world tells you, God is bringing His people to a great and glorious future. Even if you struggle to believe you are worthy of a God using and desiring you, He promises a beautiful gathering of all who believe. Today, Pastor Ricky will explain some of the glory to come. God will carry you to perfect completion and righteousness. The Godly will triumph over this world and ultimately the glory to come is better than you can even imagine. Don't give up on your Christian walk. The future to come will be amazing.
Behold - People of Destiny, Part 1
Do you ever wonder if this Christian life you’re living will ever go anywhere? You might feel doubtful based on your ability to live in obedience. You may struggle to believe because the world seems to be victorious. Yet as Pastor Ricky will remind you today, God is bringing His people to glory. God's people reflect His glory and God will gather all people for a beautiful complete family. Instead of wondering where this journey of faith is going, just know and believe it’s going somewhere good.
Behold - Welcome to the Family
Do you feel like you're on the outside of the family of God? Like it's for someone with a better past or a Christian upbringing or for someone with good Bible knowledge only? Today, Pastor Ricky will encourage you greatly with the truth that God made a way for all outsiders to be welcome in the forever family of God. Don't buy into Satan's lie that you don't belong and exclude yourself. Bring your messy lives and come to God through faith in Jesus. He longs for you to believe. He welcomes you into His family forever.
Behold - The Great Exchange, Part 2
All of humanity, because of sin, is wicked. Every person has chosen to reject the Lord by choosing sin and for that, death is deserved. Today, Pastor Ricky will explain that God, who is righteous, must bring justice to the world. Yet instead of judging them rightly and simply wiping out all people, He sent Jesus to bear the weight of all sin on the cross. Jesus willingly chose to give His life in exchange for your redemption and forgiveness. He paid it all. He completed the work. Will you accept His perfect sacrifice?
Behold - The Great Exchange, Part 1
Jesus, exalted in heaven from before creation was equal to God in righteousness and holiness. He gave that up for a time to come humbly to earth. He lived a poor and unknown life instead of the exalted, honored life that He deserved. Today, Pastor Ricky will discuss the incredible exchange that Jesus made in order to come to earth, containing His awesome power within a human man. He was rejected and despised and He endured a cross of punishment for the sake of all mankind.
Behold - Listen and Look, Part 2
Are you afraid of what people will think of you or change the way they treat you if you live your life according to Jesus’ values? You may experience mocking or rejection for holding fast to your values from God’s Word. However as Pastor Ricky will remind you today, the world's values, opinions, and ways will fade to nothing and only God will remain. Christ was mocked and rejected yet is exalted and in glory. You too will experience rejection but if you hold fast to Jesus you’ll also experience the glory that only He can give.
Behold - Listen and Look, Part 1
Sometimes it feels hard to muster the desire to continue following the Lord. Circumstances are hard, emotions are out of control and God may not be immediately stepping in. You may even wonder if you'll have the strength, endurance, or perseverance to continue on. Yet Pastor Ricky will remind you today that if you follow the Lord and rely on Him, then your resources will never run out. In fact, they'll grow in your life. You'll have more strength, more hope, more resilience, as you move forward.
Behold - Looking for Revival in All the Wrong Places, Part 3
God gives you good things in life that can quickly and suddenly become warped into idols. Instead of pointing to the goodness of God, it ends up pulling you away from God. Idols can't deliver you, save you, or help you in any way but there is good news. Today, Pastor Ricky will explain that there is a way to deliverance and redemption and that's through Jesus. You must however acknowledge your sin and idols to God who desires to forgive and to save you. Recognizing God is the only source of abundant life now and eternally.
Behold - Looking for Revival in All the Wrong Places, Part 2
Do you long for the renewal and refreshment that God can bring to your life but continue to feel dry and barren? Then as Pastor Ricky will explain, perhaps you're too reliant on idols in your life. All the things that you devote your heart, mind, and hopes on, that are not God, actually lead you farther from true peace. Pastor Ricky will challenge you to examine what idols you’ve placed above God or what things you've shaped for your purpose instead of God's purposes. None of these things will give you abundant life and transformation.
Behold - Looking for Revival in All the Wrong Places, Part 1
Are you feeling weary and unfulfilled in this life? Often what you look for to renew or revitalize you leaves you more discouraged than before. Today, Pastor Ricky will remind you that only God can bring new abundant life in a way that nothing else can. He brings transformation to you through the Holy Spirit within you. The Spirit will empower and fill you to cause you to become more like Christ. He's like water in a dry desert to your soul. When you seek Him, He will refresh you, and renew you, and fill your life with Himself.
Behold - Good News for the Bruised and Fainthearted, Part 2
When you’re bruised and damaged from trials and pain in this life, the help the world offers is empty. All the self-help books, meditation, positive thoughts won’t do for you what the Lord God offers to do for you. Pastor Ricky will explain today the tenderness in which God cares for you. God sees the justice needed throughout the whole world but He also sees and knows your hurt. He's a personal and intimate savior who deeply loves you. He will tenderly restore you. He will strengthen you to continue in this world.