Intimacy with God

   

Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”  This is an utter abandonment of self to God.  Every fiber of our beings must be completely surrendered to Him.  In holiness circles we frame this theologically as begun in the new birth or salvation, anchored and empowered through the filling of the Holy Spirit in sanctification, and continued all the lifelong by walking in the spirit in perfect love.  This is simple and accurate.  But however you want to frame it, it all boils down to letting go of yourself to the control of Christ knowing He made you and cares for you.  It is a complete trusting of Him with every part of you good or bad.  Just as a husband and wife totally surrender to each other in private uninhibited unrestrained intimacy, we must surrender utterly to Him with nothing held back.  It is in this place of full surrender that real intimacy with Christ begins.

Building Series - Designed for Dominion

 

Finding Rest in Him

In this unusual singing sermon, I hope you'll forgive that my voice is the only one on the recording.  However, I hope that you find strength to your heart and soul from it today!

God is Pro-Life & So Am I.

I know this sermon is out of order in terms of the sermons that have yet to be posted, but due to the relevance of this message to the Sanctity of Life Month 2017, I wanted to post it for your consideration.  If you feel it has merit, please feel free to share. - Pastor Rick

HE KNOWS

God knows you: precisely whom you are, where you are, what you are, why you are, and how you are.  He understands you and cares about you.  Listen as Pastor Rick passionately shares the wonderful story of Thomas.

"Have you been where Thomas was that night?  A whole lot of other people tell you they have met the risen Christ.  A whole lot of people tell you that it was incredible and spectacular and you should have the same experience.  Have you felt confused by all the voices?  Have you felt that your experiential reality doesn’t match up with others’ reports of the supernatural?  Have you grieved because YOU longed to know Him in the power of His resurrection too – but somehow have missed it?  Have you been frustrated – maybe even angry – that you have been left out of His presence?  Have you determined in the midst of your pain, your loneliness, and your lostness that you WILL NOT BELIEVE?

Ah.  This I believe is part of the why of Thomas’ story.  God knows us and understands us and He wants us to know that He knows and He cares about us even when we struggle with doubt and uncertainty."

The Church I Want to Attend

              “Clement was probably a Gentile and a Roman.  He seems to have been with Paul at Philippi in A.D. 57” (Philippians 4:3).  Many years later after the death of Paul and as the persecution in Rome commenced with vigor, Clement penned a letter to the church at Corinth that was experiencing quite a few problems due to a schism in the fellowship.  However, in the opening of the letter, Clement commends the incredible fellowship they once had before addressing the challenges they faced. 

               This commendation is incredible in its detailed affirmation of what a successful Christ-honoring church looks like.  I wanted to share this with you that you might be encouraged and convicted like I was when reading it the first time.

               “The church of God which sojourns at Rome, to the Church of God sojourning at Corinth, to them that are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ, be multiplied.

               “Owing dear brethren, to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have happened to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention to the points respecting which you consulted us; and especially to that shameful and detestable sedition, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God, which a few rash and self-confident persons have kindled to such a pitch of frenzy, that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy to be universally loved, has suffered grievous injury.  For who ever dwelt even for a short time among you, and did not find your faith to be as fruitful of virtue as it was firmly established?  Who did not admire the sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Christ? Who did not proclaim the magnificence of your habitual hospitality?  And who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded knowledge?  For ye did all things without respect of persons, and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who had the rule over you, and giving all fitting honour to the presbyters among you.  Ye enjoined [commanded, instructed] young men to be of a sober and serious mind; ye instructed your wives to do all things with a blameless, becoming, and pure conscience, loving their husbands as in duty bound; and ye taught them that, living in the rule of obedience, they should manage their household affairs becomingly, and be in every respect marked by discretion.

               “Moreover, ye were all distinguished by humility, and were in no respect puffed up with pride, but yielded obedience rather than extorted it (Ephesians 5:21 & 1 Peter 5:5), and were more willing to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).  Content with the provision which God had made for you, and carefully attending to His words, ye were inwardly filled with His doctrine, and His sufferings were before your eyes.  Thus a profound and abundant peace was given to you all, and ye had an insatiable desire for doing good, while a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all.  Full of holy designs [plans, intentions, actions], ye did, with true earnestness of mind and a godly confidence, stretch forth your hands to God Almighty, beseeching Him to be merciful unto you, if ye had been guilty of any involuntary transgression.  Day and night ye were anxious for the whole brotherhood (1 Peter 2:17), that the number of God’s elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience.  Ye were sincere and uncorrupted, and forgetful of injuries between one another.  Every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight.  Ye mourned over the transgressions of your neighbors: their deficiencies you deemed your own.  Ye never grudged any act of kindness, being “ready to every good work (Titus 3:1).”  Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, ye did all things in the fear of God.  The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts (Proverbs 7:3).”

What an incredible description of a church family!  I pray that we will so represent Christ to other believers and to our community!

This excerpt was taken from Volume 1 of “The Church Fathers Ante-Nicene Fathers” Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, Published by Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC., Peabody, MA  Fifth Printing, 2012.  ISBN 978-1-56563-082-6

CHERISHED

Listen as Pastor Rick shares with us a "valentine" from the Lord.

"Justice demanded a cross for our crimes.  Love demanded a Savior.  And so, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  This is the glorious message of the Gospel that I never want to escape!  I a wretched wicked sinner – with all the potential evil of history locked up in my heart just waiting to escape; I who wanted God less than I wanted my sins; I who was doomed for Hell and deserved it; I was whom He loved.  And because He loved me, He purposed that I would not go to Hell if He could help it.  And so, while I stood condemned, a cross was erected on Calvary from which dangled the lifeless body of God.  And the wrath of God was poured upon Himself instead of me. Justice was served.  Love was lived.  And the opportunity to be cherished was offered…to me. 

He sealed the transaction with His resurrection and with it offered an eternal marriage proposal to mankind.  Like the prophet Hosea of old, he called us from our whoring in sin to be cherished in His hands.  Rather than leave us to our justly deserved doom in the darkness he called us into the kingdom of light and promised to always be at our side in this life and the next.  He does not need us – but He WANTS us."

All These Things

Listen as Pastor Rick returns to Matthew chapter 6 to finish considering the truths of verse 33.  If I seek first the Kingdom of God, what are all the "things" that will be "added unto me?"

Servants of Christ

Listen as Pastor Rick discusses Servanthood particularly in the local body.  Humble service is essential to corporate and personal worship.  Are you a servant of Christ?

Ministers of the New Testament

Listen as Pastor Rick calls all of us to ministry in the New Testament sense of the word.

The Strength of Sacrifice - Contagious Christians Series #6

Listen as Pastor Rick wraps up the teaching on Potent Christian Living from the book by Mark Mittelberg & Bill Hybels.  Sacrifice is memorable, powerful, and reaching.  Are you living sacrificially?

God Cares.

Listen as Pastor Rick examines the disciples' anguished cry, "Master, Carest Thou Not...?"  Be uplifted as you realize how much God really does care for you and everything about you.  God sees.  God understands.  God cares.

Sanctity of Human Life Month in Hampton Roads

"Good" Samaritan?

     A few days ago I failed to set my alarm properly which resulted in missing my early-morning ride to work.  However, on my resulting drive to work, I found out why.  As I prayed in my car, I began to wrestle with the idea of who we want in our church. 

     Our church like many others has been attended from time-to-time by people who don’t quite fit the cookie-cutter image of a “Christian” or "typical" church attendee.  Our church is attended by people from every economic station and class.  Some people might be put-off by people who seem to be of greater material or spiritual need.  I had to honestly pray this matter through with God to ensure that I was viewing people as Christ does. 

     I must confess that before this prayer session I would rather have reached doctors and lawyers and other “successful” people: a nice “white-collar church.”  However, I felt very convicted about this mentality.  Jesus Christ came to those who needed Him…to those who needed the touch of the Master Physician.  Who are we to do any less?  How can we turn away from the man, woman, or child lying by life’s roadside who has been kicked and beaten by circumstances and background, abused, and robbed of all dignity, respect, and hope?  Dare we pass by on the other side of the road? (Luke 10:25-36)

     We must pause in spite of the danger that we might be robbed ourselves, in spite of being sullied by the dirt of their lives or blood of their wounds.  We must pick them up, bandage them, and love them with abandon with no expectation of anything in return.  We must have compassion and love as Christ loves: Who died and gave Himself for us.

     And so I prayed today, “Lord, send us the people who need you!  Let our paths cross the paths of those who desperately need to know Your peace and need Your mighty power in their lives.  Let our church be a church for the disillusioned, downtrodden, and broken-hearted!  Don’t bring us people who will harden their hearts, worship other gods, or refuse to repent and be redeemed.  Send us those in need of compassion and ready for the cross.” 

     As I prayed, I wept at this idea: How many Christians and churches abort new babes in Christ?  What about the broken souls who are ready to receive the touch of Christ and instead are turned away, given the cold shoulder, referred to a program, or are lost simply because we do not have the eyes to see, ears to hear, or hearts to have compassion?  With our lives and conduct are we turning souls away from the cross or thwarting the work of the Holy Spirit in our community?  I was heavily burdened by this idea.  I do not want to be one who aborts babes in Christ!

     Instead I want to lead a crowd of “crown flingers.”  What?!  That’s right!  I want to reach heaven someday and when we gather before Him, I don’t want my crown to be the only one clattering to the ground as I prostrate myself before the throne of Christ!  I want a whole pile of crowns falling thick and fast from souls who were rescued from the burning by our church: souls who rejoice with us because we had the compassion of Christ and the stamina of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit unto the Gospel of Christ and bring newborn Christians into the Kingdom!

     This is my heartbeat…is it yours?