Nehemiah Series - Rebuilding the Walls of Repentance & Relationship - Sermon 7

As you bow your heart in repentance and worship before Him in full submission to the Truth, now open your hands and your heart to receive the gift of salvation!  Let go of the darkness and be filled with His light!  Be filled with His eternal love and receive everlasting life!  Now enter into relationship with the Architect of the Universe, the Designer of Humanity, the Christ of the Cross, The Gentle Spirit of Holiness, the Lover of our Souls.  Walk in relationship with Him – in covenant with Him – in love with Him!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this is what it means to rebuild the spiritual walls of worship and the word; of repentance and relationship.  This is revival.  This is restoration.  This is rebuilding what has been torn down.  Will you rebuild these walls in your hearts?  Will you rebuild these walls in your marriages?  Will you rebuild these walls in your homes?  Will you rebuild these walls in your community?

What Does God See When He Looks at Me?

Listen as Pastor Rick talks about recent events in the news and uses them as a springboard for self-searching and seeking to draw closer to God.  Are you in an intimate relationship with God?  Do you know how He perceives you?  What does God see when He looks at you.

Addicted to Service

Pastor Rick declares what Christians should be addicted to.  Are you an addict to selfless service?

Bless the Lord (2)

Pastor Rick goes back to Psalm 103 to consider the exclamations of David's worship, and calls us to summon praise in our hearts as we consider the magnificence of God's mercy. God redeems us from destruction! Listen and worship!

VISION Sunday 2013 - A.M. - "Waters to Swim In"

VISION Sunday 2013!  Listen as Pastor Rick shares a challenging sermon based on Ezekiel 47 that also sets the stage for presentation of the 2013 Vision for Water of Life Fellowship.  Are you in waters deep enough to swim in?!

SPECTACULAR LOVE!

Listen as Pastor Rick reminds us of how spectacular is God's Love toward us as shown in the story of Hosea & Gomer!  Are you serving Him today?

Mercy - How I really Feel! :-)

I haven't shared any of my music for a long time.  This was written & recorded on a still unreleased album called "Hidden in the Cross" several years ago.  I'm doing the vocals and Kathy Zink is at the piano.  I hope you enjoy!

"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?