Pastor Rich's blog listings. Feed Zend_Feed_Writer 1.10.8 (http://framework.zend.com) http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich God's in control God's Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world 1 John 4:4). Satan has NO POWER except that which God gives him. To the first century Church in Smyrna, ( a city of Lona in Asia Minor, one of the seven Churches Rev.1:4). Christ said, "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer for ten days. But be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the crown of life" ( Rev 2:10). Analyze Jesus' words for a minute. Christ informs the Church of the persecution, the duration of the psersecution (ten days), the reason for the persecution ( A crown of life).In other words, Jesus uses Satan to fortify His Church... Even when satan appears to win, he always loses. Amen.

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]]> Mon, 06 May 2013 09:21:00 -0500 http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/05/06/gods_in_control http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/05/06/gods_in_control God's Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world 1 John 4:4). Satan has NO POWER except that which God gives him. To the first century Church in Smyrna, ( a city of Lona in Asia Minor, one of the seven Churches Rev.1:4). Christ said, "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer for ten days. But be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the crown of life" ( Rev 2:10). Analyze Jesus' words for a minute. Christ informs the Church of the persecution, the duration of the psersecution (ten days), the reason for the persecution ( A crown of life).In other words, Jesus uses Satan to fortify His Church... Even when satan appears to win, he always loses. Amen.

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]]> 0 Not guilty ( Romans 8:33, Who can accuse the people of God has chosen? No one, because God is the one who makes them right).  Every moment of our lives, we have an accuser who is always filing charges against us.He has noticed every error and marked each slip...Try to forget your past; he'll remind you. Try to undo mistakes; he will thwart you. This expert witness has no higher goal than to take us to court...Who is he? The devil. He rails: "This one You call Your child, God. He or she is not worthy....?" As he speaks, you hang your head.You think to yourself I have no defense. His charges are fair. "I plead guilty, Your honor," you mumble."The sentence? Satan asks. "The wages of sin is death," explains the judge (God). "but in this case the death has already occured. For this one died with My son Jesus." Satan is suddenly silent. And you are suddenly jubilant...You have stood before the judge and heard Him declare you "NOT GUILTY"

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]]> Sun, 05 May 2013 12:17:34 -0500 http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/05/05/not_guilty http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/05/05/not_guilty ( Romans 8:33, Who can accuse the people of God has chosen? No one, because God is the one who makes them right).  Every moment of our lives, we have an accuser who is always filing charges against us.He has noticed every error and marked each slip...Try to forget your past; he'll remind you. Try to undo mistakes; he will thwart you. This expert witness has no higher goal than to take us to court...Who is he? The devil. He rails: "This one You call Your child, God. He or she is not worthy....?" As he speaks, you hang your head.You think to yourself I have no defense. His charges are fair. "I plead guilty, Your honor," you mumble."The sentence? Satan asks. "The wages of sin is death," explains the judge (God). "but in this case the death has already occured. For this one died with My son Jesus." Satan is suddenly silent. And you are suddenly jubilant...You have stood before the judge and heard Him declare you "NOT GUILTY"

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]]> 0 Walk in the Spirit ( Galatians 5:16 Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh). Can anyone be perfect on their own? The answer is YES. "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generation (Genesis 6:9). He chose to be just, upright and he walked with God. The Bible says that if we practice Righteousness we are Righteous.1 John 3:4-9 says, v4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlesness and sin is lawlessness. v5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. v6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin.Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. v7 Little childre, let no one decieve you. He who practices Righteousness is Righteous. v8 He who sins is og the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginnig. For this purpose the son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. v9 Whoever has been born of God( Born again) does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. I don't mean that God hasn't or can't make us Righteous He has declared us Righteous when we accepted Jesus and was baptized.But we do have a choice to sin or not I hope that these words encourage you if your not already living an upright( character approved by God) Perfect, walking with God life.

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]]> Fri, 03 May 2013 14:38:20 -0500 http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/05/03/walk_in_the_spirit http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/05/03/walk_in_the_spirit ( Galatians 5:16 Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh). Can anyone be perfect on their own? The answer is YES. "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generation (Genesis 6:9). He chose to be just, upright and he walked with God. The Bible says that if we practice Righteousness we are Righteous.1 John 3:4-9 says, v4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlesness and sin is lawlessness. v5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. v6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin.Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. v7 Little childre, let no one decieve you. He who practices Righteousness is Righteous. v8 He who sins is og the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginnig. For this purpose the son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. v9 Whoever has been born of God( Born again) does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. I don't mean that God hasn't or can't make us Righteous He has declared us Righteous when we accepted Jesus and was baptized.But we do have a choice to sin or not I hope that these words encourage you if your not already living an upright( character approved by God) Perfect, walking with God life.

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]]> 0 Our Infinite God ( Psalm 48:1, Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised).  My idea of the ocean was so small that the first time I saw it I couldn't comprehend how any lake could be so big! The vastness of the ocean cannot be understood until it is seen. This is the same with God's love. It passes knowledge. Until you actually experience it, no one can describe it to you. The opening lines of one of our greatest old hymns declare, "O the deep, deep love of Jesus/ Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!/ Rolling as a mighty ocean/ In its fullness over me." Behind the love of God lies His omniscience--His ability to "know and understand all," Omniscience is a quality of God that is His alone. God possesses infinite knowledge and an awareness that is uniquely His. At all times, even in the midst of any type of suffering, I can realize that He knows, loves, watches, understands, and, more than that, He has a purpose. No matter what comes your way...no matter how tempted you are to give in to despair...never forget: God's love for you can never be exhausted, for His love is beyond measuer.

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]]> Thu, 02 May 2013 11:42:00 -0500 http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/05/02/our_infinite_god http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/05/02/our_infinite_god ( Psalm 48:1, Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised).  My idea of the ocean was so small that the first time I saw it I couldn't comprehend how any lake could be so big! The vastness of the ocean cannot be understood until it is seen. This is the same with God's love. It passes knowledge. Until you actually experience it, no one can describe it to you. The opening lines of one of our greatest old hymns declare, "O the deep, deep love of Jesus/ Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!/ Rolling as a mighty ocean/ In its fullness over me." Behind the love of God lies His omniscience--His ability to "know and understand all," Omniscience is a quality of God that is His alone. God possesses infinite knowledge and an awareness that is uniquely His. At all times, even in the midst of any type of suffering, I can realize that He knows, loves, watches, understands, and, more than that, He has a purpose. No matter what comes your way...no matter how tempted you are to give in to despair...never forget: God's love for you can never be exhausted, for His love is beyond measuer.

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]]> 0 God moves God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill He treasures up His bright designs and works His Soveign will. Ye fearful Saints, fresh courage take: The clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.Smile

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]]> Wed, 01 May 2013 09:34:10 -0500 http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/05/01/god_moves http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/05/01/god_moves God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill He treasures up His bright designs and works His Soveign will. Ye fearful Saints, fresh courage take: The clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.Smile

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]]> 0 Our prayers are precious jewels ( The Lord sees the good people and listens to their prayers 1 Peter 3:12). You and I live in a loud world. To get someone's attention is no easy task. We mus be willing to set everything aside to listen: turn the radio off, turn away from the comupter monitor, fold the page and put down the book,only if it's not the BibleSmile. When someone is willing to silence everything else so we can hear clearly what God has to say. Your prayers are honored in Heaven as precious jewels. Purified and empowered, the words you say rise in a delightful fragrance to our Lord...your words do not stop until they reach the very throne of God... Your prayers move God to change the world. You and I may not unerstand the mystery of prayer. You and I don't need to. But this much is clear: Actions in Heaven begin when someone prays on earth.

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]]> Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:40:27 -0500 http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/04/30/our_prayers_are_precious_jewels http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/04/30/our_prayers_are_precious_jewels ( The Lord sees the good people and listens to their prayers 1 Peter 3:12). You and I live in a loud world. To get someone's attention is no easy task. We mus be willing to set everything aside to listen: turn the radio off, turn away from the comupter monitor, fold the page and put down the book,only if it's not the BibleSmile. When someone is willing to silence everything else so we can hear clearly what God has to say. Your prayers are honored in Heaven as precious jewels. Purified and empowered, the words you say rise in a delightful fragrance to our Lord...your words do not stop until they reach the very throne of God... Your prayers move God to change the world. You and I may not unerstand the mystery of prayer. You and I don't need to. But this much is clear: Actions in Heaven begin when someone prays on earth.

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]]> 0 Reunion in Galilee The angel at the empty tomb announced to the woman that the crucified Jesus "has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee." The risen Lord Himself told the women on their homward way, "Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me" ( Matt. 28:7,10). Galilee--what memories it held for Jesus and His disciples! There, in Nazareth, He grew up.There, on the shore of the sea of Galilee, He found His first disciples. There He opened His preaching and healing mnistry, and there, in Cana, He performed His first miracle. Galilee entered into the events of the final week. When on Palm sunday people asked "Who is this?" the repy was, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee" ( Matt. 21:10,11). Pontius Pilate, on learning that Jesus was in Galilee, sent Him to Herod for judgement (Luke 23:7). It is not surprising that the risen Lord sought a rendzvous with His disciples in Galilee. It was familiar territory. The mountaintop to which Jesus had directed them was undoubtedly a locale where He had previously met with His disciples. The well-known scene would help identify the risen Savior as indeed the Jesus of Galilee. The Galilee where Jesus Christ meets with us today is His word, the Holy Scriptures. This word bears witness that Jesus "was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" ( Romans 4:25). And His message to us is this, "if you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" ( John 8:31-32).Laughing Have a blessed day everyone.Peace and love.

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]]> Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:24:53 -0500 http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/04/29/reunion_in_galilee http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/04/29/reunion_in_galilee The angel at the empty tomb announced to the woman that the crucified Jesus "has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee." The risen Lord Himself told the women on their homward way, "Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me" ( Matt. 28:7,10). Galilee--what memories it held for Jesus and His disciples! There, in Nazareth, He grew up.There, on the shore of the sea of Galilee, He found His first disciples. There He opened His preaching and healing mnistry, and there, in Cana, He performed His first miracle. Galilee entered into the events of the final week. When on Palm sunday people asked "Who is this?" the repy was, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee" ( Matt. 21:10,11). Pontius Pilate, on learning that Jesus was in Galilee, sent Him to Herod for judgement (Luke 23:7). It is not surprising that the risen Lord sought a rendzvous with His disciples in Galilee. It was familiar territory. The mountaintop to which Jesus had directed them was undoubtedly a locale where He had previously met with His disciples. The well-known scene would help identify the risen Savior as indeed the Jesus of Galilee. The Galilee where Jesus Christ meets with us today is His word, the Holy Scriptures. This word bears witness that Jesus "was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" ( Romans 4:25). And His message to us is this, "if you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" ( John 8:31-32).Laughing Have a blessed day everyone.Peace and love.

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]]> 0 A sealed bargain ( He ...put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come 2 Cor. 1:21-22). As we trust in Christ, God gives us the Spirit as a pledge,or, as some translations read, earnest or guarantee. In the Apostle Paul's day, a deposit or pledge did three things: It was a down payment that sealed a bargain, it represented an obligation to buy, and it was a sample of what was to come. As an illustration, suppose you decided to make a down payment on a new car. What does your deposit represent? First, it seals the transaction; from now on, both you and the seller are committed. Aslo, it shows that you are committed  yourself to pay the rest of the purchase price.Finally, it enables you to take possession of the car right now ( even though it  still belongs to the seller!). In the same way, the Holy Spirit in our hearts is God's pledge or deposit to us--sealing His commitment to save us, guaranteeing that someday our Salvation will be complete, and enabling us to experience its joys right now.

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]]> Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:58:55 -0500 http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/04/28/a_sealed_bargain http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/04/28/a_sealed_bargain ( He ...put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come 2 Cor. 1:21-22). As we trust in Christ, God gives us the Spirit as a pledge,or, as some translations read, earnest or guarantee. In the Apostle Paul's day, a deposit or pledge did three things: It was a down payment that sealed a bargain, it represented an obligation to buy, and it was a sample of what was to come. As an illustration, suppose you decided to make a down payment on a new car. What does your deposit represent? First, it seals the transaction; from now on, both you and the seller are committed. Aslo, it shows that you are committed  yourself to pay the rest of the purchase price.Finally, it enables you to take possession of the car right now ( even though it  still belongs to the seller!). In the same way, the Holy Spirit in our hearts is God's pledge or deposit to us--sealing His commitment to save us, guaranteeing that someday our Salvation will be complete, and enabling us to experience its joys right now.

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]]> 0 Christ is King ( Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom Psalm 145:13).  The government in God's Kingdom is unique. It is not a democracy where people govern, but a "Christocracy" where Christ is the Supreme authority. In a society of unredeemed people, democracy  is the only fair and equitable system. But no democracy can ever be better than the people who make it up. When citizens are selfishly motivated, the government will be inequitable. When people are dishonest, the government will be the same. When everyone wants his own way, someone is going to get hurt. But in God's Kingdom, Christ is King. He is compassionate, fair, merciful, and just. When He is Sovereign in men's hearts, anguish turns to peace, hatred is transformed into love, and misunderstanding into harmony.Tell everyone that Christ is your King and let them see that He is Soverign in your life.

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]]> Sat, 27 Apr 2013 09:38:37 -0500 http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/04/27/christ_is_king http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/04/27/christ_is_king ( Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom Psalm 145:13).  The government in God's Kingdom is unique. It is not a democracy where people govern, but a "Christocracy" where Christ is the Supreme authority. In a society of unredeemed people, democracy  is the only fair and equitable system. But no democracy can ever be better than the people who make it up. When citizens are selfishly motivated, the government will be inequitable. When people are dishonest, the government will be the same. When everyone wants his own way, someone is going to get hurt. But in God's Kingdom, Christ is King. He is compassionate, fair, merciful, and just. When He is Sovereign in men's hearts, anguish turns to peace, hatred is transformed into love, and misunderstanding into harmony.Tell everyone that Christ is your King and let them see that He is Soverign in your life.

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]]> 0 Now is the time ( You do not know what will happen tomorrow James 4:14).  Billy Bray, a Godly clergyman of another generation, sat by the bedside of a dying Christian who had been very shy about his testimony for Christ during his life. The dying man said,"if I had the power I'd shout glory to God." Billy answered, "It's a pity you didn't shout glory to God when you had the power." I wonder how many of us will look back over a lifetime of wasted opportunities and ineffective witness, and weep because we did not allow God to use us as He wanted. "Night is coming, when no man can work (John 9:4). If ever we are to study Scriptures, if ever we are to spend time in prayer, if ever we are to win souls for Christ, if ever we are to invest our finances for His Kingdom--IT MUST BE NOW.Smile

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]]> Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:30:56 -0500 http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/04/26/now_is_the_time http://community.beliefnet.com/pastor_rich/blog/2013/04/26/now_is_the_time ( You do not know what will happen tomorrow James 4:14).  Billy Bray, a Godly clergyman of another generation, sat by the bedside of a dying Christian who had been very shy about his testimony for Christ during his life. The dying man said,"if I had the power I'd shout glory to God." Billy answered, "It's a pity you didn't shout glory to God when you had the power." I wonder how many of us will look back over a lifetime of wasted opportunities and ineffective witness, and weep because we did not allow God to use us as He wanted. "Night is coming, when no man can work (John 9:4). If ever we are to study Scriptures, if ever we are to spend time in prayer, if ever we are to win souls for Christ, if ever we are to invest our finances for His Kingdom--IT MUST BE NOW.Smile

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