On January 20, 1961 President John F. Kennedy made this statement:
“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”
As we began our study in Nehemiah this week, that thought pattern came to mind about believers and God
What if we stopped asking God to give us everything and make our lives easy and instead asked...
How can we serve you, Father?
For the first time really in Isaiah’s life he saw the glory of God and how small and sinful he was.
What if we could each have that experience of seeing the true Glory of God
The reality is that through Isaiah’s experience we should be able to see ourselves in that throne room
The experience was amazing, beautiful, and terrifying all at the same time
Most importantly, it truly showed Isaiah the sinfulness of his self and it shook him to the core
“Woe is me, for I am ruined”
Perhaps that is the true thing that we all need to see, how sinful and ruined we truly are next to Holy God
But Isaiah was not allowed to wallow in his realization of sin
His sin was taken away by the Holiness of God
Even in our sinful state God loves us and is willing to cleanse you
Why?
He created you for a purpose and He wants you to be used for that purpose
If God had nothing for us, once He cleansed us, He would simply take us home
Once Isaiah saw his sin, then was cleansed, he heard the voice of the Lord
God asked “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”
Without any hesitation Isaiah said “here I am, send me”
Today as believers we seem to be more concerned in what can God do for us.
What if……think about this
What if God’s people paused for a moment and considered not what God can do for us
Instead what can we do for God!
John F. Kennedy’s speech moved thousands of Americans to civic work that had never considered that before
If believers could get that message and move to action I have no doubt there would be a revival like has never been
Will you ask God,
"What can I do for you in 2022?"
Maybe what you need to do is give your life to Him in the first place. Are you ready?
- Jan 23, 2022Send Me
Jan 23, 2022Send MeBy: Bro. George RiekSeries: 2022
On January 20, 1961 President John F. Kennedy made this statement:
“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”
As we began our study in Nehemiah this week, that thought pattern came to mind about believers and God
What if we stopped asking God to give us everything and make our lives easy and instead asked...
How can we serve you, Father?
For the first time really in Isaiah’s life he saw the glory of God and how small and sinful he was.
What if we could each have that experience of seeing the true Glory of God
The reality is that through Isaiah’s experience we should be able to see ourselves in that throne room
The experience was amazing, beautiful, and terrifying all at the same time
Most importantly, it truly showed Isaiah the sinfulness of his self and it shook him to the core
“Woe is me, for I am ruined”
Perhaps that is the true thing that we all need to see, how sinful and ruined we truly are next to Holy God
But Isaiah was not allowed to wallow in his realization of sin
His sin was taken away by the Holiness of God
Even in our sinful state God loves us and is willing to cleanse you
Why?
He created you for a purpose and He wants you to be used for that purpose
If God had nothing for us, once He cleansed us, He would simply take us home
Once Isaiah saw his sin, then was cleansed, he heard the voice of the Lord
God asked “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”
Without any hesitation Isaiah said “here I am, send me”
Today as believers we seem to be more concerned in what can God do for us.
What if……think about this
What if God’s people paused for a moment and considered not what God can do for us
Instead what can we do for God!
John F. Kennedy’s speech moved thousands of Americans to civic work that had never considered that before
If believers could get that message and move to action I have no doubt there would be a revival like has never been
Will you ask God,
"What can I do for you in 2022?"Maybe what you need to do is give your life to Him in the first place. Are you ready?
- Jan 16, 2022All God’s Children
Jan 16, 2022All God’s ChildrenBy: Bro. George RiekSeries: 2022
Tomorrow is a Federal Holiday marking Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday
He spent his life preaching that ALL people were created in God’s image and we need to love one another
Today, the divisions between people simply because of skin color, are still in full existence
Even though God created ALL people in His image, the world has divided us because we look different
We are ALL God’s children! We are ALL created in His image!
He loves us ALL!There is only one hope for all this racisim and division to be healed, and that is humility
Yes, I have preached on this passage before and, to be honest, I will probably preach on it again later
Our world today is not what Martin Luther King Jr dreamed about
But it can be!
“If My people, who are called by My name”
Understand that God’s people, who are called by His name, do not have a race
Our race is “God’s people”, no matter what we look like on the outside.
Only if you are identical twins, do any of us actually look just like one another
We are all unique creations and if we have given our life to Christ, we are ALL God’s children
You say, "Preacher, we know that!"
But do you live that way?
How many people, who say they are believers, have close friends of another ethnicity?
Do you have them over to your house for dinner?
Do you go to their's?If my people….”will humble themselves”
Humility is exactly what we all need to live. When we do that, we are pleasing to God.
When we stop thinking so highly of ourselves, we can live in Christ, as we are called to do
When ALL God’s children humble themselves, and make friendships, and let others see, it is amazing!
If my people….”and pray and seek My face”
How do we live as God’s children? We pray and seek His face
It is when we pray and seek Him that we hear from Him, and know how to live each day
If my people……”and turn from their wicked ways”
When we don’t treat people as one of God’s children, it is hatred of that person, and that is wicked
We can say, "I don’t hate people, I just don’t have anything in common with them"
But we don’t know because we haven’t tried to get to know them
I’m specifically talking about ALL people who look different from you
“Then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”
So, we know the answer to all the division and hatred in our land today, so let’s just do it.
God created every single life in this world today, yesterday, and tomorrow
ALL God’s children
Are you called by His name today? Then, it is time we act like it!
If you don’t know Him, do you want to?
- Jan 9, 2022Another Chance To Be Perfect
Jan 9, 2022Another Chance To Be PerfectBy: Bro. George RiekSeries: 2022
So you finally began a New Year
Many people determine at the New Year to make changes in their lives
Some, who are already believers, determine to live more fully for Christ
Some, after deciding to examine Christianity, have actually become believers
For everyone, once a decision is made, what does that actually look like?
I want to do better but what does that actually mean in my everyday walk?
This is another chance for you to be perfect
Perfect? That isn’t even possible!
Before we get to the topic of perfection, let’s look at vs 44-45
In these verses we are called to do something that is not natural
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
The world would say NO!
Look again at verse 45
This is possible through our Father in Heaven
Understand that this verse means that God loves ALL people, even your enemies
Perhaps, when we strive to love them and pray for them, we will learn about them
Maybe they shouldn’t be our enemies, but we haven’t given them a chance
Maybe they are our enemies because of something we have done
Maybe they have never felt the love of God that you know
When we decide that we need to make a change, the place we start is with us!
But I’m a nice person, just ask any of my friends
See, being nice and loving those who love you is easy
It is really truly striving to LOVE those who persecute you, that is so HARD
This is how you make that change that you decided to make.
This is your first step as a new believer and as a believer that wants to live better
We must strive to be perfect by living like our Father in heaven, not the world
This verse is clear, we are to be perfect, even if, as humans, we know that is impossible
The perfect that we need to be, is to live like Jesus every day
In our own strength, it is not possible, but God’s love is perfect, so will you live in that love every day?
Every day is another chance to be perfect. Will you take that opportunity every day?
First, you must give your life to the perfect Father.
Will you take that step today?
- Jan 2, 2022Another Year Another Chance
Jan 2, 2022Another Year Another ChanceBy: Bro. George RiekSeries: 2022
What does a New Year make you think of?
All the things you didn’t do last year that you wanted too?
All the things you want to strive for in the new year?
It always makes me think about a chalk board
No matter how many things are written on it, they can always be erased; and you are left with a brand new space
Old things have passed away and all things are now New
As a believer in Christ, there is a verse that comes to my mind
The old has passed away and the new things have come; just as 2021 is gone and 2022 is here.
The great thing about a new year, is that it hasn’t been written yet. Everything you do is the first time this year.
Now look at verse 18-19“Now ALL things are from God”
“who gave us the ministry of reconciliation”
I’m sure that I’m not the only one that made mistakes last year
This is a new year for us to be reconciled again with God, and for us to reconcile with others because of God
One of the greatest barricades to destroying racism is the unwillingness to reconcile with the past
In order to be better this year, we need to be purposeful about reconciling with others
This means we must use the power that God gave us if we are ever to get there
He gave us the word of reconciliation, and, as we are reconciled with Him, we lead others to do the same
The only hope that we have for this world of ours is to show everyone Jesus is the ONLY answer
It is another year and another chance to be an ambassador for Christ
Did any of you men ever participate in RAs as a child?RA stands for Royal Ambassadors for Christ
You see, what we have another chance to do this year is be the child of the King that we are supposed to be
We can serve as an ambassador to show every person the way to the King and eternal salvation
He became sin that we might become righteousness
Another year means another chance to lead people to Christ
Last year and the year before that I challenged you to strive to lead just one person to Christ
In order to lead one, you have to talk to many
I wonder how many actually met the challenge and led someone to Christ.
Another year, another chance
Last year, in this church, the baptismal pool remained dry
Let’s be His ambassadors this year and see that pool full often.
You can’t be His ambassador if you haven’t committed your life to Him yet