Better News Podcast

You may be out there listening today and think that it is an impossibility for you to be saved. You may think if you walk into a church lightning will strike you down. The good news is that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. No one deserves what Jesus did on the cross for them. Jesus died for everyone. He didn't just save the people from sin who weren't too bad seeming on the outside. He isn't picking and choosing, so now that you know make the choice to follow Jesus today.

Today Pastor Ricky teaches that Jesus, as He taught, did two things over and over again. One, He abolished the additions to His law, like the cultural divide. And two, He raised the bar for what it meant to be holy. Jesus let them know that those laws weren't even in the Bible, to begin with. He taught that The Law was meant to reveal our hearts, to show us how holy the Lord is and our need for Him. Not to be a list of ceremonial laws. Even today we can create a divide like this among people.

There are people who live as if God was part of creation but isn't around now. Like as if He started things off and now we're on our own, things will just work themselves out. Pastor Ricky teaches us through the miracles in the book of Acts that Jesus is here with us now. He is active in our lives and we're filled with His power right now. We don't have to do things alone in this life. Jesus overcame even death to have the victory so that we can live confidently in that victory all the days of our lives.

Luke tells us in his gospel about Jesus taking on different forces and winning. In Acts these stories are similar. Jesus healing people shows that He has power over every realm. He takes on nature, spiritual forces, sickness, disease, and even death and wins. The story of Peter healing in Jesus' name in the book of Acts shows that Jesus is still with us, that He still has the power. Pastor Ricky encourages us that even today Jesus is with us, and in power, we can have daily victories in this power.

All people need to be restored to God. We're going to come up against people who seem impossible to save. Pastor Ricky points out that the passage about The Suffering Servant was put in the Bible for times like that, to show us all to have a heart that cares that everyone should come to Christ. Some people make us so angry, they mock us or mock Jesus but Jesus died for them too. He wants us to continue to love them regardless. If you win that soul for eternity your blessings will far outweigh the suffering.

When we're living in the world we can take on bad habits from the world. Separating ourselves into groups and subcultures, there are stigmas that go with any group. There's a class system that gets developed. The Samaritans coming to the Lord and becoming part of the fellowship of God shows us to break down those barriers. The Samaritans were thought of as lower than the Jews. The believers accepting them as just as good as they were, spoke volumes. Jesus died for us all, not just some.

Have you ever been looked at disparagingly because of your race? Maybe walked into a place that you thought you didn't belong? Or maybe you have tattoos, or are watched when your shopping because you're thought to be a thief? Pastor Ricky preaches the gospel to you and to me. He wants us to do the same. The gospel breaks down worldly dividers. The gospel changes things for everyone. We're no longer a certain race or group. We become sons and daughters of God. We're family.

During the early church, they had the same issues arise as we do. They had people with needs. They had widows, orphans, and handicapped people who couldn't work and relied on the goodness of others for their sustenance. Just like today, there are millions of people that without humanitarian efforts would be dead. The lesson here in Acts, that Pastor Ricky is teaching on, is that the main thing needs to stay the main thing. The Gospel is to be preached first.

Pastor Ricky likens our sharing Jesus to a balance scale. The scale has the other person, issue, or obstacle on one side, it's totally way down. But when we get on the counterbalance side alone, nothing happens, it barely budges. But we aren't alone. We have the power of Jesus on our side. He is on the scale with us and it's weighed down enough. This is what happens when you share Jesus. You may not know the words going in but the Holy Spirit will give you the wisdom and power.

We get our power from Jesus. His name is where our power to share the gospel comes from. Pastor Ricky speaks about Peter being uneducated but having the power of Jesus. He stood before educated men and preached the Gospel in a way that blew them away. They spoke to each other saying that he was uneducated but the way he spoke about the Gospel made them see and believe there was a real change in him. That's what will bring people to Jesus around us, the change they see in us.

Pastor Ricky reminds us of Day 1 stuff of Christianity. Repent, that's it. Troubled Christians don't need a bunch of counseling sessions, they need to repent. They need to go back to Day 1 stuff. Do you get caught up in trying to clean up your act a little before spending your quiet time with Jesus? Or wanting to change something before you give it all over to Him? Repent. It's as easy as that. Turn around and give it all over to the One who already knows where you are and has promised to handle it.

Have you been looking forward to The Last Days? The Israelites were looking forward to The Last Days too, for when the Messiah came and saved them. We can look forward to the same thing, The Second Coming of Christ. We have heaven waiting for us, we have our new bodies and an eternity with the Lord. How could we not be looking forward to The Last Days? We're not very different than the Israelites waiting for Jesus to come the first time. We have so much to gain from His glorious return.

The book of Acts recounts amazing occurrences of the Lord through the apostles. Pastor Ricky wants us to realize that we too are filled with that same amazing power. The Holy Spirit power was also given to us when we came to know the Lord. We have been given this power that can bring dead men to life. We're to go out and tell people about the change that's happened within us. Why would we keep such an amazing power a secret? Be encouraged today that you Christian, have that power.

Jesus came and paid for our sins. He is our King, our risen Lord, and our Savior. When you're commanded by authority to do something, you do it. When you're asked to do something by someone you love it isn't a burden, but a blessing. We're told by Jesus to go out into all the world and share the Gospel. This is commanded by our King and lovingly told to us by our Savior so our response should be immediate and done in love. The sharing of the Gospel should be a blessing and reveal Jesus.

Emmanuel, God who is with us. As you listen to today's message from Pastor Ricky, he explains to you that God is a God who draws near to you. He's not someone who's far removed from the things that worry you and cause you to stress. Pastor Ricky emphasizes that God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son. Anyone who believes in Him doesn't just journey in this life alone. They have the power of Christ dwelling within them. Jesus is near to all of His followers. With Him, you're never alone. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Emmanuel, God who is with us. As you listen to today's message from Pastor Ricky, he explains to you that God is a God who draws near to you. He's not someone who's far removed from the things that worry you and cause you to stress. Pastor Ricky emphasizes that God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son. Anyone who believes in Him doesn't just journey in this life alone. They have the power of Christ dwelling within them. Jesus is near to all of His followers. With Him, you're never alone.

As believers, it's easy to forget what God's gift of grace should mean to us. We know that He covers us and that He's saved us by the sacrifice of His Son, but do we truly live it out each and every day? In today's message, Pastor Ricky wants you to know that if you want your relationship with Christ to flourish, then you need to remain steadfast in His perfect grace. When you choose to live a grace-centered life, everything else falls into place. Experience the wondrous things that God has in store for you by living a grace-centered life. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

When was the last time you felt empowered by Christ? In your faith journey it's easy to feel like a sideshow or disconnected from what God's doing. In today's message, Pastor Ricky wants you to know that you need to rest in the power that you have through Christ. There's nothing that you can do to separate yourself from His presence. He wants nothing more than to build you up in who you want to be. Stop pretending that you have it all figured out and let God transform your life like never before. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Do you have an emphasis on prayer? Do you make a point to remain in communion with God, or do you treat prayer as a casual way to communicate? Today Pastor Ricky explains that you need to treat prayer as an intimate way to connect with Jesus. He wants nothing more than to connect with you and all you need to do is remain in communication with Him. Be that person that you strive to be by letting God be the leader of your life. You will never achieve your goals without His promises. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

When you gave your life to Christ did you give it all to Him? We love to be close to God and we know that He'll always have our back but do we truly sacrifice ourselves for His sake? In today's message, Pastor Ricky wants you to know that you need to be a living sacrifice for Jesus just as He gave his life for you, you'll never get to where you want to be by dancing around your commitment to your faith. Take the leap today and make impactful changes to who you are around others. Be a vessel for change. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

In your walk with Jesus, have you ever felt tested in your faith? Have you ever felt unsure of who you are in Christ? Today Pastor Ricky explains that you need to remain steadfast in God's glory. No matter what's been happening in your life or how disconnected you might feel from Him, He wants nothing more than to usher you into His kingdom. Never stop seeking after Him and claim your place in eternity. The joy of serving the Lord will always satisfy more than any of the promises that this world has to offer. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

As Pastor Ricky continues his teaching series through the Book of Ephesians, he'll be exhorting us to work as though we're doing it unto the Lord. The Bible says whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. Purpose to renew your mind and realize that wherever God has placed you, it's because he wants to use you to minister to those around you. Don't allow yourself to behave and act differently at work than you do at church, or at home. You should consistently be a witness. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

God desires that you owe nothing to anyone and that you pay off your debts so you can have financial freedom. Today Pastor Ricky reminds us that everything we have has been given to us by the grace of God and we should be looking to bless others. It becomes significantly easier to be used by God to help others with your resources and money when you don't live beyond your means and remain debt free. Have you been a good steward of the money, time, and resources that you've been given? "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

God is a God of order and He's created the family structure to function specifically to how He's created each individual. Husbands are to lead the family and lay down their lives as Jesus did, and wives are to submit to their own husbands. Children are to obey their parents because it'll be good and beneficial for them. All, however, are to first and foremost obey and submit to the Lord and that's when the best fruit gets produced in a home. Stop listening to the world and instead, take your advice from God's Word. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

One of the most frustrating things when you're putting something complicated together is having no instruction manual, or a very poorly written instruction manual. Thankfully, for the most important aspects of our lives, we do have an instruction manual and it's the Word of God. Today Pastor Ricky will be encouraging you to read what the Bible has to say about how the family and home should function. The world does a really good job of telling you how things should be, but your authority is from God. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Have you ever been in a place where you think that you know more than God does? Are there ever times when you know exactly what God is calling you to but you ignore Him because you think that you know best? Well in today's message, Pastor Ricky wants you to know that you'll never get to where you want to be by going off on your own wisdom. God has a divine plan for your life, and He only wants what's best for you. Leave the wisdom of the world behind and fix your gaze on heaven. He's always working everything for your good. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

In your walk with Jesus, do you ever take Him for granted? Do you ever forget about the important changes that He's implemented in your life? In today's message, Pastor Ricky wants you to know that you must never forget the impact that Jesus has on your life. No matter how hard you work or what you might accomplish, it's all because of the grace of God. The more you forget to thank God for all of His blessings, the less you'll accomplish for His Kingdom. Remain steadfast in God's promises. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

We all need constant reminders that we can be fully fulfilled in Jesus Christ. If we're not careful, we can start to feel unfulfilled and start looking in other places. We might try to find it in a job or maybe in another person. Ultimately, those things will never be able to fill us to the extent that Jesus does. In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares about the sufficiency of Christ. Jesus has all that we'll ever need but the challenge comes in trusting Him for it. One of our greatest freedoms comes from knowing that we are fulfilled. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

God is in the business of restoration and redemption. Every story we read in the Bible has that undertone of redemption and salvation. When we look at our lives, we may see areas where we've messed up or we've fallen short, but God is constantly redeeming us. He puts us on the straight and narrow path. In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares about God's redemption, as well as not letting shame and regret hover over our lives. We have to embrace the truth that in Christ, we're new creations, the old is gone and the new has come. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

You don't have to look far in this world to see that people are looking for the truth. One of the things that most people ask is, do I even matter? The world will try and tell you that your value comes from material possessions, or how well you do at a job. The reality is that our worth is found in Jesus. We're important enough to Jesus that He died for us. In today's message, Pastor Ricky is going to go deep into the topic of worth. When we know where our worth comes from, we can be secure. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Whenever God is at work in our lives, which is all the time, there's usually an invitation to come alongside Him in what He's doing. There's a role that we get to play in His grand plan. When we walk in the spirit and we're sensitive to what the Lord prompts us to do, then we start to see more fruit. In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares more about walking in the spirit. We're co-laborers with Christ so it would be wrong to expect Him to do all the work while we sit back and watch. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Paul was constantly reminding the churches that he was writing to, to rely on the Holy Spirit for everything. When we read about all that Paul had gone through, we can see that he endured a lot of hardship. He encourages the church that his joy isn't found in his circumstances but that it comes from the Holy Spirit. In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares more about what it looks like to have joy from the Holy Spirit regardless of our circumstances. When we seek the Holy Spirit for help, He loves to step in. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

There's always a purpose when God does something. He didn't just give us the power of the Holy Spirit for the sake of power. Any demonstration of power through the Holy Spirit is supposed to be for the purpose of being a witness to the gospel of Jesus. When we see the gifts of the Spirit moving, we should be able to use them to point people toward the gospel and what Jesus did. In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares the importance of us being bold believers of Jesus. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

The disciples walked with Jesus for three years. They had seen Jesus perform countless miracles. Jesus even empowered some of them to do the same so when Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come and bring them power, they knew the kind of power that He was talking about. Sometimes we fail to realize that the same Holy Spirit that empowered the disciples, is the same Holy Spirit that empowers us. In today's message, Pastor Ricky will be sharing about the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Do you feel like the things in life are just too difficult to carry? Or maybe you're just grinding your gears in life and you wish there was more purpose? Well in today's message, Pastor Ricky shares about the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, you can experience a life-changing transformation, and you can find direction purpose, and hope in your life. The Holy Spirit can guide you through life's challenges and help you become a part of a community of believers that love and support one another. When you follow the Holy Spirit, He guides you to great things. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Have you ever felt like you were just going through the motions but not really living? Or like maybe in a Technicolor world, somehow your life is in black and white? In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares how being alive in Christ means having a sense of purpose and direction. It means being a part of something bigger than yourself, a community of believers who love and support one another. Jesus offers us life and life abundantly. When you follow the Lord, He will provide. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Have you been searching for answers trying to find your way in life but nothing seems to work? In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares how the Lord has a plan for your life and that He's calling you to follow Him. When you obey God, He meets you with His power and His power is more than enough to guide you through life's challenges and to lead us to our true calling. But what does that mean to obey God? Well, it means putting your trust in Him and following what He says. It means surrendering our plans and giving them to Him. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Do you ever get the feeling like you're stumbling around in life, not really sure of what you're supposed to be doing? It's like something's missing but you're not really sure what it is. Well in today's message Pastor Ricky shares how we're not meant to navigate life alone. We were created to have a relationship with God and it's only through Him that you can find true purpose and fulfillment. When you spend time with Jesus, you open yourself up to His wisdom and guidance. He knows your heart and your desires and He wants to lead you in the life that you were meant to live. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Do you ever feel lost, scared, or alone? Have you made mistakes in the past that make you feel like you've fallen too far from grace to be redeemed? In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares how no matter what you've done, or how far you've strayed, you're never not in need of God's grace and you're never out of reach of God's grace. God's love is always there for you waiting to welcome you back with open arms. The beauty of God's grace is that it's freely given and it covers all of our imperfections and mistakes. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

It can be a difficult and humbling experience to face the mistakes and imperfections that we all have. But Pastor Ricky shares today that if you confess your sins, that God is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we acknowledge and repent from our sins, we open ourselves up to a new life that's full of hope and freedom. The journey of confronting our sin isn't an easy one but it is necessary for true transformation and a deeper relationship with God. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Do you feel lost or uncertain in life? Are you struggling to find direction and purpose? In a constantly evolving and complex world it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn but in today's message Pastor Ricky shares how if you truly love the Lord, you'll follow Him. When you truly love the Lord and obey Him you open yourself to a life of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. You find direction and clarity in your decision making and you become more resilient in the face of adversity. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

In a world that's constantly changing, it can be difficult to find your way. With so many conflicting messages and values, it's easy to feel lost and unsure of what direction to take. But in today's message, Pastor Ricky shares how the Bible is the perfect source of wisdom and guidance. It's timeless truths and powerful messages are just as relevant today as they were when they were first written. If you're looking for practical advice on how to live a fulfilling life, the Bible has something to offer. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Are you ready to make a difference in the world? As Christians, we're called to be the example of the love of God. So how can you possibly imitate the love of someone who loves you eternally? In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares about how Christians are called to be an example of the love of Christ. You'll learn how Christ loved by reading the Bible. You'll learn about the life of Jesus and how He unconditionally loved everyone. The Lord's love is the reason that you're here so share it with others. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Are you tired of living in a world that's filled with hate, bitterness, and division? In today's message, Pastor Ricky talks about how Christians are called to walk in the love of Christ. What does it mean to walk in love? It means being kind, forgiving, and patient even when it's difficult. It means extending grace to others just as Christ did for you. It means choosing love over hate and choosing to see the best in others, even when they fall short. When you share the love of God, you give light to others. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Normal isn't the word you use to describe a Christian's life. Oftentimes it's anything but that. But no matter what, it's always the best life - a life with the Holy Spirit giving you strength when you're weak or exhausted, hope when you're lost, peace when you're anxious, and the power to do whatever it is that God calls you to do. Pastor Ricky is going to remind us today that even though it's not always guaranteed to be easy, a life with God at the center is the most fulfilling and most blessed. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Have you noticed the ads that surround the end of the year that target New Year's resolutions? No other time of year sees more failed plans and trends than just a couple short months after that. But as Pastor Ricky is going to point out today, when your life is changed and set to a new trajectory in Christ you have a strength to draw from. When it's hard to stay faithful to Him, you can find it and be renewed in the Holy Spirit. Through Him you can find courage, strength, and power to live out your faith. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

If you're a believer and people around you know that you follow Jesus, how do they know? Jesus said that people would know His disciples by their love for one another and people should. Is that what they see when they see you? Pastor Ricky is going to encourage fellowship with other believers and to mutually build each other up in your walks with Christ. If you're made to live like Jesus, then you're to love everyone. He had compassion on all the hurting people around Him and that's what your life should look like too. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

In so many ways Jesus was the perfect example of what a Christian's life should look like. He was compassionate on the people that He met, He took time to be alone with God and as Pastor Ricky is going to show us today, He's gentle and loving to us. Even though He's all-powerful and has no limits, He exercised strength and authority when needed but also temperance and gentleness when needed. As followers of Jesus, that's what our life should look like. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

God has amazing plans for the Christians that follow his Word and live a life that's different from the world. While it's not guaranteed to be easy, you are guaranteed to have your needs met. God won't abandon or forsake you. Today Pastor Ricky is going to encourage you to remember Jesus' sacrifice for you and that you're meant to not just accept God's gift of salvation and then forget about it but to go out and live like you've been changed, to live like Jesus and to point other people to Him through how you live. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Nobody deserves salvation. Everyone has sinned and we've all done evil in the sight of God. We don't deserve to spend eternity with Him after going against His will. However, as Pastor Ricky is going to show us today, God still accepts us. We'll see the main message of the Bible is that Jesus came to save you and me from our sins and we have a purpose to live out once we come to know Him as our personal Savior. Everything in the scriptures points towards Jesus and what He did for you and me. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Christians are all a part of the body of Christ. They're all children of God and all part of the same family. That's why, as you'll get to see today with Pastor Ricky, fellowship with Unity in Christ. God wants all believers to live in unity with Christ and with each other. He loves to see the gathering of His people as they encourage each other in love and fellowship. God made all of us with the need for fellowship with other believers. Today Pastor Ricky is going to show us how important it is to know other believers in our walk with God. You're not meant to go through this life alone. You're a part of the body of Christ with others and everyone has a role to play for Christ. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.