A Sure Hope

When God makes a promise, it is as good as done. You may not know when or how, but His promises are even more steadfast than the ground beneath us. As Pastor Dave encourages us in today’s message, there are many things in life that are uncertain, but you can have confidence and joy knowing that God will not let you down.

Have you ever been going through a trial, struggling to see how God was going to work things out, just to have a brother or sister in Christ step in and help you in a way you never would have expected? As Pastor Dave reminds us in today’s message, God designed this body for just that purpose. We get to carry and cheer each other on as we run this race.

It would be foolish to think that Paul never endured doubts and discouragement. Looking at some of his experiences in ministry, it’s likely he struggled with the feeling of failure often. As Pastor Dave points out in today’s message, all of us will walk through that. As the Church, this presents the opportunity for us to lift each other up.

As Pastor Dave continues our study of Acts in today’s message, he points out the simplicity of Paul’s approach to sharing the Gospel. He didn’t need to interject his own reason or wisdom, he just explained the way that God had transformed his heart, and that He would do the same for anyone who believed.

God isn’t afraid of even the darkest places man can devise. Whether that’s a seedy bar, a back alley in a crime-ridden city, or a tribal village in the middle of Africa, God will go where the lost are. As Pastor Dave illustrates in today’s message, even in his own story, long before he came to Christ, he can look back and see the way God was working.

When a job is really big, it can overwhelm you to the point that you just want to give up before you even begin. Reaching the lost can feel that way. There are so many - what good can you do? As Pastor Dave reminds us in today’s message, even just one soul reconciled brings incredible joy and gladness to God’s heart.

It’s time to surrender your “what if’s” to God. Yes, you may fail when you share the Gospel. You may stumble over your words, and you will experience rejection. But, as Pastor Dave encourages us in today’s message, God loves imperfect vessels, and you simply need to trust in Him and allow Him to speak through you.

What things are you putting in a place of priority before God? As Pastor Dave points out in today’s message, this is a problem not only for us as individuals, but as a whole within the Church. We have put many things on a pedestal; doctrine, leaders, ambitions – whatever it may be, God alone needs to be the center of our focus.

When God looks at the lost soul, He sees sin and it breaks His heart because He sees His broken Creation through that sin. As Pastor Dave explains in today’s message, God longs to restore all people, and the ways that He reaches them often fall outside our box of how evangelism should be done.

Some churches forgo the Gospel for the sake of meeting the immediate physical needs of people. While providing people with that assistance is a good thing, as Pastor Dave explains in today’s message, those needs are only temporary. The Gospel meets an eternal need and it is far more important than any earthly resource you can provide.

All of us are on a search for truth and meaning. Countless men and women have spent their lives on this quest, just to come up empty handed. As Pastor Dave explains in today’s message, God alone defines truth. Man can devise all sorts of philosophies, but if they contradict God, they are empty and false.

Are you seeking to grow in the knowledge of the Lord? In today's message from Pastor Dave, he teaches you that as you seek to grow in the Lord, your faith will also grow. You will start to seek and desire more of what pleases Him and be refined more into His likeness. Keep pursuing to have the mind and heart of Christ!

Do others want what you have in Christ? In today's message from Pastor Dave, he teaches you that Christianity should be contagious. If you have received Christ, than others should see Him in you. By having a relationship with Jesus that is authentic, others will be drawn to have that same kind of relationship with Him.

Do you rely on the Word of God? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dave, he teaches you that God's Word is true and trustworthy. The Bible is a guide book that you can depend on. When debating whether to turn to counsel or the Word, always turn to the counsel of God. He will light your path!

Do you make the world different wherever you go? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dave, he teaches that because you carry Christ within you, you have the capability of changing the atmosphere that's around you. Be encouraged to not blend in with the world, but to stand out and show Christ to the world!

If you are struggling to effectively preach the Gospel, you will find yourself failing. Ultimately the message of the Gospel is that you are lost, and only God can save you. As Pastor Dave encourages us in today’s message, you have to surrender yourself and allow God’s Word to flow through you in order to make a true, lasting impact.

God cares about who you think Jesus is. Your salvation isn’t dependent on what your parents think. It doesn’t depend on who you surround yourself with. As Pastor Dave challenges us in today’s message, you need to determine in your own heart whether to accept Jesus as your Savior or reject Him.

Paul, while under his old name, Saul, was an expert at following the Law. His heart was far from perfect, but from the outside he was an example of righteousness. But, as Pastor Dave explains in today’s message, his heart was full of pride and sin, and only Christ was capable of transforming him from the inside out.

If you’re abiding in Christ, your life will show it. The opposite is true as well. As Pastor Dave warns in today’s message, if your life is plagued by sin, your salvation may not be valid. You can’t expect to be made perfect in the flesh, but the fruit of your life should reflect an overall course towards righteousness in Christ.

As a follower of Christ, your circumstances most likely won’t improve. They are more likely to worsen. But, as Pastor Dave points out in today’s message, it’s your reaction to the trials and struggles of life that sets you apart. Your friends and family will be able to look at you and see that you are a changed person.

Your primary purpose in this world is to bring people to Jesus. One of the most fulfilling things you can experience is leading someone to salvation. As Pastor Dave points out in today’s message, when you surrender to God and follow His leading, you’ll find confirmation in the fruit of your efforts to reach the world around you.

As followers of Christ, love is central to our mission. Yet, because of our need to point out the destruction of sin, culture has painted us as hateful and judgmental. As Pastor Dave continues our study of Acts in today’s message, he encourages you to stand fast in your conviction and continue to spread the Gospel in love.

Satan is a bitter enemy and every success you experience in Christ enrages him. God has already secured the victory, and Satan will ultimately be destroyed, but as Pastor Dave warns in today’s message, that doesn’t stop him from actively seeking to sabotage the ministry of the Church in whatever ways he can.

God works in supernatural ways. You can’t expect to predict or understand the way He’s going to speak or act. As Pastor Dave explains in today’s message, there certainly are times that God speaks through clear visions or signs, but often, His guidance comes in the form of a quiet voice or push from His Spirit.

God’s will for you doesn’t have to be a great mystery. That’s not what He intends. It doesn’t require decoding Scripture or signs. As Pastor Dave teaches us in today’s message, if you devote yourself to seeking God first – through reading the Bible, praying and interacting with your fellow believer – He will light a clear path for you.