Veteran Christians should be maturing Christians. But pastor Ray Bentley says, we never reach a place where we've grown enough. There is a time in every believer's life where they go. You know, I've read the Bible, but you can reach a point where you think, you know, I kind of know it. I kind of have heard it. I've asked the questions, and now I have the answers.
In the Old Testament, priests had special access to God. Today, pastor Ray Bentley reminds us that now we are priests. You and I, now in this age, are priests. We are members of a royal priesthood. We, as we come in contact with the world, are representing God in our humanity and our weakness with all of our problems. So I just wanted to remind you that you are priests.
In the Old Testament, priests had special access to God. Today, pastor Ray Bentley reminds us that now we are priests. You and I, now in this age, are priests. We are members of a royal priesthood. We, as we come in contact with the world, are representing God in our humanity and our weakness with all of our problems. So I just wanted to remind you that you are priests.
Today on Maranatha Radio. Pastor Ray Bentley gives us fresh insights on prayer. We are encouraged to enter the throne room of God, and we're going to leave with the idea of bringing to God His own word and his own promises and saying, Lord, you said. And now I am coming before your throne of grace and mercy. I'm merely asking you to do that.
Pastor Ray Bentley says we need to make our study of the scriptures personal. When you do a Bible study and you hear the word and read it daily, find a promise that you are going to claim. And that's where Christianity becomes exciting, a life and personal. When God answers a prayer, when a promise becomes something tangible that you see evidence and fruit in your life that is making a difference.
The Christian life can seem difficult. But pastor Ray Bentley says that's not the Lord's intention. In Jesus Christ, the gift of God to you and me is a perpetual, ongoing Sabbath of rest, of open communion with God, of fellowship, of relaxing, of not living life in my own strength, power, ability, but trusting in the Lord.
We are all looking forward to the Promised Land. But pastor Ray Bethel says the Lord has his eye on another, often unconquerable land. There's another territory that is the most valuable piece of real estate in the universe to him. It is a territory that he wants so badly. There is nothing that he will not sacrifice in order that he might possess this particular land.
Today on Maranatha radio. Pastor Ray Bentley explains why we all have a natural yearning for a relationship with God. If our hearts are made with eternity. That means you have an infinite gaping hole, and only that which is infinite itself can fill that hole. And the only thing that's infinite is God. Therefore, the more of the Lord God you fill your heart with, the more rest, peace, and fulfillment will come to your life.
Are all the benefits of being a believer stored up for us on the other side of eternity. Pastor Ray Bentley says no, there's abundant life here as well. Heaven is not merely your future destination. Heaven is something that you can taste here and now because you know what makes heaven? Heaven. What makes heaven heavenly is Jesus, wherever Jesus is.
I wonder if I speak to anyone that says, man, I need more peace. I need more rest in my soul. Pastor Ray Bentley points to where we can find real peace and rest for our souls. The harder the things go and the worse in one sense that the outside becomes and the greater the pressure becomes more and more a precious commodity clinging to the source of rest and peace Jesus Christ spread.
Jesus was in the heavenlies, reigning supreme, the creator of the universe. And yet, pastor Ray Bentley points out. Jesus chose to become a human being and walk among us. He came to save human beings, and that meant he had to take on flesh and blood. And by dying and being perfect, he was able to rise, resurrect, and all who trust in him shall be led back to that former place of glory spread.
Pastor Ray Bentley says, we need to remember everything was created by Jesus. And for Jesus, your only happiness and fulfillment is when you know and understand and begin to live. When the realization that I am made for the Lord, and that everything I do in one way or another should be a reflection of him, and draw me near to him and live for him purposefully and passionately.
Pastor Ray Bentley says, just as Christ reigned supreme. One day we as his followers, will also rule and reign. Jesus put all things in subjection 2000 years ago with the cross, because there he defeated and put into subjection sin. He put into subjection death he put into subjection. Satan. It's not a maybe. It's a fact that God's children will rule and reign with him as kings and queens spread.
There's only one person allowed to be worshiped in all of heaven, and that is God. Pastor Ray Bentley says, God the Son is superior to angels. Angels worship Christ because they recognize him as of a totally different and superior nature to theirs. They are the servants of the father and the son. They are the winds and the flames fulfilling his purpose in spreading.
f we could somehow pull back the veil separating this world from the spiritual world, we may be surprised at what we see. Pastor Ray Bentley, there's at least as many angels here as there are human beings. And as God's messengers, they can wield immense power. And we're going to share eternity with them. And yet, when compared to Jesus Christ, he is far superior.
Pastor Ray Bentley explains how the Lord is not only the creator, but the sustainer of the entire universe. God spoke all things into existence. When God speaks, things are created, things happen, and God sent the message of his love. It turned into the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. He upholds all things by the word of his power.
Pastor Ray Bentley with a look at what's coming up today on Maranatha Radio. You and I are going to go on an adventure together in Hebrews because I am telling you that the real God that we love and that we worship is far bigger than what you now know of him. And by the time we've worked our way through Hebrews, he's going to become so large that it will win your heart to say, now, Lord, I love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Sometimes when trials overwhelm, we want to just run away. Pastor Ray Bentley responds, I wonder if I speak to someone here this morning that is tempted to run away. Maybe you've had somebody run away from you. May I suggest perhaps God knowing allowed this to happen and has a greater and a bigger purpose than you could have dreamed or imagined.
Pastor Ray Bentley says. So many think in the give and take of love, it's better to take rather than be taken. That's the world's idea of love. It's very much a 5050. What are you going to do for me? What have you done for me lately? And that's why it falls apart so many times. There's no commitment. There's nothing there. That's not what the Bible says. Love is. Love is saying what is important to you is important to me.
Pastor Ray Bentley wants to know if you're ready to step up to the next level in your faith. So what I'm asking you is I. I'm reaching out with my hands and saying, who will walk with me and say, let's move beyond the borders of what has been safe and where we have been comfortable, and let's go all the way deeply as far as we possibly can.
f heaven could come in the form of a book. Pastor Ray Bentley says it would be the Bible. I love God's Word. I love the Bible because it's filled with God. And why I encourage you to read the Bible. It's like when you open the Bible, you are opening a window to heaven into your mind and into your heart.
There's an undeniable relief having our sins forgiven. Pastor Ray Bentley explains what's going on. When you believe in Christ and ask Jesus in your life, the Holy Spirit comes in you. You are righteous in Christ. You are holy and complete in him. The utter relief of walking in holiness. That's what the grace of God teaches us. Spread. You see all of his people coming down before the King.
Pastor Ray Bentley says the gospel is sufficient to bring us into a productive relationship with God. Most people think that because they do not measure up, they are worthless to God. So they give up and give in to this world. The gospel says, you know what? God loves you just as you are, loves you, will forgive you by his grace and by His Spirit, and will come inside of you.
What do you hope to take away from today's Maranatha radio? Here's what pastor Ray Bentley hopes to give you my hope. And I guess if I had a two fold checklist of what I would like to accomplish every time we come together and spend time in the word number one to exhort you, which means to encourage you, to inspire you, to bless you, to comfort you, to hear you, on the other hand, to convict, to bring some sense of conviction spread.
Are you ready to experience eternal life? Pastor Ray Bentley says you can start experiencing it right here, right now. Eternal life is not just the duration of how long you will live with God in the presence of God, but it's a quality of life. And in that sense, eternal life actually has already begun. You don't have to wait till you die and go to heaven to begin experiencing eternal life.
Pastor Ray Bentley points out, it's wrong to think God wants us to keep our emotions bottled. It's all right to have intense emotions. Jesus felt raw, powerful, intense emotion. So take your passions and pour them out before God and let God order them. Because when God can take that intense, raw, powerful emotion and focus it according to his will, he can do great and mighty things.
Today on Maranatha radio. Pastor Ray Bentley explains why we need to live for God. Do you realize that you were bought God, first of all, made you so whatever you make you own, right? God made you. He owns you in that sense. But then, because we ran away, he had to buy us back. But if that is true, because we no longer belong to ourselves, we should no longer live for ourselves.
When we have Jesus in our lives. Pastor Ray Bentley explains how priceless that is. If you have Jesus, you have the grace of God. You have favor with God. Oh, how God loves His son. And wherever he sees His Son living inside of a human being, the father is deeply in love with you. So make sure that you walk with him and abide in him, and let his word abide in you and bear the fruit, the Spirit of Christ within you.
Friendships were actually God's idea. And today on Maranatha Radio. Pastor Ray Bentley shows us how they fit into God's plan and purpose. As someone has said, friendship is what love looks like when it is put into practice. Accumulate as many friends as you possibly can. Don't stop. Keep accumulating them as many as you can. All the way to the end.
Pastor Ray Bentley explains the tremendous blessing God gave us in the form of relationships. There is no gift so precious as a friend, and there is no power greater in heaven or on earth than the power that is released. And the bonds of relationship. Relationship is everything. It is not what you know that will get you to heaven.
