Richard Ellis Talks
1,302 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 335 ratingsThe daily podcast with Richard Ellis. Follow / Like him @TalkWithRichard
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Episodes
Uncalled For
September 07, 2023 05:00Scripture's filled with stories of ordinary people who stepped out in faith to God -- no matter how crazy it seemed. As we mature in our relationship with Him, we cease to act childish and learn to obey Him in big ways and small. Sometimes He calls us to listen in ways we don't necessarily understand. The question is: are we ready and willing to obey?
For Crying Out Loud
September 06, 2023 05:00As we resolve to follow Jesus, we enter into a relationship with Him that's based on trust -- trust that allows Him to do His will, in our lives, in His time, and by His means. Sometimes, that means we endure long seasons of loss and heartache, filled with questions, impatience, and many tears. But in the end, though there's pain in the darkness of night, He promises us joy in the morning.
You Have Arrived
September 05, 2023 05:00How often have you found yourself seeking everything this world has to offer -- instead of seeking God Himself? We chase money, power, material possessions, in an attempt to feel like we've "arrived". But the only destination that's worthwhile arriving to is an eternity spent face-to-face with the Lord, and no alternative will ever be able to satisfy the way only Jesus can.
Fellowship Of The Rings
September 04, 2023 05:00God designed marriage to be the most intimate relationship on earth: full of oneness and intimacy. But when sin becomes involved in marriage, as with any other aspect of life, it brings shame and disconnection with it. Scripture instructs us how we're to love our spouse, and in God's design we have marriage the way it was intended to be, but none of it works without the Lord at the center of it all.
No Wonder
September 02, 2023 05:00The more we know God, the more we should fear God. But it's not an unhealthy fear -- it's the kind of fear that's accompanied by a certain awe and respect that only the Creator of the universe deserves. When we choose to be irreverent towards Him, or to disobey Him, it only ends up costing us in the end.
Over My Head
September 01, 2023 05:00We all start off "over our heads" buried in sin. But God made a way through Jesus Christ to take it from us, while still leaving some of the residual consequences for us to learn from our mistakes. The more we dive headfirst into Scripture -- and apply the things we read on a daily basis -- the more God's Spirit works within us and changes us for His glory.
Hooked Up
August 31, 2023 05:00Scripture tells us that when we abide in God, He not only lives in us -- He also lives through us. We can do nothing to bring Him glory apart from Him. When we remain in the Lord, the fruit of the Spirit flows out of us naturally -- and He's able to continually prune us to produce more fruit.
Hit The Wall
August 30, 2023 05:00Do you ever feel alone? Ironically, if you do...you're not alone in your feelings. That's why God designed the Church to be a community -- a place where everybody works together to accomplish His plan. In the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, we read that God's people came together to rebuild a city in just 52 days. God wants His Church to work together in such a way that the end result highlights our dependence on one another, and more importantly, our dependence on Him.
Scab Pickers
August 29, 2023 05:00We tend to have a hard time accepting God's love -- and His forgiveness for our sins -- when the devil continues to remind us of who we once were. When we come to terms with Christ's sacrifice for us, and recognize that His work on the cross was fully sufficient to cover our sins, we're then held to a higher standard. We have the responsibility and the privilege to extend the same forgiveness and mercy to other people that was first given to us.
What Else Can I Do?
August 28, 2023 05:00From the beginning of recorded time, the heavens have declared the glory of God. Modern technology now allows scientists to estimate that there are trillions of galaxies in space. Yet in the midst of all that vastness, God not only created you, me, and this planet on which we live -- He created a direct pathway back to Him and His love by sending His Son to Earth to show us the way back to the Father.
He Loves Me Not
August 26, 2023 05:00We doubt God's unconditional love because every other kind of love we experience is...well...conditional. Only unconditional love could have caused a Father to send His only Son to die on our behalf. And only unconditional love is eternal and everlasting. We might not always be overwhelmed by the emotions and feelings that the world tells us equate to love, but we can always have faith that the Lord loves us, His children -- no matter what.
Bull’s Eye
August 25, 2023 05:00Scripture tells us that everyone has fallen short when it comes to hitting the mark of perfection. No matter how much we try to act the way we think a Christian should, we'll never be sufficient until we allow Jesus to enter our hearts. Only when He works in us and through us will we begin to hit the "bull's eye" for the life He's called us to live.
Word Has It
August 24, 2023 05:00A key part of the Christian life is the study of Scripture. But God doesn't just want us to read it; He wants us to be engrossed and embedded in it in such a way that we apply it to our lives on an everyday basis. When we do more than just read the Bible, and we also obey what it says, then we not only model its life application to the people around us -- we gain credibility to teach others to do the same.
ROI
August 23, 2023 05:00Ever heard the term "return on investment"? This world only has so much to offer that money can buy. But when we invest in others' lives, we're making an investment in the eternal -- in a treasure that we'll receive on the other side of this life. When we lose ourselves to Christ's calling and purpose on earth, we gain so much more in heaven.
Pray Attention
August 22, 2023 05:00Prayer isn't about a perfect script or eloquent speech; it's about having a simple heart-to-heart with a Father who loves us unconditionally. The Bible tells us to seek out a quiet place to talk with Him privately. It not only helps us to build our relationship with Him -- it allows us a front-row seat to witness Him meet our needs and answer our prayers.
Born
August 21, 2023 05:00God's design for His family is for each of us to be growing with the help of another -- while also helping others to grow. He emphasizes the necessity of teaching His Word to our children, and that includes those in both physical and spiritual infancy. When we lead another person to Christ, let's not abandon them to figure out the discipleship journey on their own; let's take them by the hand and help to grow disciples who make disciples.
Down By The Riverside
August 19, 2023 05:00God calls us to preach the Good News and make disciples of all nations -- whether we journey to another country for a mission trip, or we walk down to the end of our block to love on our neighbor. The world is hungry to know the one true God, and it's our job to tell them about Him. He's given us the Gospel to share that every person we meet might have the opportunity to become part of His family.
Payday
August 18, 2023 05:00How we handle our finances -- especially when it comes to how we give -- has a way of "tipping the scales" for or against us, because God sees the intent of our hearts. It's important that we're honest with our money, including when paying people who work for us. Are we living lives of generosity like we've been called to do?
Hacked
August 17, 2023 05:00When we live in sin, we essentially give the devil a key -- and full access -- to our lives. And while he cannot possess us as followers of Christ, he can get us to believe his lies. God gives us the weapons and the armor we need to keep the enemy and his schemes out of our lives: meditating on Scripture, worshipping, forgiving others, and ultimately, letting Jesus have control.
Identity Theft
August 16, 2023 05:00You'll never fully know who you are until you first know Whose you are. Our identity isn't found in ourselves -- it's found in Christ alone. Before we go chasing ideas that try to tell us our identity in the world, we need to back up and understand our identity in the Lord...and that can only happen when we die to ourselves and live the way He tells us to live.
Earth, Wind & Fire
August 15, 2023 05:00Sometimes God speaks loudly. But more often, He speaks softly. He might be speaking to you this very moment, but you're not hearing it because you're too busy listening for some extravagant manifestation of His voice. Listen for the whisper -- and then obey what He's telling you to do.
F5
August 14, 2023 05:00God designed us to work, but He also designed us to rest -- and true rest can only be found in Him. We have to purposely and purposefully take time out of our work and allow the Lord to refresh our souls in order to avoid burnout. When we do things His way, even the work that we do for Him is rejuvenating.
Hot Iron
August 12, 2023 05:00We each have a conscience built within us that creates boundaries in our lives -- and we can tell when we've crossed those boundaries. Only through Jesus Christ is it possible to receive forgiveness for our transgressions and live in freedom. We get to choose whether we're going to carry the guilt of our sin with us everywhere we go, or whether we're going to find forgiveness and freedom in Christ.
Cul-de-Sac
August 11, 2023 05:00God doesn't suggest that we might be tempted -- He all but guarantees it. Temptation is inevitable, and often, we find ourselves being tempted by the same things over and over and over again. But God is also faithful to provide a way of escape...provided we're willing to take it.
Future Fear
August 10, 2023 05:00What scares you about the future? It's easy to be afraid of what lies ahead, because you don't always know what comes next. But God does; nothing takes Him by surprise. Trust that He holds your future, and He'll lead you according to His will.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
August 09, 2023 05:00God's Kingdom has been described as "the upside-down Kingdom" because it's counter-cultural to what society teaches. But Jesus Himself turned the world upside down when He made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross for our sake -- and that's why He tells us that anyone who loses their life for His sake will find it in Him.
Love Hate Relationship
August 08, 2023 05:00Jesus warns that money reveals the condition of the heart in Matthew 6:21 when He says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Money fosters a love/hate relationship: it can either control us, and we become slaves to its influence, or we can surrender it to God, and allow it to be used as a conduit for His Kingdom's purposes.
Butt Naked
August 07, 2023 05:00We're born sinful, into a world of sin, where we find ourselves naked, exposed, and ashamed. Jesus not only took our sin to the cross with Him -- He also took our shame. When we come to Him "butt naked" and in need, He offers Himself as the ultimate sacrifice and makes it possible for us to be covered by clothing us in His righteousness.
Whole-In-One
August 05, 2023 05:00Christians are called to be united as one Body. That's because so much more is accomplished together than when everyone works alone! The devil makes it his mission to keep the Body from carrying out the Lord's work, but when there's unity among God's children, no power of hell can stop what's being accomplished.
Cock-A-Doodle-Doo
August 04, 2023 05:00When the devil continues to remind you of your sin, allow God to remind you of your redemption through His Son's sacrifice on the cross. We have a hard time letting go of our past mistakes, but God already forgot them when we were washed clean in the blood of Christ.
Off The Bench
August 03, 2023 05:00Have you ever heard the saying, "be ready in and out of season"? It might surprise you to learn that phrase came straight out of Scripture! It was Paul's advice to Timothy, and it's still sound advice for us today as Christians. God will put us in the spiritual game in due season, in whatever capacity He has planned for us. Whether we're scoring the winning point, carrying water, washing feet, or sometimes even warming the bench, it's important that we show up with humility and patience and ...
Through The Roof
August 02, 2023 05:00There's a famous story in the Bible about a paralyzed man whose friends had such great faith in Jesus that they cut a hole through a roof in order to get their friend in front of Him to be healed. Not only did Jesus heal the man's physical ailment -- He also forgave the man's sins. When we have faith that God can do the seemingly "impossible", and when we ask things according to His will, we get a front-row seat to watch His power at work in us and around us.
God’s Willa
August 01, 2023 05:00We think we hold the keys to our own lives -- but we don't. We can try and try to "make" things happen, but if they're not God's will for our life, they're probably not going to work out as well as we planned. The only way to know His will is to walk with Him and spend time with Him, in prayer and through Scripture, and to follow where He leads.
Haters Gonna Hate
July 31, 2023 05:00Jesus assures us that if we choose to follow Him and obey His direction, the world will surely hate us. But although there will be people who are against us and what we believe, God may put some of them in our lives so He can use us to draw them closer to Him.
Toes In The Water
July 29, 2023 05:00It's not your job to figure out how or if God's going to come through for you. And it's not my job to figure out how or if God's going to come through for me! It's our job to do what He tells us to do -- period. Whatever's holding us back from stepping out in obedience and surrender to Him has to be put aside if we're going to build our faith and watch Him work in our lives.
Bring It
July 28, 2023 05:00Have you ever found yourself in a job where you were just passing time? Maybe that's the season or the workplace that you find yourself in right now. It's tempting in that situation to be lazy -- but we're called to do everything for the glory of God. Christians should be known as the hardest-working people in the workplace, because we're working for the Lord, not for the approval of men.
Birth Mark
July 27, 2023 05:00When we choose to follow Jesus, we're branded with a "rebirth mark" that appears like a bullseye to the devil. He comes after us with temptations he knows we'll fall for. And while temptation may be inevitable, Scripture tells us that if we submit to God and resist the devil, he'll flee from us.
That’s The Spirit
July 26, 2023 05:00Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control. These are the fruits of the Spirit, and should be the natural byproduct of every follower of Jesus. Tasted any lately?
Chicken Lips
July 25, 2023 05:00Every day, we're faced with the choice to deny ourselves or to deny God. Jesus could have denied us for being sinful, but instead, He chose us when He died on a cross, was buried and raised from the dead for our sins. Are you willing to deny yourself so that you can stand up and proclaim Him to those around you?
Good Lord
July 24, 2023 05:00God is good in His very being. He's worthy to be praised! He cares for all of our needs as a loving Father. And when we submit to His will, and to living the way He instructs, He promises to never withhold any good thing from us.
Breast Friends
July 22, 2023 05:00Milk is the key to a baby's physical growth -- and a baby Christian's spiritual growth is no different. New believers need someone to feed them, teach them, and support them as they grow. Churches should consistently be filled with a healthy mix of new Christians and those who help them mature to the point of discipling others.
Drag
July 21, 2023 05:00Have you ever watched a kid try to run while holding onto their security blanket? The blanket inevitably winds up on the floor (or in the dirt!), being dragged along and slowing their momentum. Sin is our security blanket. We hold onto it because we think it brings us stability, yet all it does is keep us from running towards Christ. But the reality is, nothing we cling to is better than the life He offers us when we cling to Him.
Blue Flame
July 20, 2023 05:00Blue flame is so hot that the heat is almost unimaginable, and it represents complete combustion. Sometimes, God turns up the heat in our lives to a "blue flame" degree by walking with us through seemingly unimaginable situations. But because He's God, He has the ability to turn those difficult circumstances into moments of refinement, and in doing so, develop us into a "blue flame" for Him: able to cut through anything and accomplish more for His glory than we could ask or imagine.
Lame Excuses
July 19, 2023 05:00How often has God called you to obedience and you've responded with...an excuse? No matter how legitimate the reason might seem to you and to me, every excuse not to obey God is a lame excuse. He's merciful to forgive our disobedience, and He's faithful to take care of our needs when we submit to Him first.
Toddlers & Tiaras
July 18, 2023 05:00Are you growing in your relationship with God on an ongoing basis, or are you stuck in toddlerhood? Growth is a sign of spiritual maturity, and it's also vital to our ability to disciple other believers. Progress, not perfection, will be shown on our crown in Heaven one day -- the crown that we can then turn around and lay at the feet of Jesus.
Killing It
July 17, 2023 05:00The devil's out to steal, kill, and destroy...and he's "killing it" at his job. But God offers us another way of life -- abundant life -- when we yield our will to His and walk in obedience to Him.
Do Your Homework
July 15, 2023 05:00When Jesus walked the earth, it was filled with Pharisees and people who had studied Scripture -- yet they still did not believe He was the Christ, the Savior sent to redeem humanity. But when we look through Scripture and see prophecy after prophecy, we can clearly see that He was the Son of God, the only One who can save us from our sins and change us for all eternity.
Stolen Property
July 14, 2023 05:00"Do not steal" is such an important subject to God that not only is it talked about all through Scripture, but it's one of the Ten Commandments. Yet there are seemingly small areas of our lives where, as Christians, we might think it's okay, or that it doesn't really "count" as stealing. One example of an area in which we steal from God is by not tithing back to Him what was rightfully His to begin with.
Hell’s Most Wanted
July 13, 2023 05:00The devil doesn't need to attack the people he's already won over -- the people who are already trapped in their own sin. But when we live in faithfulness to God, clothing ourselves with His armor and trusting His call for us, we become a serious threat to the enemy. Hell's "most wanted" is the devil himself, and it's where he'll end up for eternity. The question is: Do we want to end up there with him?
The Boss Of Me
July 12, 2023 05:00The Bible talks a lot about submission to authority -- in marriage, parenting, and throughout life. But the ultimate authority we've got to be willing to submit to is God's authority. As our Father, He wants to direct us to the things that are not only pleasing to Him, but that are best for us.