Better News Podcast Ricky Alcantar - Cross of Grace Church

God gives you good things in life that can quickly and suddenly become warped into idols. Instead of pointing to the goodness of God, it ends up pulling you away from God. Idols can't deliver you, save you, or help you in any way but there is good news. Today, Pastor Ricky will explain that there is a way to deliverance and redemption and that's through Jesus. You must however acknowledge your sin and idols to God who desires to forgive and to save you. Recognizing God is the only source of abundant life now and eternally.

Do you long for the renewal and refreshment that God can bring to your life but continue to feel dry and barren? Then as Pastor Ricky will explain, perhaps you're too reliant on idols in your life. All the things that you devote your heart, mind, and hopes on, that are not God, actually lead you farther from true peace. Pastor Ricky will challenge you to examine what idols you’ve placed above God or what things you've shaped for your purpose instead of God's purposes. None of these things will give you abundant life and transformation.

Are you feeling weary and unfulfilled in this life? Often what you look for to renew or revitalize you leaves you more discouraged than before. Today, Pastor Ricky will remind you that only God can bring new abundant life in a way that nothing else can. He brings transformation to you through the Holy Spirit within you. The Spirit will empower and fill you to cause you to become more like Christ. He's like water in a dry desert to your soul. When you seek Him, He will refresh you, and renew you, and fill your life with Himself.

When you’re bruised and damaged from trials and pain in this life, the help the world offers is empty. All the self-help books, meditation, positive thoughts won’t do for you what the Lord God offers to do for you. Pastor Ricky will explain today the tenderness in which God cares for you. God sees the justice needed throughout the whole world but He also sees and knows your hurt. He's a personal and intimate savior who deeply loves you. He will tenderly restore you. He will strengthen you to continue in this world.

Idols. They're not just statues of gold that you worship. They are in fact anything you worship, serve or elevate above God. You may seek joy, peace, comfort and justice in an idol, you'll eventually become enslaved to it. Yet, it's completely empty and useless. Today, Pastor Ricky will reveal that Jesus is the only good, powerful One who can and will accomplish all things like joy and peace in your life and heart. What He gives is lasting and strong. He won't leave you empty and disappointed but fulfilled and satisfied.

It's easy to believe, after failing the Lord again, that maybe this time, God's plan or purposes would fail. The enemy will try to convince you that you've ruined all God intends to do. Yet as Pastor Ricky will explain today, because of God's faithfulness, all of His plans will be accomplished. And amazingly, He will still use you as a part of what He's doing despite your flaws and failings. He’ll remake you, bit by bit, and lead you in amazing ways towards fulfilling His purpose if you cling to Him in humility and repentance.