A Message To Berean

We are having a wonderful time with our dear  friends from Brasil. Their preaching and teaching has been so Spirit filled and convicting. What a blessing to be a part of the family of God. I want to thank all of our friends in Brasil who have allowed their loved ones and their elders to be in our midst to minister the Word of God to us in these days.

It's been nearly 11 years ago that I first met these dear brothers at a Fiel Conference and the blessing has been so precious. 

I will see all of our Berean family in the Lord's house tomorrow. God bless you all.

Love in Christ,

Pastor Dickie

Planting The Seeds Of The Gospel

I Cor. 3:6, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." A few days ago I met with a friend from high school that I had not seen in over 45 years. His testimony was such a blessing to my heart. I will let you listen to this message. I pray that you will be encouraged to scatter the seeds of the gospel and water them with your prayers. Perhaps now or in the years to come you will see the Lord of the harvest bring home some of those who heard you share the gospel of Christ.

May we all plant and water the seed of the gospel for the glory of God.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Dickie

Fill Your Life With Good Works

Jesus went about doing good. May we emulate our Lord and fill our lives with good works that enable us to shine as lights in this darkened world. 

May God bless our Berean family,

Have a great New Year!

In Christ,

Pastor Dickie

Faith Sees The Invisible God In Our Times of Need

Faith Sees The Invisible God In Our Time of Need

Jacob came to a desert place and in his sorrow, loneliness, and despair he slept on the sand with a  rock for a pillow. While he slept the Lord appeared to him in a dream and gave him some wonderful promises. These promises were received by faith. 

What does the Scripture say to us about faith?  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  “Without faith it is impossible to please God.  For he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”  “For we walk by faith and not by sight.”  Hebrews 11:1,6; II Corinthians 5:7

Jacob had to receive God’s promises by faith.

Faith sees God’s hand of blessing in spite of the moments of pain and seasons of sorrow.

Faith sees God’s promises in spite of the present darkness.

Faith sees God’s presence in spite of His apparent absence.

Faith sees the purposes of God in spite of the clouds of confusion.

Faith sees Heaven in spite of the present Hell.

Faith sees that God’s way is best in spite of unanswered questions.

Faith perseveres in spite of the temptation to quit and turn back.

Faith encourages us to walk with God in spite of every obstacle that hinders us or deters us.

A number of years ago I was meditating on this biblical story and wrote these words in poetic verse.

         Jacob’s Ladder

It was a dark and lonely place

Where I had walked with God.

I fell asleep beneath the stars,

And dreamed upon the sod.

I saw a ladder reach the skies

With angels coming down.

And heard the most angelic cries,

And glory shone around.

I dreamed the ladder was the Lord,

The only way to grace.

And if I trust His holy Word,

I may behold His face.

The place became a holy shrine

And filled my heart with fears.

I lost all sense of space and time,

And wept with joyful tears.

The night was black and filled with stars

The ladder flamed with light,

Its steps were glowing golden bars,

That led up out of sight.

I longed to climb upon those stairs

That lead to heaven’s King.

To come before Him unawares,

To hear His angels sing.

But soon I woke up from my dreams 

And marveled at this place.

How awesome is this God who seems,

To leave without a trace.

I looked around in loneliness

And felt a bitter pain.

I saw His kingly comeliness,

The beauty of His reign.

But now beneath the stars of night,

I stood there all alone.

And dreamed of that great holy sight, 

Whose ladder leads to home.

For surely God is in this place,

But I had known it not.

Except the ladder of His grace,

Reached down and touched this spot.

And now I walk on sacred ground,

With pillows made of stone.

For now Bethel I have found,

The ladder leads to home.

Robert L. Dickie, Jr.

Jacob's encounter with God at Bethel was the turning point in his life. Have you had such an encounter with God? It is only when we are willing to meet God in the desert places of our lives will we have a Bethel type experience.

God bless you all,

Pastor Dickie

The Importance of Good Works in a Believer's Life

This coming year I want to challenge all of our Berean Family to be  faithful in filling up your life with good works done on behalf of others for the glory of God. May we be true servants of the living God. Those who know the Lord will have plenty of evidence to verify that they have met Christ on the Calvary road. The evidence? It will be a life that is full and overflowing with good works and obedience to the teachings of God's Word. Do you have evidence in your life that marks you as a child of God?

Here are a few thoughts by Spurgeon on "Good Works".

"Those who have believed in Christ, and have been the subjects of the Spirit's work, are now "created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that they should walk in them." God desires that his people should abound in good works. It is his great object to produce a people fit to commune with himself: a holy people, with whom he can have fellowship in time and in eternity. He wishes us not only to produce good works, but to abound in them; and to abound in the highest order of them. He would have us become imitators of himself as dear children, possessing the same moral attributes as the Father in heaven possesses. Is it not written, "Be ye perfect, even as your rather which is in heaven is perfect"? Oh, that we came within measurable distance of this blissful consummation!

Have a wonderful New Year!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Dickie