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

Happy New Year To You All!

I want to give this brief message to all of my family, friends and members of Berean Baptist Church. May the Lord smile on you all and give you a wonderful new year. Our greatest joy in life is to live for the glory of our mighty God. This coming year let your light shine for His glory. May you all be greatly blessed and used in many wonderful ways to exalt our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Dickie

Happy New Year!

I want to wish all of my friends and all the friends and members of our Berean family a happy new year! As we look back over the year we all have so  many things to thank the Lord for in our lives. We have made it through another year by the grace of God and by His overwhelming goodness to us. For any failures or sins we may have committed this past year how grateful we are for the love of God that forgives and cleanses us from all unrighteousness! How comforting God's mercy and patience is with each of His children. Read Psalm 103 and it will warm your heart.

Here are a couple of verses that are special to me as I look forward to a new year:

"He hath shown you O man what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

"I will that you affirm constantly that they who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men." Titus 3:8

May this coming year be a year of serving and ministering to others. Let us not criticize but actively engage in making a difference in the lives of those around us. 

May the Lord bless you all,

Love in Christ,

Pastor Dickie

For Unto Us A Child Is Born!

The King's Choir

Here is the Christmas story as told in Luke 2:1-11:

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child. 6 And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she would be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the  field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord...."

The Importance of the Presence of God

The great burden and task of the preacher is to lead people into the presence of God. Our lives, our example, our preaching, our worship should all facilitate to that end. This is a great message by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones the great preacher from Wales, UK. Many who quote him know not the true spirit of the man. It is easy to quote great Christian leaders, it is another thing to seek to live as they lived and emulate their teaching and example. 

One man who knew Dr. Lloyd-Jones so very well is my dear friend Vernon Higham. Men like these have been a great blessing to me over the years. I remember once asking Dr. Edgar Andrews if he ever missed the doctor (Lloyd-Jones) and he said something like this to me, "It is interesting that you ask me that. Just the other day I was thinking of how much I missed that dear man."

I pray that my ministry will truly lead people into the presence of God. I pray that my preaching, worship, living and all that I do will cause people to thirst for God and long for His presence. 

This coming year may you all know the joy and the glory of the presence of God. To miss this is to miss the most important thing in life. We need to live daily in the presence of God and remind ourselves that we shall one day give an account for the life we have lived.

God bless you all,

Love in Christ,

Pastor Dickie