Sermons from Ezra

Our Desperate Need for God’s Word

Date: November 10, 2024 | Speaker: Phil Pike

Imagine holding a letter from a loved one who has passed on—a final message filled with their deepest encouragement and wisdom, written just for you. How would you treat it? Would you toss it in a drawer and only skim through it occasionally, or would you treasure every word, knowing it holds their heart for you? The fact is, you already have a letter like that—written by God Himself. It’s a message of love and wisdom uniquely crafted for you. This letter not only offers all the guidance and hope you need to navigate life, but it also holds the power to transform brokenness into joy. Do you treasure it, or does it sit on a shelf like just another book? Open God’s Word today and discover the riches it contains!

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The Cost of Holiness: Is it Too High a Price?

Date: September 15, 2024 | Speaker: Phil Pike

God calls us to live holy lives, reflecting His glory and purity in a world that often pulls us in the opposite direction. Holiness requires a conscious separation from the patterns and values of the world, because following God always involves surrender. Who or what has the greatest influence over your heart? Are these influences drawing you closer to God, or leading you further from Him? The call to follow Him is costly—requiring sacrifice, trust, and a realignment of priorities. But it’s also the only path that leads to true life. Are you willing to answer that call, no matter the cost?

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The Good Hand of God Upon Us

Date: September 8, 2024 | Speaker: Phil Pike

As you endeavor to solve problems, accomplish tasks and pursue your goals, remember that your success doesn’t depend upon your own strength or wisdom alone. It rests in the powerful, guiding hand of God. Do you ever pause to recognize how God is working in your life—opening doors, orchestrating circumstances, and meeting your needs? Yes, your planning and effort are important, but it’s God who leads, sustains, and empowers you to do anything of lasting value. In your journey of faith, pause often to thank God for His good and faithful hand upon you, acknowledging that without Him, none of it would be possible.

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Overcoming Spiritual Complacency

Date: May 12, 2024 | Speaker: Phil Pike

One of the great dangers of the Christian life is not that we will suddenly decide to hate God, but rather, that we will slowly grow cold towards Him as time goes by. The cares and pursuits of this world can diminish our passion for God little by little until it is nothing more than a dying ember. Perhaps you’ve unintentionally drifted from your first love and now your life feels empty and aimless. Ask the Spirit of God to stir the fire in you and make the Lord your greatest treasure once again. When you value Him above all else, your heart and priorities will naturally follow, leading you back to the only source of true fulfillment, and giving your life the meaning and direction you long for!

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Faithfulness in the Face of Opposition

Date: April 21, 2024 | Speaker: Phil Pike

Have you ever started something for God, only to face discouragement and opposition that made you want to quit? In the book of Ezra, the Israelites encountered this very situation as they rebuilt the temple. But through the preaching of God’s Word, their passion was reignited, and they were empowered to persevere. Despite opposition, the people returned to the task with renewed vigor. Discover how staying close to God’s Word can help you overcome attacks, despondency, and spiritual decline. If you’ve grown weary in your journey, find encouragement in His Word today. It will guide, strengthen, and empower you to carry on, even in the most challenging of times.

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God Can Move the Immovable

Date: April 14, 2024 | Speaker: Phil Pike

God can work in surprising ways to accomplish His purposes in your life. Just as He stirred the heart of a pagan king to release the Israelites from exile, God can use unexpected people and circumstances to move on your behalf. Regardless of the opposition or obstacles that stand in your way, take heart knowing that no barrier is too great for our God to overcome! Even what seems like chaos is orchestrated by God’s unseen hand. When problems or discouragement arise, trust in God’s faithfulness and power, knowing that He can do the impossible!

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The Comfort of the Incarnation

Date: December 18, 2022 | Speaker: Phil Pike

The good news of Christmas is for those who are tired of seeing sin and bad news everywhere, especially in themselves. It’s easy to become weighed down and discouraged by the constant battles of this life, but having the assurance that—because Christ came the first time, He is most certainly coming again—fills us with comfort and hope. We can look beyond the unrest that we see around us and that we sometimes see within us, and we can be comforted by the guaranteed promise of His return and the eternal life that awaits all those who have trusted in Him as their Savior! Do you have this comfort today?

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