The gospel is always better news than you think. The gospel is God’s power to save, restore, encourage, and shape us. This weekday podcast features messages from Ricky Alcantar at Cross of Grace Church in El Paso, TX.
Reading the feed…
Have you ever been in a place where you think that you know more than God does? Are there ever times when you know exactly what God is calling you to but you ignore Him because you think that you know best? Well in today's message, Pastor Ricky wants you to know that you'll never get to where you want to be by going off on your own wisdom. God has a divine plan for your life, and He only wants what's best for you. Leave the wisdom of the world behind and fix your gaze on heaven. He's always working everything for your good. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
In your walk with Jesus, do you ever take Him for granted? Do you ever forget about the important changes that He's implemented in your life? In today's message, Pastor Ricky wants you to know that you must never forget the impact that Jesus has on your life. No matter how hard you work or what you might accomplish, it’s all because of the grace of God. The more you forget to thank God for all of His blessings, the less you'll accomplish for His Kingdom. Remain steadfast in God's promises. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
We all need constant reminders that we can be fully fulfilled in Jesus Christ. If we're not careful, we can start to feel unfulfilled and start looking in other places. We might try to find it in a job or maybe in another person. Ultimately, those things will never be able to fill us to the extent that Jesus does. In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares about the sufficiency of Christ. Jesus has all that we'll ever need but the challenge comes in trusting Him for it. One of our greatest freedoms comes from knowing that we are fulfilled. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with per
You don't have to look far in this world to see that people are looking for the truth. One of the things that most people ask is, do I even matter? The world will try and tell you that your value comes from material possessions, or how well you do at a job. The reality is that our worth is found in Jesus. We're important enough to Jesus that He God is in the business of restoration and redemption. Every story we read in the Bible has that undertone of redemption and salvation. When we look at our lives, we may see areas where we've messed up or we’ve fallen short, but God is constantly redeemi
You don't have to look far in this world to see that people are looking for the truth. One of the things that most people ask is, do I even matter? The world will try and tell you that your value comes from material possessions, or how well you do at a job. The reality is that our worth is found in Jesus. We're important enough to Jesus that He died for us. In today's message, Pastor Ricky is going to go deep into the topic of worth. When we know where our worth comes from, we can be secure. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
Whenever God is at work in our lives, which is all the time, there's usually an invitation to come alongside Him in what He's doing. There's a role that we get to play in His grand plan. When we walk in the spirit and we're sensitive to what the Lord prompts us to do, then we start to see more fruit. In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares more about walking in the spirit. We're co-laborers with Christ so it would be wrong to expect Him to do all the work while we sit back and watch. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
Paul was constantly reminding the churches that he was writing to, to rely on the Holy Spirit for everything. When we read about all that Paul had gone through, we can see that he endured a lot of hardship. He encourages the church that his joy isn't found in his circumstances but that it comes from the Holy Spirit. In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares more about what it looks like to have joy from the Holy Spirit regardless of our circumstances. When we seek the Holy Spirit for help, He loves to step in. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
There's always a purpose when God does something. He didn't just give us the power of the Holy Spirit for the sake of power. Any demonstration of power through the Holy Spirit is supposed to be for the purpose of being a witness to the gospel of Jesus. When we see the gifts of the Spirit moving, we should be able to use them to point people toward the gospel and what Jesus did. In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares the importance of us being bold believers of Jesus. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
The disciples walked with Jesus for three years. They had seen Jesus perform countless miracles. Jesus even empowered some of them to do the same so when Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come and bring them power, they knew the kind of power that He was talking about. Sometimes we fail to realize that the same Holy Spirit that empowered the disciples, is the same Holy Spirit that empowers us. In today's message, Pastor Ricky will be sharing about the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
Do you feel like the things in life are just too difficult to carry? Or maybe you're just grinding your gears in life and you wish there was more purpose? Well in today's message, Pastor Ricky shares about the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, you can experience a life-changing transformation, and you can find direction purpose, and hope in your life. The Holy Spirit can guide you through life's challenges and help you become a part of a community of believers that love and support one another. When you follow the Holy Spirit, He guides you to great things. "Mighty Fortress" b
Have you ever felt like you were just going through the motions but not really living? Or like maybe in a Technicolor world, somehow your life is in black and white? In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares how being alive in Christ means having a sense of purpose and direction. It means being a part of something bigger than yourself, a community of believers who love and support one another. Jesus offers us life and life abundantly. When you follow the Lord, He will provide. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
Have you been searching for answers trying to find your way in life but nothing seems to work? In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares how the Lord has a plan for your life and that He's calling you to follow Him. When you obey God, He meets you with His power and His power is more than enough to guide you through life's challenges and to lead us to our true calling. But what does that mean to obey God? Well, it means putting your trust in Him and following what He says. It means surrendering our plans and giving them to Him. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
Do you ever get the feeling like you're stumbling around in life, not really sure of what you're supposed to be doing? It's like something's missing but you're not really sure what it is. Well in today's message Pastor Ricky shares how we're not meant to navigate life alone. We were created to have a relationship with God and it's only through Him that you can find true purpose and fulfillment. When you spend time with Jesus, you open yourself up to His wisdom and guidance. He knows your heart and your desires and He wants to lead you in the life that you were meant to live. "Mighty Fortress"
Do you ever feel lost, scared, or alone? Have you made mistakes in the past that make you feel like you've fallen too far from grace to be redeemed? In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares how no matter what you've done, or how far you've strayed, you're never not in need of God's grace and you're never out of reach of God's grace. God's love is always there for you waiting to welcome you back with open arms. The beauty of God's grace is that it's freely given and it covers all of our imperfections and mistakes. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
Do you feel lost or uncertain in life? Are you struggling to find direction and purpose? In a constantly evolving and It can be a difficult and humbling experience to face the mistakes and imperfections that we all have. But Pastor Ricky shares today that if you confess your sins, that God is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we acknowledge and repent from our sins, we open ourselves up to a new life that's full of hope and freedom. The journey of confronting our sin isn't an easy one but it is necessary for true transformation and a deeper relation
Do you feel lost or uncertain in life? Are you struggling to find direction and purpose? In a constantly evolving and complex world it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn but in today's message Pastor Ricky shares how if you truly love the Lord, you'll follow Him. When you truly love the Lord and obey Him you open yourself to a life of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. You find direction and clarity in your decision making and you become more resilient in the face of adversity. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
In a world that's constantly changing, it can be difficult to find your way. With so many conflicting messages and values, it's easy to feel lost and unsure of what direction to take. But in today's message, Pastor Ricky shares how the Bible is the perfect source of wisdom and guidance. It's timeless truths and powerful messages are just as relevant today as they were when they were first written. If you're looking for practical advice on how to live a fulfilling life, the Bible has something to offer. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
Are you ready to make a difference in the world? As Christians, we're called to be the example of the love of God. So how can you possibly imitate the love of someone who loves you eternally? In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares about how Christians are called to be an example of the love of Christ. You'll learn how Christ loved by reading the Bible. You’ll learn about the life of Jesus and how He unconditionally loved everyone. The Lord’s love is the reason that you're here so share it with others. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
Are you tired of living in a world that's filled with hate, bitterness, and division? In today's message, Pastor Ricky talks about how Christians are called to walk in the love of Christ. What does it mean to walk in love? It means being kind, forgiving, and patient even when it's difficult. It means extending grace to others just as Christ did for you. It means choosing love over hate and choosing to see the best in others, even when they fall short. When you share the love of God, you give light to others. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
Normal isn't the word you use to describe a Christian’s life. Oftentimes it's anything but that. But no matter what, it's always the best life - a life with the Holy Spirit giving you strength when you're weak or exhausted, hope when you're lost, peace when you're anxious, and the power to do whatever it is that God calls you to do. Pastor Ricky is going to remind us today that even though it's not always guaranteed to be easy, a life with God at the center is the most fulfilling and most blessed. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
Have you noticed the ads that surround the end of the year that target New Year's resolutions? No other time of year sees more failed plans and trends than just a couple short months after that. But as Pastor Ricky is going to point out today, when your life is changed and set to a new trajectory in Christ you have a strength to draw from. When it's hard to stay faithful to Him, you can find it and be renewed in the Holy Spirit. Through Him you can find courage, strength, and power to live out your faith. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
If you're a believer and people around you know that you follow Jesus, how do they know? Jesus said that people would know His disciples by their love for one another and people should. Is that what they see when they see you? Pastor Ricky is going to encourage fellowship with other believers and to mutually build each other up in your walks with Christ. If you're made to live like Jesus, then you're to love everyone. He had compassion on all the hurting people around Him and that's what your life should look like too. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
In so many ways Jesus was the perfect example of what a Christian’s life should look like. He was compassionate on the people that He met, He took time to be alone with God and as Pastor Ricky is going to show us today, He's gentle and loving to us. Even though He's all-powerful and has no limits, He exercised strength and authority when needed but also temperance and gentleness when needed. As followers of Jesus, that's what our life should look like. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
God has amazing plans for the Christians that follow his Word and live a life that's different from the world. While it's not guaranteed to be easy, you are guaranteed to have your needs met. God won't abandon or forsake you. Today Pastor Ricky is going to encourage you to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for you and that you're meant to not just accept God's gift of salvation and then forget about it but to go out and live like you've been changed, to live like Jesus and to point other people to Him through how you live. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
Nobody deserves salvation. Everyone has sinned and we've all done evil in the sight of God. We don't deserve to spend eternity with Him after going against His will. However, as Pastor Ricky is going to show us today, God still accepts us. We'll see the main message of the Bible is that Jesus came to save you and me from our sins and we have a purpose to live out once we come to know Him as our personal Savior. Everything in the scriptures points towards Jesus and what He did for you and me. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
