Dear Beachside Family and Friends,
I believe in a positive attitude and positive words. Just as Jesus said in John 6:63, I am determined to speak "words of life." It is my responsibility to encourage others, and to help them live victorious, fulfilled, and blessed lives. In order to accomplish this goal, I have been committed to preaching and teaching the Word of God in a manner that is both uplifting and convicting. I am so grateful to God for all of you who listen to me live on Sunday and Wednesday, or via the Internet, or by reading my weekly e-message. Thank you for your support.
The Word of God should be the foremost thing in our lives. It should guide our thoughts, speech, and actions. Everything we think, and everything we feel should be subordinated to the authority of the Bible. We must be sincere in our convictions, but it is possible to be sincerely right, or sincerely wrong. Sincerity alone cannot assure that we will please God, unless we are sincerely right, and pleasing Him is very important. Pleasing God should be a greater priority for us then pleasing any man, or pleasing ourselves. As the scripture says concerning Enoch in Heb. 11:5-6 "...for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
There is great pressure in our culture these days to be pleasers of man rather than God. Courts are routinely ordering Christians to do things that violate their conscience and the scripture or lose their businesses and finances. To their credit, most who are faced with these choices are choosing to obey God rather than man, no matter what the consequences. The very fact that Christians are required to make such choices is deeply disturbing. Those who founded our nation would not recognize it today. They never expected, nor could possibly comprehend the abandonment of the values they so deeply cherished.
The Christians who came to our shores to plant the first colonies did so at great personal risk. Many of them came here for the specific reason of escaping a powerful and controlling government. They displayed great courage, courage that was necessary to establish a new society where the Gospel and the Word of God would be preeminent. The courage those Believers displayed is needed once again as we face the tyranny of the minority in our country. We must have courage to speak and live by the Truth, even if it does not please man. God spoke to Joshua before he led the nation of Israel into the promised land and said "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. " (Josh 1:7) We need that same courage in the church today!
When called before the council of the Jews to give account for healing the sick and speaking in Jesus Name, Peter and John were ordered never to do so again. Their response was one that should inform and energize us today. They said "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20) They refused the orders of the council, and continued to heal the sick and proclaim the name of Jesus. God blessed and protected them as they were obedient to him.
As we face challenging times in our country, let's be determined to be courageous and continue to proclaim the truth of God's word. God give us strength to be bold in the face of human opposition. I know revival is coming, and I believe our nation's greatest days are ahead of us, not behind us. Days of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and demonstration of the power of God are coming upon us. No matter what obstacles we face, let's continue to pray, speak the truth, and live by faith. By the way – I've read the back of the book, and we win!
Pastor Ramon
