Simply God: Gods Messages of Love and Encouragement

Copyright © 2011 Rick Richards

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1-(866) 928-1240

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2707-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2706-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2708-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011916902

Printed in the United States of America

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/03/2011

Contents

PREFACE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CHAPTER 1

The Simplicity of God and Jesus

CHAPTER 2

Ten Steps to the Kingdom—Action

CHAPTER 3

Choices

CHAPTER 4

Transformation

CHAPTER 5

Discernment

CHAPTER 6

Obedience

CHAPTER 7

Righteousness

CHAPTER 8

Sacrifice

CHAPTER 9

Forgiveness

CHAPTER 10

Prayer

CHAPTER 11

Prepare and Respond

CHAPTER 12

Mankind—Does God Win or Lose?

CHAPTER 13

The Fall of Man and God’s Correction

CHAPTER 14

The Book of God

CHAPTER 15

God’s Thoughts on Mankind

and its Future

CHAPTER 16

God’s Power Is Our Defense—Don’t Strip It Away

CHAPTER 17

A Tent in Heaven

CHAPTER 18

Let Freedom Ring and God Be Known

CHAPTER 19

Our Past Provides Fuel for Knowing and Living Our Future

CHAPTER 20

Seeing Markers to Avoid Separation

CHAPTER 21

If You Believe in God, Hell Is a Reality

CHAPTER 22

Salvation

CHAPTER 23

Live in Joy

CHAPTER 24

Will Fear Destroy Our Legacy?

APPENDICES

Scripture References for Chapter 21

Modern King James Bible

RESOURCES

It is only by seeing and hearing

what God and Jesus did, and has

done in our world—to bless

and free their children from

bondage—which will show us

how much their greatness and

grace towers above our fears and joy for

what is to come.

God’s wisdom

PREFACE

Simply God was inspired by our Father so that all his children would know how much he loves them and wants to encourage them. My part was listening and collecting his thoughts. As for me, I am just a messenger. I cannot take any credit for God’s wisdom, because God is the author of true wisdom. God’s plan for me began before my birth. I met my Father and Jesus at twelve, and I knew they had a plan for me. I walked with God and knew his mighty power, but as I entered my teens, I walked away from him. I was not ready for his plan. I was not ready for all that spiritual stuff. I wanted to live life free and in charge, but as I grew older, the struggles became harder. I was not a bad person. I was darn sure there was a mighty Creator, but I was not ready to embrace him. I thought I could take care of myself. Taking care of me was a bad choice.

I married at a young age and did not know what I wanted to be. My wife of forty years was the best thing that had ever happened to me, other than my salvation. She kept me accountable. Thank God, she was in my plan. We had many struggles, and some were very ugly. We had two kids, and the struggles became worse. I knew that my life had to change for my family’s sake. Here are the good parts of my life. It doesn’t make any difference whom or what you are struggling with, God loves you, and he does have a plan for you. He doesn’t care whom and what you are. He has a plan! I was nobody, but God and Jesus knew that I would listen to them if they could get my attention. On my fourth death experience, God got my attention. From then on, my struggle was trying to stay close to God. That was a good struggle, and it strengthened me. We all must struggle to hear God and Jesus. God wrote this book to help and encourage you, and he chose me sixty-two years ago to do this. I have been writing his messages for twenty-five years, thinking they were just for me.

God’s plan is not for one person to hold on to and keep. It must be used to help and encourage those who don’t know him. I was chosen as a prophet, and as a prophet, I have to encourage. I will never run from our Father nor will I fail him! I encourage you to seek God’s plan for your life and to be a disciple, apostle, pastor, scribe, prophet, or shepherd. Our God is awesome, and he can make you someone great for his kingdom. Enjoy your walk to the kingdom of heaven, and as you walk, share it with others. Do not fail your Father’s plan for you.

And God who made the Lord Jesus come back from the dead will do the same for us by his power (1 Corinthians 6:14). BBE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Writing the first book Simply God has not been very easy for me, but my time with our Lord and Savior has been sweet. Putting it all together, along with the preparation, was a struggle but it was worth the struggle. Writing a book was no part of my plan. I just wanted a very special relationship with him. A relationship with God and Jesus that was lasting and sweet. I knew if we were close God would keep me accountable. I have to give a lot of thanks to several wonderful people of God. I wasn’t sure this book was going to make it, but thanks to them, God assured me through my brothers and sister. If I had not married my wife forty-two years ago, Simply God would not have existed. It was definitely God’s plan. Spiritually, I was very shaky, but Jo held me accountable. She was my rock, and I love her forever. Sometimes when you are called by God, your mate may not understand. I know it was hard for her, but she listened to God for guidance, and he helped us to work together. Josine, I love you so much and I thank God every day. I thank God for the gifts he gave you specially the gift of forgiveness. I love you forever and ever.

Five years ago, my wife and I started attending a Baptist church that someone had asked us to visit. I really did not want to go because of the struggles I was going through. Something happened in that church; that changed my life and that was Marvin Sallie. He was the senior pastor of the church and in a short period of time, he and I became bonded friends and brothers. Before I started attending, he had been in a wheelchair. God heeled him—and what a story. This is the church where God called me as a prophet. You don’t see many prophets in a Baptist church, but it never bothered Marvin. He was always near to me, and he knew that God was working through me. What God was doing with me was hard to understand. Sometimes I didn’t even understand what I was to do. Marvin read everything I wrote and was always looking for more. He would say, Keep on listening to God, and do not fail him. Marvin is an encourager, and he is a great mentor. I thank God for the bond Marvin and I have together. Marvin is now retired and still encouraging Gods lost children.

Chet, Heath, John, and Debbie are the other pastors who have put up with me, and I am very grateful for their encouragement and love. Chester is now the senior pastor and he was the one that encouraged me to write Gods book. Debbie is Marvin daughter and she is just like her dad. Heath and John have encouraged me through their sermons and I am so glad they were around when I need them. I have never had pastors who were so giving of their time and talents to help others. I thank God that all our journeys crossed. To me this church is like being in heaven now. With all these people around me, I know what heaven will be like. Thanks to all of you. Again I thank my beautiful wife Jo and the entire pastoral staff and also all my brothers and sisters. Most of all, I owe my life to Jesus who gave his life for me so I could bring hope and joy to others. I can never repay the debt, but I will do my best. My Father knows my heart and knows I will give my life in service to him. Even though we struggle God and Jesus will still keep us accountable. Thank you Father Jehovah.

CHAPTER 1

The Simplicity of God and Jesus

To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge (Proverbs 8:4-9).KJV

How often have you opened the Word of God, started reading, and said, I just can’t understand what I am reading? Well, today is your day. Your Father in heaven is going to water your roots, and he is going to show you how simple he has made his Word. As for me, I can really understand what it is like to start reading God’s Word and hit the awful wall of frustration and no understanding. The dark angel used this to cover my eyes throughout my youth. I hated to read! I would not read anything, and this frustration strained my relationship with our Father and our Lord. God knew he had to do something before the dark angel destroyed my life with him. He knew the life I was walking was a hapless, random spiritual relationship. What I was trying to do was hang on to God and Jesus without a meaningful relationship. I had no direction and tried to manipulate God. I wanted God, but I also wanted the pleasures of the world. You can’t be great for God and Jesus by living how you want to live. At some point of time in your life, you have to let go and let God help you to his kingdom. This is a life-giving change.

I finally asked God, Will you please help me so I can help others?

God said, If you want to help others, you have to do what I ask. I want you to get a pencil and pad, grab your Bible, and start reading.

I said, Lord, I have already tried that, and it is not working.

God said to me, Have you been reading my Word for yourself or reading it to have wisdom from your Father God?

I told God, I was probably reading for myself, and I still don’t have a clue.

God said, This time, when you read the Word, write what stands out for you, and then let me show you my simple truths. I did just that, and the truths started to jump out of the pages. Wow! My mind felt like it had been jump-started with a bolt of lightning. The truths of his Word were actually being stamped into my brain. I was banging on Gods door to know more of God’s wisdom.

I said to God, Now I want to know how these truths work.

God said, As you read the truths, listen to me because I want you to know how simple my Word can be. This will help you to prepare others that are lost to be able to have a relationship with me. All the years I tried on my own, but reading never worked, but when I truly asked God to help me change, he filled the void in my life. This was amazing. I still use this same plan he gave me twenty-five years ago.

I had entered God’s sweet spots. These are the spots in which you begin to spend more time with God and Jesus than you do the world. Your thoughts and God’s thoughts are walking the same path. This is where the rubber meets the road. God has you where he wants you—listening to him. You need to become a good listener. God needs you to listen, so you can help with the issues of others. Even today, he is still working with me and my issues. All of us will have issues until our journeys end, and don’t let anyone tell you differently. In a way, it is good, because these issues will eventually help you to draw closer to God and Jesus. If you think about it, if you don’t hear God speaking to you, how do you know he is real? God’s reality is based on a relationship of knowing and hearing him. He really wants to help you with his Word, and he is ready to move mountains to do that.

Your Father wants to start teaching you at the beginning, which is the simplest point to start. The simplest starting point is truly the hardest step. These points are actions and choices. Do you remember Newton’s third law from science class? It says that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Your action requires choice, and there are only two. You will deal with them all through your day. These choices are your reactions—good and evil. It is so simple. All you have to do is think and choose the good choice. Why can’t we do this? Is it because we are not listening to God’s voice? You cannot make the right choices without him. You cannot outthink our God and Jesus. You cannot understand the salvation plan and the hope Jesus gave you. God will show you this plan, and when you have made the choice to help others as Jesus did, then your Father in heaven will be talking your ears off.

In the book Simply God, your Father will show you the meaning of some words to simplify his obedience. Everyone is scared of obedience, but obeying God is just making a simple choice. These choices you will make are not easy to choose, because you still have issues that you will want to cling to. You do this because you still want to do your own thing. My question is this: why would you want depression, pain, anger, and grief instead of love, joy, hope, and a future with your Father in heaven?

God saved my life from destruction with a simple plan, and today I probably spend more time talking with our Father than I do with my wife and kids. All my working hours are spent with my Father. You don’t have to multitask when you want to speak with your Father because he is only a breath away, and he is always speaking to you. You just have to keep listening. He will speak with you in an individual way, so you can hear him clearly. If you don’t hear him, you are not listening. Your Father and Lord wants you to keep speaking until you hear him. Eventually, both of you will be speaking at the same time, and you will still understand each other. I understand that hearing God is hard for some. It is not so much hearing as it is feeling. We all hear God in different ways, but if we don’t feel, hear, or see our Father, how can you ever change? He wants to speak to all his children, no matter who they are or what shape they are in spiritually. Your Father does not measure you as a sinner or a disobedient child; he sees you recovered and ready for service. The Son has already died for your screw-ups and disobedience, and he has declared you not guilty. God and Jesus want to do great things through you!

We never benefit from choosing something other than our Lord and Savior. Some of the things we want to compromise with are wealth, fame, jobs, positions, lust, cars, houses, sports, etc. If we choose any of these over our God, we end up with nothing but artificial pleasures served up by the dark angel. The consequences of sinning are self-inflicted, because sin results in our destruction. It first destroys our souls and then our bodies. God never punishes us. He may reprimand us, but sin itself will do the punishing.

There are some people that worship the church instead of God and Jesus. This is because the churches give us visible pleasure, love, and hope. This reality is a charade. The dark angel confuses us by telling us to believe that having hope and peace now is better than waiting for God’s correct timing.

Though claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that looked like mortal human beings, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. For this reason, God gave them over to impurity to follow the lusts of their hearts and to dishonor their bodies with one another. They exchanged God’s truth for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen (Romans 1:22-26).NKJ

I remember the moment when I knew that the struggle I was going through was just another vicious circle of insanity. I knew that if I could not somehow change the thoughts going through my mind, my future would be hopeless. I just had to know God would not fail me. I began to search and dig to find out what our Lord and God was capable of doing. As I read the Word, Scripture began to scare me. God demanded obedience and sacrifice, and I was not sure that I could do the things he wanted. When you know that God knows every move you make and every thought in your mind, you understand that you cannot hide from him. You fear God, because he knows where your loyalties are held. He knows you heart. I began to think, This is going to be a bad thing. God gave me a head slap and said, Now you fear me. That is where he wanted me. God said, If you don’t fear me, I don’t exist in your thoughts; but if you fear me, I exist and I am real. This is the first step to the kingdom of heaven.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline (Proverbs 1:7).NKJ

Wisdom alone will not make your soul right. If you know your creator—who created wisdom and makes it alive—his wisdom will grant you everlasting life. If we truly want to become heirs of God’s kingdom, we need to know how to obtain this wisdom and how to overcome the booby traps of the dark angel.

One thing about actions, choices, and obedience is that they are very hard for us to grasp. This is because we are still attached to our world. Sin, which is not God’s nature, still attracts us, because we have turned God’s truth around to make us righteous. We cannot be okay with what are world has become and be right with our Lord and Savior. We know we are doing wrong; yet we carry on, thinking God will not see us. We have to start living from the inside instead of the outside. God calls this transformation. You cannot be transformed on your own; God and Jesus have to do this for you. If you are taking action and making the right choices, God can and will transform you into a new person. You are probably asking, How does this take place? In this step, you have to feel the change. If you can feel it and see it, you know the Spirit of Jesus is doing his thing. You will feel it in many ways: you may feel more confident in God’s might, cry out for God’s children, rush to help others, worship on the inside, or see others through Jesus’ eyes. The greatest thing is that you will see things God’s way. You will be disgusted and angry as he is angered. Now you are getting a little closer to the kingdom. You have to want transformation, and by this, God will transform you. For crying out loud, let him do his thing! Do not be conformed; be transformed!

Another gift from God is discernment. I call it the little angel on my shoulder or the Holy Spirit. You