When it comes to the trials we face its been said those hardships are mandatory, misery is optional. Pastor Ray Bentley points out that our attitude is our choice. 

Whatever the blessings God has given us, Pastor Ray Bentley says he has more in store. "God gave to Israel 300 thousand square miles, the most they ever possessed was about 30 thousand square miles. 

When we face problems as big as a mountain, Pastor Ray Bentley says we need to remember how big God is. "What is the difference between a man or a woman facing a mountain, and one has faith and one does not?. Because one magnifies the problems as being bigger than God, the other one realizes the problems are there, they're giants, but God is even bigger still. What are the giants that are facing you?." 

Today on "In The Word" Pastor Ray Bentley brings us a study of the cities of refuge. Those biblical places of protection from the avengers of blood. "I wonder how many of you feel like you're being chased by the avenger of blood, all of a sudden things were going well and now everything is topsy turvy. " 

Today on "In the Word" Pastor Ray Bentley describes the rest the believer can enjoy in the midst of a restless world. "The rest that you and I can know it is not a rest that is comfortable in this world, but it is a rest that is internal, it is a rest in the spirit". 

Pastor Ray Bentley has important words of council and warning for those sitting on the fence, trying to pursue the lures of the world and the love of the Lord at the same time. "And if you are seeking to live in sin tonight and you are genuinely a child of God and even if you have desired the other side of the borders of God's promess...God will not allow his children to sin successfully. " 

Pastor Ray Bentley points out the modern day relevance of Joshua's admonition to the Israelites "choose you this day, whom you will serve" ."And i really believe that all of us need to be as Joshua in our homes, in the workplace and in our various environments to bring this message and it begins with me. You can't serve both." 

From the old testament story of Ruth and Naomi, Pastor Ray Bentley shows us an example of devotion and trust. "Ruth said for wherever you go I will go and wherever you live I will live, your people shall be my people. " 

Pastor Ray Bentley says the story of Ruth teaches us a lesson when life has given you more than you can stand,stand. "Ruth has lost her husband, she has lost her father in law, and now even her mother in law is against her. But she will not let go and that is what faith is, is holding on to the promesses of God of not letting go." 

Today on In The Word Pastor Ray Bentley offers insight on how we can stay in the center of God's plan for our lives. "Some of you this morning are wondering what is God's leading and what is God guiding as you express faith in him, as you follow him, as you seek him in his word." 

From the way Ruth responded to Boaz, Pastor Ray Bentley says we should respond to God's love in a similar way. "God sees something in you and he sees something in me that we do not see and we cannot see, but he wants to be able to say I love you so much." 

So much of religion is "achievement" based, well today on In The Word Pastor Ray Bentley explains that christianity is based on God's grace. "So often the emphasis that is given is you need to be doing this and you need to be doing that, but in reality the emphasis of the scriptures is upon what God has done for us, that's what the grace of God is all about". 

Pastor Ray Bentley points out that the story of Ruth and Boaz is an illustration of God's provision for our desperate need. "We were sold as slaves to sin and so we needed a redeemer who could come to redeem us, and that's what Jesus Christ was doing for us upon the cross. Aren't you glad that Jesus came and died, and that he has risen and he is your redeemer ? " 

Today on In The Word, Pastor Ray Bentley points out an interesting sidelife in an ancient Jewish tradition. "According to the law it's the widow who makes the proposal to the guy. And in this I see a beautiful parallel between the Lord Jesus Christ and the bride the Church, because not only has he claimed us, but we also claim him". 

Pastor Ray Bentley says from ancient Jewish mariage traditons we see a poignant picture of God's love and provision for his bride the church. "As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments and the bride adorns herself with jewels, so in the spirit you are clothed with a robe that is the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, and it is pure and it is clean and it is white ". 

Pastor Ray Bentley takes us to the book of Ruth and draws a parallel between Boaz the kindsman redeemer and Jesus, our redeemer. "Boaz knew what he wanted and he went after what he wanted, and when Jesus Christ saw in the earth what he wanted, also went after what he wanted and left everything behind, all of his power and all of his glory and even died the death of crucifiction apying the redemption price for you and for me ". 

Today Pastor Ray Bentley brings us encouragement about our redemption from the old testament story of Ruth. "And as Naomi said to Ruth sit still my daughter, all the work of this redemption and redeemer is in the hands of Boaz he'll take care of everything. So also if your faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ; relax, be still and know that he has got everything he has said, he will perform."  

Pastor Ray Bentley points out how Boaz convinced Naomi's relatives not to follow tradition and take her land and all that went with it. "Oh by the way, not only do you have to redeem the land, but you also have to marry her daughter in law who is Ruth, in other words, Ruth the foreigner, the one who God put a curse on. And then by law you have to have children with her, it's all up to you my friend." 

Coming up today on "In the Word", Pastor Ray Bentley explains how the book of Ruth is a story that echoes through biblical history. "King David, all of the psalms, the king and the man who is after God's own heart, where did he come from ? where did all this love and this poetry and this music and this romance and this passion and his defense of the name, it all started in the book of Ruth."  

Today on "In the Word", Pastor Ray Bentley begins a fascinating study of God's heavenly messengers, the world of angels. "I pray that you are able by faith and thru the word of God to begin seeing the invisible, to experience that world of angelic activity that is happening all around us. It will be comforting for you to know that you are not alone, that you are getting assistance, and it will be great encouragement to you." 

Today Pastor Ray Bentley urges us not to wallow on our own failures and shortcoming, he says there is a better way. "God can take a mistake even work at a flesh and if we would repent and turn back to him and submit to him, he can turn any mistake into a blessing. No matter what you have done, how far you've gone he will turn any mistake into a blessing."