The Open Heaven Life

This past Sunday, we concluded our Kingdom Economics series with a message titled “The Open Heaven Life.” It was a powerful reminder that God's desire is not just to bless us occasionally, but to invite us into a lifestyle of living under an open heaven, where His presence, provision, protection, and purpose are actively at work in our lives.

When many people hear the phrase "open heaven," they immediately think of material blessing. While God's provision is certainly part of His covenant promises, the open heaven life is about much more than financial increase. It is about living in close relationship with God, walking in obedience, and experiencing the flow of His favor in every area of life.

Malachi 3:10 declares, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse... and try Me now in this... if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." This passage reveals that God responds to faith-filled obedience. The principle was never about earning God's love or manipulating His hand. It has always been about trust.

One of the most powerful truths from Sunday's message was recognizing that blessing is not always measured by what comes into our lives. Sometimes, blessing is revealed in what God keeps away from us. There are battles we never had to fight because God protected us. There are attacks that never reached our homes because His hand was upon us. There are seasons we survived not because of our own strength, but because heaven intervened on our behalf.

The prophet Malachi also records God's promise to rebuke the devourer for the sake of His people. That means the open heaven life includes divine protection. God not only provides seed for sowing and bread for eating, but He also guards the harvest He has entrusted to us.

Living under an open heaven also requires an open heart. Throughout Scripture, obedience has always preceded blessing. God is looking for people who trust Him enough to surrender every area of their lives to His leadership. Open hands lead to open heavens. When we release our grip on control, fear, and self-reliance, we position ourselves to receive what God desires to do.

The open heaven life is not reserved for spiritual elites or a select few. It is available to every believer who chooses to walk by faith, honor God with what they have, and seek first His Kingdom. It is found in daily dependence on Him, recognizing that He is our source and sustainer.

As we reflect on this message, may we move beyond simply asking God for blessings and instead pursue the One who blesses. May we live out our lives marked by generosity, obedience, gratitude, and trust. And may we recognize that the greatest blessing of all is not what comes from God's hand, but the privilege of living in His presence.

Perhaps this week, instead of asking, "What more can God give me?" we should ask, "How can I more fully align my life with His Kingdom?" Because the open heaven life is not about chasing blessings. It is about walking with the King.

Under an open heaven, fear gives way to faith. Scarcity gives way to trust. And ordinary lives become testimonies of God's extraordinary faithfulness.

May we live with open hearts, open hands, and an expectation that God is still pouring out His grace upon those who seek Him.

With faith and expectancy,

Pastor Chris Tullis

Grace Church

"Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ"

The Flow of Kingdom Living

This past Sunday, we continued our journey through Kingdom Economics with a message titled “The Flow of Kingdom Giving.” It was a reminder that giving is much more than a financial transaction. It is a spiritual principle woven into the very nature of God and the culture of His Kingdom.

When we look at Scripture, we discover that God is a giver. John 3:16 begins with the words, “For God so loved the world that He gave.” Giving is not something God merely commands; it is something He models. The Kingdom of God operates on generosity, and as His children, we are called to reflect that same heart.

One of the greatest misconceptions about giving is that it is primarily about money. While finances are certainly included, Kingdom giving encompasses much more. We give our time, our talents, our resources, our compassion, and our lives in service to God and others. Giving is the outward expression of a heart that trusts God as its source.

The message focused on the flow that God established within His Kingdom. Too often, people think of blessings as something to accumulate. But in the Kingdom, blessings are intended to flow. God blesses us so that we can become a blessing. When resources stop flowing, they become stagnant. But when they are released into God's purposes, they create opportunities for ministry, transformation, and impact.

This principle can be seen throughout Scripture. Abraham was blessed so that all nations would be blessed through him. The early church shared generously so that no one among them lacked. Paul taught that God supplies seed to the sower, not simply to the saver. The Kingdom economy is built on trust, stewardship, and generosity.

Another important truth from Sunday was the distinction between tithes, offerings, and alms. Each serves a unique purpose within the Kingdom. The tithe honors God and acknowledges Him as our source. Offerings flow from a willing and generous heart beyond the tithe. Alms express God's compassion toward those in need. Together, they reveal a life that is aligned with the priorities of the Kingdom.

Giving is ultimately an issue of trust. Every time we release something into God's hands, we are declaring that we trust Him more than what we are holding. The world teaches people to cling tightly to what they have. The Kingdom teaches us that God is faithful, and that we never lose what we place in His hands.

The promise of Scripture is not that giving manipulates God into blessing us. Rather, it positions our hearts to participate in His divine flow. As we sow faithfully, we trust Him with the harvest. As we give generously, we reflect His nature. As we release what is in our hands, we make room for God to do what only He can do.

As we move through this week, I encourage you to examine your heart. Are you living with open hands or closed fists? Are you allowing God's blessings to flow through you or stop with you? The Kingdom was never designed to be a reservoir. It was designed to be a river.

When we embrace the flow of Kingdom giving, we discover that generosity is not a burden. It is a privilege. It is one of the ways we partner with God in advancing His Kingdom and touching the lives of others.

May we be people who give freely, love generously, and trust completely.

With gratitude and generosity,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

Trusting God in Every Season

There are seasons in life when everything feels clear and full of momentum. Then there are seasons where life slows down, routines change, and we are reminded that our faith is not built on schedules, emotions, or even specific moments, but on the unchanging character of God.

This week, I have been reflecting on how important it is for believers to remain steady and rooted regardless of the season they are walking through. It is easy to trust God when prayers are being answered quickly, when doors are opening, and when life feels full of excitement. But real spiritual maturity is often developed in quieter moments, when we simply continue walking faithfully day after day.

Scripture reminds us in Galatians 6:9 not to grow weary in doing good, because in due season we will reap if we do not lose heart. That verse carries an important truth. Seasons change. Difficult moments pass. Delays do not last forever. God is always working, even when we cannot immediately see what He is doing.

Sometimes we become so focused on the next breakthrough that we fail to recognize the ways God is already sustaining us. Every breath, every moment of grace, every unseen protection, and every quiet reminder of His presence is evidence of His faithfulness. Even in seasons that feel ordinary, God is still moving.

One of the greatest challenges believers face is learning how to remain faithful in the middle seasons of life. Not every moment comes with dramatic breakthroughs or emotional highs. There are days of planting, days of waiting, and days where obedience simply means continuing forward when nothing feels spectacular. Yet those are often the seasons where roots grow deeper.

Psalm 1 describes the righteous as a tree planted by streams of water, steady and fruitful in every season. Trees do not survive because of occasional moments of rain alone. They survive because their roots stay connected to the source. In the same way, our spiritual strength is not sustained by occasional inspiration. It is sustained by staying connected to the Lord daily through prayer, worship, and His Word.

As we move through this week, I want to encourage you not to become discouraged if life feels slow, uncertain, or difficult right now. God has not forgotten you. Your journey is still in His hands. What He has spoken over your life is still true, even if the process takes longer than expected.

Stay faithful in the small things. Stay tender in your heart toward God. Stay planted. Seasons change, but the faithfulness of God never does.

No matter what this week looks like for you, remember this truth: God is still leading, still providing, still strengthening, and still working all things together for good.

Keep trusting Him. He has carried you this far, and He will continue to guide you forward.

With encouragement and faith,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

The Fire Still Falls

This past Sunday’s message, “The Fire Still Falls,” was a reminder that the power and presence of God did not end in the book of Acts. The same Holy Spirit that moved in the upper room, empowered the early Church, and ignited revival throughout Scripture is still moving today. God has not grown silent, distant, or powerless. The fire still falls.

Throughout the Bible, fire is often connected to the presence of God. Moses encountered God in a burning bush. Elijah called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel. Tongues of fire rested upon the believers in Acts 2. Fire represents purification, power, passion, and the manifest presence of God.

One of the greatest dangers in the modern church is becoming comfortable with form while lacking fire. It is possible to have gatherings without hunger, worship without passion, and religion without the presence of God. But God never intended His people to go through motions. He desires a people who burn with love for Him and who carry the fire of the Holy Spirit into the world around them.

Leviticus 6 teaches that the fire on the altar was never to go out. That instruction still speaks to us spiritually today. The fire of prayer, worship, and devotion must be continually tended. Revival is not sustained by hype or emotion alone. It is sustained through hunger for God and a willingness to remain close to His presence.

The message also reminded us that the fire of God does more than excite us. It transforms us. Fire purifies what is impure and burns away what does not belong. Sometimes we ask God for revival, but we are uncomfortable with the refining that comes with it. Yet the same fire that empowers also sanctifies. God’s desire is not just to touch us emotionally for a moment, but to shape us into people who reflect His character.

In Acts 2, when the fire fell, the disciples were changed. Fear gave way to boldness. Silence gave way to proclamation. Weakness gave way to power. That same transformation still happens today when believers fully yield themselves to the Holy Spirit.

This message was also a reminder that the fire is not meant to stay inside the walls of the church. We are called to carry it into our homes, workplaces, schools, and communities. The world is desperate for authentic believers who burn with the love and power of God, not just people who talk about Him.

As we move through this week, let this be our prayerful posture: not to settle for routine Christianity, but to seek the presence of God with fresh hunger. The fire still falls on surrendered hearts. It still ignites passion. It still brings transformation. And it still empowers believers to impact the world for the Kingdom of God.

Do not let the fire grow cold.
Fan the flame.
Stay hungry.
Stay surrendered.

The fire still falls.

With passion for His presence,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

Built For More

This past Sunday’s message, “Built for More,” was a reminder that God never created us just to exist, survive, or settle into comfort. Every person was created with purpose, assignment, and Kingdom potential. There is something within each of us that was designed for more than ordinary living.

Too often, people allow circumstances, failures, fear, or insecurity to define the limits of their lives. Over time, disappointment can convince someone to stop dreaming, stop believing, or stop expecting God to do greater things. But throughout Scripture, we see that God consistently calls ordinary people into extraordinary purpose. He sees beyond where we are and speaks to who He created us to become.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God’s plans are filled with hope and purpose. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that He prepared beforehand. That means your life is not random. You were designed intentionally by God, with gifts, calling, and potential placed inside of you before you ever took your first breath.

One of the key truths from Sunday’s message was that “more” is not always about bigger platforms, greater recognition, or worldly success. In the Kingdom, “more” often means deeper faith, greater surrender, stronger character, and a larger impact for God’s glory. God is not simply trying to make us successful. He is shaping us to become people who reflect His nature and carry His purpose into the world around us.

The challenge is that stepping into more requires faith. It requires leaving behind the mindset that says, “This is all I’ll ever be.” Many people stay trapped not because God has limited them, but because fear has convinced them not to move forward. But God did not create us to live bound by insecurity or limited by the opinions of others.

Throughout the Bible, whenever God called someone into more, there was always a moment where they had to trust Him beyond what felt comfortable. Abraham had to leave familiarity. Moses had to confront fear. Peter had to step out of the boat. Growth always requires movement.

This message also reminded us that the process matters. God often prepares us privately before He uses us publicly. Seasons of stretching, testing, and refining are not signs that God has forgotten us. They are signs that He is building us for what comes next. The weight of future purpose requires present preparation.

As we move through this week, I encourage you not to settle where God has called you to grow. Refuse to let fear, disappointment, or past mistakes define your future. You were not created to live beneath what God has placed inside of you.

There is more faith to walk in.
More purpose to discover.
More influence to carry.
More growth ahead.

You were built for more because you were created by a God who always has greater things in store for those who trust Him.

With faith for what’s ahead,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

When a Mother Won't Give Up

This past Sunday’s message, “When Mothers Won’t Give Up,” was a powerful reminder of the strength, perseverance, and faith that God has placed within a mother’s heart. Throughout Scripture, we see women who refused to quit praying, refused to stop believing, and refused to let difficult circumstances have the final word over their children and families.

A mother’s love carries a unique kind of determination. It fights through exhaustion, presses through disappointment, and continues believing even when others lose hope. That kind of persistence reflects the heart of God more than we often realize.

We looked at examples in Scripture of mothers who held onto faith in impossible situations. Women who prayed through pain, trusted God through uncertainty, and stood firm when everything around them seemed unstable. What stood out so clearly is that breakthrough often came because someone refused to give up.

There are moments in life when giving up feels easier. Parenting can be overwhelming. Families face struggles, children make difficult choices, and prayers sometimes seem unanswered for far too long. But one of the greatest lessons from this message is that faith does not quit simply because the process is hard. Persistence in prayer and trust in God can carry a family through seasons that seem impossible.

Many mothers carry burdens no one else fully sees. They pray quietly, worry deeply, and sacrifice constantly. Yet even in those hidden moments, God sees every tear and hears every prayer. Scripture reminds us that we do not grow weary in doing good because in due season we will reap if we do not lose heart.

This message was not only for mothers. It was for anyone who has been tempted to stop believing, stop praying, or stop standing. The enemy wants people to become discouraged and walk away too soon. But God often moves in the moments right after people choose to keep trusting Him despite what they see.

One of the most encouraging truths from Sunday was this: God is still working even when we cannot immediately see the results. Seeds planted in prayer, love, and faithfulness are never wasted. What feels delayed is not necessarily denied. God’s timing is perfect, and His grace is always sufficient for the journey.

As we reflected on the strength of mothers this week, we were reminded that some of the greatest victories in life come because someone simply refused to quit. Refused to stop loving. Refused to stop praying. Refused to stop believing God.

To every mother, spiritual mother, grandmother, and woman carrying others in prayer, thank you for your faithfulness. Your prayers matter more than you know. Your perseverance carries more influence than you realize. And your willingness to keep standing may be the very thing God uses to bring breakthrough into someone’s life.

Keep praying. Keep loving. Keep believing. God is not finished.

With honor and gratitude,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

Walking in the New Nature

This past Sunday, we focused on a powerful truth that every believer must understand and embrace: Walking in the New Nature. When we come to Christ, salvation is not simply a moment of forgiveness. It is a complete transformation of identity. God does not just improve the old life. He gives us a new one.

Second Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” That means the believer is no longer defined by who they were, what they did, or what the world says about them. In Christ, we are made new. But the challenge for many believers is not becoming new, it is learning how to walk in that newness.

There is a difference between possessing a new nature and living from it. Too many believers are saved but still living with old mindsets, old patterns, and old ways of responding. God has changed their spirit, but their thinking has not yet caught up with their identity. This is why Scripture calls us to renew our minds and put on the new man.

Walking in the new nature begins with understanding where our life now comes from. Colossians 3 tells us that if we have been raised with Christ, we are to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. This is a shift in focus. The new nature is not sustained by the world’s system. It is sustained by the life of Christ in us.

That means our thoughts, our responses, and our desires should begin to reflect the character of Jesus. Where the old nature reacted in anger, the new nature responds in grace. Where the old nature lived in fear, the new nature walks in faith. Where the old nature was driven by selfishness, the new nature is led by love and surrender.

Walking in the new nature also means recognizing that we are no longer under the authority of our past. The enemy often tries to pull us back into old labels and old failures, but the cross settled that. We are not trying to become something God has not already declared us to be. We are learning to live from what He has already done.

Ephesians 4 reminds us to put off the old man and put on the new man, created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. That is not just theological language. It is practical. It affects how we treat people, how we make decisions, how we handle conflict, and how we carry ourselves daily.

Walking in the new nature is not about perfection. It is about progression. It is about daily surrender to the Holy Spirit, daily renewing our minds with the Word, and daily choosing to live from our Kingdom identity rather than our fleshly impulses.

As believers, we have been called to more than survival. We have been called to represent the King. That means our lives should reflect the nature of the One who saved us. The world should be able to see Christ in the way we live.

This week, take time to reflect on this truth. You are not who you used to be. You are not bound by the old life. You have been made new in Christ. Now the call is to walk like it.

Walk in grace. Walk in truth. Walk in authority. Walk in the new nature.

With faith and purpose,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

Built for the Journey

This past Sunday, we gathered for a special service centered around our Blessing of the Bikes event, and the message, “Built for the Journey,” reminded us of a powerful truth. Life is not a sprint. It is a journey. And God has not called us to simply survive it. He has equipped us to endure it, grow through it, and finish it strong.

The foundation of the message came from Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” That verse is a reminder that the journey of life will require strength beyond our own. There will be long roads, unexpected turns, storms we did not see coming, and seasons where we feel worn down. But God has promised renewal for those who lean on Him.

Anyone who rides understands that the journey itself comes with challenges. Roads can be rough. Weather can change without warning. Fatigue can set in. The same is true in our spiritual lives. There are seasons of testing, pressure, and opposition. James tells us not to be surprised by trials, because they are part of the process of producing endurance in us. The road is not always easy, but it is always shaping us.

One of the most important truths from the sermon was this: the journey tests what you are built on. When life gets difficult, the foundation matters. If our faith is built on emotions, comfort, or convenience, the pressure of life will expose weakness. But if our faith is built on Christ, we can stand firm no matter what comes.

God never promised a trouble-free journey, but He did promise His presence in it. That changes everything. We do not travel alone. Psalm 23 reminds us that even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us. His presence is what sustains us when the road gets hard.

The journey also requires trust. Proverbs tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding. There will be times when the road ahead does not make sense. There will be detours and delays. But God sees the full map when we can only see the next turn.

What encouraged me most in this message is the reminder that God built us for this. He knew the roads we would travel before we ever started. He knew the battles, the burdens, and the breakthroughs ahead. And He gave us everything we need through His Spirit to endure and overcome.

As we move through this week, remember that whatever part of the journey you are in right now, God has equipped you for it. If the road feels rough, keep moving. If the climb feels steep, keep trusting. If you are weary, wait on the Lord and let Him renew your strength.

You were not built to quit halfway.
You were built for the journey.

With strength for the road ahead,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”