Ohio Valley Restoration Church

Ohio Valley Restoration Church Church is still undergoing renovations. We are not open for services at this time.

06/16/2026

Praising God for His Goodness
David Wilkerson (1931-2011)
June 16, 2026
"I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness" (Psalm 145:5-7, KJV).

The word “terrible” used here means that his acts are so great that they cause astonishment and awe. We cannot deny God’s claim that we are to praise him in all his excellence, but we are especially called to praise him for his goodness.

Note that the psalmist insists on an abundance of praise in memory of the Father’s goodness. It was common for David to sing these praises as lavish utterances, as if to cause the praise to gush out like water rushing from a fountain.

In Psalm 107:8-9, David writes, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness."

This truth of praising God for his past goodness struck a chord in my heart, and I was moved to do as David did. We are called to celebrate his goodness!

David reflects on the goodness he proclaims; God’s inclination to use mercy as he sympathizes with our afflictions and miseries. David borrowed from Exodus 34:6, where God reveals himself to Moses: “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.”

Beloved, look back over the past and remember how good the Lord has been to you. Meditate on his compassion that never failed to bring you through. Delight in praising God in all circumstances, but especially for his goodness. Not only for what he has done in the past, but for the daily blessings that surround you even now.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).

06/15/2026

The Only Solution
Gary Wilkerson
June 15, 2026
The way Paul writes to the Corinthian church makes it seem as if the church was rife with gross sins. But in reality, they were richly gifted by the Holy Spirit. In fact, much of what we know about spiritual gifts comes from them, and Paul’s letter shows how powerfully those gifts were operating in them. Yet even though the Corinthians had a great knowledge of the things of God, they lacked the love that Jesus commands of us. That’s why Paul strongly corrects them.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, ESV).

Note Paul’s keyword: “nothing.” He was telling them they could never accomplish God’s purposes without Christ’s love; the lay-down-your-life-on-a-cross kind of love. It is a tall order, one that’s impossible except through the Spirit.

Now, this may sound like a surprising interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13. Most people think of it as the Bible’s “love chapter,” and even non-Christians recognize it from weddings. In that setting, 1 Corinthians 13 seems like a greeting card sentiment. In truth, this chapter is a counterpoint to all the carnal sins Paul listed in 2 Corinthians 12. That list includes quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

Now look at the contrast: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). When we compare this list with the other, we begin to see 1 Corinthians 13 as a spiritual solution to the problem of sin; indeed, the only solution.

Friend, our character and actions should be shaped by the Spirit-empowered love of Christ. Our greatest gifts amount to nothing without that love in action.

06/12/2026

Faith over Sight
Gary Wilkerson
June 12, 2026
“And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10, ESV).

Pay attention to the Bible’s record of what Lot was doing. He looked at the land with his eyes. He wasn’t looking for instruction, for guidance, for wisdom from the Lord. He saw what he wanted with his own eyes, and he aggressively moved to take possession of what he wanted, what his flesh desired. He must have thought, “It looks good to me. It’s almost like the Garden of Eden; it’s so beautiful, I’ll choose that.”

Lot was looking with his eyes at the situation rather than looking to God. Some of us get ourselves into so much trouble. If we could just know the end of the story, what God is going to do. He is calling us to avoid this or that, but when our eyes of flesh are enticed, we tend to move in that direction because we are not focused on Jesus.

Here’s the simple instruction for this type of passive faith. Faith has to keep its eyes on Jesus. Faith has to keep itself focused and centered on the Lord, or it won’t have the discernment to know which way to go. It won’t know whether to go left or right.

Lot chose what we know as S***m and Gomorrah. Many of you today have been making choices with your own eyes because something looks good to you. The temptations of the flesh are appealing to you, and you are easily lured to go after those things. God is calling his people to avoid operating in a soulish realm of fleshly ambition but to move into a realm where your spirit is growing while your flesh is decreasing.

Friend, he’s calling us to move into that place called discipleship. It’s called maturing. It’s called walking in a growing faith with the Lord.

06/11/2026

His Preceding Blessing
June 11, 2026

by David Wilkerson

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“Thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head” (Psalm 21:3, KJV). At first glance, this verse by David is a bit puzzling. The word “prevent” is usually associated with hindrance, not with blessing. A modern translation here would be, “The Lord hindered David with the blessings of goodness.”

The biblical word for prevent signifies a completely different meaning. It means “to anticipate, to precede, to foresee and fulfill in advance, to pay a debt before it is due.” Furthermore, in almost every instance, it implies something of pleasure.

Isaiah gives us a glimpse of this kind of pleasure when he explains that God anticipates our needs and fulfills them in advance. “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24, NKJV).

This verse provides us with an incredible picture of our Lord’s love for us. Evidently, he is so anxious to bless us, so ready to fulfill his lovingkindness in our lives, that he cannot wait for us to tell him our needs. He jumps in and performs acts of mercy, grace, and love toward us before we even ask, and that is a supreme pleasure to him.

So this is just what David was saying in Psalm 21: “Lord, you pour out blessings and lovingkindness on me before I can even ask. You offer more than I could ever conceive of asking.”

David was referring to some awesome work that God performed for him in the spiritual realm. It was something that gave David answers to prayer, victory over his enemies, and unspeakable joy. God did it all before David could go to prayer to unburden his heart or present his request. Once David finally did pour out his heart, he discovered that God had already made provision to defeat his enemies. David’s victory was assured before he could even get near the battlefield.

Beloved, in the same way, we can rest in the assurance that God is already at work ahead of us, lovingly providing what we need before we even think to ask.

06/10/2026

Removing the Veil
David Wilkerson (1931-2011)
June 10, 2026
“Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:12-16, NKJV).

In this passage, Paul primarily discusses the Jews’ blindness to Jesus as the Messiah. Yet he is also laying down a principle that applies to all people, Jew and Gentile. He is talking about blindness to biblical truth. Note verse 14: “But their minds were blinded.”

Please understand, the people Paul wrote to were sincere. They faithfully studied the books of Moses, the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms of David. They revered God’s Word, teaching from it and quoting it freely. Yet there was still a veil over their eyes.

We think of a spiritual veil covering the eyes of Jews, Muslims, and others, blinding them to the truth about Jesus. Yet there is also a veil over the eyes of many believers. They read God’s clear warnings in Scripture; they hear them preached with power, yet they’re still not affected. In fact, they continue doing the very things they hear God’s Word renounce.

Paul says that before our blindness can be removed, we must turn to the Lord. “Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:16). The Greek word for turn here means “to reverse course.” Paul is saying, “You have to admit that the course you’re taking has brought you to emptiness, ruin, despair.”

Beloved, if your life is in some kind of turmoil and things are deteriorating, you know you’re going to have to change course. You may think, “It’s my husband or my wife who’s in a bad place and needs to change. Or, “My boss is doing everything wrong.” We so clearly see the mistakes and wrongdoings of others, yet we are blind to our own need for change. We need to admit to God, “It’s me, Lord. I’m the one who needs to change. Please, Father, show me where I’ve gone wrong.”

06/09/2026

Hi friends & family! Thank you for taking a moment to come here and consider … Naomi M needs your support for Support Dad’s Healing Journey After His Accident

06/09/2026

Resist and Renew
David Wilkerson (1931-2011)
June 9, 2026
If you ask a Christian how to do battle with the devil, he will probably recite: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, NKJV). But what does James mean by resist and how do we resist Satan’s power?

To understand we look to see what the apostle John writes: “The woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time…” (Revelation 12:14). I believe the two eagles’ wings John speaks of here are the Old and New Testaments of God’s Word. When the devil comes against us, we are able to fly over him on the wings of God’s Word to a place of being nourished by God.

The apostle Paul also uses the word nourish, writing, “…nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed" (1 Timothy 4:6). The Greek word for nourished here means educated. Paul is talking about being educated in the Scriptures and knowledgeable of God’s Word.

Jesus is our example here. When he resisted temptation with God’s Word, the devil fled. Why? Because the truth exposed Satan, putting him to shame. Hebrews says that all who have trusted in God’s Word “through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions” (Hebrews 11:33). We muzzle the powers of hell by standing on God’s Word.

So, when you hear the lion’s roar, fall on your face before the Father. Immerse yourself in his Word and his eagles’ wings will carry you above every overwhelming flood of temptation. “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” (Isaiah 40:31).

When you are alone with God in prayer, you are totally immune to the devil’s devices. So run to his throne by faith, call on him, and stand on the power of Christ’s blood.

06/05/2026

Step Into the River
Gary Wilkerson
June 5, 2026
The skeptics said to Joshua, “If we cross over the Jordan River, we’re going to face enemies as never before. You know the reports. There are thirty-one different kings in the land where we’re going and every one of them wants to do us in. Do you know how many kings we’ve defeated in the last forty years? Exactly two. What on earth are you thinking? How could this be what God wants?”

Joshua knew it would be difficult, if in fact, impossible. But he also knew there was only one way for Israel to go: forward. They were going to cross over in faith, trusting that God had their best interests at heart.

We all know that in the end, Joshua and Israel possessed the land and were blessed. The priests carrying the Ark stepped into the rushing river, and as soon as they immersed their toes, God supernaturally parted the water. After that, every evil thing the skeptics predicted was turned into good for God’s people.

The people came to a great fortified city occupied by their enemy. When they marched around it, the impenetrable walls came tumbling down. A handful of kings that Israel thought would be hostile instead joined them and doubled the size of their army.

Did all this make Joshua and Israel super-saints? Not at all. At one point, Joshua failed to obey God, but because he repented quickly, the Lord used the experience to strengthen him.

Friend, are you willing to step into the river? God may be saying, “If you’ll just commit to putting your toe in, you will see me part waves for you. It doesn’t matter how many enemies and fortresses you face; I will carry you across to the other side. I have already laid out my plans for you, and I’ll see them through to fulfillment, all for my glory.”

Trust God to lead you across your Jordan. Let him silence the voice of every skeptic. His plan for you won’t be defeated. He is faithful, and he will give you victory!

“The Lord said to Joshua…as I was with Moses, so I will be with you” (Joshua 3:7, NKJV).

06/04/2026

Step by Faith
Gary Wilkerson
June 1, 2026
Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River happened at harvest time (see Joshua 3). During that season, the river’s banks weren’t just full, they were overflowing. It was the worst possible time to cross over it.

The skeptics around Joshua surely would have scoffed, “You picked the wrong time, Joshua. We’ve got pregnant women, sick people, and the elderly. This isn’t of God.”

Yet God does call us to things that seem impossible. He looks at our situation and says, “The conditions are perfect for me to move on behalf of my people. Now the world will see how I rejoice to supply all my servants’ needs.”

Right now, you may be thinking, “God, I feel you leading me to make a tough decision. I know I don’t have what it takes to pull this off.” Yet that’s right where he wants you. In our weakness, God is made strong. In our lack, God is great. We say it is impossible, but with God at the center, nothing is impossible. “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (Matthew 19:26, ESV).

Up to that point in Israel’s history, God had parted the Red Sea (see Exodus 14), but this time he was asking them to step into the water first. Specifically, he commanded the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant into the rushing river by faith.

Imagine the skeptics’ voices! “God has never led us to do this before. He has always parted the water for us. This isn’t obeying him; it’s tempting him!”

Even Joshua may have had his doubts. “Lord, I’ve been down this road before with you and I know how it works. You always part the waters first. Why would you have us step into this rushing, muddy water? It doesn’t make sense.”

Friend, it doesn’t matter how risky or challenging the path God has set before us is, because if we step in with faith, he’ll part the water. Then we can move across on dry land.

“Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters” (Isaiah 43:16).

05/18/2026

Does God want us to be happy? That’s a loaded question for many Christians. The Bible gives us a very clear answer to that question that transforms the way we live.

Yes, God wants us to be happy. His desire for our happiness is firmly grounded in the truth of Scripture. The Bible speaks of happiness over and over.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible, one of the newer Bible translations, tells us, “Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; Yahweh, they walk in the light of your presence” (Psalm 89:15). “I will turn their mourning into joy, give them consolation, and bring happiness out of grief” (Jeremiah 31:13, HCSB).

The New Living Translation, another respected version, reads, “…And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness…” (Isaiah 65:18). The GOD’S WORD Translation reads, “The people ransomed by the Lord will return. They will come to Zion singing with joy. Everlasting happiness will be on their heads [as a crown]. They will be glad and joyful. They will have no sorrow or grief” (Isaiah 35:10). The following verse addresses the malaise of the present generation: “You didn’t serve the Lord your God with a joyful and happy heart when you had so much” (Deuteronomy 28:47, GW).

The New Testament also talks of happiness: “Although you have never seen Christ, you love him. You don’t see him now, but you believe in him. You are extremely happy with joy and praise that can hardly be expressed in words” (1 Peter 1:8, GW).

​I found 2,700 Bible references on happiness, joy, gladness, cheer, delight, and even pleasure. These emotions make up part of the amazing adventure we live in Christ. Is it possible to regain happiness when it has escaped you for so long? What if you’re in physical pain, you’re troubled in soul, or your family is in shambles? Let me give you a few helpful tips to seek God’s happiness in your life:

Believe that God wants happiness for you because he’s given biblical evidence for you.

Believe that the happiness God gives is a solid reality, not a pipe dream.

Renew your mind on this subject through God’s Word. Don’t allow the enemy to rob you of his truth

Address

35535 Main Street
Barnesville, OH
43713

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Wednesday 7pm - 8:30pm
Sunday 10am - 11:30am

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+17405370770

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