Tag Archives: Calvary Chapel

Motivations For Personal Holiness

by • on 6:25 PM • in 1 Peter

 

1 Peter 1:17-21

 

 

Illustration:

Jake, a Game Warden, was always amazed that Sam, a fisherman, showed up at the end of the day with a couple or three stringers full of fish. This happened even when all the other fishermen came back with only two or three fish. Now this particular lake was loaded with fish, but they seemed to elude the average fisherman, so there was no limit on number, only on size. And all of Sam’s fish were big enough to bring home.

The curiosity of the game warden finally got the best of him. So on one occasion he said to Sam, “I’d like to know your secret.” Sam, a man of not too many words, said, “Show up tomorrow morning.”

The next morning, long before dawn, the game warden was there. Sam showed up and met him, stared the motor, and 30 or 40 minutes later they were out in some secluded part of the lake. It was important to Sam that no one else be around. When they stopped the motor, everything was as still as it could be. Jake decided to sit back, fold his arms, and watch Sam do his thing. Same reached down in his tackle box, pulled out a slender stick of dynamite, lit it, and tossed it into the air. When it hit the level of the lake, there was an enormous explosion. In a matter of seconds, fish of all sizes began to float up to the top of the lake. Without a word, Sam just began to row his way over and with his net pick up the largest fish and string them.

Jake screamed. “Wait! You break every rule in the book. I’m gonna throw the book at you. You’ll be paying fines. I’m gonna stick you in jail!”

About that time Sam reached in his box and pulled out another stick of dynamite. He lit it and tossed it in Jake’s lap and said,

“Are you gonna sit there watchin’ all day or are you gonna fish?!”

 

1. HA-HA!!!  — motivations!

 

2. We all have things that motivate us to do what we do

a. We have bills, so we are motivated to get up and go to work

b. We want good health;

i. So we take care of our bodies, exercise, vitamins, eat right

c. We want to be respected

i. So we certain careers, attend certain colleges

ii. Try to live according to certain standards

 

Even my sermon this morning: I have a MOTIVATION: It is to motivate each of you to walk in PERSONAL HOLINESS.

 

“For everything we do, there is a motivation driving us”

 

*When we’re standing in line at Wal-Mart this Christmas season…

WHAT is going to motivate us from LOOKING at stuff we shouldn’t SEE?

*When we’re at home alone, or in the OFFICE on the INTERNET;

What is going to MOTIVATE us to PERSONAL HOLINESS?

4. We live in a very sinful world

a. And it is getting more and more difficult to live a HOLY life

 

5. We KNOW that we should live HOLY lives;

a. But WHAT MOTIVATES us?

6. I pray that by the time we are done this morning;

1. That God will have given you —

6 PRACTICAL  MOTIVATIONS for PERSONAL HOLINESS:

I. I Want God to Hear My Prayers

1 Peter 1:17-21
(And) If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

A. The only way that we can have an EFFECTIVE, POWERFUL prayer life is when;

1. We are LIVING in HOLINESS

B. In Psalm 66:18, the Bible says

If I regard wickedness (sin) in my heart, The Lord will not hear (our PRAYERS);

When we are standing there, sitting there, laying there and we are being tempted to sin; we need to ask ourselves if we want to hinder our prayer life?

Is this sin so gratifying that I’m willing to break my fellowship with God and hinder my PRAYER LIFE?

C. The Bible says, if we allow sin in our lives, it will ruin our prayer life

1. Nobody can have an effective prayer life w/o HOLINESS

 

“YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY”

 

D. If Holiness was not a necessary part of our relationship with God;

1. Then CHRIST would have NEVER NEEDED to DIE for our SINS

II. God is Going to Judge Our Works

 

17b the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work,

 

The judgment that Peter is talking about, is the judgment of a believer’s works. This judgment has nothing go do with salvation, except that salvation ought to produce good works.                      – Warren Wiersbe

 

When we trusted Christ, God forgave our sins and declared us righteous in His Son. Our sins have already been judged on the cross of Calvary, and therefore they cannot be held against us.

The judgment that Peter is talking about here is what is called the ‘JUDGMENT SEAT of CHRIST’, where each one of us will give an account of our works, and each one of us will receive the appropriate reward.

This is what we could consider as a ‘Family Judgment’, the Father dealing with His beloved children.

There are TWO Greek words which mean

“To put to the test”

1) One meaning: “To put to the test in order to discover what evil or good there may be in a person”

2) The other, “To put to the test in order to sanction or approve the good one finds in that person”

That is the definition for the Judgment Seat of Christ

III. The Fear of the Lord

 

17c conduct yourselves in fear (NASB)

A. In light of this ‘impartial judgment of God’

1. We are exhorted to ‘conduct this passing life in fear’

‘Fear’ = “This fear is self-distrust; it is tenderness of conscience; it is vigilance against temptation; it is the fear which inspiration opposes to high-mindedness in the admonition, ‘Be not high-minded but fear.’

To ‘LIVE IN FEAR’ is — ‘taking heed lest we fall’

 

It’s really guarding ourselves from places of temptation; and fleeing all evil.

 

“It is a constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart, and of the constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart, and of the insidiousness and power of inward corruption. It is the caution and circumspection which timidly shrinks from whatever would offend and dishonor God and the Saviour.”                                  –Wuest Word Studies

 

The 4th Motivation for personal holiness is that

 

IV. We are Sojourners (KJV)

 

17d during the time of your stay on earth;

‘Sojourner’ is from a word meaning literally “to have a home alongside of,” and refers to a person living in a foreign land alongside of people who are not of his kind.

A. Here it refers to children of God living far from their heavenly home;

  • In a foreign territory
    • On a planet that has a Usurper – SATAN, as a reigning Monarch
      • The people of which are his subjects

B. As Born Again Christians;

1. We must always live with the constant awareness that –

a. We are being WATCHED by the UNSAVED

C. And that it is our responsibility to be a true testimony to God

1. By the kind of lives we live

 

D. This WORLD isn’t our HOME;

1. And so we SHOULDN’T be living like the RESIDENTS of this world

We are to be living like SOJOURNERS – PASSING THROUGH; knowing that our Heavenly Father who judges impartially, will one day soon be judging each of our lives.

So we are to LIVE IN FEAR of FALLING INTO SIN, with the present conscious awareness that ‘WE’RE NOT HOME YET’!!!!

Can the world look at us and CLEARLY SEE a DIFFERENCE in how we live? Or are there areas of our lives that could give the Residents of this world reason to stumble?

18 knowing that (for you know) you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

 

* The 5th MOTIVATION for HOLY LIVING is because:

 

 

V. We’ve Been Ransomed!

 

A. The word ‘REDEEM’ goes back to the institution of slavery in ancient Rome

 

 

B. Every 1st Century church would have had 3 kinds of members:

  • Slaves
    • Freemen               (never been a slave)
      • Freedmen    (A person who formerly had been a slave but was now redeemed)

C. People became slaves in various ways:

  • Through WAR
    • Bankruptcy
      • Sell by themselves
        • Sale by Parents or by birth

“Slaves normally could look forward to FREEDOM after a certain period of service, and often after the payment of a price.”   -Expositors Bible Commentary

 

E. Some of the ways a SLAVE could by his freedom was:

  • By earning extra money in his spare time
  • Or, by doing more than his owner required
  • Often, the debt could be paid by someone else

“By the payment of his debt, a slave could be set free from his bondage or servitude.”

F. Jesus said in –Mark 10:45
“…the Son of Man… [came] …to serve, and to give His life a ransom for [in the place of] many.”

***Notice here also in V. 18, this word ‘FUTILE’ or ‘EMPTY’

“The redemption of Christians is from the [futile] ‘empty’ lifestyle of their ancestors. This implies a pagan lifestyle rather than a Jewish one because the NT stresses the emptiness of paganism.”  IVP Background Commentary

G. The ‘Traditions’ and ‘Freedoms’ passed down from our PAGAN ancestors, is

1. WORTHLESS

2. Peter says — EMPTY—

“The LIFE that JESUS CHRIST has REDEEMED US OUT OF, has NOTHING to offer us!!!!”

People who are ‘stuck’ in the world, think that we Christians are so in BONDAGE over all the things we can’t do in Christ; when in reality, what they call ‘FREEDOM’ is really WORTHLESS BONDAGE!!!!

 

(EMPTY/FUTILE/DOG VOMIT—passed down from pagan ancestors!!!)

H. The OLD LIFE had NOTHING to offer us but the BONDAGE of SLAVERY;

1. And it COST GOD His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON His life to REDEEM US!!!

That’s why Peter said back in 1 Peter 1:12…

 “Things into which angels long to look!”

They cannot grasp the tender mercies of the LORD GOD to RANSOM us from DEATH!

What a GREAT PRICE…therefore we must fearfully and DILIGENTLY guard our lives from WORLDLINESS!

Mark 8:36-37

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

37 “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD IS WORTHLESS/FUTILE/ EMPTY

This EMPTY old World has NOTHING on KNOWING JESUS CHRIST!!!!

I. The word for ‘SILVER’ and ‘GOLD’ here actually refers to:

1. LITTLE SILVER and LITTLE GOLD

GOD PAID THE GREATEST PRICE FOR OUR REDEMPTION- HE GAVE HIMSELF!!!

SIDE NOTE:

Can you see why it’s so sinful for us to speak against another BELIEVER?

#1. (NOT ONLY) Have we been CREATED in the IMAGE of GOD

#2. (BUT) Christ has paid this HUGE RANSOM for ALL His elect!

a. Who are we to speak against those for WHOM CHRIST DIED?!!

We are to live our lives as SOJOURNERS so that we do not STUMBLE the RESIDENTS of this world; and we are NOT to JUDGE one another – having been RANSOMED by God’s great love!!!

J. So #5, our 5th MOTIVATION for PERSONAL HOLINESS is why???

(V.) BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN RANSOMED!!!!

And Peter says: do NOT GIVE UP your FREEDOM for the MOMENTARY thrill of SIN!!!!

 

*We know that we are maturing spiritually when we no longer ask ourselves:

 “Can I do this and get away with it”

….but rather begin to ask ourselves:

“Will this compromise MY FREEDOM in anyway, for which Christ paid so great a debt?!”

*Our 6th and final MOTIVATION for PERSONAL HOLINESS is because:

VI. Holiness Is Proof of My Faith!


20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you  21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

A. Don’t sell yourself short!

1. Don’t LOWER YOUR STANDARDS to fit in with the WORLD

2. Or to MAKE others feel ‘COMFORTABLE’

3. We DON’T FIT IN HERE AND WE NEVER WILL

4. It’s NOT our JOB to make the WORLD COMFORTABLE in its SIN

B. When it came to living like the WORLD; my mom used to tell us kids –

1. DON’T DO THAT!

2. You’re TOO GOOD FOR THAT!!!

C. When it comes to the TEMPTATION of GIVING up our PERSONAL HOLINESS:

 

“Don’t do that! You’re too good for that! Don’t throw pearls before swine!!!”

D. Before the FOUNDATIONS of this world were CREATED;

1. JESUS CHRIST existed and –

 

“In the councils of the triune God, the Lord Jesus was the Lamb marked out for sacrifice.”

- Wuest Word Studies

 

E. In other words,

“God HAD ALREADY PLANNED to send JESUS CHRIST to this earth to become our SAVIOUR, even BEFORE the FOUNDATIONS of this world were CREATED!!!”

Salvation was NOT an AFTER THOUGHT when Adam and Eve Sinned in the Garden of Eden; God had already made the PROVISIONS for our REDEMPTION!!!

 

 

CONCLUSION:

1. God loved you, even from before the foundations of the world

2. He knew you from even before you were conceived in your mother’s womb

a. And He LOVES YOU!!!

3. I think the greatest MOTIVATION for PERSONAL HOLINESS is found in one word:

LOVE

 John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

4. He LOVES YOU

a. He’s REDEEMED YOU

b. He’s NOT ANGRY with you when you FAIL

c. And He’s ALWAYS there for you!!!

5. Your SALVATION is SECURE;

a. Your ETERNAL INHERITANCE is secure

b. Your VERY LIFE is SECURE

Because of SUCH LOVE— I long for PERSONAL HOLINESS

The more we STUDY and UNDERSTAND the NATURE of our GOD;

…The MORE that we will DESIRE to BE LIKE HIM!!!

6. May we daily grow in our personal holiness

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“Black & White” 1 John 3

by • on 11:20 PM • in Sermon Notes

 

John now begins 1 John 3 saying:

1a Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!

A. What an awesome privilege that God has given to each of us as believers –

            1. That we should be called the ‘children of God!’

B. I don’t think that anyone of us can fully appreciate how blessed that we are in this sense

            1. The alternative is to be called the children of the devil

C. That is in fact what Christ said to the Pharisees in –

John 8:30-44
30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” 39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father–God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

D. What a great privilege to know JESUS CHRIST as Personal Lord and Savior

            1. This is the message of the Gospel!

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

E. Jesus Christ is God’s ONLY BEGOTTEN SON;

            1. But as God’s ADOPTED CHILDREN-

                        a. We are called the children of God!

1b Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

A. Not everyone is a child of God

            1. Sometimes I hear people say that “We’re all the children of God” – but that’s not true

B. Only those who have repented of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ have become

            1. “The CHILDREN of God”

C. The world can’t identify with us

            1. They don’t know us, or understand us

            2. They CAN’T because they DON’T KNOW GOD

D. The world can’t understand how you and I can get up on a perfectly good Sunday morning

            1. And GO TO CHURCH!

            2. To the world, they can’t identify with that

E. “The sun is out, the day is beautiful, why waste it in church around other people?”

            1. John says the WORLD DOES NOT KNOW US…because they don’t know God

            2. They don’t have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ

F. Many people have an INTELLECTUAL RELATIONSHIP with the Lord;

            1. They know OF HIM, but they are not IN HIM

G. And only those of us who have been given this privilege of being called the children of God

            1. Can identify with one another
2 Beloved, now we are children of God;

A. I love how TENDER  John is!

            1. His maturity in the Lord over all the years of walking with Christ have matured him

            2. He loves those whom he is writing & he is writing those whom he loves

                        a. There is no struggle in John’s heart to IDENTIFY himself w/ the family of God

                        b. In fact he sort of DELIGHTS in it!

B. “Beloved of God”

            1. NOW — we are the children of God

C. We don’t have to wait until the end to find out how the story ends;

            1. NOW – TODAY we know HOW the story ENDS because

2. WE ARE the children of God!

Romans 8:35-39    Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

D. For all of us who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ;

            1. We already KNOW the END of the story

            2. We can SLEEP TIGHT and not let the BED BUGS BITE

                        a. Because no matter what happens…

                                    i. We ARE NOW called the CHILDREN OF GOD!

2b and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

A. As CHILDREN OF GOD…

            1. We are all WORKS of PROGRESS

            2. NONE of us are COMPLETE

            3. None of us are at the point where God is finished with us

                        a. If we were, God would take us home

B. But because God’s not done with us, we are all WORKS IN PROGRESS

            1. And God has commanded us to be PATIENT with one another

            2. We can’t hurry that process in OUR OWN LIVES

            3. And neither can we hurry that process in the LIVES of another FAMILY MEMBER

                        a. And I’m ok with that!

C. I think that one of our greatest struggles as Christians, is to get in a HURRY to MATURE

            1. Or to think that we can HURRY the PROCESS of God’s timing in others

D. Maybe it’s even for the PROCESS of SALVATION

            1. “I’m anxious to see my husband or wife or children come to know the Lord”

            2. But John says here that we can’t hurry that process

E. God is working on each of us individually- in HIS TIME, according to HIS PLANS

            1. We have not yet experience FULL MATURITY…

            2. But we know that when Christ appears, we will be LIKE HIM

                        a. We will each be completed at that moment & receive our glorified bodies

F. A lot of people are confused over 1 Cor 13:9-13, let’s look at that passage:

1 Corinthians 13:9-13
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

G. Many people doctrinally believe that verse 10 has already been fulfilled in the coming of Christ

            1. Yet as Paul states here, it hasn’t been fulfilled yet

H. Right now, you and I see in a mirror dimly, but at the BEMA SEAT we shall then see the Lord

            1. FACE TO FACE

I. We only know IN PART TODAY;

            1. We don’t have a full understanding

            2. We are not yet fully mature in Christ

            3. As God’s children, we are all WORKS IN PROGRESS

J. And one of God’s great promises to each of His children is found in –

Philippians 1:6    being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

K. God began it and He will complete it, and ONE DAY in the FUTURE;

            1. When CHRIST IS REVEALED

            2. We shall be LIKE HIM

            3. For we shall SEE HIM as He is!!!
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

A. Isn’t that wonderful that God has given us the incredible PRIVILEGE of BEING PURE?!

            1. We no longer need to be CONTROLLED by the PASSIONS of our FLESH

            2. God has BROKEN THAT BONDAGE that our flesh had over us

B. As children of the world, we were DOMINATED and MASTERED by our FLESH;

            1. But as CHILDREN of God, we have been SET FREE

John 8:36       If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

C. We’ve been set free and given the privilege of DAILY CHOOSING to live

1. A SANCTIFIED life in Christ

D. All of God’s true children have this hope of one day seeing Him FACE TO FACE

            1. And it is through this FUTURE HOPE that we LIVE a PURIFIED LIFE

E. I’m going to DAILY SEEK to cleanse my life from everything that does not glorify God

            1. “Lord what else in my life should not be a part of my life?”

            2. “Is there anything in my life that needs to go?”

F. So all who ‘have this hope’, PURIFIES HIMSELF, even AS CHRIST IS PURE
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

A. Paul says in –

Romans 6:1-7
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

B. God has freed us from sin, and as children of God

1. We can no longer allow sin to master us

C. We may and WILL WRESTLE with sin,

            1. But as God’s children, we can no longer allow it to ABIDE IN US

            2. When we sin, we are CONVICTED and REPENT and RESTORED

            3. We may FALL, but we get back up and seek restoration in CHRIST
5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

A. Jesus Christ was and is SINLESS and He came for ONE PURPOSE

            1. To TAKE AWAY our SINS

            2. He didn’t die for HIS OWN SINS but for the sins of the world

                        a. So John says –

6a Whoever abides in Him does not sin.

A. The ONLY WAY to REMAIN FREE from the bondage of SIN is to ABIDE in Christ

            1. Because Christ is SINLESS…

            2. As we ABIDE IN HIM… we will live sinless lives

B. When a person falls in sin, it may not necessarily be because a person isn’t saved;

            1. But rather, as a CHILD OF GOD,

            2. SIN will overtake us when we FAIL to ABIDE in CHRIST

                        a. He is PURE and we too are MADE PURE as we ABIDE in Him!

6b Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

A. The word ‘sins’ here is PRESENT TENSE – LIFE STYLE

1. Those who live in sin are not really saved

B. The true child of God, cannot abide in a sinful life

            1. A TRUE CHRISTIAN may be a PRODIGAL SON for a SEASON;

            2. But eventually, he/she will come back to their senses and RETURN to the Lord
7a Little children, let no one deceive you.

A. Many false gospels going out today declaring that you can live in sin and still be a Christian

            1. But John is saying ‘don’t let anyone deceive you’

7b He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

A. The evidence of salvation is a righteous lifestyle

            1. If I say that I am a CHRISTIAN – CHRIST-LIKE,

            2. Then I will PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS

B. Again if God is PURE and I am IN GOD;

            1. Then I WILL BE PURE

C. “Don’t let anyone deceive you into thinking that –

1. You can claim to be IN GOD if you are IN SIN
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

A. Everyone who LIVES/ABIDES in sin is demonstrating WHO CHILD they really are

            1. He who LIVES IN SIN belongs to their father the DEVIL

B. Everyone who is IN CHRIST has been given the POWER OVER SIN

            1. Christ has DESTROYED the power of SATAN over the CHILDREN OF GOD

9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

A. If I go out and plant a pumpkin seed this spring,

            1. That pumpkin seed doesn’t have to TRY to GROW INTO A PUMPKIN

            2. Neither does it NEED TO FEAR becoming a WATERMELON, squash or a bean

B. When you plant a PUMPKIN SEED, it will NATURALLY BECOME WHAT IT IS

            1. Whoever has been truly BORN AGAIN, will grow in CHRISTLIKENESS
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

A. The difference between the children of God and the devil are seen in two specific areas:

            1. Righteousness & Love

B. Those who live RIGHTEOUS and LOVE his BROTHER is of God

            1. Those who LIVE IN SIN & are BOUND BY HATRED

a. Belong to their father the devil

C. “Let know one deceive you”

            1. Not even your own mind

            2. These are the measurements of TRUE SALVATION

“In this we know that we are the children of God, in that we love one another”
13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.

A. They hate each other, why shouldn’t they hate you too?!

            1. Hate is just a natural emotion from the unbeliever

B. Jesus said “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”

            1. A person doesn’t hate you because you are such a TERRIBLE PERSON

C. Rather the world hates you because they are FULL OF HATE, like their father the devil

            1. And out of the abundance of their hearts, their mouths speak

D. Out of the abundance of LOVE the CHILDREN of God speak;

            1. As out of the abundance of the heart of HATE, the children of God speak

E. The true evidence of salvation is demonstrated in RIGHTEOUSNESS & LOVE;

            1. Or LACK thereof
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

A. Satan so oftentimes will beat us up trying to convience us of our lack of salvation;

            1. But here Jesus says, you can be assured that you are saved in your love for the breather

B. If you DON’T LOVE your brethren;

            1. Then you really don’t have ANY ASSURANCE of being God’s child

C. Is God love? YES!!!

            1. Then if we ABIDE IN CHRIST, we will be ABIDING IN LOVE!

D. How do we know that we are IN CHRIST?

            1. “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, that you LOVE one another!”

E. HATRED for another Christian, a desire for their HARM or DESTRUCTION is satanic

            1. And those who have such feeling ABIDES IN DEATH
17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

A. The Apostle James puts it this way –

James 2:14-17  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

B. True salvation is not only meted out in RIGHTEOUSNESS and LOVE, but ACTION

            1. TRUE LOVE ALWAYS produces WORKS

“My deeds don’t save me, they simply reveal my salvation.”

C. This too is what John is saying

            1. “Don’t just say you LOVE SOMEONE, SHOW THEM!”

D. If your brother whom you say you love has a need, and you have the MEANS;

            1. Then don’t just talk about LOVING HIM;

            2. SERVE HIM

            3. Give to Him from that which God has given you

E. Does it mean more to have someone tell you that they love you, or to have them show it?

            1. Like the greeting card once a year….

                        a. “Well I rarely tell you how much I love you, but you know I do…”

                        b. Yeah, WHATEVER!

F. If you REALLY LOVE ME, then SHOW ME!!!

            1. Don’t just have someone write it out in a card once a year & think that’s good enough

            2. “Ok, now I can justify my DEAD EMOTIONS for another 12 months, got the card!”

G. John says “if you see your brother in need, and you shut up your heart towards him…”

            1. Then how does the love of God abide in him?

            2. The truth is, it doesn’t

            3. God’s love REALLY DOESN’T ABIDE in that person’s heart

H. If you see your WIFE EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT –

1. And you shut up your heart towards her,

2. How can you say ‘the love of God abides in you’ – it really doesn’t!

18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

A. Also in, 1 John 4:18, John says:

1 John 4:18    There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

B. As we abide in Christ, in His RIGHTEOUSNESS, LOVE and DEEDS

            1. PERFECT LOVE casts out all fear

            2. How often our hearts condemn us, only to find that we’re not abiding as we should be

21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

A. Abiding in Christ produces total assurance or confidence in our walk with Christ

            1. My EMOTIONS may run ALL OVER THE MAP

            2. But as I abide in Christ, my CONFIDENCE is established!

22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

A. How do we abide in Christ?

            1. Simply by keeping His commandments

B. We are SAVED BY GRACE through FAITH;

            1. But we ABIDE in Christ by keeping His commandments

C. As we keep His commandments, we abide in Him, and He in us

Conclusion:

 

John 15:1-8
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

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“20/20/20″

by • on 6:05 PM • in Announcements

Good morning dear Calvary family!

We’re back and I’m in the office today if anyone needs anything. We are looking forward to seeing you all this coming Sunday. God has great things in store for CCB in the coming year and I am so excited to see all that God has planned for our little ministry.

Just reminder that we will be corporately partaking of the Lord’s Table together, and as always, Celeste will be leading us in a wonderful time of “LIVE” praise and worship!!!!

Also, I will be teaching on the subject of the importance of God’s Word. The title of our study will be “20/20/20” and we will be briefly looking at Exodus 16 for our text. What I will be sharing this coming Sunday will radically change everyone’s life, I guarantee it! It has radically changed everyone who has ever participated, and it is sweeping the church globally – in a getting back  to the power of God’s precious Word!

Sunday’s message is for everyone who is hurting, lonely, desperate, discouraged, depressed, having marriage problems, having parenting problems, relationship problems, wanting a closer walk with Christ, and for all who simply want to directly hear the voice of God speak to your heart.

Are you thinking about divorce? You need to be here. Are you thinking about running? You need to be here. Are you thinking about not coming? You need to be here, God will change your life!

Has your Christian walk become boring, dull, legalistic, ritualistic, mundane, a drag, empty-desert? Have you lost the joy of serving Jesus? Has your church attendance become a drudgery? Are you missing God’s peace, contentment and direction for your life? Do you have any major decisions that you need to make, presently or upcoming? Do you have anything at all that you are struggling with, or need God’s wisdom, or understanding, or insight??? Then join us and bring everyone you know who is struggling or simply wanting a closer walk with Christ, because you will be radically changed after our time together this coming Sunday. See you Sunday!

For His great glory,

Pastor Pete

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Sunday 1/2/11

by • on 2:21 PM • in Announcements, Exhortation, Sunday Teaser

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Just a reminder that we will be celebrating the Lord’s table tomorrow during our regular worship service. All believers are welcome and invited to participate. Also just a reminder that there will be no children’s worship tomorrow, as we will all be worshipping together in our sanctuary.

As you probably know, tomorrow will be our (Friese family) last Sunday before we take our 30 day Sabbatical rest. Come out and worship the Lord with us, who knows…it may be our last time before our precious Lord returns!

As we begin our new year, the Lord has truly impressed upon my heart today this scripture:

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2010, in many ways was a hard year for many of us – but it’s done now…old things have passed away, and behold our Lord has made all things new. A new year, new blessings, new Hopes, a new future.

As we begin the new year of 2011, I pray this prayer of the Apostle Paul upon our lives –

Philippians 3:13-14
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

May the grace of God abound upon your life in the year of 2011. Trust Him, call upon Him, and expect great and mighty things.

Pressing on,

Pastor Pete

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Calvary Connection 12/12/10

by • on 2:31 PM • in Bulletin

 

LOOKING AHEAD

December 19th  – Church Christmas Party – White Elephant * Youth Skit *

December 24th – Christmas Eve Service 6 pm

January 20th – Heart Sisters Kick Off Party Fellowship Hall 6:30 pm

February – Ladies Fellowship  “Prayer Journal Workshop” Date TBA  

Welcome to Calvary Chapel Buffalo!

December 12th   2010  

Pastor Pete Friese

   9:00 am – Morning Prayer

   9:30 am – Coffee is on in the kitchenette – Fellowship Time

   10:00 am – Worship Service

   10:00 am – Children’s Worship in the Fellowship Hall ages 4-10 

                                Pastor Pete’s Text: I John 2:15-17

      The Battle For My Heart

For a copy of today’s’ study, please leave your name at the sound-table and the number of copies you need and it will be ready

for you next Sunday! Copies $2.00 each

 

Listen Live 24/7! KSLW 99.5 FM streaming at www.preachthewordradio.com

 

* Thank you for being on time / lessens distraction during announcements

* Please keep children away from the stage, instruments and sound table

* Please turn off cell phones or set on vibrate

* NO FOOD OR DRINKS other than water in the sanctuary

                         

 Nursery ages 0-2  DROP OFF – on the landing at the top of the stairs. You will be given a number for your child and if you are needed that number will flash on the screen during the service. 

PICK UP -  please wait outside the nursery for your child and his/her belongings. Thanks for your cooperation!

Children 3 & up are invited to participate in our worship service. Children will be dismissed to Children’s Church after the singing!

If you plan to keep your babies downstairs during the service we ask that you sit in the back or in the cry room during the teaching to minimize distractions for those in the service, live on the radio, and those who are editing the message for KSLW. Thanks!

 2/21 Angie, Caleb, Suzanne, Leah  2/28 Kasandra, Ashley, Adam

 What’s happening this week at CCB

Tonight 6:00 pm –NO HOME FELLOWSHIP UNTIL JANUARY

Tonight 6:00 pm Youth Group – Play practice in the fellowship hall

Wednesday 6:30 pm – inductive & interactive Job Study

 Weekly Prayer Focus – Story Community Church

 Nursery & Children’s Information

DROP OFF children ages 0-3 before announcements. Please provide necessary info to our workers for your children’s needs. Our workers will notify you if your child needs you! Parents encouraged using the cry room if you would like to console your child during the service to minimize distractions & the service being broadcast on KSLW in the sanctuary.

 PICK UP – Please wait outside the nursery for your child & his/ her belongings

3 year olds now stay downstairs in the nursery for the entire service

4 year olds can go to Children’s Worship in the Fellowship Hall

Children ages 4-10 can be dropped off in the fellowship hall for Children’s Worship before announcements. They will then dismiss to their SS classes.  Teachers will bring them back over to the sanctuary after they are dismissed.

 Nursery Workers 12/12 Adam, Ashley, Jakob 12/19 Angie, Tiffany, Alescea

  STIR UP THE GIFTS! – Would you consider helping with these ministries?

KSLW RADIO BROADCAST  assist with Sunday morning service being put on KSLW, it’s pretty easy so see Keri Pittman today about getting on the rotation to help with that!

GREETERS Would you like to pass our bulletins on Sunday mornings? See the Longs

Radio – Sound – Children – Nursery – Office – Cleaning – Computers – Grounds keeping – Greeting

NURSERY NEED  Thank you to those who stepped up to help the Tetens in nursery. What a blessing you are! The special need for January has been filled

GOSPEL FOR ASIA CHRISTMAS this year as a church we will be focusing on the Gospel for Asia ministry that allows you to donate $ for chickens, rabbits, goats, mosquito nets , wells and many other items that entire families can use. Catalogs are on the back table!

WHITE ELEPHANT CHRISTMAS PARTY   NEXT SUNDAY!  at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite holiday treat, soup, sandwiches or snacks. If you want to participate in the White Elephant please bring a hideous or useless gift to exchange! One gift per household please.

NEW!!! PREACH THE WORD WEBSITE / BLOG SITE Listen to past studies, link to the radio station to listen live, download study notes, join discussions and receive e-mail updates from Pastor Pete’s blog at preachthewordradio.com

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE  we will be doing a Christmas Eve service so if you would like to participate, please let Celeste know this week so she can work you into the rotation. Invite a friend out for this special evening of worship.

HEART SISTERS  In lieu of Secret Sisters for 2011, we will be starting a new program called Heart Sisters. The emphasis is friendship, fellowship and ministering to one another one to one rather than doing things for one another anonymously. If you would like to participate, please take a form and turn it into Celeste by January 1st. We will have a kick off party for 2011 on January 20 and you will be paired with another lady from our church and given a calendar and some instructions to get you going on this fun new ladies program. For more info on how it works or other questions, see the flyers or talk to Celeste.

CHRITSMAS TEA  A special thanks to the ladies who helped with the set up, serving and clean up for the Christmas Tea. It meant so much to have your help in making it such a lovely night! May God bless each one of you who helped – Love, Celeste

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.”                               – Corrie Ten Boom

PRAISES

Thanks to those of you who keep up with snow removal – you are appreciated!

PRAYERS

Church finances – for God to provide for our needs in this rough economic time

CCB has many needs for volunteers to step forward – pray for obedient hearts

Those suffering with cancer – grace and mercy upon them and their families

Pastor Nels’ mother recovering from back surgery at age 92

Safe travel for the Hulls coming home this week

Those who need a good job – favor at this time in a tough economy

Ashley Teten – due at any time – healthy baby and safe delivery

Spiritual Warfare in our church, our families our homes

Single parents / Singles – God’s provision, guidance and encouragement

Parents – wisdom in raising their children to honor the Lord in this season

Our fragile nation – risk of our religious freedoms at stake, economy

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem – “I will bless those that bless thee”

Military – Ben Johnson, Adam Fink, Bridger Vaselin, Isaiah  Adams , Nick Williams

               Kirk Simeral and their units deployed throughout the world

 REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THOSE THAT WE SUPPORT

Gospel for Asia – Mark Devandrappe  Siloam Ministries – Al Schubert

Vision Beyond Borders  - Pat Kline, KSLW,  KLWD & KWCF radio

 Gospel Recordings – Surrendra Shrethra

Compassion Intl Children – Asiimlie, Jordan & Kaline & families

NOTE CHANGES!  Monthly Events  Communion – 1st Sunday of the month

Men’s Breakfast – 3rd Sat of the mo 7am ~  Ladies Brunch – 4th Sat of the mo 9am

Workers on the Wall 2nd Sunday of the month * Baby Dedication – 3rd Sunday

Elders/Deacons Meeting 2nd Thurs * Potluck 1st Sunday of the month – noon

Jr / Sr High Youth Group – Sunday nights 6 pm during Adult Prayer time

Sunday Night Prayer time located at the Frieses’ 425 S Cummings 6:00 pm

Church Address  40 N  Desmet, Buffalo Wyoming 82834   Phone 307-684-8725  

Church Website and download church calendar  calvarychapelbuffalo.com

NEW! KSLW Office Hours Tuesday & Wednesday 10-3    Sundays 9:30 am

 KSLW  Phone 307-684-5134  

Pastor’s Study Day is Friday ~ no calls please   

Pastor’s day off/ family day is Monday ~ no calls please

If Pastor Pete is unavailable please contact one of the elders/ deacons

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Dealing With Depression (Part 1) Job 3:1-10

by • on 3:49 AM • in Job Commentary Notes

Introduction:

 * In this lesson we see that the Bible does not shy away from dealing with the topic of depression.

 “Depression is often characterized as a recent phenomenon, an illness of the modern age. But if you read the Bible, you will find that depression was just as present in those times too. Mnay great men of God-like David and Jeremiah-struggled with feelings of despair and darkness. We should find comfort in knowing that depression is something that can affect any person of faith, and that God sees and understands our pain.*”                 

 B. On one notable Sunday morning in 1866

            1. C. H. Spurgeon shocked his 5,000 listeners when he got up in

                 a. London’s Metropolitan Tabernacle

                 b. And began a sermon from Isaiah 41:14 with these words:

 “I have to speak today to myself, and whilst I shall be endeavoring to encourage those who are distressed and downhearted, I shall be preaching, I trust, to myself, for I need something which shall cheer my heart-why I cannot tell, wherefore I do not know, but I have a thorn in the flesh a messenger of Satan to buffet me, my soul is cast down with me; I feel as I had rather die than live; all that God has done by me seems to be forgotten, and my sprit flags and my courage breaks down…I need your prayers.”          – C. H. Spurgeon

 C. For some of Spurgeon’s listeners it was incomprehensible that

            1. The worlds’ greatest preacher would confess to such despair

 D. But no one is immune to depression;

            1. Not even great preachers and men of God

 E. Even the great reformer Martin Luther was subject to such fits of darkness

            1. That he would hide himself away for days

 F. His family would even remove all dangerous implements from the house

            1. For fear that he would harm himself

 G. In the midst of one of these times he wrote:

 “For more than a week I was as close to the gates of death and hell as one can be. I trembled in all my members. Christ was wholly lost. I was shaken by desperation and blasphemy of God.”    - Martin Luther

 H. Everyone from Adoniram Judson (America’s first foreign missionary) to –

            1. Pilgrim’s Progress author – John Bunyan, to –

            2. The prophet Elijah…

                        a. Suffered from the darkness of depression at one time or another in their lives

 I. Just what is depression?

 “It can be defined as a condition marked by low spirits, gloomy feelings, dejection, sadness, feelings of worthlessness, and accompanying guilt.*”        

 J. Too often today many define depression as many things,

            1. But it is important to remember that

 “Depression is much more than a case of the blues-depression is embodied emotional suffering. It is manifested in both mental and physical ways, in unfounded negativity and lethargy as well as deep pain and alienation.*”

 K. As we come to the 3rd chapter of Job -

            1. His health is gone

            2. His family is gone

            3. His wife has abandoned him

            4. And he is sitting on the ash heap outside the city

 L. At this point, there is no indication that God intends to explain to Job what He is doing

            1. So to Job, this experience is totally void of meaning

 M. Ray C. Stedman, from his book ‘Let God be God’ wrote:

 “Few things are harder to bear than meaningless suffering. If we could see some reason for what we have to go through, we could more easily endure it. But pointless trouble is corrosive to our souls.”

 N. And so now as we begin Job 3;

            1. Job begins to express his grief

            2. For the 1st time he really begins to talk;

            3. It is evident that something has happened to him

                        a. He has become full of depression and despair

 O. Job displays his emotions through the form of a question in 3 different laments;

            1. For tonight we will examine his 1st lament

I. Why Was I Born? (3:1-10)

 1 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

 A. How easy it would be to think:

            1. “Satan said that Job would curse God, now he does it”

 B. But look closer

            1. He is not cursing God, he is cursing the day of his birth

            2. There is a major difference

 C. Between the words:

            1. “Why was I ever born?” and

            2. “I no longer believe in You, God”…Job is saying –

 “I am so completely alone. I regret that I ever drew breath. I regret that I was ever conceived in my mother’s womb.”

 D. Now remember Job’s circumstances

            1. The man is sitting at the city dump

            2. Head shaved

            3. Wife wringing her hands

            4. Three friends sitting and staring in silence for 7 days/nights

            5. And worst of all, no hope from above

 E. After all that, Job opened his mouth and out came:

 “I wish that I had never been born.”

 F. And then he continues in Verse 2, saying -

 2 And Job spoke, and said: 3 ”May the day perish on which I was born, And the night in which it was said, ‘A male child is conceived.’

 A. Note Job doesn’t call the fetus a tissue; it’s a child

      1. As soon as the sperm enters the egg-LIFE!

 B. During the patriarchal era, “A boy! A boy!” We are going to have a boy! How wonderful!”

      1. Job here says, “No, no, don’t say that, don’t celebrate!”

 4 May that day be darkness; May God above not seek it, Nor the light shine upon it. 5 May darkness and the shadow of death claim it; May a cloud settle on it; May the blackness of the day terrify it. 6 As for that night, may darkness seize it; May it not rejoice among the days of the year, May it not come into the number of the months (forget my birthday, take it off the calendar). 7 Oh, may that night be barren! May no joyful shout come into it! 8 May those curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.

 A. Sort of interesting here,

            1. Job says ‘let those who curse it, curse the day’

 B. Job’s not very experienced at cursing,

            1. So he says, “let those who use such profane talk, curse for me”

 C. He adds:

            1. “Who are prepared to rouse Leviathan”

 D. What in the world is Leviathan?

 Webster’s Dictionary

“A sea monster represented as an adversary.”

 E. But it goes further back than that-

            1. More specifically,

 “Leviathan was a 7-headed sea monster of ancient Near Eastern mythology. In the ancient Ugaritic literature of Canaan and Phoenicia, eclipses were caused by Leviathan’s coming out of the sea, swallowing the sun or the moon, and therefore causing darkness to be cast on this earth. As Leviathan was roused from its sleep in the sea, the myth saw it swallowing up the sun or the moon.

          You say, ‘What?’ And I answer “Poetry.” Like I mentioned earlier in this chapter, that’s a great way to handle such things as this, isn’t it? It’s poetry. NO, those thoughts are more than poetry, they represent mythology. If you travel to Turkey or Greece these days and you have an individual who is a native of that land now serving as a professional guide on the tour, you will hear a great deal about mythology. I might add, you will hear virtually no theology. Extensive mythology is the basis of the gods of those lands. And in the ancient, patriarchal days it remained a part of their culture and literature.”         – Charles Swindoll

 F. So Job picks up the thought and says, in effect

            1. “Let Leviathan swallow up the sun of the day, make it dark.”

  9 May the stars of its morning be dark; May it look for light, but have none, And not see the dawning of the day; 10 Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb, Nor hide sorrow from my eyes.

 A. Notice here how many times Job uses the words ‘LET & MAY’

            1. Technically, these words are known as ‘jussives’ in Hebrew syntax

 B. Think of them as “wish verbs”

            1. They represent what Job is wishing…

                        a. “May this happen, may that happen…”

                        b. “Let this take place, let that take place..”

                        c. “Let these things occur. Let those things occur.”

                                    i. It’s poetry, remember?

 C. Job is depressed!

            1. “I want nothing to do with this thing called life”

 D. Interestingly, suicide doesn’t enter his mind

            1. Never an attempt

            2. Never a word about it

            3. This thought was foreign to the life of the faithful Job

*Tried, Tested, & Triumphant, the Book of Job – David Jeremiah

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Saturday Night Prep for Sunday’s Worship!

by • on 2:14 AM • in Sunday Teaser

Dear Church Family, just a couple of quick reminders for tomorrow:

First of all, due to all the extra church events in December, there will be no Pot luck fellowship dinner following tomorrows’ service (12/5/10).

Also remember that all of our activities in the morning are for the entire church – everyone in our church family is invited, not just for the special elite. Here’s our schedule:

9:00 am –  men and women corporate prayer time (Come join us as we lift up the morning service – ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’)

9:30 am – Coffee, treats & fellowship in the Coffee nook

10:00 am – Morning worship service

10:30 am – Communion (Ask the Lord to prepare your heart beginning tonight)

Also, KSLW live feed if you are not able to make it to church 99.5 fm, Buffalo; and we have both our web sites that stream the live internet feed:

http://www.calvarychapelbuffalo.com/radio_player.htm

Or on our new web site:

http://www.preachthewordradio.com/listen-online/

It’s a blessing to have 2 live radio feeds, if one’s down, often the other will be up and functioning.

On a note of exhortation:

   * Tonight I’d like to encourage you to begin to prepare your heart for tomorrow’s service, here’s some thoughts:

          1) Guard your mind tonight (what you watch, think about, talk about)

          2) Guard your activities (TV programs, fellowship, Activities)

          3) Ask the Lord to begin to prepare you to receive from Him during tomorrow’s service (Prayer; Meditation; Bible reading; wholesome fellowship)

The biblical principle stands true “We will get out of it what we put into it”. How you prepare yourself tonight to receive from the Lord tomorrow, will play a key role in how God ministers to you personally during worship.

Do you desire to be truly blessed? Truly filled by the Holy Spirit during our time of corporate worship? Then follow these 3 basic principles, and I guarantee that  God will do a great and mighty work w/in your heart tomorrow. If you follow these principles tonight, then you will come to church tomorrow morning, expectantly, open and ready to receive from our Lord Jesus Christ.

The reason I know that these principles work is because Celeste and I have live by them for the past 12 years. There has never been a single Saturday night in the history of our ministry that we have not zealously guarded our hearts and minds so that we did not hinder God’s ability to use us the following morning. If you want to be used and blessed by God, you must guard yourself, especially every Saturday night. So much junk on TV; the internet is calling; the world is full of problems, but do not give into it. Fill your hearts and minds with the Holy Spirit. (Phi. 4:8-9). God promises that if you will seek Him tonight w/ all your heart and soul and mind, that you will find Him, and He will minister in and through you tomorrow.

Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV)
29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Have you ever left church after a Sunday morning service and felt ‘unsatisfied’? More often than not, it is due to lack of preparing our hearts to be in fellowship with the body of Christ.

“Prone to wander, prone to leave the God I love…” It’s just in our old natures, we must battle our flesh to prepare our spirits for the things of the Lord.

Lastly, men:

  • I really want to challenge you tonight to be the man of your house, the spiritual head/pastor that God has called you to be. Paul says in – Galatians 6:7-9
    7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

One day as parents (especially fathers) we will all reap what we’ve sown into the lives of our children. It’s a biblical principal…no way around it, good or bad…it will happen. The biblical principles: 1) We will always reap later than we’ve sown 2) We will always reap more than we’ve sown; and we will always 3) reap of the same ‘kind’ that we’ve sown.

If we sow spiritually into the lives of our families (children & wives), we are promised to reap the rewards…guaranteed by God Himself; 1) Later 2) More 3) Same kind. Be diligent men to be the man that God has called you to be. God has blessed you with a ‘Spiritual mantel’ , you have been given the spiritual authority over your home by God Himself. Be the ‘pastor’ of your family. Nobody else can do it for you, you must be the leader. Nobody else can lead your wife. Nobody else can lead your children. Only you can do it; set the example; get your family to church every week; be given to prayer; be given to love and mercy and grace, and let it begin within your own home first.

May the love and peace of God our Father abide upon your homes tonight, as He is given preeminence over every activity.

For His glory,

Pastor Pete

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America’s First Thanksgiving

by • on 9:35 PM • in Holidays

 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”   1 Thessalonians 5:18

In Richardson’s American School Reader printed in 1810, we have the following account written by Benjamin Franklin:

There is a tradition that in the planting of New England, the first settlers met with many difficulties and hardship, as is generally the case when a civilized people attempt to establish themselves in a wilderness country. Being piously disposed, they sought relief from Heaven by laying their wants and distresses before the Lord, in frequent set days of fasting and prayer. Constant meditation and discourse on these subjects kept their minds gloomy and discontented…At length, when it was proposed in the Assembly to proclaim another fast, a farmer of plain sense arose and remarked that the inconveniences they had suffered, and concerning which they had so often wearied heaven with their complaints, were not so great as they might have expected, and were diminishing every day, as the Colony strengthened; as the earth began to reward their labor and to furnish liberally for their substance; and above all, that they were there in the full enjoyment of liberty, civil and religious. He therefore thought that it would be more becoming the gratitude they owned the Divine Being, if, instead of a fast, they should proclaim a Thanksgiving. His advice was taken, and from that day to this they have, in every year, observed circumstances of public felicity sufficient to furnish employment for Thanksgiving Day which is, therefore, constantly ordered and religiously observed.

God does not want us to be continually dwelling upon our sorrows and trials, but rather to be meditating upon our blessings. Thanksgiving is one of the most delightful blossoms in the garden of sanctification. Few recognize that ingratitude is a grievous sin in the sight of heaven.

            If words of complaint and bitterness of the past year were placed alongside of our expressions of gratitude, how truly thankful would we appear?

Count your many blessings, name them one by one;

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done  – J. Oatman, Jr.

“Pride slays thanksgiving. A proud man never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.” – H. W. Beecher (Our Daily Bread, Nov. 24, 1973)

God bless you as you celebrate all that He has done for you this Thanksgiving,

Pastor Pete

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Gospel For Asia Speaker

by • on 11:10 PM • in Special Speakers

 

Please plan to join us for Sunday morning worship tomorrow morning, right here at Calvary Chapel Buffalo, 10 am. Tomorrow we will be having special speaker Taun Cortado, who is with GFA.

Taun heads up Gospel for Asia’s U.S. radio ministry. After he retired from 22 years in the Navy, Taun attended Calvary Chapel Bible college in California. Then he and his wife, Diana, raised their support team and moved their family to Texas to join the GFA staff.

In addition to his radio duties, Taun also presents the work and vision of GFA to churches and ministry organizations. He is an experienced speaker who shares with passion the reality of a lost world and our responsibility as God’s children to reach them. he travels throughout the United States, often with GFA President K.P. Yohannan, encouraging and challenging the Body of Christ to become personally involved in world evangelism.

Taun has also spent time in both India and Mexico and has worked alongside native missionaries in Asia.

“The commitment, love and humility I witnessed among the believers in Asia moved my heart like nothing else has before,” Taun says. “Their one goal-their single passion-is to love Jesus and preach His Gospel to those who have yet to hear of His forgiveness, love and salvation. Their simple faith, unwavering devotion to our Lord and love of His Word caused me to search my own heart-challenging my own walk with Him. It is my privilege, duty and honor to share with the Church in America what God is doing through their lives.

“I hope and pray that we in the Western Church will commit ourselves to an uncompromising walk with Christ, radically laying down our lives to win the lost in the 10/40 Window.”

We are so excited to have Taun come and share with us tomorrow, and pray that you too may be able to join us. If you do not live in or around the Buffalo Wyoming area, you can still join us either through KSLW radio broadcast of our service, or tune in right here to Preach The Word Radio & click on the “Listen Live” tab. We broadcast our entire Sunday morning service live, every Sunday morning, 10 am mountain U.S. time.

God bless, and so looking forward to another wonderful day of fellowship! Come expecting a blessing!

 Pastor Pete

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Proverbs 3-4

by • on 2:02 AM • in Men's Bible Study

Wisdom’s Benefits Continued

 Proverbs 3:1-4:27

Again Solomon strives to convince his son that wisdom is worth pursuing. Ask God to impart His discernment and understanding to you, as well as a wise hunger for the knowledge that Proverbs offers.

 1. What does God’s discipline have to do with wisdom?

 2. In Hebrew, the short poem in 3:13-18 begins and ends with the same word: blessed. Why is wisdom worth more than silver, gold, and rubies?

 3. Why do you think Solomon includes 3:19-20 in this discourse on wisdom?

 4. What does Solomon promise to those who hold fast to wisdom (3:23-26)?

 5. How would you summarize the kind of person Solomon is exhorting us to be?

 6.  How do the three contrasts in 3:33-35 give a strong incentive to choose the right path in life?

 7.  Solomon says that heeding wisdom yields a longer life (3:2; 9:11; 10:27; 14:27; 15:24). Do you think the longer life comes from God’s direct blessing, the fact that the wise avoid danger, or both?

 8. Is God using any of your current circumstances to discipline you? If so, how should you respond?

 9. What does it mean that God gives grace to the humble (3:34)? What is grace? What is humility?

 10. What does it mean to guard your heart (4:23)? Why is it important?

 Talk with God about which of the items from the list above He would like to write on your heart. Consider memorizing the relevant verses. Ask God to make you wise in this area, even if it takes discipline from Him. Jot here any thoughts about how you would like to respond to what you’ve studied.

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