Tag Archives: Pastor Pete

“Everything has a Season” (Daily Devotions 2.21.11)

by • on 1:37 AM • in 320, Life Journal

S – Scripture

Numbers 9:21-23 (NASB)
21 If sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning, when the cloud was lifted in the morning, they would move out; or if it remained in the daytime and at night, whenever the cloud was lifted, they would set out. 22 Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out. 23 At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out; they kept the Lord’s charge, according to the command of the Lord through Moses.

O – Observation

God had set His children free from the bondage of the land of Egypt. With a mighty hand and a powerful demonstration, God destroyed the power of Egypt over His people. At the hand of Moses, the LORD began to lead His people towards the promised land. It was a land that flowed with milk and honey, yet God had to prepare His people to receive the blessing of all that He had for them. The direct trip from Egypt to the land of Cana was only a few days, yet God took them on a path that lasted 40 years as He prepared them for all that He had for them. God led them by His Spirit in days, months and years. As God led them, sometimes they would spend only a few days in one location as God prepared them for the next stage. At other times, God might have them remain stationary for years. Only God knew His plans and His timing was perfect as He prepared His people for their future.

A – Application

My LORD has also set me free from the bondage of my ‘Egypt’. Paul says in Romans, that my flesh was my old master, but now in Christ, I am a new creation and old things have passed away – all things have been made new. Daily I am being led by God’s Spirit! Everyday of my life takes me one step closer to my eternal home. Whether God leads me for a few days in one spot, or several years, it’s all a work of God’s Spirit as He completes the work that He has begun in my life. Life is filled with trials, and every trial brings growth. I can’t rush the trials, I can’t avoid the trials, all that I can do is realize that God has an appointed time for me within each trial. My job is not to run or seek to escape from my hardships, but rather what I must do is ask God – “Lord, what do You want me to learn from this trial?” Or, “Lord, is there an area of my life that You are seeking control over?” “What must I do Lord, anything?” Often I have found that God doesn’t show me why I’m in a trial, but I always realize that, ” God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” I may not always realize why I’m going through what I’m going through, but I must always remember that God has a purpose for it in my life. So often I have prayed that God would deliver me FROM a trial, when in fact I have come to see how often He has chosen to deliver me THOUGH my trials. Some last a day. Some last a week. And some never seem to end – Yet God is preparing me through these times for the great and awesome things that are to come! Glory to His name! If I’d have realized what He had in store for me, I’d have trusted Him more throughly!

P – Prayer

Father today, I surrender to be led of Your Spirit. Keep me from ever getting ahead of You or failing to move when you call me. May I always be sensitive to Your leading, guiding and directing in my life. Teach me to be thankful in and through all things. May I never wait to praise You until after my trial is over, but may my heart be filled with thanksgiving in my trials, knowing that no test may last one day longer than You allow. I love You and surrender a new to You today. I love You! Amen 

 

Read full story • Comments { 0 }

“Jettisoning My Load” (Daily Devotions 2.20.11)

by • on 1:09 AM • in 320, Life Journal

S – Scripture

Acts 27:18 (NASB)
The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo;

O – Observation

The Apostle Paul was on a boat headed for Rome. Before they set sail, the Lord gave Paul a ‘word of knowledge’ – encouraging them not to set sail. But neither the sea-captain, nor the Centurion paid any attention to Paul’s words. So they set sail with a fully loaded boat, and 276 passengers. As they began to sail a Northeastern storm rose up and threatened to destroy them and their ship. The men did their best to try to sail around or through the storm, but the more they struggled, the worse thing became. Finally, after all their efforts had failed, they began to jettison all their cargo. They threw over-board everything that they could get their hands on in a vain effort to save the ship. Finally they ended up tossing the grain overboard and cut the anchors, allowing the storm to drive them towards land.

A – Application

It’s amazing how precious the possessions of this world appear when life is well. Things in life seem to have so much allure when a person is young and healthy. Life seems like it is ours for the taking, and so many people (even Christians) can become consumed with personal wealth and material possessions. It’s funny how our values change when our health fails, our marriage is in trouble, or our family falls apart. At the end of a man’s life, nothing he has accumulated will ever bring him comfort. When times are hard, that’s when you find out where true value belongs.

P – Prayer

Father, today remind me of the true values in life! Help me to jettison everything out of my life that will not benefit me throughout eternity:  relationships, possessions and  activities. Thank You that You have already empowered me to jettison from my life, everything that is not the ‘best’ – things that simply take my time, money and energy and have no eternal benefit. I surrender my ‘ship’ to Your spring cleaning. Help me to be open to all that You would desire to jettison from my life! Amen.

Read full story • Comments { 2 }

“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

Read full story • Comments { 0 }

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

Read full story • Comments { 0 }

Job 1:1-2:10

by • on 6:47 PM • in 1 John, Uncategorized

“Dueling with the Devil”

Job 1:1-2:10

Introduction

 When we have hard times we all want to know why. More important is the question, Who? What we need to know is not whether the universe is friendly but whether there is a friend in the universe.

Group Discussion

 Why do you think some people who have experienced multiple hardships seem remarkably positive while others whose lives have been uncommonly blessed feel cheated.

Personal Reflection

 Consider your own walk with God to this point. Was it easy or hard to believe God was for you when things went well or when you faced personal disaster?

Is it possible to love God for God’s sake, and not merely for the benefits of being faithful, even when there are benefits?

And what if these benefits are removed and one is left with no benefit but God alone?

Snap Shot Summary

 The “upstairs-downstairs” drama of the book of Job starts with a contest, probably in heaven, between Satan-the Accuser-and God concerning the purity of Job’s spirituality. God and Satan make an agreement, less like spiritual warfare and more like a duel-with honor at stake and equivalency of weapons. “Downstairs,” in Job’s world, our hero goes through the loss of everything except the ultimate treasure, and even that seems threatened. Read Job 1:1-22

Questions

 1. What indications are there that God’s evaluation of Job-“blameless and upright”-was correct even though he was initially blessed with prosperity?

2. In this very ancient document, Satan appears as an angelic adversary with free access to God’s presence, unlike the devil in the New Testament. What does Satan accuse Job of (vv. 9-11)?

3. For what good reasons could God agree to a contest that would affect Job and his family so painfully?

4. How would you respond to someone who charges that religion is only for those who can’t make it on their own?

5. Though Job apparently is unaware of God’s approval, what signs indicate that this is important for Job?

6. How does Job react to the first test (vv. 20-22)?

7. In what ways is Job’s response (v. 22) different from responses people make today to life’s hard blows?

8. As will be apparent later, Job’s response included questioning God about the apparent injustice of his situation. What would have been seen as sinful behavior in Job’s reaction?

Read Job 2:1-10

 9. Why do you think God agreed to this second test?

10. God did not allow Satan to take Job’s life. The Adversary attacked Job’s possessions, his family and his health. What further attack did Job sustain from his wife (vv. 9-10)?

Why would her suggestion be especially dangerous to Job’s faith?

11. Suffering is a mystery, and the opening scenes of this book deepen the mystery by showing how inadequate are our “reasons” for misfortune. What have you already learned about “accepting trouble from God” (v. 10)?

What difference will this make to your own attitude toward hard times?

Prayer

 Ask God to give you a picture of the wonderful pleasure and approval God has for you so that you might grow in confidence that God is your friend.

Now or Later

 Job’s prosperity is sometimes presented as a reward for his righteousness, a matter promoted by the “health and wealth gospel.” Abraham, Job and Solomon-all wealthy people-depended on God rather than their wealth (Genesis 13:8-18; Job 1:21) in contrast to those who praised God because they were rich (Zechariah 11:5) but were soon to lose it all.

            Study the Bible’s message on wealth as (1) a blessing (Deuteronomy 30:9; Proverbs 22:4), (2) a sacrament, as God gives wealth (Proverbs 3:16; 1 Samuel 2:7-8; Ecclesiastes 5:19; Hosea 2:8) freely and generously but also scandalously even to the wicked (Psalm 73:12-13; 62:10; Job 21:7-21) and (3) a temptation, as it provides illusionary security (Proverbs 18:11; Ecclesiastes 5:10; Psalm 49:6-7) as exemplified by the Aramaic word for money, “Mammon,” from the same root as “Amen” (see Luke 6:24, 30; 12:15, 33; 16:13; Matthew 6:19, 24).

            The heath and wealth gospel encourages perverted motives, misrepresents God’s deepest concerns for us and misinterprets God’s promises to Israel as immediately applicable to Christians (see 1 Timothy 6:3-10).

Read full story • Comments { 0 }

Wednesday Night – Job Study!

by • on 7:24 PM • in Exhortation, Uncategorized

I’d like to personally invite you to come out and join us tonight @ 6:30 pm, right here at CCB for our weekly inductive book of Job study. Tonight we’ll be studying chapter 1:6-22. Along with our study we’ll be interactively answering these questions:

1. What indications are there that God’s evaluation of Job-“blameless and upright”-was correct even though he was initially blessed with prosperity?

 2. In this very ancient document, Satan appears as an angelic adversary with free access to God’s presence, unlike the devil in the New Testament. What does Satan accuse Job of (vv. 9-11)?

 3. For what good reasons could God agree to a contest that would affect Job and his family so painfully?

 4. How would you respond to someone who charges that religion is only for those who can’t make it on their own?

5. Though Job apparently is unaware of God’s approval, what signs indicate that this is important for Job?

6. How does Job react to the first test (vv. 20-22)?

7. In what ways is Job’s response (v. 22) different from responses people make today to life’s hard blows?

8. As will be apparent later, Job’s response included questioning God about the apparent injustice of his situation. What would have been seen as sinful behavior in Job’s reaction?

Have any great insigthts? Come and join us tonight as we grow together in the study of this wonderful book! God bless!

Read full story • Comments { 1 }

Sunday’s Teaser!

by • on 7:27 PM • in Sunday Teaser

Praise God! Come out and join us tomorrow morning at 10 am, here at CCB, 40 N DeSmet, Buffalo Wyoming. It’s going to be another awesome day of praise and celebration as we gather togehter through Worship and the Word!

Tomorrow, I’ll be continuing our series through the book of 2 Timothy 3:14-17, as we study the process of being made complete and throughly equipped for every good work. Praise God, He’s not done with us yet, and He will complete the work that He has begun in us! If for any reason you won’t be able to join us in our sanctuary, please join us live right here on Preach the Word Radio at 10 am mountain time. God bless!

Read full story • Comments { 0 }