Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/31/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/31/22

A Very Present Help

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..."
– Psalm 46:1-2

We find a new group in the title of this Psalm. It is written as a “Song for Alamoth.” It is uncertain the meaning of the word. The Septuagint defines this word as meaning “hidden things.” However, the Hebrew word has to do with “young maidens.” The thought behind this is that the song was composed to be sung by women in a high range. This particular Psalm is one of a trilogy of Psalms (i.e., 46,47,48). They are Psalms or songs of triumph, and they remind us that God provides stability in unstable environments of nature and nations. Many writers remind us that this Psalm was what caused Martin Luther to write the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” This Psalm has been one that has comforted many people during times of crisis.

Throughout the history of this nation, Israel has experienced war and enemies coming against them constantly. They have had real issues. In the world we live in today, it is easy for us to get distracted by the problems that we see. And although we may not have experienced an enemy of our nation standing at our front door, we do experience the spiritual battles taking place as Christians. We experience the struggles within—the fight for our hearts and minds. Yet we must trust what God’s Word tells us. There will be times when nature feels unstable, but God is steady and in control…ALWAYS!

Daily, we are inundated with so much information that occupies us. Through our thoughts, we begin to become anxious and start to worry. This is where Satan often attacks us to believe things that are not true. When that begins to happen, we must make every effort to remember that the Lord our God is always present in a time of need. He is with us in every situation, and nothing surprises Him. God is sufficient in all circumstances. What peace that should bring to our hearts to trust the faithfulness of God. Are you trusting in His faithfulness today?

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/28/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/28/22

Knowledge and Love

"Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know."
– 1 Corinthians 8:1-2

We are told that there were two sources of meat in ancient times. There was the traditional market where prices were higher, and the local temple, where the sacrificial meat was cheaper. Everyone knew that the cheaper meat had been offered to idols. The stronger believers knew that this fact did not alter the flavor or nutritional value of the meat. However, the weak Christians were offended. They had been saved from a heathen lifestyle and could not imagine their Christian brothers and sisters wanting anything to do with that former life. This had to be addressed to avoid a division in the church.

Paul shared that eating meat offered to idols was a matter of conscience to each person. At the same time, he shared an even higher standard to consider when living in our liberties. We must consider others and how they will view what we do. If it causes someone else to stumble, we should consider them above ourselves and avoid that personal freedom. This is true love.

Whether it is life experience or a high degree of education, we all have some level of knowledge. How we use it, though, is a separate matter. The most important thing we can demonstrate as Christians is love; Agape' love. That goodwill towards others. The Bible tells us that without love, our efforts are worthless (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Knowledge without love can turn into pride and give way to those characteristics opposite of the Spirit's fruits (Galatians 5:22-23). When you have a lot of knowledge, you tend to tear down other people with your words. You begin to look down upon them as if they were inferior. It is often displayed in your attitude and speech towards others. To have a good balance in our Christian walk, our knowledge must be comingled with love. If we know anything, may we know true love through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"All men are our neighbors, and we are to love them as ourselves. We are to do this on the basis of creation, even if they are not redeemed, for all men have value because they are made in the image of God. Therefore they are to be loved even at great cost."
– Francis Schaeffer

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/26/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/26/22

Prepared For The Roads Ahead

"Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions."
– Ezra 8:21

It comes to our attention that Ezra is taking all the right steps. He is a man who has sought the Lord, and when that happens, God has promised to direct where we walk (Psalm 37:23). This was certainly happening in Ezra’s life. After over fifty years of the first group leaving captivity, Ezra was now leading the return of the second remnant. He knew where he was headed but did not know what to expect along the way. As a result, he proclaimed a fast for three days.

All of these people made a conscious choice to head back to Jerusalem and serve the Lord. They surrendered their lives in captivity for a new life with the Lord. This was a great responsibility for Ezra. He led a group of people on a journey of about nine hundred miles. There were thousands of Jews who were inexperienced in traveling. They were not an armed force but a remnant that had been held captive for seventy years. They were carrying riches and led by a “scholar, not a soldier.” The terrain they were about to set out on was filled with thieves, and they did not have any military to protect them. Ezra recognized the journey ahead. Not only physically but spiritually. He knew they would all need extraordinary strength from the Lord, and calling for a fast would remind them that man shall not live on bread alone but on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). God’s Word is the only thing that will sustain us in difficult times.

Whenever we decide to surrender to the Lord and serve Him, we must be prepared for opposition. The miles can seem long, yet we will be undeterred from our calling if we are prepared correctly. If you have been a Christian for any time, you will discover that Satan does not want us to be sold out for Christ. He wants to kill, steal, and destroy us (John 10:10). He wants to oppress us and steal our joy, so we become ineffective. If he can do that, we eventually become lukewarm and complacent. We become content with coming to church on Sundays only without any thought of the Lord the rest of the week. Jesus gave His life for ours. The least we could do is surrender our will to Him so that we might be used for His purposes and plans. While we travel on this earth, the roads ahead will be difficult, filled with dangers, but the rewards waiting for us in heaven far outweigh these temporary challenges. If we count the cost now, our minds will be prepared for the battles ahead, firmly grounded in God’s Word. We will then have the resolve to finish what the Lord began in us.

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish?"
– Luke 14:28-30

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/24/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/24/22

Lord of Our Lives

"Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, With Your glory and Your majesty."
– Psalm 45:3

The book of Psalms is broken up into five books. These groupings seem to parallel the Pentateuch. This particular Psalm would fit in the second division of books. The Exodus, Israel’s redemption from Egypt. You can see in this Psalm the joy of the writer who is celebrating who God is. This is a far cry from the lamentations we have seen from other Psalms.

In these lyrics, the Messianic King Himself is introduced. We are not carried to the Lord’s first coming, though. We are carried off to His Second Advent when Jesus Christ comes back to rule and reign. He is going to come as a King of authority. The Bible tells us, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:29-30). Jesus is coming back as a conquering warrior, not a humble carpenter from Israel. How important it is today to be sure we are on the side of Christ.

We are given a wonderful picture here of the Messiah and His Bride. Before, there were sighs and lamentations. Now there is joy. What an interesting image. It is easy for us to be joyful during times of blessing and ease, but what happens when things are contrary? What happens when the winds of joy are taken out of our sails? God did not change; our circumstances and attitudes often do, though. When we remember Jesus as Savior, however, this joy will return and remain if He is Savior and the Lord of our lives. Is He the Lord of your life today?

"I may truly call this book an anatomy of all parts of the soul, for no one can feel a movement of the spirit which is not reflected in this mirror. All the sorrows, troubles, fears, doubts, hopes, pains, perplexities and stormy outbreaks by which the hearts of men are tossed have been depicted here to the very life."
– John Calvin

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/21/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/21/22

Remaining As You Are

"Are you bound to a wife? do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? do not seek a wife. but even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you."
– 1 Corinthians 7:27-28

There was a letter written to the Apostle Paul by the Corinthian church, and he was responding to their questions (1 Corinthians 7:1). No church at that time had the New Testament written out for them like we have today. They had what we now call the Old Testament Scriptures. They also had their culture and their traditions. Jesus had fulfilled the law when dying on the cross for our sins. Those born-again of the Holy Spirit were now Christians. Now it was time to walk in Christ, and the people were still learning how to do this in their various situations and relationships.

In chapter seven, Paul first addressed Christians married to Christians (7:1-11). He then moved on to Christians married to non-Christians (7:12-24). Now he began speaking to those who were unmarried. I do not believe that Paul was against the institution of marriage. After all, the Bible tells us, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and has obtained favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22). I also do not believe that Paul is sharing his opinion, as some have claimed. Paul was proclaiming God’s Word and what Jesus had already taught while on earth (Matt. 5:31-32; 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12; Luke 16:18). I believe the Apostle Paul to be a Spirit-filled man writing as the Lord moved on His heart (2 Peter 1:21). We need to accept Paul’s words as the inspired, infallible Word of the Lord.

At the time of this writing, the fathers of unmarried girls arranged their marriages. The Corinthian church was learning, and parents wondered how to handle these new freedoms in Christ. They did not know the new “rules of engagement.” So they were asking what they were supposed to do with their virgin, unmarried children, and widows. Were they supposed to get married, get remarried, or stay single?

Paul’s counsel was that you should do so if you could remain single. Although marriage is beautiful when done correctly in the Lord, you have to remember that it is a union between two sinners bringing in differing points of view and temperaments. It must be built on a sure foundation of Christ and lived out with love outlined for us in 1 Corinthians 13. God takes marriage seriously, and it should not be done lightly because God hates divorce (Malachi 2:14-16). Yet if done correctly, the two become one, and they can grow together and discover the joy of serving the Lord together. Although this is the case, remaining single may also allow you many additional freedoms to serve Him. Whether you are married or stay single, keeping God first in your life will always keep you in His will and on the right path.

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/19/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/19/22

A Holy Heritage

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel."
– Ezra 7:10

Ezra’s lineage is impressive! When many could not prove their heritage (Ezra 2:61-63), Ezra could trace his back to Aaron the high priest (Ezra 7:1-5). Although his lineage was important, it did not qualify him for the ministry.

A pedigree can be significant, yet it is not everything. It has been said that “Christians usually grow the way they are born. If they are born in an atmosphere of dictatorial leadership, they grow up depending on man’s wisdom and strength. If they are born in an atmosphere of humility and love, they learn to depend on the Lord.” It can help to know where you came from, yet that does not always determine where you are headed. Knowing who he was helped Ezra become a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, but what truly called him into service was that the hand of the Lord his God was upon him (Ezra 7:6). God called Ezra, and it is God who calls us today. The Lord is the only One who calls us into salvation and anoints us to serve Him (Ephesians 2:10).

We are told that Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, to do it, and to teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel. It is almost as if he desired them to fall in love with the Scriptures that would point them to their first love. When I first became a pastor, someone said to me, “Mark, if you can get the people to fall in love with the Bible, you have done all you can do.” It has stuck with me ever since, and that is my mission. The Holy Spirit sheds light on the words written in the Bible. If we fall in love with the Scriptures, we will read them, and it will change our lives. It will direct us to Jesus Christ, the Word (John 1:1-5;14). He is all we will ever need.

"The great mistake made by most of the Lord's people is in hoping to discover in themselves that which is to be found in Christ alone."
– Arthur Pink

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/17/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/17/22

Author & Finisher

"...You have cast us off and put us to shame, and You do not go out with our armies."
– Psalm 44:9

What do you do when you think that God is not on your side and that He is on the side of the enemy? Have you ever had that thought in your mind? You want to serve God. You love the Lord with all your heart. Yet it seems like everything is coming against you, and nothing is going your way. Maybe it leaves you asking the question, “Lord, what is going on. I thought I was yours?”

It can seem like in every direction you go, there is opposition. Sometimes every prayer you pray leaves you wondering where God is and if He is even listening. It may even seem that Satan is getting the best of you. Even today, we live in a time where it honestly seems that way. Like God has abandoned us and given us over to the enemy. This is what the lament of this Psalm expresses.

We must remember that God is always at work. It has been said that, “we never value our fellowship with God so much as when His face seems to be hidden from us.” This is so true. It leaves us longing for Him, which is such a wonderful place to be. It is then that we seek Him the most.

To endure these seasons, which is all they are passing seasons, we must have faith. We must trust God’s Word and the promises He has laid out for us. He will fulfill and complete them. The Bible tells us to be “confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). What a wonderful promise that takes all of the pressure off us and places it on Jesus. The author and finisher of our faith.

"We have got to realize what God has begun He is going to finish. He is not like us. He doesn't start a lot of projects that He doesn't finish. The word perfect means complete. God is going to complete those things that concern you. He is going to complete that work of His Spirit within your life. He has begun it. He will finish it. He is the author and the finisher."
– Chuck Smith

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/14/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/14/22

Walk in Grace

"Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters."
– 1 Corinthians 7:19

God knows who belongs to Him and does not lose any that are His (Romans 8:30). God is not confused (1 Corinthians 14:33) and knows the plans for our future. It is Satan who is the author of confusion. When we have so much information at our fingertips and are constantly inundated with news, it is easy to become confused. Listening to what is false over true disturbs the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). We see this happening in the Corinthian church when the Judaizers were allowed in. They were attempting to mix law and grace.

The Corinthian church was carnal. They were attempting to live their lives in the flesh and not the Spirit. The Lord was not leading them. They were leading themselves. This is the number one mistake that we have made many times today. As Christians, we begin to lean on our understanding and take God out of the equation. We replace grace with works. And when that starts to happen, God’s Word is no longer a light unto our path, and we begin stumbling in the dark of this life. If we continue down these roads, we will end up in places we never thought we would be and out of the will of God.

Jesus fulfilled the law once for all (Matthew 5:17). Today we live under grace (Romans 6:14). Yet we still find many today thinking they can work hard and earn something. Some claim, “I am better than you,” and they work diligently at that endeavor. It is a Satanic mindset to think that you can be better than someone else. The way for a believer is a declining road. It is taking the lower seat and going in the direction of humility (Luke 14:7-11). It is esteeming the life of another, including an enemy, higher than our own (Philippians 2:3; Romans 12:16; Matthew 5:44). If there is more pride than humility, you are going in the wrong direction. This is the effect of attempting to live a life that comingles law with grace; it cannot be done (John 1:17). For it is by grace we have been saved, through faith and not of ourselves, it is the gift of God lest any one of us should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). May we remember to always walk in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

"When the wheel turns, those who are lowest rise, and the highest sink. Patience, then, believer, eternity will right the wrongs of time. Let us not fall into the error of letting our passions and carnal appetites ride in triumph, while our nobler powers walk in the dust.”
– C. H. Spurgeon

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/12/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/12/22

Dealing With Opposition

“Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. And at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found…”
– Ezra 6:1-2

Haggai and Zechariah began urging the Israelites to continue the work on the temple, rather than building their own houses first (Haggai 1:4). As a result, everyone got up to build the home of the Lord (Ezra 5:1-2). They were following the original decree given by Cyrus, the one Isaiah prophesied about (Isaiah 45:1). Just as in any work of the Lord, however, opposition came quickly. The governor of the region and his companions appealed to Darius the king to stop the work. When questioned, the prophets shared with Darius the original decree, and he ordered a search of the original documents. They were discovered in the Capital, and work resumed. Work began again, but the ones who began to oppose the construction were also ordered to help pay for the project. Amazing how the Lord provides for those He loves!

God is in control of everything and everybody. We may say to ourselves, “if God is in control, why does the world seem to be in chaos?” We must remember that we live in a fallen world that began with Adam and Eve and their disobedience. We have free will to choose, and many choose to live a life of sin without remedy in Jesus Christ. God has a purpose, and ultimately His plans will come to pass (Ecclesiastes 3:17). He can use anything and anyone. The Bible tells us, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1). Such was the case here in the book of Ezra. It amazes me to think that a Medo Persian king was used to permit the Jews to go back and rebuild the temple.

As a Christian, you belong to Jesus. It is nothing you have done. It is what He did on the Cross. We remember this by keeping on the helmet of salvation. If we do not, we can become discouraged. We live in a fallen world, and sometimes we misunderstand when things do not go our way. We tend to think that we should never have pain or suffering as Christians. This is not true. In this world, we will have tribulations, difficulties in this life come to both the righteous and unrighteous (John 16:33; Ecclesiastes 9:2-3). If we do not have the proper perspective based upon God’s Word, we can become deeply discouraged.

Discouragement can be one of the greatest weapons of Satan. Maybe the Lord called you to do something, and you set out on that task with joy only to discover that Satan was right there to oppose you in an attempt to steal that joy. In the days we live in and the difficulties we are experiencing, we can feel backed into a corner. We can feel all alone like nobody cares. We can even wonder why something so difficult is happening to us in this life. All of these things can cause us confusion and leave us discouraged. I am telling you, this is when the Lord is paying the most attention to our needs. This is when He carries us and when we are nearest to His heart. Remember, the Lord is in control, and nothing can touch you that He does not allow. All of your days have been perfectly fashioned for you (Psalm 139:16).

"He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them close to His heart..."
– Isaiah 40:11

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/10/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/10/22

The Pure Truth

"...contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."
– Jude 4

Whenever anyone takes Jesus from His proper place as God incarnate, that is a perversion of Scripture. Many so-called religions today have taken the Gospel of Jesus Christ and twisted its truths. Some claim Jesus was the brother of Lucifer when we are clearly told that Jesus created everything (John 1:1-5). Others deny the Trinity when the Bible plainly tells us the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one (Matthew 28:19). In these days of Apostasy, we must earnestly contend for the faith.

To contend is the original word epagónizomai, and it is only found here in Jude. It is where we get our English word, agony. It means to battle and fight for something, and Jude reminds us to fight intensely for our common faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Only through abiding in Him, we demonstrate we are truly His (John 14:15).

As we read God’s Word, we must begin somewhere. It is impossible that we will know everything all at once. Yet we need to study in such a way that we are prepared to stand firm and maintain the purity and authority of the written Word (1 Peter 3:15). We are going into a time known as “Perilous Times” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). To stand, we must understand the Lord’s grace. It is not a permit allowing us to live however we want (Romans 6:1-4).

There is a lot of misunderstanding today about grace. Many today believe that because God is love, He is just going to let anyone into heaven. This is not true. Because of His mercy and great love for you and me, the Lord was gracious. God’s love is why He had compassion on us to provide the needed grace. That grace is His Son Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for us. You cannot skip the grace to get to heaven. You must believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Have you believed in the Lord’s provision, Jesus Christ?

"We must defend the faith. For what would have become of us if our fathers had not maintained it? If confessors, Reformers, martyrs and Covenanters had been indifferent to the name and faith of Jesus, where would have been the churches of today?"
– C. H. Spurgeon

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/7/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/7/22

Sinking Sand

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
– Jude 20-21

Our foundation in the Lord must be strong so that we can weather the storms that come against us. In these days of Apostasy, the church has experienced persecution, and we are promised it will begin to worsen. We are just experiencing the birth pangs (Matthew 24:3-14). And in this race of life, as believers, we do not just want to run well; we want to finish well (Hebrews 12:1; 1 Corinthians 9:24).

It is no wonder these warnings are given to us in the book of Jude, the canon of Scripture that is placed right before Revelation. It is in this book where Jesus speaks to the seven churches. Revelation simply means “unveiling.” It is the word used that gives us our English word apocalypse. It means to uncover, to reveal, and to make manifest. What a privilege for us to have the Holy Spirit pull back the curtain to allow us to see the fulfillment of His sovereign plans in the world. Anything that is happening in our society today should not be a surprise. In fact, as Christians, these should be the most exciting times we live in, but we must know God’s Word. It will be the only thing that will sustain us (Psalm 119:105).

As I have grown in age and my relationship with the Lord, I see things a little differently today. When I was single, I just had to be concerned about my walk with the Lord. Once I met my wife and got married, my attention became on washing her with the water of the Word. Then I began to have my sons and now grandkids. My concerns and attention have changed to these generations that are coming up. What used to be important has become less critical. What is essential now is pouring into these generations the rich heritage we share in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My desire is not only for me to finish well but that my legacy will encourage them to consistently follow the Lord throughout their lives after I have gone to be with the Lord. What legacy do you want to leave? Anything other than Christ is just a legacy built on sinking sand (Matthew 7:26).

"We must always bear in mind that the primary purpose of our work is not to get people to join a church, to give up their bad habits, or to do anything other than to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior."
– R. A. Torrey

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/5/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/5/22

Old Wineskins

"But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes."
– Ezra 3:12

God often works through a remnant of people. We have seen that in the story of Gideon, where the Lord shows Himself strong (Judges 7:1-25). God even has a remnant when it seems that the world is in its darkest hour, and it appears that God’s people are nowhere to be found. We see this in the life of Elijah. When the prophet was running from Jezebel, Elijah was shown a revelation by the Lord. He began to explain to the Lord that he was the only one left and that all others had forsaken God. Although a godly man, Elijah’s perspective was off. God told him, “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:11-18). God made it clear that Elijah was not the only one standing strong. Although we may feel like we are the only people remaining firm against the enemy, we must remember that the Lord preserves and prepares who He will. If He is working in your heart, you can be sure He is working in the hearts of others. We are not left alone.

It was the same for this small group returning to Israel from captivity. There were different age groups in the remnant. God was doing incredible work through them. They had come back to Jerusalem, and the Temple’s foundation was laid. In response, the people brought out the worship team, and they shouted and praised the Lord together. God was working in all of their hearts. Not only were there those praising God, but you also had some weeping. These were the people old enough to remember Solomon’s Temple and its former glory. The Temple that many from around the world would see when they came to hear Solomon’s wisdom (1 Kings 4:34; Matthew 12:42). It did not seem they were too impressed with the foundation stones of the new Temple. They remembered the past without looking at what God was doing at that moment in time.

With each generation, we must be careful, especially those of us who have been in the church for a long-time. It is easy to become an “old wineskin.” When Jesus was talking with the Pharisees who were set in their ways, He said, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins” (Mark 2:22). Old wineskins could be restored if they were soaked in water. They can once again become pliable. It is the same with us. We can immerse ourselves in the Word of God and be filled with His Spirit. Just because you and I may have been walking with the Lord for many years, we do not have to be old and set in our ways. We can be renewed daily with the Spirit of God and we will be able to receive the new things God might want to do today.

For many years I have heard people say that the Jesus Movement in the 1970s was very radical. And I know that it was. But, it was revolutionary for that time. The Lord is still moving today, and He has not stopped. If the Lord came back at that time, then how many people would not have been saved from that time until now? In one sense, I pray that Jesus comes back for us soon, but on the other hand, I pray He comes back in His perfect time, not mine. We do not know who else the Lord might call between then and now. While we wait with anticipation, may we share Christ with others fervently.

"Our Lord didn't come to extend or project the Law of the Old Testament system or of religion. He came to introduce something new. And that which is new will be the fact that He will die for the sins of the world. New wine goes into new wine skins, A new garment goes onto a new man. That robe of righteousness comes down on one who through faith has become a son of God. This is a tremendous thing!"
– J. Vernon McGee

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/3/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/3/22

Redeeming The time

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
– Ephesians 5:15-16

What is the main redeeming feature of a Christian? It is our love. This is how Jesus said everyone will know we are His disciples (John 13:35). We can only demonstrate this kind of love with the power of the Holy Spirit. It can only take place in our lives if we are redeemed and made new. Love in and of ourselves is simply selfish love. Godly love demonstrates goodwill towards all. Just as love is a redeeming feature of a Christian, I believe redeeming our time is also.

As Christ-followers, we need to walk circumspectly. This is the original word akribós which means to walk diligently and carefully. We need to walk with exactness, especially in the days we live now. To the Colossians, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:5-6). I love the way that is phrased. This is how we are to be towards even those who openly oppose us (Matthew 5:43-48). How else will we ever reach the lost with the message of hope? We must be careful of how we walk, so others will hear when we talk. The inward change demonstrated through outward life may be the only Bible those around us ever read. We must walk circumspectly.

The Lord has not returned for His bride yet, but He will soon. I desire that everyone go in what I call the “first-round draft.” This is the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:17). For this to take place, we must be redeemed. To redeem is to make payment for something. We as Christians are saved because Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins. They have been paid in full. Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe! You and I cannot do anymore (Ephesians 2:8-9). Because our sins were paid for by the blood of Christ, we must redeem our time by taking every opportunity to share what Jesus has done for us. At the same time, we wait with anticipation for the return of our Lord. As we have been given one more day and a new year, may we share our faith with all those who might hear.

“We should frequently ponder the words, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' We should think of how very much we do love ourselves, of how much of our activity centers around the care and comfort of self. Then we should try to imagine what it would be like if we showered that love on our neighbors. Then we should do it. Such behavior is not natural; it is supernatural. Only those who have been born again can do it, and then only by allowing Christ to do it through them.”
– William MacDonald

Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/3/22 Calvary Chapel La Verne 1/3/22

Redeeming The Time

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
– Ephesians 5:15-16