Calvary Chapel La Verne 11/10/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 11/10/21

Ready and Faithful

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia…”
– Ezra 1:1

The word of the Lord that came by the mouth of Jeremiah refers to Jeremiah 29:10 where it says, “For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.” At the time of King Cyrus, the seventy years of captivity were about to end.

Cyrus had been king over other territories for 20 years, but this was his first year reigning as king over Babylon, which he was said to conquer in 539 B. C. This was considered the highest position in the civilized world during the Postexilic Period. With all of his power and authority, however, he was still an instrument in the hands of the Lord.

God would use this pagan king to accomplish His plans. Cyrus was in the right place at the right time for the Lord’s purpose. But, how could the Lord stir the heart of a pagan king to accomplish His will? God would do this through His word. Through Isaiah the prophet, God promised Israel He would raise Cyrus. This was prophesied approximately 150 years before Cyrus would write his decree. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah even called out Cyrus by name (Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1-13). How amazingly accurate God’s word is!

It is believed that Daniel may have had a part to play in this story. Daniel was around during the initial reign of Cyrus (Daniel 1:21; Daniel 10:1). Daniel could have shared with the king what Jeremiah said and showed Cyrus that he was called out by name in the book of Isaiah. What a stirring of heart this would have been for Cyrus to fulfill God’s plan. God brought His word through another to stir the heart of Cyrus. This is how things get done in God’s economy (Philippians 2:13).

When the Lord desires to accomplish His plan through us, He often brings those around us needed to accomplish the task. We are not to concern ourselves with the outcome. We are to be faithful in the task. Our rewards will not be based on results but on being faithful to what God has called us to do. If we base Jeremiah’s ministry off of results, he would come up empty. After 40 years of preaching, he had no converts! His ministry was not wasted, though. Cyrus’ life was affected because of Jeremiah's faithful preaching, and someone was willing to share those words with him. Be ready and faithful to do whatever the Lord calls you to do. You never know whose life you will affect and how that will impact the kingdom of God.

"The true test of a saint's life is not successfulness but faithfulness..."
– Oswald Chambers

Calvary Chapel La Verne 11/8/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 11/8/21

Purposeful Trials

"Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word."
– Acts 8:4

Before he became Paul, the famous Apostle was known as Saul. His character was completely different than what we see in his epistles. Saul was putting Christians to death. The Bible tells us he “consented” to the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:1). The original word for consent meant that Saul approved the death of Stephen. This was not some passive consent but rather an active approval. It was a vote. Saul did not simply approve of the death of Christians. He voted for it. He beat and killed people who simply accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Acts 22:19; Acts 26:11). Our gracious Lord, however, uses evil for His good (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). The Lord used the persecution of the church to spread the gospel.

Believers in Jerusalem were living in fear. They were fleeing and scattering throughout the land. They began moving to Judea and Samaria and getting away from the persecution that was coming. As a result, the Lord used the persecution to get the people to scatter, move, and eventually grow the church. This was the promise of power through the Holy Spirit. The ability to be witnesses for the Lord in “Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Have you discovered that God does not always do things the way we think that He should? He does not always come at the time we want Him to come. He comes in His time, and that is always perfect. You may be experiencing a difficult time in your life right now that appears to be persecution. Maybe you are wondering why God is allowing something so terrible to take place. Whatever it is, have you ever wondered if the Lord is trying to get you to move? Is He trying to get you to “scatter” and spread the gospel in areas you never thought you would be? God knows what He is doing. Trust Him and share the hope and joy within you that others might come to know Him.

"Hope itself is like a star--not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity and only to be discovered in the night of adversity."
– C. H. Spurgeon

Calvary Chapel La Verne 11/3/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 11/3/21

Dangerous Altars

I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and He said: 'Strike the doorposts, that the thresholds may shake, And break them on the heads of them all...'"
– Amos 9:1

I thank God for the servants of old, like Amos. They were willing to move as the Spirit came upon them. With the Holy Spirit’s power, they were able to accomplish God’s will. They were able to walk faithfully in their calling, even when the message they had to deliver was tough. We often overlook the minor prophets when we should pay close attention. They are an encouragement that the Lord can use anyone He wants to complete His good works. Even a sheep breeder from Tekoa, like Amos.

In Amos’ vision of the destruction of Israel, he saw the Lord standing by the altar. But the Lord was there to destroy, not to bless. God called for the roof of the Temple to come crashing down and shake the massive foundation stones. Amos was shown the entire building collapsing on the false worshipers.

When there was trouble, you would often find the people gathering in the Temple. Yet the Lord even brought words of destruction where the people felt most comforted, in the Temple and at the altar (Jeremiah 7). This is the point that Amos was making in his vision. They were not going to be safe by the altar. They would not be spared even in the safest parts of the building, by the doorposts. This gave the picture that destruction was coming, and there was nowhere to hide.

God will judge sin; He will judge the dead and the living (2 Timothy 4:1). Sin is so serious to God that He put His Son to death for it. It pleased the Lord to “bruise Him” (Isaiah 53:10). It pleased the Lord because He knew what it was going to accomplish. It was His way of paying the penalty for sin and demonstrating His love to the world (Romans 5:8). Knowing this, how could we ever turn away the gift of salvation? Like the Apostle Paul, I urge you not to neglect salvation or drift away!

"Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?"
– Hebrews 2:1-4

Calvary Chapel La Verne 11/1/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 11/1/21

Magnify The Lord

“Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, ‘The Lord be magnified!’ But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.”
– Psalm 40:16-17

David has a joyful report to the congregation. The Lord saved him from a dilemma and he was encouraged. David wanted to share what God had done in his life with others. And, this is how it should be in the church today. When God works on our behalf, we should share with others what the Lord has done. It can encourage and exhort them. It may even lead others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The Lord should be magnified in and through our lives. As believers, we should be pointing people to Christ. Jesus was lifted up on the Cross and we should be lifting His name up and allowing Him to draw all to Himself (John 12:32). We must decrease so that He can increase (John 3:30). This is what our lives should be about; leading people to Him and nobody else. Many today are running for their own fame. Just look at any social media platform. People post events in their lives magnifying themselves. They want to know how many “likes” they can get. As Christian’s though, we should be running for Christ’s fame.

Like David we can feel “poor and needy.” We can think that God is too busy and has forgotten about us. If that is you, I want to encourage you. Do not ever think that you have “slipped through the cracks.” God is mindful of you. God loves you and He is thinking about you continually. He has made you in His image and He is jealous for that image (Genesis 1:27). He is jealous for you (Exodus 34:14). He thinks upon you and sent His only Son to die on the cross for you. There is no greater love than that! Just as God saved David from his dilemma, Jesus saves our lives from the dilemma of sin (John 3:16-17). May we be encouraged by this and share this joyful news to the rest of the world!

“Many times God’s love comes to me just when I have been my worst. When I have been miserable, unworthy and completely undeserving, that is when God seeks to show me just how great and how unconditional His love is for me. He does this so that I can rest in the knowledge that His love doesn’t alter from day to day.”
– Chuck Smith

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/29/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/29/21

Instruction In Marriage

“Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband."
– 1 Corinthians 7:1-2

Up to this point, the Apostle Paul has been dealing with abuses in the church. Now he begins answering questions they specifically wrote to him. In his response, Paul first dealt with marriage and singleness. He addressed it as we all should by reminding the Corinthians about what marriage was originally designed for and not what it had become.

The Corinthians were known for their sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:12-20). This was the result of the moral corruption of the culture at that time. It was a society that tolerated fornication, adultery, polygamy, concubines, and homosexuality. Not much has changed today. There is nothing new. Everything they were doing back then we see being done today. Technology has made advances while the human heart remains deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10).

God ordained marriage (Gen 2:18). It is the only relationship that He created where sexual pleasure is approved. Yet, it should not be the only reason to get married. A godly marriage is a lifelong commitment. It is not until you lose interest or you grow apart. It is meant to be for life and not taken lightly. At first glance, it may seem that Paul is endorsing marriage for sexual pleasure only and promoting singleness as more favorable. However, a search of the Scriptures shows us that Paul has a high view of marriage. We see this when he addresses the Ephesians (Ephesians 5:22-33). Whether you are single or married, there will always be temptations. To live a holy life before the Lord, we must remember God’s original design and obey it.

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
– Genesis 2:24

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/27/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/27/21

Are You A "Make-Believer?"

“Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, a basket of summer fruit. And He said, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ So I said, ‘A basket of summer fruit.’ Then the Lord said to me: ‘The end has come upon My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore.’”
– Amos 8:1-2

Whatever walk of life we are in, God has a way of speaking to us so personally. Jesus did this in His parables. He did not simply use parables as “illustrations” but as “illumination.” Warren Wiersbe wrote that “Parables are not entertainment; they’re powerful shock therapy.” Powerful shock therapy that is designed to grab the will. This is how God was speaking to His people through the prophet Amos. They would be shocked to hear that God was bringing judgment.

Amos understood the vision of summer fruit. He was a farmer, and the Lord spoke to him in a way he and the people would understand. The picture here is that the fruit is seasonal. It is fresh for a while but will not last very long; it will eventually rot. It was already in a basket, it was harvested, and the time for gathering was over. Knowing the season would give Amos the heart to preach with conviction.

The Nation of Israel had a form of godliness, but they were ungodly people. This is why God sent prophets to warn the nation to turn back to Him. The Lord still does this today. There are a lot of churches in the world that have a form of godliness, but they do not teach the Bible. They work up crowds with excitement, yet there is no substance. This leaves the church with “tares” and “goats.” They produce people who look the same as believers but are “Make-believers,” and their lives do not demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit. Know where you stand today. Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ or are you a “Make-believer?” There will come a day where the Lord will pass by those who never accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

"The harvest is past, The summer is ended, And we are not saved!"
– Jeremiah 8:20

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/25/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/25/21

Life Is Short

“Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You: Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah”
– Psalm 39:4-5

When reading a Psalm, it is important not to skip over the word Selah. This is a Hebrew word that has been interpreted as instruction calling for a break in the song. It is a call for pause and contemplation of what was just said. David is telling the congregation that there is a break here. He is telling us to stop and spend a moment to meditate on the previous words spoken because the words he wrote here help us gain perspective.

David is very transparent with God. As he cries out to the Lord, he places himself in the right position. He is reminding himself of who he truly is with the Lord. It is as if he is telling the Lord, “I am nothing and You, Lord, are everything! Life is short, and I do not have a lot of time on this earth. Help me, Lord, to live for you while I am here.” This was David’s point, and it kept his purpose in this life within proper view.

Knowing our correct standing with God helps us gain the right perspective. So often, our perspective and attention are self-centered. Life can become all about our concerns. And we can think of ourselves as more than what we are. We can begin to believe our status in this life is more important than our standing with the Lord. But, we must have an eternal perspective. Like David, if we maintain this view, we will want to do everything according to God’s will. We will desire to build His kingdom and not bury the gifts He has given to each of us. We will use our gifts to fulfill the call He has on our lives. Are your talents being used for His glory or yours? Are you using them at all, or have they been buried?

"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
– 1 Peter 4:10

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/22/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/22/21

Sexual Sin

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?"
– 1 Corinthians 6:15

“All things are lawful for me” and “Food for the stomach, and the stomach for food!” These were two statements some have said became a slogan for the Corinthians. It was their way of living a life of “Christian liberty.” Since they were no longer under the old covenant, they thought to themselves, “Anything goes!” This is what the Apostle Paul was correcting. Sexual immorality in the church at Corinth.

The Bible is very clear. Any sexual relationship outside of marriage is a sin (Hebrews 13:4). Our bodies are vessels that are to be used for honor and not corruption. Sexual immorality puts us into an unbiblical union. Our bodies belong to the Lord. A Christian cannot practice sin without grieving Jesus Himself; we are one with Him (1 Corinthians 12:26).

Many in the church today think they can be saved and also live however they want to. The Scriptures are plain and make it very clear that this thinking is wrong (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). As the “natural” man, we lived for our flesh. Now, if we have been crucified with Christ, we have been spiritually reborn, and we belong to Him (Galatians 2:20). And if we belong to Him, we will obey His Word because we love Him (John 14:15). May we not profane the temple, our body, that Jesus bought with His precious blood.

“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible tings, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
– 1 Peter 1:17-19

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/20/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/20/21

A Call To Prayer

“...my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me."
– Psalm 38:4

Psalm thirty-eight is known as a Penitential Psalm. It is a Psalm of confession. David was confessing a deep sin he committed against the Lord. We are not told what sin David committed here, yet we know He is experiencing great sorrow over it.

David was experiencing the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He was being disciplined by God. The Bible tells us the Lord disciplines those who He loves (Hebrews 12:6). God loved David very much. And now, David is being transparent with the Lord. This is always a good practice for all who call the Lord their Savior.

God already knows our thoughts. We are not hiding anything from Him. We need to be transparent with Him and take ownership of our sins. Just as David did when he said, "My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness" (Psalm 38:5). David confesses his sin, his "foolishness," directly to God and not to a man because it is God alone he sinned against (Psalm 51:4). And because it is God alone he sinned against, it is God alone who could forgive his sins.

When we confess and repent by turning from our sins, God is faithful to forgive us. He is the immutable God who casts our sins behind His back (Isaiah 38:17; Micah 7:19). The wage of sin is death. We will reap what we sow. Yet God has made the way for us to spend eternity in heaven with Him. We can be spared through the free gift of God. That is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Maybe there is a conviction in your life that you have been suppressing. Have you been trying to bury it? The Lord will bring it to the surface because He loves you. Use David's life as an example and be transparent. Confess your sins and allow life's burdens to be lifted from your shoulders (Matthew 11:30).

“The New Testament word for repentance means changing one's mind so that one's views, values, goals, and ways are changed and one's whole life is lived differently. The change is radical, both inwardly and outwardly; mind and judgment, will and affections, behavior and life-style, motives and purposes, are all involved. Repenting means starting to live a new life.”
– J. I. Packer

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/18/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/18/21

Transparent With God

“...my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me."
– Psalm 38:4

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/15/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/15/21

Who Do You Belong To?

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."
– 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

The Holy Spirit it not confused. He is the Spirit of truth (John 16:13). He seals those who belong to the Lord, and the Lord knows who are His (Ephesians 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:19). Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27). And, If you are going off track, the Lord is going to speak to you. But if you continue in habitual sin to where you no longer hear the voice of Jesus you must ask the question, “Am I saved”?

We have our own perspectives on life. God also has His perspective. But we cannot judge from His view. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33) We have to look to the Word for clarity. That clarity will produce evidence in our lives that we are His (Galatians 5:22).

What we are commanded to do is crucify our flesh (Galatians 5:24). Our flesh does not want anything good. If we are living according to our own will, we are living a life against God. We are not looking to Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. Jesus said, “I am here to do the will of My Father” (John 5:30). If we are to be like Him we will desire the same. We each have a choice. Do we want Christ to live in us or do we want to fulfill the desires of the flesh? We cannot have both, it is one or the other.

Many people live their Christian life the way they want to live it. They attempt to live in sin when the Bible says contrary. And if your life is contrary to what the Word is saying then you must ask yourself if you are really His. Satan is alive and well. He does not want an effective church. He is on the inside infecting the church. That is the real pandemic that is taking place. The spiritual pandemic happening in the church today is not due to society changing. It is due to the lack of sound Biblical doctrine being preached and followed.

“We hail Jesus as King. But if He is King and we acknowledge Him as such, we owe Him our loyal and unswerving allegiance and our faithful service. We acknowledge Christ as King, but are we His loyal subjects? He has Himself said that professions of loyalty without obedience are not worth much.”
– J.D. Jones

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/13/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/13/21

Wise Men Still Seek Him

“Seek the Lord and live!”
– Amos 5:6

When Amos was sent to Israel, the nation was experiencing a time of excess (Amos 3:9-15; 6:4-6). This was a time when they thought their future looked bright. Looks, however, can be deceiving. Although they seemed blessed on the outside, apathy towards God settled in their hearts. Life was good, and they forgot their Maker. The people were worshiping in places where God never set up His name (Amos 5:5). They were worshiping God falsely and hypocritically. They no longer relied on God’s Word and were not obedient to the Mosaic covenant (Deut. 11:1-32). As a result, the Lord’s anger was aroused; judgment was coming.

There are plenty of things that we come across in Scripture that does not make sense to us sometimes. We can shake our heads and wonder how a God of love allows tragedies to take place. These are questions we all have at one time or another that we may never get an answer for. It is important, during these seasons, to remember that God is always right. He has a perspective that we do not have. He is righteous in all of His judgments (Psalm 145:17).

This was a warning. Not just for them, it is a warning for us. We can go to church on Sundays and then think we get “extra credit” for going on Wednesdays. It is not about those things. It is about spending time with the Lord and being real with Him. It is about understanding who we are, as believers in Jesus Christ, before our Lord. We are sinners saved by grace. Sin places us all on the same level. There is no person higher than another in God’s eyes. He is the Maker of everyone (Proverbs 22:2). And since we are all sinners through one man, Adam, salvation also came through the One Man, the Last Adam. Our Savior, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:12-19).

Jesus did not make Himself of any reputation (Philippians 2:7). He demonstrated His authority at times, yet He never came across as rude. Jesus was very gracious and kind in how he treated people. When we do not know God’s Word, this can give us a false view of Jesus. We may think He will accept everyone in the end. But when He comes back again, He will not be portrayed as the Lamb of God who was slain for sins. He is coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords with righteous judgment (Revelation 19:11-16). The Bible says if we seek Him, we will find Him. Have you truly sought Him? Do not have a false sense of security. Seek Him and live!

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon."
– Isaiah 55:6-7

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/11/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/11/21

The Battle For Souls

“The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.”
– Psalm 37:14-15

In the Old Testament, we can see battles played out in the physical realm that encourage us today in the spiritual realm. I am reminded of David’s life when he was a young man. The Scriptures show us that he had so much zeal for the Lord. While out watching the sheep, he killed bears, lions, and anything that came to attack those he cared for (1 Samuel 17:36). And, he would one day do this for his nation when battling the Philistines.

We are not told that anyone skillfully trained David. He learned through experience. He just knew the right thing that needed to be done, and he did it with no reservations. The Lord moved in Him and enabled him to accomplish what needed to be done. Through the minor battles, David was prepared for the greater ones he would experience in his life. And as he grew in stature, he grew in his boldness and trust in God (Psalm 9:9-10). This was the boldness David showed when going up against the Philistine giant. The wicked who drew the sword certainly had it pierced into his flesh. David beheaded the Philistine champion. And he did it with Goliath’s own sword (1 Samuel 17:51).

Like David, we experience battles in our lives today. They are not always physical but spiritual (Ephesians 6:12). We do not need to be afraid. The battles we face strengthen our faith in Christ. They prepare us for the battles to come. They are battles that need to be fought on our knees.

We need to pray because maybe the one coming against God will have a change of heart. Perhaps we need to have a change of heart towards those who do not know God. Maybe we need to pray for their salvation rather than praying they get what they deserve. We should pray they are spared from the sword of God and lost for all eternity. After all, God did it for me and you as Christians. We should desire that same thing for others.

“Prayer, which often brings rest, also brings things into a sharp focus. If we are in the spirit of prayer, we no longer 'see men as trees walking.' We see them for what they are; we see them, as Wesley says, 'with a never-dying soul to save and fit it for the skies.' We see souls with an eternal content.”
– Leonard Ravenhill

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/8/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/8/21

A Weakened Testimony

“Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!”
– 1 Corinthians 6:7-8

It is no secret that the Corinthian church was experiencing problems. The Apostle Paul dealt with them as an elder should; he rebuked them sharply (Titus 3:13). Paul’s concern was how the litigation between Christians was reflecting on the church. To take their problems and discuss them before unjust courts weakened the testimony of Christ. Paul makes the argument that believers in Jesus Christ will one day judge angels. That being the case, Christians should be spiritually mature enough to judge matters while here on this earth.

Paul was breaking ground everywhere he went. From the very beginning, he was sent to take the gospel to a sinning world. To people and cultures that have never heard it before. Now he was concerned that if Christians could not get along with one another, why would anyone in the world want to be part of the church?

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away" (Matthew 5:38-42). Our actions matter. When we consider the reflection our lives have on the church, we consider the impression of Jesus Christ that we are leaving to the world. This was Paul's point.

We have got problems in the church. But that is just what they are, church problems! And when we are God’s sons and daughters, they become God’s problems. We are governed by Him, not the world. When we obey His Word on how to deal with issues, then He can work them out. There is never a time to be a bad witness to the world. The world needs a witness. Especially today. They have questions about what is taking place around us. Are our lives reflecting something they would want to be a part of?

“No church is perfect, but human imperfection must never be an excuse for sin. Just as parents must discipline their children in love, so local churches must exercise discipline over the members of the assembly. If a Christian loves his church, he will not stand by and permit sin to weaken it and perhaps ruin its testimony”
– Warren Wiersbe

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/4/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/4/21

Anger Management

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.”
– Psalm 37:7

David uses a word we do not often use in our society today. He tells us not to fret. The original word is “charah,” and it means to burn or be kindled with anger. All it means is do not get angry. We are not to get bent out of shape because of the ungodly things going on in the world. There are going to be plenty of evildoers. They will have power, influence, and make decisions that will affect our lives. Yet, we are reminded by David not to fret.

You and I, as believers, should be careful that we are not becoming angry. Anger, if not controlled, turns into far worse conditions of the heart. You may think to yourself, “well, I’m angry, but it is a righteous anger.” Yet how many times does our righteous anger turn into hatred? The Bible says, “Be angry, and do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26). Only one man was able to obey this command completely, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hatred is something that can quickly overtake us. David reminds us that God is at work, and we need to stay out of His way. After all, can you imagine if the ungodly policymakers and government officials showed up with us in heaven? It can happen! Nothing is impossible for God! We may think they do not deserve to be in heaven but guess what, neither do we!

It is God’s grace and mercy that called us to repentance. It was all a work of God, and we need to remember it was nothing we did in and of ourselves. Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins, is God’s gift to us. We may reap what we sow, but Jesus forgives us of our sins. And, we need to remember this. God did it for us, and He can do it for anyone. So do not fret. Our anger may push people away from the Lord but His mercy will draw them close.

“The harlot, the liar, the murderer, are short of it; but so are you. Perhaps they stand at the bottom of a mine, and you on the crest of an Alp; but you are as little able to touch the stars as they. Everyone falls short, but everyone can be justified freely by His grace.”
– Bishop Moule

Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/1/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 10/1/21

An Effective Witness

“Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover; was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
– 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

Paul is speaking to Christians. Men and women who were already saved. As a result of Jesus’ sacrifice, their sins were forgiven. They were not to go back to adding leaven into their lives. They were to live new lives. Yet by allowing sin to remain in the church, they were not any different from the world. They were living as if there was no change at all. Leaven was not purged.

Leaven, in the Bible, is often used to describe sin. It only took a little leaven to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Leaven makes dough rise and puff up. If not handled correctly, it would become corrupt and rotten. And, the Corinthian church was “puffed up.” They no longer rebuked those involved in habitual sin; they allowed it. Some would say they even condoned it when it should have been dealt with. Because they were not sincere in their walk with Christ, the effectiveness of the church was in jeopardy.

I like this word sincere. Some have claimed that it means “without wax.” In Spain during the Renaissance era, when the sculptors made mistakes, they used wax to hide the defects. When exposed to heat or sunlight, the wax would melt, and faults would be exposed. This is how we need to be before the Lord. Sincere, without wax and faults exposed. It is then that He can begin to change us.

If we are born again, we are not to go back to the world and act as we did in the world. We should be unleavened. After all, we have been set free from sin. We should not put on a façade, pretending to be something we are not and living one way in front of Christians and another when they are not looking. We need to be sincere. Our sincerity does not save us. Jesus does. But we should be sincere if we are saved. We can then be effective witnesses to the world.

“At the base of all true Christian experience must lie a sound and sane morality. No joys are valid, no delights legitimate where sin is allowed to live in life or conduct.”
– A. W. Tozer

Calvary Chapel La Verne 9/27/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 9/27/21

Always Do Good

"Trust in the Lord, and do good..."
- Psalm 37:3

Psalm 37 is known as an “irregular acrostic.” It is a wisdom poem written by David and addressed to man. Its theme deals with the common question of “why does it seem the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer?” A question many of us still ask today.

These instructions here are so important. Some say they trust in the Lord and yet do not do good. They become falsely satisfied in this life and think, “Well, I am a believer. I am satisfied, and now I can live how I want to.” But can we?

The Apostle Paul wrote, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2) We are responsible for what we say and what we do (Romans 4:12). Once we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, our outward works should demonstrate our inward change. We will have the same desire as Jesus to please our heavenly Father because we will want to “always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29).

David himself had suffered under the hands of many ungodly men throughout his lifetime. This made him uniquely qualified to weigh in on this age-old question. Now, as a man of experience, he shares advice on how to respond when dealing with the ungodly. And, how are we to respond? We are to rely solely on God because He promises to bring judgment in His timing. Therefore, we must trust in Him and continue to walk in His will and His ways, no matter the opposition. May we be found today drawing closer to the image of our Lord, who always “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them..."
- Matthew 7:12

Calvary Chapel La Verne 9/24/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 9/24/21

Walk The Christian Walk

"Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:18-19

It has been said that the local church is God’s family for helping newborn Christians develop. Paul had planted the church in Corinth and was their spiritual father. This did not give him special authority over their faith. It did, however, create a special relationship that God used to help them develop. Here Paul uses that relationship to warn them to repent before he would have to come and rebuke them (1 Corinthians 4:14). He is talking about discipline and confronting them face-to-face. They probably thought Paul would not confront them. It was his plan, however, to do so. How he came was entirely up to them. If they repented, he would go gently. If they persisted in sin, he would discipline (1 Corinthians 4:21). An appropriate approach of any shepherd.

To be associated with great men of the faith, the Christian's life will resemble one of suffering and not always popularity. This is the actual evidence in the life of a servant of Christ (Matthew 10:22). But, the people in Corinth were becoming “puffed up.” They were in sin and attempting to associate with those they thought were the best preachers of the day. They were choosing pastors who appealed to their “itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3).

Paul was not going to listen to their talk. There were many good talkers, but talk is cheap if not backed up with action. You cannot have a high talk and low walk because there is no power in empty words. There is always power in the Word of God. And Paul was not going to worry about the unvalued words of men. He would stand only on the powerful words of the Lord. It is the power of God’s Word that will be evident in the life of a true servant because they abide in Christ (John 8:31-32).

Our character is not measured by the words we speak but by our obedience to the words God speaks. God changes us through His Word because we need to be changed. We are all a work in progress, but there has to be progress. As Christians, we should reflect God’s kingdom, which does not consist of words but power. We should live a victorious life through Jesus Christ, which is reflected by overcoming sin. May we be found walking the Christian walk.

“It is not an easy thing to be a minister of Jesus Christ. As a steward, you must be faithful to your Master no matter what men may say to you or do to you. You will be treated as refuse by the people of the world. Your own spiritual children may break your heart and have to be disciplined."
- Warren Wiersbe

Calvary Chapel La Verne 9/22/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 9/22/21

Making Promises

"For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood."
- Amos 1:9

Tyre was home to the Phoenicians who lived on the coastline. Tyre had a treaty. They had a covenant made with King David. When the Temple was to be built, David was not allowed to build it. It was constructed by his son Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:3-6). Rather than have a hand in making it, David drew up the architectural plans. He was responsible for gathering all the supplies and materials.

Through the friendship of Hiram, the King of Tyre, and King David, an agreement was made. Tyre would import the cedar and cypress logs for the use of the Temple. This treaty was solidified between Solomon and Hiram (1 Kings 5:12). They had a covenant and friendship. So, why this judgment on Tyre? It was “because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood” (Amos 1:9). Tyre broke the covenant with David. Although it was years and years later, the people did not remember their pledge. As a result, their word held no value.

Our word is important. It is a covenant, a promise, and a vow. This is why we should never make decisions hastily. We need to think about them. Have you ever made a promise to God? “God, I promise I will do this if you do that?” We need to be careful what we say. God may hold us to those promises. We need to let our “yes be yes and no be no” (Matthew 5:37). We need to be children of integrity.

Our words do mean something. Maybe a lot of people’s words do not mean anything. But if you are a Christian, your word is everything. Even God puts His Word above His name (Psalm 138:2). That says something about words. They can hold weight and carry value. Let us make sure we choose our words carefully. Our word should be our bond.

“When a man says to me, 'I'd swear on a stack of Bibles a mile high,' that is the fellow I do not believe because I think the lie he's telling is a mile high."
- J. Vernon McGee

Calvary Chapel La Verne 9/20/21 Calvary Chapel La Verne 9/20/21

Knowing God

"Oh, continue Your loving kindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart."
- Psalm 36:10

It is knowing who God is that will change your life. This is why I have taken our church through the attributes of God. It is not about who we think God is and our thoughts about God. It is about what the Scripture says. It is what God says about Himself in His Word. And this is what we find time and time again that King David discovers. It is always what he goes back to, who God is. What a great lesson for us to learn in our personal lives.

The Bible says our hearts are wicked and deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). The Scriptures are here to transform and renew us. They will transform our minds while God will change our hearts (Romans 12:2). It is being mindful and allowing the Lord to change you by His Spirit. It allows the Holy Spirit to illuminate His Word and bring it to our understanding because God is doing a work in us.

While on earth, we have trials. For the believer, God works through those things in our lives. He is preparing us to be in heaven. He is preparing us to go home. Think about it for a moment. What would heaven be like if we all went home to heaven as we are right now? We should ask the Lord to do His work. We should pray He changes us. We should desire to be that work of art, the masterpiece that God wants us to be.

God will chip away at our lives, and sometimes it hurts. This is why David’s life in the Scriptures is opened up to us to see. This was God’s man, and Jesus came through David’s lineage. Yet, he was human and full of failures. David knew, however, to turn to God for help. It is because David knew who God was and is, and who he was to God. This understanding is what makes all the difference in this life of sanctification. I pray that you know who God truly is to you today.

“A high view of the Bible, of course, results in a high view of God. One’s view of God is only as high as one’s view of Scripture.”
- C.H. Spurgeon