God restores ......

Mark 16:7“But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

The angel in the empty tomb, gave the women their marching orders and message. They were to go and tell His disciples that He was risen from the dead. But, you can see that there was special mention made of Peter. It's as if he said, now make sure you "tell Peter also, don't leave him out, let him know about Jesus etc"

The other part of the message to the disciples and Peter was that Jesus would meet with them up in the Galilee, just as He had said.

The compassion of the Lord towards those who have failed is evident here. Jesus wound up restoring Peter, and then using him as the first preacher in the Book of Acts, where 3000 came to salvation through his preaching.

Peter had denied Christ, during Jesus's darkest hours. Not once, but three times. He had a lapse of faith. It's not hard to imagine how Peter must have felt. Defeated, discouraged, hopeless, condemned and so on. I doubt he had any idea of what the Lord was going to do for him.

But, restoration to fellowship and to ministry is what the Lord does. He will take any person and restore them, and use them once again in service to God.

The reason for this restoration, is the compassion and the mercy of God. He is compassionate, He is full of mercy, and He forgives, and cleanses and blesses because of grace.

So, if you have failed the Lord in some way, don't be discouraged, and don't think there is no hope for you, because there is.

Father, for the discouraged person(s) who may be reading this today. May grace, mercy and peace come into their lives in abundance. Restore and renew them Lord. And give them hope and encouragement this day, and use them once again in ministry. In Jesus name, amen

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/promises.

1. His mercies never run out.

2. His mercies are new every morning.

3. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and see His grace today.

4. Let God wash and renew you this very day.

5. Oh how He loves you.

6. Leave your doubts, and by faith look to God.

I love those who..........

Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.

The Book of Proverbs is of course God's book of Wisdom for us in our lives and in our daily living. In this particular verse, we have a simple statement and explanation having to do with God's love.

First of all, in applying this verse to the Lord and to us, we are told that "God loves those who love Him".

Loving God is also explained in another part of the Bible, as a reality in our lives, because He first loved us. 1Jo 4:19* We love Him because He first loved us.

But, having said that, what we have here in Proverbs 8:17, is this truth that blesses our souls and encourages us. God loves those who love Him. He loves us.

And, secondly, we are told that ( and here is one of those promises we find so often in the Bible ) "those who seek Me diligently will find me" This is tremendously encouraging.

What does it mean? Well, if we love the Lord, we have a relationship with Him, and we can do what is called seeking Him, and we can do it diligently.

To seek the Lord, comes from a word meaning "to dawn" that is to be up early at any task, to search for, ( with painstaking earnestness ) to enquire early, rise, in the morning etc.

In application, it can mean to search for the Lord through His Word and prayer in the morning before you do anything else. We call it having morning devotions.

The promise here, is that we will find Him. Find means, to attain, to encounter, to meet, to detect, to meet, to get, to get the thing sought.

So, isn't this great? Isn't this a great promise from the Lord?

I'm praying for myself and anyone who may be reading this, that we might together take God's instruction and promise and find Him. Not just today, but everyday, until we meet Him face to face. Thank You Lord

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Applicational thoughts and promises.

1. We all know we need the Lord.

2. Seeking Him is the way to find Him.

3 The Bible, prayer, meditation upon Him are His ways.

4. He is here, and ready to meet us day by day.

5. He can be found.

6. Diligence is needed on our part.

7. He is the great treasure we can find.

8. Thank You for loving us.

9. We love you Lord.

What not to do, and why.......

Both of these "not do" things, have to do with the "Chastening of the LORD"...

Chastening, seems to be used today in a more negative, or punitive way. But, it's actual meaning has more to do with simple instruction, and correction, that can include discipline, but it's not punishment.

Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction;

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

So, two things we are not to do when the LORD is chastening us.

1. Do not despise the chastening of the LORD. Which means, not to refuse, abhor, reject, run, or ignore. These are tendencies we have, these are attitudes and actions that we might want to have when the LORD is instructing us. We might want to just run away from it. But, we are being told here, that wisdom does not despise the LORD'S instruction, correction etc. Like, "I'm just not going to pay attention to this"

2. Nor detest the LORD'S correction. This means, don't be discouraged, weary, distressed, be grieved, loathe, or to have a sickening dread. Like, "I can't take this"

These are two very natural responses that we have to guard against happening in our lives.

And, now the reason why the LORD would chasten us.....It's because He loves us. He chastens those He loves, ( just as a father would to his own son in whom he delights )

God's love for us, helps us to realize why He is instructing, correcting, etc, and this realization is given to us to help us avoid these 2 tendencies to ignore it, or to be discouraged when it's happening.

Father, we love You, because You first loved us. Thank You for any and all chastening that You give to us, and please help us to avoid these 2 tendencies. In fact, would You please help us to remember Your love at these times. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Applicational thoughts and promises.

1. We are saved, but still have to deal with our flesh.

2. It's the flesh that wants to ignore and be discouraged.

3. Satan does not point us to God's love during chastening.

4. The Holy Spirit is the one wrestling with our souls and minds.

5. Love for us is why God instructs us.

6. Humility and faith are needed more then ever during chastening.

7. Chastening brings good fruit when it's completed.

8. Be patient, God's plan will work itself through in our lives.

Jesus does not give up on you, even when you trip up and stumble

Mark 14:27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.’

Mark 14: 28 “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Jesus knew ahead of time that virtually all of those whom He had chosen would stumble and be scattered in one of His own darkest moments. But, He chose them anyways. ( perhaps it's because He has no perfect people to choose from )

He knew they would be tripped up during this incident of His being arrested, because it was written ahead of time, God said it would happen.

When we trip up, we can falsely think, "the Lord is through with me, He will never use me again" The guilt and sense of failure because of our sin can be overwhelming.

But, the Lord does not give up on you, just because you may have given up on Him. Please notice what is said in Mark 14:28 “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Jesus was letting them know that He had plans to meet up with them after He was raised from the dead. He would meet them again. And meet them He did. In fact, one of the stories is about Peter in particular, and of how the Lord restored him back to fellowship and ministry.

So, if you have tripped up, if you have stumbled, if you have strayed away from the Lord, please know of His unchanging love for you, and of His desire for you to be back in fellowship with Him.

The Bible says that if we confess our sins, He if faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1st John 1:9

"Lord, we pray for any and all who may be reading these words today, and ask that You would pour into our lives, and into theirs a renewed sense of Your grace and Your love for them. And, of Your desire for fellowship and usefulness in each life. We thank You for cleansing us of our sins, and ask that You keep us and give us strength today. In Jesus name, amen"

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

P.S Some applicational thoughts

1. Focus on the the Lord not your sin and failures.

2. Jesus knew when He picked you, that you would fail.

3. The Lord forgives us when we confess our sins.

4. Forget what is behind you and look to Jesus

5. Remember God is faithful, even when we are not.