What comes down from the Father?

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

What comes down from the Father? Every good and perfect gift. Just the verse before, James had warned not to be deceived about God, ( God does not tempt anyone to evil. ) Rather, He gives good gifts

Several truths about God are stated, as to who He is, and what He has done for us.

1. He is the Father of lights ( meaning He is pure in every way )

2. He does not change.

3. He brought us forth into salvation.

4. He did this through His Word, ( The Lord Jesus Christ )

5. The first converts were an example of more to come.

6. We are considered to be His creatures, ( His possession )

Earlier we were told that God gives wisdom to those who ask for it, then, blessing to those who endure trials and tribulations. And, here we are told that He gives good gifts, ( eternal life being the best of them all )

So, as we look up as it were today, we can know that our Father, ( He is that personally to us in Christ, He is OUR Father ) we can both thank Him for what He has already done for us, and we can ask for, and expect Him to continue to give us good gifts, because as mentioned He does not change.

Our Father, we thank You for giving us the gift of life. Thank You for making us to belong to You, not just now, but for all eternity, forever, and forever, and forever. Help us to solidify in our minds and hearts the truth about who You are, and what You have done, and what You will do. We look up to You today, and ask that You might shower us with good gifts, the ones Lord that would bring blessing to You and to others in our family's, and in our churches, where we work and so on. In Jesus name, amen

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. Make no mistake about it God is good, He does not tempt us.

2. He is a good giver, He gives us gifts.

3. He has already done the greatest if you will.

4. How valuable is the gift of eternal life with God?

5. What gifts and grace do you need today?

6. Would you ask Him, He is the giver of gifts and grace.

7. Like the rain that comes down, shower us Lord we pray.

And to each his own work.....

In Mark 13, Jesus was answering questions about the future, that is the future from the time of the apostles. They wanted to know what the signs would be for His coming back to the world, and the end of the world.

Jesus gave five specific signs, and then also made this statement to them.

Mark 13:34“It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.

Can I draw your attention to the part of the verse that says, "and to each his work"........in other words, Jesus was explaining that in His going to heaven, ( the far country ), that He left His church here, giving them power and a work for each one to do.

Simply put, you and I have a work that God wants us to do. Perhaps it's more exacting to say, God has a work that He wants to do in and through each one of us.

Concerning that work, it's to be done by God's power, not our own, and it's to be done by our using the spiritual gifts He has given to us.

Jesus came to do the work that His father had for Him to do. And, that work was primarily to go to the cross and die for our sins, and then to be raised from the dead, and become salvation to all who would call upon Him.

And, just like the Father had a work for Jesus to do, the Father has a work to do through you and I.

A few thoughts about God's work through each of us.

Our work helps other people either walk with Christ, or come to know Christ.

Our work is to be done in God's love, with God's glory in mind, not our own glory.

Our work is to be done the way God shows us to do it, not in our trying to copy someone else.

Our work will be rewarded someday, if not here on earth, certainly in heaven.

Our work can be difficult to do sometimes, but God always helps us to get through.

Our work will almost always be challenged by the enemy, whose work it is, is to oppose God's work.

Father, thank You for working on our behalf, and we count it a blessing to be vessels in Your hands, vessels, or instruments that You desire to use, to accomplish Your will.

We yield ourselves to You in a fresh way today. Work through each of Lord.

In Jesus name....Amen....

Pastor Bob Grenier.....