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.

The way to blessing, or happiness

Ps 1:1 ¶ Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Blessing in Ps1:1, also translated "happiness" is found interestingly enough by what we avoid in our lives, and by what we give ourselves to day by day. So, here is what the Lord says to us...........

#1 You will be blessed if you do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Or the advice of those who act wickedly.

#2. You will be blessed if you do not stand in the path of sinners. This means to "take one's stand with sinners". Sinners, are defined in the Bible who are missing the way. That is, they are not walking in the way, who is Jesus Christ.

#3. You will be blessed if you do not sit in the seat of the scornful. Scornful means to talk arrogantly, to boast, to mock and to deride or to ridicule.

#4. Then, we are told that blessing comes by what we delight in, and what we meditate upon. That is, the law of the Lord, or the Word of God, or the Lord Jesus Christ.

To delight is to take pleasure in, it means longing, and desire. And, to meditate, means to muse, or to speak to oneself, to consider to ponder, to think about.

Putting those two things together then, mean that if we long for, desire the Word of God, and then take the Word of God and speak to ourselves about it, we will find ourselves being blessed, or happy.

The Lord wants to bring blessing into our lives, and He lays it out for us right here. Stay away from certain things, and then give yourself over to Him. To His Word etc. etc.

Let's pray. Father, many things in life are easier said then done. This would be one of them. The pull of sin is not only from within, but it's from without also . However Lord, we know that You are above all things, and that Your power is greater then our flesh, this world and the devil. We pray now for ourselves as we read these things, that You would help us to long for You, and to ponder the wonder of Jesus Christ, the truth of Your Word. Help us Lord to fill our minds with the Word, and then give our time and attention, our innermost thoughts and such to You.

We love You Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.....

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application and promises

1. Happiness is something we long for in our souls.

2. Happiness is really a result of how we live our lives.

3. Happiness can be ours by our avoidance of some lifestyles.

4. Happiness is connected with our delight in God's Word.

5. Happiness is something the Lord produces in our lives.

6. Happiness is not something the ungodly have in their lives.

God keeps His promises........

This is taken from a prayer of King Solomon.....

2nd Chron 6:15 “You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.

Solomon was praying here, and expressing to God, that He had kept or accomplished what He had promised His servant David, who was Solomon's father. He went on to say that God not only had spoken about what He would do, ( to build the temple ) but, by His own hand had fulfilled it.

In the Bible, the word promise means to make a a claim. God has made so many claims in the Bible, and He has fulfilled everyone of them, and will fulfill those that are to come.

Can I encourage you today, ( especially if you are suffering, going through a very difficult time, and are afraid of the future, and are worried etc, ) to ask God to bring His promises, or one of His promises to your mind and heart. And, then, can I encourage you to believe His promise. Why? Because God keeps His promises.

May I pray for you right now.......Father, thank You for Your love, Your grace, and Your mercy towards us. And I ask right now in Jesus name, that You might help any dear brother or sister who is in great difficulty at this moment to find comfort and strength in and through Your Word, and Your promises. ............We love You Lord........

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application and promises....

1. The Bible is chock full of so many promises.

2. God does not change, thus He has and will be faithful

3. Promises are given to us by God to be believed and trusted.

4. God's promises are connected to His will.

5. Timing is in God's hands.

6. Loving Him and one another is in our hands.

7. John 3:16 is a promise of sorts.

Betrayed, Lied about, and denied. But, an understanding Saviour

The last half of Mark 14 is filled with human tragedy, and Divine love.

Please take a look at Mark 14:43-72.

It's the story of Judas betraying Christ for 30 pieces of silver.

It's the story of the high priest gathering lies and liars to condemn Jesus

It's the story of Jesus calm, composed, truthful, humble, and focused.

It's the story of Peter who was also one of the 12, and his denial of Christ.

But, as we say, that's not the end of the story........but, first...........what about you, and your experiences.

Perhaps you have suffered at the hands of someone like a Judas, who has betrayed you, and they did it for personal gain. Your betrayer may have been a close friend, a family member, even a spouse. Whoever it was, they betrayed you.

Or, you may have had one person, or a group of people tell falsehoods about you. They got to together, and came up with stories that were not only true, but were designed to help someone's goal to remove you from your place, or to somehow hurt you.

And, finally, maybe you have had a very close friend, or family member, or fellow worker, who has denied, or abandoned you in your darkest and most difficult moment.

I would imagine you have had these things happen to you.

But to the end of the story now........Jesus was the other person in the background of Mark 14. He stood silently for the most part, composed, and un-troubled by what was happening to HIm.

Two things about Jesus.

1. He is as Heb chapter 2 tells us, able to sympathize with us. He truly understands, because He went through all of what we have just read about in Mark 14, and much, much more. He not only sympathizes, but, through His understanding, He is able to give us help in our situations.

2. Along with His being understanding, He specifically came to the earth for people like betrayers, liars, and those who would deny and abandon etc, etc, He came not for the righteous but for the sick. Those who need a spiritual doctor.

Here's the final, and I hope encouraging thought for you out of this story.......He is also the restorer, the one who can take a person like Peter, and restore him, and wind up using him as a mighty New Testament vessel.

We do not know what happened to Judas, in his heart, in his last moments before death. We don't know what happened to the other liars who conspired against Christ. But we do know about the apostle Peter.

He is the example for us of failure, yet, rescue by God's grace, and not only drawn back to Jesus, but then used by Jesus Christ.

So, may the same Jesus who we read about in Mark 14, be to You the rescuer, and the restorer either for you, or for someone you know who has betrayed, lied, and denied/abandoned.

Remember, Jesus came not to condemn, but to save. He is the savior.

Lord, thank You for this story from Mark's gospel. It really portrays the human condition, and You are Divine one and only Gracious, Merciful, Saving Savior.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Applications/promises.

1. You may be in a similar situation today, just as Jesus was.

2. Jesus knows and cares about you and your situation.

3. Patience right now may be the one thing the Lord is saying to you.

4. God will work all these things together for your good.

5. Maybe you have been the betrayer, or the liar.

6. The blood of Christ is able to wash away each and every sin.

7. Let's pray for restoration, just as in the case of Peter.

8. God desires a fruitful and blessed future for you.

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.

And He shall direct your paths.

The above title, "And He shall direct your paths", is a promise and application given to us by the Lord concerning what He will do in our lives.......Again, it's a promise that comes on the heels of His instruction about what we ought to do, and what He would have us to do, and what He calls us to do.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:6 In all of your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

So, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart".......that's the first thing that is said.....Trust here or faith in God, means, to have confidence in, to feel safe. With all of your heart means we can completely trust in Him, and not feel hesitant or unsure, we can trust Him completely.

Secondly, "And lean not on your own understanding" Seems to further explain what it is to trust in the Lord.....it's the opposite of having confidence in ourselves, or in our abilities, but to lean on Him, not ourselves.

"In all of your ways acknowledge Him" Ways, speaks of our path, the road we are on, our path etc, to acknowledge or know Him, to stay close to the Lord as we move along in our lives.

"And He shall direct your paths".....is not so much speaking about guidance as it is about making the way clear for us to travel on. Direct means to make level, to make smooth..In other words, the Lord promises to those who trust Him, that He will smooth out the road we are on, He will make it easier to move forward, He will help us travel the path He has called us to.

What a promise......Thank You Lord. We know that You will do Your part, it's our part we need help with. As You look to and fro about the earth, please look upon us as those who want to trust You, and want to know You. Help Us Lord.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application and promises.

1. The Lord knows what's on our road right now.

2. The Lord is inviting us to trust Him, and know Him.

3. The Lord has never let anyone down who has trusted Him.

4. The Lord has power that we cannot imagine.

5. The Lord has plans for us, that we don't know about either.

6. The Lord never changes, and is the same today as He always has been.

Blessings that the Lord gives us .....through His Word

Proverbs chapter 2 explains in many verses what the Lord gives to those who receive and treasure His word in their hearts and lives.

Here is a short list ....

He gives us wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright:

He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.

He guards the paths of justice,

And preserves the way of His saints.

Discretion will preserve you.

Understanding will keep you.

To deliver you from the way of evil.

From the man who speaks perverse things.

Let's focus on two of them in particular. Discretion and Understanding.

Discretion is to have purpose. And understanding is, to have insight, the act of understanding. So, the Lord will give us purpose, and He will give us insight. And through these blessings we are preserved and kept.

These are tremendous and wonderful blessings from the Lord. To have the best purpose we can have in life, that would be the purpose that comes from God, and to have God's insight about how to live in this life and world. There is no greater insight, or understanding then what the Lord gives.

These blessings ( as mentioned ) come to those who abide in God's Word, who receive God's Word, who treasure God's Word, who apply their hearts to God's Word. Who cry out for discernment. Who lift up their voice for understanding. Who seek wisdom as they would seek silver, and search for wisdom as you would for hidden treasure.

So, as we move into this weekend, may we thank God for what He does give, and may we be those who would seek after Him through His Word.

Father, everyday we have so many things to thank You for. We would like to say thank You today for Discretion and Understanding. Your purpose and Your insight. Guide our thinking today, and through this weekend to be diligent in seeking You, and searching for You in Your Word. Would you bring Your word to our minds today. Bless our pastors as they prepare to teach us the Word of God this coming Sunday. In Jesus name,

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Applicational thoughts and promises.

1. His Word is available to us.

2. The Holy Spirit will speak to us through God's Word

3. Let's have ears to hear what the Lord will say to us.

4. May we hear and then be doers of His Word today.

5. Can we share His Word with someone else today.

6. Let His Word be the start of our responding to Him in prayer.

7. His Word is what brings forth fruit in our lives.

8. May His purpose and His insight become ours today.