"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE"

1st Peter 5:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

1st Peter 5:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Some explanatory thoughts and application:

1. Please notice how God through Peter addresses His children. "Beloved" which simply means, dearly beloved, or well beloved, or worthy of love. So, for those of us, who have come to faith, we are His "Beloved" 

2. Another thing that God says to us, is "do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you:" There are not many things in life, that are more fiery of a trial, then the loss of a loved one. But, we do lose loved ones, and it is painful. But, the Lord is giving us some comfort here in saying that these types of trials do come.

3. And, there is additional comfort in verse 13, where it talks about our own being in heaven someday. We will see His glory, and we will rejoice with exceeding joy. I'm certain that much of that joy will be in seeing our loved ones who also had come to faith in Christ.

A prayer:

Father, thank You for the hope we have in Christ. Surely there is a hereafter, and our hope will not be disappointed. 

Help us Lord while we are down here to find comfort from Your Word, as we receive it, and let it dwell within us, and respond to it.

We love You.

In Jesus’ name.

Pastor Bob Grenier 

Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE FACING CRISIS"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE FACING CRISIS"

Note: A crisis, is defined as a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger, perhaps a time where there is trouble in the family, or a time when a difficult or important decision must be made. A turning point in your life. 

Ps 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

Some explanatory thoughts, and application:

1. This verse tells us a lot about God and the Christian.

2. He is our LORD. The word LORD here, means, "The existing one" It's the proper name for the one true God. So, our LORD exists. He is not a figment of our imagination, He is not a made up character, He exists, and He is so many more things for us.

3. He is also our strength and our shield. Strength, means, fortress, might, and Shield, comes from a word meaning to defend, to surround. So, our Lord is these two things for us, especially as we face crisis. 

4. Here's what David did, in a time of crisis. He trusted in God with his heart. Which resulted in God helping Him. And, it also resulted in David greatly rejoicing and singing a song of praise to the Lord. 

5. When David says "my heart trusted" it means, he had confidence in and hoped with expectancy in God. And, when he says God "helped" him, it means, that God supported him, and comforted him, and gave him aid in his trouble. 

6. Lastly, David talks about rejoicing and singing to the Lord. This is what happens to anyone who puts their trust in God, and it's what will happen to you also, as you put your trust in Him.

A prayer for those facing a crisis at this time:

Lord, we thank You for this beautiful Scripture, which both lifts our hearts to You, and gives us comfort, and it gives us instruction as to what to do in our times of crisis. We pray that today, You might really bring the truth of this Scripture home to our minds and our hearts. We love You very much Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE BEING LIED ABOUT"

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE BEING LIED ABOUT" 

Pro 6:16 There are six things the LORD hates--no, seven things he detests:

Pro 6:17 haughty eyes a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent,

Pro 6:18 a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong,

Pro 6:19 NLT a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers.

Exodus 20:16 NKJV  “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Some explanatory and applicational thoughts:

1. There are some things God hates, and as you can see there is a long list of them above in Pro 6:16-19

2. God also included, not bearing false witness in His Ten Commandments. False witness, means, lying, falsehood, wrongfully, deceitful, liar, to deceive, to defraud, to have a false tongue. We are not to be like this. It's breaking God's law if we do.

3. The word hates, means, " to consider personally offensive and to regard with enmity" Another way of understanding this, is that people who do the things that God hates, have in fact become His enemies. 

4. God is truth, and knows the truth about any and all lies that may be being said to you, or about you

5. God hates lying because He is the source of truth. The Devil is the father of lies, and he cannot tell the truth. 

6. The truth is, that God allows certain things to come our way, and one thing He asks us to do, is to pray for our enemies, who in this case are also His enemies. 

7. One last thought. In heaven, everyone knows the truth. And there is coming a day, either down here, or up there, that lies will be seen and known for what they are. 

A short prayer:

Lord, You were lied about, and until it happens to us, it does not hurt too much. But, when it does, we feel it deeply. You know what it's like, You can sympathize with us in this. You also have asked us to pray for our enemies. So, we would like to do that right now, and right here. Father, would You please extend Your grace, mercy and love to our enemies. We know, that except for Your grace, "There go I" as the saying goes. 

Keep us from lying tongues. Both, our own not telling lies, and from having lies told about us. Let us be those who tell the truth in love. In Jesus’ name. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE NEEDING FORGIVENESS OF SINS"

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE NEEDING FORGIVENESS OF SINS"

Luke 5:20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Some explanatory thoughts:

1. Here's the good news, we sin, but, Jesus is the forgiver of sins.

2. Sin can bring paralysis into our lives as it did in this man's life.

3. Many scholars believe he may have contracted a Sexually Transmitted Disease, and it left him in a paralyzed state.

4. Regardless, he was helpless, but, he was brought to Jesus by friends. (Who by the way had faith)

5. They brought their friend for physical healing (which Jesus did give him) but, more importantly, Jesus forgave his sins.

6. This is what Jesus will do for you today. Faith in Christ, confession of sin, repentance from our sins, and we are forgiven.

7. Notice these lovely scriptures below.

1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1st John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

8. In summary, we do have sin, let's not fool ourselves. We can confess our sins, and be forgiven and cleansed of our sins. Let's not deceive ourselves, we do have sin, more then we like to admit, but in admitting them, we are forgiven.

A prayer:

Lord, let today, be an "Admitting, or confessing day" You know, and we know of our sins. Help us now, to walk in forgiveness, and not in the condemnation that comes from our remembering what we have done by way of sin, but rather let us walk in the joy of knowing what You have done with our sins. You have forgiven them.

Thank You Father.

In Jesus’ name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING"

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING"

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Some explanatory thoughts:

1. First of all, there is a blessing in store for the these persons.

2. The man or woman spoken here, is the one who endures temptation, or trials of some type.

3. These temptations, trials, may come in many forms. For example, it could be those who endure the suffering of some type of physical infirmity, or having to live through a bad marriage, or some type of emotional trial that is no fault of their own. It could be because they suffer because of their Christian Testimony. Or just any type of suffering. 

4. The blessing is called "The crown of life" 

5. The Lord may allow you to suffer down here in some way, and He will help you endure, and when you get to heaven, He is going to reward you with a very special crown. 

6. Jesus said, in Matt 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

A prayer for those being tempted, tried, and suffering:

Lord, You never, ever said in Your Word, that our lives would be peaches and cream so to speak. In fact, You told us just the opposite. That in this world we would have tribulation, and, You said to be of good cheer because You have overcome the world. Thank You for telling us the truth, and thank You for overcoming this world, and thank You for what You have in store for us. 

Two quotes about suffering and reward:

Suffering does not separate us from God and His Love.  

Sin separates us from God.

Thomas Aquinas wrote:

O saving Victim, opening wide,

The gate of heaven to man below,

Our foes press on from every side,

Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE ASKING JESUS TO HELP THEM"

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE ASKING JESUS TO HELP THEM"

Luke 5:12 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Luke 5:13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.

Some explanatory thoughts:

1. First of all, do you think it was a coincidence, that Jesus and this leper found themselves together in the same city? I do not. For God's children, there are no coincidences. The Bible tells us that He is in control of all things, and that means all things. The Bible tells us He knows what we have need of before we ask. He knows where we are, and what we are thinking etc. 

2. This man, was full of leprosy, (the Bible uses leprosy as a type of sin) saw Jesus. Again, no coincidence. Sin, like leprosy, eventually ends in death. In the meantime, it destroys slowly, it takes away usefulness, it isolates us, it makes us not want to be with others, etc, etc. 

3. The leprous man fell on his face and implored, (which means, to desire, to make request, to beg, to ask, to pray) This man was at the end of his rope as it were. He had apparently heard like we have, that Jesus can help a man, no matter what the problem is. He did the sane thing, he humbled himself and asked Jesus a question.

4. Here's the question he asked, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Little did he know how willing the Lord was. He had some sense or belief that Jesus could heal him, but, he was not sure if Jesus would help him. 

5. Here's what Jesus did. Luke 5:13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. May I say, that this is what Jesus will do for you also. He will reach out to your prayer, He will cleanse you of sin. The Bible is chock full of stories of people like this leper, who asked God to help them, and He did. And, He will for you also.

6. Note: God may or may not heal a disease, but, He will every time, forgive sin, and bring healing to our hearts from the sin we have done. We can count on that. He is our Saving Savior. Let's go to Him with our needs today. Will You do that? I pray you will, because, He is willing. 

A prayer:

Lord, Thank You for showing us about who You are in the Bible. We need to know more and more about You, and it helps us so much when we learn about Your ways and Your actions, and what You will do for us. You are our friend, You want us to come to You, You will not deny our approaching You, we can and ought to run as fast as we can to You, anytime of the day or night, with any problem we have, and seek Your help. There is nothing that You cannot help us with. 

Thank You Lord, In Jesus name, amen

Pastor Bob Grenier

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR YOUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE"

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR YOUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE"

Isaiah 43:18 Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

Some explanatory notes:

1. God was calling His people to not remember the former things, Nor the things of old.  The word "remember" means, to recall, call to mind, to be brought to mind. The Lord was guiding His people to not think about their past, (their captivity in Babylon) He did not want them to think about what had happened to them. 

2. Instead of thinking about what had happened, the Lord was speaking to them about what He was going to be doing for them. Please notice the specifics of what the Lord was saying.

3. Behold I will do a new thing. It will spring forth. And, His people would come to know it. He would also make a road in the wilderness. And, rivers in the desert. 

4. The things the Lord was going to do, were actual things, not just wishful thinking. He did do this for His people. 

5. There is a tremendous encouragement for us today. Don't look back, look ahead. God has a plan. He can do things that you can't even imagine. God wants to continue growing You in His grace, and in His knowledge. He wants to fill you with His Holy Spirit. He wants to show these things to us. He is our road as it were. We walk in Him, and follow Him. He can quench our thirst. 

6. In closing, these verses are good to keep in mind. They are good to even commit to memory. They are good to apply. They are good, because they are true. 

A prayer:

Father, thank You for Your hand being with us, and Your promise to us, of what You will do in our lives. Thank You also for the guidance to not be looking backwards, but forwards, believing that You will do new and wonderful things in our life.

We love You Lord. In Jesus’ name.

Pastor Bob Grenier