"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

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH IDOLATRY"

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH IDOLATRY"

1Cor 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Some explanatory thoughts:

1. The word therefore, is an important word, and it's helpful to ask, what is it therefore?  In this case, it's there, because, it connects what Paul is saying with what he has been saying.

2. And, what he has been saying is that God is faithful to always provide a way of escape that we can bear up under temptations. See 1 Cor 10:13

3. Please notice, how God describes and calls His people. "My Beloved" This means, two things. First of all, God's people, are in fact, His people, He owns them, He has purchased them. They are no longer the people of darkness and the devil. But, they are, ( You ) are His person. You are one of God's people.

4. Secondly, God calls His people, "Beloved" which means, dearly beloved, well beloved, dear, well loved, esteemed, favorite, and worthy of love. That's how God sees You, if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ. You are "My Beloved" from God's perspective.

5. What is idolatry? Simply, put, it's the worship of false God's. While there really are no other god's but the one true living God, a man can and often does give something else, someone else, some desire, some goal, some material object, something besides God, God's place in his heart and life. That's what Idolatry is. It's making a replacement god, in your life, instead of having God in His right place. And, that is the number one priority in your life. To know Him, and to bring honor and glory to Him, to serve Him,     and to please Him, to follow Him, and not do your will, but His. That's not idolatry, that is the true Biblical Worship of the Living God.

6. Here's what do to with idolatry. Flee it. Two simple words, that mean so much. To flee in Scripture, means, to seek safety by flight. To shun, to avoid, especially vices. To be saved by flight, to escape safely out of danger, to vanish.

A prayer:

Lord, You are the one, and the only true and living God. We ask for forgiveness, for the times when we move away from focusing on You, and simply worshipping You as we ought. Thank You for the gift of repentance, we may need it this day, to turn away from what we have been "idolizing" and run to You, and let You have first place in our life. Idols can't speak, hear, or help. But, You hear us, You speak, and You can help us, You can heal us, You can guide us, You can forgive us, You can do for us what no one else could even come close to. In fact, there is no one who can do what You can do. It makes all the sense in the world to flee from idolatry. Please help us to do so day by day. Thank You Lord, in Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE, FOR THOSE BEING TEMPTED"

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE, FOR THOSE BEING TEMPTED"

1Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

A few explanatory thoughts:

1. What you are going through is not uncommon. In fact, it's common to men. ( No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man ) The idea here is pretty clear, common, means, "after the manner of men", or "things belonging to men" it's what we go through living in this world. Or, as the NLT puts it, "The temptations that come into your life are no different then from what others experience"

2. But, God is faithful, and promises, that He willl not allow you to be tempted, or tried beyond what you are able to bear. In other words, He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. Now, that's a real comfort. He is keeping watch over you. He knows what you can take, and what you can't take. He will always take care to watch over you.

3. Here's another blessing and comforting truth. God will also, always make a way of escape, ( not from the temptation ) but, so that you can bear it. He does not always take you out of it, but will always show you how to bear it. Or as the NLT says, " He will show you a way out, so you will not give in to it" We can count on Him to do so.

4. One last quick thing. 1 Cor 10:13 says, "God is faithful" What does that mean? It's speaking of His nature, He is dependable. Constant. Unchanging, trustworthy, always will do as He says He will do. You can bank on Him. He can be trusted all the time.

A brief prayer:

Lord, Thank You for always keeping an eye on us. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for guarding our lives. Thank You for being faithful. And, thank You for your faithful provision, that will always allow us and show us a way to bear the temptation. To not have to give in to it. Who could do these things but You. Lastly, Lord, we pray that You would also give us grace, and the personal resolve to always take the way of escape that You show us. Why would we want to be ill affected by the temptation, ( because, that is what it would do ) Keep us from it Lord, and show us the way of escape.

In Jesus name. Amen

Pastor Bob Grenier

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE DEALING WITH GUILT FROM SIN"

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE DEALING WITH GUILT FROM SIN"

John 8:10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

John 8:11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

John 3:17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Ps 130:4  But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.

1 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.

Some explanatory thoughts.

1. Sin is very real, but, please notice what is not real. And, that is the condemnation from Jesus. See John 8:10-11, and 1John 3:17 above.

2. Condemnation, means, to judge, to call into question, or to say, "I've had it with you, I reject you, I'm done with you, there is no hope for you. Well, none of those thoughts are in the mind and heart of our Lord towards us when we have sinned. Be sure of that.

3. What we do have from God is forgiveness. See Ps 130:4a which means, to send away, to depart. He can send away our sins, because of what Christ has done in dying on the cross for our sins, and our believing in Him.

4. There is not only forgiveness, but there is also another truth about God and our sin. See Ps 130:4b, and it is that God may be feared. Or respected. Sin, blocks our true view of God, and it causes us to somehow forget about Him at the moment, and we become unwise. But, when we have sinned, and we start feeling the guilt from our thoughts or actions, the fear of the Lord can come back into view in our minds and hearts.

The Bible says concerning the fear of the Lord, 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

5. Back to forgiveness for a moment. It's in a very real sense conditional. We must confess, or admit our sins, and then we are forgiven. But, not only are we forgiven, but we are promised cleansing. Which means, to be free from the defilement of sin and from our faults. It means to be free from guilt.

A prayer.

Lord, the Bible says, "What man is there that sinneth not" Or "He who is without sin" So, that certainly includes each and everyone of us. We especially pray for anyone who this day has sinned, and is dealing with the guilt and the consequences of that sin. We know that You not only forgive sin, but You also even have a way of taking those consequences and working them together for our good. Sin, and forgiveness, give us much to be thankful for. Not the sin, but for Your forgiving us. Thank You. Cleanse us, and help us to do what you told the woman to do, " Go and sin no more" Thank You again Lord, in Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOING TO HEAVEN"

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOING TO HEAVEN"

Today someone many of us know and loved, went to heaven. The Bible verses below are now fully realized by Pastor Chuck Smith.

I thought these verses might be of great comfort and encouragement to you, as many times people have questions about heaven. These are just a few of many, many verses in the Bible. I pray they are a blessing to you.

2 Co 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Php 1:23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

2nd Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2nd Tim 4: 8 finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Rev 21:4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Some explanatory thoughts:

1. We can be very confident and well pleased about what will happen to us when we leave this world. We will be present with the Lord.

2.  When a Christian dies, their soul leaves their body, and goes immediately to be with the Lord, which Paul says is far better.

3. Our fighting is over, our race is over, and as Paul exampled for us, he "kept the faith"

4. There is a crown waiting for us ( I believe this is our new body )

5. All things for us will be new. These are the promises of God.

6. We will drink from the fountain of the water of life freely.

7. We will inherit all things. And, God will be our God.

8. The Lord Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death, no more sorrow, and no more crying, no more pain. All that we call now, will be then called former, and they will have passed away.

A Prayer:

Lord, there is so much more in Your Word about where You are taking us. It's truly only the start of an eternity with You in one sense. But, for the few things we have posted here today, we rejoice, we thank You, we take great comfort and joy in them. We appreciate Your faithfulness to get us all the way to heaven. Today, Pastor Chuck Smith has been there just a little over 24 hours our time, in fact, about 28 and 6 minutes as of this writing. We will see You, and we will see him, and all of our other loved ones who have gone before us.

Thank You Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

"HOPE TRHOUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN TIMES DISTRESS"

"HOPE TRHOUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN TIMES DISTRESS"

The word distress, means narrow, tight, straits, foe, sorrow, that kind of thing. It's also used sometimes to speak of when we feel like we are falling apart. Below are two Scriptures to help in times of distress.

Isaiah 25:4 For You have been a strength to the poor, A strength to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, A shade from the heat;

Ps 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

Eph 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Ro 8:28* And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Some explanatory thoughts:

1. When we are in times of distress, God will be our strength, and He will be a refuge from the storm. A shade from the heat. Strength, means, fortress, rock, harbor, protection. And, refuge, means, shelter, from rain, or from danger, or from falsehood.

2. We can call upon, and cry out to God in times of distress. Ps 18:6. God will hear our voice, and our cry actually comes before Him, even to his ears. Ps 18:6 Heard, or hear, means, to listen, to regard, to listen with interest.

3. It's comforting to remember, that not only has God saved us, but He has also predestined our lives, according to His own purposes. He is actually working all of things in our lives, according to the counsel of His own will. He is in control, even when we "Feel" like, things are out of control. The truth is, they are not. God is in control.

4. Lastly, and this is a familiar, and always so comforting Scripture, to be reminded, that Not only, does God hear us, and is in control, but, He in His wisdom is working all the things that ( seem out of control, that we feel are out of control, that are part of our distress) He is working these things together for our good. J. B. Phillips translation, says is this way, "Moreover, we know that to those who love God, who are called according to His plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good.

A prayer:

Lord, You are more things then we can count to us, and for us, and in us, during our times of distress. For this we say "Thank You" And, amazing as it is, we have access to You, we can come before You and find help from You in these times. You personally Lord, are more familiar with distress, then we can possibly imagine. You know all about our personal distress, and the distress of all others. And, You are able to be to each one what we have seen in these verses.  Lord, lead us this day to seek You, hour by hour, for we truly need You hour by hour. Minute by minute it seems sometimes, second by second.

Thank You for always being with us to help us.

In Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

"HOPE FROM SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE"

"HOPE FROM SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE"

The Scriptures below really speak to what God is able to do, will do, and has done.

Just a few explanatory thoughts:

1. In Jude 24, Jesus is both able to keep you from stumbling, ( or to keep you standing firm ), and to present you faultless (without blemish, or above reproach)

2. In Phil 1:6, We are encouraged to be confident, because of what God is going to do. He will complete in us, what He has begun. To complete, means, (to perfect, to accomplish, to appoint to)

3. In Heb 12:2, we are told that Jesus is not only the author, ( the one who takes the lead, and is thus our example ), but, He is also the finisher, (Perfector)

A prayer of thanksgiving to God:

Lord, these verses are a tremendous source of encouragement. Thank You for all the promises in them. Thank You for all that You are doing, and will do. We will only realize the fullness of these promises fully, when we finally see You face to face in heaven. Meanwhile, we gain great comfort and hope from them. Please give us a greater thirst for Your Word, and speak to us from it, and give us understanding in it, and give us the grace to have the personal resolve to live out what You show us.

In Jesus name. Amen

Pastor Bob Grenier