"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE REGARDING GOD'S HELPER (The Holy Spirit) IN YOUR LIFE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE REGARDING GOD'S HELPER (The Holy Spirit) IN YOUR LIFE"
John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. Jesus spoke often and in great detail about the Helper. Which by the way means, "One called alongside to help"
2. What a beautiful name that is given to the Holy Spirit, He is our helper.
3 He is sent to us by the Father in the name of Jesus, and He performs a number of ministry functions in our lives.
4. Here's a short list of some of what the Helper does in our lives. He teaches us, and reminds us the things that the Lord has said to us. That is, He will bring God's Word to our remembrance. He also will testify of Jesus to us.
5. To teach us means, to instruct us, and remember, means to call attention to, to cause us to remember, and to testify, means, bear witness, to give. And, truth, which He is called, means, what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth.
6. One final thought, and this is such a blessing. Listen to what God said through Paul in Ephesians 5: 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. Essentially, Paul is saying, do not allow yourselves to be controlled by wine, or become drunk, this will only lead to destruction. Don't come under the control of wine etc. But, do be being controlled, by the Holy Spirit. Let Him take control of your life day by day. How wonderful to know that the Helper will control us, and will then do all of the things and more that were mentioned above. This control takes place as we submit ourselves to Him.
A prayer:
Lord, we would like to first of all say, "Thank You" for caring for us, and for sending the Helper into our lives to Help us in our walk with You. We are not left alone as orphans, but, we have the Holy Spirit Himself, dwelling inside of us, and we can walk with Him, allowing Him to control our lives. He will not hurt us in any way, but rather help us in every way. He wants to build us up in Jesus Christ, and cause us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.
We pray for our own individual lives, our family members, our church leaders, and fellow members of our own local churches where we fellowship. May the Helper come in His strength, bringing renewal, encouragement and help.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier.

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO NEED FORGIVENESS"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO NEED FORGIVENESS"

Daniel 9:9 “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.

Some explanatory thoughts and application:

1. Who does not need forgiveness of sin(s)?

2. Forgiveness of sins, belong to God. He is the forgiver of sins.

3. Not only does He forgive sins, but, He is merciful.

4. He forgives and is merciful to those who have rebelled against Him.

5. Forgiveness, means, to pardon, to spare. Mercy, means, to have compassion, tender love, great and tender pity.

6. These two things, forgiveness, and mercy belong to God.

7. Notice who He gives them to. "though we have rebelled against Him" Rebelled means, to revolt, to go against God, to sin.

8. Here's the truth and the promise of God for us in our rebellion and our sin. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful andjust to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

To confess, means to say the same thing, to agree with another. It means that we agree with God when He speaks to us about our sin, and when we do, He forgives us, and He cleanses us. This is His promise to us.

A prayer:

Father, You are the forgiver of sins, You are the merciful God who cleanses us, and does not condemn us. How we thank you for who You are , and what You do for us. It's hard to imagine going through life, without You being so gracious to us, and cleansing us of our unrighteousness. We pray today, that we might simply bring any unconfessed sin to You, and receive Your wonderful forgiveness. Your pardon, Your mercy, Your compassion. We love You Lord, in Jesus’ name.

Pastor Bob Grenier.

Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE SEEKING PEACE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE SEEKING PEACE"

Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Some explanatory thoughts and application:

1. On a personal note, this is the very first verse that I taught on, in my first pastorate in Eugene Oregon, back in about 1976-77 That church was my first and only other church. "Shiloh Christian Fellowship"

2. On an up-dated note, I have found this ( as with all of God's Holy Scripture be absolutely true )

3. Please just read the verse, and let the Lord speak to you through it's simplicity.

4. The promise here, is that God will do something if we will do something. It's a combined effort. Him and us together, and it centers around our minds and Him. And, it involves something He has given us, it's called faith, or trust.

5. God promises to keep us in perfect peace. This phrase ( perfect ) means, complete, safe, welfare, soundness, quiet, tranquility (peace) means basically the same thing. It can be understood to mean, contentment.

6. The two things that have to do with us, are keeping our minds stayed, or focused on Him, and our trusting in Him. These two also basically mean the same thing. Stayed means, to lean upon, or take hold of.

7. We do not just have to let our thoughts run wild as it were. We can bring them into subjection, by trusting God, by looking to God, and by placing or staying our thoughts upon Him. And, the result, if you will, is that He will give us peace.

A prayer:

Father, there is never a shortage of things to thank You for. But, this promise is a great one for us. Thank You for what You promise to do, give us peace. We pray that You would give us the personal resolve to trust You, and to take You at Your Word, and to put our faith into action, and we want to thank You in advance for the peace You give. In Jesus' name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia.

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT OUR LIVES NOW, AND REWARDS IN HEAVEN"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT OUR LIVES NOW, AND REWARDS IN HEAVEN"

2Co 5:10* For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Some explanatory thoughts and application:

1. This verse is not talking about the Great White Throne Judgement. That is reserved for unbelievers, not for believers.

2. This judgement seat as it's called, is the Judgement seat of Christ. He will be doing the judging.

3. The purpose of this judgement is that each one of us may receive rewards for what we have done with our life in Christ, since we have become saved.

4. The words, "whether good or bad" are not speaking of things ethically, or morally evil, because Christ has already paid the price for our sins. But, rather, the word "bad" speaks of something evil of another kind. It actually means, "good-for-nothingness, or worthlessness.

5. It's not speaking of someone who has done something that was clearly wrong, but rather, it's speaking of the person who has simply wasted their days here on earth. It's speaking of not using the time we have for the Lord, but rather using it for nothing. Using our time for things that have no real value, and of being pre-occupied with non-essential activities and pre-occupations.

6. The good news, is that we can use our time wisely, and be rewarded for that wise us of time once we get to heaven. This verse, ought to bring a sobriety to our lives, and cause us to think about what we are actually doing with our lives, what are we investing our time, energy and talents into, and for.

7. It's never too late to start following Christ with all of our hearts. It's never too late to stop wasting time, and start using time for His glory.

8. Here's a great encouragement from Scripture, in Romans 13:11-12 in the NLT

Romans 13:11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Romans 13:12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.

A prayer:

Lord, let us pursue having this urgency, and let us truly know how late it is. Time is indeed running out, Oh God, cause us, if we are asleep to wake up, and to realize how nearer our salvation is then when we first believed.

We ask for Your power and want to commit ourselves to obey what You tell us about putting out of our lives any dark and dirty deeds. May we also put on the armor of light, and live for You. In Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE BEING HATED, EXCLUDED AND REVILED ETC"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE BEING HATED, EXCLUDED AND REVILED ETC"

Luke 6:22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.

Luke 6:23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

The NLT reads the above verses this way.

Luke 6:22 God blesses you who are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed because you are identified with me, the Son of Man.

Luke 6:23 “When that happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were also treated that way by your ancestors.

Some explanatory thoughts and application:

1. Jesus uses the word, "Blessed", which means "Happy" to describe what we are when men hate us, exclude us and so on.

2. He then goes on to tell us why we are blessed. And, here are the 2 reasons why. (1) It's because we have a great reward in heaven waiting for us. (2) The prophets of old were treated the same way. 

3. An important point to consider, is that this is because of "The Son of Man's sake". That is, the hatred, exclusion etc, is because of our relationship to Christ, and our standing firm in love, in His Word. 

4. It's helpful to remember, that they did the same thing to Jesus. People don't just naturally welcome and love God's people. In fact, as stated here, they often have intense hatred and malice towards them. 

5. So, if you are doing what God has called you to do, don't be surprised if you also experience what Jesus talked about. But, don't forget to rejoice and leap for joy, etc. There's a reward waiting for you. This life is not all there is to our existence in Christ. There is the life to come. And those rewards for what you are going through now, are safe and sound, being reserved in heaven for you.

A prayer:

Father, Your Word is so helpful to us. Thank You for it. We gain perspective, hope, comfort and encouragement from it. It sets our thinking in the correct way. Thank You for caring enough to explain things to us. Especially the more painful things of life. We love You, and look forward to our rewards in heaven. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE DEALING WITH CONDEMNATION"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE DEALING WITH CONDEMNATION"

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.

Some explanatory thoughts and application:

1. This verse tells us two things about Jesus. #1 what He did not come to do, and #2, what He did come to do. 

2. What He did not come to do was to condemn the world. In fact, Jesus states that the Father did not send Him to condemn. So, The Father and the Son are not on a mission to condemn the world. Condemn, means, to put asunder, to judge, in the sense of giving up on someone, and wanting nothing to do with them. It's having an ungodly opinion about someone else. Not God's opinion. 

3. What Jesus did come to do, was to save the world. He says it in 3:17, "That the world might be saved through Him. That is, by having faith in Him. To be saved, means, to make whole, to heal, to keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction. To save a suffering one from perishing. To deliver from the penalty of sin. 

4. Condemnation can come from ourselves, that is our own thoughts. It can come from others around us, and it can come as an attack from Satan. But, one place it has not come from is God. This is not the goal and purpose of God towards man. In fact, it's just the opposite as noted above. God sent Jesus not to condemn, but to save. 

5. Condemnation can lead to discouragement and to depression and hopelessness. Faith in the one who loves You and gave His life for you can lift you up and give you strength. Unbelief and focusing upon thoughts of condemnation, do the same thing, they pull us down into discouragement. But, faith in God and His Word, bring encouragement, and strength in our souls. 

6. To say it another way. If you are down and discouraged, and feeling like the worlds worst, and have lost your joy and sense of hope, and have no spring in your step as it were. May I encourage you to get yourself in God's Word. There is no doubt, that He will reverse the condemnation, and bring you encouragement, and lift you up into His peace. 

7. May I also encourage you to take a close and reflective look at a prayer that Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus. It's filled with what God says about You, and what God wants to do in you. Pray this prayer for yourself. Let's believe God together, to bring encouragement to you. 

A prayer:
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 3:15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Ephesians 3:18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--

Ephesians 3:19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Ephesians 3:21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO KNOW THEY NEED GOD"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO KNOW THEY NEED GOD"
Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. Jesus was eating dinner with a bunch of the worst of the worst, i.e some corrupt tax collectors and other sinners.
2. In that culture when you ate with someone, it was a sign of unity, you were expressing your sense of togetherness with them.
3. The scribes, ( religious lawyers of the day ) could not understand how Jesus could have anything to do with sinners, much less eat with them, given the significance of what a meal together meant.
4. So, here's what Jesus said to them. Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
5. In essence, Jesus was saying that well people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. But, look closely if you will at the verse above, and notice the last part of the verse. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. What does this mean. Well, first of all, Jesus did not hide the fact that people are sinners. A sinner is someone who has broken God's law. We all have sinned the Bible says. Also, Jesus is calling sinners to repentance, which means to change your mind, and turn away from your sin and turn to God.
6. Here's how a person can find the God they know they need in their lives.
(1) Realize or admit that you are a sinner. Ro 3:23* for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(2) Recognize that God loves You. Ro 5:8* But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(3) Repent of your sins. Ac 3:19 “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
(4) Ro 10:13* For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
A prayer:
Father, thank You for wanting to save us from our sins. I'm praying right now for the person reading this, that if they need God to save them, they will call upon You this very day. Or that the person reading this might pass it on to someone they know who needs God in their lives to save them from their sins. This Sunday, we will most likely be in a church service (I hope you are) and, there will be people in those services that need God to save them. We pray for them right now, that they will turn to You Lord and ask You to save them from their sins. In Jesus name we ask these things.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia