"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

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE HEARING GOD SPEAK TO THEM"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE HEARING GOD SPEAK TO THEM"
Luke 5:4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
Luke 5:5  But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”
Luke 5:6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
A few explanatory thoughts:
When Jesus had finished speaking, or teaching the multitude the Word of God, He turned to Simon, ( Peter ) and asked him to take the boat they were both in, and go out into a deeper part of the lake, and to let down his nets, for a catch. Peter's immediate response was both correct, and incorrect, but, ultimately the right one. And, the results were astonishing to say the least.
1. First of all, Peter called Jesus Master, which means superintendence, or a chief, commander. Indeed, this is exactly who Jesus is. He is the Lord of Lord and King of Kings. He is the master of all as it were.
2. Secondly, Peter explained that they had already tried to catch some fish, in fact, they had been fishing all night, but had caught nothing. Peter was actually now telling the Master, No, You are wrong, this won't work, we have already tried this.
3. Thirdly, and this is what I love about Simon, he said, "nevertheless, at Your Word, I will let down the net" Nevertheless, is like saying, "but, if You say so, we will try again.
4. As they moved the boat out into deeper water, and let down the net, the catch of fish was so great that their net started to break.
A prayerful reflection and application:
Father, thank you for speaking to us as You do. You often speak to us after we have tried to do whatever it is that we do, and we have had no great success. But, then we hear You, and You direct us, and like Simon, we may have a little, or a lot of disagreement with You. We tend to think that we know more then You do.
But, also like Simon, by Your grace, we then do what You tell us to do, and like Simon, we are astonished at what happens.
If you say to do something, even though it may seem fruitless to us to do it, it's ok, because You know what You are doing, and You want to show us something by giving us direction, just as You did for Simon.
Lord, let there be lot's of "nevertheless's " in our speech and heart toward You. Let there be lot's of "but, if You say so, we will do it"
That's the way to live, to hear You, and obey You. It's like what we read in Proverbs 3:3-5
Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Prov 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Prov 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
Thank You Lord.
Pastor Bob Grenier

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO FEEL HOPELESS"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO FEEL HOPELESS"
Job 7:6 “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.
1Thess 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
Some explanatory thoughts and application:

1. Job, was right in the middle of a major "Job" type trial. It was as bad as it could get, without losing his life. He had lost everything. And, he was stating in Job 7:6, that his days were going by so quickly, and they were spent without hope. Hope here means, a cord, or an attachment. It has the idea of expectancy, something to live for, or something to long for. Job, along with many people from time to time have this "no hope" experience. It's a feeling of detachment, and a life being lived without anything to look forward to, nothing ahead, or so it seems. 

2. Please notice the apostle Paul's perspective on the hope that he had for the believers in Thessalonica. These truths would apply to you and I today as believers in Jesus Christ. First of all, Paul had hope, and then called it a joy, or crown of rejoicing. So, he was living in hope for these believers. 

3. Here's what he said specifically about them. "Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ as His coming. That's a mouthful. Let's break it down a little bit. He viewed them, the believers as one day being in the presence of God. He knew that as saved people that is where they were going, and, it's where you and I are going as those who have faith in Jesus Christ. 

4. Furthermore, Paul speaks of Jesus Christ's coming. That's a reference to His second coming. The future as it were. When Christ comes again, heaven on earth will begin, and so will eternity as it were for all who know Him. With Jesus in heaven for eternity.
5. May I encourage you to pause, and to consider these verses. It may be true that you are feeling hopeless, but, please meditate on the verse in 1st Thess 2:19, and let the Lord minister to you about your future. You have one. You have a hope in Jesus Christ. 

A prayer:

Father, You are called the God of hope. And, You know Lord how often we can find ourselves in place where we feel hopeless. Would You please for any reading this today, who are indeed in that place of being without hope, help them to turn their eyes to You, and let Your Word remove the lie of not having hope, and replace it with the truth that is in Jesus Christ, He is our living hope. We are going to be with Him, see Him, reign with Him forever and forever. We ask this of You Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.