"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT BEING BLESSED"
Luke 6:20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
NKJV
Luke 6:20 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is given to you.
NLT
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. Jesus uses one of His favorite words in talking to His disciples. It's the word "Blessed" meaning, Oh how happy.
2. It is important to make sure we understand, that this statement about happiness, was given to those who were following Him, and not to the multitudes, i.e those who did not believe in Him, and were not following Him.
3. So, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, following Him, then this word Blessed, or Happy is for you.
4. It's also important to understand what Jesus meant when He said poor. It could be translated, beggar, destitute, lowly, helpless, powerless to accomplish an end. And, lacking in anything. Jesus was not saying that poor ( economically )people are blessed/
5. Rather, He is speaking to the person who has come to realize how poor and destitute they are of what it takes to be accepted by God, and go to heaven when they leave this world. In other words, He is speaking to the person who has truly come to realize that they are a sinner, and they have absolutely no hope of getting to heaven on their own. They realize their own sinfulness, and unrighteousness before God, and understand the judgement they deserve.
6. When a person comes this realization, they are then ready to call out to Jesus to save them, and then they become saved. Simple as that. When a person truly admits their sinfulness, turns to Jesus Christ, and believes in Him as Savior, and receives Him as their savior, calling upon Him to save them, then, they become saved.
7. The result of being saved is that theirs is the kingdom. They are now in God's kingdom, God's family, they are one of God's children, joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
6. And, that is why they are blessed. How much happier can a person be then to know that their sins are forgiven, and that they are now accepted by God through their faith in Jesus Christ, and will be with God when they leave this world.
A prayer:
Father, You are the dispenser of blessedness, of salvation, of forgiveness, of eternal life. We are the ones who are blessed as we receive Your grace, mercy and love in Christ. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sins, and thank You for opening our eyes to the truth of who we are, and of who You are, and of what You have done for us through Jesus Christ. We are grateful now, and will be forever and forever. Thank You Lord.
In Jesus' name,
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT FAITH AND UNBELIEF"
"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT FAITH AND UNBELIEF"
Matthew 17:20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Matthew 13:58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Hebrews 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. The issue in these verses has to do with 2 things, faith and unbelief. What faith will do, and what unbelief cannot do.
2. Jesus identified to His disciples why they had been unable to perform a certain ministry when asked to do so. Jesus in Matt 17:20, explained to them, that it was because of their unbelief. Unbelief in scripture means, to not believe God. The word unbelief itself, means, unfaithfulness, faithless, want of faith, and weakness of faith. Jesus was not chiding them, but He was explaining to them, what had happened. They had asked Him they were unable to minister as they expected, and did not. Simple, they did not believe. It was because of their unbelief.
3. The NLT renders Matt 17:20 this way, “You didn’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
4. Not having faith, actually can and will keep God from working as He would like to. Matthew 13:58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Normally Jesus did many mighty works, but in this case He did not, and the reason is given, it was because of a lack of faith. Faith, prevents if you will God from working. For example, a person could not and will not be saved, unless they believe. One must have faith in God for Him to save you. He never saves anyone who will not believe.
5. Unbelief, caused the children of Israel to not inherit the promised land when they were supposed to. The promised land by the way, is a type of the fruitful, and blessed life of the Christian, it's the picture of the Christian who believes God, and is then filled and led by the Spirit into the blessings that God has for them. Without faith in God, Christians live in a wilderness experience just as the children of Israel did for 40 years. Faith in God on the other hand, leads us into the will of God for our lives.
6. Please notice this verse again. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. It's telling us what happens without faith. We cannot please God. The opposite is true also. That with faith we do please Him. And, for the person who comes to God, they must simply have faith in Him, believe Him, and the result is that He will reward Your life. Faith in God, will bring rewards. No faith in God, means we will not come to Him, and hence we will not be rewarded by Him.
A prayer:
Father, thank You for faith. Please keep us believing. Please give us faith. We know that faith comes to us through Your Word, thus, we need to be in Your Word. So, Lord, help us to get into Your Word, and to stay in Your Word. That's how we get faith, faith to believe You, and to see You do great and mighty works. And, Lord, keep us we pray from the sin of unbelief. Yes, it is a sin not to believe You. NLT Joh 16:9 The world’s sin is unbelief in me. So, Lord, keep us from unbelief.
And, Father, we also want to thank You for giving us faith through Your Word, may we hunger for Your Word, and read it, meditate in it, memorize it, believe it, and act upon it. We pray for those we know who are suffering needlessly, simply because they will not believe in You. God, we pray for them, and ask that You bring a life changing conviction into their lives.
Finally Lord, we pray for our church body, that each and every believer would grow in their faith, and that they would simply believe You. Trusting in You, for then Lord we know that You will do many great things for us, and in the lives of those around us.
We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
Matthew 17:20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Matthew 13:58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Hebrews 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. The issue in these verses has to do with 2 things, faith and unbelief. What faith will do, and what unbelief cannot do.
2. Jesus identified to His disciples why they had been unable to perform a certain ministry when asked to do so. Jesus in Matt 17:20, explained to them, that it was because of their unbelief. Unbelief in scripture means, to not believe God. The word unbelief itself, means, unfaithfulness, faithless, want of faith, and weakness of faith. Jesus was not chiding them, but He was explaining to them, what had happened. They had asked Him they were unable to minister as they expected, and did not. Simple, they did not believe. It was because of their unbelief.
3. The NLT renders Matt 17:20 this way, “You didn’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
4. Not having faith, actually can and will keep God from working as He would like to. Matthew 13:58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Normally Jesus did many mighty works, but in this case He did not, and the reason is given, it was because of a lack of faith. Faith, prevents if you will God from working. For example, a person could not and will not be saved, unless they believe. One must have faith in God for Him to save you. He never saves anyone who will not believe.
5. Unbelief, caused the children of Israel to not inherit the promised land when they were supposed to. The promised land by the way, is a type of the fruitful, and blessed life of the Christian, it's the picture of the Christian who believes God, and is then filled and led by the Spirit into the blessings that God has for them. Without faith in God, Christians live in a wilderness experience just as the children of Israel did for 40 years. Faith in God on the other hand, leads us into the will of God for our lives.
6. Please notice this verse again. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. It's telling us what happens without faith. We cannot please God. The opposite is true also. That with faith we do please Him. And, for the person who comes to God, they must simply have faith in Him, believe Him, and the result is that He will reward Your life. Faith in God, will bring rewards. No faith in God, means we will not come to Him, and hence we will not be rewarded by Him.
A prayer:
Father, thank You for faith. Please keep us believing. Please give us faith. We know that faith comes to us through Your Word, thus, we need to be in Your Word. So, Lord, help us to get into Your Word, and to stay in Your Word. That's how we get faith, faith to believe You, and to see You do great and mighty works. And, Lord, keep us we pray from the sin of unbelief. Yes, it is a sin not to believe You. NLT Joh 16:9 The world’s sin is unbelief in me. So, Lord, keep us from unbelief.
And, Father, we also want to thank You for giving us faith through Your Word, may we hunger for Your Word, and read it, meditate in it, memorize it, believe it, and act upon it. We pray for those we know who are suffering needlessly, simply because they will not believe in You. God, we pray for them, and ask that You bring a life changing conviction into their lives.
Finally Lord, we pray for our church body, that each and every believer would grow in their faith, and that they would simply believe You. Trusting in You, for then Lord we know that You will do many great things for us, and in the lives of those around us.
We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
Saturday, November 23, 2013
"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU TO DO"
"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU TO DO"
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. One blessed thing to realize, right off the bat, is that God has already done something for us that no one else could do. He has saved us. The word "workmanship" and the phrase, "For we are His workmanship" have the idea of that which has been made, or the work of our creator, telling us that as saved people, it's the work of God. He has saved us. Workmanship, comes from a greek word Poiema, which is the same word we get our english word "poem" So, our being saved, from God's perspective, is that we are His poem. He is the artist if you will who has created this beautiful poem, you and I as believers. We are His poem.
2. Another repetition here by Paul, when he says, "Created in Christ Jesus" This seems to be speaking of the fact that we are new creatures as saved people. God has created us as born again people. We have been regenerated, or made alive again, not by our works, but by His Spirit.
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. NLT
Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, NKJV
Regeneration, literally means, new birth, reproduction, renewal, recreation,
3. But to the theme of this Devo. "What God has for you to do?. It's stated in the Eph verse.
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Please notice in the last half of the verse, it says 2 things.
(1) For Good works, which God has prepared beforehand.
(2) That we should walk in them.
4. So, we can conclude, that God in times past, beforehand, I believe even before creation, prepared, or planned out good works or the good things He has for us to do, and He wants us to walk in them, or do them. Sometimes, we call this His will for our lives. And, we often say, and rightly so, that God has a will for our lives.
5. What are these good works? It would seem that there is both a general and a personal answer to that question. The general, would be to walk in obedience to His Word. Simply doing the things that God teaches us to do, and commands us to so. The personal would be the specifics of how He is directing each one of His children. What exactly does He have for you to do, in addition to walking and living as a disciple of Christ.
6. It's comforting to know that if we want to know, we can both ask Him for Wisdom, James 1:I5 f you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. NLT
A prayer:
Father, first of all, thank You for saving us. We would not do it on our own, You did it for us. By Your grace, so thank You. And, thank You for planning out, preparing a life for us to live, and works to do, and walk in. We would like to say this day, that we want to do what You have planned for us. We love You, and it's the only reasonable thing for us to do, in light of what You have done for us. Rom 12:1-2. So, Lord, please give us wisdom to do what You have for us. Show us Your will. And, in general, may we simply walk in Your ways this day.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. One blessed thing to realize, right off the bat, is that God has already done something for us that no one else could do. He has saved us. The word "workmanship" and the phrase, "For we are His workmanship" have the idea of that which has been made, or the work of our creator, telling us that as saved people, it's the work of God. He has saved us. Workmanship, comes from a greek word Poiema, which is the same word we get our english word "poem" So, our being saved, from God's perspective, is that we are His poem. He is the artist if you will who has created this beautiful poem, you and I as believers. We are His poem.
2. Another repetition here by Paul, when he says, "Created in Christ Jesus" This seems to be speaking of the fact that we are new creatures as saved people. God has created us as born again people. We have been regenerated, or made alive again, not by our works, but by His Spirit.
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. NLT
Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, NKJV
Regeneration, literally means, new birth, reproduction, renewal, recreation,
3. But to the theme of this Devo. "What God has for you to do?. It's stated in the Eph verse.
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Please notice in the last half of the verse, it says 2 things.
(1) For Good works, which God has prepared beforehand.
(2) That we should walk in them.
4. So, we can conclude, that God in times past, beforehand, I believe even before creation, prepared, or planned out good works or the good things He has for us to do, and He wants us to walk in them, or do them. Sometimes, we call this His will for our lives. And, we often say, and rightly so, that God has a will for our lives.
5. What are these good works? It would seem that there is both a general and a personal answer to that question. The general, would be to walk in obedience to His Word. Simply doing the things that God teaches us to do, and commands us to so. The personal would be the specifics of how He is directing each one of His children. What exactly does He have for you to do, in addition to walking and living as a disciple of Christ.
6. It's comforting to know that if we want to know, we can both ask Him for Wisdom, James 1:I5 f you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. NLT
A prayer:
Father, first of all, thank You for saving us. We would not do it on our own, You did it for us. By Your grace, so thank You. And, thank You for planning out, preparing a life for us to live, and works to do, and walk in. We would like to say this day, that we want to do what You have planned for us. We love You, and it's the only reasonable thing for us to do, in light of what You have done for us. Rom 12:1-2. So, Lord, please give us wisdom to do what You have for us. Show us Your will. And, in general, may we simply walk in Your ways this day.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Friday, November 22, 2013
"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WANTING TO KNOW GOD'S WILL"
"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WANTING TO KNOW GOD'S WILL"
Mark 3:35 “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. The phrase "will of God" actually means that which pleases God. Isn't that interesting. God has something that pleases Him, and that's what He wants for our lives.
2. A believer has already done something of God's will when they first placed their faith in Christ to be saved. How do we know that? Because, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. So, it's pleasing to Him when someone comes to faith, to say the least.
3. As believers, we can pray for the will of God to be done in our lives. Matt 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. What a wonderful prayer to pray.
4. There are also steps to take to find ourselves in the will of God. And, here they are in Rom 12:1-2
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
5. If you take a look at those verses, you will see that being in God's will starts with making ourselves available to God, and continues with our not being conformed to this world, but, calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, (and then notice) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God. That means, that you may know God's will personally.
6. Here's how this reads in the NLT
Rom 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-- the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
Rom 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
7. Please notice the very last sentence above, starting with "then you will know etc. That says it all.
A prayer:
Father, first of all, thank You for the fact that You are so interested in us, and that You have something that pleases You, for our lives. Your will. And, thank You for Your mercies by which we have been saved. We pray that we might by Your grace, and Your power follow the instruction given to us in Rom 12:1-2 We can attest to anyone who might ask, that there is nothing greater, and more satisfying in life, then to be right in the middle of Your will, walking in it day by day. And, one day, we will take our last step as it were down here on earth in Your will, and the next step will be our first step into heaven, right before Your face. We love You Lord. In Jesus name amen
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
Mark 3:35 “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. The phrase "will of God" actually means that which pleases God. Isn't that interesting. God has something that pleases Him, and that's what He wants for our lives.
2. A believer has already done something of God's will when they first placed their faith in Christ to be saved. How do we know that? Because, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. So, it's pleasing to Him when someone comes to faith, to say the least.
3. As believers, we can pray for the will of God to be done in our lives. Matt 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. What a wonderful prayer to pray.
4. There are also steps to take to find ourselves in the will of God. And, here they are in Rom 12:1-2
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
5. If you take a look at those verses, you will see that being in God's will starts with making ourselves available to God, and continues with our not being conformed to this world, but, calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, (and then notice) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God. That means, that you may know God's will personally.
6. Here's how this reads in the NLT
Rom 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-- the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
Rom 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
7. Please notice the very last sentence above, starting with "then you will know etc. That says it all.
A prayer:
Father, first of all, thank You for the fact that You are so interested in us, and that You have something that pleases You, for our lives. Your will. And, thank You for Your mercies by which we have been saved. We pray that we might by Your grace, and Your power follow the instruction given to us in Rom 12:1-2 We can attest to anyone who might ask, that there is nothing greater, and more satisfying in life, then to be right in the middle of Your will, walking in it day by day. And, one day, we will take our last step as it were down here on earth in Your will, and the next step will be our first step into heaven, right before Your face. We love You Lord. In Jesus name amen
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
Thursday, November 21, 2013
"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE WEEPING"
"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE WEEPING"
Luke 6:21b Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. Blessed and weeping somehow don't seem to go together, but they do as far as believers are concerned.
2. The word blessed, means, to be happy. Simply that happy.
3. Jesus is saying to people who are weeping now, that they will laugh. The word laugh as it's used here, means, joy or satisfaction.
4. The word weep as it's used here means, to mourn, to be weeping as a sign of pain and grief, to bewail.
5. Christians and non Christians weep, but, for the Christian, there is the promise of laughter, or joy, but not so for the non believer. Not at all.
6. The joy does not only come when we get to heaven, but may I say, what joy it will be when we get there, but it can come now, and it does. Let me share a Scripture with you that speaks to this.
Ps 30:5 His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.
7. The Lord in the above verse speaks clearly about the fact that weeping can go on for along time, "all night" as it were. But, He also says that joy comes in the morning. Maybe not tomorrow morning, but sometime in the future.
8. God promises to work whatever it is that you are going through that may be causing you to weep, to work together for your good. Just like Joseph said in the Bible, Gen 50:20 " As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people."
A prayer:
Father, there is no one like You. You are above all. And, You are all powerful, and all knowing. We pray right now for those who are weeping today, weeping in the quietness of their homes, or places of work, or in their hearts, or before they left home today, or when they come home today, we pray for them, that You O Lord would pour Your Word into their hearts, and bring them comfort.
Send them a email from a friend, that brings encouragement, put it on a friends heart to just call and say hello, and I love you, and we are praying for you. Lord do something, even if it's through a complete stranger, to bring some comfort.
But, most of all Lord, help them to remember, that one day, all the weeping will be over, no more tears, no more paining, only unspeakable joy and gladness in heaven with you. And, Lord help them and us to rejoice right now in the wonderful hope we have in Christ. In Jesus name.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
Luke 6:21b Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. Blessed and weeping somehow don't seem to go together, but they do as far as believers are concerned.
2. The word blessed, means, to be happy. Simply that happy.
3. Jesus is saying to people who are weeping now, that they will laugh. The word laugh as it's used here, means, joy or satisfaction.
4. The word weep as it's used here means, to mourn, to be weeping as a sign of pain and grief, to bewail.
5. Christians and non Christians weep, but, for the Christian, there is the promise of laughter, or joy, but not so for the non believer. Not at all.
6. The joy does not only come when we get to heaven, but may I say, what joy it will be when we get there, but it can come now, and it does. Let me share a Scripture with you that speaks to this.
Ps 30:5 His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.
7. The Lord in the above verse speaks clearly about the fact that weeping can go on for along time, "all night" as it were. But, He also says that joy comes in the morning. Maybe not tomorrow morning, but sometime in the future.
8. God promises to work whatever it is that you are going through that may be causing you to weep, to work together for your good. Just like Joseph said in the Bible, Gen 50:20 " As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people."
A prayer:
Father, there is no one like You. You are above all. And, You are all powerful, and all knowing. We pray right now for those who are weeping today, weeping in the quietness of their homes, or places of work, or in their hearts, or before they left home today, or when they come home today, we pray for them, that You O Lord would pour Your Word into their hearts, and bring them comfort.
Send them a email from a friend, that brings encouragement, put it on a friends heart to just call and say hello, and I love you, and we are praying for you. Lord do something, even if it's through a complete stranger, to bring some comfort.
But, most of all Lord, help them to remember, that one day, all the weeping will be over, no more tears, no more paining, only unspeakable joy and gladness in heaven with you. And, Lord help them and us to rejoice right now in the wonderful hope we have in Christ. In Jesus name.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE CONCERNING GOD'S GRACE"
"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE CONCERNING GOD'S GRACE"
Acts 20:32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Heb 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. Grace of course means, God's unmerited favor. It is as pastor/author Warren Wiersbe said, "God's grace is God's provision for our every need. God's grace is not a mystical substance, that God pours into us when we have a need. Grace, is God's bountiful supply for our every need. Law means that I must do something for God, but grace means, that God does something for me. Grace cannot be deserved. Grace cannot be earned. Grace can only be given"
2. There are several things said here about grace, that is, about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All for our benefit and help.
3. Jesus is called the Word of His grace. See Acts 20:32 above. And, Paul was commending, or encouraging the Ephesian elders, to be committed to or presented to or set before Jesus, the Word of His grace. He also tells us what the Word of His grace, "Jesus" is able to do. He is able to build us up, and to give us an inheritance among all those who are sanctified, or set apart to God, by faith in Jesus Christ.
4. The Holy Spirit is spoken of in Heb 10:29, and called, "The Spirit of grace" This third person of the Trinity then, is given this wonderful name, "The Spirit of Grace" He is also called the Helper.
5. Notice the wonderful truth and invitation, and promise given to us in Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
6. Finally, we have a beautiful name given to us about God. In 1st Peter 5:10, He is called the God of all grace. And, this name is given in connection with His calling in our lives, He has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, ( that is, by our faith in Christ for salvation ) Then, the subject of suffering is brought up. That God in His grace, will do a number of things in your life. He will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.
7. Here's how the above verse from 1st Peter 5:10 reads in the NLT. In his kindness God called you to his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
7. Here's how the above verse from 1st Peter 5:10 reads in the NLT. In his kindness God called you to his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
8. So, then, to round it all off, God is indeed the God of grace, the Son is gracious, the Spirit is gracious, and our Father is also.
A prayer:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we are the blessed recipients of Your favor. We do not deserve the grace you give. We did not earn it, nor could we ever. You have not given us justice, which we deserve, but, You have given us mercy and grace. Thank You.
We will for all eternity be glorifying You for what you do, and what You have done. Thank You.
We will for all eternity be glorifying You for what you do, and what You have done. Thank You.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
Calvary Chapel Visalia
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