"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO WAIT ON THE LORD"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO WAIT ON THE LORD"

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:

This is another Ps written by King David. This is a great anthem of praise, and an expression of David's confidence in the Lord, and a prayer for continued victory. It's also full of praise from David for God and His wondrous work in his life. It's also an expression of how David dealt with his fears and troubles, it was by his confidence in God.

This particular verse is an exhortation of what to do, and of what God will do. In fact, David tells us twice what to do.

1. Christians can wait on the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

The word wait means to look, to look for, to hope in, and to expect. To look eagerly for, to lie in wait for, and to linger for.
In fact, this could be read, "wait patiently" for the LORD.
This is often what God calls us to do.
Just to simply wait on Him, and to do it patiently.
LORD means the existing one.
We are to look for Him, and be patient as we do.

2. Christians can be of good courage.
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

The second thing we are told here has to do with something we are to be as we wait.
It's to be of "good courage"
Or to be brave and courageous.

This is an attitude of faith that God calls us to live in.
Courage means to hold, prevail, take, be strong, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, to be secure.
This again is an attitude of simply choosing to believe in God.
And the benefits of this attitude are spoken of in the next verse.

3. God will strengthen the Christians heart.
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

As we wait on the Lord, God strengthens our hearts.
This means that God will make us strong, He will confirm us, establish us, fortify us, make us alert, stout, bold and assured.
We cannot go wrong believing God and just waiting patiently for Him, He will come through and make us strong.

4. Christians are encouraged a second time to wait on the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Hebrew poetry uses repetition often. ( no pun intended ) But, it's good to be told more than once what we need to do.
To have our course of faith re-enforced.
That's what is being said here.
It's a repeat of what was said earlier.
Wait on the LORD.

Remember, this means, to look, to look for, to hope in, and to expect. To look eagerly for, to lie in wait for, and to linger for.
In fact, this could be read, "wait patiently" for the LORD.

Some questions:

1. Are you in a time right now of needing God's help?

2. Do you know He knows all about what you need help with?

3. Do you know that God loves you and is more faithful than you can imagine?

4. In fact do you know that God loves you more than you can imagine?

5. Do you know that if God is calling you to just trust Him, He is in fact, going to make you strong?

6. Do you know that if today you ask God to help you wait on Him, and ask Him to help you be of good courage He will do these things for You?

A prayer:

Father in heaven hallowed be Your name. You may be in heaven, but You are also right here with us in our very hearts.
And You know all about every single little detail of our lives. Nothing is hidden from You. Nothing escapes Your notice.
You are in love with us. You are love. You are faithful and true. You are so generous to help us.
Help us Lord to wait on You, and to be of good courage.
And, thank You in advance for what You are going to do.
You are going to give us strength.
In Jesus name, amen

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD HELPING YOU IN TIMES OF TROUBLE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD HELPING YOU IN TIMES OF TROUBLE"

Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:

King David is believed to be the author of this particular Psalm. He was not stranger to trouble, nor was he any stranger to the help that God would give him when he found himself in trouble. Here he explains how God would help in times of trouble.

1. God's people do experience times of trouble.
Psalm 27:5 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

Jesus told us about the trouble we could expect.
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

And, so did Paul.
2nd Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

As did Peter.
1st Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

2. God will act on His people's behalf during times of trouble.
Psalm 27:5 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

David defines what God would do for him, and it's what God will do for you also as you put your faith in Him, and act on His Word to you. There are 4 things that David mentions here.

(1) God will help you in the time of trouble.

(2) He shall hide you in His pavilion

(3) In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide you.

(4) He shall set you high upon a rock.

3. Putting this into application for us today.

Here's how this verse reads in the NLT
Psalm 27:5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

Trouble will come to the believer.
You are either just coming out of trouble.
Or you are getting ready to experience some trouble.

In either case, one thing remains constant.
And that is the promise of God towards you.

Look again at what God says He will do for you,
Psalm 27:5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

He will conceal you when troubles come.
He will Hide you in His sanctuary.
He will place you out of reach on a high rock,

For us today as New Testament believers this means that God will do all of these things for us in and through our Lord Jesus Christ, and our helper the Holy Spirit.

He is with you to help you, and He will speak to you through His Word, or perhaps through a friends love and care.
Maybe it will be when you are at church, and the Word is being taught and it strikes you as if it was written just for you.

God will confirm His help to You, and guide you as to what to do, and when to do it.
It's important to just stay tuned in, and to listen to Him, and respond in obedience.

Some questions:

1. Are you going through a time of trouble right now?

2. If you are will you please take the time to read and meditate on this verse?

3. Also, will you ask the Lord just exactly what He wants you to do at this time?

4. It's important once He speaks to you to respond in obedience.

5. Will you in faith right now thank Him in advance of the fact that He is faithful and He is going to help you?

A prayer:

Father how wonderfully comforting are Your Psalms to our souls. Thank You for giving them to us. We can and do find such comfort and guidance in and through them. We pray for ourselves if we are in some trouble at this time, and we pray for those we know who may be in trouble that they would find You helping them.
Perhaps You would have us share this verse with them, and pray with them.
Thank You Lord.
In Jesus name. Amen

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S GRACE TO SINNERS"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S GRACE TO SINNERS"

2 Chronicles 33:9 So Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
2 Chronicles 33:10 And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen.
2 Chronicles 33:11 Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon.
2 Chronicles 33:12 Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
2 Chronicles 33:13 and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

Some explanatory notes, application, questions and a prayer:

These verses detail an incident in the life of King Mannaseh. He was the son of King Hezekiah. As it turns out, he wound up being the most evil of the kings in Israel. Yet, in this particular incident, we see the enormous and tremendous grace of God towards the king, and towards his people. God is indeed gracious isn't He.

1. A man can be very evil and very stubborn and not listen to God.
2 Chronicles 33:9 So Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
2 Chronicles 33:10 And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen.

This king seduced the people of God to do evil, and when the Lord spoke to him he would not listen.
We as men and women, are capable of doing sinful and evil things.
We are also capable of refusing to listen to God when He speaks to us.
Such was the case here.

2. God is capable and does chastise His people when they are disobedient.
2 Chronicles 33:11 Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon.

Our actions have consequences. The seductive ways, and the stubborn ways of King Manasseh brought judgment from the Lord. In this case, God used a foreign king to put a hook into king Manasseh and bound him and carried him off into captivity.
I'm certain the king never imagined what would happen to him as a result of his sin.
God tried to speak to him, but he refused to listen.
And thus God took very severe measures with him.

3. A man can come to his senses repent to God and find grace and restoration.
2 Chronicles 33:12 Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
2 Chronicles 33:13 and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

It took the pain of being in captivity to bring King Manasseh to his senses.
And he began to implore or cry out to God.
He humbled himself greatly before God.
He prayed to God.

And God received his prayers, and heard his supplications, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom.
Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

Some questions and statements:

1. It's quite sobering to know what the human heart of capable of doing isn't it?

2. And it's easy to not realize how our actions can affect so many people.

3. We are capable of tuning the Lord out when He tries to speak to us.

4. If we don't listen to God He may choose to bring some severe chastening into our lives.

5. But, if we come to our senses, and turn to God, He will forgive us and restore us.

6. Sometimes it takes a lot to bring a man to his senses, and for him to really realize that God is God.

A prayer:

Father, You are so merciful. Look how You dealt with this King. He was stubborn and would not listen to You, so You brought him into a situation that would humble him. Father would you please not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
We do not need to get ourselves into trouble with You. We would rather walk in close intimacy and obedience to You.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY TO THE LORD"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY TO THE LORD"

2nd Chronicles 29:11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions, and a prayer:

Hezekiah had just become king. And the first thing he did was to repair the temple. He did all that was needful to get it up and running so the people could worship the Lord. The above verse was an exhortation from the king to the workers who were about to engage in the clean up work. It's a verse that hold much instruction and application for us today in our ministry to the Lord.

1. We ( who have been born again ) are in fact the sons of God.
2nd Chronicles 29:11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

King Hezekiah was speaking to the children of Israel. The people of God. He called them "my sons" We who have come to faith in Jesus Christ are in fact the sons of God also. We have been born again, and have been adopted into the family of God.
At one time we were without God, but now through His mercy and grace that has all changed. We are the children of God.

2. We are also called to not be negligent, but rather diligent in our ministry to the Lord.
2nd Chronicles 29:11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

This was a needed exhortation. "do not be negligent now" Or do not delay, do not procrastinate, but be diligent to do what God has put before you. They had a work to do that centered directly on God. We are in the same position. We are called to look unto Jesus and to serve Him with all of our hearts. And, it's important that we are faithful in our service to Him, and not to be delay, or be unfaithful, or neglectful, but rather diligently doing whatever it is that He has called us to do,

3. We have been chosen by God to be His children and to stand before Him.
2nd Chronicles 29:11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

The King told the people how God had chosen them. The Bible tells us the same thing.
We have been chosen by God to be His children.
He called us, and He saved us, and we are now His.
We are the children of God.
Here's what Jesus said.

Joh 15:16* “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

4. We are also called to serve Him, and to minister to Him.
2nd Chronicles 29:11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

So, to sum it all up the King was exhorting the people to busy about the ministry that God had set before them to do.
We are in the same position. God has placed each of us right where He wants us. And He has given each of us at least one spiritual gift. He wants us to use our spiritual gifts. We are exhorted in the NT to "redeem the time" or to make the most of the time we have.

There is so much work to be done in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. God will use you if you make yourself available to Him,
He will work in you, and He will work through you. He will use your life to minister to other people, just as He has used other peoples lives to minister to you.

Some questions:

1. What gifts do you think the Lord has given to you?

2. Have you put those gifts to work yet in serving the Lord?

3. Do you need help from God in figuring out what He wants you to do?

4. Do you know that God is more anxious than you are for you to be busy about His work?

5. God has a plan and it included using your life and your gifts to bring glory to His name.

A prayer:

Father thank You for Your wondrous grace and mercy towards us. And thank You for these stories in the Bible that serve as examples to motivate us in our relationship with You. We need that motivation. We want to please You. You deserve to be honored, served and glorified in and through our lives. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT TWO THINGS THAT WILL FOLLOW YOU"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT TWO THINGS THAT WILL FOLLOW YOU"

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

Some explanatory thoughts, applications, questions, and a prayer:

This is perhaps one of the most well known Psalms in all of the world. Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd etc.
Written by King David who had himself been a shepherd as a young boy. But now writing as the king he saw the Lord as his shepherd, and himself as one of the Lord's sheep. In this particular verse, there are two things that he says will follow him, and then closes this off by telling us about his eternal future as one of God's children.

1. What's said here to follow David, is also true of every believer in Jesus Christ.
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

You will notice the verse starts with the word "surely" designed to affirm beyond any doubt the truthfulness of what is about to be said. This is true is the idea. Thus this is true for you and I who also follow and know the Lord, we can count on these things in our lives.

2. Here are the two things that followed David, and also follow us.
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

Goodness and mercy. What a blessing. David was declaring that each and ever day, in fact all the days of his life, that goodness and mercy would follow him.

This is true for you and I also. As we look back behind us we see these two things, the goodness and the mercy of the Lord.

Goodness comes from a word meaning beneficial, blessing.
Mercy is also translated "God's unfailing love"

Today God is being good to us, today God is loving us. And tomorrow we can look back on today, and see that these two blessing were there, and that's the way it will be all through our lives.

3. We can look forward also to dwelling in God's house forever.
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

David was declaring that there were these two blessings in his life day by day, and that his future residence would be in the house of the LORD forever.

The same can be said of us. Blessings from God each and every day, and the confidence of being in heaven with God, in the city of God forever, and forever.

Some questions:

1. Isn't it a blessing to pause a little and consider the wonderful truths and blessing from God in our lives?

2. Do you know that because God said it, you can bank on it being true?

3. Do you know that these blessings are following you day by day?

4. Do you know that as a christian you will dwell with God in His house forever and ever?

5. Will you take a moment right now to bow your heart before Him, and tell Him thank you, and that you love Him?

A prayer:

Father, even though we have heard this Ps over and over, it may be new for some. And even though it may be familiar to us, the truth of it is a powerful blessing in our lives today. You are behind us, You are with us, and we will be with You forever.
Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Thank You for Your goodness that led us to repent. Thank You for giving us faith to believe, and thank You for saving us when we did believe in Jesus and receive Him. And finally, thank You Lord for the glorious eternal future we have waiting for us. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT KNOWING THE WILL OF GOD"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT KNOWING THE WILL OF GOD"

Romans 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.
Romans 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.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:

This 12th Chapter of Romans begins the practical application of the Epistle. The first 11 chapters explained how God saves men, and from here on till the end, it about how saved men are to live. The very first issue Paul explains about living the Christian life, is how we are to know the will of God. Or to put it another way, it's how we can experience God's will in our lives.

1. God gives us the opportunity to know His will.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
Here's how it reads in the NLT. Rom 12:1a And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God.

This is not a command, but a plea, and an invitation. God invites you to give yourself to Him. It's been said, that we can have as much of God as we want. And, God is willing to give as much of Himself to us as we want.
But, we must make ourselves available to Him, that is step number one.

2. God will receive you as you you place yourself at His disposal.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,

God will accept you as you place yourself at His disposal. He saved You for a reason. And if you will present your body to God, He will welcome you, and He will begin working in your life to show you His will. He will accept you as you give yourself to Him.

3. God has been so merciful to you, that you giving yourself to Him is your reasonable service.
Romans 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.

You can see at the end of this verse, that giving yourself to God is your reasonable service. In light of all that He has done for you in saving you and justifying you by His grace, it's the only logical and reasonable thing to do. Give yourself to God.
When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? No.

4. God wants you to not be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 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.

The first part of this verse explains what we should not do. We should not allow the world to conform us. It will if we are not careful. This is why the Lord states it so clearly. Do not be conformed to this world. Don't live the way the world lives.
Or don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,

5. God promises that you will experience His will if you follow the teaching in these 2 verses.
Romans 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.

Here's how this verse reads in the NLT 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.

So along with not copying the ways of the world, we are to let God transform and change us. He brings about this change by changing the way we think and He does that through His Word.

If we follow this instruction we will find ourselves personally experiencing the will of God for our lives. And how pleased God will be to reveal His will to you.

Some questions:

1. Are you not thankful for God's having saved you?

2. Isn't it wonderful that He has been so merciful to you?

3. And, isn't it a blessing to know that you can give yourself to Him and experience His will for your life?

4. Please take a few moments to read the verses and let them sink in, and soak your heart and your mind in them.

5. Do you want to know God's will?

6. Do you believe God will reveal it to you if you follow His instructions?

A prayer:

Father these two verses are so pivotal for the christian. They take us from being saved to growing into the knowledge of Your will. Thank You that You have a will for us, and that it's Your good pleasure to make that will known to us. Lord please help us understand that to know Your will we must follow Your guidance, and come to You on Your terms. Thank You for Your grace , Your mercy, and Your love. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT OUR GREAT GOD"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT OUR GREAT GOD"

Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Some explanatory thought, application, questions, and a prayer:

Paul is concluding his teaching about the the Grace of God in and through Jesus Christ, and the people of Israel.
He spent three chapters ( 9-11 ) dealing with this subject. And, what a glorious ending we have here in verse 36. It's filled with many truths about our God, and what that means to us as His children.

1. Everything comes from our God.
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Our God is the source of all things. As the verse states "of Him and through Him and to Him are all things"
He is above all, He is before all. How great is our God.

2. Everything exists by His power.
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

God is all powerful. That's how the Bible describes Him. We use the word "Omnipotent" when saying that God is all powerful.
And all powerful He is. So powerful that everything that exists, exists because of His power.
He is responsible for all things that exists.

3. Everything is intended for His glory.
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Not only have all things come from Him, and exist because of His great power, but all things are intended for His glory.
He is our creator and we were created for Him. This explains what our purpose in life is. It's for Him. God made us for Himself.
And, when we begin living our lives in accordance with His purpose, our lives are transformed into the image of Christ, and our lives begin to reflect our wonderful God. We become living witnesses of our God. We become filled with a peace and joy and hope that we cannot find anywhere else in the world.

4. Everything will be to His glory forever and forever.
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

We live in the now, but will live on past the now into the future which is called the hereafter. While here we are created for Him and are to give Him glory, but we will also give Him glory forever and forever.

This life is very very short. But once we leave here and enter into the next life we enter into the greatest blessing that is available to man. So we can have a fulfilling life here as we line up our wills with God living for Him, and we will continue once we leave here and meet God face to face. What a glorious future awaits us.

Some questions:

1. How often do you think about why God created you?

2. How does it affect you when you realize that God has a purpose for you?

3. What happens to you as you yield yourself to God and His purpose for your life?

4. What words would you use to describe the blessings of living for God as He intended you to live?

5. Would you affirm your purpose in life today to the Lord, telling Him you want to live for Him, and to know Him?

A prayer:

Father what wonderful truths are contained in this verse.
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Thank You for loving us so. And thank You for showing us that we have a God given purpose in our lives. It's You. It's living for You. And it's not only to know You, but to make You known to the world we live in. Please empower us with the Holy Spirit, and help us to live in accordance with Your perfect will for us today. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.