Calvary Chapel Lynchburg's Blog

Revelation 16-22 Day 40

cclburgstaff — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:56:26 +0000

And so we come to the end which records the new beginning! The final phase of the coming of the Kingdom of God will come with much pomp and majesty. The Lord will vanquish all His enemies and we will live forever with the Lord. We are not given many details of the affairs that will govern our lives in the new earth, but we can have absolute certainty that even as the new Jerusalem is built with amazing beauty so that which happens in this glorious place will also be glorious. The Lord does nothing in half measures but rather makes all things beautiful. It is amazing to me that Satan has been successful in bringing people to falsely conclude that they would be better off without heaven because it would be boring anyway. The father of lies has certainly used his most crafty deception in getting the unbelieving to conclude that heaven would not be worthy of their presence. This is completely upside down! What a glorious future that awaits all who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The one feature, the main feature of heaven that will be better than all else combined is the unhindered fellowship we will enjoy with our Savior. That alone makes our sometimes-arduous journey to heaven worth all the hardship we face on the way. The Apostle Paul said that the afflictions we experience at the present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory we will experience. Heaven will be great because the GREAT ONE is there. We do not need gates made from a single pearl or walls made from the purest gold to enjoy it because the One who surpasses all of our expectations will be there and we with Him. Yes Lord, come quickly!

Pastor Troy

Revelation 8-15 Day39

cclburgstaff — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 22:07:34 +0000

Revelation 8-15 contains the record of the terrible destruction that will come upon the earth as a result of Israel and the secular world rejecting Jesus as King. The goal of the tribulation is to WAKE up a nation and JUDGE the nations who have gathered against God and His chosen nation Israel. We see in our world today that Israel is at the very center of hatred from many nations. This aligns with the prophecies given in scripture. The one who will lead this last day’s anti-Semitic charge is introduced to us in Revelation 13. We refer to this evil man most often as the Antichrist. His goal is to control world finances, lead a last day’s apostasy and destroy Israel. We live in times where the headlines remind us that the stage is being set for the final act. I pray we are ready and are aware that the days we live in put us on the very edge of the book of Revelation. Look up for our redemption draws near.

Pastor Troy

Revelation 1-7 Day 38

cclburgstaff — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:10:56 +0000

Worship, judgment, wrath, hope, warning, tenderness, encouragement, destruction-all of this and more is included in today’s Scripture! Revelation is fascinating but unsettling; the beautiful, holy, loving One reveals that He is capable of violence that we cannot fathom. This was not pleasant listening nor is it easy to comment on today’s chapters. My tendency is to avoid Scripture like this but God has given it to us and so He means for us to read and hear it. Today’s section ends on a tender note and that is comforting. What I take away from this is another reminder that God is good, loving, tender and everything else that draws us to Him, and at the same time intensely serious about humans listening to Him, trusting Him and obeying Him. The flood shows that, the cross shows that and the judgment in Revelation shows that as well. Am I serious about sin? Am I, one who claims Christ, resolved to pursue holiness? Time and again in this section we heard “to the one who conquers” or as other versions render it “to the one who overcomes”. That’s a bothersome phrase to me, but rather than let it discourage me, may it drive me closer to the One who has overcome. Help us, Holy Spirit, to keep our eyes and hearts focused on Jesus, and to be His agents of love, and warning, to those around us.

Scott Paulette

1st John 2 – Jude Day 37

cclburgstaff — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:22:57 +0000

“My friend SAYS he’s a Christian, but I just don’t see it.”

These are the words a friend said to me–in fact many friends on numerous occasions–concerning a coworker or schoolmate. Praise the Lord for the Bible reading today that gives the litmus test for approving that which is from God.

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” Sounds pretty simple. Problem: What if they keep SOME commandments but not OTHERS! Aarrgg. Well, God says in the Psalms that the unfolding of His Word gives light–it gives understanding to the simple. We can go to God’s Word for illumination on these difficult subjects. The Bible also says in Isaiah 29:13 that there are people who come near to God with their mouths but their hearts and far from Him. How sad…how true, for many at least.

In this area we live in, many claim to know Christ; where is the fruit? Show me fruit and I can show you the tree it came from. Show me an apple and I can tell you for sure it didn’t grow from that dead oak over there! (smile).

1st John 2:15 says, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Wow, that’s kind of harsh…but is it really? I believe the old apostle John is saying here, by God’s Spirit, that if you are all consumed and filled up with passion and lust and desire for this world there is really no ROOM for God in your life. You’ve crowded God out. Your life is too full of the pleasures of this world and there’s no place for God’s Spirit to be poured in so you can be a useful vessel poured out.

1st John 4:8 says, “He who does not love, does not know God, for God is love.” Wait a minute! Aren’t these high standards?! I mean, who can really love all the time?! Does that mean I don’t know God now??? Again, I believe the heart of the message is not legalism and law, but grace and truth. If you meet someone who calls himself a Christian, but is completely unloving and self-focused, then you have every right to make a judgment call and say, “Hmm, I don’t know about this one.”

Remember why John wrote 1st John: “These things I have written…that you may know that you have eternal life”. Again, we can glean from the reading today a type of test to identify if we or others belong to Christ–where is the fruit?

Is there fruit in my life? Is it difficult for someone to I.D. you as a follower of a loving Savior named Jesus?

mike sadzinski

1 Peter 1 – 1 John 1, Day 36

cclburgstaff — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 17:45:49 +0000

By now I’m certain many have seen the flesh rise up when it comes time to listen to the day’s reading. Where it once was easy, it may seem hard to find the time or to make the time. But remember, you’ve got the time. Do not approach the listening as a “have to” but rather as a “get to” knowing the blessing we have of having the Scriptures, not only to read for ourselves, but also to hear read in a dramatic fashion! Do not give up – if you haven’t listened in the past week, now is an excellent time to listen again. Don’t feel the burden of having to “catch up” but just listen to hear how the Lord will speak to you through today’s listening schedule. Then after listening, comment so we know what the Lord did speak to you today about!

With that, we move into Peter’s teachings where he calls us to be “sober minded” knowing that time is short. Knowing that the Day draws nearer and nearer should impact the way we live our lives. It will draw us to reexamine the things we are doing as to whether they are the best thing for us or not. It will draw us to live for Him all the more and to keep ourselves from those evil things of the world that can so easily entrap us. It will draw us to live holy for He is holy. It will draw us to His Word that we may grow in the wisdom and knowledge of Him. Do not think of His imminent return merely in head knowledge, acknowledging that it is indeed so, but rather in heart knowledge where you allow that hope to impact all that you say and do.

How exciting it is to realize that all we live in right now is merely temporary – our trials, our problems, our stuff – but soon, very soon, the Eternal one will come and we’ll be with Him in perfect peace and bliss for all time. May that truth stir you up for holy living and place comfort in your heart today!

Mike Massey

Hebrews 2-10 – Day 34

cclburgstaff — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 19:56:49 +0000

The book of Hebrews reminds us of the great salvation that we have in Christ and of His work as our High Priest. It’s an amazing act of love that Jesus would take on human flesh in order to die in our place. He has done all that necessary to secure our salvation. The work of salvation is complete as Hebrews 9:12 says “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” There is nothing more that we can add or do. He did what we could never do through the law or through any other means.

Hebrews also warns us to be careful with the precious salvation that we have. The writer of Hebrews warns us to guard ourselves against unbelief and the deceitfulness of sin. Our salvation is serious business. This is one of the main point of Hebrews. We are not to take the salvation that we have been given lightly. It’s our job to live out the salvation we have been given by faith and in the power of God. We are to be working out what God has worked in us with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12-13) This is the example that we see in the Apostle Paul, “But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Corinthians 9:27) God never intended for us to go on cruise control after salvation. We must live every day with purpose of getting closer to God and becoming more like Jesus. We not only need to guard the salvation we have been given, but we must also watch out for each other. This is why the writer of Hebrews tells us to exhort one another daily (Hebrews 3:13) and not to forsake the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). So where our you today? Are you taking your salvation seriously and are you exhorting others to do the same? May God guard us against unbelief and being lazy in our faith. Press on in your faith and listen to the voice of the Lord in your life. “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” Hebrews 2:1

Vernon Merritt

1 Timothy 6 – Hebrews 1 – Day 33

cclburgstaff — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:26:01 +0000

As Paul wrote to the young ministers Timothy and Titus he gave them vital instruction to pass on to the Church as well as lay out guidelines for the life of the minister. The verses I would like to draw to your attention are found in Titus.

Titus 2:13-14 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 3:14 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

It was important to God that there be a recorded exhortation for believers to be fully engaged in service. God isn’t looking for your service because of some limitation on His part but rather because it is good and healthy for us. Each and every member in the Body of Christ has been perfectly placed as a gifted member. The Lord wants us to use this grace (gifting) to be a fruitful servant in the Kingdom of God. So, even as Paul exhorted Titus to get the Church involved in good works I pick up that exhortation and pass it on to CCL as your pastor. Don’t let time, hobbies or some insecurity keep you from being a vital part of the Church.

Here is a link http://www.cclburg.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=75 to our website which speak of the different ways you can get connected in serving.

In closing notice that in Titus 2:13-14 Paul links the idea of the Lord’s coming with service. The lesson for us to glean is that considering we will soon be with the Lord we should be *zealous for serving our coming King. So here is a loving exhortation to get to work and stay steadfast in that work.

What was the motivation that caused you to get involved in serving?

Pastor Troy

*Zealous – Strongs 2207 zelotes Meaning: 1) one burning with zeal, a zealot 2) used of God as jealous of any rival and sternly vindicating his control 3) most eagerly desirous of, zealous for, a thing 3a) to acquire a thing, (zealous of) 3b) to defend and uphold a thing, vehemently contending for a thing

1 Thess. 3 – 1 Timothy 5, Day 32

cclburgstaff — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:08:15 +0000

Sometimes we have a hard time figuring out what day it is. Ever have that problem? That’s why I’ve put a question mark after “Day 32.” The numbering seems to have gotten off a bit in our posts!

We’re like that in many areas of life — not the least of which is our spiritual life. Over and over again scripture tells us to know what day it is (Clue: We’re in the “last days”). We’re even told to know what time of day it is (Clue: Night is coming when no one can work).

Our passage for today speaks of the day when Christ will return for us. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is a great passage of hope that teaches about the day when the trumpet will sound and the dead in Christ will rise first. Those of us who are alive on earth will be caught up to meet Him in the air. Now that’s a day to look forward to!

Three things will be true of our lives if we remain focused on that great day of hope.
(1) We’ll live godly lives, knowing that our Lord will return at any moment (1 John 3:3).
(2) We’ll have hope and be encouraged (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
(3) We’ll be ready to give an answer to any person about our hope (1 Peter 3:15). We’ll want to tell others of the Good News.

Let’s make sure we know what day it is — and then live accordingly!

Mike Babcock

Phil.2 – 1Thes.2, Day 31

cclburgstaff — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:47:59 +0000

I am always amazed how God speaks in so many ways to so many people through the same words. This weekend I started struggling with “why do cheats and thieves seem to get away so often and revel in thier sin, while people that try to live righteously often struggle to get by?” Then, as I am listening to today’s scriptures, I hear the answer over and over again. I have known the answer for years, but as I got caught up in a weekend flurry of life, I lost focus and forgot. That is what daily scripture reading does for us, it keeps us focused. It keeps us from forgetting. That daily feeding on His word is vital to our daily walk.

The answer ot the aforementioned question is actually more of a reframing of thought. This type of question arises when we are focusing on the world and not the Word. When our focus is on Christ, the cares of this world will dimenish. We will feel sorrow and pity for those living in sin, regardless of thier worldly position. “Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise, think on these things”. Thinking on the antonyms of this list will only bring frustration, but thinking on those things that fall into this list will draw us closer to God, who is the ultimate source of all good things.

Gene Jackson

Galatians 5 – Philippians 1, Day 29

cclburg — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:26:28 +0000

We live in a world that is getting more and more ungodly. So what must I do? What can any one do? Do we drop out? Do we hide? Do we fight?

We need to be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians chapter 5:15-21
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

As we walk, filled with the spirit, we can be effective witnesses and lights, in this world. Jesus is the answer, and God has chosen us to be His witnesses, today.

Joe Pamer